The bath helped as did the novel. Before she went downstairs to start the night shift with her sister, she had painted her toenails and fingernails, given herself a facial, shaved her legs, and slathered lotion all over. She felt pampered and good. If Josh didn’t want her, so be it. He’d be missing out on her baby-soft skin.
Heather was the only one in the living room when she got there, and she looked at her sister sleeping so peacefully in her chair before going to the laundry room and starting up the first load of the night. She was making up for all the loads of laundry her mother had done for her while she was at college. There was no doubt about that.
When she got back to the living room, Heather was awake. “I guess you had a talk with Josh. It didn’t go well?”
Marti shrugged. “He wasn’t pleased with me, if that’s what you mean. He said he had to think about things, and I haven’t heard from him since. Who can blame him? I acted like the brat all of you keep calling me and put my own feelings first. I didn’t even give him a chance to have an opinion.”
“Things work that way sometimes. Don’t worry. If you two are meant to be—and we both know you are—it’ll all work out in the end. It just might hurt along the way.”
Marti nodded. Heather was right. She had messed up royally, but if things were meant to be, it would all work out. She would keep that in mind during the long lonely days ahead.
Chapter Ten
Marti dragged all week, worried that she’d ruined her chances with Josh by acting like a silly child. When he called Friday night, she felt marginally better. He asked her to spend Saturday evening with him in his home so they could talk about what she’d told him. He planned to have her over for supper and the talk they desperately needed to have.
After she got off the phone, she joined her sister in the living room and smiled and nodded so Heather would know she felt a little better. “I’m spending tomorrow evening with Josh.”
“Good,” Barbara told her. “It’s time the two of you straightened out whatever is messed up between you.”
“You think he’s good for me?” Marti asked, a little surprised. Her mother had always told them she thought they should be older before they married.
“I do. Normally I’d say wait until you’re at least twenty-five before even thinking about dating a man seriously, but you and Josh are right for each other.”
“I hope he feels the same way when we talk tomorrow.” Marti had already decided she was all in. If Josh forgave her, she would move just as quickly as he wanted to move through the relationship.
Amy smiled at her. “I know he will. I’ve seen the way he looks at you.”
Marti just smiled. No one had seen them together since he’d heard why she had made big changes to their lives. Only he knew how he felt.
* * *
Josh was nervous as he dressed for his dinner date with Marti. He put on brand new jeans, a collared shirt, and his newest cowboy boots. She had never seen him so dressed up. In his pocket was the ring he’d driven to get the Sunday before. There was no way she was getting away from him now.
She hurried out of the house as soon as he pulled into his brother’s driveway, telling him that she’d been watching for him. Surely that was a good sign. It meant she felt as strongly about him as he did about her.
As they drove, he was mostly silent. He greeted her but said nothing else. The drive only took five minutes, but he knew she was nervous, and he was, too. She didn’t know what he had to say, and he didn’t know how she was going to react to the ring in his pocket. He knew what he wanted from life, and she was it. All of her, and nothing less. Was that too much to ask?
Once he’d parked in front of his house, they both walked in, and Marti waited nervously. She wasn’t sure what to expect. “I made Swiss steak and baked potatoes,” he said. “I hope you’re hungry.”
Marti’s stomach was tossing and turning, and she wasn’t sure she’d be able to eat, but she nodded. She’d choke something down. She deserved to sit nervously until he was ready to tell her his decision. Certainly, he wouldn’t have brought her here to dump her. He wasn’t that kind of man.
He served them both, getting out bottles of Coke for them. Once he was seated, he cleared his throat. “I’ve thought a lot about what you said.”
Marti nodded, looking at him. She hadn’t taken a single bite of her food, and she couldn’t yet. She had to see what he was going to say first. “I’m glad you didn’t just stick with your initial anger.”
“I almost did. I wasn’t sure I could get past it. If we go forward in this relationship, I want you to promise me you won’t do anything like this again. If there’s a vision that affects both of us or anyone we both care about, I want to hear about it right away. No more hiding things from me.”
“I can agree to that. I really am sorry for the way I handled things. I know it wasn’t right.” Marti felt a spark of hope when he mentioned going forward. Hopefully he meant it and was ready to keep progressing.
“Thank you. We both agree, but it’s behind us now. We just need to think about where we want to go from here.”
