Harlequin Historical May 2021--Box Set 2 of 2

by Elizabeth Rolls

  Wearing a lovely turquoise dress—something Jenny had only seen a handful of times—Gretchen watched Emily run out the door. “I’m going to miss her, and you.”

  “This is the only hard part,” Jenny admitted.

  Gretchen smiled. “Don’t let it be. You’ll only be a phone call away, thanks to that man you’re marrying.”

  “I know.”

  Gretchen’s smile grew. “I knew from the first day he knocked on our door that he’d be back, and I’m so glad I was right.” She reached out and took ahold of both of Jenny’s hands. “If I had one wish for every girl that has entered this house, it would be for them to find the same happiness, the same love, that you have. I am so proud of you. So proud of the way you worked this all out, got rid of the monkeys on your back, and are moving on. As much as I’m going to miss you, I’m happy to see you go.”

  “I love Connor so much,” Jenny said. “But I love you, too. You saved my life, Emily’s life, by bringing us here.”

  “You saved your own life, and your daughter’s, and this was just a temporary place until you and Connor found each other again.” Gretchen gave Jenny’s hands a final squeeze. “I’m heading to the church now, to put out some vases of flowers. I’ll take your and Emily’s suitcases with me, too.”

  Most of her and Emily’s belongings had already been taken to Connor’s house in Rochester, which was where they would go after the wedding today. He’d offered to take her anywhere in the world for a honeymoon, including Niagara Falls, but Jenny had said she just wanted to go to his house. The home she’d always wanted.

  Emily would spend the next couple of days with his mother, and it was hard to say who was more excited about that—Barbara or Emily.

  * * *

  A short time later, Jenny paused before stepping out of the back of the school bus. She’d never seen the small church in Twin Pines so overflowing with people.

  “Yeehaw! I always knew this day would happen!”

  Jenny laughed and stepped out of the bus to accept Franny’s hug. “Thank you for coming.”

  “Like I would miss this!” Franny stepped aside. “Look who else is here.”

  Marjorie came forward to give Jenny a hug. “I’m so happy for you, Jenny.”

  “I’m so happy for me, too,” she replied. “So happy.”

  It seemed impossible, but that happiness continued to grow as the day went on. There were many spectacular moments, but a particular one, that Jenny would never forget, was how Connor, after sealing their love with a kiss in front of the church full of people, picked up Emily, kissed her cheek, and then not caring who saw him, when Emily said her bear needed a kiss, too, he kissed the bear.

  Only a real father would do that. An amazing, wonderful, father.

  After a luncheon in the backyard of the Bird’s Inn, she and Connor climbed in his car. The top was down, and before they drove away, she turned her back to the crowd, and tossed her bouquet of flowers over her head.

  At the uproar of clapping, she twisted to see who had caught the bouquet. Laughing, along with everyone else, Connor’s mother waved the bouquet over her head.

  Connor honked the horn, and then drove away, with her snuggled up to his side and waving at the crowd.

  “Would you like me to stop and put the top up?” he asked as Twin Pines disappeared behind them.

  “No.” She held her face into the breeze flowing over the windshield. “It makes me feel like I’m flying.”

  “You make me feel like I’m flying,” he said.

  She hugged his arm with both of hers. “We’re married, Connor! Married!”

  He honked the horn, several times, as they laughed with glee.

  * * *

  The sun was setting, filling the sky with an array of yellows, oranges and pinks that reflected in the windows of his house as they pulled into the driveway. “We’re here,” Connor said, looking at his new bride. Her beauty never failed to amaze him, and though he’d been looking at her all day, his heartbeat increased when their gazes met.

  “Not here, home. We’re home.” She kissed his cheek. “I love you, Connor McCormick.”

  He brought his lips close to hers. “I love you, Jenny McCormick.”

  Their kiss was sensuous and promising, and broken by her giggles. “I used to practice writing that. Jenny McCormick.”

