Whatever Tomorrow Brings

by Lori Wick

  “We’ve never talked about children. You do want some, don’t you Katie?” His words, said sweetly, almost hesitantly, made Kaitlin wonder if he was feeling a little insecure about something.

  “I wouldn’t mind if we waited a little while, but I would like some—no less than five, to be exact.” That statement earned her a beaming smile and another kiss.

  As Rigg drove the remaining distance to church, Kaitlin told him of her conversation with Joey. “You should have seen his face, Rigg, it was heartbreaking.

  “ ‘Miss Donovan,’ he said, ‘you are going to teach school this year, aren’t you?’ He nearly burst into tears when I said I hadn’t decided.”

  “Maybe he’ll be there this morning,” Rigg commented, “and you can tell him the good news.”

  Rigg and Kate’s wedding plans spread like wildfire and many members of the congregation offered felicitations, before and after the service.

  Kate had been correct about Burt Kemp. He tracked them down within seconds of the benediction and then nearly hugged Kaitlin for saying yes. Kate and Rigg both felt comfortable with the decision and Burt made an appointment with Kate later that week to go over anything she might need.

  When they finally made it to the wagon they found Jeff waiting for them. For the first time Kate could remember, he wasn’t alone.

  “Kaitlin,” he said by way of greeting, “I want you to meet Sylvia Weber. Sylvia, this is Rigg’s fiancée, Kaitlin Donovan.”

  “It’s nice to meet you Sylvia,” Kate greeted the other woman and tried to keep the awe out of her voice. Sylvia was beautiful, strikingly so. Her dress was a deep rose velvet which accented every curve of her perfect figure. The feather on her matching hat was so high it brushed Jeff’s forehead when Sylvia stepped close to him.

  “Congratulations.” Sylvia’s voice was smooth and cultured. “I’m sure you and Rigg will be very happy.” Kate couldn’t help but respond to the genuine sincerity in her eyes and the four of them talked for awhile.

  It seemed that Sylvia and Jeff had finished school the same year. Sylvia’s family, all except her married sister, had then moved east shortly afterward. Sylvia was here staying with her sister for an indefinite period of time.

  “Are you coming to the house for lunch?” Rigg asked.

  “No, Sandra and Carl are expecting us,” Jeff supplied.

  “Sandra is my sister,” Sylvia told Kate. “And her husband is Carl, Carl Boggs.”

  The couples went their separate ways a moment later and Kate turned in her seat to watch Jeff and Sylvia climb into a snappy little buggy pulled by a dapple gray mare.

  “She’s beautiful.”

  “That she is. I’ve always liked dapple grays.”

  Kate’s head whipped around to see if he was teasing her but saw in an instant that he was dead serious.

  “I meant Sylvia.”

  “Oh.”

  “Rigg, are you really trying to tell me you didn’t notice that mass of blonde hair and those huge blue eyes?” Kaitlin’s voice told him she wouldn’t believe him no matter what he said.

  “Sylvia is very pretty,” Rigg said, his voice full of logic. “But my tastes run to Irish girls, black hair, eyes as soft and brown as pansies and stubborn chins.”

  Another wagon was coming toward them or Kate would have thrown her arms around Rigg. He had meant every word.

  “I love you Rigg.” Kate was feeling so emotional that the words were not in English.

  “Are you going to translate that for me?”

  Kate shook her head. “Just trust that I meant it.” Those words weren’t in English either, but Rigg could tell by the look in her eyes and the sound of her voice that he was loved.

  “Now if you will come into the living room,” May said with barely contained excitement, “your father and I have something to tell you.”

  Rigg and Kate exchanged a glance and seated themselves on the sofa.

  “We’ve been discussing a wedding gift for you. I think we’ve just the right thing. We want to fix up Rigg’s house—the cost will be on us! We’ll paint, wallpaper and make new curtains. We also want to replace any of the rugs that are worn, such as the one in the living room.

  “I figured we would need to do most of it after the wedding but we’ll start in the bedroom and see how far we can get. What do you think?”

