by Kris Calvert
“I was practicing in Baltimore when my mother got sick,” King began. “I came back to Shadeland to take care of her. By the time she passed, my dad was dying of cancer – I’d taken a year off to just spend time with him at our home near New Orleans. His family was from there and it’s where he wanted to spend his last days.”
“So we’re both orphans?” I asked.
“We’re a little old to be orphans, aren’t we?” he replied with a grin, clearly trying to lift the mood of the dark conversation.
“And you live here now?” I asked.
“By here, you mean Shadeland and not Lone Oak.”
“Yes, silly,” I smirked as I flirt-punched him in the arm.
“I live in Shadeland. But my home is Rose Hill.”
“You mean you have a place like this? Only it’s called Rose Hill?”
“I live in my mother’s family home and yes, it is similar. Less land than Lone Oak, but comparable.”
“Interesting,”
“How so?”
“I was just saying to Mac earlier today…” I trailed off.
“Yes?”
“Nothing,” I replied, remembering I’d told Mac I wished he had an available brother so I could live happily ever after like Samantha.
“Miss Benson?” he asked as he stood. “The band has begun to play. Would you care to dance?”
“I just took my shoes off.”
“Do you need them?”
“Not if you’re planning on sweeping me off my feet,” I smirked.
“I’ll surely do my best.”
I stood and shook out my long lavender gown and gazed up at him as I brushed a blonde curl from my eyes. “Please call me Polly. That is, unless you’re asking me to refer to you as Dr. Giles. In which case I’d rather not take you up on the dance.”
He reached for me and brushed his lips lightly over the top of my hand. “Polly, I’d rather you not call me Dr. Giles and I’d be heartbroken if you decided not to take the dance floor with me.”
“King,” I said as he presented his arm to me. “You can save the bullshit, darlin’. I’m from Montana. I’ve been to the rodeo. I’ve seen the clowns.”
“I assure you, Polly, I’m a lot of things, but a clown isn’t one of them. Now, I think you’re a smart, beautiful woman and I’d like to get to know you better.”
“Hmmm…” I sighed. “I think I like you, King.”
“The feeling is mutual, darlin’.”
4
SAMANTHA
“Thank you, Mr. and Mrs. Callahan,” chimed the photographer. “I’ll be around taking candid shots until you cut the cake and then we’ll stage some more.”
“Thank you,” I replied as I walked to Mimi who’d been holding a fussy Katy.
“This one’s a fireball,” Mimi smiled. “She’s like her momma.”
“I think she’s probably more like her great-grandmother if she’s a so-called ball of fire.”
“Augusta Lily Kay Callahan. Why’d they have to torture you with such a long name?” Mimi smiled as she passed her to me.
“Mimi, we’re calling her Katy.”
“Dax named her Katy, so don’t be telling tales.”
“I know, but we wanted to use your mother’s name and Mac’s grandmother’s name.”
“And Kay for McKay?”
“Yes.”
“I like it. I just think it’s a enormous name for such a little person.”
“She’s gonna need a big name as wonderful and accomplished as she’s going to be. Aren’t you, sweetness?” Mac baby-talked as he took Katy from my arms and kissed her, holding her tightly.
They’d been inseparable since she was born. Mac was adorable with Dax and Katy both. He was so excited to be a daddy and he spent every waking moment with them, reserving the evenings for just the two of us.
“Give that child to me,” Miss Celia barked. “Now you two get into your own party. People are gonna start wonderin’ what’s happened to you.”
Mac took my hand as we walked away. “I wish we’d spent all that time doing something else instead of taking all those photos. I could give him something to photograph, but I think it would be considered pornographic,” Mac confessed.
“Mac,” I scolded. “You’re gonna have to keep your mind out of my panties for a few more hours. We have a reception, guests to greet, a cake to cut, a special dance…”
Mac stopped me in my tracks and pulled me to him. “Listen to me, sweetheart. This family – you, Dax, Katy – you all are the most important things in my life. My mind might be in your panties, but it’s not in the gutter. I just want to celebrate our love. That’s all.”
