by Peggy Webb
She wished she had a recording of his proposal. She wished he’d say it again so she could be sure she heard every word exactly right. But the Dixie Virgins would tell her it was time to shut up and claim her victory.
“Belinda? Did you hear me? I want to marry you.”
“I heard you, Reeve. My answer is YES!”
She reached for him, or maybe he reached for her. She was too excited to know how it all went, but the bottom line was, she ended up in his arms and he ended up racing up the stairs. Heady stuff, this love and marriage business.
It wasn’t until he’d placed her on his bed and stood there removing his pants that she came off cloud nine.
“Reeve Lawrence, just what do you think you’re doing?”
“Thank God, there’s no longer any need for pretense.” His shirt hit the floor, and then his jockey shorts.
“Put your clothes back on!”
“I beg your pardon?”
“You can beg anything you like, but if you think I’m letting you pick my plums before the wedding, you’ve lost your mind.” She sat up in the middle of his bed and rearranged her robe, which had gone more than a little askew in their hasty dash up the stairs. “I am not the kind of woman to walk down the aisle in a white wedding gown if the groom has already been to Virginia and back.”
“Virginia?”
“Reeve Lawrence, are you laughing?”
“No, ma’am.”
He put his hand over his mouth, but he couldn’t hold back his laughter. It was a sound of pure delight, and so infectious Belinda found herself doubled over on the bed, laughing with him.
Suddenly, Reeve sat on the edge of the bed, buck naked and looking so good she almost forgot who she was.
“I can’t believe my good fortune. All this, and a virgin, too.” He picked her up then and headed toward the door. “Allow me to escort you back to your bed.”
“I like this kind of escorting.”
“Don’t expect me to wear this suit to dinner.”
Chapter Twelve
Reeve had been waiting for a good thirty minutes when he heard her at the top of the staircase. There she was, his Belinda, poised like a queen. If he lived to be a hundred he would never get enough of seeing her.
She spotted him then gave him a smile and began to come down the stairs. She was a polished and elegant woman and yet she was still the same refreshing woman who had walked sideways down the street lugging her cardboard suitcase. Natural charm and beauty had always been hers.
He kept his eyes on hers until she was even with him, standing on the second step.
“I thought you would be gone to the office,” she said.
“I’ve taken the day off, and Quincy has taken the children to visit Sunny’s parents.”
“After last night’s excitement, I slept late.” She blushed, “I thought since I had today off, you wouldn’t mind.”
“Belinda, all your days are now days off.” He took her hand. “I have a surprise for you.”
“Will I like it?”
“You sound like Betsy.” As he led her toward the front door he imagined his children’s excitement when they learned their favorite nanny would soon be their mother.
“Have you told her and Mark?”
“We’ll tell them together. But first, I have to apologize to you for making assumptions last night.
He handed her a small box, elaborately wrapped in pink stripped paper and tied with a pink and gold ribbon.
“I like the wrapping.”
“I thought you might.” She was still hanging on, admiring the bow. “Aren’t you going to open it?”
Belinda removed the bow first, then set it on the hall table. Next she took off the paper, removing it with such care that there was only a little jagged tear where the tape had held it together.
Then she lifted the lid of box, held up the key chain and inspected it from all angles.
“Two keys?” Belinda gave him a perky smile “Well—that’s lovely, Reeve. Thank you.”
“Aren’t you even going to ask what the keys fit?”
“Some people decorate with keys—hang them on the wall and all that.”
“Come with me.” Reeve pushed open the door, and there in front of the house was a bright red car, as square and sturdy as a box, but bright red, nonetheless. “For you, Belinda.”
“You bought a car already this morning?”
“I have friends in high places. It’s all yours.”
“Boy, when you apologize, you really do it with style.” She walked around the car, running her hands over the shiny paint, leaning down to admire the leather seats through the window.
“Do you like it?”
