by T. I. Lowe
Crowley sat at the dining room table, where he had eaten his container of soup, a salad, a sandwich, and half a dozen peanut butter cookies before he heard Leah stir in the guest bathroom. She shuffled into the kitchen moments later, squinting at the flood of light. Her red eyes were rimmed with dark circles. Her curly hair hung in a dull tangle, and she was still in the clothes he last saw her wearing on Monday. Crowley thought she looked pale and maybe a bit dehydrated.
Leah sat opposite of him and accepted a bottle of Gatorade he had waiting for her. She drank the entire bottle. He walked over to the microwave. “Lulu made your favorite vegetable soup. I was hoping for chili, but I guess we can see who her favorite really is,” he said with a smile, but she didn’t respond. He placed the warmed soup in front of her and handed her a spoon.
Leah only took a few bites and pushed the container away. She grabbed another bottle of sports drink and headed to the covered porch. She sat in a rocking chair and watched the rain dance off the top of the dark river.
Crowley joined her. He tucked a quilt over her before turning on a small lamp beside her rocking chair. He knelt in front of her and waited until she met his gaze. “I love you, Leah.”
He watched as she shook her head in short jerks and a tear trickled down her face. He stood and took the rocking chair beside her, and he reached over to hold her shaky hand. They sat in silence, listening to the rhythm of the rain as it cried over the bank and river.
He reluctantly reached into his pocket to pull out his phone, knowing he had to break her even more before they could start to heal. He pulled up the photos and handed her the phone.
Leah gazed in confusion, then understanding, at the image on his phone.
“I went straight to Washington on Tuesday morning. Then I spent most of today in Nebraska with your nurse, Mona.” He paused, waiting for a reaction. “She took good care of your baby, as she promised.”
“Mona,” Leah repeated. “I couldn’t remember her name.” She dropped the phone in her lap as her body began to tremble and a gut-wrenching sob pushed past her lips. Her pain was so raw that it sliced right through him.
He couldn’t take it any longer. He gathered her in his arms, tucked the quilt back around her, and rocked her in his lap. Feeling helpless, Crowley cried and mourned along with her. She quieted a bit at some point when the rain finally decided to subside. Crowley took that moment to explain the fund set up in honor of her and the baby, sending her into another wave of sobbing, soaking through the shoulder of his shirt.
Leah cried herself out and fell into a restless sleep around midnight. Crowley carried her to his bed but couldn’t bring himself to let go, so he crawled in beside her and cradled her in his arms. As he brushed his fingers through her tangled hair, he thanked God for allowing Leah to weather the storm her life had served. Holding her protectively, he begged God to bless her with healing. As Crowley prayed, a calm washed over him, and he felt for the first time in days that he could breathe.
Leah awoke around four in the morning with her bladder screaming from the two bottles of Gatorade. She untwined her body from Crowley’s and quietly made her way into his bathroom.
After taking care of business, she glimpsed her reflection and sighed. She had more business to take care of and couldn’t put it off any longer. A thorough shower followed. She had found everything she needed under his cabinet, including a new disposable razor and an unopened toothbrush.
After about an hour of grooming, Leah stared down at her only set of clothes, which had already been worn past clean. She tiptoed back into the bedroom and rummaged through a chest of drawers, relieved to find a fresh pair of soft cotton boxer shorts and a T-shirt. Standing in the dark room, Leah let the damp towel fall away and slipped the clothes on.
She tiptoed back to the bed, where Crowley was sprawled on his stomach with his face turned to the side. His bottom lip wasn’t poking out as it did when he slept, so she knew he was awake before he even opened his eyes. She climbed onto the bed and planted a kiss in the middle of his bare shoulder blades, which produced a muffled groan from him.
Crowley smiled up at her. “I sure am glad this place has more than one bathroom. I was beginning to think I was going to have to go in there after you,” he said in a husky voice full of sleep. He turned over, pulling Leah with him until she was snuggled against his chest. He ran his hand through her damp hair. “You have no idea how great my boxer shorts look on you.”
