by Burke, Wendy
His response was professional, but held a happy edge. “I’m sorry I can’t divulge that information as it’s of a secure nature, ma’am.”
She glanced at the man in the passenger seat. “You’re going to give me the same answer, aren’t you?”
“Ma’am, no. You are being taken to meet Lieutenant Nicholas Klaussen.”
“Where?”
“Ma’am, not allowed to say.”
She looked at Seth, wondering, until he winked at her then turned away, trying to hide an impish grin.
Minutes later, the transport came to a halt. Seth exited, put out his hand and helped her from the vehicle.
Awed, she bit her bottom lip to keep her mouth from gaping—the two military columns were again in precise formation. At their head stood Nick.
A voice barked, “Miss Emelia Patterson! Lieutenant Nicholas Klaussen requests your presence front and center.”
He cut a more-than-commanding figure in his dress uniform, splashes of colors from a myriad of ribbons forming a large square over the left side of his spotless Navy blue coat, his crisp hat sharp and blinding white, its high-polished bill sparkling in the morning sunlight.
Tears streamed from her eyes. He removed his hat and tucked it under his arm. Clean-shaven, he appeared the young man who’d asked her to marry him so many years ago.
I must be dreaming.
A small hand tugged at hers, insisting and excited. “C’mon, Aunt Emmy! Uncle Nick is waiting.”
A woman’s voice off to her side added, “You’ll need this.”
Emmy turned. “Patty!”
“You were right all along,” she whispered, hugged her then placed a bouquet of flowers in her grasp.
A hand at her waist woke her from the unfolding dream. “Go on,” Paul said, his face also wet with tears.
Seth took her arm. “C’mon, it’s about time he made an honest woman out of you.”
They were about to take a step when she stopped. “Seth, you know…?”
“Yes, he’s one of my ‘buddies,’ Mom!” He kissed her cheek. “And, I’m friggin’ honored he’s my father.”
A resounding snap of gloved hands against khaki greeted Emmy and Seth’s first step toward the head of the lines, after which they were met with sharp salutes as they made their way through the columns.
Reaching Nick, Seth kissed his mother’s cheek again then placed her hand into his father’s. He stepped back and with great honor saluted the man who’d been missing for so many years.
With a tear in his own eye, Nick returned his son’s salute.
Emmy stared at her ‘boys,’ confused, elated, unable to speak. Answers to her silent musings came as Nick took one arm, Seth the other, and they turned her toward the building and sign behind them—Marriage Bureau, Civil Marriage Commissioner.
Thankful her men supported her, she wobbled, her knees turning to jelly. This is finally happening. “But, I don’t have….”
“Your birth certificate is right here, Emelia,” Paul interjected. “Now get in there so we can start the party!”
“This is real, isn’t Nicky?”
“Sure is.”
Making it all the more real, a black-haired man, bedecked in white leather, trimmed with multi-colored rhinestones welcomed them to the Clark County Courthouse. As he led the way inside, his melodic baritone voice began a heartfelt hymn. “Wise men say, only fools….”
~ABOUT THE AUTHOR~
A TV producer by day and a romance writer at night, sometimes the two employments inadvertently cross –whoops! When not at her fulltime TV job or part-time job in radio, Wendy is either writing or fighting off a furry attack by one of her two cats. She leads a wonderfully silly life with her way-too-cute chef husband in a suburb of ‘beautiful’ Toledo, Ohio.
She’d love to hear from you – [email protected].
www.whateverwendy.blogspot.com
The One He Chose
A year after losing her beloved husband, Grace Witzler learns he left a special surprise for her. A fabulous getaway in the beautiful Canadian Rockies that includes a date with a mystery man arranged through Madame Eve's 1NightStand dating service. She's shocked and intrigued...what was Ben thinking?
Grace's date is charming, handsome and about to find out whether the woman of his dreams will return his affection. He's waited forever, but he's ready to risk it all on a 1NightStand.
Haste Ye Back
All her life something had drawn Bryn Wallace to Scotland. Just weeks before her lifelong dream trip to visit Edinburgh is fulfilled, Bryn’s fiancé dumps her. She’s determined to have a good time, but touring the romantic Highlands is a bit boring alone. And not wanting to troll the pubs, she goes out on a limb and signs up with Madame Eve’s 1Night Stand service.
Divorced Ian McCallum is tired of making decisions, especially when it comes to women. When an old schoolmate suggests 1Night Stand, he figures he has nothing to lose. But, what he doesn’t know is his one-night stand was centuries in the making.
Contents
Title page
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
~ABOUT THE AUTHOR~