Love to Behold

ISBN: 0976355418

The Baptist Church in College Park, Maryland brought family and friends of Suzanne Bell and Bradford Stokes together for the event of the year. One family traveled from as far away as Okinawa, Japan to see the couple that after five years decided to spend the rest of their lives together. It didn’t matter to the wedding guests the circumstance that finally made this day possible. They were ecstatic. All that mattered was that Bradford and Suzanne would become one flesh.

Bradford, an anchorman with CNN news, was transferring overseas, and Suzanne would be accompanying her new husband. Although their decision to marry was sudden, the couple knew exactly what type of romantic surroundings in which they wanted to exchange their vows.

The sanctuary had been transformed into a spring wedding theme. Nasturtium flowers replaced the traditional rose petals in the flower girl’s basket. Yellow tulips were placed inside the pew bows. Arrangements of spring flowers were included on the altar, candle displays, bouquets, and a single boutonniere.

Valencia Hill, the Bridal Consultant, stood in the open double doors. She smiled and clapped when the groom kissed his bride, signifying the end of the ceremony and the beginning of a union.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you Mr. and Mrs. Bradford Stokes,” Reverend Otis Martindale announced amid loud applause and soft sobs of happiness.

The couple made their way down the aisle and Valencia hurried toward the dining area to make sure everything was running smoothly. As owner of New Beginnings in Washington, D.C., she'd been at the church since nine o’clock in the morning to oversee the delivery of the contracted services.

She spent long hours away from home. It didn’t matter, though. It wasn’t as if there was anyone there waiting for her. One day she hopes to have her own wedding. She almost did once, but as it turned out, it wasn’t meant to be. She wasn’t going to lose sleep over it. Not anymore. But why couldn’t she meet a caring, loving, eligible man who could appreciate an educated, independent woman? Several men asked her out, but she declined. Ever since her disastrous wedding day with Malcolm Wright, she’d been leery about entering into a relationship. True, she longed to find someone to love, marry, and have children with. However, in order to do that, she’d have to let go of the past.

This coming July would have been her two-year anniversary. She still remembered that day vividly in her mind as if it were yesterday. The church was filled with family and friends. Everyone was in attendance except the groom. He chose the biggest day of their lives to decide he wasn’t ready to get married. She survived the ordeal, but not without embarrassment and emotional scars…scars that have yet to heal.

To ease the pain and fill the empty void, she threw herself into her work. For her efforts, she could boast of a two hundred-thousand-dollar home and a lucrative income. At thirty-two, she had accomplished all her goals except for one. True love. With all her accomplishments, that one seemed to elude her.

Valencia was disgusted with herself. It didn’t matter, though. She was content. What was she really missing? She didn’t have to go home to cook, clean, or raise children. She owns a successful business. Has a job she loves. It had been a while since she’d been out, but she was free to go whenever and wherever she chose. Freedom, what woman would want to give that up? Not her. For instance, tomorrow she was invited to Autumn Mills’ gala, a client of hers. The two met when a former client recommended Valencia to help her plan her wedding.