Between Heaven and Earth

by Michele Paige Holmes

  Copyright © 2016 Michele Paige Holmes

  E-book edition

  All rights reserved

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form whatsoever without prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief passages embodied in critical reviews and articles. This novel is a work of fiction. The characters, names, incidents, places, and dialog are products of the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real.

  Interior Design by Heather Justesen

  Edited by Rachel Bird and Lisa Shepherd

  Cover design by Rachael Anderson

  Cover Image: Shutterstock #159278246

  Cover Image Copyright: Gergely Zsolnai

  Published by Mirror Press, LLC

  eISBN-10:1-941145-80-9

  eISBN-13: 978-1-941145-80-7

  To Bill and Mylene

  whose love story inspired this one.

  “And… now.” Cassandra Webb reached forward over layers of white chiffon to crank the volume on the car stereo.

  The first notes of “We Built this City” blared from the speakers as Devon, her husband of exactly three hours, stepped on the gas pedal and the Audi gave a lurch of speed as they drove onto the Golden Gate Bridge. A passing car honked, and the passengers waved. Cassie peered through the decorated window to wave back enthusiastically.

  “I really hope that paint washes off,” Devon said for at least the tenth time since they’d left the reception and discovered that his sister’s kids had taken car decorating to a new level.

  “It will,” Cassie said, unconcerned either way. Would it be so terrible to drive around sporting Just Married on the back windshield for more than a day or two? All these friendly greetings from total strangers was kind of fun.

  “Wait for it.” Devon held his hands poised over the steering wheel, then played a mock drum intro along with the ’80s band Starship as was tradition every time they visited the city. Our city. Someday, in the not too distant future, they would live here. Or a bit closer at least.

  “Wait for it is right,” Cassie said. “Look at that traffic.” Her mouth turned down at the cars braking in front of them.

  Devon shrugged as he slowed the car. “Rush hour. Told you we should have had a morning ceremony.”

  “And risked cool temperatures and limp hair from the fog? No thank you.” Cassie leaned over the gearshift to give him a quick kiss on the cheek. “Besides. There’s no one I’d rather be stuck in city traffic with, Mr. Webb.”

  “Well, now, Mrs. Webb, since you put it that way…” Devon’s hand left the wheel and found Cassie’s amidst the ruffles of her wedding gown. He brought her hand to his lips and let them linger there. “Anything in particular you wanted to do while we’re stuck in traffic?”

  Cassie sighed dreamily as she leaned her head back and spied the sunroof. “Yes, actually.” She reached up to open it. “I’ve always wanted to do this.” She unfastened her seatbelt, then pulled her hand from Devon’s to bunch the layers of her gown.

  “Cass, what’re you doing?” Devon pulled his eyes from the car in front of him to glance at her.

  In answer, she climbed up on her seat and pulled herself up through the sunroof so she was standing with her torso outside the car. The driver on their right honked and waved.

  “It’s beautiful out here,” she shouted as she waved back. The afternoon sun reflected off the bay, bathing San Francisco in golden light. The ocean breeze sent her hair streaming behind her, and she brought a hand to her head before remembering she’d taken her veil off already, and it lay safely in the back seat.

  “Are you nuts, woman? Get down here.” Devon tugged on her dress. “I’d like to have a wife for more than one day.”

  “I’m perfectly safe. We’re hardly moving,” Cassie shouted. Hardly moving, but it was enough that she felt so alive. The whole day had passed too quickly; everything had felt surreal. But this, this felt real. She ran her fingers over the diamond sparkling on her left hand. She’d really married Devon, and they were on their way to starting a wonderful life together.

  “Cass,” Devon pled. “Do you want us to get a ticket on our honeymoon?”

  She peered down at him. “No one’s going to give us a ticket. What cop would want to spoil a couple’s wedding day?”

  “A few I can think of,” Devon muttered. “Just get back in your seat— please.”

