Silent Fall

by Barbara Freethy

  His heart had never felt so full. Nor had he ever been so scared. He wanted to live up to all her expectations. He wanted to make her happy for the rest of her life. He hoped he could do that. "That's all I want," he said. "And I plan to make sure that any dreams you have involve me." He pressed his lips to hers in a long and promising kiss.

  Epilogue

  Four months later . . .

  Dylan waited at the front of the church, Jake by his side.

  "You're a lucky man," Jake said, giving him a little nudge with his elbow. "I still can't believe you went and fell in love while I was out of town, not to mention the fact that you almost got yourself killed. And you never called me. That pissed me off."

  "You were on your honeymoon." Dylan paused as he looked out at his friends in the church. "But you're right. I am lucky. Lucky to have found Catherine. Lucky she said yes."

  "Well, she hasn't officially said yes," Jake pointed out with a grin. "Ever hear of the runaway bride?"

  "Catherine is done running," he said confidently. "And so am I."

  "The world's best bachelor bites the dust and takes on the old ball and chain," Jake drawled. "Who could have seen this coming? Well, I guess your wife-to-be could have. You should take her to Vegas, see if she has any insights at the blackjack table."

  Dylan laughed. "I already tried that. She's lousy at counting cards. But we had a really good time in the suite with the mirrors on the ceiling."

  "I'll bet. I like her. She's good for you," Jake said, a more serious note in his voice. "I think Mom would have liked her, too."

  "Yeah," Dylan said, his throat tight with emotion. He'd let go of all the anger he'd had against his mother, and he hoped that somewhere she knew he was finally happy.

  "Daddy, Daddy, look." Jake's small daughter, Caitlyn, waved to her father from the front row.

  Caitlyn was an honorary flower girl, but since she was only two her mother, Sarah, had walked her down the aisle already, letting Caitlyn throw rose petals wherever she wanted. As a result the left half of the aisle was covered in flowers, with nary a one on the right side. Sarah shushed her daughter while her friend Teresa looked on. Teresa, Sarah, and Catherine had been friends in foster care, and Dylan was happy that the three women had found their way back to a close friendship. Teresa had a new man with her today and seemed to be getting ready to make a trip down the aisle herself. Their circle of friends was rapidly expanding.

  The priest stepped forward with a smile. "Are we ready?"

  Dylan felt a rush of emotion, a surge of adrenaline as he searched for Catherine. For a moment he wondered where she was, and his stomach took a panicked dive, but then he saw her standing at the back of the church. Everything was right with the world.

  He loved her so completely that his heart ached. He'd never thought he'd feel so much for a woman, but Catherine wasn't just anyone—she was his friend, his lover, his partner, his everything.

  The music began.

  Catherine walked slowly down the aisle in a lacy white dress. She carried a simple bouquet of wildflowers in her hand. She hadn't wanted anyone to give her away. She was giving herself away—to him. He'd never felt so honored.

  When she reached his side she flashed him one hell of a smile. His breath caught in his chest. God, she was beautiful.

  The priest began to speak. Dylan barely heard the words. He couldn't take his eyes off Catherine. When it came time to make his vows he said them slowly and deliberately, knowing that deep down inside Catherine was still that little orphaned girl who was afraid no one would ever want her forever. But he did and he always would.

  They kissed and the audience clapped. As they turned to face their friends Dylan whispered, "I had a vision last night."

  Catherine's fingers tightened around his. "Really, what was it?"

  "That we were going to live happily ever after."

  "Well, you know the thing about visions—they always come true." She paused as they began walking down the aisle. "By the way, I think we should trade in my Volkswagen for a family car."

  He stopped abruptly. "You saw a child in our future?" he asked, his voice far too loud.

  "No. I saw the stick turn pink," she said with a laugh. "We're going to have a baby, Dylan. You and me— we're going to have the family we always wanted." She cast an embarrassed look at the crowd. "I guess I should have told you that in private."

  He grinned. "And later I'll probably say I should have done this in private, too." He leaned in and started a kiss that would last for the rest of his life.

  * * * THE END * * *