by Holly Jacobs
Joy smiled, fighting the pressure that was filling her eyes. “Well, since you never called her Mommy, I’m pleased to claim that name. And I love you too.” Feeling tears fighting to break free, and knowing she’d never stop the flow if they started, Joy said, “Now, I thought we’d start one of my all-time favorite books.”
Joy went to Sophie’s shelves. “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, by C.S. Lewis. You’ll love it. There’s a scary sort of witch and,” Joy roared, “a wonderfully huge lion.”
“I’d like that,” Sophie said, snuggling into Joy’s arms.
Gabriel watched his wife and daughter through the crack in the door. His wife. He liked the sound of that. His love. He liked the sound of that even better.
How had he gotten so lucky? He still couldn’t figure it out. For two days he’d examined his feelings for Joy and tried to tell her. But he couldn’t get the words out. What if she didn’t love him back?
Once upon a time he had thought he loved Trudi, but whatever it had been hadn’t been love. And Trudi had never loved him. Could he survive not having Joy love him in return? She cared about him, maybe even loved him as a friend, but he wanted more.
He wanted Joy to be as head-over-heels as he was.
Joy was so full of life, so full of love. It showed in the way she took care of Sophie. It showed in the way she saved Jay, the cat. Even in Ripples. He’d done some checking into the business Joy had started and managed to keep running on its shoestring budget. Her capacity to love shone brightly there as well.
She’d once said something about not fitting into her family. Max was a psychiatrist, Nick an attorney, and somehow Joy seemed to feel that what she did was less. How was it she couldn’t see just how rare her ability to love was?
Gabriel left his wife and daughter reading, voices included, and walked down the stairs. Somehow, he was going to show Joy that what she had, what she did, was worth more than all the attorneys and head shrinkers in the world. She was worth more than she suspected.
In the past Gabriel had worked very hard to care for the women in his life. They were high upkeep, not just with the things they expected of him, but in the amount of energy he had to expend to love them.
Until Joy.
She was comfortable. So comfortable, in fact, that when he wasn’t looking she’d crept right into his heart. He didn’t have to think about it. He didn’t have to work at it. It simply was there—he loved Joy.
But the thought of telling Joy he loved her was very uncomfortable. She’d married him because of Sophie. She liked him, even cared for him—it wasn’t in Joy not to care about everyone. But love? She’d never mentioned the words.
She’d tried to keep their relationship from becoming physical. She kept emphasizing that she’d married him because of Sophie. She liked him, but she loved his daughter.
Well, Gabriel would see to it that changed.
How did a man convince a woman she loved him?
He’d woo her, much like heroes of old. Somehow he didn’t think flowers and candy were the way to Joy’s heart. He might not have a clue how to go about getting Joy to love him, but one way or another, he’d accomplish it. He had to.
“Gabriel?”
He turned toward Joy. “Sophie in bed?” he asked, as if it were any other night. But he couldn’t stop smiling because it was anything but a normal night.
He loved her! For two days the thought kept exploding in his mind.
“She’s had her story and is waiting for you to kiss her good night.”
“And after I’ve kissed her good night, do you think there’s a chance I can kiss her storyteller?”
“Good night?”
Gabriel shook his head. “No, if I start kissing that particular storyteller, I have a feeling it will be a long time before we say good night.”
Shyly, Joy nodded. “I think I’d like that.”
“And Joy?” She looked at him, her eyes glowing, fueling the flames burning in Gabriel’s heart. “Would you do the voices for me, too? I love the one you use when you shout as you—”
“Gabriel!” she cried, looking shocked, much to his delight.
“Oh, if it gets too loud, I can toss a pillow over your head so it doesn’t wake Sophie.”
“Gabriel!” she cried again.
Gabriel stopped teasing and followed the woman he loved upstairs. He’d tell her how he felt about her soon, but first he was going to do his damnedest to see she felt the same way.
He loved her.
SHE LOVED HIM.
