She picked up her phone and listened before turning to come back to the table. “That was Mike. Savannah went into labor and they didn’t make it to Dallas. She delivered a little girl in the Verity hospital.” She couldn’t stop the smile that lit up her face. “Wyatt met him at the hospital to get Scotty. He said he texted me earlier, but he didn’t hear back. He wants me to come to the hospital to see their baby. Mike sounds incredibly happy.”
Tony pulled his chair close beside her. “Sit for a minute and let’s pick a date so we can tell everyone and you can show them your ring.”
“I don’t want to detract from the baby,” she said.
He gave her a look. “You’re not going to. Babies are wonderful. We’re probably not going to surprise anyone. We’ll just announce it before we tell everyone goodbye. I didn’t intend to walk in and say ‘look at us,’” he said.
“You win,” she said, smiling at him. “I can’t keep it quiet anyway. Well, now we don’t have to worry about our wedding interfering with Savannah having her baby.”
Tony took her hand. “Lindsay, I want you to have a big wedding, the one you always dreamed of as a little girl. This is once in a lifetime. You won’t do it again, I guarantee it.”
She gazed at him and then turned to kiss him lightly. “Sometimes you’re a very nice man even when you’re bossy.”
He smiled at her. “Don’t sound so surprised.” He tapped the calendar. “Pick a date so we can go see your new niece and the happy family.”
Eleven
On the first Saturday in November, Lindsay stood in the foyer of the Dallas church watching Scotty walk down the aisle. Dressed in a black tux with black cowboy boots and his hair neatly combed, he was doing just as he had been told. He scattered rose petals along the aisle and took his place at the front by his dad.
Milans and Calhouns were present in abundance. Tony’s best man was his older brother Wyatt. Tony had said they would kill the old feud between Calhouns and Milans, so along with his two brothers, he had asked her brothers to be groomsmen and all three accepted. Scotty stood in front of his dad and both of them looked pleased.
Lindsay had asked Savannah if she felt up to being matron of honor. After thanking her, Savannah had declined because of her new baby girl, Caitlin. Lindsay then asked Josh’s new wife, Abby, and she accepted instantly, seeming grateful that Lindsay had thought of her. Madison had declined to be a bridesmaid because she was almost into the eighth month of her pregnancy.
“It’s time,” the wedding planner said, smoothing the train to Lindsay’s white satin dress and checking her veil. She smiled at Lindsay as her dad took her arm.
“Lindsay, I wish you all the happiness possible,” he said to her as they walked down the long aisle.
“Thanks, Dad,” she replied. She looked at Tony in his black tux and best black boots and her heart beat faster with joy. She lovedhim with all her heart. It seemed like a miracle, something she once thought impossible.
When she joined him at the end of the aisle and met his gaze, she lost all awareness of their families and friends. The big Dallas church was filled, but she could see only Tony.
She repeated her vows, meaning every word, feeling as if there would be enough love between them to carry them through any kind of adversity, even the kind they stirred up themselves.
It seemed a long ceremony, but finally they were pronounced husband and wife. Above a fanfare of trumpets, an organ, and applause from the audience, thunder boomed as they rushed up the aisle.
“Wow,” Tony said, glancing over his shoulder at double glass doors. “Is that really thunder?”
“Rain on our wedding day—”
“We had sunshine this morning and rain would be the best possible thing next to being alone with you within the hour.”
“Rain is more likely to happen than that,” she replied, laughing. “Look how dark it is outside,” she said, turning to stare.
“Dare I hope?” Tony replied. “How long will this reception take?”
“Tony, you’ve asked me that half a dozen times. Hours. It will take hours for me to dance with all the Milan and Calhoun men who are going to ask me to dance because it’s the courteous thing to do, much less all the guys who work for me that are here and will be polite and ask me to dance.”
“They’re not asking because they’re polite. This is probably the first time they’ve seen you look like this and they’re having the same kind of reaction I did the night of the auction,” he remarked.
“I hope not.” A bolt of lightning streaked in a brilliant flash, followed by thunder that rattled windows. Tony grabbedher hand. “C’mere,” he said, stepping outside and drawing her beside him as he inhaled deeply.
“Smell that,” he said. “And look at the trees. We have an east wind. It’s going to rain. Hallelujah!” He yanked her to him to kiss her hard, and for a few minutes she forgot everything else until the first big drop hit her.
“Ki-yi-yippie-ki-ay!” Tony yelled, turning his face up to feel the rain.
“Celebrate inside.” She grabbed his hand. “Let’s go around where we’re supposed to or everyone will be out here and we’ll have a mob scene.”
They rushed through an empty hall and Tony pulled her into an empty room and closed the door. “Just one more kiss,” he said.