Hope smiled at Renée. “Thank you for being here with me.”

“I wouldn’t miss this for the world, but we’d better hurry up. You don’t want to be late.”

“No, I don’t. I’m in a hurry to get there, get on with it and get started on our life.”

“Then let’s get out of here.” Renée peeked out of the window. “Your dad’s waiting by the limo looking all nervous. I’m sure Chance is standing in the chapel looking the same way. Let’s go do this.”

“Okay.” Hope fingered the delicate gold chain around her neck. Her dad had given it to her this morning. She remembered her mom wearing it and it had made her cry, but they were happy tears.

At two o’clock on the dot, she stepped out of the limo and her dad came around to take her arm. “Are you ready?”

“Yes. I am.”

“That’s my girl.” They made their way inside the chapel and she turned and hugged Renée nervously while they waited. Then the organist struck up the “Wedding Chorus,” and at the sound of the first notes, Hope stepped forward eagerly and her dad chuckled. “Slow down. He’ll wait, he’s not going anywhere.”

She took a deep breath and composed herself. He was right. She should savor every step of this walk toward the rest of her life. Chance met her gaze. He was gorgeous in his tux, and he looked so happy. When he smiled, she knew something had changed in him; he looked brighter and as if all his burdens had been lifted from his shoulders. Her heart overflowed in the knowledge that she’d helped him get there.

Missy stood by his side, beaming. She’d decided that since she was going to be best man, she should wear a tux, too, and she pulled it off amazingly. She looked stunning.

Hope could feel all the love and support coming from everyone as they stood and turned to watch her pass. Toby blew her a kiss as she passed him and she realized that he was far from alone on the bride’s side of the aisle. All the Remingtons were sitting there—for her! She bit back a sob as she passed them. All she could see were smiling faces and all she could feel was love. Shane gave her the thumbs up and Gina gave her an encouraging smile. Uncle Johnny and Aunt Jean sat on the second row with all three of her cousins. Oscar, TJ, and Reid had all made it. Oscar winked at her—he’d told her he probably wouldn’t make it. The front row was empty and she felt sad that her dad would sit there alone. Looking across at the other side of the aisle, her sadness turned to happiness at the sight of Frank and Dave sitting together beside Monique and Alice. That was as it should be.

They were almost there now. Her dad stopped and Chance stepped forward. She watched as the two of them held each other’s gaze for a long moment, then Chance surprised her by stepping forward and hugging her dad. Tears filled her eyes as he returned the hug. He turned back and kissed her cheek and whispered, “I love you.” Then, he went and took his seat.

The pastor smiled at her, then at Chance. “Are we ready?”

They both nodded, and he smiled and looked out at the congregation. “Friends and family, we are gathered here today ….”

~ ~ ~

Chance couldn’t take his eyes off Hope. He stood there grinning at her like an idiot. She was beautiful. She was the best person he’d ever known, and she was about to become his wife. A cough from the pews made him turn his head. He wished he hadn’t. He’d been trying not to look out at the sea of faces watching them. It was as if his whole life was there watching. From Gramps who’d known him as a kid, and whose words had finally set him free this morning, right the way through to Seymour, whose hug had just told him that now they really were family.

He dared to let his gaze rest on the front row, and his smile grew even bigger. Why had he never wanted his dad and Dave to get together before? The two of them sat shoulder to shoulder, both beaming with pride—a pride they shared. As he let his gaze travel again, Ben met his eye and nodded. How many times had he told Ben, Where there’s life, there’s hope? Now he’d changed it around in his mind. Now he knew that where there was Hope, there was life.

He turned back to look at her. Her eyes were filled with tears and he knew why. The pastor was about to lead them through their vows. They’d said that they were going to take the traditional vows, and when the pastor turned to him, Chance nodded and spoke very clearly and deliberately.

“I, Chance Malone, take you, Hope Aurora Davenport, for my lawful wife, to have and to hold from this day forward. I promise I will love you with all that I am through better and worse, through richer and poorer, through sickness and health, for all the risings and settings of the sun, until death do us part.”

She smiled as the tears streamed down her face. He’d made his point. It was his promise, the most important promise of his life.

Hope spoke just as clearly as she repeated the same words, making her promise clear. He heard Missy sniff loudly as they exchanged rings. This was it; they were finally married!

He didn’t wait for the pastor to say it. He took Hope in his arms, she sank her fingers in his hair and they kissed as if they were alone out in the mountains.

“You may now…” The pastor chuckled. “Yes, that.”

Chance was vaguely aware that everyone was on their feet and cheering, his past and his present, his Montana life and his California life were all merging into one—and he couldn’t stop kissing Hope. She wasn’t letting him go either, so he carried on, their mouths telling each other so much that words just weren’t enough to convey. In that moment, he was happier than he’d ever been. He understood that life hadn’t taken away his chance at happiness. Life just did its thing, and it was up to him to decide how he dealt with it. Life had brought him Hope, and Hope had brought him back to life;