by Lori Leger
He wiped his eyes and smoothed out the paper on her bed sheet, and began to read in a low voice, cracking with emotion.
“I, Zachary Cade Ferguson, agree to allow Cathryn Jade McDaniel, upon her marriage to me, all the time she needs to pursue her dual career of writing and photography for as many years as she wants or needs.
I also agree to pull my share of daddy duty should she agree to bless us with children as beautiful as she is. In the event that occurs, I will gladly, and without complaint, share in changing dirty diapers, both number one and number two, participate in pre-dawn feedings, rock colicky babies, treat boo-boos, wipe snotty noses, clean spit-up and vomit, both regular and projectile, as well as clean and sanitize after cases of diarrhea, both regular and explosive. I do, however, reserve the right to an occasional gag or barf during above-mentioned situations. In the occasion that any child of ours survives our incessant doting and spoiling, I also agree to share in both dropping off and picking up of said child or children to and from any, and all lessons and practices. This includes dance, gymnastics, tee-ball, baseball, softball, soccer, volleyball, football, basketball, chess, wrestling, swimming, water-polo, golf, synchronized swimming, track, singing, cheerleading, dance squad, piano, guitar, band, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera… ”
“I also reserve the right to love you unconditionally until the end of our time together on this earth, and beyond that, if God is willing. I will be your lover, your best friend, your ear to listen to your problems, your shoulder to cry on, your biggest and most boastful fan, and your cheering section.”
He chuckled, smiling through his tears. “This is where I stopped reading and pulled out the ring.” He wiped his eyes again, touched the side of her face with one hand. “You need to wake up, babe, and when you do, you need to remember the rest of that speech. How I promised to do all that stuff if you’d agree to be my wife.”
He clasped her fingers tightly. “You remember, don’t you? I told you how I’d loved you since sixth grade, when you racked me during dodge ball?” He laughed then, having to stop to wipe his eyes, yet again. “But you did apologize in the most adorable way.”
At that point, he cleared his throat and proceeded to tell her in her own words.
“You said, and I’m quoting the best I can remember, ‘I sincerely hope I didn’t damage any of those man parts, Zachary, but it’s not my fault you weren’t paying attention.’” He laughed again. “And you were right. I wasn’t paying attention. I was too damned busy watching you, and falling in love with you.”
He drew in a long breath and released it slowly. “You know, I told you all of this once, at Easter, Cathryn Jade, but I need you to wake up and remember so I can tell you again. Please wake up remembering, baby. I want to ask you again what I asked you that day, to please, please marry me.”
He smoothed the sheet and white cotton blanket over her stomach, and then laid his head gently on top. He held her left hand tightly to his lips as he asked God to give her strength.
That’s when he felt it—the touch, the lightest, most delicate touch on his hair. He held his breath, praying he hadn’t imagined it. He felt it again, stronger this time, and followed by the five most wonderful words in the world.
“We’re already married…aren’t we?”
He lifted his head slowly to stare into eyes the color of rich chocolate, framed by lashes so long he’d always told her using mascara was a waste of time and money.
“Or did I dream that part?” She looked a little confused. “I didn’t remember, but then we went to the hospital for Kellie, and it all came back to me. There was pain. I remember a lot of pain, too.” She reached up to touch her bandaged head.
“You had surgery, but you’re fine now.”
Zach kissed her and smiled, pulled the tiny yellow envelope out of his shirt pocket. He emptied all three rings into the palm of his hand and picked up hers.
“You didn’t dream a damn thing that had to do with marrying me, and it so happens I’ve got the proof.”
He slipped the rings onto her left ring finger before giving it a gentle kiss, and then slid his own band back into place. He reached for the plastic bag, pulling the second envelope into view.
“I couldn’t find this for a while, but it was in your mom’s car this entire time.” He unfolded their marriage license and held it up in front of her.
“How long?” she murmured. “How long has it been—this time around?”