  He kissed her again and then opened the door. While she was sliding across the seat, to exit the car via the driver’s door after he’d stepped out, he grabbed her suitcase out of the backseat. Then, hand in hand, they ran to the house.

  They barely made it inside the house before a kissing marathon started. He kicked the door shut with one foot and dropped the suitcase in order to give her his full attention. He had hers, too.

  At some point between kisses they managed to make it upstairs, into his bedroom. He couldn’t keep his hands off her. Hers were just as frantic. They were everywhere. Touching his hair, rubbing his neck, unbuttoning his shirt. He loved it. He loved her.

  With mutual, unspoken consent, they shed their clothes. The only thing she still had on was the necklace around her neck. The diamonds sparkled with brilliance, but her eyes... He sucked in a breath at their brilliance. At the love and passion they exposed.

  Her hands settled on his shoulders. “I’ve waited years for this. Years and years.”

  “I have, too.”

  Their kisses renewed, and Connor found himself walking on the edge of control as they settled onto the bed. He’d never been here before, reveling in the unabashed love flowing between them. He wasn’t just kissing her, touching her, he was loving her.

  Jenny.

  The only woman he would ever love in this deep, all-consuming way.

  He cherished every part of her, and took his time, moving slow, watching her expression and rejoicing in her responses to his every touch, every caress.

  Their coming together as husband and wife was joyous, exhilarating and profoundly exquisite. Leaving them clinging to each other, gasping for air, and gloriously happy.

  “Oh, no,” she said dropping her arms out to her sides.

  The smile on her face said there was no reason for him to be concerned, yet, he asked, “Oh, no, what?”

  With stars glittering in her eyes, she said, “That was even more spectacular than I’d imagined.”

  He kissed the tip of her nose. “What’s wrong with that?”

  “Nothing, except the fact that I may never leave this room, and never let you leave it.”

  He ran a finger along the line of her shoulder. “What just happened can be repeated in many places.”

  “Really? Where?”

  “Well, there’s the kitchen or the—”

  She pressed a finger to his lip. “How about you show me instead?”

  He kissed her finger. “Or how about we repeat it right here?”

  “Ducky!”

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  Settling into her new life as Jenny McCormick, Mrs. Connor McCormick, was the easiest thing she’d ever done in her life. Emily was overjoyed having a daddy, and a grandma, and Mick and his wife Lisa were the most loving aunt and uncle possible.

  The month of June flew past, full of visits from family and friends, trips to the zoo and amusement park, days of riding with Connor as he oversaw phone installations, quiet days and evenings at home, and telephone calls.

  Jenny had never known how one device could keep people so connected. Connor had even taught Emily how to use it, and how to answer it properly.

  Connor was at work, and Jenny was spreading meringue over top of the pie she and Emily had made when the telephone rang.

  “Can I answer it, Mommy?” Emily asked.

  “Yes.” Jenny’s heart thudded at the thought the caller was most likely her husband. He often called to let them know he was on his way home.
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  Climbing onto the stool near the counter where the telephone sat—one of the many telephones in their house—Emily picked up the receiver. “McCormick residence. Emily McCormick speaking,” she said clearly and with pride.

  Jenny’s own pride increased. Emily’s last name was legally McCormick now.

  “Yes. Who is calling please?”

  Emily set the receiver on the desk and climbed off the stool.

  “She wants to talk to you, Mommy.”

  Jenny wiped her hands on her apron. “Thank you, honey.”

  “Her name is Ah... A. Brown, I can’t say her other name.”

  Jenny’s heart stopped. So did her feet. Having never heard it before, Audrey would be a difficult name for Emily to repeat. Connor had found her mother’s home telephone number—after she’d asked him to—but when Jenny had called last week, her mother hadn’t been home. She’d left a message, but after a few days, figured her mother had chosen not to return her call.

  “Do you want me to ask her other name, Mommy?”