Leah raised her head and pressed her lips to his as a thank-you but then delivered another out of pure love. She pulled away from his lips and whispered what she knew was absolute truth. “You’re the first man I have ever loved, Crowley Mason.” She pressed another kiss to his smiling lips and then repeated, “I love you.”
He ran his hands along her sides and growled in aggravation.
Self-consciously, Leah froze as his hands cradled her sides. “What’s wrong?”
“I can feel your ribs.” He sat up and pulled her onto his lap. “I’ve got to feed you.”
“I’m not hungry,” Leah said, but her stomach betrayed her by letting out a noisy rumble.
Crowley laughed. “What was that you said?” He kissed her one last time before scooting her off his lap so he could get up.
“Where are you going?”
“To take a cold shower; then I’m going to go grab some breakfast for us,” he said in a strained voice as he shut the bathroom door.
Later that morning, after the two had devoured a hearty breakfast, Crowley told Leah to go sit out on the cabin porch and keep her eyes closed.
“Are they closed?” he asked before joining her.
“Yes, but what am I waiting on?” She heard Crowley walk near her and then felt something slender leaning against her arm.
“Open your eyes.”
Leah laughed at the wrapped gift, which was obviously a fishing pole. “Did you have this tucked away here just for me, or do you keep spare presents around for all your guests?”
Crowley grinned. “Nope, you’re special. Actually, I had forgotten that I ordered it for you. The store gave me a reminder call while I was grabbing your suitcase out of your Jeep. I picked it up and swung by the town house to wrap it.”
Leah giggled as she ran her hands along the gift wrapping that reminded her of the past Christmas. “Did I ever tell you someone snuck a Christmas tree into my apartment without me knowing?”
“That—” Crowley said between sips of coffee—“was no easy feat. Lulu told me to sneak the gifts in and put them under your tree, but when I got up there, you had no tree. I snuck back out and hauled my tree over from the town house and hid it behind the café. I waited until you headed to the park so I could drag it upstairs.” He laughed. “I had a trail of tinsel and tree needles everywhere and had to hustle to get it cleaned up. I was nearly late for the caroling.”
Overwhelmed, Leah laid the gift down and sat in his lap. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him thoroughly. “You gave me my very first Christmas tree. I spent the night camped out under that tree, mesmerized by it.” She kissed him again. “Thank you.”
He rubbed her back tenderly. “I want to give you the world, Leah Allen.”
Leah heard the determination in his voice and had no doubt that he would give that promise his all. She hopped up out of his lap and unwrapped the gift, revealing a glittery hot-pink and vibrant-turquoise rod and reel. “Can we go try it out?” she asked excitedly with Crowley agreeing just as enthusiastically.
The couple spent the afternoon lazing on the end of the dock, fishing as their feet dangled in the cool water.
Leah had just pulled in a hand-size fish as Crowley watched. She unhooked the fish and slowly released it back into the water. Then she placed another cricket on her hook and cast it out to tempt another fish.
Crowley nudged her with his foot. “That right there has got to be the hottest thing I’ve ever seen,” he commented as his own pole came to life and he reeled in a fish double t
he size of the one Leah had just caught. He pulled his off the hook and let it go too.
Leah rolled her eyes. “Show-off.”
He grinned and recast his line. “I toured the New Hope Children’s Home on Tuesday. You did a remarkable job.”
It amazed Leah that he had walked through her entire previous life in such a short amount of time.
“Everyone was relieved to find out you’re okay.” He smiled at her encouragingly.
“I bet I could name a handful who were probably a bit disappointed.” She smirked as the hateful women’s faces flashed through her head.
“You talking about that bunch of hens, aren’t you?” Crowley asked.
