Reggie pulled away from him and rested on a forearm savoring the look on his face. His eyes showed, love, frustration, desire, hope and an irritation that Reggie found irresistible. She started to enjoy herself. “Are you saying you’ll make me marry you?”
He narrowed his blue eyes at her. The color had returned to his face. “If I have to.”
She shrugged and said, “Well, okay then.”
He looked at her with disbelief. “What did you just say?”
She smiled and brightened the room up with her joy. Taking his beloved face in her hands, she said, “I love you Chase. I’m not sure when it started but it’s real, and strong and endless. You are everything I want in life, a friend, a sparring partner, a lover…you are my mate, the father of all my children. Let’s have six.”
He hugged her so tightly he winced. She giggled and hugged him back ignoring his grunt of pain. He could take it.
Chase closed his eyes tightly. When he opened them, again there were tears at the corners of his eyes. “That night at Ernestine’s birthday party so many years ago. I thought you knew how I felt. You’d just broken up with your boyfriend, and you were vulnerable. I’ll never forgive myself for taking advantage. You needed a friend that night, and I failed you. I hated myself, and I had to get away from you before I lost all control. I left you there on the dance floor all alone. I’m sorry. I had hoped to explain, but then my mother died and my world changed forever.”
She nodded. “When you kissed me that night, I didn’t want you to stop. You made me feel something I’d never felt before or since…or at least since you kissed me again. Last summer, when I saw that gun pointed at your chest, I knew I didn’t want to live in a world that didn’t include you. When I saw you sneak into the farmhouse to rescue me, I thought I’d explode with joy.”
She frowned and punched him in the arm. “Why the hell did you leave the hospital before we could talk last summer, you big dope?”
“Jade’s father died, and for the first time ever, she called and told me that she needed me. I can’t go into the details right now, but her father had died rather unexpectedly. As you know, he was an unsavory character to say the least. I came back as soon as I could, but you were gone. I cursed myself a million times for letting you get away.”
Reggie smiled. “I cursed you two million times. It’s a wonder you’re still in one piece. I thought for sure some part of your anatomy would have fallen off or something.” She kissed him. “Now I’m so glad I’m lousy at magic.”
He smiled and said, “You think?”
Tears ran like wavy little streams down her cheeks. “Chase, we’re having a baby. We conceived the very first night we made love. I think Constance knew it would happen. Everyone kept telling me to look inside myself to find my strength. When our lives depended on it, I did and found our child there. You and I alone couldn’t defeat Vincent. We needed the baby to help us do it.” She touched her belly and kissed him softly. “He’s strong, Chase, a miracle. For so many years, I despaired that I hadn’t inherited the gift. Well, Chase, you are my gift. You give me my power. I could feel it pulsing through me yesterday.”
Chase was silent. Reggie was used to it, so she just rested her head on his chest and reveled in her love for him and his for her. When he spoke, she heard it first from his chest, and she looked up at him with a frown.
“I haven’t been exactly honest with you.” He heart jumped into her throat, and her stomach clenched as she waited for his explanation. He took a deep breath. “I don’t know how to say this but, I bought Bennett House.”
She looked confused. “From Pat Somers? Why would she sell? She just bought the place. How did you…”
Chase took another deep breath, squeezed his eyes closed, and said, “I’m Pat Somers.” He opened one eye and waited for her reaction.
This time, Reggie was silent. She tested his words in her mind. Chase is Pat Somers, and he’s kept it from me all this time. Should I be angry? It is a betrayal in a way…Oh, what the hell, the man loves me, who cares?
She smiled at him. “Care to explain that tasty little tidbit?”
“My stepfather left my mother’s estate in such a mess that I had to find a way to fix things. I couldn’t continue living in this town knowing that I owed money to so many. You’d gone on to college as had Sam and Travis. I missed you so much, Reggie.” He kissed her forehead. “I have a good imagination. What do you think I’m doing when I’m so quiet at times? I had such outrageous fantasies about you that I finally put them on paper. I sent my first novel to a literary agent, Jackie Blake.” He smiled at Reggie’s cross expression when he mentioned the name. “She liked it and sold it. I’ve been writing ever since. Now you and Jackie are the only people who know.”
Reggie punched him on the arm again. “Damn, Poindexter, but you can write!”
He laughed. “Thanks. Last summer when I almost lost you, I swore that I’d never let you go again, but I did. I knew in time, you’d be back. This is New Crescent. You belonged here, so I tracked down the Bennett who still owned the house and bought it. Jackie helped me stay distanced from the sale, and I asked her to hire you. Sorry for the subterfuge, but I couldn’t think of anything else to do. I wanted you to make the house over the way you wanted, but I wasn’t sure how to tell you how I felt. I had no idea how you’d react.”
He hugged her again and grunted when his ribs protested, but he kept talking. “That house is my wedding present to you, Reggie. It’s yours, it always has been, and it always will be. Can I live in it with you and our children?”
“Yeah, but let’s make it legal as soon as possible. I’d like to beat Travis to the altar.”
“Good idea.” He nuzzled her neck and she melted. Pressing against him, she could feel his arousal. He groaned but not with pain this time.
“Crash, I know that with you, I’m a sexual god, but don’t forget I have broken bones here.” In a pathetically wimpy voice, he said, “Be gentle with me.”
