by Peggy Webb
"I don't think Daniel and I would be very good at comedy, Gwendolyn."
"Humph. Who asked you to go?"
"If you go, we'll have to go," Daniel said seriously. "We can't live without you."
"Bosh!" Gwendolyn waved them away, but her face was pink with pleasure. "Are you going to sit here all day and devil me, or are you going to show her the ring?"
Daniel smiled. It seemed he and Jenny were destined to share all their private moments with someone else. But he didn't mind. In fact, he loved it. His summer with Jenny had taught him that the greatest pleasure of all was in sharing your life with people you love.
Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a red velvet box. It was so old, the nap had worn away on the edges. He lifted the lid, and inside lay a delicate filigreed ring. The antique gold had a pinkish cast, and intertwined among the filigreed hearts and roses were diamonds, rubies, and pearls.
"A special ring for a special woman." He slipped the ring on Jenny's finger. It was a perfect fit. "It belonged to my grandmother, Molly Sullivan. She would have approved of you, Jenny. She would have loved you."
"It's the most beautiful ring in the world. I will cherish it, always."
"I think I'm going to cry," Gwendolyn said. And she did.
"It's more than a ring, Jenny; it's a symbol of our love. I want the whole world to know that I've chosen you."
o0o
MILLIONAIRE ENTREPRENEUR TO WED DOWNS SYNDROME WOMAN. The headlines screamed at Daniel.
He jerked the newspaper off the bed and glared at the item in the society pages:.
Daniel Sullivan, self-made millionaire, is set to wed a well-known artist with Down's syndrome. Jenny Love-Townsend is famous in her own right. Portrait artist to presidents and kings, she took the eye of Sullivan this summer while she was doing a portrait of his two children. Sullivan and his fiancee are in Raleigh this week for the opening gala of yet another Sullivan Store.
The reporter had done his homework well. There was a recent photo of Jenny, taken when she'd been a guest at the White House, and one of him ducking into a limousine in Alexandria, Virginia, where he'd gone to visit his father.
Daniel ripped the front page off the paper and threw it into the wastebasket. He wanted nothing to destroy the weekend for Jenny. It was their first outing together away from Florence, away from the people who had watched Jenny grow up and who were proud of her success. Kind, caring people who made her feel loved.
He fastened the last stud in his tuxedo shirt. It wasn't too late to cancel. He could call Ed Cranston, the new store's manager, with some excuse. He and Jenny could fly out before anybody got a chance to question her about the newspaper article.
There was a soft knock on the connecting doors.
"Daniel... may I come in?"
Although the door wasn't latched, he opened it for her. She took his breath away. He'd never seen Jenny in anything except the filmy dresses she was so fond of wearing or a pair of old shorts or old blue jeans. Now she was dressed in a form-fitting sequined gown the same shade of blue as her eyes.
"I'm dazzled, Jenny."
"So am I." She touched the onyx studs on his shirt. "You look like a prince." She smiled at him almost shyly. "My prince."
If he lived to be a hundred, he would never cease to be grateful to her for that one special gift: She always made him feel like a hero.
"And you're my princess."
"Truly?"
"Truly."
"I'm a little nervous."
He folded her into his arms, fitting her tightly against his chest. "We don't have to go," he whispered into her hair. "All I have to do is alert my pilot, and we can be home in a couple of hours."
"And miss the party?"
"Yes. Who needs a party when I have you?" The wadded-up newspaper accused him from the wastebasket.
"It will be my first party with you, Daniel." She slipped her arm through his and smiled up at him. "I want to be frazzled." Her brow furrowed. "Dazzled," she amended, smiling.
Jenny, my sweet Jenny. He'd destroy the first person who made an unkind remark to her.
"Let me get my coat," he said.
o0o
The reception room was enormous, and filled with people in fancy dress.
"Look, Daniel. They must have picked every flower in North Carolina."
"It looks that way." He had one arm around her waist, and that's where he intended to keep it. "Stick close beside me. I don't want you to get lost."
"You could never lose me."
Ed Cranston saw them and came forward with a woman he introduced as his wife. They both stared at Jenny, but neither made any reference to the engagement or to the newspaper article.
So far so good. Daniel would make a quick round of the room, press a few hands, then whisk Jenny away.
