Chapter 3: Wedding Plans
Fortunately, university professors have very flexible teaching schedules and office hours. It was not hard for the Professor to take time out in the middle of the day to take care of the blood tests and necessary paperwork for the wedding without raising suspicions. Since the children were all back in school there was no reason for them to know. However, they were both finding it difficult to restrain their physical desire for one another, now that they had fully given in. With the children in the house, it was impossible to even think of snatching such forbidden moments. There could be no repeats of Saturday night.
So on Tuesday, the Professor decided to surprise her by coming home for lunch and staying a little later to make up for lost time. She was not surprised when he entered the house. In fact she had chef's salads and iced tea waiting. She did seem a little subdued.
"Can't ever surprise you with anything, can I?" he grumbled cheerfully.
"You did with the ring, the other night," she reminded him.
"Yes I did, didn't I," he said with satisfaction. He looked at her and noticed that her response did not have the same playfulness that it usually had.
"Okay, I'm afraid that although I don't have quite your powers of intuition, I can tell that you have something on your mind. No secrets, okay?" he said.
She looked down and he noticed that her cheeks were a little flushed. So what else could he do? He took her in his arms and held her close. She put her arms around his shoulders and rested her cheek on his shoulder.
"I love you," he breathed. "Tell me. Let go of it. It will make you feel better."
"Hal," she started tentatively, "Remember how you were afraid last weekend that we might have given Prudence her baby sister a little earlier than would be seemly?"
He knew what she was going to say. He was relieved. When they were married they would starting anew. With any luck it would be more than nine months before the little miracle came along. However he could see that she was disappointed. Hopefully when she had more time to think about it, she would see that it was all for the best.
To make this moment easier, he answered, "Well, I guess we're going to have to try harder next time. We did promise Prudence you know."
She tightened her grip and looked up into his eyes, "But what if . . . we can't?"
She was obviously remembering their conversation with Butch and Prudence only a week or so ago regarding the Parsons and how their inability to have their own child had resulted in the adoption of Butch's pen pal Billy. This was a new fear. He hoped that she would let go of it more easily than she had some of her others.
"It's too early to tell that. Remember, the timing has to be right, and if you already know that we didn't make a baby, then I can tell you from experience that this was definitely an issue of timing," he explained.
She looked a little suspicious and he said, "My first wife had the same worry that you have. She was so concerned that she went to the doctor. He told her that she was a perfectly healthy woman and explained to her how to get the timing right."
Seeing that she had relaxed, the Professor continued, "Being a mathematician, she insisted that I run all kinds of numbers and probabilities to predict the exact 'best time' to conceive. I never liked it. It lacked the spontaneity and romance that these kinds of encounters, shall we say, should have. I always felt that if we just let nature take its course, it would have happened anyway. With you I would just like to let things happen naturally, and keep my promise and try very, very hard."
It was impossible for him to keep the naughty look out of his eye. He was clearly looking forward to keeping that promise. She had to smile at his almost childish delight. Seeing that he had cheered her up, he gently kissed her and said, "I'm hungry. How about some lunch? Those salads look great."
He decided that it would be best to distract her from this little concern. As they sat down he continued, "Since all of our paperwork is in order, we might as well not waste any more time. Besides, the sooner we do it, the better the chance is that we'll catch everyone off guard. There's a nice bed and breakfast up in the hills not far from an Episcopal chapel. I've already taken the liberty of making a reservation at the Hill Top Bed and Breakfast and calling the pastor at the little church. He'll be happy to perform the ceremony. His wife will be the witness. Apparently we aren't the first couple to have this idea."
He gave her a minute to absorb the information.
"Or we could hop a flight to Vegas if you like," he suggested
"Whatever makes you think . . .?" she was outraged until she realized that he was teasing her.
"Gotcha!"
They both laughed. Neither one had any desire to go to Las Vegas and have some tacky ceremony in a twenty-four chapel, although the Professor had to admit that with all her prescience and intuition they could probably win a lot of money there. He felt her lightly tap his arm and he knew that once again she had read his mind. Her look was very disapproving. With an impish grin he turned his attention back to his salad. She looked at him fondly. There were times when she wondered if he wasn't actually the biggest kid of all in the house.
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Discussion at dinner that night centered around the wedding. Prudence and Trelawney, their heads stuffed with fairy tales of princesses and balls, had visions of a grand pageant. Phoebe had warned Hal that he should play along with whatever nonsense Trelawney spun out.
