The limo pulled to a stop and the driver came to Kay’s side of the car to open the door. Jude followed her out. The driver stood erect beside the limo as they made their way across the well-kept ground. Kay took Jude’s hand and led him down a row of white headstones. He knew she was counting so he didn’t say anything.
When she stopped, she looked up at him. Her eyes were full of tears, but her voice was steady. “Jude, I’d like you to meet my son, Jimmy. Today’s his birthday.”
Jude was so moved he couldn’t say a word. He could only nod as he swallowed the lump in his throat. His eyes grew misty as he read the name on the headstone. James E. Littleton, Jr., Captain, USAF. It was followed by a list of medals, but he was too misty eyed to read them.
“Happy birthday, son,” Kay said. Her smile was pained. “As always, I hope you’re up there kicking butt with that angel football team. I know how much you like the game, and every guy deserves to win on his birthday.”
Ignoring the cold weather and the light snow on the ground, she knelt on one knee and took a coin from her pocket. She started twisting it into the ground. “Here’s Mama’s bet on your team today. I know you’ve never let me down so don’t you make me a loser this time, either.” She continued to twist until the quarter disappeared into the hard dirt beside the grave. She smoothed it over and nobody would ever know there was money hidden there.
She reached for Jude’s hand as she got up. He didn’t let it go when she was standing. She looked into his eyes and tears began to roll down her cheeks. He held his arms out to her and she went into them. Folding them around her, he pulled her as close as he could.
“I miss him so much, Jude. It’s almost more than I can stand at times.”
“I’m sure you do miss him, darling. I’m sure you always will.”
They stood in this position for a long time. She cried and he held her close. It was only when her sobs began to subside that Jude spoke. Still holding her against him, he cleared his throat. “Jimmy, my name’s Jude Winslow. I’m the lucky man who has fallen deeply in love with your mother. We fell in love quickly, and I was fool enough to let idle gossip mess my mind up enough to reject her. Now, I know how asinine that was.
“I don’t have to tell you, she’s the most wonderful woman who walks the face of this earth, and as long as God lets me live, I hope we can walk it for the rest of lives together. I don’t know or understand the afterlife, but Jimmy, I’ve heard that departed loved ones can often come to those who love them to let them know things are okay. I don’t really need a sign to know that your mother and I are meant to be together, but I think after the way I acted last week maybe she does. If you approve of me loving your mother for the rest of our lives, please send her a sign. A sign that only you and she understands. A sign where there will be no question of who it was from or who it was for. I’d appreciate it a lot if you’d do this soon, because I really love your little mama, and I’m sure if you were alive, we would be good friends. Thanks, Jimmy. We’ll be waiting for that sign.”
Kay pulled back and looked up at Jude. Her eyes were full of love as she put her hands on his face and pulled it to her. She kissed his lips, softly, gently. She pulled away when an unusual sound filled the air.
She looked up. So did Jude.
“Oh, my goodness,” she said. “That Air Force jet is flying much too low. They aren’t supposed to fly that low across the city. It won’t miss the Washington Monument if it goes in that direction.”
Jude looked at the plane in wonder. It was a beautiful machine, but with the things that happened in the past he was a little apprehensive. Was it going to fly into a building, or maybe crash?
The roar of its engines was almost deafening as the plane came closer to them. He looked around and nobody else seemed to be paying any attention to it. He wondered how they couldn’t hear and see what it was doing. The limo driver was ignoring it, too.
As the plane was almost overhead it dropped lower. They could read the lettering, and could have seen the pilot if the sun hadn’t been bright on the window of the craft. Then, it tipped its right wing twice in their direction. It then began to climb and fly away. Soon, it disappeared.
“It was Jimmy! My Jimmy!” Kay gasped. “He heard you, Jude. He heard you.” She flung her arms around his neck and clung to him. “He wants us to be together.” Still confused about why a plane going over would mean they would be together, Jude simply held her close to him in silence. He was only happy to hear the words that they should be together come from her mouth. It didn’t matter that he should understand how it happened. He’d just accept it.