  “Oh, all right.” She dropped back down in a whoosh of fabric. “Couldn’t you flash your shiny new Sacramento PD badge at anyone who pulled us over?”

  “No. I could not.” Devon beat away the layers of her dress covering the steering wheel. He looked over long enough that she caught his eye roll. “Seat belt?”

  Cassie pulled it across her and snapped it into place. “Spoilsport,” she grumped good-naturedly. “Happy now?”

  “With you at my side? Always.” Devon’s grin was back. He held up a finger, signaling silence, then jumped into the song. “Looking out over that Golden Gate Bridge on my gorgeous, sunny wedding day. I’m stuck in bumper to bumper traffic with the most beautiful woman in the world in a black Audi about two-thirds of the way across.”

  Cassie laughed at his parody. “Don’t seem to remember those lyrics.”

  “She’s with her favorite guy, in her favorite city. The city by the bay, the city we’re gonna rock, the city that never sleeps.” He winked. “Especially tonight.”

  As if they’d heard and approved of his alteration to the song, the driver of the car inching past them blared the horn several times as the passengers waved.

  Cassie stretched her arms high through the sunroof and waved back.

  “Careful,” Devon advised. “That rock on your finger is worth a few grand. Wouldn’t want to lose it.”

  “It’s not going anywhere,” Cassie assured him. “Just like me. I’m not going anywhere. You’re stuck with me now.”

  “Oh, we’re going places, baby. Don’t let that tiny apartment in Auburn worry you. We are going places.”

  They drove through the toll plaza and headed toward Marina Boulevard and the presidio.

  “When are you going to tell me where those places are?” Cassie closed the sunroof to block out the noise of the city. “Like the one we’re going to stay at tonight?” He hadn’t told her a thing about their honeymoon, though the budget had been slim, so she knew they couldn’t be going too far or staying any place too fancy. For all she knew they could be camping at the beach the next two nights.

  “Why tell you when I can show you in just a few minutes?” Devon asked. “Our suite is around the corner.”

  “Oh, so we’re staying in South San Francisco?” Though he’d gone the wrong way if that was the case. “Did you get one of those deals at the hotels near the airport?” Cassie had found at least two that were affordable and had hinted more than a few times that a weekend in San Francisco strolling the pier, eating chowder from hollowed out sourdough bread bowls, and taking the cable car to explore the neighborhoods she dreamed of living in some day was her idea of a perfect honeymoon. Sure, she and Devon had spent dozens of dates here already. It was their city. So what better way to start out their life together than in it?

  “A hotel near the airport didn’t seem particularly romantic,” Devon said. “I don’t know about you, but jets flying overhead isn’t what I want keeping me awake tonight.”

  “Not south San Fran, then. Hmm,” Cassie mused. She’d hoped for Sausalito, so they could’ve taken the ferry across to the city tomorrow morning. Now it appeared they’d be farther south and would have to drive in for sure, not to mention parking in San Francisco could easily double the cost of their hotel if they weren’t careful. “Burlingame? San Mateo?”
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br />   Devon shook his head. He pressed his lips together, his look smug, apparently enjoying himself. “I said we’d be there in a few minutes. The definition of a few is typically three to five— not thirty.”

  “We’re staying in San Francisco?” No way. He’d had to save for months to buy her ring, and they’d barely been able to scrape together enough for first and last month’s rent and the security deposit on their apartment. They couldn’t begin to afford even one night downtown.

  “Can’t tell you.”

  Cassie leaned close. “Don’t make me touch your ears while we’re driving.” She ran her index finger slowly along the side of his ear, down to the lobe.

  He swatted her hand away, but she persisted, knowing this kind of pleasant torture could get her what she wanted almost every time.

  “Okay, probably.” Devon tried to duck out of her reach, but she leaned farther over to his side, her fingers still working their magic, playing with the hair above his ear.

