“Just hold on,” Luke declared, taking a seat on the sofa. “You are both getting way too excited. My father isn’t going to do anything just yet. All of his lawyers and money are back in Philadelphia. My desire is to convince him that he should put aside his plans, but I believe the first order of business is for us to pray. As a family.”

Gloriana had to admit that her first thought was to question God again. Why was He letting this happen? Why couldn’t He just intercede and keep Luke’s father from causing trouble? She drew a deep breath.

I’m sorry, Lord. I’m just so weary of trouble.

“My father can be difficult, but I intend to show him how happy we all are together. I want him to see us as a family. That’s why I think we should invite him to come for dinner one night.”

“Here?” Gloriana barely managed to squeak the word out. “You want to entertain your father here? With my cooking?”

“You’re a wonderful cook, and the house is lovely. This is our home.”

“Can I be there when you get married?” JT asked.

Gloriana looked at him with a smile. “Of course. You can give me away.”

“Give you away?” JT frowned. “I don’t want to give you away.”

“You’d just be giving her to me,” Luke said, rubbing JT’s curls.

“Why couldn’t we just take you to be with us instead of me giving Gloriana away? I don’t want to lose anything—I want to gain having you in our family.”

“He makes an excellent point.” Gloriana laughed as the baby did her best to clap her hands. “I believe Sally agrees. We won’t give anything away. Instead we will increase our fold. We will add Luke to the family.”

“I like the sound of that.”

They shared supper, continuing to talk about Luke’s father and when they might entertain him. Luke wanted them to marry the following day, and because of that, he suggested they keep JT home from school.

“We can walk over to see the judge first thing in the morning. Better still, I’ll get my carriage, and we’ll drive. The streets are muddy but passable.”

“I’d rather we get Pastor Sedgwick and his wife,” Gloriana replied. Over the last few years she’d never figured to wed, but prior to that, whenever she thought of marriage, she imagined having the ceremony in the church.

“That’s fine by me. I can go speak to him tonight, if you wish.”

Gloriana nodded. “That would be good.”

“I got a headache,” JT said, rubbing his eyes. “I think I did too much English.”

Gloriana laughed. “Then why don’t you get washed up and ready for bed? It sounds like we’re going to have a very busy day tomorrow.”