Dancing in the Light

Book Series: Keane Family Saga  

Publishing Date: 2006

Author: Anita Stansfield

Publisher: Covenant Communications, Inc.

Category: LDS Contemporary Romance

Point of View: Third Person Limited- Wade Morrison

Chapter Count: 21

Page Count: 423

For Nathan, my big brother, who chose door number three. I love you and miss you.

Chapter 1

Salt Lake City, Utah

     Wade Morrison, his wife Elena and their newborn baby girl (whom they named Rebecca) live with Alex Keane, Wade's half-brother, and his ideal family in a 150 year old house that once belonged to Alex's great-great grandfather. Wade enters and Alex greets him asking after Elena and the new baby back at the hospital where Wade just returned. Wade reports it went like clockwork...except for one little annoying problem that has been troubling Wade since Elena sat him down and gave him the bad news back when they were courting. As he explains to Alex:

     Despite being in perfect health, ever since she was a youth, good girl Elena always had this strong impression from the spirit that her time on earth would be short, that she would die young (cue the Billy Joel song). Wade married her anyway. Since Elena didn't do everyone a favor and die in childbirth today, like Wade was anticipating, he's back to stressing out over just how much time he has left with his precious Elena. Alex assures Wade, when it does happen, both he and God will be with him. Wade thanks him and excuses himself to go to bed.

    And because this is what real men do in an Anita Stansfield novel, Wade goes to his room and has a good cry.

    A few days pass. Elena returns from the hospital, Wade meets up with an old friend who never heard the story of Wade's true parentage and, just in case the reader hasn't either, Wade wastes a few pages telling him. Wade spends some quality time with eight-year-old Barrett, his favorite cancer-surviving nephew with whom he shares a deep bond since it was Wade's bone marrow transplant that saved Barrett's life. Entering the room, he kisses Elena who is in bed nursing the baby. Elena tucks Rebecca into her bassinet and they all retire to bed.

   Lying in each other's arms, Elena laughs softly declaring she is the happiest woman in the world. Wade agrees. Life is complete.

   Very early in the a.m., Wade is startled awake by a crying baby while Elena is completely motionless, her body cold. She is dead.

   Wade lets out a bloodcurdling scream.

Chapter 2

    Alex comes tearing into the room. Good thing he's an ER doctor as his medical training kicks in. The necessary phone calls are made including one to Neil Keane, Wade and Alex's biological father. Brad and Marilyn (Wade's legal father and biological mother) also arrive to help support and comfort Wade who is having a breakdown.

   Jane, Alex's wife who is also nursing her own new arrival, takes charge of caring for Rebecca. Wade calms down enough to return to bed and get a little more sleep while the entire family rallies around, cleaning up this latest disaster.

   Later, Wade talks to Neil who drives him to the mortuary so Wade can make arrangments for the burial and funeral. He's not very excited about it.

Chapter 3

    Turns out Elena died of a cerebral hemorrhage. She went peacefully, no pain, no warning, nothing anyone could've done. While Wade finds some peace in this he still has a life to live. He talks with Barrett who cries with his Uncle Wade who is grateful this young boy is so close to the spirit since his ordeal took him to the other side of the veil, as he tells Wade, Aunt Elena is in a better place. He KNOWS. He's BEEN there. Wade tells Alex and both men marvel.

   Wade grieves some more, gets through the funeral and wonders if he'll ever get past this.

Chapter 4

     Wade talks and cries with Neil, settles into life at Alex's house and begins another semester of school at the U in preparation to becoming a doctor. Despite Rebecca having plenty of caregivers, Wade decides he should be the one to take Rebecca in for her two month checkup and immunizations. Even if he is the only single father in a waiting room full of mothers and their kids.

   The LPN who does the checkup is named Laura. She has long wavy dark blonde hair and a quirk for wearing kid themed colorful scrubs and shoes which means she really enjoys her job and the little ones she gets to work with. Wade appreciates her tender, loving, nurturing care with his motherless daughter and is silently grateful.