  “Geez, Cass. I’m trying to drive— in San Francisco, no less. Yes, we’re staying here. You are the worst to try and keep secrets from, you know that?” He shook his head as if disgusted with himself— or her.

  “You kept it this long.” Cassie ceased tormenting him and moved back to her side of the car. “I’m surprised, shocked really. What’d you do, rob the bank you were a night watchman for?”

  “Not quite. Though that probably would have been easier than what we have to do to pay for this place.”

  “What do you mean?” Cassie turned in her seat to better look at his profile. “We’re staying somewhere that isn’t paid for yet?” Somewhere in San Francisco. She felt herself starting to panic. Their finances were already on the bubble. Devon’s new job paid more, but she was planning to quit hers to start graduate school in the fall, so they’d actually be making less than they had been when pooling their previous incomes.

  Devon turned right onto Washington Street. He slowed the car and began searching the house numbers.

  “Dev, this is the Pacific Heights neighborhood. Poor newlyweds who have just graduated from college and barely landed their first career jobs do not stay in a place like this.”

  “These poor newlyweds do.” He turned the Audi sharply into a narrow, sloped driveway. Cassie leaned forward, peering through the windshield at the three story Edwardian town home.

  “Oh my.” She brought a hand to her heart.

  “Yeah, that’s how I felt when I saw the price tag on these places.” He turned off the car and set the brake, then turned to look at her. “But I said to myself, Devon, you are marrying the most wonderful woman in the world. If she wants to stay on the moon someday, you’d better figure out how to make that happen, because she. Is. Worth. It.”

  Cassie forgot about worrying over money as she leaned toward him and threw her arms around his neck. “I can’t believe this. I can’t believe you found this place and did this for me.”

  “Weeks,” he mumbled into her hair. “It took me weeks to find it. Though I did have a little help,” he admitted. “And there is still the matter of payment.”

  Cassie leaned back, but kept her arms loosely around his neck— in case she needed to use her hands to strangle him. “This really isn’t paid for yet?” She whispered the question, afraid that the house before her was a mirage and would disappear at any second, or even worse, come tumbling down on her head as a few of Devon’s other financial decisions had in the recent past, the car they were sitting in being one of those. It had necessitated her delaying grad school until the fall, when she’d been ready to start last spring.

  “It is and it isn’t. But don’t panic.” He pressed a finger to her lips before she could protest again. “Annie paid for two nights here. In exchange, we’re watching her kids while she and Doug go to Hawaii for a week.”

  “Annie.” Cassie felt a wave of relief followed almost immediately by panic. “A whole week with your sister’s kids. Seven nights in exchange for two?”

  “Eight, actually. If you knew what this place cost, you’d realize it’s a fair trade. And hey, you didn’t want me to use a credit card for our honeymoon, and I didn’t.” He tilted his head, stuck his lower lip out, and softened his eyes in a pitiful expression of hope.

  Cassie’s heart melted, as it did every time he looked at her that way. She was as helpless against the puppy dog look as Devon was when she caressed his ears. “I think it’s brilliant. You’re brilliant,” she amended. Grad school was still on track, and they had two glorious days and nights in a dream house.

  Devon got out of the car and came around to her side. He opened the door, then held his hand out to her. Cassie gathered her gown in one hand and placed her other in Devon’s. He helped her from the car, then swept her off of her feet and into his arms.

  Cassie linked her hands behind his neck as he exaggerated staggering up the steps. “Funny. From the guy who lifts five days a week.”

  “Just trying to add some lighthearted humor— you know, in case my bride has wedding night jitters.” Devon stopped at the front door and attempted to reach into his pocket for something— presumably the key.

  “The only thing I’m jittery about is watching your nieces and nephews for a week.” She leaned back and reached down to Devon’s pocket, attempting to help locate the key.

  “Our nieces and nephews,” he corrected with a wicked grin. “All part of this fine package you see before you.”

