Marrying the Marshal

by Laura Marie Altom

  Caleb pulled her into a hug. “He’s a great kid. He’s going to grow up to be some biogenetic-something, make a million trillion bucks and buy us both early retirements. From where I’m standing, we’ve got no troubles.”

  “Ha,” Allie said against Caleb’s wonderful smelling, even better feeling, chest. “Easy for you to say. You weren’t the one who was just forbidden from touching him—especially his nose.”

  “You mean that tweaking thing you do?”

  “What’s wrong with it? He’s cute. And so is his tweaked nose.”

  “Babe…” Caleb kissed the crown of her head before groaning. “Us manly men genuinely don’t like having our noses messed with. Nothing personal against you messing with it—just one of those things.”

  “Oh.”

  “You’re not getting all sad on me, are you?” He nudged her back to take a look at her face. “Seriously, Cal hates it when you do that to him. It embarrasses him. Especially when you do it in front of Reider and Sam. A few weeks back, he asked me to talk to you about it, but I said the truly manly thing to do would be talk to you himself. Explain how he feels. Sounds like he wasn’t real eloquent about it, but at least it’s a start toward independence and free thinking, don’t you think?”

  “Yes,” Allie said, “But I’m not going to admit it.”

  “Okay, then, how about I admit something to you.”

  “What?”

  “You know how much you hate my job?”

  Her heart thundered with hope. “You quit?”

  Caleb rode out the wall of tension standing between them. “No.”

  “I’m sorry,” Allie said. “Reflexive action. I’ve prayed for so long that—”

  “It’s okay,” he said.

  “No, it’s not. I am sorry, Caleb. I’m trying to be okay with what you do.”

  He shook his head. “I’m so sick of that. You trying, Al. How long is my job going to be an issue between us? And a pretty lame one at that, considering how little action I actually see.”

  “How can you say that?” she hissed. “Have you conveniently forgotten how much danger you were recently in? Just standing around watching me?”

  “Standing around watching you…” He laughed. “And who has the dangerous job?”

  “You’re just twisting my words. Trying to be obtuse.”

  “No, Allie, when I arranged to have the long weekend off, meaning someone else is in charge of watching over you and Cal, I thought I was being considerate. Thanks for letting me know that wasn’t the case.”

  “MAN! THIS IS AWESOME!” Cal said, skipping from seat to seat in back of the endless limo Gillian and Joe rented for the occasion. They’d also been kind enough to send one for Allie’s mom.

  In front, a marshal drove. The black stretch model was flanked both front and back by still more marshals.

  Fortunately for Allie, she only had one marshal to contend with. Although getting Caleb out of his funk and into holiday cheer was going to take some doing.

  “Bud,” Caleb said to their son, “how about picking one seat and putting on a safety belt?”

  “Aw, man,” Cal complained. “Why do I hafta wear a seat belt? Limos can’t crash.”

  “I assure you, they can,” Allie said, reaching over to buckle in Caleb as well, noting his dour look when her loose long hair brushed his cheek. She sort of accidentally brushed other parts of him with other parts of herself as well, then flashed him her brightest smile. “Buckle up for safety.”

  “That’s not going to work,” he ground under his breath while Cal fiddled with the limo’s four flat-screen TVs.

  “Geez! I can watch SpongeBob and Scooby Doo and Fairly Oddparents and Rugrats all at the same time! Aunt Gillian and Uncle Joe rock!”

  “All I did was help fasten your seat belt,” Allie said to Caleb.

  He stared straight ahead.

  “I’m sorry,” she whispered in his ear. “Yes, I’d like nothing better than for you to quit your job and settle into a nice, dull—safe—private practice. We could do lunch. But since I know that’s not going to happen, I’d like to at least thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking off Thanksgiving, and ask your forgiveness for my stupid, insensitive outburst back at the house. Okay?”

  His only answer was a grunt.

  “Look, Dad! We can watch wrestling and football and basketball and fishing! And there’s big headphones for each TV!”

  “Cool,” Caleb said.

  “And Mom, they’ve even got all your cooking shows! And look at all the fancy bottles they’ve got down here.” With his sneaker toe, Cal could just reach the liquor cabinet door. “Can I have some of that?” he said, pointing to an amber liquid.

