Picture Perfect Love (Year Of Weddings 2 Book 7; Series Order 19) (Christian Romance) (13 page)

“Change your mind,” his sister suggested. “We’ll figure out a plan.”

Amber was so young and in love. He was happy for her, but she didn’t understand how complicated things were with Jenna. “Go find your husband. The two of you should be leaving soon.”

“I will, but I have to say something first. Since Jenna came back into your life, you’ve been the happiest I’ve ever seen you. I think there’s a correlation between her and your good mood.”

“Maybe,” Ash said. “Or maybe not.”

Amber stuck out her tongue at him. “I’m trying to help. I still feel awful for what I did.”

“Don’t. This is nobody’s fault but mine. Jenna and I were in no position to make a marriage work two years ago. Not the way God intended.” He kissed Amber’s forehead. “Go find Toby so you can start your honeymoon.”

She walked away. Her gown swooshed with each step. His little sister was a married woman, a wife.

Ash should get used to being a confirmed bachelor. The only woman he wanted didn’t want him.

He saw Jenna standing on the other side of the room and joined her. “Toby was correct. You are the right photographer for this wedding.”

Jenna fiddled with her camera. “Thanks.”

Ash wanted so much more than her gratitude. He wanted a second—make that third—chance. “Jenna—”

“I’ll e-mail a link when the proofs are ready.” Her tone was polite, measured. “Amber and Toby are getting ready to leave. I need to photograph their exit.”

Always the professional. Ash wouldn’t stand in her way. “Go.”

What was he going to say, anyway?
I’m sorry? Forgive me again?
He hadn’t a clue what to do. But maybe God would know. Ash closed his eyes, and for the first time in a long while he prayed, a heartfelt prayer of thanksgiving and gratitude for all he had, and a petition for what he didn’t have. But he realized that wasn’t right, and instead he prayed that God’s will be done for him, for his family, and for Jenna.

The sun dipped below the horizon. White lights twinkled in the darkness, illuminating trees and the gazebo at the Sweetwater Country Club. Jenna stood off to the side where she had a panoramic view of the bride and groom’s exit.

A lively song played over the speakers. Amber and Toby danced their way to a waiting limousine. Laughing guests blew bubbles at the happy couple.

Jenna captured the departure with more pictures than she could count. Her job was finished, and she couldn’t be happier with the photographs she’d taken or more relieved to know she could finally go home. She’d negotiated a tightrope of emotions today. Each time she saw Ash she thought she might fall, but she hadn’t.

Thank you, Lord.

In the hallway outside the ballroom, Jenna packed up her gear, everything from lighting to the photo booth props she’d set out during the reception.

Guests exited the ballroom with their favors—white boxes containing lavender-infused jam, lavender-infused honey, and a lavender satchel. All three items were made by Toby’s mother, a woman who reminded Jenna of her own mom.

She wanted to hear a friendly voice, but with the threehour time difference she’d have to wait until tomorrow. Maybe she could still catch Colton.

“Long day.”

Ash. The one voice Jenna didn’t want to hear. Friendly, yes, but the sound made her nerve endings twitch. She placed the lens in its protective case. “Weddings usually are.”

“I see why your parents suggested eloping.”

Her fingers trembled. She tightened her grip on the lens case. She didn’t want to look at him. “Makes sense for certain situations, but if every couple eloped I’d be out of a job.”

He handed her a small, square, gold box. “This is for you.”

“You’re paying me. You didn’t have to buy a gift too.”

“Open it.”

His firm tone surprised her. She lifted off the top, then removed a small piece of white padding. A silver charm—a frame similar to the ones she used with her photo booth props—was inside.

His thoughtfulness tugged at her heart. “So pretty. Thanks.”

“The back is engraved.”

She looked up at him, noticed his intense gaze. “You shouldn’t have gone to so much trouble. I’m just doing my job.”

“I wanted you to have this.”

She flipped over the frame. Words were etched into the sides:
Jenna and Ashton
on the top,
June 22, 2013
, on the right side,
A Picture Perfect Love
on the bottom, and
1 Cor. 13:4–7
on the left side.

She reread the date. Her mouth opened, but no sound came out. She tried again. “That was going to be our wedding date.”

“This was your wedding present.”

“You kept it?”

“Every time I thought about throwing away the box, I couldn’t. I want you to have it. To see that even if I wasn’t completely solid in my intentions, I did care two years ago. I still care about you.”

Air rushed out of her lungs. Nerve endings tingled. She prayed for strength.

