The Forever Promise: The Timeless Dress Series, #1

By R J Devland

The first book of the Timeless Dress Series chronicles the relationship of Cody and Heather, teenagers engaged to be married, and their rise beyond love's boundary after a life altering tragedy.  Their beautiful wedding dress hung as an iconic window fixture awaiting the bride-to-be's return.  The unknown reasons for her failure to return haunted all that met her along the trip for a forty-five minute design interview with the world renown wedding dress maker, Martin Monschure of St. Joseph, Michigan.  Tears, depression, redemption and salvation follow Heather and the Timeless Dress.

• Language: English
• Publisher: R J Devland
• Release date: Sep 20, 2019
• ISBN: 9781393466192

Book preview

One - The Lovebirds

Summer came to the mountains almost overnight.  The warm days and cool evenings of spring overnight gave way to warmer days and evenings which couldn't make up their minds to be cool or warm.  This sudden change of seasons prompted Cody that the time had come to make the grand announcement to Heather's Mom and Dad.  The time had come to get everything out in the open.  Cody disliked getting things out in the open.  The very thought of stumbling over his words or failing to remember something important sizzled in his mind like a steak on a grill.  He wanted to get past the announcement, so they could begin work on their plans.  He loved Heather's Mom and Dad.  It scared him that they may not be as overwhelmed with the same measure of excitement as Cody and Heather.  Cody had to be strong.  He had to convey the plan.  Speaking with his usual shyness could wreck his attempt to make everyone proud of him.  In spite of his inadequate speaking ability, Heather appointed him to perform the delicate task of informing her parents.  He started the short walk to Heather's house with lagging steps, whistling and singing.  He tried anything to lighten the pressure he was feeling.  Reciting the alphabet backward helped a little.  Counting up to one hundred and back down again helped a bit more.  Telling himself over and over again how much he loved Heather perked him up a lot.  No matter what he did or said, the verdict screamed out to him.  Nervousness set in like a massive, dark cloud. 

It had been about two weeks since Cody asked Heather to go out with him to a very special place.  The restaurant, known for its romantic atmosphere, dimmed the main lights at dusk.  Heather wore her light pink sweater, the one Cody loved her to wear.  Small, short feathers, pearl type buttons, and other small features, adorned the beautiful pink sweater.  Cody thought that sweater made her the most beautiful girl in the whole wide world.  At least that was what he said.  He believed it, too.  He told everyone that when God made her, He made the most beautiful woman ever and then broke the mold.  Many people said that, but he really meant it.  He told her this every day without fail. 

Cody had spent the past few days hunting the perfect ring that met his price range.  He knew the sales clerk, Greg, very well.  In this small town, everybody knew everybody.  Blowing Rock, North Carolina ranked high in the hearts of the residents as a great place to live.  Cody and Heather planned to live there forever.  Greg showed Cody the first ring.

No, she wouldn't like that one.  Got another? 

Greg showed Cody the second one. 

Wow!  Is that a real diamond?  How big?  That big, huh?  Got another?  Alright!  That is the one!  She will love this one.  Size eight?  She can't accuse me of being cheap nor extravagant, can she?  Please wrap the box in beautiful paper.  Thanks a lot.  Cody was finally finished.  All of his questions answered.  He held joy, contained in a wrapped box!

The dimmed lights, the soft, romantic music, and his beautiful girlfriend set the stage that was classic, fit for a movie scene.  Heather figured it out almost as soon as she walked inside.  The wait staff were their friends.  They were smiling, abuzz with a type of electric excitement.  She wondered what he was up to tonight.  Seated in the back corner next to the fireplace, Cody asked her what she would like to drink.  That was a dead giveaway.  He knew she only drank Dr. Pepper.  She thought again, he sure is nervous. 

Rising from his seat, Cody then knelt beside her and spoke in a gentle voice, Heather, we have been together all of our lives, since birth, well, since we were kids.  I believe in my heart that God made us for each other.  I want to spend the rest of my life with you.  I love you more than one can imagine a person can love another.  Will you marry me and make me the happiest person in the world?

Overtaken by the moment, Heather smiles her smile, one that only Cody can interpret.  That smile gives the exact answer Cody expected and has hoped for all his life, eye to eye, heart to heart.  You know I will!  Of course!

