The portrait of Kate and Leah hung over the mantle in the family room. The black butterfly rested on a small white marble pedestal beneath it. Although she rarely stopped long in front of it, the picture had become a comfort to her. Something to be cherished.
"I have to get a shot of you in that gorgeous dress, Kate.” Bree, brandishing a camera, shepherded them into the orchid room. “And then the two of you together. We have to record it for future anniversaries."
Kate ran her fingertips down the skirt of her gown. The dress was her most ambitious project yet, and the result surpassed even her wildest dreams. She'd painted the cream-colored fabric with almost translucent blush-tinted orchids tumbling down the sleeves and onto the skirt of an A-line, waltz-length gown. Bree, then, had sewn the whole thing together.
They'd stood together in front of a mirror and giggled like school girls when Kate tried it on for her first fitting. The slim silhouette and her hair in a wild spill around her face gave Kate start. She looked happy, she thought. I am happy! It had been so long, she barely recognized the feeling.
How could she have known what this kind of love was about? She'd never felt it. Hadn't known there was this much caring in the world, let alone concentrated in one man.
For a long time she'd felt shell-shocked and rather as if she were recovering from a debilitating illness. With great patience and tenderness, Cass had helped her accept that an ending was only the prelude to another beginning. A beginning with him. Together. Kate and Cass. After awhile, she'd felt fate carrying her forward and realized there was nothing more for her to do. Leah was gone again, to her rest this time. The home place was no longer there to be fought over. The property would be valuable one day if the highway came through, but the land where it sat was scoured as clean as if a mighty wind had wiped it clean.
A day came when she'd accepted that life was returning to normal. She was content with the way events had worked out. She had Cass and Stacey, Max and a new home, much of it built especially for her, good friends and a thriving business. Joe Kinicki was actively interested in marketing a line of formal wear patterned after the fabric she'd painted for her own wedding gown. The work room closet already held bolts of silk ready for her to begin when the orders arrived. There was no doubt in Joe's mind they would pour in, in abundance.
Bree clicked away happily with her camera while Cass snugged Kate closely to his side. It was no chore to smile contentedly up into his eyes. He was so incredibly dear.
"Are you prepared,” he whispered, with a tug at her waist, “for life in the fast lane? A husband and maybe more family?"
"Are you prepared,” she answered softly, for his ears only, “for the distinct possibility of twins?"
He grabbed her in a bear hug and swung her around. “Katey mine. Oh my love. Just as soon as is humanly possible."
"What are you guys mumbling about?” Bree called over her shoulder, heading for the hall. “Come on. The party won't wait much longer.” Bree's best schoolteacher voice would have carried across a football field.
The dining room was filled with Cass's fellow workers, business associates, people from church, friends from all over central Illinois, and to Kate's surprise and delight, Joe Kiniki. The table had been extended its entire length and covered with an ivory cloth and a half dozen long-stemmed red roses, ones she'd carried down the aisle, scattered down its length.
A huge silver punch bowl sat at one end, a silver service for coffee and tea at the other end, and various delectable-looking finger foods dotted the table between. Quickly Kate identified baked phyllo with Brie, colorful veggies in a pedestal bowl with dip along side, the famous Angels on Horseback, a personal favorite of Cass's, a cheese and cracker platter, tarts and luscious-looking lemon squares, Bree's To-Die-For brownies, and charming little individual heart-shaped, Bundt cakes that Kate knew were a variety of carrot cake, German chocolate and a yellow, buttered-rum cake.
Bree opened the swinging door into the kitchen with one hip and came through carrying the wedding cake. Kate caught a glimpse of a huge cheesecake riding in regal splendor, encased in an elegant, domed cake plate. “You said you wanted something different,” Bree said, as she passed Kate.
Cass sighed, snagging Kate's hand and squeezing. “I'm in heaven. The girl of my dreams and cheesecake, too.” He waggled his eyebrows in an evil leer. “Got to keep up my strength."
She leaned into him. “Stop it.You'll embarrass me."
"I'm going to do more than that.” He dodged her elbow.
"In about two seconds I'm going to have that cake knife in my hand. You'd better behave."
His eyes went soft. “Whatever you want, Katey-love. From now on, if it's in my power, whatever you want."
* * * *
Later, much later, in the pearly gray of dawn, Kate awakened slowly, languorously.
Cass was on one elbow, looking down at her. “Mrs. Reynolds. Mrs. Cass Reynolds. It has a certain ring, don't you think?"
She stretched and smiled up at him. “Like bells cast in England. The mister part of it isn't bad, either."
He was holding her hand, caressing it lightly, and Kate had the fleeting thought that he'd been holding it even as she slept.
"I've been watching the moonlight flow over your hair and your face,” he said. “You're as perfect as one of your orchids."
"You're prejudiced and I love it."
"Very likely,” he conceded. “But I can't imagine how it would be possible to improve anything about you."
He rested a hand on her belly, so softly it might have been butterfly wings skimming across her skin. “I do want more babies, you know. Your babies."
"If we're lucky, we'll have one, or two, in nine months and fifteen minutes."
"If we have a baby, anytime, we'll be the luckiest two people alive."
She took his hand and brought it to her lips. “Cass,” she spoke hesitantly. “If we have a girl, I'd like to name her after Leah."
He nodded. “She was a part of you. And in the end, she loved you more than she loved herself. Little Leah. It's good."
Meet Marilyn Gardiner
My byline has appeared on everything from children's literature to senior citizen fiction, from news writing to poetry, fiction and non-fiction. I have taught a successful creative writing course and been involved in a program teaching adults to read. Credits include Wings ePress, Inc. as well as a multitude of newspapers and magazines. I have placed in the top three in national contests and treasure a Writing Excellence Award from my college.
I have a loving and supportive husband and two grown daughters, who have given me a total of eight perfect, handsome and intelligent grandchildren. (So says this prejudiced grandmother.) Since my first memory, music and books have been my passion. Music continues to feed my soul. I have sung in choral groups all across the eastern half of the U.S., done solo and ensemble work and am currently a member of a large chorale. Today I have books in every room in my house, and never go out the door without reading material under my arm. With equal passion, I avoid cooking and cleaning house.
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Dancing Ladies Page 32
