The space inside the lean-to reverberated with her question, and they gazed at each other looking for answers, looking for the future.
"Do you still think you did what was best?" Alex asked in a low voice.
It was so hard for her to speak past the lump in her throat. They were on the verge of really talking, and if she could just make him understand--
"Mom! Mom!" The scream carried to the lean-to, and Amanda immediately knew it belonged to her daughter.
She scrambled outside, and jumped to her feet, calling, "Heather, where are you?"
Her daughter's voice had seemed to come at her from four different directions, and she couldn't get her bearings. Alex had said the girls were in Kristy's room, but as she turned toward the house, she heard again, "Mom, at the creek. Hurry!"
Amanda took off at a run, not knowing if Alex was behind her or not. All she cared about was getting to her daughter. Heather wouldn't have yelled like that unless--
"Heather!" she called into the woods.
"Mom! Here!" her daughter screamed back, her voice breaking.
It only took moments to spot her, but it seemed like much longer. In a glance, Amanda guessed what had happened. A narrow tree trunk that the girls had apparently been using as a bridge across the creek had broken in two. Heather was knee-deep in water, hanging on to a tree limb that draped over the bank. But the bank was muddy, and she couldn't seem to get her footing to crawl up.
As soon as Heather saw Amanda, she pointed to the middle of the creek. Kristy had fallen into the deepest part. She was holding onto the broken trunk, but all of her was submerged except for her head and arm.
Dear God, let her be all right, Amanda prayed. Seeing Heather was in no immediate danger, she half slid, half crawled down the side of the muddy creek bank into the swirling water. She heard Alex call, "Amanda, wait!"
But she couldn't wait. If Kristy let go, the water could sweep her further down, and she could get hurt even more than she might be already. Without a thought for her own safety, Amanda waded through the mud until her feet didn't touch. Then she swam to Kristy, praying all the way. When she reached Alex's daughter, she saw how pale she was...and scared.
Curling her arm around the little girl's waist, Amanda asked, "Are you hurt? Can you tell?"
Kristy shook her head. "I...I don't think so. I felt it breaking and sorta jumped. I can move my legs and everything. I just got so scared, I was afraid to let go."
"It's okay. I'm here now. You can let go. I'll keep my arm around you, and we'll swim toward the bank together. Okay?"
It was a good thirty feet to the bank, and Amanda could tell Kristy didn't look as if she wanted to release her hold on the log. She looked into Amanda's eyes for reassurance.
"We can do this, honey. Come on."
It was the encouragement the nine-year-old needed. She let go of the trunk, and Amanda started swimming. As soon as her feet touched the creek bed, she clasped Kristy close to her, almost carrying her in the water until Alex met them and took his daughter from her. He'd already helped Heather to the safety of solid ground above the creek bank. When he reached the edge of the water, he climbed out and set Kristy down. Then he rushed back to Amanda and held out his hand to her. She took it and managed to scramble up the bank. Heather and Kristy hugged her. As Amanda held both of them close protectively, she didn't let go.
Tears stung Alex's eyes as he watched Kristy and Heather huddled close to Amanda. He didn't think he could love Amanda any more than he loved her at this moment. And the startling realization of that love rocked him. When he'd asked her to marry him, he'd thought it would be the expedient thing to do. Both of their daughters needed two parents. The chemistry between them was explosive enough to make every night of their marriage a night of pleasure. The thought of love had never even entered his mind, probably because it was a foreign concept. Years ago he had fallen in love and had been rewarded with terrible disappointment and disillusionment. Oh, he knew he loved his daughter, but he'd thought that was the only kind of love he'd ever feel again.
He'd been so wrong.
What was even more wrong was that he'd never told Amanda exactly how much he cared about her, how much he loved her. No wonder she hadn't been able to confide in him! No wonder she'd been afraid of his disapproval. He'd been a jerk, and since their argument he'd treated her so badly.
Could she forgive him?