  Cassie pulled a silver key from his pocket and held it up to him. She sighed. “I suppose watching them will be good practice for when we have our own kids someday.”

  “Yep. Our own boisterous boys. All two of them.” He snatched the key from her, leaned forward, and fitted it into the lock, tipping Cassie precariously in the process.

  “And two girls. Don’t forget,” she reminded him.

  “If you insist.” He straightened, then pushed the door open.

  “We’ll have a child every three years, starting in three years, so fifteen years from now we’ll have the perfect family.” Cassie knew it was silly, but she didn’t care. It was fun to think she had it all planned out. So maybe they’d get three boys and one girl, or some of their kids would be closer or farther apart than the three years. None of that mattered much, just that she and Devon were starting their life together, and someday they’d make a few other lives to join them.

  Devon crossed the threshold, and Cassie reached out and pushed the front door closed behind them. He set her gently on the floor, faced her and took her hands in his. Their eyes met, and she felt herself falling in love with his baby blues for the millionth time.

  “We are the perfect family now.” He held her hands up and kissed the back of each.

  Cassie felt a little swoony as she looked at her new husband, more handsome than ever, still in his white shirt and suit pants, his collar loosened, his tie draped casually around his neck. Behind him she could see into the house he’d rented for them, and if Devon hadn’t been taking her breath away this very second, she was certain the living room would have, with its period pieces and décor. But there would be time for exploring that later.

  “We are perfect,” she agreed as she stepped toward him, closing the distance between them. “I love you, Devon.” She tilted her head back and leaned up for a kiss. He gave her one, taking her face in his hands and whispering his own endearments against her lips. Slow, delicious minutes passed before they broke apart, breathless and with Devon’s fingers tangled in her hair.

  “Ouch.” Cassie giggled and tried to stand still so he could free himself.

  “You’ve got too much hair, woman.” He pulled her face to his chest while he worked at the knot, and Cassie felt a rush of new desire as she breathed in his cologne.

  “I thought you liked my hair.” She pouted.

  “I love it,” he said. “Except when it’s attacking me.” He succeeded in freeing himself and took a step back.

  “Wait until you sleep with it,” she predicted, a sly a
nd slightly nervous smile on her face. Her hair tended to take on a life of its own during the night. What would Devon think when he discovered himself in bed with Medusa tomorrow morning?

  “Do I have to wait?” he asked, his eyes glinting with their usual hint of humor plus a hefty dose of desire.

  She shook her head as anticipation rushed from her rapidly beating heart to every nerve ending from head to toe. “You’re tired already?”

  “Hardly.” He swept Cassie up in his arms again and carried her farther into the house amidst her giggles.

  They walked through the living room, and Cassie drank in as much of it as she could— the polished wood floors, bay windows, and antiques. Devon seemed to know where he was going and carried her swiftly up the stairs— no exaggerated stagger this time— to the third floor, one enormous suite.

  “Oh my,” Cassie breathed as he set her on a cushioned bench tucked between bookcases and in front of a large, curved picture window, this one overlooking the bay and the Golden Gate. “Oh, Devon, this is beautiful. I could sit here all night and look at this view.”

  “Really?” He sank into a Queen Anne chair at the foot of the four-poster bed. “I was hoping another view in here might interest you more.”

  Cassie turned to look at him, then rose and crossed the room. “I said I could look at that view all night. But this view…” She walked a slow circle around him, one finger on his shoulder as she made a show of checking him out. “I could look at every night. Forever.”

  “Forever, huh?” Devon stood and snagged her around the waist, then took a step back and sent them both tumbling onto the large bed. “Isn’t that kind of a long time?”

  Cassie’s laughter turned suddenly serious as love for the man holding her in his arms overwhelmed her. “It will never be long enough.” She kissed him with a fierce possessiveness that surprised her, then lay her head on his chest over his heart. Its beat had quickened like her own but was also steady and reassuring, the rhythm of the hundreds of possibilities and years of happiness ahead of them.