by Natalie Ann
“So you just came back from your parents’ house? What happened there?” He could only focus on one thing at a time. That was the most current thought, so he was going with it.
“I went to confront my father about what he was doing to you. What he was trying to do with your job. I didn’t want to believe it, but deep down I knew it was true. I had to find out why.”
“Did he say?” He wasn’t sure he wanted to know, or that he cared at this point. It seemed the only thing he cared about was her right now, and the baby she was carrying. His baby. Damn, guess he couldn’t focus on one thing at a time.
“Not really. It’s all about his image or idea of whom I should be with. That I started dating you before he was told, that he knew nothing about it, and then in his eyes you weren’t what he wanted for me. He can’t get over it. He doesn’t even want to try.”
“That I’m not good enough,” he said, feeling anger at those words. Exactly what he’d felt all along himself. Things he was trying to move past. She was helping him realize he was enough for her, but her father’s actions were the needle still poking at him and drawing blood.
She moved over and sat in his lap. “You’re what I want. You’re everything I’ve wanted all along. I don’t care about money. I don’t care about fancy things. I only care about you.”
He was holding her now. Squeezing her tight. He saw a vulnerability there and knew he had to do what he could to help her. To not let her continue to feel the way she was.
“I just want you to be happy. I only care about you. You and our child. We should get married. Don’t you think?” He knew what he wanted, but she’d been controlled enough in her life. Enough in the last few months, let alone hours, that he didn’t want to start making demands of her.
She looked into his eyes and smiled a little. “I think we should. But the question is, why do you want to?”
“Because it’s the right thing to do. The responsible thing to do,” he said. “You’ll be talked about at work. You’ll be talked about in general. Maybe it will soften the blow if you’re married.”
“That’s the only reason?” she asked. “To protect me?”
“It should be enough of one, but I know it’s not. So I’m going to go crawl out on a limb and tell you everything. I don’t care if the limb can’t support me and it breaks and I crash down, because I need to say this to you. I love you, Isabel. I want to care for you, I want you to care for me. I want the ups and downs that our life is going to bring, knowing you’ll be next to me—not behind me—the whole time. That’s why I want to marry you. That’s the main reason, but all the other ones are there, too.”
She kissed him on the lips. “The first reasons you gave for getting married were all valid ones. But that wouldn’t be enough for me to say yes. The only reason I am is because I love you too, and I believe in all the other things. It has to be all for love. For no other reason. Otherwise it won’t last and we’d both be miserable.
She was right. So very right. “It is for love. And with that we can take care of all the rest, too.” He hugged her tighter, his heart racing. He was really doing this. He was really going to get married. “How far along are you?” he asked, trying to gather his wits and focus on the bigger picture.
“About six weeks. Not far at all.”
“So your due date is when?”
“The doctor is thinking the end of September. Thereabouts.”
“Let’s get married next Saturday,” he blurted out.
“That’s fast,” she said, sliding off his lap and looking at him oddly.
“There’s no reason to wait. Not unless you want a big wedding?” He’d figure out a way to pay for it if she did. He’d give her everything he could. She’d already given him so much by just believing in him.
“No, no big wedding. It should just be you and me. Maybe Thomas and Michele as witnesses if we can do it at the courthouse one day.”
“The courts are closed on Saturday,” he said, smiling like a silly fool. He was getting married.
“Oh. Forgot about that.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll talk to Thomas. I’m sure he has connections with some judge that could perform the ceremony, if that is what you want. Leave the rest up to me. Can you do that? Do you trust me to take care of the rest?”
“I trust you. I trust you with my life.”
***
The next few days were hectic. William was calling around and trying to find a place for them to hold the ceremony. Just because it was going to be a quick wedding didn’t mean he couldn’t make it romantic. That he couldn’t do everything possible to make her feel special that day.
Thomas had already secured the judge. He and Michele were going to be there as their witnesses. Thomas even laughed and said they’d have kids the same age now. William hadn’t even thought of that. He hadn’t thought of much more other than where they were going to live or how they were going to do anything after Saturday.
There were just so many things up in the air. The lease on his apartment was up in less then six months. Isabel’s was up a few months after his. Neither of them could afford to be paying for both places if they were only living in one, not with a child to plan for.
“William,” Sheryl said when she popped her head into the office that he shared with Alan. “Isabel is on the phone for you.”
“Hi,” he said, picking it up. “Everything okay? You never call me during the day.”
“Everything is fine. I have a few minutes before lunch is over. I just got off the phone with Dawn. She said she’d switch apartments with us. Take yours until the lease is up, if you want to stay in mine. It’s bigger and has two rooms.”
He was shocked. “Why would she be willing to do that?”
“Because she wanted out anyway. She wants to get closer to her job and your apartment is, and it’s cheaper than the half she is paying for the one we’re in. She’s been dating some new guy and hopes that maybe when the time comes and her lease is up, she can talk him into something more permanent between the two of them.”