  Rigg leaned forward on the sofa to see Kaitlin’s face. She looked worried.

  “Katie?” When Rigg spoke her name she looked at him.

  “Rigg, have I said something to make you think your home isn’t suitable?”

  “Oh no, Katie,” having heard the question, Bill broke in. “We know you would live there without a single complaint but things are showing their age and it’s nice to start out with a few new things.”

  “Is it all right with you?” Kate asked Rigg. “I mean, it’s your house and if you’d rather things were left alone—”

  “It’s our house and I like the idea. I probably won’t be much help in the color selection but whatever you and Mom come up with will be fine.”

  “Well, it’s all settled,” May beamed. “Come in the kitchen Kate and I’ll show you some fabric I picked up yesterday.”

  Rigg looked at his father after the women left. Gil was sprawled in a chair with the newspaper but Rigg knew he was the soul of discretion.

  “How long did it take for Mom to start thinking of your things as hers? And money . . . how long did it take for Mom to get comfortable enough to say she needed some money?”

  Bill looked at his son with compassion. “It’ll come, Rigg, just give her time. Tradition states that the bride’s family pays for everything and Kate has been somewhat worried, since the day she arrived, that she was a burden to us. Keep reassuring her that you’re going to take care of her.

  “And unless I totally miss my guess about everything I’ve heard about Aunt Maureen, I think Kate will have a wedding the likes of which she’s never dreamed.”

  sixty

  Rigg had mailed his letter to Patrick Donovan in Hawaii first thing Saturday morning. On Monday, Kate sat down and wrote to her father, as well as to her aunt. Aunt Maureen was in Santa Rosa a week later, on the first of four such trips she would make before the wedding.

  Maureen Kent was a welcome surprise to the Taylors. She genuinely desired to help yet did not take over. And she wanted to pay for everything!

  After two days, Kate stopped arguing with her because Aunt Maureen’s response was always the same: “This is the way your father would want it.”

  On Aunt Maureen’s third trip to Santa Rosa, three weeks before the wedding, she brought her niece a sizable box of nighties and feminine apparel. Maureen watched as Kate took the clothing from the box and exclaimed in delight over each one.

  “Thank you Aunt Maureen,” Kate breathed when the box was empty. “They’re all so lovely and I’ve never had anything like these before.”

  “The pleasure is all mine, Katie,” the older woman assured her warmly. “Katie,” Maureen spoke again and something in her voice immediately snagged Kate’s attention.

  “I can’t help but think that you must miss your mother more at a time like this. Am I right?”

  “Yes,” Kate replied softly.

  “I know you and Theresa were very close and I’m assuming she has talked to you about the intimate side of marriage.”

  “When I was fifteen.”

  “I’m glad to hear that, honey, but your mother isn’t here now and I want you to come to me if anything is bothering you. But I want to tell you something, Kate, that not many women practice. After you’re married, the best person you can talk to is your husband.

  “Rigg adores you; I can see that every time he looks at you. If anything is bothering you be sure you go to him. He might suggest you see May or contact me and that’s fine, but I’m in my second happy marriage and I’ve found that men want their wives to enjoy every aspect of married life. And they’ll go to any length to see that we’re happy a
nd cared for. I’m quite certain Rigg is no different.”

  The words were spoken so tenderly that Kaitlin felt for the first time that she’d missed something precious and dear by not being able to be closer to this woman.

  Kate thanked her aunt with a hug and they talked for a while longer.

  “Kaitlin,” Aunt Maureen spoke almost hesitantly. “Have you ever forgiven my son?”

  “Oh, Aunt Maureen,” Kaitlin said with deep feeling, sensing that her aunt had agonized over this issue. “I can’t tell you that it didn’t bother me, but I’m all right. Sean and I have talked about it and so have Rigg and I. Percy has been forgiven and blame is not being cast on anyone, including myself, as I once did.”

  “You don’t know how happy that makes me, Katie,” her aunt spoke tearfully. The women embraced again and, because it was Saturday, Kaitlin had to excuse herself soon after to work on her school lessons.

