Promises of Forever

by Celya Bowers

After the doctor left, Finn gave her a few minutes to digest the news. It wasn’t as bad as he’d imagined in his worst-case scenario, but it wasn’t good news, either.

  The silence stretched between them. One of them had to say something. He wiped her face. “How are you feeling now?”

  “Tired. I feel like that first time we made love. I don’t think I can move. Whatever they gave me relaxed my body too much. They put all these drops in my eyes. I kept asking for you, but you didn’t come.”

  “I couldn’t come back there with you. You know I would have otherwise.”

  She looked at him with those big brown tear-soaked eyes. “I know. I’m ready to go home.”

  Which home had she meant? “You mean your house?”

  She shook her head. “I mean home. Your house.”

  CHAPTER 30

  Kayleigh had a lot to work out in her mind, and now with her imposed bed rest, she had the time to do it. The night she came home from the hospital, her friends came to visit. Finn insisted she had to visit with them from the bed.

  “I’m sure everyone will understand if you can’t come downstairs. They won’t mind coming upstairs to see you.” He fluffed her pillows and made sure she had her medication. “Now if you get tired, tell everyone they have to go home. If I see you yawn, they’re out of here.”

  She knew he meant business. “Okay, Finn. Thank you for opening your home to them.”

  He sat on the bed. “You know we’re a package deal. Your friends are my friends, and my friends are your friends.”

  She wanted to hug him, but knew that would use up the little bit of energy she had. She reached for his hand and kissed it. “I appreciate that. I haven’t met many of your friends, so I guess that’s something to come.”

  “Yes, it is. They all know about you.” He got up and walked to the door. “I’m going to make some dinner.”

  She nodded. One day she was going to learn to cook the meals he liked. He did all the cooking and never said anything. She wanted to repay his kindness when she felt better.

  Over the next few weeks, Kayleigh tried her best to keep within her doctor’s recommendations. She didn’t drive anywhere. Finn drove her to class, and sometimes Harley brought her home from school. She actually was getting used to the housekeeper being in the house.

  Once the semester ended, Kayleigh had too much time on her hands. On days when Finn was at work, and the housekeeper wasn’t there, Kayleigh would start thinking about meeting Finn’s parents, who were coming up that week. He kept assuring her that everything would be fine, but still she worried.

  There was going to be a family get-together the Sunday before Memorial Day. Finn was making shepherd’s pie, a traditional Irish casserole with ground meat, mashed potatoes, green peas, and carrots.

  Sunday morning, he allowed her to come downstairs after breakfast. She watched him buzz around the kitchen, preparing the dish. She’d wanted to help, but he refused.

  “As long as you’re here in the kitchen with me, that’s enough help.”

  She watched him work his magic. “What do you think I could do for the gathering?”

  He stared at her. “Why do you think you have to? My family has invited you. You’re the guest of honor. You’re not supposed to bring anything. This whole event is so everyone can meet you.”

  “I know that’s what your mom said, but I just feel like I should be bringing something.”

  “How about some flowers? Mom really likes flowers. Just wait until you see her flower garden, it’s amazing. It’s the prize of the neighborhood in Virginia. She likes bright colors.”

  At least it was something. “We can stop on the way to Beth’s.”

  He smiled broadly. “I thought I was going to have to fight you on that. I really want you to stay well.” He looked at his watch, then back at her. “This is going to take a few hours for me to prepare this, so you can nap while I make it. Then we’ll be on our way.”

  She knew that was a non-negotiable statement. If she didn’t get her rest, then they wouldn’t be going to the gathering. Finn was diligent about her health. He made sure she ate healthy at all times. There was no such thing as her having a free day. She thought it was sweet.

  “Okay, I’m going to take a nap.” She walked to the counter to inspect what he was doing. It didn’t look complicated. She’d have to check it on the computer one day.

  He kissed her on the forehead. “I’ll come wake you when it’s time to leave.”