“Whatever her reasoning is, I’m all for it if you are.”
“I am. We can move your stuff in this weekend and hers out. Most of the furnishings in the apartment are actually mine. She doesn’t have much, if you don’t mind leaving your things there for her?”
“You just want to get rid of that sofa bed,” he said.
“I do,” she said, laughing. “But really, it would mean only moving clothes and personal items if you’re willing to leave your furnishings behind.”
“Not a problem. Though that sofa bed has some real nice memories to it, I’ll be happy to just be living with you.”
“Then that’s taken care of and I can get back to work. I love you, bye.”
She hung up before he could return the words.
Later that night he was home alone, trying to pack up what he could, when he heard a knock at the door. He walked the few steps and opened it up. “Can I help you?” he asked the older gentleman who was standing there in an expensive suit. One that cost more than anything he’d be able to afford.
“I’d like to speak with you.”
“And you are?” he asked. Talk about rude.
“Edward Carmichael,” the man said, then just walked into the apartment without waiting to be invited, like it was his right.
“What can I do for you?” William asked. The sooner Edward said what he had to, the faster he’d be gone.
“There’s a lot you can do, but I’m sure none of it is going to happen. I came here intending to try to buy you off to leave my daughter. But then I realized, she made her bed and she can lie in it. If it reflects poorly on her and breaks her mother’s heart, that is her cross to bear.”
William felt his face turn red. “If you came here to insult me or Isabel, you can leave. I’ve got nothing to say to you.”
“Fine. I don’t care to listen to a word of it myself.” Edward stepped into the hallway, then paused and stared at Will
iam, his eyes hard. “But what you aren’t going to consider doing is bringing any type of lawsuit against me for words that I may or may not have expressed about your employer.”
William stopped and stared. This man was nuts. Why would he do that? It’d never even occurred to him. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I saw you meeting with Thomas Mathews for lunch the other day. Why else would you meet with a defense attorney if not to set up some legal action?”
Leave it to Thomas to bring him somewhere where there’d be a chance of Edward seeing them. Thomas must have known all along where Edward ate his lunch. Twice now the two of them had gone to Troy to eat, but William never thought much of it.
It obviously didn’t occur to Edward that William might actually have a friend in this world. Probably something he’d never had. “I won’t consider any legal action on one condition.”
“I’m listening,” Edward said.
“That you stop treating Isabel this way. I’m not asking you to give your approval for our relationship. If you said you were, I wouldn’t believe it. But we’ve got a child coming. Your grandchild. For Isabel and Patrice’s sake, the least you can do is try to be civil around me. Try to support your daughter.”
“I’ll never approve of this marriage. You’re not good enough for her. But she has made her choices, like I said. I’ll keep my opinions to myself going forward, but that is the best I’m willing to offer.”
William shut the door before his future father-in-law could say another word. He’d done all he could do. Now he had a wedding to finish getting ready for, and just hoped that Edward kept his word.
Is This Right
Saturday morning, William stood in the back room of a restaurant that Thomas had managed to secure for them. Friends of the family, he’d told them, and they were more than willing to let a wedding take place on site.
Michele had gone all out and decorated it in red roses and balloons, a few streamers, and candles. It was more than he could have done and it made him feel better knowing that however small the ceremony or location, it was still festive.
He was waiting patiently with Thomas, both of them in suits. William had managed to find a photographer on short notice and the restaurant was going to serve them a nice brunch and a small wedding cake that he’d picked up at the bakery on his way here.
“Stop pacing,” Thomas said, smirking.
“I can’t help it. It’s all happening so fast.”
“Then you know it’s right,” Thomas said, slapping him on the back.
“How do you figure that?” It seemed like an odd statement.
“Because you’re a nervous wreck right now. Why is that?”
It was just the two of them. The judge was in the building but talking to someone else. Michele was helping Isabel get ready. “Is this enough? Is this right? Will she wish she had a big wedding someday?”
“That’s why it’s right. It’s all about her right now in your mind. Giving her what you think she wants. But I think when it’s all said and done, she is getting exactly what she wanted all along.”
“I’m not so sure about that. Who would have thought this months ago?”
“Things don’t always go according to plan. You make due with what you’ve got and adjust along the way. Now be quiet, here they come,” Thomas said, winking.
There was no music playing, nothing at all. It didn’t matter because William still heard the love song in his head. He heard the birds chirping even though it was the middle of the winter. He felt the sun shining, even in the dimly lit room.
“She looks beautiful,” he whispered, his eyes misting up.
“She sure does,” Thomas agreed.
Isabel made her way closer, wearing a long white dress. It wasn’t a wedding dress, but still extremely fancy. Her hair was done up on her head, some white flowers strategically placed, but all he saw was her. Her smile that she was sending his way.
She and Michele stopped in front of him and Thomas. Michele took the bouquet of red roses out of Isabel’s hands. He’d picked those up earlier, too. He didn’t want her to worry or think of anything at all today. Nothing other than getting ready to become his wife.