   Laura casually comments how they don't see many single dads here at the clinic, is Mom working? Wade swallows hard and admits the sad sad reality of his new life. Laura gasps while tears tumble down Wade face.

   As she's handing him tissues, Wade notices Laura is wearing a wedding ring.

    DANG IT!!!

  He says nothing while Laura recognizes Wade's CTR ring adding she's LDS too.

   DOUBLE DANG IT!!!!

   Back home, Wade nearly has a panic attack when he realizes Rebecca's favorite blanket is missing. Turns out he left it at the doctor's office. Laura is happy to drop it off for him and they have a nice chat over the threshold about this beautiful old home and Wade's connection to it. Laura again expresses her empathy over Wade's loss and asks if there's anything she can do?

   Since Wade will continue to believe Laura is married for many many more chapters to come, no, sorry Laura, there's nothing you can do for our poor hero. See you at the next checkup.

Chapter 5

     After many hints and blind date suggestions from well meaning ward members, Wade groans and goes online to start perusing the LDS dating websites. As he admits to Alex, while creating his profile, Elena did mention once or twice that she wanted him to marry again after she was gone. Besides, their future children would need a mother.

    Christmas comes and goes, Wade's younger brother Brian leaves on a mission and Rebecca has another checkup at the clinic. This time Laura is wearing Wizard of Oz-themed scrubs complete with glittery red shoes. She is delighted to see them. They chat pleasantly. Wade shares Barrett's amazing battle with cancer. Laura chokes up over the story, finishes the checkup and they part ways again. Wade makes sure to remember the blanket this time.

    Wade comes home after bravely attending a mid-singles dance which was so pathetic he had to leave. He goes online to check his inbox and has much better luck with the latest profile suggestions. A dark haired woman named Marina appears to be everything Wade is looking for in an eternal companion: brilliant smile, well-rounded character, works for a travel agency in downtown Salt Lake, loves the outdoors, teaches the youth in Sunday School and likes to spend her after-work hours at the Crossroads Mall food court reading a good book. They exchange a few emails. Wade informs her he's a widower with a baby daughter. Marina suggests they get together sometime to meet IRL.

Chapter 6

    Already infatuated by this incredible woman, Wade impulsively decides to pack up Rebecca and track Marina down at the mall food court. He introduces himself and he and Marina end up spending the rest of the day together. 

   Still on the date with Marina and his daughter, Wade's cell phone rings. Neil needs help with a flat tire. Marina doesn't mind at all tagging along. Neil is surprised and impressed with Marina who is puzzled at the different last names. Wade explains later and, to his utter relief, Marina is perfectly accepting of the unusual circumstances of his parentage.

   They proceed to spend the next several months seeing each other. Wade has never been so happy in his life. He just KNOWS he's found his soulmate. Except Rebecca keeps coming down with colds and earaches requiring more than one trip to the clinic where he's forced to see and interact with the untouchable (MARRIED!) Laura. 

   By the end of the chapter, Wade presents Marina with an engagement ring. Marina squeals her acceptance. Wade isn't moving too fast, is he?

Chapter 7

    To celebrate Rebecca's first birthday, the family throws a big party which will include Marina's family so the two clans can meet. But for some reason they don't show. Marina shrugs, embarrassed, while Wade recalls the few times he has gotten together with Marina's family, there was a lot of dysfunctional vibes led by Marina's overcompensating mother, Julia (the bride at every wedding, corpse at every funeral type of woman).

    He takes Rebecca in for another checkup, deliriously happy to inform Laura he's getting married next week. A brief look of disappointment crosses Laura's face and is gone so fast Wade decides he only imagined it. Laura congratulates him and they part ways again.

    When the two families finally do get together, Wade is shocked and surprised at Julia's condescending attitude when she learns Wade has TWO fathers because good Mormon families don't have affairs! Marina and Wade excuse themselves to discuss this new development in their relationship as Marina defends her mother's attitude while Wade is already having second thoughts about this wedding.

