by Ravenna Tate
“That’s what we figured,” said Viggo.
Blaine wanted to ask Charlene if her past relationship with Brad would figure into the stories about this, but held his tongue. He hoped not, because it wouldn’t take some enterprising reporter long to realize she’d also dated Blaine Parker at one time.
“So, it’s over,” she said. “Any questions on this?”
No one had any, and the call ended. He turned on his Internet phone to find a missed call from Colleen already, so he called her back.
“I can’t imagine how happy you all are about Dave.”
“It’s great news. And now we can all attend this wedding without more bad press hanging over our heads.”
If his and Charlene’s past relationship came up, he’d cross that bridge. For now, he was going to assume this was completely behind them so he could enjoy his time in Central with the others, especially Colleen.
****
Colleen was surprised to hear her phone ring shortly after the conference call with her aunt. She was working from home this afternoon, so answered it without having to make her aunt wait until she could call her back.
“I wanted to apologize to you.”
“For what?”
“For being a bitch about you dating Blaine.”
“You weren’t being a bitch. You were concerned about me.”
“No, I wasn’t. I mean, I was, but I was also jealous.”
“Why?” She’d never told Aunt Charlene that Blaine had already confessed their prior relationship.
She sighed. “Because I was really young and impressionable when we dated. I was a senior in college, but what you probably don’t know is I never dated much. Blaine was … he was larger than life already, even though he was three years younger than me. I fell hard for him, but he was already a player.”
“He’s not like that anymore.”
“That’s good to hear. I don’t want you hurt the way I was.”
Colleen wanted to tell her they were in love, but decided not to. She didn’t want to hurt her aunt. “I won’t be.”
“All right, then. That’s all I wanted to tell you, Colleen. You always were my favorite niece, you know.”
Colleen smiled. “And you’ve always been my favorite aunt. I do have a question about Brad.”
“What is it?”
“Well, you dated him once. Won’t the press jump all over that now?”
“They might, but it’s inconsequential as far as I’m concerned. The stuff in the tabloids over the past few years had no substance or truth to it.”
Colleen didn’t want to ask this, either, but she had to. “Do you think they’ll dig up the fact you once dated Blaine as well?”
She waited for the answer, knowing it wouldn’t come immediately. “They might. I guess we’ll need to deal with that if they do. How does Blaine feel about that?”
“I haven’t asked him, but I’m sure it’s crossed his mind, too.”
“Well, let’s not worry unless there’s something to worry about, okay? It’s not like we were in the tabloids back then. No one has dug into my college life since I first ran for office. It didn’t come up then, so I really have my doubts it will now.”
They ended the call, and Colleen returned to thoughts of being able to enjoy herself in Central with the man she loved.
Chapter Sixteen
Colleen had been to Central many times, but she never failed to enjoy returning. She wondered whether they would choose a central spot to relocate all the government offices and other buildings on the surface. She’d asked her aunt about it and had been told that issue was being discussed, along with thousands more, and it would likely take them at least a year to wade through all the paperwork involved in a mass move of the entire government.
Ace and Harper, plus their two adorable twins, had ridden the same train as she and Blaine, but they had their own compartment. Colleen saw them briefly at the beginning of the ride, but then Blaine had lured her back to the compartment she was sharing with him by promising pizza and chocolate. How could she say “no” to that?
They spent the ten hour ride doing more talking than anything else, but that was all right with her. She was happy to be with him, and excited to finally meet the other Weathermen, their wives, and their fiancées in person.
They arrived late in the evening at their hotel. Ace and Harper made their apologies, saying they were going to order room service and get the twins down for some much-needed sleep. Blaine told them he and Colleen were too tired to go out to dinner as well, and they’d see the four in the morning for breakfast.
Once they were settled in their suite, Blaine ordered them strawberries and champagne, then filled the lavish tub with water. She sat with her back to him, surrounded by warm water, and closed her eyes.
He kissed her neck. “This is much nicer than the train.”
“And we have no infants to keep us otherwise occupied.”
Blaine handed her the glass of champagne she’d placed on the edge of the tub. “Do you think about that? Having kids one day?”
“Not really.” She took a long sip, resisting the urge to turn around so she could see his face. “Why? Do you?”
“That would surprise you, wouldn’t it.”
She turned now. “Yes. Very much.”
“I think about marriage, too. A lot.”
“Holy shit. What have I done to you, Blaine Parker?”
His laugh was quick and easy, but she caught the look on his face. He meant it. “You’ve captivated me, mind, body, and soul, Miss Newton.” Blaine drained his wine glass. “That’s what you’ve done to me.”
“How does that make you feel?”
“You sound like a shrink.”
“Okay, but I’d really like to know.”
He placed their glasses back on the tiles and pulled her close, lifting her onto his lap. “It makes me feel alive, Colleen. Like I’ve been dead for a very long time, but I was still walking around and functioning. Now I’m awake again. Completely awake and ready to embrace my life for the very first time.”
