by Raye Morgan
Did he still have any feelings for Crystal, Maggie wondered? Had his bad marriage made him as gunshy as hers had made her? Apparently not. He was the one pushing for the marriage, after all.
“If Kane and I have any problems I can promise you it won’t be along those lines,” she said.
“Oh no. I knew that.” Jill smiled at her. “As a matter of fact, I think you’re perfect for Kane.”
Maggie had to laugh at her matter-of-fact statement. “Why do you say that? You barely know me.”
Jill didn’t elaborate. “You know, Kane really never was the marrying type,” she went on instead. “He dated like crazy when he was young, a different girl every night. He never got serious about anyone until Crystal. Something about her seemed to speak to him in a strange way.”
She hesitated, as though not sure if she should be saying this much. Moving closer, she touched Maggie’s arm and spoke softly. “My theory is that she came from an old Boston family, just like his father did. And that was what intrigued him.”
“His father?” Maggie gazed at her blankly. “I thought he died when Kane was very young.”
“He did. But it had a major effect on Kane’s life.” Jill drew back, grabbed a sponge and began wiping down the counter. “I think that story is one Kane ought to tell you about, not me.”
Maggie didn’t push her. She’d already heard a lot of new information she was going to need time to digest. She went back to looking at the pictures, finding one of Kane throwing a snowball at the camera, but mostly they were of the two children. When she looked back, she found Jill dishing up cherry cobbler, and she turned to get the vanilla ice cream out of the freezer. They chatted while fixing their dessert plates, then carried them out to the table to await the return of the men.
“It’s too bad,” Jill said as they wandered out into the living room and dropped onto the couch. “There’s so little time to do a proper wedding. You won’t have time to get the gown treatment and the whole bit. But, of course, you had that in your first wedding, didn’t you?”
“Actually, no,” Maggie admitted. “We sort of eloped.”
“No gown?” Jill said, her face stricken. “Not ever?”
“No.” Maggie smiled. “Don’t worry about it. I can cope.”
Jill looked skeptical. “I take it that you’re still mourning your first husband to a certain extent,” she commented.
“No.” Maggie thought she might as well get it out in the open.
“No?” Jill looked as though she thought she hadn’t heard right. “What do you mean, no?”
“No, I’m not mourning him. Where did you get that idea?”
Jill frowned. “Kane told me. At least, that was my impression.”
Maggie shook her head. “I never told him that. I don’t know why he thinks it.”
“Because it would seem natural, I guess. But you say no.”
Maggie turned and looked into Jill’s gaze. “Jill, my first marriage was not particularly happy. While it was sad that Tom died at such a young age, in some ways, it was something of a relief for me. I was miserable being married to him.”
Jill reached out and took her hand. “Oh, Maggie, I’m so sorry. I had no idea.”
“That is one reason why I’ve been so hesitant about marrying again,” she said, then regretted it. After all, Jill didn’t know anything about that.
But Jill didn’t even seem to notice. “I don’t think Kane knows about this,” she was saying instead. “Perhaps you’d better tell him.”
Of course she should tell him. But there never seemed to be any time.
Chapter Seven
Married! Maggie was getting married. Was it time to panic?
No. She couldn’t afford to panic. She was doing this for her baby, and she was going to do it right. She dressed carefully, wearing a new silk suit that was a little snug in the waist. And then she waited, staring at the second hand as it made its way around the face of the clock.
Kane came to get her at ten.
“Are you nervous?” he asked, passing his gloves from one hand to the other and back again.
“No,” she responded. “I’m petrified.”
“Join the crowd,” he muttered under his breath as he picked up her overnight case and looked around. “Anything else?” he said.
She shook her head. It seemed strange to think she wouldn’t be coming back that night. Just before closing the door, she looked back and thought, Goodbye, Tom. Goodbye old life. And then she turned away while Kane shut the door.
They didn’t say much on the drive to City Hall. Mark and Jill were waiting for them at the entrance, and they went in together. There were papers to sign and finally a bored-looking official had them raise their hands and swear, and, suddenly, they were married.
Maggie looked down at the ring Kane slipped on her finger, then up into his eyes. She saw herself in their flat reflection. This didn’t feel right. There should be more to it.
“Let’s go,” Jill said perkily. “We’ve got reservations at the club.”
She was talking about the country club where Mark and Kane both played golf. Jill was more into tennis, as she told them at length as they walked back to the cars. Funny, but she was the only one who said anything at all, until Kane said, “We’ll follow you,” nodding toward where he’d parked.
And then they were alone again in the car. Maggie was beginning to get a headache and the baby was squirming. Kane wasn’t talking. Did he feel as creepy about this as she did? But she had no right to feel that way. This was something good they were doing. If she’d wanted something more than the City Hall utilitarianism she should have told Kane so. He would have done whatever she wanted and she knew it. She had no right to complain after the fact. This was her own darn fault. But to tell the truth, she wanted to cry.
The parking lot at the country club was full.
“Do people play golf in the snow?” she asked, frowning at all the cars as she tried to stabilize her emotions.
“No,” Kane said shortly. “There’s probably a banquet or something.”