    As Julia makes it clear she has no intention of attending a temple sealing, (being in the same room with such people is just asking too much!) Marina and Wade have another talk. This means Marina can't marry Wade unless he explains to his family why only some of them won't be welcome in the temple sealing room. The bride can't be married without her mother present and mother comes first. Appalled, Wade refuses. Choking back her emotion, Marina excuses herself.

   With the wedding in two days Wade talks to Alex again about his feelings and finally comes to his senses. If Marina can't put their marriage first instead of her parents, then the wedding is off. He takes back the ring. Marina stares at him in shock as Wade leaves the room.

Chapter 8

   Ignoring the near constant ring of the landline telephone, Wade stays in bed, letting Alex and Jane make his excuses to Marina. They completely understand and support Wade's decision to call off the wedding.

   Declaring he needs (another) good cry, Wade locks himself in the bathroom and drowns himself in the shower.

    Realizing he has several days off and no honeymoon trip to take, Alex and Jane declare they are ALL taking a family vacation. Right now. Everybody pack your bags and get in the car! Somehow, Alex got the days off, the hotel rooms arranged and the itinerary in place: Las Vegas, California, Disneyland, San Diego, Sea World, the Zoo (um, it's the middle of summer do they really expect to do all these attractions in one week?)

    They listen to Collective Soul in the car (Finally! Some decent music in an Anita Stansfield novel!) "December" and "Where the River Flows" but instead of head banging to the tune, Wade sheds a few tears over the poignancy of these soul moving lyrics.

    Wade is such a loser.

    January arrives and Rebecca turns 18 months. Wade takes her in for her checkup where Laura is wearing Mickey Mouse ears and matching scrubs. She makes Rebecca giggle during the exam, letting her try on the ears while Wade feels like his heart is going to break because Laura is A MARRIED WOMAN, DANG IT!! To drive the knife in further, Laura asks after the new Mrs. Morrison. Wade sadly informs her he called off the wedding and leaves it at that.

   Not many days later, Wade is asked to come over to Brad and Marilyn's house for more Anita Stansfield drama. Neil requests Alex come too. The two men need to be here because, tragically,  Marilyn has...wait for it....breast cancer. She's already scheduled for surgery.

    And, no, Wade does not handle the news well. Good thing Alex is driving the car home.

Chapter 9

    Of course it gets worse. Wade is called over to the house where a bed ridden Marilyn announces, with the mastectomy out of the way, she's not going through with the chemo and treatments. She just wants to die. Neil leads a distraught Wade out of the room so he can show him something. Turns out Marilyn's dramatics is due to an incident that occurred in church several weeks prior to her diagnosis when Marilyn taught a Relief Society lesson on eternal marriage in which she shared her story of adultery: overcoming sin, finding forgiveness and how that strengthened her marriage to Neil along with her testimony of the gospel.
Apparently, an anonymous woman in the ward was not impressed by the lesson and sent Marilyn a letter expressing her self-righteous feelings along with her own judgement on Marilyn's eternal salvation. 

    Wade groans, rants a bit and leaves to share this latest issue with Alex. He also tells Neil and Roxanne.
    Brad reports to Wade later that Roxanne paid her own visit to Marilyn bringing her a nice gift and spending a good hour having a woman to woman talk after which Marilyn consented to the cancer treatments. Another miracle.

   One night, while doing his ER rounds, Alex is called into an examination room to find Marilyn. She's here, not because of cancer side effects but her gall bladder, as it turns out, needs to be removed. It's a risky surgery. Just one more pickle for Wade's "crap sandwich" that is this entire novel. He finds a quiet corner and has (yet another) good cry.

Chapter 10

    Marilyn gets worse. Fearing they might be losing her, Brad calls Wade who comes over to the hospital. They have a long talk where Brad expresses his admiration for Neil Keane, who is stopping by later, the man who taught Brad what happens when a man doesn't treat his wife the way she deserves. Both cry manly tears before going downstairs to the hospital cafeteria to grab a bite to eat. Back in the hallway, outside Marilyn's room, Neil arrives and Brad makes a graceful exit so father and son can talk to Marilyn. For Neil, this is only the second time he's seen the mother of his illegitimate son but the first time they've really had a chance to talk since before Wade was born. Wade observes Neil and Marilyn who reminisce about the day Marilyn left him. She didn't know at the time that she was pregnant, as she relates to Neil and Wade, she just woke up that morning with the strong impression that someone from the other side of the veil (Wade) was kicking her, telling her it was time to go back to her penitent husband and the family responsibilities awaiting her. She did. Now they all understand.

