CHAPTER 7

Days turn into a week. Jeremy has been the perfect husband in all ways except for the bedroom. He has still not been allowed in their bed. He has taken to fulfill his broken promises. He has been busy turning a spare room into a sewing room. After completion of the room, he helps her move all her sewing materials into the room.

"Jeremy, you have done an excellent job. The room is beautiful. Thank you so much." She leans over and gives him a tender kiss on his cheek.

"You're welcome. I'm sorry it took me so long to get around to it." He places a bolt of cloth on a shelf. "Candy, I never did get to meet your friend Pam. Did she get her aunt to approve of Harve?"

"Believe it or not, Harve has moved in with them."

"Really? How did that happen?"

Candy shakes her head. "All it took was for Harve to go over and begin to make some repairs on her house. With a lot of work and some sweet talk, he had her eating out of his hand in no time. When Pam told her aunt they were married, her aunt insisted they live with her. They all seem happy."

"That's good. I still hope to meet Pam someday."

"Well, if you'd like, we could ask Pam and Harve over for supper one night soon," Candy suggests.

"All right, but ask her aunt to come, too."

Candy is taken aback by Jeremy's request. "I'll do that."

Later after supper, Candy puts the last swipe of icing on a chocolate cake she has just baked. Then she goes in search of Jeremy. She finds him all sprawled out on the settee in the parlor. She watches him sleep and marvels at how handsome her husband is. Jeremy makes my juices run wild, she laughs. Oh that Holly Houston is such a bad influence, she giggles. She places a hand on Jeremy's cheek. When she goes to remove it, Jeremy grabs her hand.

"Candy?"

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to wake you. You looked like you were resting well."

"I guess I was. Are you turning in for the night?" he asks.

"I thought I might as well go to bed. Goodnight."

"Goodnight, Candy. Pleasant dreams."

Candy smiles, then walks towards the door. Stopping, she turns around to face Jeremy. "Jeremy?"

"Yes," he answers.

She holds her hand out to him saying, "Jeremy, come with me."

Jeremy stands and takes her hand. "Where we going?"

"I think it's time for my husband to sleep in our bed. He has some husbandly duties to attend to."

"You mean. . .?"

"That's exactly what I mean." She smiles seductively.

Jeremy wraps her up in his arms. "I have missed you so much." He kisses her lips tenderly.

"And I have missed you, too."

They go up the stairs, into their room, shutting the door.

EPILOGUE

Jeremy is beaming with love and pride. Candy has delivered their first newborn son, Jackson, only hours ago. "Thank you, Candy. Jack is perfect." He leans over with teary eyes and kisses her lips.

"Oh, I know he is. I do think he's as handsome as his Daddy. Just look at him, Jeremy. He has a head full of brown hair and the bluest eyes just like you."

While Candy nurses their son, Jeremy sits beside her in the bed putting his arm around her. "You know, Jeremy, when you surprised me with that honeymoon trip to Chicago, I never dreamed of coming back home with child. You kept two promises on that trip."

"I did, didn't I?" he chuckles.

"You sure did. First, the honeymoon trip to Chicago, of all places. And second, starting a family. Thank you."

"You're welcome. I'm sorry it took me so long to keep my promises."

"I think you're all caught up on your promises. Promises made, promises kept."

Jeremy kisses her cheek. "Well, I'm going to make you another promise right now, and I intend to keep it."

"What's that?"

"I promise to love you forever."

Jack lets out a burp causing Jeremy and Candy to laugh. "That's my son!" Jeremy boasts with a twinkle in his eye and a big smile on his face.

THE END