“We’re more than that,” CJ said, forgetting her worry about Cheryl’s situation. “We’re engaged. He asked me to marry him, and I said yes.”
Cheryl’s face lit up. “CJ! That’s wonderful! Have you set the date?”
“No,” CJ replied, “but knowing Brad, he won’t give me much time. He likes things to move forward at a steady pace.”
Cheryl nodded. “Yes, he’s always struck me as rather insis- tent. When do you leave the hospital?”
“Tomorrow, and not a minute too soon. I thought people were supposed to rest while in the hospital. I’ve been poked, stuck, questioned, and hassled ever since being assigned a bed.”
Cheryl laughed. “Don’t worry. I’ll keep them all at bay once you’re back home. Good thing I moved in, eh?”
“Yeah, I’m glad you did. I just wish I’d been a better roommate.”
Cheryl shook her head. “You’ve been great, CJ. You’ve had a lot to deal with, and now it’s over. Now your life really begins.”
The next day, safe in her apartment, CJ was still thinking about Cheryl’s words. Sitting next to Brad, CJ sighed and knew the words were true. It was the beginning. Pressing closer, she whispered, “I’m going to like be-ing married to you. You’re comfortable in all the right spots.”
“Comfortable, eh?” Brad replied against her hair. “I hope that’s a good thing.”
“The best,” she said, pulling back a bit. “At the very least, a very redeeming quality.” With a sigh, she fell back. “I’m so happy.”
“That reminds me, when are we going to set the date?”
“How about now? You are, after all, a person who likes to get things done.”
Brad laughed and pulled her into his arms. “How about the first of December? Will that give you enough time to plan all those important girl things?”
CJ giggled, sounding very much like a little girl. “I suppose. Will it give you enough time to plan those boy things?”
Brad’s smile was nearly a leer. “I guarantee you it will. In fact, if you want, we can just tie the knot tomorrow down at the courthouse. We boys don’t need much time to plan.”
“Oh, no, you don’t. I want it all. I want the church wedding. I want you in a long-tailed tuxedo. I want to wear a gorgeous wedding dress, and I want a wonderful reception at Denver’s finest resort hotel,” CJ announced in a breathless manner.
Brad shook his head with a chuckle. “Now who’s the organized planner? I’d say you’ve been thinking about this for quite some time. Just when did you decide we were getting married?”
CJ looked up at the ceiling with a sheepish grin. “Probably when I found out you could be so helpful when I got sick. You’ve got to love a man who’ll hold your hair out of your face while you lose your breakfast.”
“How romantic,” Brad replied. “Here I thought you’d say something like how you planned to marry me the first moment you looked into my eyes.”
“Well,” CJ paused, “that might have influenced my decision.”
“Whatever influenced it,” Brad whispered against her ear, “I’m most grateful. I love you so much, I can’t even remember the time when you weren’t a part of my life.”
“I can,” CJ responded softly. “And I ’d just as soon never remember it again.”
The following morning, CJ woke up before sunrise and, taking her portable phone, she went out on the balcony with a cup of coffee and dialed her brother’s number.
A groggy-voiced Curt answered the phone. “This better be good,” he said instead of hello.
CJ laughed. “Well, good morning to you, too. I figured by your time back east, you’d be up and around. Sorry if I misjudged.”
“CJ!” He was instantly awake. “I got your message just today. I heard about the crash, too. You okay?” His voice held the same concern Cheryl’s had. Perhaps they were both worried that another crash had sent CJ over the proverbial edge.
“I’m fine. In fact, I’m better than that. Curt, I’ve wanted to talk to you for so long. I’ve put the past behind me, and I’ve dealt with the crash. Both of them, in fact,” she continued. “God’s really been patient with me.”
“I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you,” Curt said, surprising CJ. Then he went on to explain. “After Mom and Dad were killed, I should have stayed with you. I’m really sorry.”
