No Easy Catch (Carmen Sisters)

by Pat Simmons

  Sitting behind the wheel in anticipation of what he was about to do, Rahn prayed, “Lord, thank You for putting Shae in my path…” Just then he noticed headlights in the rearview mirror.

  Shae’s modest car appeared through the backdrop of the snow. Rahn slid down in the seat while he waited for her to pass, then scooted up again. He watched as she parked and then carefully climbed out of her car.

  She made a camera-perfect model in her off-white wool coat. As her features came into view, Rahn selected her name on his smartphone and waited as she fumbled through her purse. Shae pulled out her phone and answered just when he thought it was about to go to voice mail.

  “I’ve made it home,” he whispered. He didn’t have to imagine her smile; he got to witness it.

  “Praise God! I could’ve picked you up from the airport, but you never gave me your flight information. Listen, the snow is coming down a little heavier. Let me call you back once I get upstairs.”

  “Okay, baby, but no woman can wear white like you. You’re stunning in that fur hat.” He smirked as Shae touched the top of her head. “As a matter of fact, you become more beautiful every time I see you.”

  She froze. “You didn’t see the newscast, did you? Wait a minute.” Her head jerked around. “I wasn’t wearing a fur hat on the news.” Shae put her gloved hand on her hip. “Rahn Maxwell, exactly where are you?”

  Rahn stepped out of the Jaguar and crept up the street toward her. “Look behind you, baby.”

  ***

  Shae felt like a character in a Christmas movie as she hurried toward Rahn. He swept her off the ground with one strong arm around her waist, and she wrapped her arms around his neck. “You’re here. You’re really here.” She peppered his face with kisses as he laughed.

  Despite the snowflakes gathering on her eyelashes, Shae took the time to study the silky black beard that outlined his full lips. Tears escaped her eyes as Rahn tightened his hug. The silhouette of his unbuttoned black wool coat and coordinating hat gave him a mysterious look that contrasted against the backdrop of falling snow.

  “Yes, I’m here—all six feet three inches of me,” he whispered, releasing her. He cupped her cheeks. This time, it was his turn to shower her with affection. He kissed her eyes, her nose, and finally her lips—a gesture that was sweet, soft, and too short. “I brought you a wedding present.” He dangled a set of car keys before her eyes.

  Confused, Shae watched him turn and press the button, activating the alarm of a white Jaguar parked a few cars behind hers. The interior lights blinked, the horn chirped, and the parking lights illuminated the majestic luxury vehicle.

  A Jag? Rahn had to stop this madness, playing charades with her heart and making her guess when he was going to propose. She jammed her fists on her hips and tapped her boot on the snow-covered sidewalk. “Come back when you’re ready.” She turned to go inside, but Rahn’s strong hand twirled her around. He drew her into his stare while he slowly dropped to one knee in the snow.

  His puppy-dog expression tugged at her heart. Oh…this was it. Rahn was proposing! She dusted the snowflakes off of his face.

  “Shae Carmen, I have loved you from the first time I saw you. When I’m with you, I am simply me—not a celebrity or a man of means; just an ordinary man blessed to have a special woman in his life. I love you so much, but I had to have everything in order before I asked you.” He paused, reaching inside his pants’ pocket. His hand seemed to move in slow motion as it emerged with a black velvet box.

  Shae sucked in her breath as tears streamed down her cheeks. When Rahn flipped the lid open, the diamonds sparkled. She covered her mouth.

  “Will you marry me?”

  The words echoed. Either Shae’s head was spinning or her brain was frostbitten. Her answer was stuck somewhere between her stomach and throat. She nodded.

  He shook his head. “That’s not going to work. You’re a broadcaster. I need you to broadcast your answer.”

  Her voice was coming up her throat like a slow-moving choo-choo train. Finally, “Yes” slipped out. She sniffed as Rahn removed her glove and tenderly slipped the ring on her finger. Then he admired his gift before kissing her hand.

  Before she could blink, Rahn had stood, scooped her up in his arms, and carried her to the entrance, where Mr. Chapman was holding the door open for them. No doubt he had witnessed the scene.