Zach shook his head at the look of sheer terror on her face. “Not even twenty-four hours.”
“Is that all?” she slurred.
“Yep, that’s all. Close your eyes now and sleep a little longer. Looks like you’re having some trouble keeping those gorgeous peepers of yours open.”
“No!” She forced her eyes open. “What happened, Zach? I want to know if I’m remembering it correctly.”
“We went to the Jennings hospital last night to see Kellie, and you collapsed as soon as we got there. Is that what you remember?”
She gave him the slightest of nods, as though she was afraid to make any sudden movements. “Uh huh. What about Kellie? Do I have a niece, yet?”
“Yep, healthy and beautiful. They had to do a C-section but mommy and daughter are both wonderful, and Daddy Brad is over the moon.”
“Good.” She smiled, half asleep. “Keep going.”
“Doc Barton made them rush you by ambulance to Lake Coburn because they had the best neurosurgeon around. They got CT scans, and X-rays, MRI’s, and some other tests I can’t recall, and first thing this morning, Dr. Tanner Collins did the surgery. He inserted this tiny little coil into the aneurysm to keep it from rupturing and bleeding out. You were in surgery for about four hours, I think, but you did fine and there’s no danger.”
By the time Zach had finished the story, the sound of soft snoring filled the room. He stood slowly and watched her for several minutes, thanking God for bringing her back to him. When he thought he could bear to leave her side, he leaned over to kiss her gently on the lips and went to find her mom.
Chapter 9
August 10th
Zach held his breath, waiting to catch the first glimpse of his bride as the double doors opened at the opposite end of the church. His gaze zeroed in on Cat. His Cat. Her bare, lightly bronzed shoulders contrasted nicely against the white sleeveless halter style dress she’d chosen. Its skirt shimmered, catching glints of reflected light from whatever covered the front in some kind of delicate pattern. The dress hugged her curves before flaring in gentle folds to the floor. He’d like to be that dress right now.
He couldn’t see many details from this distance, didn’t even notice her escorts until she was halfway down the aisle. Cat had both arms looped through Kellie’s elbow on one side, and Ms. Ellen’s on the other. Neither of the women, dressed in non-matching, black and white gowns, elegant and beautiful, were a match for his stunning bride. His Cat.
Cat’s hairstyle, her locks of chocolate brown, highlighted with natural auburn, was a testament to their ability to compromise. The style, somewhere between his love for it down and flowing around her shoulders, and the ‘up-do’ she longed for. Half of it pinned in a loose cluster of curls, while the rest cascaded in graceful loops and spirals down her luscious neck. His mouth watered, thinking about getting his mouth on that neck tonight.
As Cathryn neared, her exquisite beauty took center stage. Those huge, sexy, brown eyes he loved gazing into sparkled with sheer joy, and a hint of excitement. Her smile—God he loved seeing Cat smile—loved the sexy as hell curve of that bottom lip.
How’d he get so damned lucky?
Cat stopped before him, her long lashes lowered, resting on lightly flushed cheeks as she took a deep breath and released it. She hugged her sister before turning to her mother. After a brief exchange in emotional whispers, Cat clung to her mom for a moment, before she stepped back.
Zach hugged each woman and waited as Cat turned slowly to face him, her glorious eyes focused
and serious, all hint of laughter gone. Her classic ‘let’s get down to business’ look.
So, it’s that way, is it? He lifted one brow curiously, wondering what had happened to her desire for a fun, relaxing wedding. That’s when he saw it. The barely noticeable lift of one corner of her lip. That one movement, the slightest reveal, told him to expect the unexpected.
She leaned in, her voice a tantalizingly low, seductive whisper. “Zach-attack, you are looking mighty fine today in your GQ tux.”
He smoothed down his lapel, adjusted his tie. “You think so, Cat-tastrophe?”
She nodded. “Mmm-hmm. I’m thinking if all these people weren’t here, I could show you just how good I think you look.”
