Page 85 of In This Moment

He was on his feet now, pulling her into his arms and holding her the way he had longed to hold her since he saw her outside his office. Alicia Harris was going to be his wife! Wendell looked at the sky and wondered what he’d ever done for God to bless him so fully.

Then he did something he’d refrained from doing until now. He put his hands alongside her face and let himself get lost in her eyes. Then slowly he erased the distance between them and he kissed her.

Nothing had ever felt so good.

And suddenly they were both laughing and crying and staring at each other. “We’re getting married!” Alicia looked at the ring in her hand.

“Here. I’ll help you.” Wendell’s cold hands shook, but it didn’t matter. The ring was a perfect fit.

As soon as it was on her finger, they heard cheering in the distance and they looked up to see Jordy and Leah, Alexandria and Darrell running their way. This was the part Wendell had worked out with his oldest son. After class got out, Jordy and Leah went to the middle school and picked up their younger siblings.

All so they could hide near the trees and film Wendell’s proposal.

Now Darrell led the way as his four children ran into the bleachers and piled into a group hug. The joy of the moment was so great Wendell teared up again. He grinned at his kids. “She said yes!”

“We know!” Alexandria hugged Alicia. “You’re going to be our mom, now!”

Alicia smiled through her tears and kissed the young girl’s cheek. “I can’t wait, Alexandria.” She glanced at Wendell and her happy expression deepened. “Truly... I cannot wait.”

Jordy hugged his father. “Way to go, Dad.”

“Thanks.” Wendell winked at him. “And thanks for the encouragement at Christmastime.”

“No problem.” Jordy smiled at Alicia. “I thought he should’ve done this a long time ago.”

They all laughed and hugged again.

Wendell held on to every moment, every word. He wanted to remember this as long as he lived. The way it felt to be so loved, so happy.

Wendell kept his arms wrapped around the people he loved most. God had done this. God, his mighty Father and Savior, who Wendell would forever praise and whose truth Wendell would always share with whoever wanted a second chance at life. The One Wendell would trust with his children and his career and his future. And Alicia Harris. The woman he was going to marry.

God had given him all of this. And Wendell would defend Him until his final breath.

Whatever the cost.