  School had gotten off to a good start for everyone but Sean. Kate had worried when they’d arrived in Santa Rosa that Sean would want to quit school and work full time. Kaitlin’s suspicions had been correct, but it happened in the fall.

  Rigg promised him as many hours as he could handle, but Kate could see he was still unhappy. He did his schoolwork, but with no extra effort. Two other boys who sat near him were able to distract Sean with barely a word or glance, and Kate was just sick each time she had to reprimand him in front of the class. She finally told him one day after school that he should write to Father.

  “You’re angry because he hasn’t come and I think I understand. What I don’t understand is why you’re taking it out on the rest of us. If you’ve got some anger to vent toward Father, then do so. But when you’re in my school, you’ll show proper respect to me and the other students.”

  Sean had slumped low in his seat and looked at the empty desks around him. It took Kate a moment to realize he wasn’t going to say anything. Her sigh was almost one of defeat.

  “Just think about it, please, Sean.” The surly 14-year-old finally nodded, acknowledging this time that he’d at least heard her.

  The problem with Sean was not the only ripple on the surface for Kaitlin. She had cried for a solid hour after she and Rigg met with Pastor Keller to discuss the ceremony.

  “My father should be here, Rigg. I feel like I’m betraying him. He should be here to marry us.”

  Rigg had been tender with his distraught fiancée but also adamant that they were making the right move. He reminded her that her father had encouraged them to go ahead with their plans.

  “Katie, we don’t know when he’s coming, you said so yourself. If I thought it would be soon after Christmas, I’d say let’s wait. But it could be months and I don’t think I’m being selfish in wanting us to start our life together now.

  “Like I said, we could set a date sometime in January and let your father know. But that only pressures him to come here even if the time is all wrong. I believe he was sincere when he said don’t hesitate and follow your heart.”

  Kate was comforted by Rigg’s words and admitted to him that she hadn’t really wanted to delay the wedding. She also told him he was going to have to be patient when she missed her father so much that all she could do was cry.

  The ever present handkerchief appeared from Rigg’s pocket and he informed Kate that she could cry on him anytime she wanted.

  May had the wedding dress done in record time and Kate couldn’t believe how beautiful it was, especially considering it was made of cotton.

  “You’ll thank me Katie,” May had told her when they’d decided on a pattern and fabric. “We always have Indian summer in October and your wedding day is sure to be a scorcher.”

  Kate stared in awe at her reflection in the mirror. The dress was snow white with a high neck and three quarter sleeves, the cuffs of which were trimmed with valenciennes lace. The skirt fell straight to the knees and then flared to the floor with a deep flounce.

  Kate fingered the intricate embroidery on the bodice and wondered in amazement how May had accomplished such a feat in so short a time.

  “Oh May,” Kaitlin whispered.

  “Don’t hug me, Katie,” May said with a smile, “you’ll wrinkle.”

  “But where did you get this lace and how could you have embroidered this so quickly?”

  May was grinning at her with an impish light in her eyes, when someone knocked on the door.

  “Come in, unless you’re Rigg and then you’d better not open that door!” May called in a loud voice.

  Jeff’s head appeared through the crack and the rest of him emerged when he spotted Kate. He whistled appreciatively at the sight of her.

  “It’s not too late to change your mind and marry me,” Jeff teased as he plopped in a chair.

  “What would Sylvia say?” Kate asked, her brows raised in censor.

  “Did you need something Jeffrey?” his mother wanted to know. She was somewhat immune to his charm.

  Jeff hemmed and hawed a bit and Kate had the distinct feeling that he didn’t want her to know what he’d come to say. She excused herself without giving anymore thought to Jeff’s actions and headed to “her” bedroom at the Taylors’.

  After the wedding dress was hung on the wardrobe door and Kate was once again dressed in her calico skirt and simple blouse, she stood and stared at the dress.

  Can you see my dress, Mother? Has God let you peek down and see how happy I am and what a wonderful husband Rigg will be? Can you feel how much I miss you Mother, or would that make you sad? Kate was not even aware of the tears that streaked her cheeks.

