"The Christmas Wish"

Chapter 5
Epilogue

Tasha floored the accelerator, sending her car shooting down the dirt road in a cloud of dust. Where was the damn place, she cursed to herself. Then a knot of chairs and a white gazebo flew into view, and she swung right and shrieked to a halt at the edge of a verdant green field. Dashing out, she almost tripped over her gown.

“You’re late!” Daniel ran towards her with a flustered face and snatched a little velvet box from her hand. “I knew I shouldn’t have entrusted you with this!”

“Now, now. Don’t you get all upset about the little things today. Can’t you see how hard she rushed to get here?” Tommy said laconically and waved at Tasha. “Glad that you could make it.”

“Hey big guy.” she jabbed him teasingly on his tuxedo. “I can’t tell you how jealous I am of you today!”

Processional music blared from a boom box as she led the couple down the aisle. Most of the guests were Daniel’s friends from work, plus a few of her own. She smiled when she spotted Daniel’s parents sitting up front. When the vows were said and the rings exchanged, she stood back and released a cage of white doves. Whirling out like a satin cloud, they swept past the newlyweds, spiraling upward and soaring into the bright azure sky.