    Neil and Wade exit so both men can have a good cry. This isn't getting old, is it?

Chapter 11

   Wade and Neil talk again for several pages outside Marilyn's hospital room until Brad returns with two of  Wade's siblings so they can all talk some more about the past, blended families, family dysfunction, forgiveness and repentance. Neil and Brad say it again, for Wade's sake-WE HAVE NO REGRETS! Wade finds Alex in the ER so they can grab dinner at the cafeteria and so poor Alex can see Wade blubber some more. Wade is telling Alex all about this latest miracle, watering his plate with his tears when, suddenly, Laura interrupts them. Did something happen to Rebecca? Wade reassures her everything is fine. Laura exits, but now Alex knows who Laura is and he's impressed-what a woman! Wade loses it. He's turning into his father, lusting after a married woman! He groans while Alex just tells him to buck up and start dating other women again to get his mind off her. That shuts Wade up.

Chapter 12

    Wade and Marilyn rehash the old adultery issue. Marilyn tells Wade about a special box back at the house she's been saving for him all these years. Wade finds and opens the box later that day, alone. The box is filled with photo albums, keepsakes and a letter telling Wade who his real father is and to try and find him, if possible. Wade calls Neil. He comes right over so they can cry and pour over the contents of the box together. 

    Wade stays busy over the next few weeks but he's sooo lonely. Marilyn makes a miraculous recovery so by the following fast Sunday, she is feeling well enough to stand and bear her testimony basically letting the anonymous woman in the congregation know that she has forgiven her that upsetting letter she received and is now completely at peace with her past sins. Oh, and by the way, she's been fighting cancer all this time. Wade just sits and marvels at this amazing woman he calls Mother.

    Then, one day, Wade checks the latest dating profile suggestions and stops cold. Laura posted a profile?! But that would mean....She's not married anymore! The Red Sea has parted for Wade. Taking his cue from You've Got Mail, Wade decides to send Laura an email expressing his interest in getting to know her better but signing it "Barrett's Uncle" to hide his identity. Why he would do this is beyond me.

Chapter 13

     Laura responds that same day. Several days pass exchanging emails. Marina calls but Wade will never take her back. He hangs up on her and goes back to composing another "Barrett's Uncle" email to Laura, because Wade is creepy like that. He talks to Alex and Jane requesting dance lessons (lest the reader forget this book has "Dancing" in the title yet so far everyone's been too busy weeping to find time for dancing) and tags along with them to the nearest LDS church cultural hall where the majority of the time is spent with Wade watching Alex and Jane demonstrate various dances and listening to them reminisce about how they met. (Wade doesn't feel like a third wheel at all!) 

    Many days pass with more emails between Laura and "Barrett's Uncle" who confides he's taking Arthur Murray so when they meet IRL he can show her a good time. Laura can't wait.

    Feeling almost giddy, Wade takes Rebecca to the clinic with the specific request Laura be the one to see them. He can hardly keep his secret from Laura who is wearing pink pig-themed scrubs and pink shoes today with a plastic pig figure hanging from her stethoscope. When she asks the purpose for their visit today, Wade tells her he only made this appointment as an excuse to ask her out. Laura is astonished, she doesn't even know his first name (It's Wade!!!) Laura laughs and accepts the date.
    In the car, Wade sings along with the radio playing one of his favorite Collective Soul songs, "Better Now," and for once he doesn't cry.
    Wade might not be crying but back at the clinic, for the first time in this novel, we get another POV-Laura's-who smiles at the thought she has a date before bursting into tears because it's been so long since any man noticed her. She locks herself in an empty exam room, has a good cry, then she can smile again. She is still on the clock, after all.
   On the date (sans Rebecca who is home with a babysitter) at the nice restaurant, Wade and Laura discuss many topics. Wade tells her how Elena died and how Elena and her parents had the foresight to sign Elena up at a young age for the best life insurance policy she could get so Wade would be taken care of. Looking at Laura across the table, Wade feels truly alive for the first time since Elena's death.