She nodded. “I’m willing to let you take the lead on that. If you’re ready for me to be part of your future, then I’m ready to stand beside you.”
He leaned back in his chair and dug into his front jeans pocket, placing a small jewelry box on the table. “That’s where I’m ready to go with this.”
Marti put her hand over her mouth, afraid to touch it in case it would disappear. “I . . . I don’t know what to say.”
He opened the box for her and took her left hand in his. “Marti McClain, you really are a pain. You make me angry, but you make my heart soar with happiness. Will you spend the rest of your life making me crazy?”
She kept her hand over her mouth as she nodded emphatically, and he placed the ring on her finger. “Thank you for forgiving me. I’m not sure if I deserve it, but I’ll spend the rest of my life making it up to you!”
He shook his head. “There’s nothing to make up anymore. The slate is wiped clean.”
She sprang out of her chair and onto his lap, kissing him with all the feelings pent up inside her. “I’ve been wanting to do that for weeks.”
He grinned, pulling her closer. “And I’ve been wanting you to do it forever. Do you hear me? Forever!”
She laughed. “When?”
“Tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow! Have you lost your mind? My sisters can’t get here that quickly, and I’m not marrying without them.”
He sighed. “Next week then. We’ll get married on Saturday at the church where I’ve gone my whole life. Can your sisters get here that fast?”
Marti nodded. “I’m sure they can. But . . . I won’t feel right taking time off for a honeymoon. Heather and Michael need me.”
“How about if we just take the weekend? Someone can cover your night shifts, and then you go back to work Monday night.” He shook his head. “I won’t like sleeping without my new wife, but we’ll make it work.”
She nodded, a smile filling her face. “I think that’s a great idea.”
Josh grinned. “Of course it is. I came up with it all by myself.”
She laughed. “You’re a mess, but you’re my mess, so I guess it’s all good.” She moved back to her spot at the table beside him, suddenly hungry. “Thanks for cooking for me.”
“You’re very welcome.” He watched as she started eating, thrilled that she obviously had her appetite back. “We’ll tell everyone when I take you home tonight.”
“I don’t know how I’m going to get a dress fast enough . . . I wonder if Heather’s would fit me well enough.”
“No idea. Give it a try. I don’t care if you get married in jeans and those leg sweater things you like to wear. Just so you’re standing beside me when the preacher says, ‘Do you take this woman . . .’”
She laughed. “I won’t wear leg warmers, but I will be beside you. I’ll figure a dress out, I hope. I haven’t
even met your sisters yet. You’ll have to invite them all over for supper one night this week so I can meet them before the wedding, and I have a dozen phone calls to make. . . . Are you sure we can’t wait a month?”
He laughed. “I’m sure. Now calm down and eat your supper. We’ll go tell the family, and all will be well.”
As they ate, they made plans for their future, both of them talking about things they wanted to do and be together. “I really do want to help you with the ranch management when I stop being a full-time nanny. Do you really want my help?” she asked.
He nodded. “I could use some guidance with several different things. I know how to ranch, but sometimes the details of it all get lost on me. If you can help with the financial end, that would be huge.”
“I definitely will. I’m excited to be part of it. Do you think Amos and Michael will really let me help them as well?”
“I know they will. You’ll be able to start your own business helping out with ranch management around here. You’d probably have enough work for full-time with just the three of us. Until the triplets come, of course.”
She groaned. “Don’t remind me. Would you be averse to waiting a few years to start a family?”
“Not at all. I’m content with nephews and nieces at the moment.” He covered her hand with his. “No matter what our destiny holds in store, if we face it side by side, I’m sure we can conquer it.”
She helped him with the dishes after the meal, and they headed back to Michael and Heather’s house to share the news with the others. When they walked in, they found everyone in the living room, playing with the babies.
They were holding hands, and Heather grinned at Marti. “Looks like everything worked out.”
Marti nodded. “It did. In fact . . . there’s going to be a wedding next weekend. We have to iron out all the details, but I was hoping I could wear your wedding dress.”
Heather squealed, jumping to her feet and startling the baby she was holding. “Seriously?”
“I wouldn’t joke about something this important to me.” Marti hugged her sister, careful of her niece. “So? The dress?”
“Absolutely. If it doesn’t fit right, I know Mom can fit it to you.” Heather frowned. “You’re not going to give up your nanny duties, are you?”
