"You said you had two things to say. Before we move into another area of the apartment, what's the second?"
Swallowing hard, she tilted her head, as if trying to judge his reaction.
"It can't be that bad," he offered. "Haven't we got the worst behind us yet?"
She shook her head. "I was afraid to come here today, but I was so angry with you, it gave me false courage." She hesitated. "But I'm even more afraid about being pregnant," she said in a rush.
The familiar pain struck. He wanted kids. He wanted to give them the love his parents had given him, but provide more for them than he'd had as a child. He wanted to spend lazy vacations at the beach or the mountains. Take them to Disneyland. Teach them to play ball and to enjoy the outdoors.
But if it wasn't to be, he could live with that. He knew Caroline had suffered terribly with the miscarriage—only now was he coming to understand the full extent. Taking a deep breath, he rested his forehead against hers.
"Then we won't get pregnant," he said slowly, relinquishing a dream.
He wanted Caroline on whatever terms she stated.
"Oh, Brandon!" She laughed up at him even as tears welled in her eyes. "That's so sweet, but a little late. I am pregnant."
"What?" Shock coursed through him.
She nodded, the tears brimming over. "I had it confirmed yesterday." She blushed slightly. "I think we must have forgotten to take precautions at least once. But I'm still scared to death. My doctor said it should be all right, but what if it isn't? I don't think I could bear it."
"You're pregnant?"
She nodded, smiling despite the tears, which he tried to brush away.
Astonishment gave way to incredulity, then a deep abiding happiness. It was as if they were starting over, past and present merging to forge the strong future they once hoped to have.
"I'll see nothing happens to you this time, Caroline. I promise!"
"Knowing I have your love will be enough. We'll make it this time." She reached up to kiss him. Then pulled back staring into his eyes.
"What?"
He was more attuned to her than he thought. He could tell she had more to say. For a moment fear clutched him. Was there something she hadn't told him? Something serious, about her own health or the pregnancy?
"Is there something wrong? Something I need to know?"
She shook her head, her smile wobbly.
"There is something, tell me."
"Would you think me really silly to want to get married again? I mean, I know we've been married all along, but somehow, this feels like starting over. Like it's all new. I don't know, I just thought on the flight here that if we started over we could do it with a proper renewal of our vows."
"A wedding like you'd wear a white dress and veil?" He smiled, imagining her walking down the church aisle toward him.
"Hardly white and it doesn't need to be elaborate. But maybe a nice dress and hat?"
"I'd love to see you walk down the aisle to me! I'd love to renew our vows—in front of God and all our friends this time. We'll do it up right. No courthouse this time, but your church. With your sisters there and friends. My mom'll love the idea. I don't think you're being silly, sweetheart. I think it's a great plan. And it would make it twice as hard to ever separate again."
Three months later
"You look beautiful," Michelle said, fussing with the roses in Caroline's hair.
"Well, I feel like a blimp," Caroline complained, turning sideways to the mirror. The soft swell of her belly hardly extended enough to disrupt the flow of the lovely pale blue dress. The inverted pleat on the short skirt gave way enough to let the whole world know she was pregnant. She smiled despite her complaint.
"A bride isn't supposed to be almost five months' pregnant."
"No, but a wife can be." Impulsively Michelle hugged her sister. "I'm so happy for you. And look on the bright side. This time you get to be a June bride."
Caroline returned the hug, smiling broadly. "We barely made it into June. We were lucky the church was available this first weekend. I'm more thankful the morning sickness is behind me."
"It would look a little silly to have the bride interrupt the ceremony while she took a mad dash to the bathroom," Abby agreed, handing Caroline the lovely bouquet of pale pink roses Brandon had sent.
Matching corsages were already pinned to her shoulder and Michelle's.
"Half of Baton Rouge is out there, I swear," Michelle said a minute later peeking out to the church.
"Well we are Talmadges. Eugenia gave us that."
It was the same church she and her sisters had attended all their lives. The one Eugenia had planned to have each granddaughter marry in. At least that part of the old woman's schemes was coming true.
Only she'd have thought the man wrong.
Caroline knew Eugenia was the one who'd have been wrong. Brandon was perfect. Anyone who saw them together knew that.
"It was nice of you to send a car for Edith Strong," Abby said, fussing with her own hair, giving up with a sigh.
"She's a nice woman and I'm grateful for her telling me the truth about what happened with our father."
"You never carried it any further. Want to?" Michelle asked casually.
"What do you mean?
"I mean knowing he didn't leave us of his own volition, is that enough?"
Caroline shrugged. "I had so much to do with winding up the estate long distance from Dallas, and finding a new place for me and my family." She smiled as she said that. The new house in Fort Worth was large enough for several children. And maybe a dog.
"I know he didn't abandon us, he was driven away. Nothing can change that, you know. It's made a huge difference in how I look at things. We grew up without a father, without a mother. I'd change things in a heartbeat if I could, but I can't, so I'm making sure this next generation has both parents," she said firmly, placing her hand protectively over her stomach.
"Besides, what do you suggest we do? The man's been gone for twenty-three years, and who knows where he went? He's probably built himself a new life—and who could blame him? He could be anywhere in the world. I have a new house to decorate and a husband who's proving to be very demanding."
She smiled, not that she'd have it any other way. Brandon had taken to bringing work home and then abandoning it to spend the time with her. His workaholic ways were changing since they'd moved to Dallas. And she knew she could count on him to be with her whenever she needed him in the future.
That had been another promise.
"They're starting the wedding march," Abby said. She hugged her older sister. "Be happy!"
"How can I not help it with Brandon?"
Her sisters flanking her, Caroline started down the aisle to the man whom she'd always love.
Arriving at his side, she reached for his hand, just as she felt a flutter of life deep inside. They'd come full circle. They were stronger now and could manage whatever life threw their way—together.
Today would seal that promise.
"I love you," she whispered as the pastor took his place before them.
"I love you, Caroline, and always will," Brandon replied, leaning over to kiss her before the ceremony even began.
—The End—
Did you enjoy this story?
If so you may enjoy the next book in The Talmadge Sisters series, Michelle's Marriage Deal.
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Letters to Caroline (The Talmadge Sisters Book 1) Page 16