He was going to ask her to marry him. She knew it as suddenly as if it had been written across the tiles on the wall in bright, glittery ink. She didn’t know how, or when, or where, but she knew he would ask.
“How does it make you feel?”
“You mean—”
“I mean knowing I think about marriage and children. Because in case you hadn’t figured this out yet, I’m not interested in either except with you.”
She nodded, her voice gone. Despite the fact she was sitting in a tub of warm water, next to and wrapped up in his hard, hot body, she suddenly felt cool. She loved this man with her entire heart and soul, but becoming a wife and mother wasn’t a role she’d ever seen herself in.
“Colleen, say something.” He looked one step shy of hurt, and she couldn’t bear that.
“I’m processing it. The whole idea of me being married and giving birth.”
“Harper and Ace are deliriously happy. So are Liane and Emmett, Angela and Dominic, and all the others.”
“I know they are.” She’d seen firsthand how happy Harper and Ace were. As for the others, Blaine had told her how happy they all were, more than once in the past week. He also told her not to be surprised when she met her that Liane was six months pregnant, or that Angela was five months pregnant already.
“We could be that happy, too.”
“I agree. We could be.”
He sighed. “Colleen, are you completely against the idea? Tell me now.”
“No. Oh, goodness, no. I’m just … I never pictured it. Not once. Not even when I was younger.”
He smiled. “Neither did I. Not even once. Not until I met you.” He moved her gently off him, and then she watched him climb out of the tub. “I’ll be right back. Don’t move.”
Thinking he had to pee or something, she sat back against the edge of the tub and closed her eyes again. She tried to picture herself married. Would it
be so different from dating him? All that would really change was her permanent address. She was with him all the time now, and might as well live in his apartment. She didn’t want any other man. Blaine was everything she’d ever desired, all wrapped up in one gorgeous, charming, romantic package.
Then she tried to imagine being a mother. That was a little more difficult, but not out of the question. Harper had two, and she certainly looked blissful. She smiled more than anyone Colleen had ever met, and Ace doted on her and the twins. Blaine would be that way, too. She was sure of it. He’d make sure she and their children never wanted for anything.
When he returned, he wore a robe and carried another one. “Come on out for a moment.”
The look on his face stopped her from asking why. He was terrified, yet excited at the same time. Had something else happened with HCS? She climbed out and put on the robe, then he asked her to sit on the stool next to the vanity. She did, then gasped as he pulled a small velvet box out of the robe pocket.
“Blaine … what on earth…”
“Let me get this out or I’ll be too afraid to do so. I bought this before we left NorthCentral.”
“Oh my God…” Tears spilled down her cheeks. She couldn’t help it. Now that the moment was here, she realized how much she’d wanted this with him. There was no other man on the planet she’d ever marry, and she knew it. He was the one. He always had been, from the second he’d tipped that imaginary hat at her.
Blaine got down on one knee, then opened the box. His eyes blazed with excitement and uncertainty, and that killed her. She’d never say “no” to him. Never. “Colleen, I know this isn’t what either of us thought we’d do, but I can’t imagine spending the rest of my life any other way. And I can’t wait any longer to ask you. I love you. I love you so damn much. Will you marry me? Please?”
“Of course I will. Oh, Blaine. I love you, too. I can’t imagine spending the rest of my life without you.”
He slipped the ring on, and of course it fit. It was exquisite. Tiny rubies and emeralds surrounded the diamond.
“Your eyes and your hair,” he said. “The stones, that is. That’s what they reminded me of.”
She laughed through her tears. Then he picked her up and twirled her around until she begged him to put her down. His face was so full of happiness and love, and she vowed to make sure that’s how he always looked. She had no idea what would happen as they rebuilt the surface, but she knew one thing without a doubt.
She knew she would spend the rest of her life making sure he never doubted how very, very much she loved him.
Epilogue
December 25, 2130
Five years after The Madeline Project was stopped
Blaine placed his arm around Colleen’s shoulder as they walked into a banquet hall in the city now known as Harrison, in the province of Central. President Blake Harrison had died in office before this city was completed, and everyone in the new administration, which Charlene O’Leary now presided over as Commander-in-Chief, had agreed it be renamed after him. It had been his design, after all, and he’d pushed to have it built as soon as possible.
The Weathermen, plus their wives and children, were gathered here not only to celebrate the holiday together, but to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the day they took back their planet.
They’d invited Dave Perry, but he was touring the world, above ground this time, to give another series of lectures to middle school students about the importance of taking responsibility for the coding they might one day write. As a gesture of thanks to the late President Harrison for pardoning him, Dave had devoted his life to promoting safe cyber techniques.
Blaine smiled down at his beautiful wife. “Are you ready?”
“Yes.” She placed her hand over her abdomen, which barely showed her pregnancy. He and Colleen had only been trying for a few months, even though they had been married three years ago. They’d been the last of the couples to marry, and she was the last to be pregnant, but that didn’t matter to them. It had been their choice to wait.