The thought kept intruding in Joy’s thoughts as she showered, readying herself for Gabriel’s good night kiss.
“See, I told you things would work out,” Blossom called from outside the shower curtain.
“Do you mind? I’m in the shower.” The last thing Joy wanted on this wonderful evening was more fairy help. Gabriel might not love her—yet—but he’d proved that he was right about them being physically compatible. Very, very compatible.
“The rest will come in time,” Myrtle assured her.
Joy supposed she should be glad they were on the other side of the shower curtain. It was obvious they weren’t going to allow her to finish her shower in peace. “I’ve decided to take it one day at a time. We’ve got time to work things out.” Starting tonight.
“Joy, you’ve also got company,” Fern called merrily. “Someone’s knocking at the door!”
A little too merrily for Joy. “Pass me a towel.” She turned off the water and stuck her hand through the curtain. Wrapped in the terry cloth, she opened the curtain and peered suspiciously at the three fairies. There was another loud thump, loud enough that she could hear it all the way upstairs. “What have you three done now?”
“The door.” Myrtle reminded her.
“Gabriel, someone’s at the door. Can you get that?” Joy called. She eyed the three godmothers—it wasn’t just Fern who was excited about something. All three looked as if they were ready to burst.
Who could be here that would put the fairies in such good moods? She leaned forward and wrapped her dripping hair in a second towel Fern had handed her.
“Get what?” Gabriel hollered from the bedroom.
“The door.”
The bathroom door flew open. “Okay, I got the door. Is there anything else you’d like me to get? Maybe you?”
Joy couldn’t resist smiling. She’d love to let Gabriel get her, but three fairies grinning with Cheshire-cat smiles meant trouble, and trouble meant it might be a while before she and her husband got to the getting. “Gabriel, someone’s knocking on the front door. Downstairs.”
“Uh huh.” He stared at her.
“He likes what he sees,” Blossom said in her swooniest voice.
“Why, he’s practically drooling,” Fern added merrily.
“See, we did make your wish come true,” Blossom added. “Drooling and sparks. It doesn’t get much better than that.”
“I’m still naked, can you get it?” she tried again. The look in his eyes made her want to forget their uninvited guests at the door—and her unwanted guests in the bathroom.
Gabriel’s grin broadened. “You’re still naked, and I’d much rather get you than the door.”
“Maybe I’ll get naked again later and let you get me.” After the fairies had left, she added mentally.
“But for now, why don’t you get the door?”
“Party pooper,” Gabriel said as he left.
“Here,” Fern said, handing Joy a robe. “You’re going to need it.”
“I’m sure Gabriel will get rid of whoever it is.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure.” There was an ominous tone to Myrtle’s voice.
“What did you three do now?”
“It wasn’t us,” Blossom ass
ured her.
“Well, not really,” Myrtle amended.
Joy grabbed the robe and hurriedly put it on. She knotted the belt as there was a knock on the bathroom door. “Yes?”
“Joy! Joy!” Sophie’s cry came from outside the door.
Joy opened it and looked at the little girl. “You’re supposed to be in bed, sweetheart.”
“I can’t sleep. My new Grandma and Grandpa are here.”
Oh, no. Max must have told her parents. Joy had been meaning to call them, but didn’t quite know how to tell them she’d married.
Trying to look upbeat, Joy took Sophie’s hand. “Let’s go say hello.” She tried to force herself to sound normal. But normal was the last thing Joy had felt ever since Trudi’s house party. “Mom, Dad,” Joy called as she walked down the stairs.
“Why does my new grandma have her foot on Daddy’s throat?” Sophie asked nervously.
“Remember when I said I learned to fight dirty?” Joy asked, smiling at Sophie. “My mom taught me everything I know about it.” She glared at her mother. “But, your new grandma should realize showing off a black belt by flipping her new son-in-law onto the ground, and then cutting off his oxygen supply is very poor form.”
Joy momentarily turned from her mother to Sophie. “Why don’t you run upstairs and let the grown-ups talk for a few minutes.”