The judge, who had been standing in the doorway, had made his way over before Isabel did. “It’s a fine day for a wedding, don’t you agree? February fourteenth. The day of love. The day of romance. You’ve even filled the room in red and white.”
William smiled at Isabel. When he first suggested they get married this Saturday, he hadn’t realized the date. But once he saw it was Valentine’s Day, he knew it was perfect and he was going to do everything in his power to make it so. Right down to the red flowers, decorations, and the red tie he was wearing. Even Michele was wearing a red dress.
The ceremony was short, sweet, and to the point. They’d said their “I dos,” then he took Isabel’s hand and brought the ring out.
“You went all out on the red today, didn’t you?” she said, smiling bright, tears just flickering in her eyes.
“It seemed appropriate,” he said as he slid the gold band with rubies placed all around it onto her finger. “An eternity of love.”
She laughed and kissed him hard, the judge interrupting with, “We haven’t gotten to that part yet.”
“Sorry,” she said, turned and accepted the gold band from Michele and slid it onto William’s finger, then asked, “Can I kiss him now?”
He loved this woman. How could he not?
The judge smiled, then said, “You may kiss your groom.”
***
“I’m sorry I couldn’t give you a better honeymoon than this,” William said in their hotel room later that night. “I’ll make it up to you someday. I promise.”
“This is just perfect. It was too fast to plan anything else. What you did do made the day spectacular, though. Now Valentine’s Day is going to have an even more special meaning to me.”
“Did it have one before?” he asked.
It never really did to her. She’d never had any serious boyfriends before, but she always dreamed that on this day she’d have someone give her hearts and flowers, candy and kisses. Instead, for her first true Valentine’s Day, she was given a husband.
“Not really. Never like this.”
“I’d think not, since it’s your first marriage.”
“And my last. This is it. We did it for us. We did it for love.”
He kissed her softly, then deeply, before he stepped back to grab the bottle of sparkling cider that had been chilling. Room service was all they were going to get until they left in the morning. He had no intention of leaving this room for anything. The rest of the day and the night were only for them.
Once both glasses were filled, he handed one to her. “No regrets?” he asked.
“Absolutely not,” she said. “Why would you even consider that?” She glanced down at her ruby wedding band again. He’d gone overboard. She wasn’t expecting any of this.
“It’s probably not what you would have dreamed of as a girl.”
“All I ever dreamed about as a girl was finding the love of my life. I did. That’s all I need.”
“I want you to be happy. I want to give you everything you want and need out of life.”
“William,” she said, wrapping her arms around his neck. “Stop it. You already have. Now shut up and kiss me.”
Epilogue
Back to the present
“So, no regrets?” he asked Isabel later that night in bed.
“I never regret what we do in the bedroom. I just regret we don’t always have as much time together to do it.”
He laughed and snuggled in tight with her. “I mean us. How we got married. How it all started. What we were talking about earlier while we were reminiscing on how we met.”
He often thought back on everything. How it all started and how it’d turned out so far. The best night of his life was when she had to come back for her purse.
“We’ve
had a beautiful life together. And we’ll have another fifty years if I have my way. Not one regret in my life.”
“It doesn’t bother you anymore that your father never accepted me? Would barely speak my name, let alone look at me all those years?”
Edward Carmichael was the epitome of a stubborn ass. He never forgave Isabel. He didn’t cause any more trouble, but nothing was ever good enough for him. He died a bitter man, ten years after William and Isabel wed. William was sad that their children never had a real grandfather in their lives, but he promised one day to make it up to his own grandkids.
“Nope. That is on him. He had to live with that bitterness. It’s probably what caused his heart attack. He was my father, and a part of me will always love the man I remember from when I was younger. The one that was softer and nicer at times. But I choose to forget the rest.”
“Your mother is still going strong, though,” he said. Patrice Carmichael just had her eightieth birthday and was living up life in a retirement community close by. They had all they could do to get her to come visit now. She and her friends were having too much fun traveling when they weren’t organizing events for the others living there.
“I don’t know that I ever realized how unhappy she was when my father was alive. It was just the way she was, always keeping what she was really feeling hidden. The kids gave her a purpose, though. I guess as much as I hated my father’s treatment of me, and lack of interaction with the kids, he never stopped my mother from being so involved in their lives. As far as I know, he never even said a word to her about it.”
“You needed all the help you could get back then with twins. Trying to chase Alec and Phil around was no small feat. Then add Ben to the mix, and it didn’t surprise me you were happy to go back to work so fast. I was shocked you took a full year off with Kaitlin, though.”
“I love my job. Even to this day, I still love it. All those girls need to know that there is a whole huge world out there for them. But back then, Alec and Phil were in school, Ben in pre-school, and I was missing having a baby around. One seemed so easy then. And Kaitlin was so different from her brothers as a child. So quiet and calm. It was a nice year, just the two of us most of the time.”