I strolled down Third Avenue, soaking in the warm, summer sunshine. It was a beautiful afternoon. The flowers were cheery and colorful in the park as the children played. As I approached the Montrose Hotel, I smiled.
Edgar tipped his hat in greeting. “Well, Livvy. I can’t believe that no good husband of yours lets you walk so far home by yourself, especially in your condition,” he lectured.
“Oh, believe me, Edgar. He doesn’t like it one bit. He’d like me to wait for him until he gets done at the cereal plant so that he can drive me home in the new truck.” I winked at him. “But I won that debate.”
Edgar laughed as he took the broom he had left leaning against the wall. “Ah, no doubt, ma’am. You have a great evening, Mrs. O’Carney. Tell that rascal Frankie I say hello.”
“Of course. Good night, Edgar.”
I sighed happily as I walked across the bridge that spanned the Cedar River. It had been two years since Frankie and I had gotten married in the church across the street from The Gazette. Shortly after I agreed to stay in Cedar Rapids, he had proposed.
He took a job at the cereal plant that paid far better and made him much happier. I moved into a small home just down the street from his aunt’s house so that we could be close to his family once we were married. Everyone warned me about being a woman alone in a house like that. But with my future husband nearby, I never worried.
I had never expected my wild fiancé to ask my father for my hand. I had expected that my family would never speak to me again after I married without following proper protocol. But while he was between jobs, Frankie had taken the train to Nebraska to talk to Pa. I don’t think Pa had liked him much, but he had respected Frankie for asking and gave his blessing.
He, Ma, and my brothers had come to Cedar Rapids for our wedding. Now, my family loved him nearly as much as I did.
Detouring from the front door of my house, I slipped through the gate to the garden. I carefully knelt to pick a ripe, plump tomato to go with dinner. Then, I unlocked the back door, slipped inside, and set my purse and the tomato on the kitchen table to start dinner.
Frankie didn’t think I’d heard him come in, but I did. I sighed as I felt his arms wrap around me and his hand spread across my swollen stomach.
“How was your day, luv?” he purred as he softly kissed my neck.
“Just wonderful,” I breathed. “Yours?”
“Dandy. How’s the wee one?”
“Kicking away. Like normal.”
Frankie gently turned me around, parting my lips with his. As our kiss broke, he smiled. “Why don’t you go rest? I’ll finish supper.”
“Or we could turn the heat off supper and go rest together,” I suggested.
Frankie chuckled as he pressed his lips to mine again. His hand slipped behind me to turn off the stove. “You’re a brilliant woman, Mrs. O’Carney.”
“You’re a brilliant man to marry me, Mr. O’Carney.”
As I melted into Frankie’s kisses, I thanked my lucky stars I had him. Maybe I hadn’t gotten to Chicago. Maybe I hadn’t become a famous investigative reporter. But had that train not broken down in Cedar Rapids, I wouldn’t have ever found my real dream come true—a dream with thick, black hair and beautiful, blue eyes. I dream I would get to call mine forever.
*The End*
About the Author
Tricia Andersen lives in Iowa with her husband, Brian and her three children – her sons, Jake and Jon, and her daughter, Alex. She graduated from the University of Iowa with a Bachelor of Arts in English and from Kirkwood Community College with an Associate of Arts degree in Communications Media/Public Relations.
Along with writing (which she loves to do), Tricia practices mixed martial arts, coaches and participates in track and field, reads, sews and is involved in many of her children's activities.
Find Tricia at www.triciaandersen.com, www.insidethiswritersmind.com, and www.facebook.com/t.l.andersenauthor.
Innocent 'til Proven Guilty Page 9