Chapter 14

     The dinner date continues. As their meals are set before them, we finally learn Laura's last name (Dove) whatever her married name was is never revealed but the jerk she married was named Randall. They were married in the temple but after Randall's true nature was revealed, the marriage was quickly annulled. She's been single these last two years. The same amount of time Wade has been a widower with his nearly two year old daughter.
    Wade: *headdesk!!*
    Laura also informs him she already had the sealing cancelled (impossible as a woman can't request a temple sealing cancellation until she has another man waiting in the wings to be sealed to!) Wade tells her why he called off his wedding to Marina-two days before the event. Both discover they share many common interests, including a love of the Salt Lake valley with the desire to spend the rest of their lives here. 
   POV begins shifting between Wade and Laura with no indication between the paragraphs making for poor editing. Wade and Laura continue to talk like they've known each other forever. Outside the restaurant, they walk and Wade kisses her. Laura responds eagerly and they proceed to DTF (define the relationship). Just in case anyone is wondering, both have strong convictions about the ABSOLUTE WRONGNESS of premarital sex (DUH!) and waste several paragraphs discussing it. With that out of the way, Laura reveals what the LDS dating scene has been like for a single woman such as herself and her friends as they discovered: most single, LDS men will test their date asking how she feels about "going all the way" on the first date. If she clutches her pearls, he pretends to share her feelings but usually ends up dumping her and moving on. If she's okay with it then he'll proceed to take advantage of her, pushing more and more with every date until she breaks up with him.
    Wade agrees, this behavior is deplorable, and he would never take advantage of her like that. Laura believes him. He walks Laura to her front door, gives her a quick peck on the cheek, and they say goodnight-after Wade asks for her phone number.
    Inside, Laura leans against her front door and sighs. She is in love!
    That's when she sees her computer and remembers she has an email reply to compose and send to "Barrett's Uncle" and falls to her knees in ironic prayer. She can't be in love with two men! Heaven help her!

Chapter 15

     Entering the house, Wade declares to Alex and Jane he is in love and ready to marry Laura! Not wanting to waste any time, he goes upstairs and calls Laura so they can spend several pages talking about Laura's friends, how they all grew up in dysfunctional LDS families and went on to suffer troubled marriages of domestic abuse-one best friend died thanks to hubby's treatment. Another committed suicide. Rochelle was engaged but when he turned out to be another jerk, she got so bitter, she left the church and is currently the last friend from her old group still alive. They talk frequently so Rochelle can fill Laura's head with doubts that wickedness (casual sex) really is happiness. Does Laura have any issues? 
    Wait till the next book. 
    Wade is glad to hear the coping strategies Laura has been using all these years to stay strong in the gospel and maintain a healthy psychological state of mind-prayer, scripture study, ice cream and having the remote all to oneself can really make up for a bad annulled marriage. Wade waits patiently for Laura, who cries softly over the phone, to compose herself.  He assures her he will always be there for her. He reminds her they made a second date for Saturday. Comforted by that thought, Laura is able to hang up.
     In the middle of the night, Wade wakes up in a panic. "Barrett's Uncle" is still communicating with Laura who doesn't know! He checks his computer inbox and bursts into another round of sobs as he reads Laura's latest email, "I've met someone so...goodbye!" Just off his last rotation, Alex finds him, still sobbing and is a little annoyed Wade would deceive such a nice woman as Laura. He'd better invite her over to the house sometime and come clean. Wade agrees, finally going back to bed around four in the morning. 
   Because Wade isn't creepy at all, he stops by Laura's house just a few hours later (she is dressed in work scrubs, Care Bears, just about to leave for her shift) to give her a rose and a hug wishing her a good day. Laura asks him over tonight so she can cook dinner for him. In the car, Wade laughs out loud, everything in his life is going his way. He's never been so happy!