She had risked her own safety for his daughter. He'd never met a woman who was that unselfish...who was that giving. And if he had the chance, he'd prove to her that no problem was ever too big to solve, and any disagreement could be resolved if they talked and compromised.
He would compromise.
If only he could have seen this clearly before.
Breathing around a tight knot in his chest, he moved closer to the two girls and the woman he loved. "Are you all right?" he asked, not sure what to address first.
Heather slid from her mother's embrace. "I'm fine. Just wet and muddy."
Kristy looked up at him. "I think I'm okay."
Taking her by the shoulders, his gaze examined her from head to toe. Her one leg was scraped, and she was covered with splotches of mud as they all were. But other than that, she looked amazingly okay, except for the goose bumps on her arms.
"Let's get you out of those wet clothes, and put some antibiotic cream on your leg. After you're cleaned up and dry, I'll give you the scolding you deserve."
Kristy's eyes grew wide with apology. "Dad, I'm sorry. We just wanted to see what was going on."
"How many times did you cross the creek over that trunk this summer?"
"About a hundred," she murmured.
Then he looked at Heather. "One of you should have known better, but we'll talk about that later. Come on, let's get you up to the house."
He hadn't met Amanda's gaze yet. He didn't know how to tell her that he thought she was the bravest woman alive, that he loved her so much he never wanted to let her out of his sight. But she was shivering, too, and he didn't want to rush what he had to say to her.
"I'd go to my house," she started, "but I don't think my legs will take me that far."
He wanted to swing her up into his arms and carry her like he had that day in the cave. But he wasn't sure she'd let him or how she'd react, as independent as she was.
"I have lots of spare shirts that'll fit you just fine," he said.
Her eyes were wide and blue, and he didn't know if he saw sadness there or regret. But whatever she was feeling, she nodded and took the girls' hands.
While Amanda and the girls cleaned up in the large upstairs' bathroom, Alex showered in the smaller bathroom off of his bedroom. As he dressed, he thought about what he wanted to say to Amanda, but nothing seemed right. Taking a white shirt from his closet, he went down the hall and knocked on Kristy's bedroom door.
Knowing the girls needed their privacy and Amanda would probably want hers, he said, "Amanda, I hung my shirt on the doorknob. I'll be downstairs."
He hoped that was enough of an invitation for her to come down, but if it wasn't, he'd be back up here much more insistent.
Downstairs, he paced, wishing he had enough time to go buy her some flowers, or a pearl necklace, or something. But then he remembered the daylilies blooming at the side of the house. It would only take him a minute to collect some of them.
He was just re-entering the living room when he saw her coming down the stairs. She looked self-conscious in his shirt, even though it practically went to her knees. Her feet were bare, and she must have dried her hair with Kristy's dryer because it was soft and wavy around her face. She looked so beautiful, and he didn't know where to start.
When she saw the flowers in his hand, she tilted her head and looked surprised. "They're pretty."
Crossing to her, he held them out. "They're for you. They should be diamonds, or emeralds, or something worth a whole lot more because you risked your life to save my daughter's."
The hope in her e
yes dimmed as she took them. "She was in trouble. I helped her. That's all. The same way you helped Heather." After a deep breath, she rushed on, "Alex, I have to tell you something, and if I don't tell you now, I might not have the courage to later. I love you. I never said it because I guess I was afraid to, just as I was afraid to trust in you enough to confide in you about Jeff. I'm sorry I didn't tell you. I never want to keep anything from you. I guess I'm trying to ask you if you can possibly forgive me--"
Pressing his fingers to her lips, he said, "I'm sorry I reacted so strongly. I haven't fought my desire for you, Amanda. But I have fought all my feelings, so I never told you what they were. You didn't trust me because you didn't know how very much I love you."
At her small gasp, he took her in his arms, flowers and all. "Can you forgive me?"