"She will be paying attention to your every thought so that she can see how far you will indulge her fantasies. Try to think of how ridiculous you find it, without any sense of relief that there's no way it will happen," she advised.
"Is that what you'll be doing?" he asked.
"And then some. Consider it my own little prank on her for all those that she's played on us over the last few months," she said with a smile.
"Phoebe, we have so many cousins, just think of all the attendants you can have!" enthused Trelawney.
"Can I be the flower girl?" asked Prudence.
"Emmeline will have to be the maid of honor. Oh won't she be mad! Remember what she said at Christabel's wedding?" said Trelawney.
"Who's Christabel?" asked Prudence.
"She's Em's sister and Em was her maid of honor. There was a best man and ten bridesmaids and ten groomsmen. Phoebe was a bridesmaid, I was flower girl and my cousin Bobby was the ring bearer," she continued.
"Sounds like three ring circus," commented the Professor.
"Oh, it was," agreed Trelawney. "We had hours for fittings and the rehearsal was endless because nobody knew where to go. The lads broke out a case of ale and . . ."
"Trelawney!" admonished Phoebe.
"From Uncle Bleary O'Leary's pub?" asked the Professor.
"Yes, how did you know?" she didn't wait for an answer. "Anyway, Emmeline finally pitched a fit and said that Christabel was a bloody loon to have started all this rot and that if ever she got married she would elope. It was a year before they finally spoke again."
"Boy, that sounds like fun!" said Butch."What's ale?"
"It's what English people drink instead of beer," explained Hal.
"More like what English people drink in addition to beer," corrected Trelawney.
"Dad," said Butch. "Will we drink beer or ale at your wedding?"
"Neither" said the Professor so definitively that everyone stopped laughing and stared.
"We wouldn't want to be arrested for serving alcohol to minors," he amended.
"Not a lot of fun to spend your honeymoon in jail, would it be Professor?" asked Trelawney.
"This is getting ridiculous," said the Professor.
"Trelawney, we were thinking that a small family wedding was in order," explained Nanny.
"Yeah, right. Small family wedding is an oxymoron when it concerns the Figalillys," responded Trelawney.
Deliberately changing the subject, Nanny said, "What were you two thinking about colors?"
"I want a rainbow wedding," said Prudence.
"What's that?" asked her brother Hal.
"Francine has a book. All the bridesmaids wear different colored dresses, like a rainbow. Did you know that Francine and Trelawney were planning their own weddings?" asked Prudence.
"Oh brother!" groaned Hal.
But Trelawney turned pink. "Prudence we told you that you could stay with us if you promised not to tell."
"I forgot," said Prudence repentantly.
"Let's say we all forget and end this conversation now," said the Professor. "I know a few children who have homework to do."
"Trelawney, would you please stay and help me with the dishes?" asked Nanny.
"I'll help," said Butch quickly. "I bet that Trelawney has more homework than I do."
Trelawney had already seen her sister's face and knew that she was about to get a talking to. "How nice of you, Butch. I do have a great deal of homework."
But the Professor interjected, "Butch, even if she has twice as much homework as you, I know it will only take her half as long. Upstairs young man, now!
Trelawney sighed regretfully and began clearing the table as she prepared herself for the imminent lecture. But Phoebe didn't want to be too hard on her. She knew that the girl was impulsive and sometimes the words came tumbling out of her mouth as soon as they popped into her head. She was also concerned about how she felt about Prudence telling tales.
Silently they worked side by side and when they were done Phoebe drew her into her arms. By now Trelawney had calmed down and was already regretting some of her outrageous remarks.
"I'm sorry Phoebe. I don't know what comes over me sometimes. I know that I shouldn't tell tales on the family," she said regretfully.
"Well dear," her sister replied kindly. "It would be very helpful if you would think before you spoke. I know that you are very happy about the wedding and that you and Hal worked and schemed very hard to bring the Professor and I together, but marriage isn't about weddings."
"I know that, but weddings are such lovely fun," she said. "And besides there's, well . . . no one else to help you plan it. You know?"
Phoebe put her hands on her sister's shoulders and said, "Yes indeed darling I do know. And yes, it makes me sad too, but we'll carry on you and I, won't we?"
Tears filled Trelawney's eyes. As she comforted her, Phoebe could feel her own tears forming. Within moments, they were weeping because at this most special time of Phoebe's life, their parents would not be there.