Chapter 16

     At the clinic Laura marvels over how much better life is when a woman has a man to share it with. A dozen red roses show up later that morning. While all her female colleagues ooh and ah, Laura has to excuse herself to the ladies room so she can lock herself in a stall and sob with happiness.
    Wade shows up later that day to talk to her in an empty exam room so he can confesses he's "Barrett's Uncle." Laura presses a hand over her mouth before admitting her relief. 
      I wanted it to be you. I wanted it to be you so badly.
     Since they are still on for dinner tonight, Laura makes a quick stop by the grocery store. When the doorbell rings, Wade is standing on the threshold with a carton of gourmet chocolate ice cream. She invites him in. He is quick to declare his undying love for her which makes Laura cry.
   Over dinner, Laura tells him about growing up in Las Vegas in her semi-active LDS family while Wade's upbringing was much more positive, aside from the fact that (might as well get it out of the way!) he was born out-of-wedlock.
   As if we haven't already guessed it by now, Laura admits to Wade she's struggled her whole adult life with depression. Wade assures her it's nothing they can't handle.
    At least until the next book.
    Looking at her CD collection, Wade picks out Collective Soul and urges Laura into a dance. They move to "Better Now" and "She Gathers Rain" (not the most dance-able songs). Laura can't believe how happy she is-this man who makes her life better with every passing hour.

Chapter 17

     After their dance, Wade and Laura stuff themselves with ice cream before Laura breaks out all her personal journals and makes Wade (and the reader) read all the entries in which she pours out her heart, her growing infatuation over this incredible, widowed, nameless man who keeps coming to the clinic with this adorable child, "He cries all the time! It's soooo romantic!" but then "OH NOs! He's MET SOMEONE and I'm spiraling down into my dark place now. Bye!"
    Wade slams the journal shut and takes Laura into his arms. For once nobody is crying but each are equally relieved they finally found each other. They make plans for their next date and Wade takes his leave.
   With Rebecca in tow, Wade and Laura stroll the mall (the one with the indoor carousel) do a little shopping, eat lunch in the food court, buy Rebecca presents and talk about everything under the sun. Wade is definitely in love. For Laura the feeling is mutual.

Chapter 18

     Wade comes over with Rebecca the next day to pick Laura up so she can come over to the house for Sunday dinner and get to know Alex and the gang better. The entire family welcomes Laura with open arms while she is quick to establish bonds with the kids, especially Barrett-the courageous cancer survivor. Would Laura like to see the scrapbooks of that horrible time in their lives that Jane put together? She would?! Well then...and once again the reader is treated to yet another unnecessary retelling of a story they already know. 
    After dessert, Laura reads Rebecca a story until she falls asleep and Wade takes Laura home. It's like they're already married. They spend many pages DTRing. Laura has no immediate family who would be able to come to her (second) temple wedding, IF this is where this relationship is going. Her only close friend is Rochelle who lives out of state and is hardly bridesmaid material. Laura gets down on herself. If Wade knew just how dysfunctional her family is, how many years she's struggled with depression, he'd renege on this marriage proposal. Wade reminds her his own back story isn't exactly ideal.
      Okay. Let's get married! Wade and Laura set the date for this Saturday in the Salt Lake Temple. Why wait?