“You met them?” Leah asked, and Crowley nodded his head yes. “I’ve always secretly referred to them as a bunch of hens clucking.” They both laughed.
“I bet they fell head over their too-high heels when they saw your GQ self saunter in.”
“I put them in their place.” He looked sternly at the water.
Leah leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. “My hero.”
“I met Shayna, and she served me all of your favorite donuts. Let me tell you, I ate every single delicious one of them. She says to tell you she’s glad you survived and that Brent is finally dead.”
It was surprising for only a split second that Shayna figured out the situation with Brent, because deep down Leah knew the young woman had noticed things were off from the comments Shayna made. Lost in those thoughts, she felt Crowley nudge her leg with his to get her attention.
“You have a small fortune waiting for you to claim in Washington too.”
“I don’t want any of it. Can you set it up to be donated to the children’s home?” she asked as she gazed out over the river.
“I’ll take care of it. I’ll give Sue a call this week and start working out the legal part of it,” Crowley said.
Leah looked down at her hands. “Did you meet anyone else I knew?”
“No. That was it.”
“The only one you didn’t meet was my doctor in Washington. I need to let her know that I’m okay,” Leah whispered as she absentmindedly brushed her hand over her flat abdomen.
“We can do that tomorrow. What’s her name?” Crowley rubbed her back.
“Dr. Clara Simmons.”
The name reminded Crowley of something. Hopping up quickly, he hurried off to the cabin. “I’ll be right back,” he said over his shoulder.
Leah watched as he shuffled inside and back out in a flash, carrying her Bible.
“I thought you might want this, but the name inside threw me.” He handed over the Bible and Leah flipped through the dog-eared pages.
She sniffed away tears as she smiled warmly down at the pages. “She gave me this the very day I met her. She said I needed to get to know God better. And she was absolutely right.”
“Sounds like my kind of woman,” Crowley said, smiling.
“You need to thank her for intoxicating me enough with her Georgia twang to the point I went in search of one for myself.” Leah smiled at the memory of Dr. Simmons with her rich Southern roots.
“I’ll send her a vanload of roses and chocolates for sending you to me.”
“God sent me here. He just used her to point me in the right direction.”
“Amen,” Crowley stated proudly as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “I’m glad we’re finally all on the same page about that.”
28
IT WAS JUST BEFORE DAWN on Sunday morning; Leah lay snuggled under her chenille blanket in her bed. A quiet knock on the door sent a smile to her lips. She wrapped a light throw blanket over her shoulders and padded to the front door. Knowing who it was, she opened the door and met the gaze of those ocean-blue eyes.
Crowley wasted no time pulling her close. “You’re taking the place of my addiction to sweets, Miss Leah. You make my mouth water,” he whispered as he skimmed his nose along the sensitive skin of her neck.
“You say that a lot. Tell me, Mr. Crowley, when was the first time I made your mouth water?” she asked as he brushed kisses along her jaw.
He pulled back enough to meet her eyes before answering. “The first time my mouth watered over you, my fine lady, was during the ice storm. I came in after shooting fireworks and stole me a kiss right off that sweet cheek of yours.” He smiled and placed his palm on the cheek in question.
“No way. I was getting over the flu.” She looked at him doubtfully.
“Believe it. I knew right then and there.”
“What did you know?” she asked.
He ignored the question. “Would you please accompany me on a walk?”
She let the question go and agreed. Crowley stole a quick kiss before agreeing to meet her downstairs.
Ten minutes later, she was dressed in a soft-yellow summer dress with her hair tamed as best she could. She found Crowley sitting on a bench outside the café. It was the very same bench he had been stretched out on the first time she met him.
She strolled up behind him and placed a kiss on the back of his neck. “Good morning.”
“Yes, ma’am. That it is.” He smiled appreciatively as he took her in from head to toe before meeting her eyes. “You look delicious.”
Leah laughed. “Stop flirting with me and tell me where you’re taking me, sir.”