  “I’m an engaged man,” Rahn boasted to anyone within hearing range.

  “So it appears.” Mr. Chapman chuckled, rubbing his chin. “I guess this is breaking news.”

  Rahn carried her to the sitting area, where a roaring fire beckoned them. Unwilling to break their contact, Shae nestled in his lap and admired her ring. Suddenly she started sobbing.

  “Baby, what’s wrong?” He nudged her off his chest to look at her.

  Shaking her head, Shae sniffed, then whispered her confession: “I thought you were never going to ask.”

  “Then you really don’t know me.” He paused, wiping away her tears. “You deserve the best, and I refused to give you anything less than that—the ring and your armor-plated car.”

  She blinked. “That Jag is armor plated?”

  “Yep.” Rahn’s lips curled into a smirk. “Wait until we go house hunting.”

  Joy filled Shae until she had a giggle fit. Rahn laughed with her. Once they recovered, the reality hit her, and she straightened. “It’s snowing outside.”

  “It has been for some time. What’s your point?”

  She stood and pulled him to his feet. “What’s my new car doing out in this weather?” She escorted him—more like pushed him—toward the door. “It is a Jag, after all.”

  After stealing a kiss, Rahn howled his amusement on his way out the door.

  “Don’t let anything happen to my car!” she yelled after him.

  “What about me?”

  “Oh, yeah.” She beamed. “Or to you, either. You’re my most important cargo.” She couldn’t wait to go upstairs and call her sisters. They had a wedding to plan.

  41

  Two months till the start of spring training, Rahn paced the men’s dressing room at the church, counting down the minutes until Shae would arrive in the limo he’d sent for her. He had lovingly placed her wedding bouquet on the seat with an envelope that included a sketch of them and a message: I’ll always love you.

  “What’s going on? I was supposed to be a married man seven minutes ago. Where are Shae and the others?” Rahn didn’t want to entertain any of the worst-case scenarios trying to get into his head.

  Marcus smirked. “Hold on to your suspenders, if you’re wearing them. I’ll try to reach the limo driver.” He punched in the number on the card Rahn pulled out of his wallet. “The line’s busy.” He finally got the driver after two more tries. When Marcus was about to say ‘hello,’ Rahn snatched the phone out of his hand.

  “Where are you and my wife?” He would make amends for his rudeness later.

  “Fiancée,” Ted interjected. “It’s not official yet.” His attempt to lighten the mood seemed to work on everybody but Rahn.

  He was not amused. He refused to spend a night in jail for strangling his future brother-in-law. He turned his attention back to the phone. The limo driver was explaining the delay. “An accident…?”

  His good humor gone, Ted yanked the phone away from Rahn, his eyes watering. Rahn grabbed it back, and the two of them battled, Ted with shaking hands. “Are they hurt badly?” he shouted into the phone. “Oh.” He frowned as the other groomsmen gathered around, concern etched on their faces.

  Ted scowled like a pit bull at Rahn. “The bridal party wasn’t in an accident. There was a fender-bender in front of them, and the police are letting one lane of traffic through at a time. Don’t you ever scare me like that again, taking years off my young life. They will be here in less than ten minutes.”

  Rubbing the frustration from his face, Rahn apologized.

  “I wouldn’t have really hurt you…not until after th
e honeymoon.” Ted gave him a bear hug, then patted his back.

  Marcus offered to go to the sanctuary to inform the five-hundred-plus guests of the reason for the delay. He spoke into a microphone, so Rahn could hear him. “Ladies and gentlemen, the bride didn’t run off.” Some guests laughed. “She’s tied up in traffic but will be here in a couple of minutes.”

  “Otherwise I’m going looking for her,” Rahn muttered as the remaining groomsmen nodded in agreement.

  ***

  The limo driver glanced over his shoulder. “Miss Carmen?”

  Three women answered.

  Shae smiled. She had four attendants: her sisters and Rahn’s sister, Phyllis. “I think he’s talking to me.”

  Her mother patted her hand. “Not for much longer.”

