Chapter Twenty-Six

Breathe, Amy. Just breathe.” She felt like she was about to hyperventilate as she stood in the dressing room in the huge mansion. She’d spent the morning being pampered for her wedding day.

Her hair was up in a bun, with curls cascading down her neck and face. Her makeup had been expertly applied to erase the dark circles and highlight her eyes and mouth. Her nails were extended and painted. She didn’t even feel like herself. They’d just placed her magnificent dress on her, and she was staring in the mirror at a stranger.

Who was the girl gazing back? They’d given her a few blessed minutes to calm herself, for which she was grateful.

“It’s time, Amy,” she heard Joseph softly call through the door before he opened it and stepped inside. His muted entrance was enough to make her turn her head. She’d never heard him speak so quietly before. He looked incredibly handsome in his tux. She definitely could see where the boys got their great looks. He was so like and yet so different from Lucas.

Joseph had aged well. The biggest difference between Joseph and Lucas was their eyes. Lucas’s eyes were always so focused and determined, where Joseph’s were surrounded by laugh lines and always had a sparkle to them. He was far more relaxed than his son. She wondered if he’d been that way his entire life or if there’d been a time he’d held that same focused look.

As he approached, he kissed her sweetly on the cheek. “I’m so glad to finally have a daughter in the family. You’re beautiful inside and out.”

He wrapped his large arms around her in a gentle hug, his words meaning so much more to her than he could ever imagine. He had no clue how much she needed to be included in a loving family. She’d give up any amount of money to be loved the way Joseph loved his children. She was getting just a small piece of that now, and she didn’t ever want to let it go.

“With your own father not here, I wanted you to know I’d be more than honored if you’d allow me to walk you down the aisle.”

Amy’s eyes were burning as she replied. “It would be my honor to have you escort me. You’re the kind of father I always dreamed of having.”

She couldn’t say anything further because she got entirely too choked up as she looked into his kind eyes. He pulled her close for another hug, and she clung to him, hoping he’d never let go. She’d been so careful all her life not to get too attached to people, and yet, in a few short months, she was falling in love with an entire family.

“Now, now, you don’t want to get all teary-eyed and ruin your makeup. I don’t think my son could handle any delays. He’s already pacing up and down the hallway. The preacher just led him to his spot at the altar,” Joseph chuckled. Amy had her doubts about that but didn’t argue with him.

She took one final look in the mirror and then a fortifying breath. “I’m ready.” She took hold of Joseph’s arm and let him lead her from the waiting room. Music filled the air as they stepped through the doorway.

She gasped, and the only thing that kept her from running back the direction they’d come was Joseph gripping her arm. “I thought only a few people would be here,” she whispered.

“Now, Amy, don’t be frightened. My oldest son’s finally getting married, and we couldn’t hurt people’s feelings by not including them in the affair,” he said, making her feel guilty about her minor outburst.

Amy took a calming breath, ready to panic as they took the first few steps down the beautifully decorated aisle. She looked straight ahead, because she feared if she faced the strangers, she’d turn around and run.

She spotted Lucas standing on a stage, just a short distance from her. He took her breath away with how beautiful a man he was. Their eyes met and held. He gave her a smile that seemed to tell her everything would be okay.

Amy felt like the wind had been knocked out of her and she had to stop to catch her breath. Joseph looked at her quizzically, but she didn’t notice. She didn’t notice anything but the way her body quivered.

She was in love with him.

She didn’t know how or when it happened, but somehow in the midst of their time together, he’d become an unstoppable force in her life. He was arrogant and bossy, demanding and pig-headed. He was also kind and gentle, giving and loving. He was the kind of man she didn’t think existed.

He was also about to be her husband, but he didn’t love her.

With the knowledge of living a life with the man she loved, knowing he’d never love her back, she didn’t know how she was going to get through the wedding. How could she be with him every day, making love and raising a child, all the while knowing he didn’t love her? She’d slowly wither to nothing.

Joseph prompted her, and she finally began to walk forward. She had to fight to keep the tears away.

Maybe he’ll eventually fall in love with me, she tried to comfort herself. If he thought she’d somehow trapped him into the marriage, how would he ever trust her, much less love her? He knew she hadn’t planned the pregnancy, but he was honorable in doing what was right for his child and, therefore, he’d always feel like he was trapped.

There was nothing she could do at the moment, so she’d continue down the aisle and get the wedding over with. She was a strong person. She’d just have to store away her love and try to survive as best she could.