Page 41 of The Inn Dilemma (Give a Bookish Girl a Biker)
Nova
W atching Dad’s face as Mom walked down the aisle was the most heartwarming thing I’ve ever witnessed. Their marriage has grown leaps and bounds over the last few months. With a lot of prayer, counseling, and intentional communication, their failing relationship has made a complete one-eighty.
The vow renewal ceremony at the Rocosa Community Church went off without a hitch.
I stood as Mom’s maid-of-honor, Reese and Roxy as her bridesmaids.
Chris was Dad’s man-of-honor, Holt and Des the other groomsmen.
My research on vow renewals didn’t show many ceremonies with a wedding party, but after talking with my parents, they told me they wanted us all included.
Now we’re at the Denver Performing Arts Center, which is decorated to the nines…
and then some. White tulle is draped across the ceiling with hundreds of twinkle lights.
Flower arrangements of varying colors and styles decorate the tables covered in white linen tablecloths.
Ea ch chair has its own silver cover with an expertly crafted bow.
Over two hundred guests mill about, eating, dancing, and talking. Mom, Dad, and I have eaten our fill of this place’s catered delicacies and the wedding cake that took Mom and me five days to choose.
“I knew you were amazing and creative, but you have completely outdone yourself,” Holt says in a low voice in my ear as he leads me around the ballroom’s dance floor.
“It was a good test run for next month, I think.”
Holt hums low in the back of his throat. “Just three more weeks until I can call you ‘wife.’” His hot breath in my ear sends a shiver racing down my spine.
I look up into his handsome face and trace his scar with the tip of my finger.
“I don’t think I could be more proud to be your wife.
My hero.” I overflow with gratitude, and I tuck my face against his chest. Holt leads me around the dance floor, humming along to the song “Perfect” by Ed Sheeran. My insides turn gooey at his sweetness.
As the song “Perfect” fades away, “Butterfly Kisses” by Bob Carlisle starts playing. Holt looks behind me, a gentle smile on his face.
“I think this dance is for you two,” he says, twirling me into Dad’s arms.
Dad nods his thanks, and we sway to the song I listened to countless times and played in my room in hopes that one day my relationship with Dad could heal.
“Do you like the song?” Dad asks.
I pinch my lips closed, trying to hold back the waterworks that are ready to flow down my cheeks. “I love it.”
He smiles down at me. “I do too.” Dad places a kiss on my forehead. The broken girl inside of me heals a little more.
“Did you pick it?” I ask.
“I may have made sure the DJ had it on today’s playlist.”
“Thank you.”
Dad shakes his head. “No, Nova. Thank you.” He removes his hand from mine and motions around the ballroom.
“For all of this. I don’t think the most expensive event planner could have pulled off what you did today.
It couldn’t have been more perfect.” Dad wraps both arms around me and we sway to the song.
“I couldn’t be more proud of the woman you’ve become. ”
“You’re going to make me cry.”
Dad gently tucks my head against his chest. “It’s okay to cry sometimes, Nova girl. I was wrong to ever say otherwise. And I’m sorry I ever did.”
I don’t think my heart could be more full. “Butterfly Kisses” fades into “You Make My Dreams Come True” by Daryl Hall and John Oates. Dad releases me, and I dance my way over to the biker table, motioning for the whole group and Reese to come out onto the dance floor.
Only Maya and Roxy get up.
“Come on, guys, you know you want to.”
Holt comes up from behind me, putting his hand on the small of my back. “Yeah, come on. Just one song.”
They look around at each other, all shrugging and giving in to our request.
Our group takes over the dance floor. The other guests laugh and clap as some of us give our all into some ridiculous dance moves while others awkwardly sway offbeat. Mom comes out and spins me around. We throw our heads back and give in to the moment of pure excitement and joy.
My life is far from perfect. My relationship with my parents has healed a lot, but we still have our struggles.
A lifetime of hurts and misunderstandings from poor communication will not heal in just a year.
But with our lives now centered on Christ, I know that even the hardest days won’t break us.
Because it’s the hard days where we need to lean into Jesus more.
It’s in those hard days where we grow closer into becoming the people God made us to be.
Just over a year ago, I called myself the prodigal daughter.
Because that’s exactly who I was. A girl who ran away from home and made countless mistakes on the journey to finding herself.
I gave myself away to guys who only wanted to use me, and I never felt that I truly belonged with any of them.
But today I can confidently say I know who I am, and most importantly, know who I belong to.
I know with every ounce of my heart I am a child of God who has been redeemed and restored.