At one point Trelawney looked up at her sister and said sadly, "You know they would have loved him. In fact, I think that up in heaven they do love him."
Holding her more tightly, Phoebe whispered, "I am sure that they do."
At length the Professor came into the kitchen. He was becoming concerned that they had not yet reappeared. He caught Phoebe's eye and she nodded through her tears. Coming over put his arms around them both and gave each a fatherly kiss on the forehead.
"Can I do anything to help my two Figalilly girls?" he asked gently.
Trelawney sniffled but replied, "I need to start my homework."
Putting his arm around Phoebe's waist he led her to the living room. He knew that if the sisters were crying together that it meant they were missing their parents. No doubt all of this wedding nonsense was stirring things up. Thankfully it would be over in a few days.
"Yes, Hal," said Phoebe quietly, so that no potential eavesdroppers could hear. "I really don't care about being a bride. I want to be a wife."
"You will," he said softly, "And then a mother. Shhh! Don't look skeptical or worried. Remember, during one of our flights into the cosmos, I saw you. You were heavy with my child, and you smiled so beautifully. You looked like a vision, not a dream. Do you have any idea of how much I love you?"
His words calmed and comforted her. He knew that she needed to hear them. In these lowest moments, even though she knew in her heart how much he loved her, she still needed to hear the words. He wanted her to know that she must never feel alone. His arms were waiting when she needed a safe place to rest. His shoulder was there for her to lean or even cry on. In a few days they would be joined as a permanent "we." The thought was still awesome to him.
Looking down he realized that she was sleeping. He still had work to do but he didn't care. His destiny was curled up and dozing peacefully in his arms. The work would always be there, but sweet moments like this might not. For the time being, this was the closest he could get to actually sleeping with her. Prudence was the first one to arrive downstairs for her good night kiss. Seeing that Nanny was sleeping, she tip-toed over and quietly kissed her Daddy on the cheek.
"I'll tell the others," she whispered.
The Professor was grateful and turned his attention back to the bundle in his arms. Doubts crept into his mind about whether she was ready to be married. Still, once they were married he would have her with him through the night, and not just for lovemaking. He would be there to comfort her at times like this and not have to wake her from her peaceful sleep to put her to bed in another room. As the clock ticked on he knew that he finally had to rouse her, but he changed his mind. Deciding that he would do something he had always wanted to, he lifted her up and carried her to bed. Tucking her in, he shut off the light and closed the door.
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The children were excited on Friday because they knew that Emmeline was coming to celebrate the engagement. She would stay the weekend and take them on an outing tomorrow so that Nanny and the Professor could have some time to themselves. The kids all agreed among themselves that this was a very good thing and they were happy to cooperate. Emmeline was also going to help beginning to start the wedding plans.
"I guess she wants to get in the ground floor, so to speak, to try and prevent all that 'rot'" said Trelawney to Prudence as they were getting ready for dinner.
"What's a bloody loon?" asked Prudence.
"Something you shouldn't mention to Emmeline unless you want to get me into trouble," warned the older girl. "You won't like it if you tattle again."
"Don't worry, I'll remember this time," said Prudence sincerely.
But it was not Prudence that Trelawney should have been worried about. No sooner had they sat down to dinner than Butch asked Emmeline what a bloody loon was. Emmeline looked at Trelawney who didn't want to meet her eye.
"Been telling tales on the family, have you been, love?"
"Well we were talking about Phoebe's wedding and I told them just a wee bit about Christabel's," explained Trelawney.
"Of all the Figalilly weddings," she shook her head. "I should really give you what for."
"Oh yeah, Cousin Emmeline," urged Butch. "If you do that then I get fifty cents from Hal instead of a quarter."
"Oh, brother!" Hal rolled his eyes.
"You mean you paid him to tattle on me?" asked Trelawney outraged.
"The next time that you DON'T want me to tattle," said Prudence. "I think that you should pay me."
The adults shook their heads.
"Leave it to my kids to figure out how to make a buck off of tattling," said the Professor.
"Well before this becomes a lucrative venture for a couple of you," said Nanny looking directly at Butch and Prudence, "We'll have no more bribery or taking 'protection money' so to speak, with regards to anything related to telling tales on one another. We have enough of that without any added incentives."
"Come on, Nanny," said Butch, "Give us a break."
"No," she said sternly. "The whole idea of it goes completely against everything that I have been trying to teach you about love and family."