“A picture perfect love says it all,” he continued. “That’s what I thought we had the first time around, but I was wrong. The only perfect things are the photographs you take and hang on your studio walls, but whether the poses are orchestrated or candid, they aren’t real. Real love can be messy. Mistakes are made. But no matter what, the love remains. As His does with us. Mine has with you.”

His sincerity brought tears to her eyes. “Ash . . .”

He held her hand. “You want someone to believe in you and trust you. I’ve failed you twice when it counted most. Pride blinded me to the truth. But that doesn’t change the love I feel for you. It’s far from perfect, like me, but if you’ll give me another chance, I’m committed to you and a future together. What we have is special. I won’t let my pride or my father or anything else get in the way. I will stand by you, no matter what. You’re the woman I want next to me at the altar because I can’t imagine life without you in it.”

Jenna wanted to believe. She forced herself to breathe.

He continued, “Whether you forgive me or not, keep this frame to remind you that love is the most important thing. I realize that, thanks to you. Real love, mind you, not the glossy wedding-day love. You deserve unconditional love. An everlasting love, not one that just looks good in a frame.”

Her trembling hand clutched the charm against her heart. “Thank you for the present and your words. You made mistakes, but so did I. Seems like both our hearts needed to refocus. I may have forgiven you, but it wasn’t sincere. I hadn’t forgotten what happened. I kept dwelling on what
could go wrong. But I’m letting all that go. God has humbled me with your gift. I forgive you. I hope you forgive me.”

“Always.” Ash’s gaze locked on hers. “I love you, Jenna. Truly love you. That much I have learned from all of this.”

Joy overflowed from her heart. “I love you.”

He lowered his mouth to hers. She gave in to the kiss, feeling as if she’d come home. The gentle kiss spoke of possibilities and the future.

Their future.

She backed away. “We have to go slow. Do it right.”

“I agree. We have the rest of our lives to be together. Let’s build a solid foundation that will last for the next fifty or sixty years.”

Jenna sighed. “I like the sound of that.”

“Me too. And I know what should come first.” He pulled out his cell phone and held it out in front of them. “Smile.”

“A selfie?”

“You’ll see.” The phone clicked, capturing the photo. He typed on his screen.

She peered over his shoulder, but he wouldn’t let her see. “What are you doing?”

“Just a minute.” He showed her his phone. “What do you think?”

He’d uploaded the selfie to a social media account with the following caption:
Back together again. This time for good.

Love swelled inside Jenna. Her patience to see what God had planned had paid off. She brushed her lips across Ash’s. “That’s about as perfect as it gets.”

1. When unexpected events happen, like Jenna's cancelled wedding, people say that God has a plan, but Jenna didn’t believe her friends. What would you have thought if you were in Jenna’s situation? How accepting are you if God's plan differs from the path you’re taking? Do you question God's plan?

2. Jenna admits to hitting rock bottom and turning away from God after Ash breaks up with her and leaves her facing a mountain of wedding debt. How has your faith been tested? Did you find yourself turning away from God? If so, how did you find your way back to your faith?

3. Ash didn’t believe Jenna when she had nothing to do with posting his photo on Facebook. He publicly called her a liar. Do you think there was any more Jenna could have done to convince Ash she was telling the truth? Can you share a time when you have been falsely accused of something? How did it make you feel?

4. Jenna eventually came to see the break-up with Ash as a blessing that made her stronger as a person and in her faith. Share an experience that was perceived at first to be a bad thing, but later turned out to be a blessing. How did you realize what happened was a blessing?

5. Jenna thought she’d forgiven Ash and moved on with her life, but seeing him again made her question if she had put the past behind her. As Christians, we’re told to forgive. Can you share a time you had trouble forgiving someone? If so, do you know what was holding you back from forgiving them? How did you resolve the issue?

6. Ash believed his family instead of trusting his fiancée. Why do you think it was so hard for him to accept Jenna was telling the truth without proof? Based on the evidence Ash had, would you have believed Jenna was guilty? Why or why not?

7. Jenna was able to do the trust exercise with the people she didn't trust by putting her faith in God and letting go. Have you ever done a trust exercise like that? How does it make you feel when you give over all your trust to God?

8. After Jenna has forgiven Ash, their relationship is again tested when he doesn't believe she’s telling the truth until he has proof. If you were Jenna, how would you feel? Do you think you could forgive someone a second time for falsely accusing you? Even if they apologize again when the truth comes out, would you give them a third chance? Why or why not?