Kay turned back to the grave. She kissed her gloved hand and touched the headstone. “Thank you, son. I love you. I always will.”
She turned, took Jude’s hand and led him back to the car. She paused as the driver opened the door. “Alvin, did you see that Air Force jet fly over?”
“What jet, Ms. Kay?”
She smiled at him. “Never mind. It wasn’t important.”
When they were in the car, Jude couldn’t help asking, “Did he say he didn’t see the plane? It was so low I don’t see how anyone could’ve missed it. I figure half the city saw it.”
She smiled, but said nothing about the plane. “I have something I want to show you, Jude.”
“Okay.”
She opened her brief case and took out a framed photo of a handsome man with sandy hair, aqua eyes, and wearing an Air Force uniform. “This is Jimmy. I always bring his picture with me when I come here on my visits. I’d forgotten to take his picture home over the weekend, and that’s why I had to go by the office this morning. I look at it and talk to him on the way home, because it helps my pain over his death.” She smiled at Jude.
“He’s a handsome young man. He favors his mother.”
“Thank you, but he looks a lot like his father, too.”
“You must be very proud of him.”
“I am.” She nodded and smiled. “It won’t be necessary for me to talk with him today. He’s already heard everything we had to say, and he’s made his statement to me.”
“How, honey?”
“I’ll explain it at home.” She looked at him. “You will go home with me, won’t you?”
“Try and keep me away; but I have one request, if it’s not too much trouble.”
“What’s your request?”
“Could we stop at my hotel and pick up my bag? I don’t want to have to go back there to sleep.”
“By all means. Where are you staying?”
He told her and she relayed the address to Alvin.
Sitting with Jude’s arm around her, Kay looked at the photograph of her son. “Jimmy, honey, Mama is going to put your picture away. She feels better now, and she’s about to kiss this man sitting here beside her in a way you never dreamed your mother was capable of kissing anyone.”
She slipped the photograph back into the briefcase. She turned to Jude and he saw the coy little smile he loved.
He reached for her, and she came to him. He now knew the time had come for the passionate kisses.
CHAPTER 19
“Hallelujah!” Red cried, and made everyone in the family jump. “Tell me more. Will she forgive all of us? Did you tell her I love her?”
There was a pause, then he said, “Oh, I see. Call me when you can.” He hung up the phone and turned to the family sitting around the Parker’s table. “He found her.”
“Well, son, we figured that.” Neil chuckled. “What did he say?” Darlene asked.
“She forgives us all and sends her love.”
“What else did she say?” Mavis prodded.
“Not much. He went to her office this morning and caught her about to leave. She let him go to Arlington with her to visit her son’s grave. They had a unique experience, and he’ll tell us about it sometime.”
“What does that mean?” Mavis frowned.
“I’m not sure. Something about an airplane.”
“An airplane
. That makes no sense.” Darlene frowned. “Are you sure you were talking to Jude?”
“Yes, Darlene, I’m sure it was Jude. He sounded happy. He was at her house and he said he was getting ready to have a talk with Gilbert.”
“Who’s Gilbert?” Darlene was confused.
“I don’t know, honey. I just know he said Aunt Kay was in her room taking off her clothes.”
“I’m surprised he wasn’t helping her.”
“Neil! Hush up.” Mavis frowned at him.
“Why? That’s where I’d be if it was you taking off your clothes, old girl.”
“Pops, Mom’s right. That’s not appropriate.”
“I don’t see why not. If it was Darlene, where would you be, Red?”
“I agree Neil. I’d be right there with her, but you have to remember, you and I are married to the women we love. Jude isn’t. Not yet, anyway.”
“Do you think they’ll get married soon?” Darlene asked.
“Of course they will. Those two are too hot for each other to wait very long.”
“Neil!”
“Well, Mavis, it’s the truth and you know it.”
“I don’t know any such thing.”
“Oh, yes, you do. What about the other night? You know they didn’t sleep in separate beds at the cabin the other night.”