  Kayleigh walked upstairs and got in bed. If there was one area where she and Finn weren’t on the same page, it was the sexual part. He hadn’t touched her since before her hospital visit. It had been over four weeks, and nothing.

  She would have to broach the subject when they returned home after the gathering. How did one bring up the subject of sex? She fell asleep with lusty thoughts in her head.

  * * *

  Finn ground his teeth against the painful erection. He didn’t know how much longer he was going to be able to hold out before he finally exploded. He’d taken enough cold showers to last him a lifetime. It had been four weeks since he and Kayleigh had had any kind of intimacy.

  After her test in the hospital, he wanted to make sure she was completely well before he touched her again. Her last doctor’s visit assured him that all was well and they could resume sexual relations.

  But still, he hadn’t been able to make a move. He didn’t know how to ask her. She hadn’t seemed eager for it. So what was a man to do?

  He had to think of something besides sex. He had to concentrate on anything not pertaining to making love to Kayleigh.

  For some reason, Harry popped into his brain. It had been almost two months since Harry’s death and still no one could find a connection between Harry and Ahmed Dahlar. Harry had repeatedly talked of the broker who lost his money, and Kayleigh had said Harry had asked Dahlar for his money. Trades are public knowledge, but Finn didn’t remember seeing Dahlar’s name on any of the paperwork. Could he have been using an alias to trade stocks? Why?

  He finished making the casserole and then went to his computer. If he dared venture upstairs, he would be in a lot of trouble. He went to the brokerage website and investigated his suspicions, and muttered a curse. Of course, it couldn’t be that easy. The broker responsible for Harry’s downfall was Louis Carter.

  That was a quite an American-sounding name. He thought about his own name and how Irish his name sounded. He looked up Louis Carter and found he wasn’t affiliated with any of the brokerage houses in Fort Worth. In fact, he couldn’t find one thing about Louis Carter, broker, in Fort Worth.

  * * *

  Later that evening, Kayleigh and Finn were on their way to his sister’s house. She was going to meet two more brothers and their families and another sister.

  Thank goodness she’d had a power nap. She was going to need all her wits just to make it through dinner and to remember all those names. It was bad enough she had to meet the parents.

  She breathed in and out slowly. Finn reached over and grabbed her hand. “I told you they will love you on sight. Stop worrying. I think if I can go to a salsa party, you can go to one Irish family gathering.”

  Well, he had her there. She dragged him to Manny’s party and the poetry reading and he’d gone without a word of doubt, so she just had to suck it up. “You’re right. I can do this.” She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. “Thanks, sweetie.”

  * * *

  “Thank you.”

  Kayleigh looked at him. “What are you thanking me for?”

  “You called me sweetie,” he said. “You don’t use terms of endearment. That means a lot to me.”

  “More than hearing me say ‘I love you’?”

  “No, it’s just different. It’s hard to explain. I guess it makes me feel closer to you. Like we’re part of each other.”

  “You are a part of me, Finn.” She shifted in her seat. “I tried to fight it, but I was defenseless against your Irish charm. I gues
s knowing what Uncle Teddy gave up in the name of love, I gave up the fight.”

  He pulled into Beth’s crowded driveway and cut the engine. He unfastened his seat belt and faced her. “If you get tired, you can take a nap in one of the bedrooms. Or we can leave when it gets to be too much,” he said. Then he got out of the truck and helped her out.

  “Uncle Finn,” BJ called. He ran up the truck and hugged his uncle. “Mom was getting worried about you guys. Hi, Kayleigh, I really like the games.”

  “Hello, BJ. Where are your brothers?”

  BJ shrugged, then peered into the backseat of the truck. “Is that shepherd’s pie?”

  Finn laughed. “Yes, it is. Why don’t you take it inside for me?” He grabbed Kayleigh’s hand. “Where’s Mom?”

  “She’s in the kitchen with Mom and Aunt Karen.” He picked up the aluminum tray and headed inside.

  Finn looked at Kayleigh. “Ready?”

