“Do it!” he ordered the minister. “Pronounce us man and wife!” The man choked and sputtered, the words whispered and hoarse, “I now pronounce you man and wife.” It was official. Tanya Chesterfield was not just his bride—she was now his wife. But she was coughing harder than the others, her shoulders shaking and body trembling as she struggled for breath. Would he soon become her widower? He caught her up in his arms and followed the others toward those doors at the back of the church. Logan carried their mother. With an arm around each of them, Parker helped both Rochelle and Nikki while the lawyer and the minister hurried out ahead of Cooper and his bride. The air was thick in the church, burning Cooper’s eyes and nose. He recognized this kind of smoke too well—it brought horrible old memories crashing over him. Parker held open the doors so Cooper could carry Tanya over the threshold and through the vestibule.