He grinned at the woman he adored. “Bring it on, beautiful,” he whispered. “People in this town would find something else to talk about soon enough.” A sudden loud clearing of a throat forced him to pull his gaze from his gorgeous bride, to face their local priest.
“If, ahh, you two are finished admiring each other, I have a wedding to perform.” Father Hebert spoke quietly, his deep baritone reserved, though his eyes sparkled with barely concealed humor.
“Sorry, Father.” Zach took Cat’s right hand in his own.
Her face beaming, she placed her left hand gently upon his jaw. “I adore you, Zachary.”
He brought her left hand up to his mouth for a gentle kiss before lowering it and covering it with his right hand. “I know.”
Lucky, lucky man.
Cat snuggled closer to Zach, tried to catch her breath as she relished the feel of his corded muscles holding her.
“You know that saying,” Zach panted, “… about good things coming to those who wait?”
She grinned, already suspecting where he was heading with this. “Uh huh.”
“It should be…great things.” He panted heavily. “Oh my God. This is the best night of my life, already, and…” He stopped to pant again.
“And it’s only started,” she finished for him, thankful that her heartbeat was finally returning to normal.
“Yeah…I was gonna say that…as soon as…I could,” he gasped.
“Let me know when you can,” she said, nibbling on his chin. “So we can go another round.”
He pulled her close for a kiss. “As soon as I’m able—I’m willing.”
She laughed and sat up, pulling a light robe around her before crawling out of their massive bed. “You hungry?”
“Mm, for you—always.” He grinned at her, pulled on the belt of her robe until it hung open.
She chuckled and pulled her belt from his grasp. “I don’t know about you, but I’m starving. I was too excited to eat before the wedding and too busy to eat during the reception.” She leaned over to lift the lid of the cooler her mom and Doc Barton had packed and placed in their get-a-way vehicle.
“Just a little something to tide you two lovebirds over until your flight leaves tomorrow evening.” Her deliriously happy mother had patted their cheeks and grinned. “You’ll thank us later.”
“Mm…What do we have here?” she said, lifting a storage bag full of crust-free sandwiches to the bed.
Zach sat up, obviously lured by the aroma of chicken salad, ham and Swiss, and sliced turkey. “Sus-te-nance! I don’t care what kind it is. I’ll eat it.”
She popped one in his mouth, pulling back her fingers with a screech, as he wolfed it down. “I wonder what other goodies she packed for us.” She shoved the bag at her husband, giggling when he hissed at the cold plastic hitting his bare belly.
She dug into the chest, squealing in victory as she pulled out a container of shrimp dip, crackers, a relish tray, and assortment of sliced and cubed cheeses. They feasted on smoked gouda, black olives and crackers covered with the delicious dip.
Zach nodded and smacked his lips. “That’s all good, but I need meat for optimum performance…lots of protein.”
Cat dug into the cooler again, pulled out a container of sliced ham, turkey and roast beef. “Will this do?”
Zach took the container from her and grinned. “I believe it will.”
She opened another container and gave a delighted laugh. “Don’t eat too much of that, babe. I found dessert!” She showed him strawberries dipped in chocolate.
“Wow, Doc and your mom thought of everything, didn’t they?”
Cat pulled out a chilled bottle of excellent champagne, along with a corkscrew and two flutes. “They sure did.”
An hour later, with all appetites finally and fully sated for a while, they lay together, talking in quiet whispers.
“I wonder how many other married couples wait until their second wedding to have sex?”
He snorted. “In this day and age? Not too many, I’d wager.”
Cat traced her finger lightly over the profile of his nose. “Are you sorry we waited?”
He caught her finger between his teeth, sucked on it softly before releasing it. “Absolutely not. It made it even more special, in my opinion. Besides, I made you wait, first.”
“Yeah, you did. And for a while there, you were really strong.”
