A Brush of Wings (31 page)

“Okay.” Sami took the lead. “Tyler and I wanted to ask you something.”

Mary Catherine allowed a nervous laugh. “I’m listening.”

“So you know that Tyler and I are getting married December third . . . and that we’re getting married at the beach.”

“Yes.” Mary Catherine’s expression turned dreamy. “The most beautiful spot for a wedding, ever. Laguna Niguel.” She looked at Sami. “Dr. Cohen says I’ll be there. Standing at your side.”

Sami could hardly contain herself. They had wanted to wait a few weeks to see how Mary Catherine was feeling. And now that she was making such an amazing recovery, there was no reason to wait. “We want you and Marcus to think about having a double wedding with us.”

Marcus put his arm around Mary Catherine’s shoulders. “Actually . . . it was my idea. These two were great with it. We have the same friends . . . we can share the cost. Plus . . . the beach means so much to us all.”

Mary Catherine’s eyes filled with tears. “I was thinking it could be months before we got married.” She put her hand on Marcus’s face. “You’re okay with that? So soon?”

“Mary Catherine.” Marcus seemed to search her face, her eyes. “I would marry you right now, right here on this back deck if I could.”

And like that the plan was set. Mary Catherine thanked Sami and Tyler for sharing their day and in a rush of excitement the group began planning the wedding. Who would attend, what colors they’d use, the dinner menu, and flowers. All the details. Invitations would have to go out at the end of this week, but already Sami had found a company who could rush them.

Good thing. They had only six weeks until the wedding.

No one talked about the obvious, the fact that Mary Catherine was still on the heart transplant list, after all. A mechanical heart could only buy her so much time. The sooner the two of them could be married and sharing their lives together, the better.

The four of them had so much joy and happiness ahead, so many reasons to look forward to the days in front of them. Sami was thrilled for her friend. Mary Catherine’s energy seemed particularly high tonight, her eyes as bright as the setting sun.

The fact that they were marrying the men of their dreams, that all of it had worked out, was overwhelming. Moments like this, Sami would catch herself just watching and listening and thanking God. Letting the reality sink into her overflowing heart. She had a feeling when December 3 finally got here, it wouldn’t only be their family and friends celebrating with them.

But all of heaven.

MARY CATHERINE LOVED EVERYTHING
about this new plan, the one that had unfolded over the most amazing dinner she’d had in a year at least. The conversation was full of hope and promise and arrangements they all easily agreed upon. It was more than Mary Catherine could imagine, more than she had prayed for.

Before the meal was over, Coach Wayne—who was also an ordained minister—even offered to officiate both weddings. Which brought all of them to happy tears.

A few hours later, after everyone else had left, Marcus took Mary Catherine out onto his back deck. She still moved more slowly than she wanted and usually by now she was tired, but not tonight.

They leaned against the railing, facing each other. Marcus took her hands in his and stared into her eyes. “Familiar.” He looked at the distant lights of the city and breathed in the sweet autumn air. His eyes reflected the night sky. “Even the stars. Just like our first night here.”

“Back then . . . I never dreamed.” She shook her head and looked at her engagement ring, the beautiful solitaire diamond surrounded by smaller ones. Marcus had given it to her before they left the hospital. Her eyes felt watery, but only because she was so happy. “I told myself a million times I could never have you, never have the things other people have.”

He ran his thumb along her forehead and eased his fingers into her long hair. “Look how wrong you were.”

The truth of his words swirled around her and through her. She closed her eyes and rested her forehead against his chest. “Sometimes it all feels like a dream.” She looked up at him. “And now the wedding? Getting married at the same time as Sami and Tyler?” She felt like dancing. “How can this be my life?”

“Because. God is just that good.” Marcus smiled at her. No one knew her as well as he did. He believed that. “Are you okay with it? The double wedding?”

“Of course.” She loved the way she felt. Every breath was slow and clear. The effort that marked her existence before the surgery was completely gone. “It’s not too soon for you?”

“Are you kidding?” He chuckled softly. “I meant what I said, baby. I’d marry you tonight if I could.”

Mary Catherine hesitated. For a moment she eased from his embrace and faced the lights off the deck. “Do you remember Dr. Cohen’s warning? About the mechanical heart?” She looked over her shoulder at him. “I can’t have kids as long as I have it.”

“I remember.” Marcus didn’t blink, didn’t look away. “That doesn’t bother me.”

They hadn’t talked about this—not in depth, anyway. “Do you want children? One day?”

Marcus smiled. “I’d love that. We could have kids now or ten years from now.” He leaned on the railing, his eyes locked on hers. “God has a plan even for that. Otherwise you wouldn’t be here.”

Hope like sunbeams shot through her soul. “I had to ask.”

“All I want is to marry you and help you get strong and stay healthy. I want to take walks on the beach and watch you work for the studio and I want to make a difference in this world right by your side.” He put his arm around her shoulders, their arms touching, the two of them looking out at the valley. “Yes, one day I want to have children with you. But you know what?”