“Will Daddy be okay?”
“He’ll be just fine,” Joy promised. She waited until Sophie was back upstairs before she turned to face her family. “Mother!”
The minute Sophie left the room, the fairies popped into view. Joy’s life was going from bad to worse.
“Your mom has a black belt in karate?” Fern said, sounding impressed. “I’ve often thought about taking lessons. It looks like a handy skill.” She paused a moment, then added, “Plus I’d look fantastic in the outfit.” Suddenly, she was wearing a green karate outfit. “See.”
Joy tried to ignore the fairy trio, but it wasn’t easy. They sat lined on the island separating the kitchen from the living area, watching the tableau unfold before them.
“Don’t you worry about us, dear,” Myrtle said. “We’ll just sit over here and watch the show.”
Her life was out of control. Fairies on the counter, her mother’s foot on her marriage-of-convenience husband’s neck, and a little girl cowering upstairs. Delphina Joy Aaronson St. John had had enough. “Mother!”
“He won’t answer my question,” Miriam Aaronson said by way of explanation. She was shorter than Joy but, unlike her daughter, there wasn’t a soft feature about her. Her hair was blonde and cut in a pixie wedge that emphasized her blue eyes and prominent bone structure. “And when I finish with Gabriel I was going to ask how you were, but I can see for myself.”
“And how is that, Mother?” Joy asked softly.
“You’re glowing. You love him don’t you?”
Miriam watched her like a hawk while Joseph Aaronson, who had said nothing up to that point, studied her from his vantage point on the couch. Three fairies, still lining the counter, stared at her, waiting for an answer. Most disconcerting of all, Gabriel from his uncomfortable position on the floor under Miriam’s sneaker, was watching her.
“Come on, Joy. It’s time to ‘fess up,” Fern said.
“Say the words, Joy,” Myrtle scolded.
“You know you want to. You love him. Say it,” Blossom said.
“You do love him, don’t you?” Miriam prompted.
Joy wanted to crawl in a hole and die. How could her mother do this to her?
“Answer her question,” Gabriel said, his voice sounding a bit reedy what with Miriam’s attempt to cut off his oxygen and all.
“Let him up, Mother,” Joy said, stalling.
“Not until you answer my question.”
“Yeah, answer the question,” the three fairies cheered in unison.
Joy had always thought her mother was the most stubborn, aggravating woman she’d ever met, but the three fairies were even more aggravating.
“And stubborn,” Blossom said merrily. “But, we suspect there’s more of your mother in you than you’d like to admit. You’re being just as stubborn. Tell Gabriel how you feel. Say the words, Joy.”
She rolled her eyes and said, as calmly as she could, “Mother, what Gabriel and I have is between Gabriel and me. I don’t care what Max told you, and don’t bother denying he told you something. Max ran behind my back and tattled, or you wouldn’t be here. But it’s none of his business, just like it’s none of yours. I’ve never pried into your relationship with Daddy.”
“Your mother and I love each other and had our share of prying at the start,” Joseph said quietly.
“Daddy, you’re supposed to be on my side when she gets like this.” Joseph might not say much, but he generally could be counted on to try to control the worst of Miriam’s temper.
He just shrugged. “Sorry, honey, but I want to know, too. Max said something about this being a marriage of convenience. That’s what set your mom off. Her tactics might not be very diplomatic, but they tend to get results.”
Miriam nodded, her arms folded, her foot still pinning Gabriel by his neck. “This whole thing sounds much too suspicious to me. I want to make sure you married for the right reasons.”
“And what would that be?” Joy said, still stalling.
“Love. Marriage is hard enough if you love each other. It’s next to impossible without that for a foundation.”
“Answer her question, Joy,” Gabriel said.
“Answer your mother’s question, Joy,” the fairies said in unison.
Joy looked helplessly around the room. Her mother, her father, and Gabriel all waited expectantly for her answer. The three fairies were literally sitting on the edge of the counter.
