When Tomorrow Comes by Janette Oke Page A

short program and the opening of gifts. Henry had decided not to risk taking to the roads on their honeymoon at such a late hour. Instead, he made arrangements with a local rancher to borrow a small cabin tucked away in the hills just west of town.
    Laray knew of the location. It was his duty to lay a fire so the place would be nice and warm by the time Henry and his new bride arrived. Christine had been told of the plan, though she had not seen the cabin. It sounded wonderfully romantic to her. A cozy cabin in the woods with an open fireplace and light by candles. Henry had even arranged to have his bearskin rug spread out before the fire.
    Christine’s thoughts once again went to Boyd. She had loved him. The thought of her wrong choice still made her heart ache, even though she no longer felt drawn to the man. He had so much anger and arrogance buried deep within his soul. She did pray that he would one day soon give himself to God.
    “Do you, Amber, take Henry . . .”
    The familiar words of the service registered in Christine’s mind and heart. She stood with Amber, who looked lovely in her wedding suit, holding her flower bouquet. Christine glanced beyond to Henry, handsome and stalwart in his officer’s uniform. She blinked back tears, surprised at her own emotions, as she realized he now belonged to the woman beside him. She heard Amber’s trembling yet firm response, “I do.”
    Then came Danny’s loud whisper, “Is he my dad now?”
    Laray’s “shh” was drowned out by the ripple of laughter across the congregation. “Soon,” Christine heard Laray whisper. Danny wiggled one foot, shod in a brand-new pair of black loafers, and plucked at the ribbon holding the rings on the pillow. Christine feared he’d somehow manage to pull them off. She sent a wordless message to Laray, who reached down and took Danny’s restless fingers in his own. Christine sent another message of appreciation.
    When the couple exchanged rings, Christine was relieved that the two small gold circlets had safely been transferred from Danny’s small cushion and onto the appropriate fingers.
    The ceremony continued. “. . . I now pronounce you man and wife,” she eventually heard the minister say.
    “Now?” asked Danny, and Laray nodded.
    Danny’s ring pillow was tossed into the air along with a triumphant whoop, then he flung his arms around Henry’s legs. There were tears in more than just Henry’s eyes as he lifted the little boy up. The groom’s kiss of his new bride turned out to be a three-way event. Christine could hardly see through her own tears. She was very glad she had remembered to tuck a hankie in her bouquet. When she managed to recover, she discovered that somehow in all of the emotion of the moment, she was standing with her hand firmly held by Laray. Had she reached for him? Had he seen her tears and offered support? She had no idea how it had happened. Her cheeks burned with embarrassment. How was she to escape without making a scene? She need not have worried. Almost immediately she felt Laray’s fingers gently release hers.
    Danny, Henry, and Amber finally finished their hugs and returned to the decorum fitting a wedding ceremony. But Danny’s eyes sparkled as Henry put him on his feet and he turned to Laray. Before Laray’s finger could even go to his lips in warning, Danny announced proudly, “He’s really my dad now.”
    Laray nodded while the minister said, “Ladies and gentlemen, may I introduce Sergeant and Mrs. Henry Delaney—and their son, Danny.”
    Warm and lengthy applause followed the wedding party out the door.
    The long day was winding down. Christine, now changed from her new wedding suit to a simple skirt and sweater, heels exchanged for a pair of knitted slippers, pushed a tendril of hair behind her ear and rolled another length of crepe-paper streamer.
    “Tired?” Laray was able to offer his sympathy in the one word.
    “Exhausted,” she replied, but she did manage the hint of a