  There wasn’t a day that passed when she didn’t think of her mother and had to face the fact all over again that she really was gone. Today was no different. The fact that Aunt Maureen was coming and had been so valuable in the past weeks was a balm to Kaitlin’s pained heart.

  Kate’s mood lifted when she remembered that Aunt Maureen was scheduled to arrive on October second. When that happened, Kate had only five days to wait until she became Mrs. Marshall Riggs.

  sixty-one

  Santa Rosa was blanketed in fog the morning of the wedding. The CLOSED sign that Rigg had hung on the doors of the mercantile the night before, was still in place long after the store should have been open.

  Uncle Leo had surprised everyone by showing up on Thursday evening with his wife Ruth. It was his first visit since he’d moved to Texas. He announced that he’d come to run the store while Rigg was on his honeymoon.

  This news came as more of a relief to Jeff than Rigg, since Jeff had agreed to take care of things while the bride and groom were in San Francisco. But even though Leo Riggs was on the scene, Rigg opted to keep the store closed on Saturday. That way everyone could enjoy the wedding.

  Rigg had not banked on being so nervous that he couldn’t eat. Jeff had stayed the night at the house with Rigg and Sean and was able to observe his older brother in as close to a state of panic as he’d ever seen.

  “Why don’t you eat some breakfast Rigg?” Jeff suggested.

  “I’ll get something on my shirt.”

  “You’re not wearing a shirt,” Jeff pointed out, but Rigg only stared right through him.

  The wedding was set for one o’clock and, when Rigg disappeared to get dressed, he spent so much time in his bedroom that Jeff finally pounded on the door to tell him it was twelve-thirty.

  Rigg hurried out, struggling into his coat and asked Jeff how he looked—something he’d never done before.

  “You look good. In fact, Kate is so in love she’ll even forgive you for not shaving.”

  Rigg’s hand flew to the heavy stubble on his jaw before he began tearing his jacket off with enough force to rip the seams.

  “You don’t have time Rigg,” Jeff pleaded, but found himself ignored. Sean told Jeff he should have stayed quiet.

  While this scene of bedlam was being played out at Rigg’s residence, a most serene bride was being helped from the wagon at the back of the church.

&n
bsp; “Thank you, Gilbert.” Kate adjusted her skirts. “Do you suppose they’re here yet?”

  “I don’t think so. Let’s get inside out of the heat.”

  May had insisted that Kate go in Gilbert’s wagon and that they use the back door of the building in an effort to avoid most of the dust.

  Tables had been set up under the huge trees that lined the churchyard. Arriving guests delivered every type of food, from hot dishes to fruit salads, to be shared at the reception following.

  At three minutes to one, Gil joined Kaitlin in the small room in which she was waiting and told her that all the guests had been seated.

  “Are they here, Gil?”

  “No,” Gil answered and watched Kate in amazement. She didn’t seem to be the least bit upset that her intended was nearly late for his own wedding.

  “What do you suppose happened? You don’t think Jeff is up to something, do you?”

  “No, I don’t,” Gil said with conviction and then muttered, “he might do something after the fact but not before.”

  “Should I be getting worried?” Kate asked but just then Bill came in with good news.

  “Here’s Sean. We’re all set.”

  Brother and sister were left alone to wait for the music that was to be their cue to come down the center aisle of the church.

  “You’re beautiful, Kate.”

  “You look quite handsome yourself.” Sean grinned over the compliment and straightened the neckline of his shirt.

  “What happened to you guys?”

  “We were all ready to go and then Jeff reminded Rigg that he hadn’t shaved.”

  Kate giggled. “Did Rigg really forget to shave?”

  “You can laugh, Katie, but I swear the man nearly panicked!” Kate was still chuckling when the music sounded and they moved into position at the back of the church. Kaitlin caught sight of Rigg and then lost him again when the congregation stood.

  At the front of the church Sean handed Kate over to the waiting groom. She felt Rigg’s hand tremble within her own.

  “Second thoughts?” she teased in a soft whisper.