He Stole Her Bouquet and Brought Her Brother's Name

CHAPTER 1 - THE BOY WITH THE BOUQUET

"Hey! Give that back!"

Emma's voice rang across the church steps before the bells could.

One second she was lifting her skirt, bouquet in hand, trying not to trip on old stone. The next, a small boy came out of nowhere and snatched the flowers right out of her fingers.

A security guard lunged forward and caught the boy by the arm before he could run, but the strange thing was, he wasn't running. He clutched the bouquet to his chest and stared at Emma with terrified, pleading eyes.

He looked about seven. Thin. Dirty clothes. Hair falling into his face. Breathing so hard she could hear it from where she stood.

"Please listen to me!" he cried. "Dad sent me!"

Emma took the bouquet back, heart pounding, anger still hot in her chest. "Who are you?"

The boy's lower lip trembled. With shaking fingers, he dug into his pocket and pulled out an old blue-and-white braided bracelet.

At first Emma only saw faded thread.

Then the silver tag turned.

NOAH.

For a second, everything around her blurred. The guests. The flowers. The church door. Even the man waiting inside for her.

Her own hand rose without thought. Around her wrist was the twin bracelet she had worn since she was ten, its silver tag catching the last light of evening.

EMMA.

Same braid. Same strange knot Noah had learned from an old fisherman by the harbor. Same two colors.

"Noah? That's my brother."

The guard let go at once.

Emma dropped to her knees on the cold stone and held the boy's arm gently. "Where is he now?"

The child swallowed hard. "In the hospital."

Emma's joy broke open into fear.

Then the boy tightened his grip on her hand and whispered through tears, "He said you can't marry that man."

Emma turned toward the church doors.

And saw her groom, Daniel, already walking out to them.