The sun rose, with the summer heat tagging along.  Heather flew down the stairs when the knock came at the door.  She knew Cody’s door-knocking anywhere.  When Cody knocked at the door, it had a pattern, a beat of its own.  To her surprise, it was the kid down the street asking to mow the grass today.  That copy cat!  He reminded her that summer heat meant higher grass.  Heather’s interest in summer, tall grass or even lawnmowers found itself low in prominence on this day.  Her thoughts and eyes found themselves focused on Cody.  She wanted him right there, right now.  She told the kid to come back next week.  Just as she was shutting the door, she saw Cody.  Her countenance and demeanor changed.  It always did. 

Hey, kid!  Come back tomorrow, ok?

Alright, I will!  The kid replied, breaking out a huge smile, almost a laugh, And I will do a good job.  Bye!

Heather and Cody had known each other from birth, well, since they were young kids.  They were inseparable.  Up to now, they have been together doing anything they did, together.  They always were in love.  These two always showed the greatest respect, support and care for each other’s feelings, hurts, failures and successes.  Cody thought of her house as his home away from home.  Heather's Mom fed him almost every day a snack or a meal.  Cody really enjoyed her cakes.  Heather's Dad suffered from extreme jealousy when she informed them the cake was for Cody and not him!  That is the way it has been with them since birth, well, since they were kids.

Mom!  Can you please come here for a few minutes?

Sure, I'll be there in a little while.

Mom!  Now, please.  Cody is here and wants to talk to you. 

As usual, Heather's Mom wasted no time when she heard it was Cody.  I'll be two minutes.

Cody and Heather were nervous about how her Mom would receive their news.

Cody!  I didn't expect you so early today, she greeted him.

Hi, Mom.

Cody had always called her Mom.  When Cody called her Mom, that warmed her heart more than the new summer sun.  In fact, it never failed to make her day. 

Mom, I, uh, we have something to tell you.  This will startle you and change all of our lives.  Since Dad is away on business, I will tell you without him. 

Go  ahead, tell me this grand thing you need to say.

OK, Mom.  But this won't be easy, Cody said. 

Let's hear it.  It can't be that bad, now can it?

Mom, Heather and I are getting married.  We have already decided. 

See my engagement ring, Mom? 

Mom broke out into a sweet laugh that only intensified her feelings about the long years of their relationship.  Ha, ha, ha!  Everyone in town knows that!

Cody looked at Heather in disbelief.  They blinked their eyes together like a countdown.  They were startled.  Mom,  how could the whole town know?  We haven't breathed a word to anyone.  Not one soul. 

Cody,  I meant that everybody knows that one day you two will get married.  Everybody!  Now what is it you want to tell me that was so important that I flew down here?

Mom, we are getting married.  Soon.

Soon?  How soon, Cody?  Heather?  Heather!

Cody answered instead of Heather.  We have decided to get married in a few weeks.  We want to enjoy our lives together while we are still young.  We want to be able to get good jobs and have time to spend with a beautiful family.  We want to ask if we can take a trip in a few days to fit Heather for a wedding dress.  We have heard of this shop, up north, that makes an extremely beautiful wedding dress, made to order.  We don't know where exactly.  Then when it is finished, we will go back up and get it.

I will look for this at the library and ask around to see if we can locate this shop. 

We heard that the town is on one of the Great Lakes, Heather told her.

That makes my job a bit easier, Mom replies, already thinking of what she will do to discover this shop.  By the way, how will you get there and who has the money?

Ugh, Cody grunted!  Mom, we were going to ask if you could lend us some money for the trip, you know, for the bus and a cheap place to stay for a few days.

The entire situation caught Heather's mom completely off guard.  She blurted out, I will give you the money and also lend you my car.  How about that? 

Heather jumped up from the sofa beside Cody and shouted, You mean you are ok with us being married?  Now?  

Mom shouted back with tears, Of course I am!  How can I say no? 

Cody also got into the jumping mood, almost running into Heather.  Heather tried to get to Mom first in order to give her a big hug.  In fact, Cody gave the biggest hug yet. 

Mom reminded them, I need to go now to get the name of this town and how to get there.  See you both in a while!

They were two peas in a pod, almost joined at the hip.  No one in town knew another couple like them.  God made them to be together.  These were the comments pouring into the ears of Heather's mom as she began her quest to find the shop.  The comments were all correct.  Sometime around the seventh grade, Cody