Another group of people spied them and came by for small talk. Although some of them were frankly curious and didn't try to hide their stares, they were cordial.
"What a wonderful party." Jenny said as they left. "My feet are not used to these tall shoes. If I rest in this chair a minute, will you get me something cool to drink?"
How could he refuse her? As he made slow progress he glanced back every now and then at Jenny. She smiled and waved at him.
Just as he reached a table laden with food, he saw a couple approach Jenny. She smiled warmly at them, and they smiled back. Then they started talking.
Her animation gradually faded and the color drained from her cheeks. He wanted to tackle everybody in his way, then grab Jenny and run.
A silent scream of anguish tore Daniel's throat. Helpless, he could do nothing except watch from the other side of the room.
o0o
"When we saw the newspaper this morning, we were so excited."
The woman whose name she could no longer remember was standing too close. Her strong perfume smothered Jenny. "I said to George, 'George, we're going to get to meet that handicapped woman that paints.' "
"Yes, I paint." George was leaning down staring at her as if she were a fish in a bowl. Jenny searched the crowd for Daniel. Where was he?
"And imagine, going to marry a millionaire," the woman said.
"I guess it takes all kinds," George said.
"Shush, George. If it suits them, it suits me." She punched Jenny's arm. "Right, hon? I mean, Lordy mercy, how many retarded women get to marry a millionaire? You must be doing something right, hon."
The room began to spin. Jenny clutched the sides of her chair. She would not make a scene. She would not embarrass Daniel that way. Nor would she embarrass herself.
She stood up slowly and was pleased to see that she was at least four inches taller than the woman.
"Will you excuse me, please?"
"Sure, hon." The woman punched her arm again. "By the way, that was a pretty picture in the paper."
"Thanks." Her mother had taught her to be polite.
Jenny stumbled as she turned to go. Now, that would make a lovely picture for the paper. Retarded woman embarrasses her fiancé by falling on the floor.
She caught her balance on the back of a chair and walked on. The hateful voices followed her.
"... couldn't tell a thing by looking at her."
"Maybe that's how she fooled him. Though with that body of hers, I don't guess he cares what her mind is like."
Jenny fought the urge to cover her ears. People called to her as she hurried through the crowd. A few hands reached out to her. She ignored them all. She had to get away.
The ladies' room loomed just ahead, and she knew her guardian angel was on duty. She pushed open the heavy door and sank onto the velvet- covered settee. If she didn't put her head between her legs, she was going to be sick.
As she bent over she saw the two newspapers on the table beside her chair—The Raleigh Journal and the Carolina Tattler. She saw the words DOWNS SYNDROME in bold print and ran her finger along the headline. MILLIONAIRE ENTREPRENEUR TO WED DOWN'S SYNDROME WOMAN. She was not just a w
oman; she was a Downs syndrome woman. The other was not so kind: RETARDED WOMAN SNAGS MILLIONAIRE.
"Daniel, what have they done to you?"
She started reading the Carolina Tattler, frowning as she followed the words with her fingers. Disgusted, she flung the paper down. It would take her forever to decipher all the hurtful words. And what good would it do?
Retarded woman snags millionaire. They were calling her retarded. And she hadn't even known Daniel was a millionaire. Didn't even care. Daniel was Daniel. She loved him for himself.
But why did he love her?
She buried her face in her hands. The antique ring had turned upside down on her finger and bit into her cheek. Slowly she lowered her hands.
Daniel did love her. The ring was proof. His kindness was proof.
Oh, he was the dearest man in all the world, and here she was sitting in the bathroom ruining his party. She reapplied her lipstick, then straightened her shoulders and stuck out her chin.
Nobody was going to ruin Daniel's party.
o0o
Daniel saw her coming, the color back in her cheeks and her chin held high. He felt like weeping and cheering at the same time.
"There you are," he said, trying to disguise his relief.
"I ran away, but now I'm back."
In that simple sentence she told him everything he needed to know. They'd crucified Jenny, and she'd emerged triumphant.
"You don't ever have to run away, Jenny. You're the best, the very best."
Daniel, who had never been given to public displays, leaned down and kissed her. A flashbulb popped.
Another reason to protect her, he thought.
