Chapter 18 - DEEP LONGING

FOUR YEARS LATER “I hereby pronounce you, husband and wife…” The officiator announced. “…and you may kiss the bride.” Mackenzie’s father flashed a big smile at Beatrice, who returned the smile with a tender one of her own. They moved closer, and leaned in to share a kiss. Before their lips could touch, Mackenzie covered both of her twins’ eyes with her palms, like the overprotective mother that she was. Calista, her baby girl, leaned closer into Mackenzie’s dress, clutching the ring case assigned to her as the ring bearer. Unlike his sister, Cameron, the more hyper-energetic of the two, squirmed against Mackenzie’s palm, trying to see what was going on. Once the kiss was over, the guests erupted in cheers and claps, and Mackenzie removed her hands from their small faces with a fond smile. Now free, they both ran off before their sight was taken away again. She laughed, then looked back at her father, and his bride. She had never seen her father this happy. He almost looked young again.