“It’s the finest gift anybody ever gave me.” She looked at the car one last time—with regret. Then she handed the keys to Reeve. “I can’t take it.”
“You can’t take it?”
“Has your hearing done bad? That’s what I said.”
“If you don’t like the color or the style, we can take it back right now and get something different.”
“It’s not that.” Belinda bit her lips. “I was so scared driving to Tunica, I nearly passed out. I didn’t drive over forty miles an hour the whole time.”
She pressed the keys into his hand once more. “Thank you just the same, Reeve, but I’ve given up driving. I’m terrible at it.”
Reeve smiled. “That’s because you had the wrong teacher.”
“Clemmie was very patient.”
“From now on, I’ll be your teacher.”
“You’re going to help me with driving?”
“Among other things.” He opened the car door. “Climb aboard.”
Teaching always brought out the best in Reeve. Belinda gave him a smart little salute and smiled.
“Are you ready for your first lesson, Belinda?”
“Carry on, Teach.”
Reeve drove her into the country, stopping long enough to pick up some food for a picnic. They spent a glorious day together. Reeve was patient and kind and gentle. Under his guidance, Belinda lost her fear of the car.
By the time they headed home, she actually driving on the speed limit.
“Pull over at Burger King,” he said.
“Shoot, I thought I was doing great.”
“You are. I just want to drive so you’ll have your hands free when we get home.”
“For what, may I ask?”
“Because I have another surprise for you.”
“With all these gifts, I’m beginning to feel like a visiting dignitary.”
“What I want you to feel like is my fiancée.”
When they got to Reeve’s neighborhood, he reached for her hand.
“Close your eyes, now.” The car slowed, then turned into the driveway and came to a stop. “Keep them shut.”
He helped her from the car then led her onto the front porch.
“Now. Open wide.”
Red geraniums were everywhere. Two huge urns flanked the doorway; hanging baskets swung from the porch railings, and pots of all sizes were banked around two enormous rocking chairs.
“Reeve!” Belinda ran around the porch, stopping to sniff a red bloom, pausing to admire a hanging basket, laughing and crying at the same time. When she was even with the rocking chairs, she faced him.
This is the most wonderful gift. How did you know?”
“I remembered out first conversation, but just to be certain, I called your friend Clemmie.”
“This is the most wonderful surprise in the whole world. These pots of geraniums and these rockers tell me more about how you feel than...” She squeezed her hands together.
“Than the car, Belinda?”
“Yes. Than the car... and all the clothes and all the finery in the world. I’ve always wanted a little house to call my own with red geraniums on the front porch.”
“Will a big house do as well?”
“It will do perfectly well.”
Reeve sat down in one o
f the rockers and pulled her onto his lap.
“I’ve feel like I’ve been loving you since the beginning of time, Reeve. All these years I’ve been going from place to place, searching for a little house, sometimes even searching for a man to live in it with me. And all along, here you were.”
“Just waiting for you, Belinda.”
With the scent of geraniums sweet around them, Reeve set the rocking chair into motion and held her close.
“Reeve?” She lifted her head to look at him “I’m thinking of another lesson.”
“A driving lesson?”
“No. Not that.” She blushed. Reeve stilled the rocking chair. “About the other night. Do you think we might try that again on the honeymoon?”
“I can guarantee it, Belinda.”
“I have to warn you. It may take a while to get the hang of it.”
“Then we’ll just have to practice till we get it right.” He kissed her for such a long time, her face turned as rosy as the geraniums.
When she could finally get her breath, she said, “That’s a nice start. Can we do it again?”
“I’m so glad I’m marrying a woman who knows the value of continuing education.”
o0o
From: Catherine
To: Belinda, Janet, Clemmie, Bea, Joanna, Molly
Re: Update
OMG, what’s going on, sweetie? Did you confront him? What did he do? I can’t even study for wondering!!!