She wasn’t, but he didn’t seem to mind.
* * * *
Later that day, Reggie hosted her first party at Bennett House. It was ad hoc and informal, the very best kind. Her parents, Travis’s parents, Ernestine, Sam, Travis, and Gillian attended. They were all impressed with the work Reggie and Chase had done transforming the place.
Chase waited until they were all gathered around the dining room table before he made the announcement.
He stood up with care, favoring his broken ribs. His six-feet-seven inch frame was enough to command attention anywhere, and this was no exception. All eyes turned to him in anticipation.
“It’s wonderful to finally have you all here in this house, but nothing makes me happier than to tell you that Reggie and I are in love, and we’re getting married.”
His audience burst into laughter. Chase and Reggie exchanged confused glances. That wasn’t quite the reaction they’d expected.
Taking pity on them, Gillian spoke up. “Guys, it comes as no surprise to us. We’ve known for ages how you feel about each other. Sorry, but you were the last to know.” This time Reggie and Chase joined their laughter.
After they’d eaten, they adjourned to the living room. Reggie checked to make sure all her guests were comfortable before she slipped outside. She walked to the little iron gate and thought about Constance.
After about thirty seconds, the air changed and Reggie looked around in anticipation.
“Congratulations on the coming nuptials.”
“Thanks, Constance. None of this would have happened without you,” Reggie said with humble gratitude
Constance nodded. “True, but what choice did I have? It was my destiny.”
Reggie heard a noise and turned. Ernestine and Gillian had joined her. They smiled at Constance like they would an old friend. They could see her. Gillian said, “Have you told her yet?”
Constance shook her head. “No. I was waiting for you to get here.”
Reggie looked at them with suspi
cion but said nothing. She waited.
Constance said, “I’m sorry Regina. It’s my fault you did not inherit your gift on your fourteenth birthday. I needed it.”
“What?” Reggie was bewildered.
Ernestine explained. “My dear, Constance held your power. She needed it to keep Vincent inactive for so many years. She knew the time would come when she’d have to contact you and share her burden.” Ernestine gave Constance a disapproving glance. “She’s stubborn and unpredictable, but she’s still a Guardian. And tonight, she passes that mantle on to you, where it belongs. Together, we’ll decide what must be done with Vincent’s books, but we must destroy all contents in the bottles carefully. I’m sorry if you thought we were pushing you away and keeping things from you, but you had to stay away from the bottles for your own safety. Your power was in its most fragile stage.”
Gillian took up the rest of the explanation. “Reggie, the power you felt in the library yesterday will be with you always. You just have to learn how to use it. Constance will be here for you. She’s a Guardian. She can crossover to this world at will.”
Reggie’s emotions overwhelmed her. How was it possible that she could be gifted with so much? She wanted to cry, but laughed instead. “You mean she’s gonna be annoying me for the rest of my life? Can’t they make an ointment for that?”
They laughed, and Constance said, “I will help you hone your abilities, and I will see your children grow to be a great hope for this world.”
The three women and the ghost formed a circle. The wind caressed them as they joined their power. Thunder was heard in the distance.
Chapter 31
They married at Bennett House or, rather, McCann House, as it was newly christened. They tried to have a small gathering but realized their wedding was something they wanted to share, so they threw open the doors and invited everyone. The entire town of New Crescent celebrated the event and filled the house.
Reggie’s favorite disk jockey donated his services for the night. Peter looked at Reggie with a bittersweet smile, and she dragged him out to the dance floor. He closed his eyes and reveled in the experience. Before the song ended, he rushed over to attend to his duties as DJ. The music started again. Travis and Gillian took the floor, but he didn’t take her in his arms. Instead, he knelt in front of her and said, “I love you Gillian. Will you marry me?”
The room was silent. Peter paused the music. The wedding guests all waited in suspended animation. Gillian grabbed him by the scruf of the neck and hauled him to his feet. “Oh no you don’t. This is Reggie and Chase’s day. You’re not going to steal their thunder. You can do better than that. Now dance with me like you mean it.” She looked over her shoulder and addressed the crowd. “Whoever put their money on today, you’re out of luck.” Their audience laughed and began daning again.
Eating her second piece of wedding cake, Reggie turned to her husband and said, “Chase. When are we going to tell them about the baby?”
He shrugged. “Why bother? They probably knew before we did.”
They smiled and waved at Ernestine and Gillian, who looked at them with a secret knowledge in their eyes. Reggie could swear she caught a glimpse of Constance standing beside them. With her baby held tight in her arms, she too was smiling.
THE END
HTTP://MARYLOUGEORGE.BLOGSPOT.COM
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Mary Lou George lives within driving distance of Toronto. She’s worked in the design studio of a major art museum for over twenty years. The creative atmosphere there has helped to keep her imagination fertile and her humor well exercised. In her personal life, she’s surrounded by family, friends and an animal or two or three. It’s no surprise that her stories include four legged characters. She comes from a long line of earth mothers who’ve always believed there’s a little bit of magic in each of us and that working hard for the happy ending is always worth the effort.
www.BookStrand.com
Spirit [New Crescent 2] (BookStrand Publishing Romance) Page 23
