Always Faithful

by Catherine Snodgrass

  Fleeting moments of pleasure. She’d take them and deal with the pain, if it was to come, later. Trust him? Yes, this time she would.

  Rowan forced a smile. "I’ll see you Friday night then. Drive carefully."

  Walking away was one of the hardest things Phillip had ever had to do. With each step he forced his gaze forward. Nothing could jeopardize his plans. Not now. Not when they were so close to realization.

  * * *

  Propped against her car, Laura waited for Phillip in the parking lot, her foot resting on the bumper of his Mustang. A month ago that site would have been enough to set his teeth to grinding. Now he just stepped over her leg and opened the door.

  "You’re going to resign, aren’t you?" she asked.

  "I’ve already talked to our colonel. Faxed my resignation to him this morning. He’s calling Headquarters Marine Corps personally to see if it can be expedited. Colonel Scott is backing him up."

  "Did you tell her?"

  Phillip shook his head. "I didn’t want to get her hopes up, or mine either for that matter. They may not release me from my commitment."

  "That’s a mighty big risk to take without talking to her. How do you know she even wants you in her life permanently?"

  Phillip stared ahead. "I don’t. But it’s a chance I’m willing to take. This time I’m not letting her go."

  He slipped behind the wheel and started the engine. "Last one home’s a rotten egg."

  Smiling, she jumped into her car.

  By noon the next day, he got the official word. Still it took four more agonizingly long days before the approval for his resignation was in his hands. He stared at it, then with a smile pulled a last cigar from his desk drawer and went to the back step. The door behind him opened the minute he lit up.

  "I’m glad someone around here can celebrate," Laura told him. "Have you heard who received new orders? Zach Taylor is being reassigned to Twentynine Palms."

  Eyes dancing with mischief, Phillip glanced at her over his shoulder. "Oh, he’s going to love that. I can’t wait to get back up there and be the first to tell him."

  "It’s always about you, isn’t it?"

  Phillip laughed. "Not so much any more."

  "I’ve got orders there, too."

  "Somehow I don’t think you’ll mind so much." Grinning, he gave her a wink.

  Laura blushed and slugged him.

  "I’ve got a lot to do, but I’ll be heading up to Twentynine Palms tonight. I still have to clean out my office and pack up my house, so I’ll be coming back Sunday night if you want to tag along."

  "No thanks. Mike’s coming down here for the weekend."

  Laura leaned forward and brushed a brief kiss across his cheek. "You’re doing the right thing, Phillip. Now put out that stinky cigar and get moving. You do have a lot to get done."

  Indeed he did, and there really seemed like no time better than now to get started. One more victory puff and he ground out the cigar. He hardly knew where to begin. Anticipation made him as giddy as a teenager on his first date.

  Packing up his house was a first on the list, but it would be hours before he could leave. He didn’t think he could stand to wait around in the empty cottage that long. Without Rowan, Ian, and Oscar it was worse than a tomb, lonely and depressing, no longer a home.

  A smile curved his lips. Home was where Rowan and Ian were. And tonight he was going home. There was one more piece of business he had to finish.

  He’d spent the better part of the week trying to decide if he should even attempt to talk to Sally Kemp. A check of the Psychiatric Ward showed her grief had put her over the edge. Her children remained in foster care. She was beyond reason.

  Phillip tried to tell himself that it wasn’t his place to interfere with the woman’s life or her treatment. But just the thought of those children in a foster home tore at his conscience. They had lost their father and now their mother. He’d never be able to live with himself if he didn’t at least try to see the woman. Her doctor agreed it wouldn’t hurt.

  She was waiting by the barred window when Phillip arrived. Her face was red and swollen from tears. According to her doctor, she spent the better part of each day crying. Her hospital gown engulfed her. Hard to believe that a person could go so far downhill so quickly.

  "Mrs. Kemp?"

  She forced her head slowly in his direction. "Do I know you?"

  "I’m Phillip Stuart." He extended his hand. Sally never saw it.