They were blissfully happy, and had been very busy rebuilding Blaine’s company on the surface. Colleen had left the AFSR after they were married to work for Blaine. Her background in urban planning and design was invaluable to him, and Clear Channel Industries was now fully functional on the surface. He was in the process of transferring everything from NorthCentral underground to Grand Forks on the surface.
Harper saw them first. She let out a war whoop and ran over, followed closely by two school-aged children and two toddlers. Two sets of twins. Two boys and two girls, who all had Ace’s dark eyes and Harper’s blonde hair.
Colleen hugged Harper first, then bent down to give Michael and Eva each a hug. The younger two, Charles and Kathryn, weren’t so sure, but once their mom whispered in their ears, they both gave her a hug as well.
“They’re all getting so big,” said Colleen.
“I know. I can barely keep up.” Harper eyed Colleen’s abdomen. “You don’t look pregnant yet.”
She laughed, her face full of delight. “But I am.”
Ace walked over and shook Blaine’s hand, and then Blaine watched others come over to greet him and Colleen. Emmett and Liane led four year old Emory and two year old Belinda in tow. Both had blue eyes like Emmett, and a combination of hair color from both parents. Blaine wondered whether his and Colleen’s child would have his or her coloring.
Dominic and Angela had their hands full with Teresa, three years old, Dominic, two years old, and Lucy, who had just started walking. Angela was pregnant again and due in two months. She talked non-stop, and Dominic beamed like he’d never be sad again. It was impossible not to smile around those two and their gorgeous dark-haired, dark-eyed children.
Emmett and his father had finished moving Radcliffe Enterprises to the surface, and Ace was nearly finished moving ACE Communications topside. Both had built them close to Blaine’s company, which suited him fine.
They had all talked a lot about where they each would live, and had decided in the end to live in two locations on the surface. Near the Grand Forks area, in the province now called Dakota, and in the province called New California, near the city of Bakersfield.
Ace, Emmett, Kane, Barclay, Oliver, Atticus, and Blaine had chosen Grand Forks. Dominic, Damien, Addison, Grayson, and Viggo were rebuilding in or near Bakersfield. The cities were about twenty-eight hours away by car, but by plane they were much closer. Air travel hadn’t been restored yet, but they all knew it was only a matter of time.
Dominic shared with them the happy news that his transition was finally complete. He patted Angela’s swollen abdomen. “And just in time for this one’s arrival.”
Colleen and Blaine made small talk, then excused themselves and walked over to where Kane and Julianne sat with Sela and Damien. Kane and Julianne were parents to two year old Keith, who had Julianne’s eyes. Sela and Damien had four-year old Esther, who looked exactly like her mother, and two year old Daniel, who was the spitting image of Damien.
Colleen asked Sela whether she would move her dance studio to the surface, and she said she would, but not right away. She beamed at her children. “Damien and I want to have a few more first, and then I’ll begin teaching again.”
Blaine and Colleen had discussed whether Colleen would keep working once they had children, and both wanted her to. What she did, as far as Blaine was concerned, was just as important as his role, and it made her happy to work.
Damien’s company was nearly moved to the surface, and he and Blaine talked for a while about the difficulties they’d encountered in the transitions. He and Colleen then made their way to another table where Nadine and Addison, Grayson and Valerie, Barclay and Rissa, plus Oliver and Blair sat together with their children.
Nadine and Addison were parents to three year old Abbott, and Nadine was due again in June. Abbott looked just like Addison. Addison’s company was already on the surface, about twenty miles north of Bakersfield.
Grayson had moved his company above ground as well, and both Barclay and Oliver were nearly done with their transitions. Grayson and Valerie were parents to two year old Victoria, and Valerie was due again in August. Victoria looked more like Grayson than Valerie, but Blaine still thought she was beautiful.
He told Grayson so, who simply shook his head at Blaine. “You can say that now you’re finally the same as us.”
Blaine kissed Colleen. “If you mean happy, you’re right.”
“We knew it would happen, eventually,” said Rissa.
Rissa’s and Barclay’s three year old daughter Larissa looked exactly like her mother, and Blair’s and Oliver’s son William, almost two, looked like Oliver. Blair was due again in September, having just found out she was pregnant again.
The last table they walked over to was where Atticus and Emma, plus Viggo and Madison sat. Viggo patted two chairs. “Been saving them for you two.” Viggo had two year old Mark, who looked like him, on his lap. Madison was pregnant again, and was due the following month.
They took their seats, and Colleen and Madison bent their heads together with Emma. Emma and Atticus were parents to two year old Kimberly, who looked like Emma, and one month old Lilly, who was currently sleeping in Atticus’s arms.
Viggo poured a glass of wine for himself and one for Blaine. Atticus raised his glass, and Viggo and Blaine did the same.
“Did you ever think this would happen?” asked Viggo. “All of us, together like this, married with kids, on the surface?”
“Never,” said Blaine, draining his glass. He closed his eyes. “God, this tastes good. I don’t care what anyone says. Grapes grown on the surface for wine just taste better.”
“Hear, hear,” said Atticus, filling his glass again. “How are things going with Clear Channel’s move?”
