“You did the right thing, my love.” She reached up and touched his cheek with a giggle.
Tim was getting ready to say something, but his cell phone rang. “Excuse me.” He stood and said into the phone, “Is that right? ... Why did you do that? ...” He motioned he was going onto the balcony to finish the conversation.
“I wonder who that was. He looked upset.” Heather frowned.
“I’ll check on him.” Juanita headed out the door.
“I hope our plans haven’t upset him,” Alex said.
“No. It wasn’t our plans.” Heather shook her head. “It was the phone call.”
“I’m sure it’ll be okay, honey.” Alex took her hand.
“I know. You never stop being a parent.” She smiled. “I don’t care if he’s a grown man. He’s still my baby boy.”
“See, Luke,” Brenda said. “A woman never stops being a mother.”
“Dads also feel that way about their kids, Brenda. Anna and I spent a lot of sleepless nights worrying about that big lug, there.” Alex nodded toward Luke. “Now that the family is expanding, I’ve got more names to add.”
“So have I,” Heather said.
“Look, you two. You can’t start your life together worrying about us. Tim and I are going to take care of our families. I’m sure I’m speaking for him when I say we want you to enjoy your life together. We know you’ll be there if we need you.”
Before they could respond Tim came back in. He had his arm around Juanita’s shoulder. “It’s okay, Mom. It was Dad. He wants me to talk to you about this crazy notion you have about being in love. He says he thinks you’re too old for a boyfriend and he wants me to straighten you out.” Tim chuckled. “He was afraid he’d have to talk to the man if he called you. I think Alex scared him, so he decided I should do something to make you come to your senses before it was too late.”
“Tim, I’m sorry.”
“Forget it, Mom. Marry the man of your dreams and be happy. That’s what I want for you.”
“And that’s what I want for Dad,” Luke said. “So now that the questions have been asked and answered, let’s have another cup of coffee and plan this shindig.”
“How about another piece of pie?” Alex asked.
Heather shook her head. “I see one problem in this marriage already.” When they all looked at her, she reached over and rubbed Alex’s stomach. “How in the world will I ever keep him full?”
“Always keep some kind of pot on the stove, Heather,” Brenda said. “That’s what I do for junior, here.”
Luke leaned down and kissed his wife’s cheek. “And I appreciate it. Now, I’m going to get my dad some pie. Probably a piece for myself and Tim. Anyone else interested?”
CHAPTER 28
The first church Alex called the next morning was a Methodist. The minister said they’d be happy for the couple to marry in their sanctuary. Alex called Heather to let her know.
After greeting each other with loving words he said, “The minister wants to meet us this today, if it’s okay with you. While we’re out, we can also go get the marriage license.” He took a deep breath. “Can you be ready to go in an hour?”
“I can. If we can finish by lunch, the girls and I can go shopping this afternoon.”
“I’ll see you shortly. I can’t wait to kiss you good morning.”
• ♥ •
Tim and Luke were sitting at the pool in Heather’s condo complex watching the kids splash around in the water. Their wives were in the condo getting ready to go shopping as soon as Heather and Alex returned.
Luke asked, “Tim, are you really okay with this quickie wedding?”
“Strangely enough, I am. I haven’t seen my mother this happy in years, if ever. I pray your dad is being honest about his feelings for her.”
“If you could have seen him a few weeks ago, you’d have sworn he was pushing eighty. He moped around, seldom smiled, and worked every day until late into the night and still accomplished very little. There were mornings I’d see him come into one of the work areas with sad, blood-shot eyes. I was never sure if they were red from lack of sleep, drinking too much the night before, or if he’d been crying. But since meeting your mother, he’s hopping around like a teenager and he can work circles around the both of us.”
Tim looked at Luke. “So, I’m assuming you’re okay with the marriage, too.”