  “No,” Allie and Caleb said at the same time.

  “Check the fridge,” Allie said. “There’s probably pop.”

  “Wow!” Cal said as if hitting the mother lode in the tiny square refrigerator just within his reach. “There’s not just pop, but candy bars and peanuts and stuff! And I can eat all of this I want?”

  “No,” Allie said.

  “Yep,” Caleb said.

  Cal just sat staring at them both. “Well?” he asked, looking hopefully toward his mom. “Can I?”

  Allie took a deep breath, rested her head against Caleb’s all-too-capable shoulder, then said, “That depends.”

  “On what?” Cal asked.

  Allie said, “I get to watch one of my cooking shows on one of the TVs—and a decorating show on another.”

  “Yeah,” Cal’s father said, wrapping his arm around her, fitting her more snuggly against him. “And I get to watch a western.”

  “Then that only leaves me one show,” Cal said, his pouty lower lip practically on the limo’s psychedelic-disco carpeted floor.

  “Just think,” Allie said with a grin. “You’ll have that much more time to eat. Which reminds me, please pass me a Snickers and a Coke. Caleb? Want anything?”

  He ducked down to steal a kiss. “I’ll just have some of what you’re having.”

  Cal shot them both a look of pure eight-year-old disgust. “Eeeeeuuuuuw!”

  Chapter Thirteen

  “How was the trip?” Gillian asked, taking Allie’s coat, then moving on to the rest of the Logue men—including a big, lovable golden-haired dog named Barney. The marshals on duty had surrounded the exterior of the house—located in a ritzy Portland suburb—but Adam had come in, along with Caleb and Cal. After a round of hugs, Joe held the baby and Meghan cabbaged on to Cal, yanking him in the direction of her playroom. Vince and Beau were also in the elaborate marble-floored entry, making Allie and Cal’s welcome more like a parade.

  “Heaven,” Allie said about their ride. “There were a couple times I think I was too comfortable.”

  “No such thing,” Gillian said, taking her hand. “Come on. Let’s leave all these guys to talk shop. You’re coming with me to our spa day. There’s someone in the midst of a pedicure who I think you’ll want to see.”

  “Mom?” Allie raised her eyebrows. “Getting a pedicure?”

  “I thought all of us girls could use a little pampering so I hired experts. Masseuses, manicurists, hair stylists. I’ve got a friend who works at Saks coming over later to outfit us for Thanksgiving dinner.”

  “You’re kidding, right?”

  Gillian laughed. “I told you, Joe’s company is really taking off. He’s already given over ten million to charity this year. He says me and the girls are his other favorite charity.”

  “Sounds like you hit the groom jackpot,” Allie said while they headed down a long, sun-flooded hall floored with intricately patterned mosaics. Tropical plants lined the walls along with carved wood benches.

  Barney trotted along behind them.

  Caw! Caw!

  Something big and reddish swooped past, narrowly missing Allie’s left ear.

  The dog barked.

  “What was that?” she said after her initial shriek.

  “Joe’s new passion. He love
s birds. That one’s Bongo. In the solarium, where we’re headed, are a good half-dozen more. The nice thing is that all of these floorings and furnishings can be hosed down, so the birds don’t need to be caged. They’re not as tame as they otherwise might be, but they seem fairly happy.”

  Gillian stepped into a massive, glass-domed room that literally took Allie’s breath away. “This is…I’m speechless.” The ceiling had to be at least twenty feet high. The room was like stepping into a private island paradise complete with towering palms, a waterfall, exotic, heavenly smelling flowers in a rainbow of hues and a meandering stream culminating in a tranquil pool. Ethereal classical strings played from hidden speakers and seated alongside the pool swathed in a sumptuous pink towel and robe was Victoria Hayworth, Allie’s mom. Sliced cucumbers covered her eyes while a model-handsome guy massaged her feet.

  “Happy Thanksgiving!” Allie called out, almost afraid to speak again for fear of shattering the dream.

  “Allie, hon! You’re here.” Victoria whipped the veggies off her eyes. “How was your trip?”

  “Nothing special.” Grinning, Allie shrugged. “You know, just my usual boring old limo.”