Marti laughed. “How could I leave you high and dry? I’ll be here. Probably not quite as much, but you’ll have my help.”
Michael got to his feet and hugged his brother. “I didn’t think you two would ever figure it out. Heather and I had positively smooth sailing in comparison.”
Josh sighed. “Sure you did.”
“I’m using your phone, Heather,” Marti said. “I’ll pay you back for the long distance, but I have sisters to call.”
“I hope everyone can make it,” Heather said with a frown. “I’m not sure Tracy will be willing to leave her pub quite so soon after opening.”
“She’d better!” Marti said, hurrying to the phone.
An hour later, she stepped back into the room, pleased that Josh was still there. “It looks like they’re all coming. It will be like a plague of McClains descending on Idaho.”
“Who needs locusts when you can have McClains?” Josh asked, pulling her down onto the couch beside him. “Now don’t make this into some huge wedding. We only have a week, and I don’t want to be run ragged.”
“You won’t be. I will.” Marti grinned at him. “Candice promised to pack up my room, and Dad is going to drive a U-Haul up here with everything. He said he’d just rent a regular-sized truck, but he wants a trailer for the Cabbage Patch Kids. Something about not wanting them staring at him creepily as he drives up here.”
Heather laughed. “See? Even Dad hates those things!”
“You people have no taste at all!” Marti said, a grin on her face. She didn’t care if her whole family hated her dolls. She was marrying the man she loved.
After a little bit, Josh got to his feet. “I need to get home. I have some serious cleaning to do before a wife can see my bedroom.”
“I’m glad to know my daughter hasn’t seen your bedroom yet!” Barbara said.
Marti blushed. “I’ll walk you to the door.”
Josh grinned down at her, his arm around her waist. “I’m glad you said yes.”
“There was nothing else I could say! I’m marrying the man I love. What else could I ask for?”
He stopped walking. “You love me?”
She laughed. “Of course, I love you, silly man! I wouldn’t marry you otherwise. Triplets! Did you forget about the triplets?”
“I love you, too.”
“I know. You wouldn’t put up with me otherwise.” She stood on tiptoe and kissed him softly. “I’m glad we’re getting married. Just so you know. I cannot imagine my forever without you.”
“Figure out the details. I’ll be here tomorrow, but I’m not talking just wedding plans.”
“All right. Heather and the two moms will help me. We’ll plan it all without you. How would you feel about wearing a top hat?”
He groaned. “Be nice to me!”
“I’ll try . . .”
Epilogue
Five years later, Marti was sitting in front of a roaring fire, her hand on her belly. The babies were active and kicking like crazy. “Your children need to learn to behave, Josh.”
He grinned at her, reaching over to cover her hand with his. “They’re only my children when they misbehave. They’re ours or yours the rest of the time. Why is that?”
“It must have something to do with our personalities. I’m always on my best behavior, and you’re a man with smelly socks on the bedroom floor. You know I hate laundry, and right now, I’m having a hard time bending over to pick things up from the floor!”
“I’ll try to do better,” he said, not feeling terribly chastised. “In another month, we’ll be the proud parents of three. Have you had more visions about them?”
She shook her head. “Not lately. I know there are two boys and one girl. I just wish my visions would tell us what to name them.” They’d been poring over baby books since they’d married and still hadn’t come up with names they both liked.
“Could we name one of the boys for my father?” he asked.
“William…Yeah, we can have a William. Let’s name the other for my father!” Suddenly it all seemed clear. “We’ll have a Bill and a Bob. And the girl . . . how about naming her Bridget?”
“Why Bridget?” He understood the other names, but Bridget?
“Well, then we’ll have three Bs, and I want to name her after my first Cabbage Patch Kid. Her name was Bridget.”
He shook his head. “You seriously want to name our daughter after your first Cabbage Patch Kid? Are you kidding me?”
“Nope. Bob, Bill, and Bridget. Those are perfect triplet names.” She sat back with a contented smile. “They all stopped kicking. I think they approve.”
He shook his head. “Are you nervous now that we’re so close?”
“Not at all,” Marti told him. “I’m not sure what I was so nervous about anyway. The three B’s are going to take the world by storm!”
“No regrets?” Josh asked, his voice soft.
“Never any regrets with you by my side.”
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Marti: Seven Sisters Book Page 8