“They may have.” Mavis wasn’t giving up her position easily.
“Be that way, woman. I wouldn’t be afraid to bet this farm they slept together that night.” Neil slapped his thigh. “Yes, sir. I’d bet it, and add some more to it, too.”
“Neil, you’re talking about my Aunt Kay.”
“That’s right, I am. I know your Aunt Kay is a refined lady. We all know that. Why, I bet she hadn’t slept with a man since her husband died. That is, until she met Jude Winslow. She went wild for that man. I could tell it right away.”
“I know he’s wild about her,” Mavis said.
“Would you bet the farm they didn’t sleep together, Mom?”
“I wouldn’t bet more than a dollar on that, honey.”
“Why only a dollar, Mavis?” Red looked at her.
“’Cause I can afford to lose a dollar. I can’t afford to lose this farm.”
•♥ •
“Hello, Mr. Jude. I hope you like Mexican food.”
“It’s one of my favorites.”
Gilbert half-smiled. “Good. It was Mr. Jimmy’s favorite, too. We always had it on his birthday.”
“I’m sure Jimmy was a fine young man.”
“The best. He was a lot like his mother.”
“Then he was especially fine.”
Gilbert almost smiled again. “Do you have children, Mr. Jude?”
“I have a son. His name is Cole.”
“Is he a farmer like you?”
“No, Gilbert. He didn’t much like raising cattle. He’s a doctor.”
“That’s impressive. What kind of doctor is he?”
“A gynecologist. He has birthed most of the babies in our area for the last few years.”
“I always wondered what made a man want to be a gynecologist.”
“I’m not sure, myself. I prefer to stick with cattle, but when I look at a newborn baby, I can see the fulfillment in bringing them into the world.”
“Babies are a wonderful thing. Is your son married?”
“Yes. He has a lovely wife. Her name is Alisa, and she’s given him four beautiful children. Two boys, eight and six; and twin girls, who are now close to two months old.”
“That’s a nice family. I wish sometimes we could have children in this family again. Ms. Kay would’ve been a wonderful grandmother.”
“She still can be a grandmother, Gilbert.”
He looked confused. “With Mr. Jimmy gone, I don’t see how.”
“I’m sure she’ll take to Cole’s children quickly. You should’ve seen her holding the babies when she was in Coverton Mills. Then, there are Red’s boys. Billy already thinks she’s an aunt or a grandmother or something of the sort.”
“I guess you’re right there, but she has only been to Coverton Mills once. She was so sad when she came home, I’m not sure if she’ll go back any time soon.”
“Oh, she’ll go back soon, Gilbert. Of course this time, you’ll come with her.”
“Me?” His eyes grew big. “What in the world would I do in Coverton Mills?”
“You’ll fall in love with the place and with the people, just like I did, Gilbert.”
They both turned as Kay walked into the room. Jude’s eyes lit up as he looked at her in the white wool pants and the white turtleneck sweater which displayed her beautiful figure. She had a collection of gold chains around her neck and gold dangle earrings.
Gilbert noticed the way Jude looked at Kay and he wondered again what was going on with these two. He kind of liked the man so he hoped he wasn’t another Senator James type. Gilbert had to admit, Jude was certainly good-looking enough to attract the women. He was much better looking than Senator James. Younger, too, though he wasn’t a really young man. At least he wasn’t old enough to be Ms. Kay’s father, like Senator James was.
“Is supper about ready, Gilbert? I’m hungry.”
Gilbert’s face lit up. “Ms. Kay that’s music to my ears. You haven’t eaten enough to keep a flea alive for the past few days. Now, you say you’re hungry. That’s wonderful. You go and relax and I’ll have it ready in a few minutes.”
“I don’t know why it happens, but when I’m around this man I get hungry.” She walked up to Jude and slid her arm around his shoulder.
“Eat all you want, honey.” He put his arm around her waist as she stood beside him. “We can work all the fat off you on the farm. Ever lifted bales of hay?”
“Oh, Mr. Jude, Ms. Kay couldn’t do that.”