  “Here,” Gillian said to Allie, holding out a tall, red drink complete with a hibiscus and orange garnish. “Drink up, then strip. There’s robe for you in the changing cabana. It’s high time we get you good and relaxed.”

  “Believe me,” Allie said, sipping the sweet, fruity drink, “I’m already there.”

  Ten minutes later, Allie had traded her usual stodgy suit for a fluffy pink robe, and while her and her mother’s fingernails were being painted by two drop-dead gorgeous guys, their feet were being alternately soaked in warm scented water and massaged with warm oil by another hunk.

  Barney had fallen asleep beside the waterfall. The tennis ball he’d dug out from beneath a blooming yellow hibiscus rested between his paws.

  “Relax,” Allie’s mom said, reaching out to pat her daughter’s forearm. “You look tense.”

  From her hairstyling station, where yet another hunk snipped here and there on Gillian’s honey-gold curls, she said, “I have to agree, Allie. Time for you to start guzzling that drink as it looks like rum is the only thing that’ll get you out of court mode and into the mood for fun.”

  Relief shimmered though Allie. After all her worrying about things her mother might say, that was it? Relax? She glanced her mom’s way.

  I love you, she mouthed.

  Love you, too, Allie mouthed back.

  “I wish your father could see all of this,” her mom said in a wistful voice, gazing up at an orange and red bird high up in the trees.

  “Me, too,” said Allie.

  “I’m proud of you, you know.”

  “For what?” Allie asked, sipping her drink.

  “Letting go of your fear, for at least trying. What happened to your father was a horrible accident. But if you continue to lock yourself behind a wall of doubts, you may never see the beauty around you.”

  Allie reddened. What her mom said was true. But did she have to say it in front of Gillian?

  Caleb’s sister cleared her throat. “Not that it’s any of my business, but sounds like sage advice we should toast.” Gillian raised her glass. “To beauty.”

  “To beauty,” Allie said, thinking the woman who could quite possibly soon be her sister-in-law was beautiful, both inside and out.

  After all three women had toasted with two more of the drinks that went down more like Kool-Aid than liquor, Victoria wandered off for a nap. As soon as she’d left the room Gillian asked Allie, “So are you and my brother planning a Christmas wedding?”

  Mellowed by rum and the waterfall’s gentle shush, Allie said, “I wish. Guess we still have a few kinks to work out.”

  “Like what?” Gillian asked. “Maybe I can help?”

  Allie shook her big, towel-wrapped head. “Thanks, but in our case, time is pretty much the only thing that’ll make a difference.” She gazed off across the room at a huge blue bird perched at the top of a red-blossomed tree more suited to the Amazon than Oregon. “I’m assuming your brother thinks I’m going to just up and disappear again—which is ridiculous. I’ve apologized repeatedly. Assured him leaving is the furthest thing from my mind. But no matter what I say, I keep getting the feeling that he doesn’t quite trust me not to break his heart.”

  “Well, you did do that,” Gillian said. “Oh, not that, being manly man and all, he’s ever come right out and said it, but after you left, he was never the same. Now, though, I see part of that old Caleb returning.”

  Allie hung her head in shame. Would the pain of one bad decision ever stop hurting?

  “Oh, sweetie,” Gillian said, hopping up from her chair to enfold Allie in a hug. “The last thing I wanted to do was bring you down. What I meant to say was that thanks to you, I not only have an awesome nephew, but my brother back. And for that I’m grateful.”

  “But you’re also understandably still bitter about having lost the last nine years,” Allie bravely said.

  “You know…” While her hairstylist stood patiently reading a magazine, Gillian pulled one of the cushioned pool chairs to the manicure/pedicure station. “At first, yeah, I was furious for what you’d done, but then I looked at it from your point of view. It’s not been all that long ago that I went through my own less than idyllic romance. Joe and I survived some treacherous times. And believe me, there were more than a few days I couldn’t decide whether I wanted to kiss the man or strangle him. Sure, now, every day I pinch myself to believe I’m not living in the pages of a fairy tale, but it wasn’t always that way.” She sipped at her drink. “Allie, I know firsthand my brother can be a major horse’s behind. I can just imagine you initially telling him you were pregnant. You were probably hoping for a reaction somewhere in the range of shock, soon overcome by wild elation and tears and a romantic proposal, am I right?”

