by Alina Jacobs
“I’m coming.”
“No, you aren’t,” the conductor replied, blowing his whistle. “We’re on a schedule. We don’t have time for this.”
And the train chugged away. Grant watched it go then took Kate by the arm and led her to the car. He helped her in then climbed in the back seat. His uncle threw an arm around him.
“Look who the cat dragged in,” Margaret crowed when they walked, dripping, into the parlor of the Holbrook estate. She sniffed and said, “You smell like a wet dog.”
Stefan smiled at Grant and said, “Welcome home, Mr. Holbrook.”
Chapter 65
Kate
She had tried to talk to Grant the day after he missed the train. She couldn’t tell if it was his choice or if he had just let things happen.
He looked unhappy in the days following.
“I need to work some things out,” he said to her when she tried to confront him. He had one of the pamphlets that the fire department had given him about veterans and mental health. “I think I’m going to talk to a therapist.”
“That sounds like a wise decision,” she replied.
It was all she could do to leave him alone the next few weeks. She wasn’t looking for some declaration of love. She only wanted a text or even to see him. All she wanted was some acknowledgement from him that she existed.
“Don’t be so down,” Margaret said as Kate unhappily dressed for a dinner party at Nancy and Jack’s. “You confronted him with a lot right after his birth mother’s funeral. He’ll see the error of his ways. He came back, didn’t he?”
“Yes, but then he said he needed some space.”
“Men.”
When she arrived at Nancy’s house, she tried to be friendly with Grant, but his expression was unreadable, and he didn’t seem all that pleased to see her.
While they were all gathered for pre-dinner drinks, Grant approached Kate. He was very serious.
“Can I speak to you, please? Outside.”
Her stomach churned as she followed him into the garden. He led her down the path to the statue they had stopped at the first time Grant had come to Nancy and Jack’s house. It was colder now; fall had come to New Cardiff. Soon, it would be Thanksgiving, then Christmas, and then a brand-new year. Kate wanted to spend that time with Grant. She wanted to be with him during the holidays and kiss him under mistletoe.
The garden was dormant, but she knew it would be in bloom again come spring. Time marched on, whether they were ready for it or not.
Grant looked somber as they stood in the small alcove beside the statue. He cleared his throat then turned to face her.
“I’ve been talking to a therapist. It’s been positive,” he said. “And I’ve been going over a lot of things in my head about what I want my life to be like and what type of man I want to become. I’ve had to set my priorities and come to terms with the reality of my situation.”
Kate chewed on her lip. She didn’t like where this was going.
“Therefore, I have to tell you something, and maybe it’s not going to be what you want to hear.”
She looked up at him, hoping her face wouldn’t betray her.
“You know how you said to give us a shot?” he asked, his face unreadable. “What did you mean?”
“I thought,” she said awkwardly, “maybe we could go on a real date? See a movie, maybe. Nothing serious.”
Grant thought for a moment. “Hm,” he said. “To be quite honest with you, I don’t want that.”
Kate looked crestfallen. “Oh, I didn’t… oh.”
Grant pulled out a box and got down on one knee. Kate started crying.
“I want to do more than give it a shot. I want to be with you forever. I’ve been ready to spend the rest of my life with you since the day I met you, Kate Thurlow. I know you’re too good for me, but I would like to ask you to be my wife.”
Kate couldn’t speak. She nodded yes, and Grant slipped the ring on her finger. She hugged him, and he picked her up and spun her around, her shoes flying off into the bushes. He set her down, laughing, and helped her collect them. Kate saw their families’ faces glued to the windows, watching the scene unfold.
They walked hand in hand to the house, and Nancy welcomed them with champagne.
“Were all of you in on this?” she demanded, blushing. She couldn’t stop smiling, and she looked down at the ring, marveling at it sparkling on her hand.
“I had to help him pick out something you would like,” her grandmother exclaimed.
“It’s a beautiful ring,” Kate said.
“It’s a family heirloom,” Nancy told her. It was a white-gold ring with a large diamond surrounded by spirals of smaller ones in a distinctly Art Deco style.
“It’s really stunning,” Kate repeated.
Grant had a big smile on his face. His father clapped him on the shoulder and shook his hand. “Look at him. He’s so relieved!”
“I thought I was going to puke,” he said.
Kate laughed and kissed him.
“I guess I’ll have to quit my job,” she said.
“Nonsense,” Nancy replied. “What good is a family business if family isn’t working there?” She raised her glass. “A toast to the happy couple!”
That night, Kate was doing her nightly skin-care routine before bed. She looked at the ring, still not quite believing it was real. She was getting married! There was a knock on her window, the French doors on the balcony opened, and Grant stepped in.
“How is the future Mrs. Holbrook?” he asked, drawing her close to him and kissing her.
She pushed him down on the bed, and he lay back on the pillows and gave her his best come-hither look. Kate laughed at him and slowly unbuttoned his shirt.