Cat
From: Joanna
To: Belinda, Janet, Clemmie, Bea, Molly, Catherine
Re: Pins and needles
WHAT’S HAPPENING!!! I’m DYING here!
Joanna
From: Molly
To: Belinda, Janet, Clemmie, Bea, Joanna, Cathrine
Re: Tell ME
Belinda, I’m so worried I called Daddy to see if you’d been reported dead in a car wreck.
Molly
From: Bea
To: Belinda, Clemmie, Bea, Joanna, Molly, Catheine
Re: Report for the Troops
Belinda, dang, woman! What’s going on? I told Janet and Clemmie I’d call the minute I hear. J’s up to her eyeballs in exams and one of C’s boarders fell and had to be taken off to the hospital. She’s scared she’s going to get sued! I told her not to worry. Molly’s dad knows some of the best lawyers in Tupelo. Nobody is going to bleed her dry in a court of law if I have anything to say about it! And, as you know, I always have plenty to say!
Bea
From: Belinda
To: Molly, Joanna, Bea, Clemmie, Catherine, Janet
Re: THE WEDDING
Reeve asked me to MARRY HIM!!!! You ought to see my ring. An eight carat solitaire! He gave me a car, too. But none of that meant as much to as the rocking chairs and the red geraniums he put on the front porch. All for me! I can’t believe how lucky I am – a fabulous husband and two darling children! Betsy and Mark were so excited when we told them, they didn’t go to bed till midnight!
I want both children in the wedding. I’d love to have all of you as bridesmaids but I know that’s selfish of me, considering where you are and what you’re doing.
I’m thinking of an early fall wedding, you know when the weather is cool and we can have it right here in the backyard. Clemmie, it was you who gave me the idea for an outdoor wedding. Reeve’s yard is as big as a park, and it looks like the botanical gardens over in Huntsville.
The wedding’s going to be discreet and small since it’s the second one for Reeve. Just a close friends and family. I’m thinking September, but October might be better. What do you think?
Xoxo
Belinda
From: Joanna
To: Belinda, Janet, Catherine, Bea, Clemmie, Molly
Re: Either one
ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!! I’m jumping at the chance to leave these nuns, even if I will have to come back and finish out my education!! Name the date, Belinda! I’ll be THERE!!!
BIG HUGS!
Joanna
From: Molly
To: Belinda, Janet, Catherine, Bea, Clemmie, Joanna
Re: Ditto
Ditto everything Joanna said, except about the nuns! Oh, I can even bring the bridesmaids’ dresses from Paris! Just tell me the sizes and color! OMG, this is so much FUN!!! Daddy’s going to be tickled pink I’m coming home for a visit.
Hugs,
Molly
From: Catherine
To: Belinda, Janet, Molly, Bea, Clemmie, Joanna
Re: OVER THE TOP
What do you mean, keep the wedding discreet? It’s YOUR wedding, too! You can have peacocks strutting around the yard if you want. OMG, I just had a wonderful idea! Love birds! I’ll bring some from New Orleans. You can find just about anything you want down here. Oh, and I love the idea of bridesmaids’ dresses from Paris. Let me pick out the shoes. I saw the CUTEST ones last week in the French Quarter!
XOXO
Cat
From: Janet
To: Belinda, Catherine, Molly, Bea, Clemmie, Joanna
Re: The Exams
I got through the exams, thank God! And this is wonderful news! A fall wedding will be perfect. Are you ready for my news? I’m coming to Tupelo this fall to start my internship!!!
Xo
Janet
From: Molly
To: Janet, Belinda, Catherine, Bea, Clemmie, Joanna
Re: Tupelo
YAY, JANET! Call Daddy and ask him for the best place to stay! Oh, I’ll be SO GLAD to have you in Tupelo. He’s still doing Match.com, and if he actually finds a woman, you’ll be there to check her out!