  Tearing up herself that finally, finally, someone had stopped to look at her side of the coin, Allie nodded.

  “Okay, and so then my moose of a brother probably just stood there, dumbfounded. Hands shoved in his pockets, saying nothing.”

  “No,” Allie said. “He did keep saying one thing over and over. That he’d make it right.” She laughed. “Well, our baby wasn’t an it. From the first day I learned I was carrying Caleb’s child, I wanted him or her more than anything I’d ever wanted in the world. More than my law degree. More than world peace. I selfishly wanted this child to be the glue bonding Caleb and I together forever. But one look at his face after I’d told him the news, and it didn’t take rocket science or even my law degree to tell me he not only didn’t want this baby, he didn’t want me. He didn’t want us, and this stupid, storybook image I’d spun of the two of us living happily—”

  “That’s not true,” Caleb said, stepping out from behind a palm. “I wanted the happy ending. I just wasn’t as quick to realize it. I needed more time. But you were too damned selfish to give me even a week.”

  Gillian blurted, “Oh, for heaven’s sake! She wasn’t selfish, Caleb, she was hurt. She was afraid for you, and even worse, probably thought you didn’t want her or the baby. What woman in her right mind would stick around trying to force a man to love her? It can’t be done. It’s like shoving a square peg in a round hole. And you saying you were going to make it right? What the hell was that supposed to mean?”

  “Zip it, Gil.” Caleb didn’t give two figs that his sister thought he’d bungled the situation all those years ago. All he cared about was that the woman he loved—and yes, he did love Allie, most likely never stopped loving her—was sitting alone and fragile with a calendar hunk staring at her like she was the meat he was going to wolf down for dinner.

  Swooping his bride-to-be out of the stupid toe-decorating chair and into his arms, Caleb said, “Sis, carry on this party without Allie. She’ll be busy for the rest of the day.”

  Not caring that the remaining woman in the room and three men were gapin
g, Caleb took his curvaceous treasure outlaw-style in search of the nearest bedroom.

  Barney, tail wagging, trailed after them.

  “I LOVE YOU,” Allie said, her words landing against Caleb’s warm neck and cheek, reverberating back to her laced with his heady, all-male smell. “I’m not even sure how or when it happened—maybe my love for you never stopped. Maybe just now, when you busted in on all that girly stuff and just took me.”

  “I haven’t taken you just yet,” he said, heading for the winding staircase at the end of the hall. “First we have to find a suitable place…A feat which I’m beginning to think may be tougher than our patching things up.”

  She laughed. Hugged him that much harder, now certain she’d never again let him go.

  “I thought you’d been here before?” she asked.

  “I have,” he said. “But they keep building new additions. If Joe and Gillian weren’t always doing nice things for people, all their money would be disgusting.”

  By the top of the stairs, Caleb was breathing heavy.

  “You can put me down, you know?”

  “Nope.” He’d leaned against a marble pillar. “Just need a second to catch my breath. And what’re you looking at?” he asked the dog.

  Barney cocked his head and wagged his tail.

  “He thinks you’re a goon for keeping up this macho act. Seriously,” she said, squirming for Caleb to put her down. “I was impressed by the whole scooping me up and carrying me off into the sunset routine. But now that it’s just us, you can drop me. You know—” she winked “—save your energy for other activities.”

  “Oh, don’t you worry,” he said with a big, naughty grin. “That portion of my anatomy runs on an entirely different battery pack.”

  “Well in that case….”

  “Hey—” a voice sounding suspiciously like Gillian’s said through the house’s intercom system. “If there’s a moose upstairs, barreling his way through my delicate antiques looking for a place to snuggle with his sweetie, go to the end of the main hall. Make a right. Go to the end of that hall. Make another right. Go through the double doors, and you two will have the whole wing to yourselves. Oh, and in case you’re wondering who this voice belongs to—it’s God. You two better get it right this time or else I might have to come down there and—” Gillian giggled. “Joe, quit. I was right in the middle of—Well, why didn’t you tell me I was still pressing the transmit button. You know I’ve never known how to work this—”