She got out of the car and started toward the entrance to the long, low building, but Jill caught up with her and pulled her to the side.
“Come in this way,” she said. “Through the ladies’ locker room. I’ve got something to show you.”
She followed Jill, feeling numb, and then she was blinking in the dim light of the locker room. After the bright sunshine, she was partly blinded, but it seemed to her that there was a dress looming in the gloom. As her eyes adjusted, it got clearer.
Sure enough, there before her on a mannequin was the most beautiful wedding gown she’d ever seen. Antique white satin and chiffon made in an A-line style with an Empire waist, the bodice shimmered with bead work and embroidery while the skirt extended into a beaded train and the lacy sleeves fell to wrist length.
“Oooh,” she said, and all her disappointment with the day was plain in the longing of her tone.
“Do you like it?” Jill asked with an impish grin.
“Of course.” Maggie turned and frowned at Jill.
“Well, start stripping, honey. You’re going to put it on.”
“What?” She couldn’t have heard right.
“I can only hope that it fits,” Jill said crisply. “That Empire waist should help. But I’ve got a seam-stress on call in case we need her. Hurry up! They’re waiting to see the bride.”
“Jill…” She wanted to ask who was waiting, but things were moving too fast and she didn’t get the question out in time. The next thing she knew she was sliding into the lovely gown, and it fitted fine. Turning to look at herself in the full-length mirror, she was stunned by what she saw. How could one pretty dress make such a transformation?
“Oh!” she said, “Oh, Jill!”
“Here,” Jill said. “Let me tidy up your hair. Don’t need to do much, because the veil will cover it all.”
“But Jill…”
“Hurry! No time for questions.
Let’s go.”
Jill hustled her toward the main banquet room. Funny, there seemed to be organ music playing. It sounded an awful lot like the traditional wedding march. But before Maggie could think through what that might mean, Jill pulled her right into the room and she was too startled by what she saw to wonder about it anymore.
The room was crowded with people, and they were all people she recognized. Just about everyone who worked at Kane Haley, Inc., seemed to be present. As she gazed about, mouth open in surprise, the crowd parted and she saw Kane, looking incredibly handsome in a tuxedo, waiting at the other side of the room with Mark beside him and someone who looked very much like a minister.
“Jill!” she cried, but Jill was shooing her two children, Jennifer and Kenny, dressed up and wearing patent-leather shoes, on down the aisle before them. Jennifer carried a basket of rose petals and the two of them were strewing the petals along the path—though Kenny did seem prone to dropping them in clumps instead of floating them at random as his sister did.
“You get going, too,” Jill whispered to Maggie as the music swelled, thrusting a bouquet of violets into her hands. “I’ll be right behind you.”
Maggie didn’t really have to ask what was going on any longer. It was pretty obvious. Shaking her head in wonder, she turned and started down the aisle behind the children; she could feel herself begin to radiate happiness. And there was Kane smiling at her, his eyes shining with admiration for how she looked. She smiled back, hoping he could see how great she thought he looked. And suddenly it seemed as if magic was happening. The music, the flowers, the smiling onlookers—now this was what she would call a wedding!
She hardly heard the service being given by the minister. A warm, happy glow seemed to encase her and everyone around her. She managed to say “I do” at the right time, but she must have said it a little too eagerly, because there were those among the onlookers who laughed. And when the words “You may kiss the bride,” were heard, she turned to Kane and welcomed him with all her heart.
Everyone applauded and Maggie and Kane turned to smile at them and wave. Then they led the way, prompted by Jill, into the next banquet room which was set up with food on long tables. Maggie held Kane’s hand very tightly.
“Were you in on this?” she whispered to him as they walked, smiling at their friends in the crowd.
“Not really. Jill did ask me to let everyone at Kane Haley off for the day, to celebrate our wedding, so I knew something was up.” He shook his head. “That’s Jill. Think you can take a life with her always lurking in the background, ready to make everything better for you?”
Maggie laughed. Right now, she considered her sister-in-law her very best friend ever. They took their places at the head of the receiving line and Jill popped in next to Maggie as they began shaking hands and accepting congratulations.
“You!” Maggie gave her a hug. “Why did you do this? How did you do it? You had so little time!”
“They don’t call me the pint-sized steamroller for nothing. Besides, I had help,” she added, gesturing toward where CeCe stood watching them.
Maggie smiled and CeCe waved, mouthing, “Don’t blame me!” as usual.
Jill linked arms with her new sister-in-law. “I’m so glad you’re happy about it. Once I got the ball rolling, I thought ‘Oh no! What if she really didn’t want a real wedding for some reason? What if she hates religion? What if she’s allergic to wedding cake?’ But I soon got over it and went ahead.”
“I’m glad you did. I was so depressed at City Hall….”
“I could tell.” Jill smiled at her. “But I promise not to spring too many things on you in the future. This was the first and the last.”
And probably the best. Maggie was ecstatic. Someone got her a plate of food, but she was too excited to eat, and she was too busy going from one group of people to another, thanking them for coming and accepting their congratulations. She wasn’t used to being the focus of so much attention, and she had to admit, she really liked it.