  He pulled up a chair and sat across from her. "I know things are difficult for you, but I thought you would like to know that we caught the man who killed your husband. He’ll be going to jail for a long, long time."

  "The man? Rowan McKinley killed my husband."

  Her voice was bitter, angry. Where grief shadowed her face before, rage now existed.

  Phillip covered her hands with his. "No, Sally. She did not."

  In detail he explained all. With each word the tears returned in a constant flow down her cheeks. Afterward, her lips formed the words "thank you" but no sound came out.

  "I loved him so much," she finally managed to say.

  "I know. I understand. But now you have to pull yourself together for the children that love gave to you."

  Sally pulled in a breath and gave a single nod.

  * * *

  Phillip forced the lid closed on his fourth suitcase. All that remained were his uniforms. Those Zach could have. Phillip knew he would never need them again.

  A car pulled up outside. It was probably his landlord, coming by to drop off his rental closure papers. He opened the door to set his suitcase outside. It wasn’t his landlord.

  Phillip pulled himself to his full height and stared at his father. It took more nerve than he could imagine for the man to show up now. His very presence screamed interference and intrusion.

  "What do you want, Donald?" As if I can’t guess.

  His father stalked toward him, nostrils of his hawk-like nose flaring. "I thought it necessary to pay you a personal visit." Donald’s calm tone belied the squall on his face.

  Phillip stiffened. "And I thought I made myself clear when we spoke the last time. I have no desire to see you—ever."

  His father waved the words away as if they were inconsequential. For him they were because they were not what he wanted to hear. "I put that down to the heat of the moment. Forgotten by now."

  Phillip snorted. "You have a convenient memory when it suits you. What do you want? I’m a little busy."

  "You could at least extend me the courtesy of inviting me in."

  "Courtesy is the last thing I owe you. Now…you claim your visit has a purpose?"

  Donald propped himself against a porch post and studied his nails. "Associates of mine indicate you’re thinking of resigning your commission."

  "Correction…I have resigned my commission."

  "It can be easily reversed." He looked up. "I’ll admit I was against you joining the Marine Corps, but when I saw the political advantages it gave you…"

  Phillip tossed out a laugh. "You’re the one with political aspirations, not me. But since no one seems to want to elect you, even for the position of dog catcher, you seem to be ill-suited for politics."

  "Why close the door on a great opportunity?"

  "For who? You?" The man was priceless. In Donald Stuart’s eyes, life truly was supposed to revolve around him.

  Phillip picked up his bags and walked to his car. His father followed.

  "Everything I’ve done in my life has been for your— "

  Phillip whirled around. "Don’t start with that crap. Nothing you did was for my benefit—it was for yours. Your image. Your goals. The great Donald Stuart. My god, when I was ten years old, you took me aside and told me not to call you Dad anymore because it didn’t look professional. Not that you were much of a father before then. You never bothered with Claudia or me until you realized our possible advantage to you. Then you insinuated yourself into every aspect of our lives."
r />   Donald’s lips thinned. "It’s that woman talking, isn’t it?"

  "What woman? Rowan?" Phillip opened the trunk and stuffed one suitcase inside. "Leave Rowan out of this. You know very well that all of your issues are with Claudia and me—now that we’ve taken great pangs to distance ourselves from you."

  "How can I leave trash like Rowan McKinley out of this? She’s been nothing but trouble for us since the minute you met her. You don’t even know if this brat is really yours. Her type will sleep with anybody."

  Never in his life had Phillip wanted to hit someone as much as he did now. He settled for a steady glare he hoped conveyed his contempt for the man. "I’m not going to dignify that with an answer."

  He tossed another suitcase into the trunk.

  Donald caught the handle. "Don’t you see how she’s turned us against each other? First you, then your sister, and now your mother."

  Phillip straightened. "Mom?"

  His father adopted that haughty air of superiority. "She’s got some feminist notion in her head about striking out on her own. She actually intends to divorce me over this incident with your little friend. The woman obviously needs psychiatric help."

  "Personally, I think she deserves a medal for putting up with you all these years."