The kids all looked at each other. Nanny had begun to sound like, well, like she was their mother or something. Emmeline couldn't resist gently needling them.
"Well kids, I guess that there are going to be both pluses and minuses to Phoebe being your mother."
"I don't care," said Prudence. "I just want Nanny to be my Mommy."
Nanny smiled softly.
"Well I want Nanny to be my Mom too," said Butch. Then looking at her he added, "But couldn't you wait until you and Dad are actually married before you start getting into all the Mom stuff?"
"Okay," said the Professor. "Nanny can wait on the Mom stuff, but I'm still your Dad and there will be no profiteering from tattle telling. Come to think of it, I want all of you to promise that there will be no more tattle telling."
"I promise, Daddy," said Prudence immediately.
Before he could protest, Hal said, "Give it up, Butch."
Emmeline changed the subject. "I think that a nice simple wedding is in order, even if it has to be large to accommodate all the family."
"I told you so," said Trelawney. "I knew that she was going to interfere with our plans."
"Yes, dear," said Nanny. "And of course you've never interfered in anything before in your life."
Before Trelawney could defend herself, Nanny suggested that they go into the living room while she cleaned up, but Emmeline said,
"No Phoebe, you go into the living room. Trelawney and Prudence can help me clean up."
"I think that's a great idea!" said the Professor and offered Nanny his arm. She took it and they walked into the living room together. The kids turned to Emmeline and Hal said,
"Come on, Butch, let's leave them alone so they can have some kissy face time."
"Some what?" asked Emmeline amused.
"Kissy face time," said Prudence. "That's what we call it when they go off by themselves and play kissy face. They don't like it when we interrupt them. At first it was just Dad, but now it's Nanny too."
Emmeline involuntarily rolled her eyes. It's a good thing they're settling things tomorrow. But she immediately shut the thought out of her mind in case Trelawney noticed.
When they were done Emmeline went to the living room and, as Butch had predicted, found Phoebe and the Professor in a clinch.
"Aren't you afraid the kids will see you?"
"No," said the Professor, "I believe that they're giving us what they call kissy face time."
"Oh you know about that then?" she inquired drily.
"Make use of it every time I can," he replied cheerfully.
Emmeline looked at her cousin. Phoebe was looking calmer and more relaxed than she had in a long while. She looked very comfortable curled up as she was against the Professor. He was holding her tenderly, almost protectively, in his arms. She thought of her own sister's stress and anxiety the night before her wedding.
After their blowup at the church, there had been the rehearsal dinner where a number of very inappropriate toasts had been made by some very drunk groomsmen. There were so many details to the arrangements that by midnight both Christabel and their mother had been in tears. The day had ultimately come off as Christabel's "dream wedding" and at the time, Emmeline now recalled, that Phoebe had agreed with her that all the fuss was simply not worth it. Of course theirs was the minority opinion.
Phoebe and the Professor had made the right decision. If she had been afraid that they were moving too quickly, she was now convinced that her fears had been misplaced. They were the picture of peace and contentment. Rather than a lot of arrangements, Phoebe's mind was completely focused on her husband-to-be. Rather than worrying about a thousand things that could wrong, her mind was completely centered on the ceremony that was now the most right thing in her life. Emmeline stood up.
"Well I for one am going to bed early. Tomorrow is going to be a long day. What do you want me to tell the children when you don't come home tomorrow night?"
"The truth," said the Professor. "They might as well know rather than using their imaginations. Think you can handle it?"
"Oh yes," said Emmeline. "It'll be a great change to have the last laugh on them. Sure you want to give up the opportunity to see Hal and Trelawney on the other end of a prank?"
"I think I can sacrifice it to spend a romantic night away with my new husband," said Phoebe.
"Well, I don't know how many times we'll have the chance . . ." began the Professor.
Phoebe playfully attempted to smack his arm, but he grabbed her wrist and started to kiss her.
"Carry on!" said Emmeline and left them.
Good thing they're getting married tomorrow. After tonight they'll be able to go off by themselves and indulge in their physical inclinations to their heart's content. She checked on the kids and hustled them off to bed. She didn't want to have to deal with four kids who would be any crankier than necessary after they discovered that Phoebe and the Professor had foiled their plans for an extravaganza.
Phoebe and the Professor must have had the same idea because shortly afterwards, they followed her upstairs. Apart from the Professor and preparing for bed Phoebe seemed a little subdued, even sad. In her nightgown she looked more delicate than ever. Taking her by the shoulders, Emmeline looked into her eyes. There was a dreamy quality to them. She seemed to be thinking of the past, even as she was getting ready to step into the future.
