Chapter 5 - Out In The Cold
Connie looked like a cornered animal. Realizing that the entire town was witnessing her ultimate disgrace, she snatched her designer purse off the pew, hitched up her expensive gown, and ran toward the double oak doors.
As she pushed through the heavy doors and fled down the stone steps into the crisp autumn afternoon, a thunderous, spontaneous standing ovation erupted inside the little country church. Guests stood on their feet, cheering, clapping, and wiping tears from their cheeks.
Jake reached down and pulled me to my feet, wrapping me in a fierce, protective embrace. ""We did it, my love,"" he whispered into my hair. ""Your dad did it.""
Pastor Miller raised his hands, gently calming the ecstatic crowd. When the church once again settled into reverent stillness, the pastor held up the certified cashier's check that had fallen from the Bible.
""Gene has one more thing to deliver,"" Pastor Miller said, a warm, beaming smile spreading across his face.
He handed the check to Dad. With remarkable coordination that testified to hundreds of grueling hours of secret physical therapy, Dad took the paper in his left hand, turned his wheelchair toward me, and held it out.
I looked down at the paper through a haze of tears. It wasn't for five thousand dollars.
The check was made out to Haley and Jake Thornton in the amount of Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars.
""Dad... no,"" I cried, falling back to my knees and pressing my forehead against his knee. ""I can't take this. You need this for your care, for your therapy, for your life!""
Dad reached down, his left hand gently cradling my chin, lifting my gaze to meet his. His eyes were swimming with tears, but they were the brightest, purest tears of joy I had ever seen.
""Promise... kept,"" Dad said, each word deliberate, clear, and ringing with triumphant love. ""My... girl... deserves... everything.""
Jake knelt beside me, taking Dad's hand in both of ours. ""Gene, thank you. Thank you for being the man I strive to be every single day.""
Dad squeezed Jake's shoulder, nodding with profound respect. ""Take... care... of... her.""
""With my life, sir,"" Jake replied solemnly.
Pastor Miller smiled broadly, looking out over the emotionally exhausted yet radiant congregation. ""Now, where were we? Ah, yes. Who gives this woman to be married to this man?""
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Dad sat up as straight as his spine would allow, placed my hand firmly into Jake’s waiting palm, looked Pastor Miller in the eye, and spoke with unmistakable clarity:
""I do. Forever.""
