Chapter Twenty-one

"Colin..." Kate whispered in the darkness. She leaned across the bed and felt that the sheets were cold.

"Right here." He replied as he stood still. He turned his head towards her. "What is it? Are you OK?"

"I'm alright. Come to bed." She fought to adjust to the lack of light in the room.

"In a minute." He said with a sigh, unable to face her at the moment.

"Colin?" Kate's voice was full of worry. "What's wrong?"

He realized she was not going to give up. "Please, Katrina. It's fine. Don't worry. Go back to sleep." He whispered as he moved towards her.

"Did someone call? I heard you talking to someone." She asked as he crawled into bed beside her, curling an arm around her waist and holding her close. Kate could tell instantly that he was completely tense. She hadn't seen him like this since when they had first met – when he was fighting with Caleb.

Colin knew he couldn't keep the truth from her. "My father..." He said with a nod.

Her guess was correct. So that's what it was. Kate sighed. She'd been walking on eggshells all this time, waiting for the other shoe to drop. She'd always believed the peace they'd been enjoying so far was too good to be true. "Is everything OK?" She asked, knowing that of course it wasn't. She wanted to talk to him about it – to reassure him that it would all work out, that it didn't matter as long as they had each other. She fought will all she had to keep her eyes open but it was hopeless. In mere seconds she felt herself falling under again.

If she only knew the truth. Colin's head was swimming with thoughts. In his mind he said the words he was too scared to utter aloud.

No, Katrina. Everything's not OK and we both know it. I'm losing you. He thought desperately as he pulled her closer, his hand coming to rest on her stomach. I'm losing both of you. Tears filled his eyes as he realized how real it all was.

He blinked them back furiously. Tears wouldn't help her, he knew. It would only make matters worse. "It's going to be fine." Colin vowed as he held her tighter. "I'll do anything I have to. I promise you. Everything will be alright."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"This is insane." Grant said as Chloe dragged him. "Chloe. You and I don't do things like this."

"No. Grant. You don't do things like this. I would be much more spontaneous if it weren't for you."

"Oh yeah? Like how?" He asked her completely curious.

Chloe smiled as she checked the address in her hand again. She turned and gave him a quick kiss. "Grant. I love you but you are one of the most cautious people I've ever known. Scratch that. You are the most cautious person I've ever known." She giggled at him. "See. Look at that. We haven't even said our vows and our marriage is already making you less uptight."

"I'm not uptight. I'm following you aren't I?" Grant grumbled. "I don't believe this. I hope you know this isn't going to work."

Chloe stopped in her tracks and stared at him. "Oh my God. I can't believe that a man who comes from a family like yours thinks that something as simple as getting a judge to give us a marriage license at 9:00 on a Saturday night is impossible."

Grant watched Chloe as she spoke, a huge smile lighting up her whole face. He sighed as he looked at her. He wanted to make her happy – he did - but this whole thing was making him extremely uncomfortable. Asking for this favor was against all the rules. Rushing like this made him so uneasy. He hated being off balance. He'd forgotten how often Chloe had gotten him in situations just like this one.

"You know. I have to call my parents. We have to let them know and my dad will need to open the gym for me tomorrow." Grant sighed. "You know he just gave me a lecture about being responsible..."

"Are you twelve?" Chloe asked with a giggle. "Honey they all saw us leave. Since we didn't come back I think they know how it turned out." She laughed harder and spoke in a sing-song voice. "I've got to call my parents..." She teased him. "As soon as we have the license we'll call and get them to meet us."

He ignored her, his mind spinning. "Clo. You know what? That reminds me. I should call your father too. I should ask him if it's OK..."

"Grant." Chloe's heart melted as she realized what he was saying. "You already asked him if you could marry me. Three years ago..."

"He doesn't know we're planning this tonight..." Grant said softly as he gazed into her eyes. He picked up her hand and traced a finger over her ring. He wanted to marry her. He absolutely did – but this kind of chaos unnerved him. It was important to him to be sure he did everything right.

"He will." Chloe assured him as she took his face in her hands. She kissed him soundly on the mouth and then reached out to ring the doorbell.

A grumpy – yet distinguished - looking man answered the door. "Yes?" He barked.

"Judge Milton?" Chloe said sweetly.

"Yes." He replied, sounding annoyed and suspicious. His eyeglasses were perched on the end of his nose and his gaze was stern.

It didn't faze Chloe in the least. "Hi." She gripped Grant's hand tightly and gave the judge a smile. "You don't know me..." She began.

"You're right – I don't. This would mean that you are trespassing." The judge glared at her.

"Sir – I mean - your honor." She corrected herself. "My name is Chloe Ramsey and this is my boyfr..." She glanced up at Grant with love in her eyes. "...err fiancé, Grant Kovich. We were hoping you could do us a favor - in the name of true love."

"Do you realize what time it is?" Judge Milton snapped.

"I do – your honor. I know its way after your normal working hours – but we were wondering if you could just validate this license for us." She dug a piece of paper out of her purse and thrust it towards him. She looked at him shyly. "We got it a year ago – and it's expired."

The judge regarded the item she held in her hand. He looked at Chloe and replied, "I'm sorry to hear it. Of course. I'll validate it for you."

Chloe gave Grant a look that said, I told you so.

