Camp Wedding: The Heart stories, #2

By Kay Springsteen

Camp Wedding, the Heartsight nuptials, features a blind Marine, a nervous bride, and an adorable child with Down syndrome. Is Trish ready for life as a military wife? Is Dan ready for the challenges of being a father to a precocious six-year-old? How will Bella add her special brand of magic to the day?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dingbat Publishing
• Release date: Feb 27, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224487271

Kay Springsteen

Kay Springsteen grew up in Michigan but transplanted to the south about 10 years ago and now resides in the shadow of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia with her five small dogs. Two of her four children live nearby, a married son who has a daughter of his own, and one of her twins. The other twin lives just outside of USMC Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. Her oldest daughter still resides in Michigan. When she's not writing, she is transcribing and editing medical reports. Besides being an avid reader, hobbies include photography, gardening, hiking and camping, and of course spending time with her terrific G-baby. She is a firm believer in happily ever after endings and believes there is one out there for everyone; it just may not be exactly what you expect or think you want.

Book preview

CAMP WEDDING

Copyright © 2011 by Kay Springsteen

Originally published 2012 Astraea Press / Clean Reads

Second edition 2016 esKape Press

Third edition 2023 Dingbat Publishing

Humble, Texas

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This book is licensed to the original purchaser only. Duplication or distribution via any means is illegal and a violation of International Copyright Law, subject to criminal prosecution and upon conviction, fines and/or imprisonment. No part of this e-book can be reproduced or sold by any person or business without the express permission of the publisher.

Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters, and events are entirely the produce of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to persons living or dead, actual locations, events, or organizations is coincidental.

With thanks always, to my Lord, who sustains me and keeps me, and watches over those I love.

For my daughter, Mary, and her husband, Matt. Love you both, and I’m so very proud of you. Semper fi!

Foreword

Becoming a wife is an amazing experience, both nerve-wracking and exhilarating. But becoming a military wife carries extra requirements, even as it offers extra joys and terrors. Kay Springsteen continues the story she so richly began in Heartsight , as Dan returns to active duty with the U.S. Marine Corps, Trish becomes his military wife, and Bella remains her adorable self.

~J. Gunnar Grey

He hath made all things beautiful. ~Ecclesiastes 3:11

Chapter One

S toph pfidgetin’ or I migh’ ’oke ’ou inshtead of ’our ’edding d’ess, mumbled Ashley.

Okay, I got stop and wedding dress out of that, muttered Trish, hopping from foot to foot as Ashley measured and pinned and prepared to work her magic on Trish’s wedding gown.

With a half dozen or so straight pins clenched between Ashley’s lips, she looked like the victim of a metallic porcupine attack.

The hard warning squeeze on her waist got Trish’s attention, though, and she froze in mid-hop, one foot suspended in the air. With a great deal of caution, she slowly dropped her foot until both her feet were firmly set on the hardwood floor.

I don’t know, Ash. Maybe it’s a sign. A second major storm making a direct hit on Lookout Island before we even finished cleaning up after Emily? Trish leaned forward to peer at her reflection in the full-length mirror. And now my dress doesn’t fit.

A sign of what? Ashley gathered some of the material and slid another pin along the edge of the blush-rose colored fabric. That the bridal shop got your measurements wrong?

I don’t know. Trish shifted to her other foot. Dan’s whole family will be here. I’ve never met them. What if they hate me?

Trish Evers, you know that’s just nerves. Ashley stepped back and looked at her work. Okay, you can get changed. And Big Dan was a little scary when I was in high school, but Margaret has a golden heart. You’ve talked to them on the phone, haven’t you?

Trish nodded, staring into the mirror. Dan set us up on this computer thing and we met in a video chat.

Did they look like they hated you?

No, they were very nice. Trish fingered a bit of taffeta at her waist. Does this look too bunchy to you?

Ashley leaned over, tugging gently on the fabric. The pins are making it stick out funny. It’ll look better when it’s actually sewn. It’s a good thing you tried your dress on.

Trish smiled, meeting Ashley’s eyes in the mirror. It’s handy that I have a friend who can sew.

Ashley set her hands on her hips and cast a mischievous grin in Trish’s direction. There! See? That’s a sign, too.

I guess. It’s just so much is going wrong.

Cocking her head to one side, Ashley’s narrowed gaze surveyed Trish. "Do you want to get married?"

Anxiety sparked the irritation at her friend’s query into anger. Of course I do. What kind of question is that?

Ashley gentled her tone. You’re concentrating on the curves in the road instead of the straightaway.

Trish made a face at Ashley and stomped her foot. Am not.

You look so much like your little girl when you do that. Ashley’s Southern belle accent thickened. Then she smiled and tossed her thick blond hair with a shake of her head. Look, you’re just having a case of nerves. You’re marrying about the most perfect man there is. Think about that instead of all the junk that’s not perfect.

A warm feeling washed over Trish. I really am, huh? I couldn’t ask for anyone better. And Bella just loves him. A twinge of dismay filtered in. But what if his family doesn’t understand about Bella?

Ashley stepped in front of the mirror and clamped her hands on Trish’s shoulders. Look at me. You think the Conways will have a problem because you have a six-year-old daughter? Her tone clearly told Trish to try another thought.

And Trish did, albeit only slightly different. Her own father didn’t want her when we found out about her extra chromosome. Maybe Dan’s folks won’t be too thrilled when he tells them he’s adopting Bella as soon as we’re married. It’s one thing to be presented with an instant granddaughter, but a granddaughter with a handicap might not be so thrilling.

I thought you said Dan told them about her Down syndrome.

Trish sighed. He did, but we didn’t know the adoption was going to go through until just two days ago, so he didn’t want to jinx anything by talking about it. She smiled at the recollection of her self-assured fiancé’s superstitious nature when it came to things that were important to him. It felt pretty good knowing she and Bella were important enough to Dan to awaken that in him.

You’re worried over nothing. Ashley started tugging down the zipper on the dress, pausing at a soft knock on the bedroom door.

The door pushed open and Bella barreled through, a green plastic beach bucket in her hand. Mama! Daddy and me found special shells!

Glancing in the mirror, Trish saw Dan lounging against the doorframe, an indulgent smile on his strong face. He still wore the sunglasses he typically used when he went outside.

Daniel Conway, you aren’t supposed to see the bride in her dress before she walks down the aisle! scolded