“Pretty happy now that she’s landed America’s most eligible bachelor. Brandy’s going to be so jealous,” she said then clapped a hand over her mouth. “Sorry, that’s so petty.”
Grant grinned up at her. “Brandy and Fernando have taken up together, so everything’s working out.”
“Have they?”
“Eric told me.”
“They’ll be perfect for each other,” she said, pulling out her tablet. “Now we have to pick a date and start wedding planning.”
Grant plucked the device out of her hand and tossed it away. She protested, but he pulled her back on top of him and kissed her possessively. “There’s nothing to plan. You’re mine, you’re my fiancée, and you’re going to be my wife. That’s how it is.”
“Is it, Mr. Holbrook?”
“Absolutely.”
Chapter 66
Grant
Grant was nervous the day of the wedding. It was early fall of the next year, and there was a slight chill in the air. Since they were having the ceremony in the garden, Grant was glad it wasn’t too hot outside. The sun was shining, and the women were wearing furs. His uniform was wool, so he was glad for the chill.
While Grant was struggling to dress, Carter and Mark stepped into the room.
“Need some help, cuz?” Carter asked.
“That would be great, actually,” he said, gesturing to his pants. Carter ignored him and passed out glasses of whiskey.
“That’s not helping, Carter,” Mark said. He clipped on Grant’s shirt stays and made sure everything was straight then helped him into the heavy dark-blue pants.
“How’s business?” Carter asked while he made sure Grant’s shirt was neat.
“I’m glad I transitioned out of sales and more into managing those huge contracts. Even though it’s a lot of work, it’s nowhere near as stressful as sales. Have you figured out what you’re going to do about your career?”
“I’m not sure,” Mark said.
“I’m sure. I’m out in two months, if everything goes smoothly,” Carter said.
“Which it won’t,” Grant said, watching Carter finish Grant’s whiskey after drinking his own.
“You need to slow down,” Mark admonished.
“Where are you g
uys going to move after the honeymoon?” Mark asked.
“Here, I guess,” Grant answered.
“Here? It’s going to be crowded. My mom and dad are moving here too. They’re renovating their house.”
“Well, this place is plenty big. Neither Kate nor I has time to manage our own household. Plus, we’d be over here all the time, anyway. Might as well.”
“I’ll move here too,” Carter said, pouring himself another glass of whiskey. “I don’t have anywhere else to go.”
“That’s going to be… interesting,” Mark said, taking both the glass and the bottle away from Carter. “I think maybe I will renew my contract if this is what I have to look forward to.”
“No!” said Grant as Mark helped him with his jacket. “You have to come work at the company. There’s always new tech to develop.”
“I’ll think about it,” Mark said, straightening Grant’s medals and ribbons.
Mark clasped the Medal of Honor around his neck, and Carter handed him his saber.
“Spit polish, Sergeant!” he said as Jack and Walter came into the room, beaming.
“You look so handsome.”
Jack patted him on the back. “I’d hug you, but I think Mark and Stefan would kill me if I wrinkled your uniform.”
They walked out into the garden. Grant breathed in the scent of fall as he looked around at all their friends and family that had joined together to watch the couple say their vows.
The music started, and Grant escorted Nancy down the aisle. His adoptive parents were not invited to the wedding. He had given the guards strict instructions not to let them in if they did decide to show up.
Gus, ribbons and flowers tied around his neck, was the ring bearer. He held a little pillow in his mouth that had the wedding rings lightly sewn on. Grant had been training him to walk down the path and stop right at his feet. When confronted with all the people, however, the corgi looked as if he was going to forget all his training and start wandering. Grant whistled, and Gus gamely walked down the path, looking from side to side at all the well-dressed wedding guests.
Grant took the rings from the dog when he sat at his feet. When the quartet started playing the processional, Gus jumped up. Kate was about to arrive.
Chapter 67
Kate
The morning of her wedding, Kate was in a tizzy as her hair and makeup were done.
Ginny hovered around her. “It was probably smart not to have so many bridesmaids,” she said. “We could wake up leisurely at eight to start getting ready.” Ginny waved a smoothie in front of her face.
“It’s kale—no dairy. You haven’t eaten anything.”
“I’m too nervous,” Kate said. “I’m second-guessing my dress, and maybe I should have chosen different flowers. Also,” she said, struggling to look out the window without moving her head too much, “maybe we should move the wedding inside.”
“Stop worrying,” Kate’s grandmother said, coming into the room. “You look amazing.”
Ginny helped the hairstylist pin a tiara in Kate’s hair. “You look stunning,” she said, turning Kate’s head this way and that.
“Do I?” Kate asked, studying herself in the mirror. She was wearing a strapless gown with a flowing skirt made out of layers of translucent gauzy lace and a smattering of silk flowers for decoration.
Nancy placed a faux fur cape around her shoulders. “It’s a bit nippy,” she said.
Kate slowly made her way out to the garden, with Ginny picking up her train so it wouldn’t drag on the floor. Kate’s mind was racing as she mentally went through her checklist and tried not to trip on her hem.