I put my hands on his face and smiled. “Mac Callahan, you are the best person I’ve ever known. And I’m going to spend the rest of my life making you the happiest man alive.”
“I’m already the happiest man alive, Sam.”
I kissed him, pulling him deep into my mouth. I grabbed his bottom and pulled him closer, moving my hips into his body. Mac breathed in, moaning softly and I knew he was aching to have me. I paused only to take a nibble of his bottom lip before releasing him from my eager mouth.
“Sweet Jesus, Sam,” he muttered. “You can’t do that to me and expect me to walk.”
I felt down the front of his pants and as promised, he was rock hard.
“What do you want me to do with this?” he asked as he stepped away from me and adjusted his crotch. “I’m pretty sure people will notice when we walk into the tent.”
I giggled. “Please welcome Mrs. Callahan and Mr. Callahan’s raging–.”
“Not funny,” he interrupted with a laugh of his own. “Seriously, Sam. Help me.”
“I don’t know what to tell you sweetheart. I don’t know what to do with…that.”
“Yes, you do,” he whispered as he nuzzled into my neck for a kiss and pressed himself into my thigh.
“Forget it, Mac. Not now. No way.”
“Fine,” he huffed, clearly exasperated. “Let’s just stand here a minute until it goes down.”
“Okay. What should we talk about?”
“Anything. Just don’t talk about it in your sexy kitten voice.”
“I don’t have a sexy kitten voice, baby,” I whispered, trying my best to purr into his chest.
“Dammit it, Sam,” he whined. “You’re not helping.”
“I’m sorry,” I whispered as I began to unbutton his shirt.
“What are you doing?” he growled.
I put my hand through his shirt and onto his bare chest, giving him a sexy wink.
“Seriously. Not helping,” he sighed, closing his eyes and dropping his head back.
Without hesitation or regret, I grabbed a small handful of chest hair and gave it a yank.
“Aw shit!” he yelled, pulling away from me and jumping into the air. “Jesus, Sam. That hurt like a son of a bitch.”
“But is your erection gone?”
“Holy shit,” he gasped, rubbing the front of his chest as if it would relive the pain I’d induced. “Yeah, it’s gone.”
“Then button up and let’s get into the reception.”
“You are a wicked, wicked woman, Samantha Callahan.”
“I love the sound of that.”
“Me too – even if you did just almost kill me. You’re gonna pay for that later, darlin’. Mark my words.”
“Promise?” I asked as I took Mac’s arm and stroked his tight muscles under his tuxedo.
“Now don’t start again. I won’t fall for the hand in the shirt routine twice.”
He truly was the most handsome man I’d ever seen. And he was all mine. I couldn’t help but stare at him as we walked from the gardens onto the expansive back lawn of Lone Oak. Our guests were waiting and it was time to be introduced.
The large white silk tent expanded with the light spring breeze as if it was breathing in the fresh Alabama air. The sun had made its descent into the Southern horizon and as the weatherman promised, we
had clear skies.
I could hear the band playing as I leaned into Mac’s shoulder with my head, the long veil now off and lying safely in Mac’s bedroom for safekeeping.
As we approached the tent, the wedding coordinator stopped us with her outstretched hand and silently asked us to wait.
“We’re letting the band know you’ve arrived,” she explained in an over exaggerated whisper.
I nodded as Mac leaned down to my ear. “Why is she yelling at us?” he joked.
I giggled, shrugging my shoulders.
As the band finished a song, I lifted Mac’s left hand to my lips and kissed the shiny new wedding band on his finger.
“I didn’t think you could get any hotter, babe. But you’re even sexier in this ring,” I purred.
“That’s the sexy kitten voice,” he growled as he lifted my chin to kiss me. “Unless you want my manhood to make a grand entrance before we do, you’d be wise to stop.”
“Sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry. Just save it for later. I have plans for you, Sam. Plans,” he murmured in a deep and graveled voice that turned me on in an instant. I felt the heat rise in my face and cover my entire body. Mac Callahan did things to me like no other.