Feeling her shoulders start to shake, he realized she was crying. Pulling back, he watched the tears as they streamed down her cheeks, and he swallowed hard. "It doesn't matter what decision you make about Heather's college fund. I'll love you no matter what, through everything. Or is it too late? Have I ruined our chances?"
But when she shook her head and tried to give him a small smile, he suspected reaction was setting in from everything that had happened. This time he didn't think she'd care if he swung her into his arms and carried her to the sofa. So he did, and she hung on as if he were her lifeline.
Sitting down with her, he held her close. "When I saw you go into that creek after Kristy--"
He stopped, emotion clogging his throat. But at Amanda's understanding expression, he continued. "We protected each other's children, Amanda, without a second thought, and I think we do trust each other. We just need to build on that trust."
"But can you forgive me?" she asked.
Stroking her tears from her cheek, he said, "Yes, I can forgive you. Can you forgive my insufferable righteousness? I love you, Amanda. I want to spend my life with you. Will you still marry me?"
Wrapping her arms around his neck, she smiled. "Yes, I'll marry you."
When he bent his head, and his lips met hers, her kiss told him she forgave him as well, and she wanted a future with him as much he wanted a future with her.
At the top of the stairs, Kristy and Heather gave each other high-fives and smiled broadly.
***
The sky was cloudless, a beautiful shade of blue. Approximately fifty people--friends, acquaintances, neighbors and relatives sat in the rows of white chairs facing the flower-covered trellis where the minister stood. Amanda's heart overflowed with happiness and her pulse beat rapidly with the excitement of the day as the music from violins filled Alex's back yard. Kristy started down the white runner toward the trellis.
In front of her, dressed in the same pink taffeta as her best friend, Heather glanced over her shoulder. "Are you ready, Mom?"
Not an hour before when Alex's mom had helped her into the cream lace wedding dress, Amanda knew she'd never been more ready. As she'd clasped around her neck the string of pearls that Alex had given her last night, she'd remembered his tender kiss and the promise of the future that had glowed in his eyes. "I'm ready, honey."
Heather gave her one last smile, then started forward.
The daylilies in Amanda's bouquet sent up a lovely fragrance as Amanda took a deep breath, then set her gaze on the man she was about to marry.
Alex was standing with the minister, watching Kristy and then Heather walk down the aisle. But when Heather reached the front row of chairs, his gaze found Amanda's. She started walking forward and didn't stop until he took her hand in his, clasping it with the strength and protectiveness that she knew would wrap around her and the girls for the rest of their lives.
Amanda handed her bouquet of flowers to Alex's mother who was seated in the front row. Then with Kristy at Alex's side and Heather at hers, she faced forward with him.
The minister welcomed the guests, then said a few words about marriage and why they were gathered there. And when it came time for their vows, Alex and Amanda faced each other and held hands.
At the minister's nod, Alex began, his face more serious than Amanda had ever seen it. "I, Alex, take you, Amanda, for a life of love, sharing and caring. I promise I will do my best to respect you always, to listen to you, and to understand you. No matter what our road together brings, I will stand beside you as a partner, support you, and give you anything you need and everything I have to give. If we disagree, I promise to see your point of view and to talk and share with you until we find a solution to any problem we have. I will cherish you for the rest of our lives."
When they had decided to write their own vows, they'd also decided not to share them until their wedding day. Amanda's eyes filled with tears at Alex's words, and she knew he meant every one of them. She could hardly speak as she saw the world of love he wanted to give her in his eyes.
But somehow she managed to remember the words she'd written down and memorized in the past few days. "I, Amanda, take you, Alex, to be my husband and life partner. I promise to love you and honor you and respect you for all of our days. I promise to laugh with you and play with you and love you, telling you my feelings so you don't have to guess and helping you talk about yours. I will spend each day thinking about your happiness as well as mine and will do everything in my power to meet your needs. As we grow old together, I will not let the sun set on hurt or anger and will keep my heart open to everything you have to say. I vow to love you through light and dark and to be the best wife I know how to be."