"If only . . ." she began, but faltered.
"In everyone's life there are probably a thousand 'if onlys,'" said Emmeline. "Some of them are regrets for bad choices. You don't have any of those. I know right now that if your mother and father were here they would be so proud of you. You have dedicated your life to helping others. You have taken on the full responsibility for raising your sister. Tomorrow you will be committing yourself to a kind and generous man and to raising his children.
"While your parents were living, you always loved, respected and obeyed them. Everyone knows how much joy you gave them. The last thing that they would want is for you to lose your own joy in life on their account."
Phoebe was thoughtful, although still sad. Everything that Emmeline said was true. She knew how much her parents had loved her. If she did have any regrets they were because of the amount of time that she had spent traveling which had taken her away from them. She thought of tomorrow and how the exchange of rings and a few words would change her forever. Emmeline read her thoughts and smiled,
"When you grew up, you moved away from your parents to live independently. Tomorrow you will commit yourself to a man whom you will never leave. Tonight is the last night that you will sleep in your own bed. After that, that you will spend your nights with him," she said gently.
Phoebe flushed a little and bit her lip. Emmeline looked at her with understanding.
"You've already spent the night in his bed, haven't you? How was it? Don't be shy, remember this is Em here. When we were teenage girls we used to talk about these kinds of things."
"It was beautiful," answered Phoebe with a far-away look in her eyes. "I felt like the princess in the fairy tale who was awakened by Prince Charming's kiss. He was so passionate and gentle at the same time. I thought that I was going to be scared, but I just felt safe."
Emmeline nodded. From the beginning that was how he had always made her feel: safe. She wouldn't pry any further. Phoebe was certainly entitled to her private thoughts, especially in this area. But she was still moved to ask,
"Promise me that I get to be the godmother?"
Flushing a slightly deeper red, she answered, "Yes, if it happens."
"No, Phoebe, WHEN it happens," replied Emmeline, thinking that once it did happen it might not be as gloriously romantic as she imagined it. Oh well, she would have to learn all about the morning sickness and other physical inconveniences for herself.
At the same moment, the Professor was standing in his own room, thinking about how on Sunday after they returned it would become their room. He would suddenly be sharing closet and draw space, not to mention the bathroom. It gave him an odd feeling, after these years of living alone, to know that their lives would be so intimately wound around each other. Knowing how tidy her own room was, not to mention the whole house, he wasn't worried about any clutter. She was so soft and feminine that the room just didn't seem to suit her as it was. However, considering how much money they were saving on the wedding, he would be only too happy if she wanted to redecorate it.
Now that the time for his remarriage was fast approaching, he thought about his first wife. He didn't really have to wonder about what she would have thought of his choice as a wife and step-mother for their three children. Before she had died he had promised her that he would find someone who would love them as her own and raise them to be strong, healthy adults. Of course, he really hadn't found Phoebe, she had found them.
How she had known that the housekeeper position was open after Miss Dunbar quit and before he had even posted it was still a mystery to him. He never could get a straight answer out of her, but considering the love and happiness she had brought into their lives it no longer bothered him. It had taken him a long time to get used to her presence in their lives. But it had not been long before the house was running smoothly, the children were better behaved, and he wasn't dreading coming home at night. Of course her eccentricities had originally annoyed the hell out of him. Between her fantastic imagination and her determination to pull them together as a family, she nearly drove him out of his mind.
It was only later that he realized that if Helen had lived, she would never have let the family fall so far apart from one another that finding family time would have been a great struggle. Phoebe was bringing the family back to where they had been. And while Helen may have lacked Phoebe's belief in the impossible, she shared with her the vision of life, that there was good everyone. All you had to do was look for it. He often thought that if they had known each other, they would have understood each other very well.
Yet there were enough differences between them for him to realize that he was starting a whole new life with this woman. Despite the fact that she was more than fifteen years younger than him, there were times when she seemed much older. By the same token, although they had known each other for less than two years, he felt as though he had known her for far longer. Young and beautiful as she was, it often amazed him that she could love him, middle-aged and widower with three children though he was, not to mention with a whole menagerie of animals thrown into the bargain.
When he had thought of remarriage, it had never occurred to him that he might marry someone young enough to want her own children. As his own three were growing older, even last year he had felt a twinge of regret of the passage of their early childhood. It had been huge step when Prudence had started school. Now with Phoebe as his wife there would be more years of the "patter of little feet." It was one of those unexpected blessings in life that no one could have predicted.