  Forcing herself to breathe, Jenny shook her head. “No, honey, that’s fine. You go get your bear.” Her hand shook as she picked up the receiver. “Hello.”

  “Jenny?”

  A person never forgot the sound of their mother’s voice. Jenny slowly sank onto the stool next to the counter. “Yes.”

  After a silent pause, where she heard nothing but a faint buzzing noise, either from the telephone line or her ears, Jenny heard, “Richard and I just got home, and received the message that you called last week. I can’t tell you how happy that made me. Makes us.”

  She nodded, then realizing her mother couldn’t see that, she said, “I just, um, wanted to know how you are doing?”

  “We’re fine. We live in Boston now. Richard has another camera factory. A larger one than the one he had in Rochester.” After what sounded like a sniffle, her mother continued, “I’m sorry, Jenny. Sorry for so many things. We looked for you, after that night.”

  Jenny didn’t know what to say.

  “But you’d disappeared and we couldn’t find you, anywhere,” her mother said. “I—Oh, Jenny, I’ve missed you. How are you?”

  Her mother was crying. So was Jenny. “I’m sorry to have worried you.” It wasn’t much, but all she could think to say. Then, she remembered, the choice was hers. She could let the past back in to rule her, or she could decide to rule the future. They both had been to blame, and it would take both of them to make it right. She drew in a breath and let the past go. “I’m wonderful, Mother. Very happy. That was my daughter Emily who answered the phone. She’s six.”

  “She sounded very polite.”

  The love inside Jenny made her smile. “Her father taught her how to answer the phone.”

  “He did a fine job.”

  “He does a fine job of everything,” Jenny said.

  “She said her last name was McCormick. Do you live in Rochester?”

  “Yes, we do. I’m married to Connor McCormick.”

  The was a hesitation in the line before her mother asked, “If Richard and I were to drive down would—”

  “Yes,” Jenny said. “We’d love to have you visit.”

  “Tomorrow?”

  Joy burst inside her. “Whenever, Mother. Whenever is fine.”

  “Tomorrow?” her mother repeated.

  Just as she was about to respond to her mother, she heard Emily shout, “Daddy,” and Connor’s response along with the closing of the front door.

  “Jenny?” her mother said.

  “Yes,” Jenny said. “Tomorrow would be fine.”

  “We’ll leave first thing in the morning, so you can expect us by late afternoon.” There were more sniffles. “I can’t wait to see you. And Emily.”

  “I can’t wait to see you, either,” Jenny said, looking at her husband carrying their daughter into the kitchen. She hung up the phone as he walked closer.

  Connor could read her like others could read a book. He set Jenny down and dug in his pocket, pulled out a blue piece of satin ribbon. “I found this ribbon for your hair today.” He dug in the other pocket. “And this one to tie around your bear’s neck.”

  “Oh, Daddy! I will go put it on him right now.”

  As Emily shot out of the room, he walked closer.

  Jenny lifted her face for him to deliver a kiss on her lips, which he did, and he swiped aside the tears on her cheeks.

  “Who was on the telephone?”

  “My mother.”

  * * *

  Connor’s heart skipped a beat. He’d assumed that by the tears on her face. He wanted her to be happy, to have her past completely settled, but it had been her choice. He’d even waited until she’d asked if he could find a telephone number for her mother to give her the slip of paper with the number on it that he’d already found for her. The shine in her eyes told him all he needed to know, other than, “When are they coming to visit?”

  She stood and looped her arms around his neck. “Tomorrow.”

  He hooked her waist with both hands. “I’ll take the day off work.”

  Stepping closer so their torsos touched, she said, “You don’t have to do that. They won’t be here until late afternoon.”

  His hands caressed her sides as he looked into her eyes, searched for a signal of how he should proceed. He took his role as her husband seriously. He loved her beyond all he’d imagined, and would protect her with his life. “I’ll still take the day off.”