Crowley stood and took her hand in his massive one. “I’d like to show you the sunrise at the plantation. It’s quite spectacular to see how the sun rays dance through the oak trees.”
“I’d love to see that,” she said as they continued walking hand in hand.
Crowley led her through the gate and stopped halfway up the drive. The sun was beginning to peek through the trees. Before long the couple was treated to the breathtaking sunrise. The rays partook in a magical dance with the ancient oak trees in such a way it made Leah gasp in awe.
He leaned close and whispered, “Welcome to a new day.”
“Thank you for inviting me,” she replied.
Crowley led her closer to the house and stopped near the front steps. “Leah, this plantation has been in my family for many generations. My name goes back to at least four of them. My ancestors believed in a strong family bond and values. I want to continue that legacy. I helped rebuild this house hoping God would bless me with a wife who would help me fill it up with family. I just never dreamt it would take him so long to send you to me. He made it clear to me during that ice storm you were finally home.”
Crowley pulled a delicate silver and diamond ring out of his pocket. “This ring has been passed down in my family, just as this plantation has. It was my mother’s.” The muscles in his neck flexed as he met Leah’s watery gaze. “Leah, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife for the rest of my life?”
She nodded. “Yes.” She lifted a trembling hand to accept the ring while blinking back tears. Never did she think such a man as Crowley Mason existed, much less that he might one day be hers.
Crowley slid the antique ring on her finger. Then he pressed his lips to it. He gathered her in his arms before taking his lips to hers.
The wedding followed within one month of the proposal. Crowley said he had no patience when it came to starting his life with Leah, and honestly, he was tired of cold showers. The couple married right in the front yard of the plantation, with the groom wearing new leather flip-flops with his suit. The bride was in an antique lace gown and the highest of heels she could find.
It was a daylong event with the entire town showing up to celebrate. Intricate flower garlands of honeysuckle and peonies draped from the big oak trees and seemed to dance right along with the jovial guests. A scrumptious wedding cake prepared by Nate accompanied the Southern spread prepared by Lulu. The guests ate and danced in merriment throughout the day as they celebrated the new life beginning for the Masons.
Long after the guests left that evening, the new couple swung in the porch swing and reflected on the wonder of the wedding celebration. The crickets were beginnin
g to welcome the night when the groom finally stood and swooped his bride up in his arms.
“Are you ready to go home, Mrs. Mason?” he asked his lovely wife as he walked her to the front door.
“Absolutely, Mr. Mason,” Leah said as she placed lazy kisses along his neck.
With that, he carried his new bride over the threshold of their home.
Epilogue
TWELVE YEARS AND A WHOLE LOT OF HAPPINESS LATER
Leah stood in the formal living room of the plantation home with a laundry basket planted on her hip, staring at the large portrait hanging over the fireplace mantel. A smiling couple sat in a vintage canoe with fishing poles in hand. It was from their wedding day. A photographer wanted to capture them on the river behind the plantation. Crowley had agreed to the whole photo shoot after the photographer promised to take some with their fishing poles.
Shouts brought Leah out of her reminiscing. “Momma! Momma!” the twins whined in unison.
Leah looked back to find her six-year-old girls rushing toward her. “Yes?”
“CJ won’t play tea party with us!” Layla and Lola looked up at her with identical ocean eyes just like their father’s.
Their eleven-year-old brother, Crowley J. Mason V, walked up behind them with a look of pure misery on his face. The look wasn’t surprising since his little sisters tended to worry him to no end. At only eleven, the kid was nearly as tall as his momma. No doubt he would top out around the same height as his dad. This meek boy was the finest wedding gift ever received, arriving almost nine months exactly after his parents’ wedding.
Leah restrained the laugh trying to escape her lips, for the sake of her son. “Girls, it’s almost time for your daddy. Why don’t you go make him a special snack?”
“Yay!” They scurried into the kitchen with the tea party instantly forgotten.