They had not even had a traditional courtship. One day she was his housekeeper and nanny to his children and the next he realized that he loved her and wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. It was an awesome moment when he discovered that she felt the same way. Once he discovered that she returned his feelings in kind, his mind was made up. They would marry and spend the rest of their lives loving each other. Of course it really wasn't so simple. These things never are. However he never lost sight of his ultimate goal. Somewhere in the darkest recesses of his heart he had always known that this night would come.
He was glad that Emmeline was in the house. If she wasn't there then he might be tempted to sneak into her room to spend these last hours before they made the final commitment in her arms. He thought of last weekend and the wonder of discovering her. He lost count of the number of times he made love to her but it didn't matter, there would never be enough. Still, the thought of tomorrow night very nearly made his heart stop. He remembered from his last wedding night that profound feeling of oneness that he had felt when they made love for the first time after they had vowed to spend their lives together.
It had not been their first time together, but it was completely different. Knowing how deeply sensitive Phoebe was to these things, he was looking forward to that moment of initiation, when the promises made with their lips became promises made with their bodies. He was also glad that it would not be her first time. He knew that the first experience had been more uncomfortable than she admitted. He was glad that she was passed that and could fully enjoy their lovemaking. He suspected that it would not be long before she would be able to let go of her fears about their ability to have a child of their own.
Since that last beautiful night under the stars, before Cholmondeley turned up to turn their world upside down, he had often thought of how she looked to him, in his mind's eye, large with his child. Boy or girl it didn't matter. If Prudence didn't get her sister the first time around there would always be the fun of trying again. Finally he lay down, knowing that the sooner he slept, the sooner the morning would come: their wedding day.
It had been decided that it would be best if Emmeline left with the kids first in the station wagon. They had said that they were going to spend some time at home alone before going out for the afternoon. Hal and Trelawney looked knowingly at each other, but both had the good sense to keep quiet about whatever it was that they were thinking. Butch was just eager to go and Prudence wanted hugs and kisses goodbye.
As they left, Trelawney said, "And when we get back we'll begin some serious wedding planning!"
Phoebe and Hal managed to keep straight faces until the car had pulled down the street. By the time the kids had returned home tonight they would already be married. Neither felt the least bit guilty about disappointing them. For at least the next twenty-four hours, the only feelings they need concern themselves with would be each other's.
Walking back inside the house arm in arm, they each went off to their separate rooms to pack, each smiling at the thought that when they returned they would no longer need separate bedrooms. They met again in the upstairs hallway and Hal took Phoebe's overnight bag. She had the box with her great-great-grandmother's wedding dress.
He commented, "You know with all the upset that day you tried it on, I really can't remember what it looks like."
She smiled softly. "So then it won't be bad luck that you've seen it before."
"The only bad luck involved was that you weren't wearing the dress for me," he said. "Truth be told, while you had it on, I couldn't bear to look at it."
"And now?"
"Truth be told? I will probably not be able to see anything but your beautiful blue eyes," he answered tenderly.
Those eyes looked back at him, filled with love and the quiet joy of knowing that the next time they entered the house, it would be as man and wife. He gestured and she went down the stairs and out the door. After putting their things in the back seat, Hal gallantly held the passenger side door and announced, "Your carriage awaits, my dear."
Taking his hand she stepped in. He closed the door in and leaned in for a kiss, not caring if the whole neighborhood saw. It was a long, full-mouthed kiss. When he pulled back she looked around to see if there were any observers.
Playfully, he whispered in her ear, "Don't worry! By the time we get back, I will have made you a respectable woman."
"I have always been a respectable woman," she said primly, as he walked around the car to get in.
"Mmm, hmm," he answered with a rather naughty look on his face and pulled out the driveway.
Smiling and leaning back comfortably, she decided to let him have the last word. Her heart was really too full to reply anyway. She doubted that any bride had ever been more loved than she was at this moment. But she had spoken the truth the other night. She really didn't care about being a bride. She knew that she was about to become the wife of the man that she had been born to marry.
She looked over at his handsome profile while he concentrated on his driving as they weaved in and out of the Saturday morning traffic on the way out of town. Lost in his own thoughts, he was smiling. His eyes might be on the road, but his mind was on the future, their future. And it was beautiful.
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To be continued . . .