“I know,” CJ replied softly. “You couldn’t deal with it any better than the rest of us. Cheryl told me how hard it was on you, and I guess I just never thought about it, what with my own traumas. It worked out for the best, anyway. God knew just what I needed, or maybe I should say, who I needed. That’s the other reason I called. Curt, I’m getting married.”
“Brad?” he questioned.
“Yes. He’s everything Daddy and Mom would have wanted in a son-in-law, but more importantly, he’s everything I want in a husband, and he loves me.”
Curt was quiet for several minutes before he finally said, “I’m glad, kiddo. I really am.”
“You’ll come to the wedding, won’t you?”
“Sure, just tell me when and where,” Curt replied.
“The first of December at a little church here in Denver.”
“I’ll be there,” Curt promised.
nineteen
CJ was a nervous wreck. She had less than two hours to finish running from one end of Denver to the other and still make it to the florist before 4:00 in order to confirm that her bridal bouquet was finally to her specifications.
Grimacing, she could still see the dreadful arrangement that had originally been presented to her. It was nothing like what she had ordered. The florist had pulled out her order ready to do battle but quickly saw her mistake and apologized, promising to have the bouquet redone in time for CJ’s last-minute examination.
A quick glance at the car clock caused CJ to step on the accelerator. When her cellular phone rang, she nearly jumped out of her skin. The cell phone had been Brad’s idea, and CJ still wasn’t used to it.
“Hello?”
“Twenty-six hours, forty-five minutes, thirty-seven seconds, and—”
“I get the idea,” CJ laughed. “And you’re wrong. It’s only forty-two minutes, not forty-five.”
Brad laughed. “Okay, I stand corrected and quite happily. Where are you?”
“Headed to the florist.”
“Gonna make sure they don’t mix in red carnations again?”
CJ shuddered. “It really was hideous.”
“I can well imagine. Is there anything I can do to help?”
“No,” CJ answered as she pulled into the florist’s parking lot. “Not unless you can alter time.”
“If I could do that, we’d already be married.” Brad’s impatience was betrayed in his voice.
“I’m beginning to think we should have eloped,” CJ sighed and turned off the engine. “I don’t think I have the energy for much more of this wedding stuff.”
“Chin up, ol’ girl. This time tomorrow—”
“Will be even worse,” CJ moaned the words. “Look, I have to run or the florist will close and I’ll end up with balloons that say, ‘It’s a Girl!’ floating up from my arrangement.”
“Don’t let it get you down, CJ. I’ll marry you no matter what you end up carrying down the aisle.”
“If things get much more difficult, you’ll be carrying me down the aisle.”
“I can do that, too.” Brad was still chuckling as CJ said good-bye.
The hotel’s grand ballroom was filled to overflowing with well-wishers, friends, and family. CJ stood beside her new husband and prepared with trembling hand to cut their wedding cake. She looked up at Brad for a moment and smiled.
Brad’s eyes met hers, and CJ thought her heart might burst from the happiness she felt. If only Curt could have been here, she thought. Something had prevented him from coming at the last minute, how-ever, and though CJ had his promise he’d visit for Christmas, it just wasn’t the same. Nevertheless, everything else was perfect, including Cheryl and S
tratton, who seemed completely devoted to one another.
CJ felt a deep satisfaction. It was just as she’d planned. The cream-colored satin she’d chosen for her wedding dress was rich and elegant. Styled with a basque waist and sweetheart neckline, the entire bodice was encrusted with tiny seed pearls on lace. The voluminous skirt billowed out around her and ended in a lace inset train that flowed behind her for several feet.
Her thick copper hair had been carefully fashioned with long ring-lets cascading down from where the bulk of it was pinned high on top of her head. To this, an exquisite antique lace veil had been attached to trail far behind her like a royal mantle.