Her face fell as she realized the judge wasn't quite finished. "See me on Monday – at the courthouse - young lady." He began to back away. "Now – if you'll excuse me."

Chloe was determined. She took her foot and stuck it in the door – keeping him from closing it. She pleaded at him with her eyes. "Judge Milton – please. It's very important to us that we get married tonight."

"Oh I see. It was so important that you held onto the license for a year." He replied with a bit of disgust.

"No – sir. That's not what happened. You see - we haven't been together the last year..." Chloe tried again.

"Dear girl – I have to tell you – this story isn't helping your case."

Chloe shifted her gaze to the ground, blinking back tears. Grant's arm curled around her waist. He whispered in her ear. "C'mon, Clo. Let's go."

She looked up at him and shook her head, planting her feet firmly on the ground. She wasn't about to give up just yet.

"George?" A woman's voice called out from inside the house. "Who's there?"

"Two youngsters in a rush to get married." He said with a sigh as his wife approached. "I was explaining to them – Clara - that they need to come see me on Monday. It's much too late."

Mrs. Milton ignored her husband as she peeked through the door, her silver hair curling softly around her face. Her face was unlined and her eyes were kind. "Aren't you adorable?" She said with a grin. "George – where are your manners? Invite them in." She opened the door wide and gestured for them to come inside.

Chloe flashed a smile and tugged on Grant's hand pulling him with her. Judge Milton rolled his eyes as he watched his wife lead them into the living room.

"George. Please. Sit down." Mrs. Milton said as she glared at her husband. "Now tell me, children. What's the rush?" She asked with a grin.

Chloe smiled as she settled on the loveseat, tugging a stunned Grant to sit beside her. "It's a long story..."

"Aren't they all?" Judge Milton said with a sigh.

Mrs. Milton smacked her husband lightly on the arm. "George – please. Go ahead honey."

Chloe cleared her throat and began. "We were supposed to get married last year. Everything was set. It was supposed to be a big wedding with all our family and friends." Her eyes were bright with tears as she kept on. "But my mother – she got sick. And we cancelled the wedding – hoping to reschedule it when she got better. Unfortunately, she – umm. She never did." Chloe choked back a sob and squeezed Grant's hand tightly.

"I'm so sorry." Mrs. Milton said sympathetically as she linked her arm through her husband's. "That must have been so hard for you."

"Thank you." Chloe pushed the sad thoughts away, wanting to stay on the topic at hand. "It was hard. It's been a horrible year since then. It's mostly my fault. I made a huge mistake. I did something so stupid..."

"Shh, Chloe..." Grant whispered as he placed a kiss on her hair. He wouldn't let her keep blaming herself. "...don't."

Chloe continued, hoping she could make the judge understand. "Instead of leaning on him, like he wanted – I pushed Grant away. Now – our license has run out." She realized she wasn't making a good argument but it was all she could think of. "Throughout it all I never stopped loving him – and we're back together now. Please. I don't want to wait another minute to be his wife."

"Sweetheart." Clara said softly. "I understand. But maybe you should wait until Monday."

Chloe's heart dropped. When Mrs. Milton started to pay attention her hopes were lifted. Now it seemed like she'd lost her only ally. "No..." She said desperately.

Grant had stayed quiet throughout this whole thing – but seeing Chloe so upset made him spring into action. "Judge Milton. Please. There's more you need to know."

He took a deep breath and stared the judge in the eyes. "I understand rules. Chloe will tell you I lived my life by them." Grant said with a laugh. "See, I've known Chloe since practically the moment she was born. Our parents are friends. My mother actually set her parents up a long time ago. And we were friends ourselves for a long, long time. At least we pretended to be."

"Pretended?" Clara asked, intrigued.

"Yes ma'am." Grant nodded and smiled in her direction, holding Chloe's hand tightly in his. He turned back towards the judge. "I've loved her for so long I don't even know when I started. It wasn't until we were about seventeen that I actually got the courage to admit to her how I felt. That's one of my biggest regrets. I wasted a lot of time back then – time that I could have spent with her."

Clara reached over and took her husband's hand, mesmerized by the story Grant was telling.

"She's incredible." Grant continued as he turned to face Chloe then. It was as if they were alone in the room now. "She's absolutely incredible. She's so creative and kind and sweet and smart. On top of all that, she's without a doubt the most beautiful thing I've ever seen in my life."

"Grant..." Chloe whispered.

"And I'm just amazed that she's agreed to marry me." He brought their joined hands to his lips and gently kissed Chloe's fingers. "I'm honored and humbled and stunned that she'd want to live a life with me." He directed his words to the judge again. "For Chloe – sir, I'd wait forever if I had to. I wouldn't like it – but I would." Grant promised. "She's had such a rough year and now - she's finally happy again. That's all I want in my life, for Chloe to be happy. So please." Grant pleaded. "Please. Help me do that. Help me make her happy."

Clara wiped at her eyes as she silently implored her husband to do the right thing. Without a word Judge Milton rose and moved to his desk, picking up the phone that rested there.

Chloe stared at Grant and then at the judge. "Oh God. I'm sorry. Is – is he calling the police?!?" Grant asked, horrified.

"No dearie, not at all." Mrs. Milton said with a smile. "He's making your wishes come true."