“Wow,” was all that came out.
Stephanie didn’t usually dress up for dinner. But, today she’d decided to wear a clingy, sleeveless, ankle-length dress with a plunging neckline that showed off an intricate choker with a matching armlet on the right arm. A thousand bangle bracelets jingled on the left. She’d pulled her hair up, put large hoop earrings on, and made sure her makeup was flawless.
“You always come home in a suit,” she explained. “I thought that for a change I would wear something other than jeans.” She turned slowly so that he could take in the full effect. “You like?”
“Definitely.”
“Good.” She gave him a quick kiss and went to test the lamb chops. Perfect. She set them on a platter and reached into the refrigerator for the salad of cucumbers and orange slices. “Can you get the wine while I put these on the table?”
Chaz rinsed his hands, grabbed two wine goblets and the bottle on the counter and followed her into the dining room. Candles were lit. Middle Eastern music was playing. He was amazed that she’d prepared this romantic atmosphere without knowing what he’d planned for the evening. To him, it was another sign that they were perfectly matched and that the timing was finally right.
He could barely take his eyes off her as they ate the salad, the entrée, and lemon sorbet for dessert. He didn’t know how he managed to keep up the light conversation about houses and job searches and his day. He poured second glasses of pomegranate wine and listened to her laugh about the email she’d received from her youngest niece.
“I don’t know how my sister-in-law survives three fun-loving girls and a husband who spoils them rotten.” She sighed and swirled her wine. “You should have seen him when we were kids. He was always a daredevil but was so protective of me that I was lucky to be able to ride my bike around the corner. I don’t know how he manages to give his daughters as much freedom as he does.” She smiled and shrugged. “I guess parenthood changes people. In his case, the change is definitely positive.”
“When we were in Erie, you said that someday you want children,” Chaz reminded her.
“I do.” She sipped her wine and set the glass down.
“Do you think parenthood will change you?”
“Probably.” Stephanie watched their hands as Chaz linked fingers with hers.
“Dance with me,” was a quiet request as he rose and pulled their linked hands between them. His free arm held her close. They danced through the doorway and into the livingroom. Neither of them spoke. Each of them simply enjoyed the feel of the other, both of them relaxed and in love.
When the music changed, Chaz still held her. He definitely couldn’t imagine his life without moments like these. After a while, he took a small step away and cupped her face in his hands. Everything he needed to see swam in her eyes. He was lost, as always.
“Will you marry me, Stephanie?”
“Yes.” No hesitation. No fear.
His kiss was full of gratitude and joy and humility. He was a lucky man.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
“We wanted to tell you first because you introduced us,” Chaz said into the camera. He was putting on his tie as he spoke.
“This is wonderful.” Karen said. “I would say I’m surprised, but that would be a lie.”
“We’ll have to make a trip down there to celebrate,” Victor added. His voice faded out for a second as though he moved out of range of the computer’s microphone. “Karen and I could use a long weekend away.”
“Or maybe we can come to Erie,” Chaz offered. “I have to return to testify next month, and I know Stephanie misses your son as much as she misses you.”
“Is that a good idea?” Karen was frowning.
“We’ll work something out.” He smiled at his fiancée’s happy expression. He would do anything for her.
“I’ve got to get to work,” Victor was saying from somewhere in the room.
“Me too.” Chaz bent over and kissed Stephanie.
“Congratulations again,” came from Karen. “Don’t disconnect, Steph.” The women made sure their men were out of the houses before continuing the conversation.
“I have to leave soon too. But I wanted to say that being engaged is different from regular dating, even from living together.”
“What do you mean?” Stephanie refilled her coffee mug and leaned against the counter.
“Well, there’s a belief that women’s bodies start to relax as soon as they accept the proposal. It’s very common for couples who have been living together to get careless and wind up getting pregnant before the wedding. I’m a classic example of that. So—just in case—you should probably stop drinking.”
“You’re kidding, right? I don’t drink much—just wine with dinner once or twice a week and the occasional mojito.”
“Don’t drink at all, Steph. Trust me.” She flashed one of those confident smiles. “I’m sending you some teas to detoxify your system. You look a little off-kilter, so make sure you follow the instructions exactly as I give them.” She laughed. “I’m so happy for you!”
Stephanie was still thinking about that pregnancy issue when her friend ended the call so she could rush off to work. She did trust Karen so she would seriously consider what was said. And she definitely would drink whatever the woman sent.
No alcohol? No problem.
As she rinsed her cup and set it in the dishwasher, Stephanie imagined what she would look like pregnant. The thought made her smile. The smile made her nervous. She pushed the image out of her mind and headed upstairs to get dressed for her appointment with the realtor. They had compiled a list of six houses to see that day.
When Chaz came home that evening, they called their parents and Stephanie called her brother. Everyone was predictably happy about the news. Chaz had to convince his mother not to turn their Thanksgiving trip into an engagement party. And Stephanie had to promise her mother that Chaz would come with her at Christmas.
“I wish we were already married.” Chaz slid beneath the comforter and pulled her against him.