  The chauffeur chuckled. “Mr. Maxwell sends his love and nervousness.”

  Serves him right for keeping me on pins and needles, leaving me to wonder when he was going to propose, Shae said to herself, even as she laughed along with the others.

  Soon the driver was able to maneuver the limo around the traffic accident. The wedding coordinator—a petite woman with salt-and-pepper hair—was waiting for them at the church door, looking frantic and flustered. “We are behind schedule. Oh, dear,” she fretted before hurrying Shae into a small dressing room to wait. Everything seemed to accelerate before Shae’s eyes. The next thing she knew, her mother and then Rahn’s mom kissed her cheek, then turned to their escorts, ready to make their way up the aisle.

  The organist struck the first chord, signaling that the procession was about to start. Shae glanced at her reflection in the mirror. Her makeup had never looked better. As the music played, she imagined her bridesmaids gliding down the aisle, followed by her matron of honor, Stacy, and finally by the two flower girls littering the runner with pink rose petals.

  The soft tap on the door was her cue. Shae was feeling a mixture of anxiety, excitement, and some other emotions she couldn’t name. After taking a deep breath, she stepped out of her bridal chamber. At the same time, she heard Rahn’s twin nephews ringing silver bells and crying out, “Here comes the bride…here comes the bride,” which sounded more like “Here comes the broad.”

  This wasn’t a dream. Rahn had indeed asked her to marry him—finally—and she’d accepted. “I’m the bride,” she whispered to herself.

  “I was wondering who I was going to walk down there.” Uncle Bradford patted her hand before resting it over his forearm. “I believe Rahn will make you happy.”

  “He already has.”

  The double doors opened, and the wedding planner beckoned them forward. Feeling like Cinderella in glass slippers, Shae stepped into the sanctuary. Everything blurred except for Rahn, who came into focus immediately. When she was midway to the altar, Rahn left his post in a comfortable swagger toward her.

  “You’re more than beautiful. I’m so honored.”

  Through her veil, Shae looked into the eyes of the man to whom she was about to vow her faithfulness and love forever. “Thank you.”

  Uncle Bradford gave Rahn a stern expression before shaking his hand. No words were exchanged, but Rahn nodded. Evidently, the two had come to some type of understanding that she wasn’t privy to.

  Then, with a loving gaze, Rahn refocused on her. “Let’s do this.”

  “I would love to,” she mouthed as they continued to the altar.

  Bishop Archie cleared his throat. “Dearly beloved, we’re gathered together here in the sight of God…”

  Rahn caressed Shae’s hand as he repeated his vows with such tenderness in his voice and love in his eyes. She became teary eyed when he slid the wedding band that matched her pink gold engagement ring on her finger. When it was her turn, Shae’s hands shook as she pledged her love and faithfulness, surrendering to him as the head of the home. His eyes moved from her eyes to her mouth, and Shae finally exhaled once she’d pushed the band onto his thick finger.

  “Inasmuch as you have each pledged to the other your lifelong commitment, love, and devotion, I pronounce you husband and wife, in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ,” Bishop Archie proclaimed. “Those whom God has joined together, let no man—or woman—put asunder. Rahn, you may kiss your bride.”

  Leaning forward, Shae closed her eyes. Their first kiss as a married couple was powerful and romantic. The audience started clapping and whistling. Once Rahn had stepped back again, he scooped her off her feet—which was good, because she was getting dizzy—and dipped her backward.

  Hooking her arms around Rahn’s neck to hold on, she whispered, “If you drop me…”

  “If I can catch a fly ball in center field, I can definitely hold on to my wife.”

  EPILOGUE

  Shae Maxwell loved Jesus, she loved her husband, and she loved married life, especially after spending ten wonderful days in Italy on their honeymoon. The bliss continued when she returned to work to find a glorious floral spread on her desk.

  Plucking the sealed envelope out of the arrangement, she smiled as she opened it.

  To my wife. Thank you for marrying me, Mrs. Maxwell.