He wasn’t the only one who’d been waiting patiently to make love. I was just as ready to go as he was.
I fought back my urge to grab the front of his trousers and give him a quick stroke before we walked into the tent, but I knew I couldn’t tease him anymore tonight. Even if the feel of his manhood was for my own enjoyment and not his.
“Ladies and gentlemen. It is with great pleasure that I present to you Mr. and Mrs. Mac Callahan.”
“We’re on, baby,” Mac smiled.
We walked into the tent as a spotlight lit our faces and the band began to play a ballad version of Sam Cooke’s You Send Me.
Mac picked our first dance as Sam Cooke had played in the car the night we first met.
Everyone came to their feet and applauded. I looked out into the crowd and saw all the people I loved and cared about the most. The women were blowing us kisses and the men were slapping Mac on the back as we made our way to the dance floor.
A parquet masterpiece had been installed in the tent and the Callahan crest was projected onto the center of the floor from a spotlight high above.
The lights dimmed as Mac whisked me to the middle of the floor to dance, just as the bandleader began to sing. Darling you send… I know you, send me… darling you send me…honest you do.
“I’m the luckiest man on earth.”
I smiled and gave him a quick kiss on the lips, much to the liking of Mac’s FBI, college and law school friends. They began to clap and catcall as the rest of the crowd cheered again.
I looked over Mac’s shoulder as we swayed to the music and saw Polly smiling through her teary eyes. I knew how happy she was for me. It was the beginning of a new life and an ending of an old one.
Behind her, King Giles lifted his glass to me in congratulations and I returned the favor with a small wave.
I saw Mimi, Miss Celia and my mother walk into the tent together sans Katy. The nurse we’d hired for the day from Autumn Valley was watching over her and Mac’s mother.
As the song came to a close, Mac pulled me in tighter and whispered in my ear, “Thank you for loving me.”
“Ditto.”
Mac spun me out of our embrace and presented me to the crowd and we both took a little bow as the wedding coordinator whisked us to a table with champagne.
He popped the cork on a bottle of 1990 Cristal Brut he’d flown in for our wedding. Methuselah as it was known in the world of champagne – it had a golden label and a twenty thousand dollar price tag. Mac wanted everything about today to be special.
We stood hand in hand as the crowd settled and Mac smiled, looking through me as he raised the crystal flute.
“Samantha and I just want to thank everyone for sharing in our wedding. You are all very special to us and we would never want this day to pass without telling you so. I just want to also say something about my beautiful bride, if I might.”
I didn’t know where he was going with this, but I couldn’t handle even one more emotional moment today.
“If my father were here, he’d be the one giving this opening toast to welcome Samantha to the Callahan family and everyone else here today to Lone Oak.”
I watched him, as well as many of our friends in the crowd drop their heads, remembering the great man who was Mac’s father.
“He was a man of few words, but when he did speak it always meant something. About a year ago, I found a note he’d left for me letting me know that his job was to help me discover what it meant to be a real man. And I can honestly say that because of my love for this amazing woman and the way she loves me in return, I’ve finally made it. So please raise your glass and join me in toasting my beautiful bride. Samantha, I think my father…actually – I know my father would say thank you. Thank you for finishing what he started.”
The tent fell silent as he captivated everyone with his tribute. Only the birds could be heard singing in the gardens as I took my hand from his to brush a tear from my cheek.
“So here’s to warm words on a cold evening, a full moon on the darkest nights and a smooth road,” he sighed. “All the way to our door. To Samantha!” he announced with a smile.
“To Samantha!” the crowd replied and applauded yet again.
The wedding coordinator took the microphone from the bandleader and let everyone know to take their seats as dinner was about to be served.
Mac led me through the crowd as we stopped to hug and say hello to our guests. I thanked God we’d decided to have a small family and friends affair. Even with the hundred plus guests, it would be difficult to make it to each and every person to thank them. And leaving without doing so would be unacceptable and impolite.