“Now, Gilbert, you know I can. I’ve done it on the ranch plenty of times.”
Gilbert frowned. “I guess you have, at that.”
Jude shook his head. “It’s still hard for me to get my head around the fact that a tiny lady like you has lived and worked on a ranch. Why, Gilbert she can handle a horse as well as I can, maybe better.”
“Oh, yes. Ms. Kay has always loved her horses.”
“Yes, I have. Remember how Jimmy and I would ride out into the desert and stay until almost dark, Gilbert? The desert is beautiful when the sun is fading.”
“I remember, Ms. Kay.”
“It’s been a long time.” She dropped her head. “James never liked to ride, so when Jimmy grew up and moved away, I had to ride alone.”
“Unless you choose to, you’ll never have to ride alone again.” Jude smiled up at her and pulled her closer.
She bent down and kissed the top of his head.
Gilbert looked away. His curiosity about these two was getting the better of him. He wanted to ask what was going on, but he was afraid Mr. Jude would think it wasn’t his place to interfere, and he had a feeling Ms. Kay didn’t want him to say anything that Mr. Jude wouldn’t like. He began taking up the food. “Dinner is ready. Shall I set you and Mr. Jude a place in the dining room?”
“You can set the three of us a place in the dining room, Gilbert. You know you and I always eat together on Jimmy’s birthday, whether he’s with us or…or gone. We’re not going to break that tradition just because this cowboy is here with us tonight.”
“Are you sure Mr. Jude won’t mind?”
“I don’t mind at all, Gilbert. Besides, Kay and I have some things we want to tell you.”
“Yes, we had a unique experience in Arlington. I know you’ll understand and appreciate it. I haven’t even told Jude the significance of it yet.”
Gilbert nodded. He picked up the wine bottle and offered it to Jude. “Would you like to open this, sir?”
“Sure.” Jude smiled when he read the label. “This is a good wine.”
“It’s a North Carolina wine. I thought since you were from there you might enjoy it.”
“I’m sure we a
ll will.” He showed the label to Kay.
“Oh,” she said. “It’s from Alex Hargrove’s vineyard. He’s a good friend of Jude’s, Gilbert, and his wines are excellent. I’ve had several of them.”
When they got to the table, instead of sitting at the head as she usually did, Kay indicated Jude should sit there. She took the chair to his right, and told Gilbert to sit on his left. When they were seated, she glanced at Jude. “Would you like to say a blessing?”
“I certainly would.” He held out his hands. One to her and the other to Gilbert. When Gilbert stared, Jude said, “It’s always been our tradition to hold hands when we say prayers.”
Gilbert nodded and placed his plump, short fingers in Jude’s big hand. He saw Kay and Jude had their fingers entwined.
“Dear Father,” Jude began. “Thank You for this day. You know what it means to me without me going over every detail, but I will say having Kay back in my life is the highlight. Thank You for Gilbert and the wonderful way he takes care of the woman we both love. Thank You for this food he has lovingly prepared to nourish our bodies. And a special thank You for letting Jimmy come into Kay’s life, even though the time was short. I know, to her, every second of it was precious. And God, please tell Jimmy I personally appreciate the sign he sent his mother. Though I don’t understand what he did, I know she does. I also want him to know I meant every word I told him at the grave site. Thank You for listening. Amen.”
Gilbert let his hand drop from Jude’s, but he stared at the man.
“What’s the matter, Gilbert?” Kay asked.
“I’m not sure Ms. Kay. Is he for real?”
She smiled. “Yes, Gilbert. He’s very real. What you see is what you get. He’s open and honest and expects everyone around him to be the same. He despises dishonesty.”
“I hope you’re right. You deserve a man who won’t do you wrong.”
“Gilbert, I don’t want to hide anything from you because I know you love Kay and only want to protect her. I did Kay wrong the other day, and if God lets me live and Kay will come to trust me again, I’ll spend the rest of my life making up for it if I can.”
Second Chance Dreams (A Coverton Mills Romance Book 2) Page 16