“Fine. I love him, for all the good it does me. And you might as well let him up right now because I can give you his answer. He married me because I’m old and comfortable, sort of like a pair of bedroom slippers. He tried me on, and I was a good fit.”
“That true?” Miriam asked Gabriel.
“Could I maybe give you my answer from a standing position?” Gabriel asked politely. “Might be more satisfying to toss me back down if you don’t like my answer.”
Not looking very pleased, Miriam lifted her foot. Gabriel rose from the floor, rubbing his neck a bit as he stretched his back.
“So?” Joseph asked.
“Joy’s right, I married her because she was comfortable. But I never said she was old. I said she wasn’t getting any younger, and she should have children.” Every eye was now riveted on Gabriel, but Joy didn’t feel any relief. She wanted to crawl in a hole and die.
“He said sparks,” Blossom said. “Why do you always forget the sparks?”
Gabriel just continued talking. “Joy should have a lot of kids. She’s been more of a mother to Sophie than my ex-wife was in Sophie’s entire life.”
“You don’t love Joy?” Miriam reached for his arm, ready to flip him again, but Gabriel stepped out of her reach, moving toward Joy.
“I said, that’s why I married her, but it’s not the whole truth.” He kept moving toward her, his gaze holding hers as tightly as any grip could. Softly, he added, “I didn’t realize the whole truth until after the wedding.”
“And that would be?” Miriam asked.
“I love her,” he answered Miriam, though his gaze never left Joy. “I said she was comfortable and she fit. I worked hard at trying to love other women, but I never pulled it off. With Joy, love came easy. So easily that it surprised me to see that she had stolen my heart.” His look held Joy’s. “I wanted to tell you, but I wasn’t sure how.”
“I wanted to tell you, but I was afraid you’d laugh. Or worse, that you’d feel sorry for me,” Joy admitted. She felt l
ike laughing and crying, so giddy with the feeling of relief that was flooding her body.
“Ah, hug the girl,” Joseph commanded.
Gabriel complied easily. He swept Joy into his arms, and her heart lurched in her chest. He loved her? Was he telling the truth, or just telling her parents what they wanted to hear? Joy looked to the fairies, hoping to find some answer there, but they’d disappeared.
“How ‘bout me?” Sophie shouted, racing down the stairs. She evidently felt her father and Joy had forgotten her, because she wormed her way into their embrace.
“How ‘bout you?” Joy asked, lifting the girl. “How ‘bout this?” She and Gabriel squeezed tight.
“You’re squishin’ me!” Sophie squealed.
“Should we stop?” Joy asked Gabriel.
“For now, but I think after our company leaves we’re going to have to make a Sophie sandwich.” He gave them both another squeeze.
“Can I get you all some coffee?” Gabriel asked.
Miriam started to say, “That would be good,” but Joseph cut her off. “I think we should leave these two alone for a while. It appears to me they have some talking to do.”
“Joseph,” Miriam protested. Joy knew her mother loved nothing more than to be in the thick of things.
“Miriam,” Joseph said in a voice both women recognized as final. “And, I was thinking that we might borrow our new granddaughter for a while. We’ll all go spend the night with Max and Grace, and tomorrow we’ll have waffles. Seems to me I recall a little girl who enjoyed waffles with a lot of whip cream on them. She’s all grown-up now,” he turned and looked at Joy, a mixture of nostalgia and love radiating from his eyes, “so, it’s been a while, but maybe someone here might like to go find some?”
“Me?” Sophie asked.
“You. And I hear that Erie has a fine zoo. You know, it’s been a long time since I’ve gone to the zoo.” Joseph swung Sophie up into his arms.
“Can we take CheChe, too?” Sophie asked.
“Hm,” Joseph appeared to be thinking. “Me, your grandma and our two granddaughters at the zoo? Now, that sounds like a mighty fine plan to me.”
Still carrying Sophie, Joseph walked over and hugged Joy. “You be happy, honey,” he whispered in her ear.