Alex's eyes filled with emotion at her words and he squeezed her hand. When he slid the wedding band onto Amanda's finger, a tear escaped down her cheek. With a tender smile, he wiped it away with his thumb.
After she slid a band of gold onto his finger, he whispered, "I love you."
Then secure in each others' hearts, they added something special to the ceremony. Alex took Heather's hand, and Amanda took Kristy's. Then the four of them made a circle.
The minister beamed down at them, blessed them and said, "I now pronounce Alex and Amanda man and wife, and I pronounce Alex, Amanda, Heather and Kristy a family."
The four of them hugged, and then Kristy, Heather and all the guests watched as Alex and Amanda sealed the ceremony and their lives together with a kiss.
Epilogue
Twenty-one months later
Alex took the statement that had come in ee-mail up to the bedroom. Amanda had gotten home later than he had tonight, after a faculty meeting at school. She'd given him a terrific hello kiss that was still thrumming through him and told him she was going to get a shower. It wasn't until he'd opened his e-mail and saw the investment fund statement that he'd decided he'd take it upstairs for Amanda to see. On the way up, he remembered the girls would be at softball practice for another hour yet. He and Amanda could enjoy a pleasurable two-for-one shower and have some fun at the same time. They'd be married two years come August and they'd been the happiest, most fulfilling two years of his entire life.
When he entered the bedroom, Amanda was coming out of the bathroom. She hadn't gotten her shower yet--she was still wearing the pretty blue linen dress she'd worn to school that day. She smiled at him and there was something so tender in her smile.
Crossing to her, he handed her the statement he'd brought upstairs. "Heather's college fund is growing in leaps and bounds. You made a wise decision accepting Jeff's offer."
"We made the right decision in accepting Jeff's offer."
Since they'd married, they made all their decisions together for both the girls. When Amanda had let Jeff know she and Alex would agree to the college fund, her ex-husband had asked if he could write to Heather. Knowing it would mean a lot to him, realizing he was trying to change his life on many levels, Amanda had discussed that with Alex, too. They'd agreed that it was a good idea for Heather to stay in contact with her father. It was important for her. Jeff didn't write often, but when he did, Heather was glad to get his letters, and she eagerly wrote back. But she
had started calling Alex "Dad" soon after the wedding, and he was the one who cheered her on at softball games, taught her how to play tennis, and hugged her whenever she needed it. Kristy had begun calling Amanda "Mom" at the same time, and Alex suspected that the girls had arranged that as well.
Taking Amanda in his arms, Alex kissed her temple and murmured, "I'll have to add to Kristy's account so she can keep up."
Amanda pulled away slightly and looked up at him.
"Is something wrong?" he asked.
Her eyes were very bright, and he could see uncertainty in them and wondered why.
"No. Nothing's wrong. It's just--" She stopped for a moment, then went on. "We need to open another account...another college account."
Why would they need to open another college account? Unless--
Her smile was radiant as she lifted up a stick she held in her hand. "I got a plus sign. That means we're going to have a baby."
They'd decided to let nature take it's course and just enjoy the family they had while they hoped for a child together. Now their hopes had been realized.
Wrapping his arms around Amanda's waist, he swung her up and twirled them in a circle. "Pregnant! We're pregnant!"
Laughing, she rested her hands on his shoulders and looked down at him with love. "I guess you're happy about this?"
"Ecstatic. How about you?"
"Ecstatic."
Then he lowered her slowly until he captured her lips and kissed her with all the passion and promise he'd offered her on their wedding day. He was so grateful to her for giving him the chance to love so wondrously, so completely.
Amanda's response told him she was not only grateful, too, but supremely happy.
And as they undressed each other and made love slowly with renewed commitment, their hearts rejoiced that they'd found each other, and their souls joined in a union as precious as the new life Amanda carried. They were partners for a lifetime.
Partners in love.
Partners forever.
When Mom Meets Dad Page 14