  “I love you.” She kissed him, not once, but twice, making the second one much longer. When their lips parted, she continued, “Because of you, there’s no room inside me for pain or regrets. I’m too happy. Too full of love.”

  He felt that way, too. The past was the past, and if she wanted her mother in their lives, he’d support her every step of the way. “You are an amazing woman.” He kissed her forehead and hugged her tight. “I didn’t think it possible, but I love you more every day.”

  “I love you more every day, too.” She gave him a final squeeze. “I made you a lemon meringue pie today. Which I have to put in the oven right now so the meringue can brown.”

  He released her and leaned against the counter as she walked over to open the oven door. The news he had to share was going to make her happy, too. Very happy. It certainly had him. He’d almost called to tell her, but had decided in person would be better. He knew how much it would mean to her, and many, many other women. “I received a phone call today, too. At the office.”

  She picked up the pie sitting atop the stove and slid it in the oven. “From who?”

  “Senator Hughes.”

  She closed the oven door and slowly turned, looked at him. “And?”

  He let his smile go. “The governor signed it. It’s a law.”

  Slapping a hand over her mouth, she smothered a tiny squeal, then stopped trying to prevent it and let out a shout of joy. Along with a little jump. “Connor! That’s wonderful!”

  “I know. It goes into effect September first.”

  Laughing, she zipped around the table to hug him again. Kiss him again.

  “That would never have happened if you hadn’t—”

  He stopped her by pressing a finger to her lips. “It happened because of you. Not me. I wouldn’t have been involved if you hadn’t come to the Bird’s Inn, hooting like a hoarse owl in the middle of the night.”

  She pushed aside his finger. “A hoarse owl?”

  “Yes!” He pretended to cough while hooting like an owl.

  “I didn’t sound like that!”

  “Yes, you did.” He mimicked an owl again, and the coughing.

  She stopped him with her lips. A good, solid kiss that he took full advantage of by parting her lips and twirling his tongue with hers.

  “Hey! Did I hear an owl?”

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nbsp; Emily’s question ended the kiss, and Jenny turned around. He kept his arms around her, and locked his hands over her stomach.

  “It was Daddy,” Jenny said, rubbing his arms. “He was trying to sound like an owl.”

  He loved being called Daddy, by both her and Emily. “Mommy can sound like an owl, too.”

  Jenny elbowed him playfully.

  “There’s an owl in my teddy bear book,” Emily said.

  “Yes, there is,” Connor said.

  He felt more than heard Jenny’s giggle. She knew he’d read the bear book so many times he could recite nearly every page.

  “I can hoot like one, too!” Head tilted back, Emily proceeded to demonstrate her hooting abilities.

  Chuckling, Connor whispered in Jenny’s ear, “Like mother like daughter.”

  She laughed. “You mean like father like daughter.” She grasped his hands and pulled them apart so she could exit his embrace. “I have to get my pie out before the meringue burns.”

  He kissed the side of her neck, let her go and then scooped up Emily. “That’s what we are. A family of hooting owls.”

  While Jenny took the perfectly browned pie out of the oven, he and Emily filled the room with hoots. After she’d set the pie on the counter, he grabbed Jenny’s arm and pulled her into the center of the room. “Come on, Mommy, let us hear you hoot!”

  Laughing, she let out her famous croaking hoot. Famous to him. That sound had changed his life.

  And now, his life couldn’t get any better.

  EPILOGUE

  Jenny bundled the perfect baby girl in a thin blanket of cotton and then laid the infant in her mother’s arms. “She’s perfect, Charlotte. Absolutely perfect.” Touching the baby’s tiny cheek, she added, “She even looks like an Emma.”

  “Thank you, Jenny,” the new mother said, looking at her precious baby. “Emma was my grandmother’s name.”

  Jenny stepped away from the bed. “The two of you need to get some rest now. I’ve already called Dr. Bolton, and he’ll be over tomorrow to check in on you. And Jason has my phone number. Call me if you have any questions.”