  Kayleigh took a deep breath. “Yes.”

  Finn hadn’t told his entire family about Kayleigh’s illness, but he was sure Beth had done the honors. He would know the minute they walked inside the house. “Okay, let’s go.”

  * * *

  Much, much later, Kayleigh could finally relax. The Callahan family never met a stranger, and today was no different. Once she and Finn went inside, she was spirited away to the kitchen and became the subject of the Callahan inquisition.

  Finn’s mother, two sisters, and two sisters-in-law sat around the kitchen table chatting, as they called it. Kayleigh thought it was more of a cross-examination than a conversation, albeit a friendly one. His mother, Moira, asked most of the more pertinent questions.

  “I understand you’re staying with Finn for a while.” She uncovered the casserole Finn had made. “Is this permanent?”

  “No, it’s just for a little while,” Kayleigh answered, hoping that would appease the woman.

  “My son isn’t good enough to live with permanently? I can look at the both of you and know that you’re in love.”

  “No, Mrs. Callahan, that’s not the problem.”

  “Well, what is the problem?”

  She wasn’t quite sure how to answer the woman. “For one, he hasn’t asked me. Two, I don’t know what my answer would be if he did.”

  “Oh, well, then it’s his fault.” His mother jumped to another topic. “How about children?” She held up a hand. “Don’t worry, I know all about your illness and I researched it. You can still have children.”

  Now she knew what Finn was talking about. His family was relentless in their questions. They were concerned for Finn, and it showed. She had a feeling if they didn’t think she was worthy of Finn, they would toss her out on her butt.

  Hours later, her head still swam with all the questions the women had asked. When they were leaving, Kayleigh had to hug each and every person in the house before they could leave. Now she laid on the couch at Finn’s, willing a headache to go away. Finn was in his office.

  She heard the phone in the distance ringing, but didn’t dare to attempt to stand. The room was already spinning out of control, and Finn would rush her to the ER if he saw her stumble.

  The phone rang again. She turned on her side, hoping to muffle the sound. It kept getting louder and louder. Then she remembered she hadn’t taken her medication. That was why her body was fighting back. How could she get upstairs without Finn knowing?

  “Honey, take this.” He handed her a glass of water and her medicine. “You look like your head is about to explode.”

  She sat up, took the medicine and waited for it to take effect. Slowly her head stopped pounding, and she could focus. She looked up at Finn. “Thank you.” She patted the area next to her. “I’d like to talk to you.”

  He sat next to her. “I know what you’re going to say. My family is too much for the average person. I told them not to ask you so many questions at once, but the women in my family don’t listen to me.” He lowered his head. “I understand if you can’t deal with all that. A lot of people can’t.”

  She shook her head. “No, Finn. Your family is great. Yeah, the baby questions kind of caught me off guard, but I bounced back. Your mom had researched all about lupus. I was very impressed with them. She asked me how long I was staying at your house.”

  “Oh, no.”

  “Yes. She did. She’s only concerned about you. I thought it was very sweet, and she reminded me of my mom.”

  “So you’re not breaking up with me?”

  “Finn, I couldn’t do that. I think you’re tired of me and my being sick.”

  “What?”

  “You haven’t touched me in a month. I don’t know what to think. Even when we lie in bed together, you put a pillow between us. You couldn’t be more obvious.”

  He pulled her into his arms. “Honey, I was only waiting until you wanted to. Then the thing with my parents had claimed all my attention. Now that that’s over, you’re my top priority.”

  She couldn’t believe it. “So you still find me attractive?”

  “Hell, yeah.” He kissed her and guided her hand to his erection. “Does it feel like I’m still attracted to you?”

  Oh, yeah, he was hard as concrete. She smiled at him. “Well, I hate to see an erection go to waste.” She stood and led him upstairs to the bedroom.

  Feeling a surge of energy, she pushed Finn down on the bed and straddled him. “It looks like we have a lot of time to make up for, Mr. Callahan.”