  Phillip snatched the last bag from his father’s grasp and tossed it into the trunk with the others. "I’m glad to see she’s finally wised up. I’ll have to call her with congratulations when I get home. As for you," he slammed the trunk closed, "let me make myself perfectly clear. I never want to see or hear from you again. You are to stay away from Rowan, my child, and me."

  "Aren’t you going to include your sister and mother in your cozy little group?"

  Phillip grinned. "Sounds like they’re pretty good at taking care of themselves." His humor faded. "Stay away. If you don’t, I’ll slap a restraining order on you so fast it will boggle your mind."

  He swung into the Mustang, gunned the powerful engine, then drove away, leaving Donald Stuart staring after him in a cloud of dust.

  * * *

  Butterflies did somersaults in Rowan’s stomach. Phillip would be here any minute. She prayed for the composure to greet him with casual indifference, lest those crowded into her party see the true extent of her feelings. Yet, she couldn’t keep her gaze from wandering down the road for that first glimpse of his Mustang. With its appearance, her heart raced into double-time.

  "Dad’s here!" Ian sprinted for the driveway with Oscar close behind. "And Mom, look who’s with him!"

  Phillip swooped the boy into his arms. Rowan felt a catch in her breath. What would she do on that horrible day when and if he came to tell her that he was marrying someone else? How could she hold her head high when her heart would be shattered in a thousand pieces?

  Zach crawled from the car, dragging a set of crutches. "I’m out, I’m free, and I’m starved." He gave Rowan a quick hug. "Hospital food is terrible. I still can’t believe you refused to sneak in any good food for me. What’s to eat?"

  "Hamburgers, hot dogs, steak, chicken…you name it, we’ve got it," Rowan said with a smile.

  "Great. Then next week you can help me find a place to live. I’ve got orders to this godforsaken place."

  "I see." She tucked her arms over her chest. "Maybe we can enlist Claudia’s help in your quest for accommodations."

  "Claudia?" His dumbstruck look gave the impression he didn’t have a clue who Claudia could be. Rowan knew better.

  "She’ll be here any minute to meet Ian."

  Zach sagged under the weight of her announcement. "Ian, show me the way to the food. I need to fortify myself."

  Ian giggled. "You know the way."

  "I’m so faint from hunger, I can barely stand." Zach rolled his eyes theatrically, and faked a wobble.

  Laughing, Ian grabbed Zach’s hand and pulled him toward the picnic table, Oscar galloping ahead of them.

  Phillip chuckled. "I see they’ve been having a great time."

  "They sure have. Ian loves that crazy dog and I’m fairly certain the feeling is mutual. Although, Oscar’s loyalties switch when food’s involved… I was wondering, Phillip. I know I should have asked this before now, but each night you called this week, I didn’t think it was something to discuss over the phone. Could Oscar stay with us?"

  He took a step forward. "I have a better question. Can I?" Reaching around, he pulled a paper from his back pocket and placed it in her hands.

  "What is it?"

  "Marine Corps Headquarters approved my resignation."

  Rowan could scarcely breathe. "Why?"

  He slid his arms around her waist and pulled her close. "Why do you think? Rowan, I love you. I’ve always loved you. My heart has always been faithful to you. Marry me."

  "Oh, Phillip, yes," she breathlessly replied.

  When he tilted his head to kiss her, she pulled back. "Phillip, someone might see."

  He grinned and looked over her shoulder. "Somehow, I don’t think they mind."

  She looked around. Silence descended as each guest held up a toast in their honor. With a smile, she draped her arms around Phillip’s neck.

  "Mom and Jess are going to Vegas tomorrow to get married. Want to make it a double wedding?"

  Phillip let his kiss reply.

  Epilogue

  * * *

  "How do I look? Do I look okay?"

  Rowan shoved herself out of the chair stomach first, and readjusted Laura’s veil. "For the millionth time, you look beautiful."

  "And Mike’s here? Right?"

  Stretching the kinks from her aching back, Rowan laughed. "Of course, he’s here. As if he’d forget. He’s too conscientious for that and you know it."