Molly
From: Clemmie
To: Janet, Belinda, Catherine, Bea, Molly, Joanna
Re: Good news
I’m having a double celebration. Belinda’s getting married and I’m not getting sued. I want to make the wedding cake! And Bea, don’t you go telling me it’s too much trouble. I’m putting two brothers through college and running this place single-handedly. If I wanted to, I could march Hannibal’s elephants across the Alps!
Belinda, Cat’s right about having the kind of wedding you want. Why don’t you have one of those cute little horse-drawn carriages to ride off in? I’ll bet Quincy’s brother could find one.
Hugs,
Clemmie
From: Bea
To: Belinda, Janet, Catherine, Clemmie, Molly, Joanna
Re: Hallelujah!
That big scream was me, out here in Texas shouting hallelujah! Bring on the Parisian gowns and the New Orleans shoes. For the wedding I’ll ditch my boots! And listen here, my lady! You have the kind of wedding you want. It you want a Texas roundup, I’ll get a whip and herd the cattle!
Who are the groomsmen? Will there be any hot guys? Does Reeve have a brother? The guys at the advertising firm are either married or jerks. At the rate I’m going, the only action my Virginia is likely to see is at the gynecologist’s.
Still, Belinda, your success story gives the rest of us hope.
That’s one down for the Dixie Virgins and six to go! Yee Haw!
Hugs,
Bea
-The End-
The Dixie Virgin Chronicles is a seven-book romantic comedy series. Books one and two are available as e-books now, books three and four are coming the first week in October, 2013, and books five, six and seven will be available by the end of October, 2013.
The Dixie Virgin Chronicles: Belinda (Book One)
The Dixie Virgin Chronicles: Janet (Book Two)
The Dixie Virgin Chronicles: Molly (Book Three)
The Dixie Virgin Chronicles: Bea (Book Four)
The Dixie Virgin Chronicles: Clementine (Book Five)
The Dixie Virgin Chronicles: Joanna (Book Six)
The Dixie Virgin Chronicles: Catherine (Book Seven)
Book Two Excerpt - The Dixie Virgin Chronicles: Janet
Prologue
From: Janet ([email protected])
To: Belinda, Clemmie, Joanna, Molly, Catherine, Bea
Re: Bel
inda’s Wedding
I’m still pinching myself that I got to see every one of you at the wedding! Belinda, I’ve never seen a happier bride! I’ll admit I was skeptical when Cat said she was bringing love birds from New Orleans. I could picture bird shit everywhere. But it was amazing when you kissed your new husband and all those white doves went fluttering into the air! By the way, I totally approve your Reeve Lawrence. He’s intelligent, cultured, successful and mad about you!
Oh, I miss all of you! But I’m really looking forward to my internship. All my books are unpacked and I’m settled into my new apartment, thanks to your dad, Molly. I could never have found this gem of place without Mr. Rakestraw. I love being downtown so I can walk to the library and the post office. There’s a school nearby where I can run on the track. And there’s even a darling little mutt who comes by to visit on weekends. I call him Harvey. Life just couldn’t be more perfect!
Xo
Janet
From: Molly ([email protected])
To: Janet, Belinda, Catherine, Clemmie, Joanna, Bea
Re: From Paris with love
OMG, Janet, I’m so glad you’re in Tupelo now and in the same apartment as Daddy! How cool is that! He’ll be a surrogate father to you, but I want you to keep an eye on him, too. I think he’s found somebody on Match.com, but he’s not saying. I’m ABOUT TO DIE!!! By the way, Mr. Rakestraw is far too formal for Daddy. Call him Mr. Jed. He’ll love that.
It was totally awesome to see all of you! I thought we looked incredible in the Parisian bridesmaids’ dresses, and that gorgeous shade of sky blue I found looked fabulous on all of us! Of course, Belinda, you were the shining star in that bridal gown that looked like something out of a fairy tale. Do have the best honeymoon ever!!! And if you have time to join me for lunch before you leave Paris, that would be so much fun!