  “Yes, we do.” His hands rested on her hips, pulling her over his rigid erection. “One area needs relief quickly. You have no idea how many cold showers I’ve taken in the last few weeks. I think I could join the Polar Bear Club.”

  She leaned down and kissed him long and hard. “Probably as long as I have been waiting for a real kiss.”

  She slipped off her blouse and bra as he sat up so they were face to face and took off his shirt. In a blur of movements, his slacks and boxers came off as did her slacks and panties. It had been four weeks of misunderstandings and lost chances, and they had little time to talk.

  As she invited him inside her body, she thought briefly about birth control. As he slid deeper inside her and then pulled back, and then pushed further home, she decided she didn’t care. She only cared that he didn’t stop what he was doing to her.

  She climaxed first, and not by choice. She didn’t want the sensations he had awakened in her body to go away. She hadn’t wanted to relinquish her hold on him. So she didn’t. She liked being on top. It awakened something in her body. Something that had been dormant much too long.

  His powerful strokes increased, and she knew he was close to release. She leaned down and kissed him as she rode out his orgasm. When they finally stopped, he slipped limply out of her body and moaned.

  “My God, I think we get better each time we do it,” he panted. He caressed her back as she lay atop him. “Life can’t get much better than this.”

  She didn’t think her life could improve any more than it had in the last few months. Life had been outstanding. She took a deep breath, but coughed at the end of it.

  Immediately, Finn slid her off his body and moved next to her. “Are you all right?” He hovered above her, inspecting every inch of her body with those intense blue eyes.

  “Yes, I’m fine. How about you?”

  “Great. You know I’ve been thinking…” he said, caressing her nude body.

  She could lie like this for the rest of her days. No matter how many she had left. She turned so that she faced him. “What is it?”

  “Move in with me.”

  She was confused, since she was already staying there. “I’m already doing that.”

  “I mean forever. Let’s get married.”

  CHAPTER 31

  “Finn, are you serious?” Kayleigh pulled the sheet over her nude body. She felt as if the whole Callahan family was in the room with them.

  He pulled the sheet down, revealing her nakedness. “Yes, I am. I’ve never been more se
rious in my life.”

  She hadn’t been expecting a marriage proposal. She hadn’t been expecting anything. “Finn, I don’t know. That’s a really big step.”

  “I know what I want. I want forever.”

  “You said you couldn’t promise forever. Remember?” She was grasping at any straw she could find. He had just leapfrogged many stages of dating! “We’ve only known each other a few months, Finn. We should at least know each other a year or so before we consider marriage.”

  “Love, quit grasping at straws. You heard Ted. Your parents knew each other for two months and you were on the way. You of all people should know there’s no timetable for love.”

  And who knew how much time she actually had left? Maybe she was grasping at straws, but it was her practical side kicking in. “Finn, what are you going to do about your clients?”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “You’re in the same position as Uncle Teddy. What are you going to do when your clients find out you’re married to an African-American woman still studying for her bachelor’s degree at the age of thirty-five?”

  “Most of them think it’s great you’re attempting such a tough goal. Just about all my clients know about you, so try again.”

  “Your family.”

  “They love you. Next.”

  “Children.”

  “I told you once I didn’t care if you got pregnant or not. I meant that. I have plenty of nieces and nephews.”

  “What about my job?”

  “Honey, we both know you didn’t like that job, you did it to make ends meet. Now as you know, I have more than enough money for the both of us. You do not have to work. However, as my wife, you will have to get used to being photographed by the media.”

  Okay, that would have been a downside if she hadn’t loved him so much. She knew her arguments were flimsy, but she had to put them out there.

  Should she risk it? Could she be happy being with him totally? “Okay, ask me again.”

  Finn studied her for a moment, then totally uncovered her body. “Will you marry me, Kayleigh?”

  “Yes.”

  “Yes?” Finn pulled her into his lap. “You know I’ve been thinking about this, but I wouldn’t dare let my heart think that you’d say yes.”