Page 116 of Chasing the Dream

“Maria! My mom is standing right there!”

Gail just laughed. “Hey. I might be older, but I remember what those days were like. Your father and I used to—”

Morgan held up her hand in the mirror. “Mom. Please. Don’t.”

“I feel like that about Matt too. No matter how much time we spend together, I always want there to be more.”

Just then, the music started, and it was their cue to leave. Maria and Gail took turns giving her a hug, taking care not to wrinkle her dress, and then they sailed out the door.

Morgan glanced at herself one more time. “This is it. In a few minutes, I’ll be Mrs. Morgan Matthews.”

Then her dad, Pete, poked his head in. “We’re up, sweetheart.”

She smoothed her hands down the front of her dress, went to him, and clasped his outstretched hand.

“I can’t believe my little girl is getting married, and I’m glad it’s Gabe. You’ve loved him for a long time.”

Morgan looked at him with surprise. She’d never divulged her crush on Gabe to her parents because she’d been afraid it would somehow get back to him. Then, after the Matthews had moved to Arizona, it had seemed irrelevant. She’d resigned herself to living her life without Gabe, and she’d rarely spoken of him. Apparently, she was terrible at hiding her true feelings.

Pete chuckled. “You’re our daughter. You didn’t have to say anything. We just knew.” He squeezed her hand. “C’mon. Your groom is waiting.”

When they rounded the corner into the sanctuary, a pianist struck up the traditional bridal march. All eyes turned toward her, but she focused on the most important person in the church, her groom.

Gabe stood at the altar, looking as handsome as she’d ever seen him in a black tuxedo and polished dress shoes. He smiled wide when he saw her and gazed at her like she was the only person in the room. He looked as happy as she felt, and her heart leapt with joy.

Pete led her up the aisle while she fought the urge to kick off her heels and run into Gabe’s arms. She smiled wider at the thought of it. Cameras clicked, and lights flashed, but she kept her eyes focused on the man she loved.

Soon her dad was placing her hand in Gabe’s. He kissed her softly on the cheek and left her there.

The ceremony was simple and beautiful, just like they’d planned it. Up until now, Morgan hadn’t shed a tear, but when Maria went to the podium and began to read her assigned passage, Morgan almost lost it. They’d chosen the traditional wedding passage, which began, Love is patient, love is kind, and Morgan reflected on how patient she’d been. She’d waited years to be with Gabe, and now the wait was over. She was finally with the man she loved, and her heart was full.

“It always protects, always trusts…” Maria read, her voice calm and clear.

Always protects. That was Gabe in a nutshell. He’d protected her as a teenager, and he was still doing it. It was in his nature to protect the ones he loved, and it was just one of the qualities she admired in him.

“Always hopes…” said Maria.

Hope. Morgan had a great many hopes for them and their future. They’d recently discussed having children, although neither of them was quite ready yet. Still, she was glad they both wanted kids, and she couldn’t wait to hold their child (or children) in her arms someday.

“Always perseveres.”

She had no doubt their love would persevere. After all, it had spanned several years already, albeit from afar. But they wouldn’t be apart anymore. She’d moved in with him shortly after their romantic weekend in Sedona a year ago. At first, Maria had put up a fuss, but when Morgan had reminded her that she’d only be ten minutes away versus across the country, she’d finally stopped arguing.

As it was, Morgan probably spent more time with Maria now than she had before. She and Gabe often double-dated with Maria and Matt, and the four of them made regular trips to Flagstaff to visit Brenda and Cal. Only now, she and Gabe got to sleep in the same room together and didn’t have to sneak around to steal a kiss.

On one of their visits to Flagstaff, they’d hiked Fatman’s Loop and found the rock where they’d kissed for the first time. She’d been shocked when Gabe had gotten down on one knee and proposed to her there. While getting engaged on a rock wouldn’t appeal to everyone, Morgan counted it as one of the most romantic moments of her life—until today.

When the priest granted permission for Gabe to kiss the bride, she couldn’t have been more excited. As expected, they both got a bit carried away and only broke apart when members of the audience started laughing.

After the requisite picture-taking, they were whisked away in a white stretch limo, along with their wedding party: Maria and Matt, and John and Sara (college friends of Gabe’s and Morgan’s respectively).

Morgan and Gabe sat as close as possible, holding hands and gazing at each other while trying not to ignore their guests. She knew instinctively how much he wanted to be alone with her, and she felt the same. But first, they had a party to attend—theirs!

The wedding reception took place at a nearby country club that her dad belonged to. The grounds were lovely, and the spring flowers were in bloom, providing a beautiful backdrop for a memorable day.

While they stood in the reception line, greeting their guests one by one, she was happy to see that two of her new co-workers had come. Morgan had continued working for Gabe for a few months after Dana had decided not to return, but then one of his more experienced employees had taken over the position. Morgan had been fine with it, but Gabe had taken some convincing.

“We see each other all the time, and we’re getting married soon. We don’t have to work together too,” she’d argued.