All of her worries left her thoughts when she looked down the aisle and saw Grant flanked by his cousins. Gus jumped up, wagging his tail and barking when he saw her, and the crowd laughed.
This is my family, Kate thought as she got teary-eyed. Her grandmother squeezed her hand then walked her down the aisle, since her father was too busy with his new family to bother showing up.
Margaret dabbed her tears when they stopped under the arch of flowers, squeezed Kate’s hand one more time, then took her seat.
Grant leaned down and kissed Kate.
“You’re supposed to wait until I say so,” the officiate said.
The ceremony was short and sweet; it was over before Kate even registered what was happening. Then Grant was kissing her.
“We’re married,” he whispered.
“I know.”
They kissed again on the steps of the terrace leading to the garden, and Carter gave her the customary swat with his sword.
The wedding party took pictures in the garden during cocktail hour, then she and Grant walked arm in arm to the reception in the ballroom.
“I guess this room is good for something after all,” Grant said as they stood at the entrance to the grand space. The ballroom was decorated in white flowers and greenery.
“It should feel effortless and elegant,” Nancy had told the florists. And it was, Kate thought. The color scheme was creams and whites punctuated by natural greenery and slight hints of gold. It went well with the nature motif of the grand ballroom. Near the buffet stations was a flower-draped wedding cake surrounded by trays of hand-painted macarons and other desserts.
Kate leaned into Grant as he swept her around the room to oohs and ahhs in their first dance as husband and wife.
“Your grandmother gave me some lessons,” he said. “It paid off; everything did. You make me so happy.”
Kate danced with Walter during the father-daughter dance.
“Thank you for everything,” she said.
“I am so happy to have you in our family,” Walter told her. “Well, you’ve always practically been family. Now I officially have a daughter again.”
She got teary-eyed, watching Grant dance with Nancy.
After the cake cutting, Carter made a tasteless speech, and everyone laughed, then Walter stood up and made a more heartfelt one.
“Thank you for coming, everyone. As you know, our family has had a difficult time these last couple of years. The pain and grief defined us, then Grant came along. I’m so proud of him and honored to have him as my son. Kate has also helped me through these difficult times, and it is now my greatest joy that they have found one another.”
The crowd toasted the couple.
Kate and Grant barely ate during the reception. They were too busy walking around, receiving well wishes. As she hugged her friends and posed for pictures, Kate relished the relaxed atmosphere. She only wanted everyone to have a good time while they celebrated with the newlyweds.
During the dancing, Kate managed to slip away to change into a sexier dress.
“You look amazing,” Grant said.
“You clean up nice, Kate!” Carter hooted then yelled at the DJ to play some real music.
Kate laughed then shrieked as Grant picked her up and carried her to the dance floor. She danced with him, then his cousins, and then her friends. The party went on until almost midnight.
At the stroke of the clock, Kate slipped out to change into travel clothes then took her spot at the top of the staircase to toss the bouquet into the crowd.
“I caught it!” Carter whooped.
“Honestly,” Mark said, snatching the bouquet out of his hands and handing it to one of Eric Davenport’s sisters, “you need to clean up your act, Carter.”
Grant shook his head then offered his arm to Kate. He had changed out of his uniform, and she wrapped her arms around his waist as they descended the elaborate staircase. As they ran through the front door, guests lit sparklers to see them off in one of his father’s vintage cars.
“We did it!” Grant said, pulling Kate close and kissing her once they were inside the vehicle. She snuggled in his arms on the ride to the airport.
“Fancy seeing you here,” Wendy said, hugging Kate while the pilot shook Grant’s hand.
“So you won your girl after all. Nice job!” the captain congratulated him.
“It’s a surprise,” Grant replied. “Nancy helped me plan it. Don’t worry. We aren’t going to end up in Baghdad or anything. It will be fun—a nice long honeymoon.”
“I know it’s going to be perfect,” Kate said, kissing her husband.
And it was.
Afterword
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Keep reading for a sneak peak of
The Screw Up
Book 2 of the Holbrook Cousins Saga!
Chapter 1
Allie
It was Thursday night at the Wildcat bar and the topless contest was about to start—the topless contest for men that is.
If it was women that would be unseemly, Allie Larson, the bartender, snickered to herself.
“Greasing up for me, boys?” she asked as she deftly poured shots for the shirtless marines who flexed their muscles at her. The entrance fee for the contest was ten dollars, but the grand prize was a kiss from Allie.
It was a hot event; the bar was packed and the fire marshals were waiting outside the building to shut the establishment down if things spiraled out of control.
The Les DesChamps Marine Corps base was only a fifteen minute drive away. Marines with too much disposable income made up most of Allie’s customer base. Despite their raunchy behavior, Allie had a soft spot for the young enlisted men who frequented her bar.
“Have your eye on someone good?” her fellow bartender and roommate Stacy asked as she quickly poured a set of Jägerbombs for the boys.
“They’re all about the same,” Allie said. They watched as the marines who were competing took fortifying shots and greased up.