Brad, too, cut a dashing figure in his black, long-tailed tuxedo. His cummerbund matched the pale peach gown that Cheryl wore as maid of honor, and the rose in his lapel was the same as the apricot roses in CJ’s bouquet. And to her extreme satisfaction and relief, there were no red carnations.
The photographer devoted his attention for the moment to the four-tiered wedding cake. On top was CJ’s own special touch—a bride and groom seated in a biplane. Brad thought it especially appropriate and com-mended her for her ingenuity.
“I didn’t know I was getting such a creative wife,” he whispered.
“I was going to have the whole cake designed like that mountain you flew into, with us and our little Cessna on top, waiting to be rescued,” she teased. Brad started laughing, which drew the attention of everyone.
When the photographer was satisfied that he’d snapped the cake from every angle, he motioned them to go ahead. CJ felt Brad’s warm hand cover hers. Together, they drew the knife down through the bottom tier of the wedding cake, while the photographer moved rapidly to capture the moment.
With a grin, Brad raised a piece of cake to CJ’s mouth. “Seems I’m always feeding you,” he whispered.
“You’d better not get that all over my dress,” she replied softly, the smile never leaving her face. “Just remember I get my turn at this.”
Brad chuckled and managed to feed her the cake without a single crumb escaping to mar her gown. CJ took her turn, and then they shared glasses of wedding punch. Arms intertwined, bodies touching, CJ and Brad made the perfect couple. After sips of the punch, the crowd around them broke into cheers.
It was two hours later before CJ and Brad could slip away to the penthouse. Knowing the hour would be quite late when the reception concluded, they’d already decided to spend the night at the hotel rather than head out on their honeymoon.
CJ pulled out the pins that held the lace veil and carefully draped the material over the back of a chair. She was married! What a wonder. She’d just committed her life to another human being. It was a responsibility she was only now coming to realize.
She could hear Brad on the phone in his office. Funny how people seemed to know the most inappropriate times to call. CJ walked to the balcony window and pulled back the draperies. All of Denver seemed to be lit up in celebration. Beautiful, she thought. Mesmerized by the twinkling lights, she didn’t hear Brad come up behind her. Warm hands touched her neck, soon followed by his lips.
“Ummm,” she sighed. “I could get used to this.”
“You’d better,” he replied. “I think it will be one of my favorite pastimes.” Brad turned her around and lifted her in his arms.
CJ wrapped her arms around his neck. “No more phone calls?”
“I turned the phone off,” Brad replied.
“What about the maid service?” she grinned.
“I hung the ‘Do Not Disturb’ sign on the door, and I informed the elevator attendant that no one was to be allowed up to the penthouse until I said otherwise.”
CJ giggled. “My husband, the planner.”
Brad’s lips curled upward in a most mischievous way. “These are plans that I definitely don’t want interrupted.”
“Whatever you say, Mr. Aldersson,” she murmured, nuzzling her lips to his neck. “Whatever you say.”
The sun was already high in the sky when CJ opened her eyes. For a moment she forgot where she was, but the warmth of the man beside her quickly brought back the wonders of the night.
Snuggling closer to Brad, CJ traced a heart on his chest. His hand shot out and closed over her wrist, surprising her. Bringing her fingers to his lips, Brad greeted her.
“Good morning, wife,” he whispered.
“Good morning,” she replied and leaned up on one elbow, with her hair falling in disarray around her. “I wonder if I’ll ever be able to catch you sleeping.”
“How’s a guy supposed to sleep with someone so beautiful lying next to him?”
CJ laughed and pulled away. “I’ve got a surprise for you, but we have to get out to the airstrip—and look,” she said, pointing to the window, “we’ve already wasted half the day.”
Brad shook his head. “Are you sure we can’t just stay here?”
“Come on,” she replied. “I’ve worked very hard for this surprise.”
“Okay,” he relented, “but only because I have a surprise out there for you, as well.”
The trip to the airport was passed in laughter and conversation of the days to come. They’d decided to fly to a warmer climate for their honeymoon, and because she’d never been there, CJ requested the Bahamas and Brad had readily agreed.