  Not long after that, she found a piece of mail from the St. Louis Cardinals’ promotions department in her mailbox at the station. The organization wanted her to be in one of their commercials that would run before the upcoming baseball season. Although she thought it would be fun, Shae called Rahn to ask him to weigh in on the decision. She wanted to make sure they consulted each other on important matters.

  “If you want to do it, babe, do it, not because you’re married to me.”

  “Of course, that’s the only reason I would want to do it—because I’m married to a fantastic husband.” She frowned. “They don’t want you in there, too?”

  “I’m not as cute as you,” Rahn cooed in her ear. He was at home, packing up some personal items in preparation for the big move next week. Besides the Jaguar, her husband had gone overboard in selecting their first home based on some off-handed comments she had made regarding what she wanted in a home: cubbyholes, bay windows, and a home office.

  When she’d mentioned that she might start sewing again, Rahn had requested a custom-built sewing room be added to the blueprint and stocked with thread and other notions for whenever the mood hit her. Then, there was the matter of the five bedrooms for the children he expected to enjoy. They would definitely have to negotiate that.

  So, Shae agreed to be in the commercial. One week before Rahn and his teammates were set to jet off to Florida for spring training, Shae stood on the pitcher’s mound in an empty Busch Stadium. Although the weather was warm for February, it was still chilly, so she’d dressed in several layers of clothes beneath Rahn’s baseball jersey. The filming wasn’t supposed to last more than twenty minutes, so she figured she would be warm enough.

  “We want you to relax and have fun. That’s what baseball is all about—fun,” the producer explained, as two camerapersons—a man and a woman—set up their tripods. “You and Rahn are our newest local celebrity couple. We’ll keep the camera rolling for a few minutes before we shoot another angle.”

  “This is exciting.” Shae grinned and closed her eyes, imagining that she was standing in the middle of a tied game before a sellout crowd. She took a deep breath, then exhaled slowly. She was ready to role-play as a pitcher. After agreeing to do the commercial, Shae had tried to read up on different pitches: the curveball, the slider, and the knuckleball. In the end, she’d decided it wasn’t that big a deal for a commercial that was supposed to portray her as carefree and natural.

  Cocking her Cardinals cap to the side and popping her bubble gum, she eyed all the positions from her vantage point as if the bases were loaded. The field was huge. It was an amazing feat that her husband could catch anything in this wide-open space.

  “Okay, Shae, we’re sending out your first batter,” the producer said, breaking her reverie. “Remember, just act natural.”

  Then her husband, sporting his uniform, walked out
of the dugout and strolled to the plate, wearing a silly grin.

  Lifting a brow, Shae smirked as she rested her fist on her hip. “Really?” She gave her first pitch all she had—to no avail. The second one was even wilder than the first. Rahn started laughing, and soon even the producer was snickering.

  “Throw me something I can hit, woman!” Rahn taunted her.

  Shae scrunched up her nose and concentrated. Honing in on her target, she released the ball, and this time, she didn’t miss. Throwing her hands in the air like a football referee, she yelled, “Home run!”

  “Ouch!” Rahn cried as the ball deflected off his arm. He stormed the mound with a scowl.

  Giggling, Shae left her post and took off running. It became a game of tag as she ran one way, then turned and darted in another direction. At this point, Shae didn’t care about the commercial. She was caught up in the moment. Then Rahn tackled her from behind. Shae screamed but never felt the impact, as his sturdy arms cushioned her fall.

  “Don’t you know you’re an easy catch?” Rahn kissed her before she could answer.

  “That was great!” the producer shouted in the background. “Cut. That’s a wrap.”

  Rahn didn’t stop kissing her, and she wasn’t about to make him.

  BOOK CLUB DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  Have you ever had a tumultuous relationship with someone else in the church? How did it affect your relationship with God?

  An embarrassing situation compelled Shae to “run away from” Nebraska to St. Louis, where she carved out a prestigious career and met the love of her life. Have you ever “run away from” a problem, only to discover that it was part of God’s purpose all along?

  The idea for an attempted carjacking of Rahn was sparked by an interview I saw with Michael Irvin years earlier. Do you feel that athletes and other celebrities seem to be exempt from various perils in their lives because of their status?