“Yes, I am and I’m thankful he’s marrying someone like Heather.” Luke shook his head. “We weren’t kidding last night when we told you about Minnie Cox. She wasn’t the only one after him. Ever since Mother died, I’ve been afraid Dad would settle for some woman he didn’t really love because he was lonely. Thank heavens none of them were able to break him down.” Luke chuckled. “Then he took one look at your mom and tumbled.”
“It must have been the same way for Mom. Since the divorce, she’s never let any man get close to her. Oh, she dated some, but none of them were ever important. She was distrustful of men.” He looked toward the pool. “Ben and I have been the only serious men in her life for a long time and you can understand why I don’t want her to get hurt.”
“Dad would never hurt her, Tim. In fact, last night when he got back after taking Heather home, we had a long talk.” Tim looked at him and said nothing. Luke went on, “Don’t say anything to her, but he asked us to go to his house when we get home and take anything we want. He said he knew the house was still done in Mother’s taste, which is kind of Western. He said after being in Heather’s place, he knew she liked a different look and they’d be changing a lot of things. He assured me he didn’t want to get rid of anything which had sentimental value to me, but the house was going to be Heather’s now, and he wanted it to be decorated the way she’d feel comfortable.”
“Most men wouldn’t be that thoughtful. The more I hear about your dad, the more I like him.”
“He’s a pretty neat guy, and I’m glad you like him. I know he’s opened his heart to you and your family. As I feel your mother has done for us.”
“She has, Luke. And as far as the boys are concerned, I think both of them already accept them as their grandchildren. Not his and hers.”
“I’m glad about that because Jacob was a baby when my mother got sick. She was too weak to get close to him and Heather will be the only grandmother he’ll ever know. Brenda’s parents were both killed in an automobile accident when she was a teenager.”
“She’s a wonderful grandmother, Luke. She’s good with Ben and he sometimes needs special attention. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but my son is a little different from most kids his age.”
“I’ve noticed he’s awfully smart and uses words way beyond his years.” He glanced at the kids. “It doesn’t seem to be a hindrance to them, though. They’re getting along great.”
“They’ve formed an instant bond, and this pleases me. Juanita and I talked about it last night. We want Ben to have a good childhood. I don’t want to push him just to see how much he can learn. Oh, I’ll see that he has all the materials he wants to study, but when he wants to play cars and such with his friends, I want him to do that, too.”
“Have you had him tested, Tim?”
“A couple of weeks ago. His IQ is near the genius level, but we decided there’s more to life than what one learns in a book. We want our son to be happy.”
“I admire you for that. Of course, as a parent, I know you’re awfully proud.”
“I’m proud, but not because of his IQ. He’s a wonderful kid, like yours is.”
“I’m proud of Jacob, too. Dad says he’s a lot like I was when I was a kid and I think I knew what I wanted to do with my life from the time I was about his size.” Luke chuckled. “He’s already saying he wants to be a cattle farmer like Poppa and me.”
“Ben told me the other night that he wanted to be a daddy like me, but first he wants to be the president.”
Luke laughed out loud. “Knowing Ben, he’ll probably do it.”
They were
silent for a few minutes then Luke said, “We’re going to be okay as a blended family, aren’t we, Tim?”
“I think so. Mom is looking forward to getting closer to Brenda, and I know she’s already excited about the new babies.”
“I’m glad. Brenda lost her parents so young and with Mother dying so soon after our marriage, she really hasn’t had anyone to call on as a mother substitute.”
“I don’t think there will be a substitute anything. Mom has always accepted Juanita as a daughter. I’m sure she’ll do the same with Brenda.”
“She’ll like that.”
“Juanita’s parents live in Arizona and she was the last of nine children. She’s always said she wasn’t wanted. We met when she came east to school. I was working on my doctorate at the time and that beautiful Indian princess captured my heart. I suppose you’ve guessed by looking at her that her mother was Native American.”
“I figured she had some Indian blood from somewhere.”
“What about you and Brenda. How did you meet?”
