23-year-old Tyler Fuller sat at a table at a wedding reception along with his father Shane, and police officers Captain Adam Mitchell, recruit Javy Martinez, Lieutenant David Thomson, and Sheriff Nathan Hayes. Adam Mitchell's 26-year-old son, Dylan, had just gotten married, and Tyler was Dylan's best man.
Tyler's father Shane, who formerly worked as Adam's partner in the police force, had been released from prison six months ago, after serving ten years for illegally selling drugs. But Shane saw the error of his ways and was determined to change for the better. This was the first wedding Shane had attended in over ten years.
Tyler had begun to have feelings for Adam's 19-year-old daughter Anna, and as he had looked at her during the ceremony, he thought how beautiful she looked in her bridesmaid dress. She wore a strapless lavender dress and had her long curly brown hair tied back. She was wearing mascara and light makeup.
Adam knew of Tyler's crush and thought Tyler should ask Anna to dance with him.
After dancing with the other bridesmaids, the bride, and the wedding guests, Anna approached the table. Adam and Shane thought they should give their children a chance to get together. They backed up a bit as Anna sat down next to Tyler.
Tyler got goosebumps as Anna began talking to him.
"I haven't seen you dance at all tonight," Anna said to Tyler. Shane approached Tyler and whispered to him to ask Anna to dance with him for the next song.
Tyler hesitated. "Um...well, it's just that... I mean I would if... if you really wanted to..."
"Are you asking me to dance with you?" Anna asked. "I would love that."
Tyler froze, not sure what to say. But his father encouraged him. "Well, I don't know. I mean, I don't really know how to dance."
"Oh, that's okay. I'll show you," said Anna.
"Well, I don't know. I've never danced with a girl before."
"Go on," Shane encouraged Tyler. "Let her show you how to dance."
Tyler and Anna got up out of their chairs holding hands, as the next song began to play.
"When you're ready to dance," said Anna showing Tyler, "first you put your right hand around my waist like this, then you hold your left hand out like this, and then we sway back and forth to the music."
And they began to do so as they got on the dance floor.
"And then we can spin."
Tyler spun Anna around under his arm. It felt strange yet good for Tyler to hold hands with Anna.
Adam began to tear up. Anna was using almost the exact words his now-deceased daughter Emily had used when teaching him how to dance, almost eleven years ago, shortly before she was tragically killed by a drunk driver.
After the song ended, Tyler sat back down at his table. Anna joined him.
They sat in silence for a while, unsure of what to say. Shane whispered to Tyler to ask her out. Tyler struggled, but Shane whispered something else to him.
"Um, my dad and I are going to a Georgia Bulldogs game next Friday. And I was wondering, if you, uh, would like to come with us? I mean, if you're not too busy."
Anna stared for a moment, then looked back at her father. He gave her an assuring look.
"Well," she said. "I'm free next Friday. I think...I would love to come."
"That's great," said Shane. "We'll pick you up next week."
A few years later, Adam found himself preparing for another wedding. This time it was his adoptive daughter Anna's. Six months prior, Tyler proposed to Anna, and now Adam was about to see his little girl get married to Shane Fuller's son.
The ceremony began. Adam walked his 22-year-old daughter down the aisle. She was dressed in a beautiful wedding dress and had her hair tied back in a veil.
Pastor Jon Rogers officiated the wedding. As Anna prepared to go up to say her vows, she kissed Adam on the cheek and walked up toward Tyler and placed her hands in his.
Tyler and Anna exchanged their vows and wedding rings as Pastor Jon led them.
Jon spoke. "Tyler Fuller, will you have this woman to be your wife, to live together in God's holy estate of matrimony? Will you love her, comfort her, honor and keep her in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, keep yourself only for her, as long as you both shall live?"
"I will," said Tyler.
"Anna Mitchell, will you have this man to be your husband, to live together in God's holy estate of matrimony? Will you love him, comfort him, honor and keep him in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others keep yourself only for him, so long as you both shall live?"
"I will."
After they finished exchanging their vows and placed rings on their fingers, Jon finally said, "I now pronounce you husband and wife."
He turned to Tyler. "You may kiss the bride."
Tyler and Anna kissed on the lips for the first time. They broke apart as Jon prepared to introduce the new couple.
"It gives me great pleasure to present to you Mr. and Mrs. Tyler Fuller."
After the ceremony, a reception was held in the Mitchells' backyard. There was lots of good food and seating, and a floor open for dancing.
Adam and Shane sat at a table together.
"Who would've thought we'd be in-laws?" Shane said to Adam.
"I know, right?" Adam responded. It was hard to believe that his daughter would end up marrying the son of his former partner. And he thought it never would have happened if he had never adopted Anna.
Soon it came time for the father-daughter dance. Anna approached Adam.
"Daddy, dance with me please!"
"In front of everybody?" Adam said, jokingly.
"Please, Daddy!"
Adam smiled. "Of course I will, honey. Today is your special day."
Adam got up and began dancing with Anna as "Cinderella" by Steven Curtis Chapman played.
After the song ended, Adam sat back down. He began to cry. He had just seen his daughter get married. He never felt that would happen since his daughter Emily went to be with Jesus.
At the end of the reception, Anna tossed her bouquet. David Thomson's seventeen-year-old daughter Olivia caught it.
After the reception ended, a crowd gathered around the watch Tyler and Anna leave for their honeymoon. Anna told her father goodbye and kisses him, and Adam wished her a safe trip.
That night Adam lay in bed, his wife Victoria by his side.
"I can't believe both our children are married now," he said. "You know, when Emily died thirteen years ago, I thought I'd never get to see my daughter graduate, I would never get to walk her down the aisle, and I would never get to dance with her."
"And you've done all that with Anna," said his wife. "I think Emily would be very proud of you. I'm sure she is proud of you."
"I often wonder what she would be like if she were still here," Adam said. "And guess what? I have some other news. Soon you and I will be grandparents. I just found out Dylan is expecting his first child."
"Really?" Victoria gasped.
"Yes. He told me earlier. Next year our son is going to be a father."
Victoria smiled. "One thing I know for sure. Someday, after the resurrection, we will all be one big happy family."