He shook his head, remembering the fateful night they’d talked each other into getting married early. “You know, I was angry at myself, thinking I could have saved you a lot of pain if I had only been stronger.”
She shrugged. “Until Dr. Collins told us that the aneurysm was most likely there prior to the accident. Things do happen for a reason. That accident could very well have saved my life.”
Zach pulled her closer, as though afraid to let her go. “God definitely works in mysterious ways.”
She ran her nails lightly through the hair on his chest. “Speaking of Dr. Collins, I saw him yesterday morning, and he gave me a clean bill of health.”
“Oh yeah? So you’re released and everything?”
“Yeah, and you know what that means, don’t you?”
“You’re probably going to say that I can quit worrying about you so much, but I doubt that’ll happen anytime soon.”
“Well, that, and we can start trying for a baby anytime we want.”
He lifted his head off the pillow to lock his gaze onto hers. “Sooo…just what is it you’re trying to say?”
She smiled seductively at her husband as she slowly straddled him.
“I’m saying—I want.”
Chapter 10
November 1st
Cathryn Ferguson purposely waited a full five minutes before going back into the bathroom. She entered with her eyes closed, opened them to stare at the spot where she’d placed the stick, praying to see a plus sign. “Shoot!” She picked up the test strip to stare at the negative symbol before tossing it into the trash. She’d hoped to be pregnant by Christmas, but at this rate, that wouldn’t happen.
A bluish-gray ball of fur wrapped itself around her legs as she walked out. She lifted her cat to cradle him in her arms. Chableu touched her face gently with one paw, as though trying to tell her he was there for her. She found it amazing that he always seemed to know when she needed a little extra loving.
“You’re my good, sweet, boy aren’t you? Yes, you are,” she crooned. Chableu rubbed his head under her chin and purred like there was no tomorrow.
She carried him to the open living room of the Acadian style home Zachary had built nearly six years earlier. She’d fallen in love with this place the moment she’d seen it, even as messy as it had been at the time. Cathryn smiled, remembering it as it was then, littered with empty beer bottles, tattered furniture, and everything covered in dog hair. A vast difference from the showcase home the two of them had created together. They’d filled the place with period pieces, memorabilia, and artifacts from their ancestor’s way of life as well as their own collections of books and artwork.
As she sat with Chableu in one arm and her notebook computer in the other, she heard her husband’s truck roll into the drive.
She scooted from the sofa to meet him at the kitchen door. “What are you doing ho
me?”
“I forgot something. Hey, did you hear that the electronics store got broken into?” He bent low, wrapped his arms around her waist and lifted her, giving her a big kiss.
She returned it willingly, taking it a step further by wrapping her legs around his hips. “Nope, I hadn’t heard that. Did they steal a lot of stuff?”
“Nope, just did some damage to the building itself. Broke windows, spray painted all over the interior. Mm…damn that feels good.”
Cat smiled as she massaged the back of his scalp, hoping to relieve his tension. She craved the touch of this man. Looking back on it, she wondered how she’d managed to miss the fact that she’d always been in love with him. It had taken twelve years being away from him, before she’d realized that the one thing missing in every relationship she’d ever had, was Zachary. No man had ever measured up to him, and no man ever would.
“Can you stay?” She started pulling at the snaps on his long sleeve western shirt.
“I hadn’t planned on it. Just came by to pick up the suppliers agreement with the LeMaire’s.”
“And … ” She opened his shirt and slipped her hands over his smooth skin, molding them to the shape of his chiseled abs. Zach didn’t need a gym membership to stay in shape, not when he worked as hard as he did at their business, the only feed-store in the area.
“They’re ready to sign it.”
“Great, is that for two years?”
“Nah, I gave it to them for one year. I figure they’ll be so bowled over by the excellent services we provide, they won’t want to leave me at the end of the year.”
“Mm, and I can verify that you’re the man when it comes to servicing.” She nipped at his earlobe. “Can you stay?”