“We were neighbors and our parents were friends. Of course, being four years older than her, she bugged the crap out of me when she was small. I’d have a girlfriend over and she’d sneak around and try to spy on me. I wanted to gag and tie up the little rascal. Then her parents were killed when she was sixteen. She went to live with her grandmother and I didn’t see her again until I was a senior in college.” He chuckled. “I’d come home for Christmas and had slept late. When I came down to the kitchen, there she sat at the counter talking with Mother. I couldn’t believe how much she’d changed. Like you, I think I fell in love with her that moment. Of course, I had to wait a while before marrying her. She was a freshman at Carolina. When she graduated, we got married the following month.”
Tim laughed. “Since the two of us fell in love instantly what made us think our parents couldn’t do the same thing?”
“You’re right, and they don’t have to wait to be together.” He grinned. “Dad’s even arranged a surprise for Heather for when they get to Coverton Mills.”
“Oh?”
“Seems they were on the computer one night before coming to the beach. He’d told her they should look at furniture because he needed some. She saw a bedroom suite she liked.” Luke took a deep breath. “He told me to either take his old suite or get rid of it. He didn’t think it would be fair to ask her to sleep in a bed he’d shared with another woman for years, so he ordered the one Heather liked. It’s to be delivered next week.”
Before Tim could answer, they were interrupted by Ben and Jacob running up to ask for juice from the small cooler they’d brought outside.
•♥ •
Alex and Heather returned at quarter-to-twelve. They told everyone about their morning as they sat at the table with sandwiches.
“Reverend Black is so sweet,” Heather said with a grin. “I think he was expecting a much younger couple and he’d prepared to give us all kinds of marriage advice. When he looked us over, he didn’t know what to say.”
Alex chuckled. “Before we left, Heather was telling him how to impress the girl he wants to ask out.”
“Well, he needed a little encouragement.”
“That’s just like a woman,” Luke teased. “She snags a man for herself then tries to hook one for all the single women out there.”
Heather shook her finger at him. “Now you may be on to something. When I get settled up in those hills I may even find someone for Minnie Cox.”
“You’d sure make a lot of single men happy if you did.” Alex nudged her.
“The poor lady couldn’t be all that bad, could she?” Juanita asked.
“Not really,” Brenda said. “She isn’t bad looking, if she wouldn’t dye her hair such a brassy yellow. Her biggest fault is her big mouth—and I don’t mean size. She’s a gossip, and she tries to tell everyone what to do.”
“There are a few women like that in our church, too, aren’t there, Mom?” Tim asked.
“Unfortunately, I think there are ladies like that everywhere.” She leaned toward Alex. “It’s the ones of us who have our lives all planned out and who think we don’t need anyone to complicate it that God throws a curve ball to. He has a tendency to send us someone we can’t ignore.”
“And aren’t we glad He’s so much smarter than we are?” Alex leaned over and kissed Heather.
“Okay, you two,” Luke said. “We have minors in the room.”
“Daddy, what’s a minor?” Jacob looked at Luke.
“It’s a little person, honey.”
“Like Ben and me?”
“Yes.”
“I’ve seen Poppa kiss Grammy before,” Jacob said in a matter-of-fact voice.
“We both have. They was kissing at the car when we went down to the pool this morning,” Ben announced.
“They were kissing, son,” Juanita corrected.
“Yes, they was. I saw them.”
She looked at Tim and laughed. “I give up. You were the English major.”
“I may be recanting what I told you about Ben, Luke.” Tim laughed.
Before Luke could say anything, Ben went on. “I see you kiss Mama, Daddy. You said it’s cause you love her. I guess that means Poppa loves Grammy.”
“Yes, he does, Ben,” Alex said.
“My daddy loves my mama,” Jacob said. “He kisses her all the time. They kiss me, too.”
“There’s no arguing with a child’s logic, is there?” Luke reached for chips. “Even when they mess up on their English grammar.”
“They’re the smartest people on earth,” Tim said.
“Well, what are you men and the two smartest people on earth going to do while we’re shopping?” Brenda asked.