Chapter 19

    Alex and Jane are a little surprised when Wade returns to announce his rather spur-of-the-moment wedding plans. Nobody bats an eye that this temple sealing will take place in one of the busiest temples in the world, where a date to reserve a temple sealing room must be made weeks in advance. A sudden cancellation in one of the reception rooms at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building (JSM) allows them to go ahead with their plans of holding the wedding luncheon/reception there. Only in the world of Anita Stansfield could every single one of Wade's family members and close friends be miraculously available to come to this instant wedding after Wade extends the invites over the phone. Both Wade and Laura's bishops and stake presidents can accommodate them for their temple marriage interviews. Wade takes Laura to Brad and Marilyn's house so she can be simultaneously introduced and so they can drop the bomb that they're getting married this Saturday. Brad and Marilyn squeal and agree they wouldn't miss this for the world.
       Do these people not have lives?
      Laura leaves Rochelle a voice message on her answering machine letting her know of her upcoming wedding. When Wade picks her up so they can do some last minute wedding shopping (Laura needs a wedding dress) she is very upset because her drunk mom called to say, no, they won't be coming to the wedding. Wade tells her not to let it bother her. 
      There will, of course, be dancing at the wedding luncheon so Wade and Laura join Alex and Jane at the church cultural hall so they can practice. Lying in her bed, alone, later that night, Laura tries very hard not to let her depression return and overtake her.

Chapter 20

    Of course, Marina shows up on Wade's doorstep one evening begging Wade to take her back. He informs her he's getting married to the most incredible woman in the world and shows Marina back out the door just in time to turn around and find Laura standing there. She overheard the entire conversation and can't believe she's actually worthy of such sentiments. They hold hands and kiss.
   Back at her own house, alone, the doorbell rings. It's Rochelle, here to talk some sense into her friend who, she feels, is moving way too fast. Laura insists Wade is a good man. Isn't he? Rochelle isn't so sure. Look at what marriage did to their (deceased) friends and don't forget how Randall treated her.
   Thanks to Rochelle's visit, Laura is too depressed to get out of bed the next morning. Learning she never showed up at the clinic to work her shift, Wade rushes over in a panic to talk, and to pick Laura up so he can take her back to the house for dinner, but Laura is sick of talking (the reader agrees).
   A knock at the door reveals Rochelle, come to apologize for yesterday's conversation except...Laura really should admit she's wearing rose-colored glasses and it's not too late to change her mind. Wade declares his presence. He's not Randall. They are getting married tomorrow and that's final. Wade will take Laura as she is, depression and all. Rochelle huffs before slamming the door on her way out. Through her tears, Laura knows God sent Wade Morrison into her life to save her from a fate worse than death. She breaks down again in the car and Wade has to pull over.

Chapter 21

    Laura continues to cry in Wade's arms. When they finally arrive at the house, no one says anything about Laura's red, blotchy, tearstained face but Alex and Wade do escort Laura into another room so they can give her a priesthood blessing. Laura and Wade then spend several pages talking and rehashing all the old issues: Laura's battle with depression will most likely continue but she will try very hard not to let it consume her. As long as she has Wade Laura knows she can handle anything because Randall would often get verbally abusive with her, he even hit her a few times in exasperation over her female melancholy issue-HER VERY REAL DEPRESSION. Laura sobs at the memories while Wade pulls her into his arms. Again. They will prove to Randall, her mother, Rochelle, to everyone that marriage to a good man really is possible.
    Instead of taking Laura back to her place, where she'll be soooo lonely and alone with her dark thoughts, it is spontaneously decided she will spend the night here. Alex and Jane have no problem with it. Then, in the morning, they can all go to the temple for the wedding.
      No bridezillas here!
     Jane helps Laura in the bride's room of the temple. She and Wade are married in one of the sealing rooms and outside everyone is waiting to take pictures. Laura is surprised to see Rochelle, who chats comfortably with other family members and accepts the invite to the luncheon where almost everyone takes a minute to express their love and congrats to the happy couple. Then it's time for Wade and Laura to lead off the dancing.
    It's a very short honeymoon, the wedding night is spent at a local B&B just a short drive from the JSM building downtown. Post coital, Wade and Laura gaze into each other's eyes, each asking the other if this incredible happiness they are both feeling could possibly be real?
   Next day, Sunday, Jane and Alex smirk as the newlyweds slip into sacrament meeting. The honeymoon may be over but the fun is just beginning! Pulling Rebecca into her lap, Laura knows as long as she has Wade and her new step-daughter to love, nothing in her life could possibly go wrong ever again.
    
At least until the next book.

THE END