  "Yes, but…"

  Rowan placed her hands over Laura’s lips. "Enough already. He loves you and it’s time to get you married."

  It was a wonder she wasn’t more nervous. Laura had certainly had more than her share of roadblocks since Mike’s proposal six months ago. A recent court-martial case that placed bride and groom on opposite sides not only threatened to run over into the honeymoon, but put the two at such odds it almost ruined the wedding.

  At one point, the groom even moved in with Phillip and Rowan when the bride accused him of spying on her case notes. Thankfully, that little incident blew over in less time than it took for Mike to pack his bags.

  Two days ago one bridesmaid broke an ankle playing flag football. Another battled the flu. The ring bearer wouldn’t stop crying during rehearsal.

  Then there was the shortage of hotel rooms for the out-of-town guests. That meant borrowing space at the homes of friends. Ten of Mike’s relatives camped out at Phillip and Rowan’s house, adding to Rowan’s tension and shortening her temper. If it weren’t for the help that Claudia, her mother, and Phillip’s mother gave these last few days, she might have exploded from the constant crush of people in her space.

  Now all that was behind Laura and Mike. The sun beamed a blessing through the high church windows. Everything was finally going smoothly. Even the ring bearer was all smiles as he played tag with the flower girl.

  Laura hugged her as close as Rowan’s belly would allow. "You’ve been a godsend these last six months. I swear you’ve missed your calling. When you leave the Marine Corps you should become a professional wedding planner. With your organizational skills—"

  "Stop it. You’ll have my head as big as my belly." She clapped her hands loudly. "Ok, everyone line up. You know your cues. I’m going to take my seat. You’re on your own from here."

  Rowan tucked the bridal bouquet into Laura’s shaking fingers, pulled the veil over the bride’s face, and slipped into the church.

  As promised, Claudia and Ellen had saved her a seat near the front. It was going to be a relief to finally sit down. She was glad she and Phillip had married quickly in Las Vegas. Big weddings were definitely not for her. Her pregnancy combined with helping Laura plan this wedding had exhausted her more than she anticipated.
Thankfully, Phillip was there to lean on when she needed it.

  It seemed they had been blessed the last year. Phillip had no difficulty finding a job as a teacher at the local high school. In the evenings he taught law courses at the community college and extension university. He spent his spare time with the Scouts or coaching Ian’s sports teams. Then there was his dedication to her.

  He never hesitated to lend a hand, but the instant he discovered she carried his child, she became a pampered princess. When morning sickness overwhelmed her, Phillip was there to hold her head and mop the sweat from her brow. Heavy work was forbidden, back massages and tummy rubs were a daily event as she grew. Appointments, ultrasounds…during all facets of the pregnancy, Phillip stayed by her side.

  Rowan couldn’t function without him, didn’t know how she managed all these years without him, and she never wanted to find out.

  The music began, chasing away Rowan’s thoughts. Mike and Phillip filed in and took their places. As he caught her eye, Phillip gave a wink. Rowan blushed.

  To hide her smile, she turned with the guests to watch her handiwork unfold. The bridesmaids and groomsmen were all smiles. Zach supported his partner on his arm so skillfully only those closest to Laura knew the bridesmaid had a broken ankle. Still, the best man stood out handsomely among the rest of the party.

  Then the wedding march began. Rowan’s smile faltered as a contraction took her breath away.

  Oh, no. Not now.

  Her back had been aching for more than a week, plus she had been having tiny twinges of pain for the last several days, but nothing consistent. In fact, she put it down to the stress of last minute wedding preparations. Now, at the worst possible time, they hit her full force.

  She gripped the back of the pew in front of her and focused her gaze on the bride, avoiding Phillip’s gaze. It was a futile attempt at deception. Once Laura walked by, Rowan chanced a look at the head of the aisle.

  Concern creased Phillip’s forehead. He knew her better than she knew herself, often anticipating her needs before she could voice them. There was simply no keeping secrets from the man.