As we shook hands and smiled, I felt a tug on my dress and looked down to find Dax holding tightly to Polly’s hand.
“Mommy, it’s time to eat.”
“Yes, baby, I know. You are eating with Grandmother and Granddad. Polly is going to take you right over to their table. You may eat dessert with Mac and me.”
“Mommy, is Mac my daddy now?”
Polly looked at me and shrugged with a grin. “I told him to discuss that with you.”
“Why don’t you ask him, Dax? Mac?”
“Yes,” he replied as he turned to find Dax at his feet. “Hey, Chief. Are you ready to eat?”
“Are you my daddy? I mean, are you my daddy now?”
A smile spread across Mac’s face and he dropped to one knee to look Dax in the eye and pulled him in for a tight hug. “You bet. I’m so proud to be your daddy.”
“Okay,” Dax chimed as Mac turned loose of him. He looked up to Polly. “I’ll eat with Grandmother and Granddad, but I’m eating cake with Mommy and Daddy.”
“I’ll let them know,” Polly smiled and rolled her eyes as she pulled me aside. “I met the hunky King Giles.”
“Really…” I droned. “And what did you think?”
“Is he for real? I mean, I know Mac is all that with the Southern charm and perfect manners, but really? I mean, really?”
I laughed, knowing the exact feeling she was getting. Having a true Southern man make over you as if you were the only woman in the world was a feeling that could never be duplicated. And when you did grow accustomed to it, it was hard not to hold every other man to that standard.
“I’m pretty sure he’s for real, Polly. You should get to know him.”
“I know – and that deep voice? I feel like Barry White or God is talking to me.”
“So what are you waiting for?”
“What if God invites me into his bed? I don’t think I could turn God down.”
“Burn that bridge when you come to it, Polly.”
“Right,” she nodded. “See you in a bit. You’re still gorgeous by the way. Happy and gorgeous.”
�
�I love you, Polly,” I said with a wink.
“I love you too.”
Mac escorted me to our private table set for two. I gazed up at the ceiling of the tent as Mac held my chair and helped me to adjust my gown. Above, the night sky twinkled with stars that shone visible through the thin white silk. The space was aglow with candlelight and as I looked around, I couldn’t believe my fairytale had come true.
“Everything okay, sweetheart?” Mac asked as he sat.
“Everything is perfect.”
5
MAC
The camera flashed as I placed my hand over Sam’s. We cut through the bottom layer of the wedding cake where instructed by our frisky wedding coordinator. The cake was almond on the bottom, and moist with a kick of bourbon. We quickly fed each other and I gave Sam a quick kiss and whispered in her ear, “Baby, it’s almost time to get out of here and head to our plane. Let’s eat cake and begin to say our goodbyes.”
She nodded inconspicuously as I whispered, lightly grazing my ass as she pulled away from me. It sent me through the roof and I wanted to finish the required wedding rituals and move on to the honeymoon.
I gave her a knowing look and she winked back at me. If I didn’t get out of here soon, I was ready to let the wedding party watch.
“I want a photo with the whole family,” Sam shouted to the photographer who quickly followed orders, gathering up both sides.
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Wait, where’s Polly?”
As we all looked around the tent, no one could spot Polly in the small crowd. Sam, not one to be deterred, walked to the bandleader and asked for him to announce Polly’s name.
“Polly Benson, your presence is requested in the tent. Miss Polly?”
“Maybe she’s in the house,” I explained to Sam, hoping we could take the photo and get to the honeymoon activities.
“There she is!” shouted Dax as he pointed to Polly coming in through the back of the tent with King.
“Well, son of a bitch,” I mumbled. I arched my brow as Polly’s eyes met mine and she knew she’d been caught.
“Bring King!” Sam shouted. “King, you need to be in the photo too.”
I watched as King’s face heated with embarrassment. I knew what he’d been up to, and by the guilty look on his face, he was very aware that his rendezvous with Polly behind the tent was no longer a secret.