“What?” Mary Catherine loved being with him, safe in his arms.

“I have a feeling children will come along sooner rather than later.” He looked at her.

She turned toward him again. “Because God’s just that good?”

“Exactly.”

24

J
AG WASN’T GOING TO
give up.

He was a window repairman today, working at the large house of a Texas man who had once worshipped and followed God closely. A man whose recent negligence in attending church and serving people and even responding to a certain letter was only because he was busy and distracted.

Success could do that to a person.

Jag rang the doorbell and waited. This was a key part of the mission.

“Hello?” The man answered the door. Tall and well dressed, he looked confused by Jag’s presence. “Can I help you?”

“I’m the window guy.” Jag held up a business card. “You wanted a quote. You called our firm.”

“Oh . . . right.” The man stepped aside and welcomed Jag in. He gestured up into his expansive entryway. “The windows start here and run all through the first two floors. It’s been a decade or so. The seal’s broken on several of them.” He smiled, distracted. “My wife must’ve called. We keep meaning to get them replaced.”

“I’ll work up a bid.” Jag looked around. “Could take an hour.”

“That’s fine.” The man pointed to an adjacent office. “I’ll be in there if you need me.”

“Perfect.” Jag knew exactly what he had to do. He started upstairs, listing windows and casing sizes until he reached the master bedroom.
Time to make it happen. Please help me, Father.
The letter was tucked beneath a stack of sweats in the man’s walk-in closet. Jag took it and slipped it into his pocket.

On his way down the stairs he made a detour to the kitchen. He left the letter in the middle of the counter, in plain sight—where it couldn’t possibly be missed. Jag listed the rest of the windows on the form, then he walked to the man’s office and knocked on the glass door. The man pushed back from his desk and came to him.

“All finished.” Jag held up his clipboard. “Got ’em all. I’ll turn this in to our business office and see what estimate we can get you.”

“Great.”

They walked to the front door. On the way Jag stopped at the cross on the wall near the entrance. Jag knew it was there—he had seen it when he came in. “Nice cross.”

At first the man seemed distracted, anxious for Jag to leave. Then he did a double take and his eyes landed on the cross.

Jag knew the history. The cross was a gift for the man’s wife a decade ago, when they first moved into this house.

The man nodded at it. “Bought it in Europe.”

Jag leaned in, studying the piece. “God likes when His people display reminders of their faith.” He turned to the man. “That’s in the Bible. Deuteronomy.” Jag didn’t blink. “One way to remember what’s important.”

The man hesitated and gave a slight shrug. “I guess so.”

“You and your wife believers?” Jag looked straight into the man’s eyes.

He was listening now. “Uh . . . yes.” He smiled, his eyes kinder. “We believe.”

“Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Light.” Jag smiled. “That’s what I always say.”

The man looked at the cross again. “It’s . . . been a while since we went to church.”

“Life gets busy.” Jag breathed deep and shook his head. “But I’ll tell you, church is a privilege. I know I need it. That weekly reminder that life isn’t about me. God wants us to do more than build our own empire.” Jag grinned at the man. “That’s the adventure of life, right?”

“Yes.” The man seemed amazed or overwhelmed. “Well, then . . . I’ll be looking for your estimate on the windows.”

“You got it.” Jag tipped his baseball cap. “Church meets early this week. New service times. Ten o’clock, I believe.” Jag waved and then headed out the door. He was halfway down the walkway when he heard the man call after him.

“How do you know when my church meets? I’ve never seen you—”

Jag turned right and walked past a large section of tall bushes. With a quick look over his shoulder, he disappeared.

LEXY WAS GOING HOME
for Thanksgiving.

She hadn’t shared a holiday with her mom and grandma together in almost a decade. Besides, she wanted to tell them the news—the decision she’d made just this past week.

Lexy was back at the apartment now, ever since Mary Catherine’s parents returned to Nashville. She slept on the pullout couch in the living room and now she needed to clean up her area in a hurry. Mary Catherine and Marcus would take her to her grandmother’s house in an hour.

After that a big group of them were having Thanksgiving dinner at Marcus’s house. His parents and Tyler’s and Sami’s grandparents would all join them.

They had invited Lexy and normally she would join them, but today was different. Since she didn’t have much time to visit with her mama, she wanted to spend the day at home. Her first visit back since Sami had rescued her two months ago.

Since then, Ramon had tried to contact her a dozen times at least—especially at the beginning. The police had never charged him for beating her up. She hadn’t wanted to push the issue. Ramon still scared her. Most of the time anyway. Lately she wondered whether maybe Ramon might be different now. Nicer.

Maybe he was ready to be a father.

Probably not. She knew better than to trust him or text him back. Sami gave her good advice. Don’t respond to his texts. Ramon wouldn’t know if she was ignoring him or if maybe her phone was lost or broken. Eventually he would give up.