“We practically are. We’re engaged, live together, and are looking for a house where we can raise a family. All that’s missing are the ceremony and certificate.”
“The ceremony and certificate are important.”
“I’m just pointing out that we have almost everything that married couples have.” She propped herself up on one elbow and touched the side of his face. “What we have is good.”
“And it’ll get better.”
“I believe you.” The way he looked at her made her feel special and loved and sexy. She laid close against him and pulled the covers to their shoulders.
“I forgot to tell you earlier that I found a house. It’s not far from here and you’ll probably like it.” She described the colonial style home with four bedrooms, livingroom, family room, formal dining room, and a large yard. “It’s the right neighborhood, the right size, and a great price.”
“Is it what you want?” Chaz asked.
“Yes. I think it’s perfect for us. Can you look at it tomorrow? I’d like us to make an offer before someone else decides to buy it.”
“Okay.” He kissed her forehead.
Stephanie talked to the realtor that next morning and was told that Chaz could see the house during his lunch break. They submitted an offer that was accepted a day later. The house was newly vacated, so they should be able to move in before the end of the year.
Since Stephanie didn’t have a job, the house would be financed in Chaz’s name. She didn’t like the idea but couldn’t argue with his logic.
“If we try to get the loan in both names, it’ll get rejected because you’re not employed. Even if you had a job, any bank would want to see a full year of employment history. And, neither of us wants to wait until then.” He’d sat on the edge of the bed and wrapped his fingers tightly around hers. “A man is supposed to take care of his wife, sweetheart. You love this house: let me buy it for you.”
“A
nd what will you let me do for you?” Stephanie shook her head. “Marriage is supposed to be a partnership, Chaz. At least let me contribute the down payment.” He wouldn’t agree but said she could put an amount equal to the down payment into a separate account to use for redecorating or buying new appliances or landscaping. Unable to find fault with that, she capitulated. She was simply happy that life was going so well.
Unfortunately, that feeling didn’t last. When the weekend came, Chaz invited Sylvia and Will over and told them about the house and their decision to get married. Stephanie knew the woman wasn’t ever going to be her best friend, but she was surprised by Sylvia’s response.
“Married? You’re getting married?” The look on Sylvia’s face displayed all of her dismay. Will tried to get her attention by reaching for her hand, but it didn’t work and she continued with her shocked reaction. “Don’t you think you’re rushing into this? After all, you just moved here. You’ve barely had a chance to get settled.”
Stephanie looked at Chaz who simply raised an eyebrow and gave her a half smile. They’d already come to terms with the timing. She turned her attention back to the other woman.
“I don’t know why you don’t like me,” she began, “but that doesn’t matter. I’m sure you’re just trying to be protective. That’s fine. All I’m asking is that you’re careful about what you say to me. Chaz can be pretty protective, too.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” She crossed her arms over her chest and leaned back against the love seat.
“It means that no one is going to make Stephanie feel uncomfortable. I’m hoping that all of my real friends will accept that she makes me happy and that I’m going to spend the rest of my life with her.” His eyes never left Sylvia’s face as he added, “Are you a real friend? I guess that’s something we now need to clear up.”
“Of course I’m your friend! We’ve known each other for years, been through a lot together, and treat each other like family. What kind of question is that?”
“I’m just making sure because you’re not acting like you want me to be happy.”
Sylvia sighed. “That’s exactly what I want. That’s why I’m worried.” She turned to Stephanie. “We used to be partners. Did you know that Chaz has been threatened and shot at more than just on this latest assignment? Do you understand how hard it’s going to be for you to see him put himself in that type of danger? He changed jobs for you, but are you sure that’s going to last? Everyone knows he’s a damn good undercover agent. Do you really think he’s going to give it up permanently?” She shook her head. “No—he loves it. And he misses it. We talk all the time about the thrill of being part of a big case. He thinks he’ll be happy, but as a friend who has known him for a very long time, he won’t be. And I honestly don’t believe you’re realistic enough, tough enough, or know enough to stand by his side when his career turns back in the direction that he’s worked so hard to be good at. He loves the danger and he’ll go back to it. Everyone at the office is already talking about the offers. We all know that his chances of moving up in the Bureau are much better if he stops pretending that loving you will be enough for every part of his life.”
“Chaz knows what he wants, Syl,” her husband interjected.
“Really?”
Everyone looked at Chaz. Stephanie was surprised to see a totally blank expression on his face. He didn’t respond to what was said. Instead, he reiterated that he was getting married. The two friends stared at each other.
“I’m out of here,” Sylvia said finally. With that, she stood and headed toward the front door. No one spoke to stop her.
“I’ll talk to her,” Will assured them.
Chaz nodded and watched him follow his wife out.
“Partner?” Stephanie asked when they were once again alone.
“Yeah. We worked a few cases together before she and Will got serious. She didn’t allow them to get married until after she’d already gotten tired of the assignments and chosen another career path. Sylvia is ambitious. She said that she didn’t like always being someone’s sidekick and opted for a less anonymous job. The Bureau made a good choice by putting her in a position where she can excel. She doesn’t think I want the same thing she has with her career and with Will—but she’s wrong.”