“I’m not sure,” Luke said. “We may all take a nap.”
“No, Daddy. I don’t want to take a nap,” Jacob whined.
“Me neither,” Ben said. “I’m full of energy and ready to play all afternoon.”
“Well, then why don’t you two guys go lie down on the bed and watch a little television while we clean up the kitchen?” Tim suggested.
“Can we watch it in Grammy’s room?” Ben asked.
“Of course you can,” Heather answered before anyone else could.
Thirty minutes later, Tim and Luke sat on the balcony drinking a beer. The boys were sound asleep on Heather’s bed. Alex left to run an errand, promising to be back shortly to join the guys, and the women were headed to the mall in Luke’s car.
CHAPTER 29
It was three-thirty when Alex returned. He got a beer from the refrigerator and joined the guys on the balcony.
“Did you get your errand completed?” Luke asked.
“Sure did. Where are the kids?”
“Still asleep. Despite Ben’s announcement about his energy, they were both exhausted. Juanita said to let them sleep as long as they could,” Tim said. “They’ll probably be up late again tonight.”
“Dad, if I’m not being too nosy, what have you been up to? I can tell from that silly grin you’ve got something planned.”
“He knows me too well, Tim.” Alex shook his head. “I’ve been doing a little shopping myself.”
“What do you need? Sexy boxer shorts?” Luke teased.
“I don’t need sexy boxer shorts. My underwear is sexy enough.” He laughed. “I bought something for Heather. I hope she likes it.”
“What did you get, Dad?”
“I really think I should show Heather first.”
“Oh, come on, Dad. We’re all one big happy family now.” He nodded toward Tim. “I think he should show us, don’t you?”
“I might be able to tell you if Mom will like it or not,” Tim offered.
“Oh, all right. I’m anxious for another opinion, anyway.” Alex stood and took a small box from his pocket. When he opened it both Tim and Luke whistled. “Do you think she’ll like it, Tim?”
“She’d be crazy not to,” Tim said. “I think that’s the biggest diamond r
ing I’ve ever seen.”
“It was the biggest one I could find. The salesman said it was four carets. I wanted her to have the best.”
“You have good taste, Dad. I think she’ll love it.”
“I hope so. I’m going to give it to her tonight.”
“Why don’t you take her out to dinner and give it to her? Most women like that sort of thing,” Luke said.
“Or you could take her for a romantic walk on the beach. I think she’d like that, too,” Tim suggested.
“I was thinking about putting it under her pillow and calling her after she went to bed and tell her to look there.”
Both Luke and Tim shook their head. “She’ll want you there when she sees it,” Luke said. “Women like to hug and kiss you when you do something nice so don’t ever pass up a chance for those showers of attention.”
“Luke’s right. You’ve got to be there, but since everything else that’s happened has been unique about this romance we need to put our heads together. Surely, the three of us are creative enough to figure out a different way for you to propose.”
•♥ •
“Hello ladies,” a tall thin woman with glasses hanging on a chain around her neck said as they came through the door of the small boutique. “My name is LaVonda. May I help you find something?”
“Maybe you can, LaVonda,” Juanita said. “This is my mother-in-law, Heather, and we’re trying to find the perfect outfit for her to get married in.”
“Oh, that’s wonderful. Congratulations, Heather. Let me show you our line of clothes suitable for a wedding.” She looked at Brenda. “Are you another daughter-in-law?”
“Not yet. She’s marrying my father-in-law, so I guess I’ll be a step-daughter-in-law.”
“No, you won’t,” Heather said. “As far as I’m concerned, you’re my daughter-in-law already.”
“Thank you, Heather.” Brenda reached out and squeezed her hand.
Heather went on. “These women will be part of the wedding party so I want to match their dresses to mine.” Her eyebrow went up. “I bet you don’t have maternity clothes, do you?”
Stalking her Dreams (A Coverton Mills Romance Book 1) Page 14