Her eyes shone with happiness. “I’d like it a lot.”
“There’s more,” he said. “You know that piece of land west of town? Father wants to build us a house for a wedding present.”
“That’s wonderful! I can see patients there.”
“You won’t need to. He’s also building a clinic in Mimi’s memory. If you’d like, you can have a wing of rooms for kids like Nick and Melissa.”
Tears welled in her eyes. “That’s been my dream as long as I can remember.”
Susanna’s heart was brimming when Rafe reached into his pocket and withdrew a ruby-studded ring. As the band shimmered in the light, she thought of Midas and the king who had given the town its name. Everything he touched had turned to gold, the worthless kind that could buy things but not joy. A different king had touched Rafe and he’d discovered his father’s love, a gift worth more than all the gold in the world.
Rafe slipped the ring on her finger. “This belonged to my mother. I’m hoping you’ll wear it as our wedding band.”
With the ring in place, Susanna touched his cheek. “I’d be honored.”
Pictures of their courtship flooded through her mind. They’d had a first kiss and a first argument. They had made vows and she was wearing his ring. They had made love and she felt complete—except for one thing. Susanna smiled into Rafe’s shining eyes. “Do you remember my deepest secret?”
“You bet I do.”
As her husband stood and pulled her up with him, the train sped into a curve, throwing them together as he braced to absorb the speed. When the train steadied, he scooped her into his arms and carried her into the bed chamber where she saw red velvet covering a wide bed and mirrors lining the walls. A bottle of champagne was angled in an ice bucket, and a bouquet of red roses had filled the room with a sweet perfume.
Susanna’s mouth gaped. “Does your father always travel like this?”
“The flowers are for you.” He set her on the bed and smiled. “Look at the card.”
She read it out loud. “To Mr. and Dr. LaCroix. We’ll arrive in Midas this evening. Until then, enjoy the champagne and roses. I’ve taken the liberty of contacting the Reverend and Mrs. Leaf with the good news. With respect and love, W.A.” Then he’d added a P.S. “Dear Susanna, I’d be honored if you’d call me Father.”
Tears of joy welled in Susanna’s eyes. “We’re going home, Rafe. I can hardly believe it.”
She grabbed his neck and pulled him down on the bed. Then she kissed him full on the mouth, rolled him to his back and straddled his hips.
Her husband gave her a wicked smile. “I thought you wanted to sleep like spoons.”
“I do, but not just yet.”
With the train rocking, they made love until they’d each had their fill. Satisfied at last, they slept all the way home, nestled together like spoons in a drawer.
ISBN: 978-1-4592-3178-8
MIDNIGHT MARRIAGE
Copyright © 2006 by Vicki Scheibel
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