The three-story stone house looked somehow different to
CJ. It was her home now…hers and Brad’s. The very thought filled her with excitement and anticipation.
“I’m so happy,” she said, squeezing Brad’s arm.
He parked the car and pulled her into his arms. “Me, too,” he whispered before giving CJ a long kiss that left her weak in the knees.
CJ melted back against the seat of the Jeep and rolled her eyes. “You sure are good at that.”
“Come on,” he said with a laugh. “I want to give you your surprise.”
They walked hand in hand to a newly built hangar, where Brad came to a stop. “Now, close your eyes,” he said firmly.
CJ closed them. “All right, I’m ready,” she called.
Brad looked over his shoulder for a moment at his wife. She stood there in a long, navy wool coat, copper hair flowing down behind her, and the most innocent look of anticipation on her face. It was definitely hard to concentrate with her looking like that.
Pulling open the hangar doors, Brad stood back. “Okay, you can open your eyes.”
CJ did just that and gasped at the newly acquired biplane. “A Curtiss Jenny!” she exclaimed. Her namesake.
“You like it?” Brad asked.
“You know the answer to that. Of course! I love it!” She went to the plane to inspect it. “Oh, Brad, she’s lovely.” CJ ran her hand along the wing.
“No more so than you,” Brad replied. “She’s all yours.”
CJ turned around with a look of complete shock. “Mine?” She shook her head and added. “Ours. From now on, we’re a partnership. Remember?”
“I’ll remember. You just remember how much I love you and that for the rest of our lives, I’m going to work very hard to be a good husband.”
CJ walked from the plane and pulled something from her pocket. She reached up and handed it to Brad.
“My surprise doesn’t seem nearly as nice,” she said.
Brad looked down and immediately recognized the pilot’s license. “You’re a pilot again?” It was Brad’s turn to be astonished.
“Yes, and this time I can fly all on my own, too,” she replied proudly. “Although I’d much rather fly with you.”
“How did you manage this and plan a wedding?” he asked curiously.
“You think you’re the only planner in this family? We girls can accomplish quite a bit when we put our minds to it. I just thought it would be nice if I could help fly part of the way to the Bahamas.”
“I don’t know,” Brad replied, taking on a doubtful air. “I’m pretty picky about whom I fly with.”
CJ laughed and reached her arms up to Brad’s neck. Pull
ing his face down to hers, she whispered, “I bet I can convince you to fly with me.” She kissed him long and lovingly, then added, “Does that help?”
“I’m a pretty tough case,” he answered. The look in his eyes be-trayed his amusement. “I might need a lot of convincing.”
CJ laughed and danced away. “Well, I don’t,” she called back over her shoulder. “I’m flying high and clear. I’ve married the man I love, and I’m at peace with my God. What more could anyone want out of life?”
Brad easily caught up with her and whirled her around in a circle. “As long as I have you and a wing and a prayer,” Brad remarked, holding her close, “I have it all.”
“A wing and a prayer,” CJ whispered with a nod. “Now I know Daddy would have loved you.”
In the distance the familiar drone of an airplane engine crossed the silence to CJ’s ears. It was a good sound, and CJ smiled at the bittersweet memory of another day and time. She was finally free of the past and ready to face the future with a wholeness and happiness of which she’d only dreamed.
“A wing and a prayer, Jenny darlin’,” she could hear her father say, “are all that you’ll ever need.”
Dedicated to Keith and Charlene, with thanks for tolerating my multiple calls, teaching me about flying, sending flight maps, and throwing in all the little extras that made this book fun.
Tracie Peterson is an award-winning, bestselling author of over 85 books. Making her home in Montana, this Kansas native enjoys spending time with family. She’s active in her church as the Director of Women’s Ministries, coordinates a yearly writer’s retreat for published authors, and travels, as time permits, to research her books.
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