you?”
“Of
course,” Scott said.
“It
won’t just be fancy dresses and flowers … and it’s not going to be just about
the wedding night, or the nights that come after.” His gaze moved from one to
the other and April blushed. “Have you taken the time to learn about each
other? Scott, have you learned about April’s background and family and
childhood and evaluated how all those things molded her into the person she is
today as well as influence the person she will become?”
Scott’s
face hardened. “That’s part of the reason we’re here for Christmas,” he said.
“What
about you, April? Have you taken the time to learn those things about Scott?”
Her
mind was whirling. Their romance had progressed quickly, but she didn’t think
it was too fast. They loved each other; getting married was the next step in
their relationship. But the way Pastor John made it sound, they still had a
long way to go.
“I
… I’m learning those things,” she finally stammered.
He
gave her a gentle smile. “That’s good. Never stop learning. I don’t ask questions
to make you uncomfortable. Life is challenging – there will be heartache
and sorrow, beauty will fade, and even the best laid plans will go awry. Your
marriage must be built on something deep enough to withstand it all.”
April
smiled and nodded, but from the increasing pressure of Scott’s hand in hers,
she knew he was irritated. No way would he agree to be married in Snow Valley
now.
April
tried to set Emily’s expectations for the gingerbread house contest; theirs was a very humble entry. Her sister had been in a state of nervous anticipation all
afternoon and April feared she would be disappointed.
“The
main thing is, we tried,” she said, glancing at Emily in the bathroom mirror as
they got ready to go watch the judging.
Emily
rolled her eyes. “You sound like Mom.” She dragged a comb through her blonde
curls and singsonged, “it doesn’t matter if you win or lose, it’s how you play
the game.”
April
grinned and dug through her makeup bag. “Okay, I know. I hate it when she talks
like that too.” She found a tube of mascara and leaned in close to the mirror
to coat her lashes with it.
“You’re
really pretty,” Emily said, watching.
“Thanks.
So are you.”
“Not
like you are.”
“You’re
not as old as I am either,” April pointed out. “You’ve still got some growing to
do.”
“How
do you know if a boy likes you?” Emily plucked at the teeth of her comb with
her thumbnail.
“Why?
Is there someone you like?”
Emily
shrugged. “I don’t know, maybe. I think he likes me back, but I’m not sure. How
did you know Wade liked you?”
“I
guess from the way he acted around me,” April said hesitantly. It wasn’t very
helpful, but this was new territory. There wasn’t a time when Wade hadn’t liked
her and she hadn’t liked him. Stretching back as far as she could remember, it
had been the two of them. A + W.
She
hadn’t broached the meeting with Pastor John with Scott. He had been in a sour
mood when they left the church and April was reluctant to bring it up. Maybe it
wasn’t such an important thing; she could do with learning to be more flexible.
Besides, Snow Valley was not their home and would never be their home. As much
as she loved it, Wade cast too long a shadow for her to ever feel comfortable
living here if she was married to Scott.
When. When she was married to Scott. Not if .
Emily
was still waiting for an answer. “I guess you know he likes you if he pays attention
to you,” April finally said.
Someone
at the elementary school had decorated the teacher’s lounge with a horrifying
collection of Santa figurines, but the gingerbread houses more than made up for
it. The long rectangular tables were packed with entries and the room was thick
with the smell of frosting, gingerbread, and chocolate.
April
leaned in to look through the windows of a house. Flames. Someone had made
“Of
course,” Scott said.
“It
won’t just be fancy dresses and flowers … and it’s not going to be just about
the wedding night, or the nights that come after.” His gaze moved from one to
the other and April blushed. “Have you taken the time to learn about each
other? Scott, have you learned about April’s background and family and
childhood and evaluated how all those things molded her into the person she is
today as well as influence the person she will become?”
Scott’s
face hardened. “That’s part of the reason we’re here for Christmas,” he said.
“What
about you, April? Have you taken the time to learn those things about Scott?”
Her
mind was whirling. Their romance had progressed quickly, but she didn’t think
it was too fast. They loved each other; getting married was the next step in
their relationship. But the way Pastor John made it sound, they still had a
long way to go.
“I
… I’m learning those things,” she finally stammered.
He
gave her a gentle smile. “That’s good. Never stop learning. I don’t ask questions
to make you uncomfortable. Life is challenging – there will be heartache
and sorrow, beauty will fade, and even the best laid plans will go awry. Your
marriage must be built on something deep enough to withstand it all.”
April
smiled and nodded, but from the increasing pressure of Scott’s hand in hers,
she knew he was irritated. No way would he agree to be married in Snow Valley
now.
April
tried to set Emily’s expectations for the gingerbread house contest; theirs was a very humble entry. Her sister had been in a state of nervous anticipation all
afternoon and April feared she would be disappointed.
“The
main thing is, we tried,” she said, glancing at Emily in the bathroom mirror as
they got ready to go watch the judging.
Emily
rolled her eyes. “You sound like Mom.” She dragged a comb through her blonde
curls and singsonged, “it doesn’t matter if you win or lose, it’s how you play
the game.”
April
grinned and dug through her makeup bag. “Okay, I know. I hate it when she talks
like that too.” She found a tube of mascara and leaned in close to the mirror
to coat her lashes with it.
“You’re
really pretty,” Emily said, watching.
“Thanks.
So are you.”
“Not
like you are.”
“You’re
not as old as I am either,” April pointed out. “You’ve still got some growing to
do.”
“How
do you know if a boy likes you?” Emily plucked at the teeth of her comb with
her thumbnail.
“Why?
Is there someone you like?”
Emily
shrugged. “I don’t know, maybe. I think he likes me back, but I’m not sure. How
did you know Wade liked you?”
“I
guess from the way he acted around me,” April said hesitantly. It wasn’t very
helpful, but this was new territory. There wasn’t a time when Wade hadn’t liked
her and she hadn’t liked him. Stretching back as far as she could remember, it
had been the two of them. A + W.
She
hadn’t broached the meeting with Pastor John with Scott. He had been in a sour
mood when they left the church and April was reluctant to bring it up. Maybe it
wasn’t such an important thing; she could do with learning to be more flexible.
Besides, Snow Valley was not their home and would never be their home. As much
as she loved it, Wade cast too long a shadow for her to ever feel comfortable
living here if she was married to Scott.
When. When she was married to Scott. Not if .
Emily
was still waiting for an answer. “I guess you know he likes you if he pays attention
to you,” April finally said.
Someone
at the elementary school had decorated the teacher’s lounge with a horrifying
collection of Santa figurines, but the gingerbread houses more than made up for
it. The long rectangular tables were packed with entries and the room was thick
with the smell of frosting, gingerbread, and chocolate.
April
leaned in to look through the windows of a house. Flames. Someone had made
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