But every few minutes she turned to find where Kane was. And as likely as not, though all the way across the wide room, he was turning to find her at the same time. Their eyes would meet and they would smile and it seemed as though a secret message passed between them every time.
Then Maggie would go back to talking to friends and coworkers. She was particularly glad to have a chance to chat with her best friends from the office, Julia Oman, Sharon Waterton, Lauren Mitchell and Jen Holder. All had been married very recently, giving them a lot in common.
“So, I just heard you’re having Kane’s baby!” Julia exclaimed, shaking back her sleek dark-blond hair and looking happily pregnant herself.
“I’m having our baby.”
“Oh, of course.” Julia gave her a hug. “I’m sorry. We’re all just so surprised.”
“I can’t tell you how happy everyone is about this,” Sharon chimed in, her hand on her own very prominently pregnant tummy. “Everyone thinks you’re terrific. And of course, we all adore Kane. Most of the time,” she added with a laugh.
“He can be difficult at times, can’t he?” Maggie agreed with obvious affection.
“He’s a man!” Lauren said, “What can I tell you?”
They all laughed along with her, and then had to examine what they could see of Maggie’s stomach.
“So, will you be working after the baby is old enough?” Jen asked. She herself had recently returned to her work as Benefits Manager since delivering a beautiful baby in November.
“We really haven’t discussed it, but I’m hoping to come in at least a few days a week. After all, we’ve got our wonderful new day-care center. That will make it so much easier.”
“The day-care center.” Julia exchanged glances with the others. “Uh-huh. Listen, uh…”
Maggie looked at her questioningly. “What’s the matter?”
“Oh nothing,” Lauren said quickly. “This isn’t the time.”
“Tell me. Or I’ll be worrying all night.”
“Well, we certainly wouldn’t want you to be distracted.” They all laughed at Jen’s smart-aleck remark, though Maggie felt just a little embarrassed. How could she ever explain to these women that this marriage was not going to include a lot of lovemaking on the honeymoon? Never mind. Let them think whatever they wanted to.
“No, now, tell me about the day-care center. Is something wrong?”
“Okay,” Julia said at last. “It’s just that…well, there are rumors running rampant that it’s not going to happen.”
“What?”
“You hadn’t heard?”
“No!” But a part of her remembered that Kane had reacted strangely when last she’d brought it up.
“Don’t let it bother you,” Lauren said quickly. “Not on a day like this. We can talk about it when you get back to work.”
“Well, that will be tomorrow.”
“Really? What about your honeymoon?”
“Oh, we’re not going anywhere.”
“You aren’t?” Julia looked surprised. “Then what did we take up that collection for?”
Maggie looked at her blankly. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Oh, now I’ve ruined the surprise,” Julia wailed. “A bunch of us chipped in and got you three nights at the Chivas Ritz. Starting tonight, of course.”
“Oh no!”
Luckily, Maggie’s stricken look didn’t seem to register with the others. They chattered on about what a wonderful hotel it was, and how they hoped Maggie and Kane would have a wonderful time. In the meantime Maggie was trying to keep a smile on her face while thinking desperately of how she could get out of this.
A honeymoon! No, that hadn’t been in the plan. She wasn’t sure why staying in a hotel for a honeymoon was so much more dangerous than her moving into the penthouse apartment with Kane, but it was. It just was.
They cut the cake, and Maggie tossed her bouquet and they were officially presented with the honeymoon p
resent from the employees. People began to drift away and she and Kane went to the respective locker rooms, changed back into their street clothes, and headed for their car amid cheers from the remaining celebrants.
“Can you believe this?” Maggie said to Kane as they made their way onto the highway. “All these people…. they’ve been so nice to us…it makes me want to cry.”
Funny. She’d wanted to cry for a completely different reason when they’d arrived. Now she was really married. She sneaked a look at Kane and suddenly her heart was in her throat. Really married.
The room was spectacular. It sported a round bed, two bathrooms, a Jacuzzi bath and a wide view of the Chicago skyline and the lake. A huge fruit basket sat waiting, along with a box of expensive chocolates and a bottle of champagne and two flutes. Everything a normal newly wed couple would need for a perfect honeymoon. Only, they weren’t normal.
And that made things awkward. They both unpacked and changed into something more casual and then turned around and looked at each other a little nervously.
“Let’s go for a walk,” Kane said impulsively.
“It’s thirty-eight degrees out.”
“We’ll dress warmly.” He reached out a hand toward her. “Come on. Let’s walk out on the Navy Pier.”
She put her hand in his. “All right,” she said, meeting his gaze.
He smiled. She was going to trust him. That was a good thing. “Let’s go.”
The walkway around the Navy Pier was deserted, though music was playing through the sound system all along the way. They walked quickly, huddling together every time a frigid gust off the lake slapped at them, laughing most of the time. When they had finally had enough of the cold they went inside the building and used the inner walkway. Here was where the people were, along with tourist vendors and food carts. Kane bought a hot dog and tried to get her to share, but she claimed she was still too excited to eat anything. They sat on a wooden bench and watched a clown entertaining a group of preschool children.