Partners. Her protectiveness of Chaz finally made sense as far as Stephanie was concerned. It was also clear that Sylvia would never respect her. Stephanie would always be the naïve outsider.
“So, is she telling the truth about you being pressured to go back undercover?”
“Yes.”
Stephanie shook her head and wondered why he hadn’t told her. Chaz reached over and held her hand.
“You’re more important,” he reminded her.
The conversation bothered Stephanie that night and the next morning as she sat at the kitchen counter thinking about the information and how it might be connected to her disturbing dream. Had she sensed Chaz’s dilemma? Was the mysterious man one of the people trying to pull him back into a dangerous position? She’d had the dream twice and was almost certain that he was. Had Chaz not told her because he was having second thoughts about what was best for him? Was she going to trust what he was saying or whatever her gift was trying to tell her—and what exactly was that? She sighed and took her coffee cup to the sink.
She wanted Chaz to be happy. His career shouldn’t be shifted because of her if he didn’t really want it to be. She’d have to find a way to handle her anxiety whenever her dreams revealed something she wasn’t supposed to know.
Sylvia had accused her of not being realistic, tough, or smart enough to be the wife of a cop. She’d have to prove to her and Chaz that she could handle it. She’d have to be strong. As she opened the freezer to take out a package of meat for dinner, she was glad she hadn’t told Chaz about the most recent dream. It might make her seem weak.
At the same time that Stephanie was considering a new way of coping with Chaz’s job, he was thinking of ways to make her feel more accepted by his peers. Yes, he’d introduced her to several people, but maybe it was time to integrate her more completely. He’d seen the look of concern in her eyes when Sylvia talked about him missing the thrill of undercover work. Maybe he needed to show her how well he fit into his new position.
He called and asked her to have lunch with him. He’d bring her upstairs and show her his office, let her meet some of his new team members, and set in motion a plan to ease her mind.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
“We’re invited to a football party on Saturday,” Chaz announced as he walked Stephanie back to the parking garage after they’d had lunch. “Your brownies have also been requested. Do you mind going?”
“No, I don’t mind. At this point, I’m more than a little stir-crazy.” Of course, she was referring to the unsuccessful efforts at finding a job. She kept reminding herself that she hadn’t actually been searching very long and to be patient. There was still a possibility she’d get one of the positions she’d previously discussed with the headhunter, but sitting around the house was starting to annoy her. “I’ve also been thinking that perhaps I should spend more time cultivating my own friendships. Most of the women you’ve introduced me to seem very nice. Maybe I can hang out with some of them sometimes.”
“Sounds good.” They arrived at her vehicle and he kissed her while his hands slid around her waist for a brief hug. “I want you to be happy, Stephanie.”
“I am happy. I’m just a little bored.”
“Hmm. I’ll have to work on that when I get home.” He laughed and kissed her again, this time a little longer and a little more deeply.
“I love you, Chaz.” She ran a finger along the edge of his jaw.
“I love you too, sweetheart.”
With nothing else to do, Stephanie spent the rest of the afternoon handling the paperwork for Chaz to purchase the house and continuing her job search. Next, she called Donita (one of the women who had come to watch the Bengals lose to the
Steelers) and scheduled a day the following week for them to have lunch and go shopping since the other woman was a stay-at-home mom of students in middle school. In the meantime, she couldn’t neglect her friendship with Phailin. They met on Friday for tea. Much of their time was spent talking about the other woman’s job as a customer service supervisor.
“It seems like the perfect job for you,” Stephanie commented. Her new friend had just finished telling an anecdote of a phone call that had come to her after being transferred through four junior associates.
“Why do you say that?”
“Because you’re full of compassion, energy, and brightness. It’s probably easy for you to make people feel like their concerns are important.”
Phailin smiled almost shyly and said that she hoped so. She sipped from a large mug of hot tea.
“Do you like your tea?” she asked.
“It’s delicious. Do I taste raspberry with peppermint?”
“Very good. There is also chamomile and lemon balm and a few other herbs. They’re good for pregnant women.”
Stephanie studied her friend’s wide smile and laughed.
“You’re pregnant, Phailin?”
“Yes,” she nodded. “David says he’s just hoping for a healthy child, but I think both of us want a daughter. There are already a lot of boys in each of our families.”
Stephanie leaned across the table and hugged her.
“This is wonderful. When are you due?”
“Probably the end of May.”
“Wow.” She thought of her own life. Of course Phailin could almost read her thoughts.
“I’m not the only one drinking this tea,” she said with a chuckle.
“What?” Stephanie was stunned. “Are you saying I’m pregnant, too?”
“When we were at the library, your aura was strong toward love and family, but I wasn’t sure whether that meant you’re open toward parenthood. Seeing you today makes me sure.” She shrugged. “Maybe you’re pregnant and don’t know it; or maybe you’re just very ready to be pregnant. Regardless, the tea is a good idea. I’ll make some bundles for you.”
Premonitions: Dream Catcher Series ~ Book 1 Page 13