Another reason to be brave, she thought.
"Have you had enough of this mad crowd?" He kept his arm securely around her.
"Yes." She would be glad to leave. Nothing in her life had prepared her for this kind of censure.
She'd led a sheltered life. Jake and Sarah had seen to it.
Suddenly she saw the couple who had made the unkind remarks. Unconsciously, she squeezed Daniel's arm.
"Jenny?" He took one look at her face then began to search the crowd. When he saw the couple, his face turned grim with rage. "You don't have to see them or their like, ever again." The crowd parted as he hurried her toward the door.
She had a vision of how the rest of her life would be: hiding in bathrooms while Daniel fought her battles.
"Wait." Her chin came up. "I want to stay."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. And I want to send a note to that couple."
She dug into her evening bag and pulled out pencil and paper, the tools of an artist. She was never without them. Daniel found a chair for her, and she did her sketch quickly. The writing took a while longer.
When she finished, she handed it to him.
"Please check the spelling. I don't want to embarrass myself at your party."
Daniel read the note first; it was simple and sincere, like the woman who wrote it: Daniel chose me becuse be sees with his heart. The drawing was a cartoon, more telling than words. She had drawn herself in a swing with her skirt touching the ground. He was kneeling beside her, holding her hand, and on the front of his shirt was an oversized heart. Around them she'd sketched people with accusing eyes and scowling faces.
He took her pencil and quietly changed the spelling of "because." Then he knelt beside her and took her hand.
"You are the most remarkable woman I've ever met, Jenny Love-Townsend, and I'll always be honored to be seen with you at my side."
Her smile was typically Jenny, innocent, sweet, and endearing. On the way to deliver the note, he stopped to ask Ed Cranston the names of the couple and what their positions were in Sullivan Stores.
"Maxine and George Roderick. She doesn't work for me, but he's my senior accountant."
"Find another one," Daniel said.
The Rodericks practically kissed his feet when he arrived with Jenny's note.
"I have two messages for you. This is from my fiancée." He handed the note to George Roderick. "The other one will be in your box on Monday morning." He left them with their mouths hanging open.
"Shall we go now?" he asked when he returned to Jenny.
"Now we can go."
o0o
Standing outside her bedroom door, he gathered her into his arms. "This is the best part of my day," he whispered before his lips descended on hers.
He was gentle with her, sweet, and she loved every minute of it. But lately she'd felt how he was holding back. The muscles in his upper arms were tightly corded and his neck and back were stiff.
He was even careful to pull his hips back as soon as she began to feel the wonderful, mysterious changes in his lower body.
"Good night, my love," he whispered.
"Good night, Daniel."
Already bruised from her encounter at the party, she felt a crushing sense of defeat when he handed her into her room and shut the door. She leaned against it, listening to his footsteps in the hall. She could hear when his door opened, hear when he entered the room next door.
Didn't he want her the way a man wanted a woman? Gwendolyn had told her how it would be ... under duress, of course. And Jenny had felt all that swollen flesh.
She remembered Gwendolyn's exact words. Sweaty, tangled coupling. Why couldn't she have the sweaty, tangled coupling?
Jenny undressed and put on her gown. The changes in her body were evident. Her breasts were fuller, heavier, the nipples puckered and hard. And oh, that sweet heat between her thighs. It was wonderful and terrible at the same time. And it happened every time Daniel kissed her.
So many of her dreams had come true, was she selfish to be dreaming of more?
Her mind swung back to the party. Had her dream become Daniel's nightmare?
Jenny knew of only one thing to do, and that was find out the truth. Without design or forethought, she pushed opened the connecting door.
o0o
"Daniel?"
He was standing beside the window with his back to the door. Every nerve in his body tensed when he heard her call his name. He turned slowly, and the sight of her made him catch his breath.
She couldn't have looked more desirable if she'd planned a midnight seduction. Her hair was loose and disheveled, her white cotton gown hung off one shoulder, and her cheeks were pink with excitement.
Desire slammed into him so hard, he almost reeled.
"I'm glad I didn't wake you," she said.
"You didn't." Sleep was the furthest thing from his mind. Standing there clad in nothing but his shorts and his passion, he was grateful for the darkness.
She came straight to the window, wrapped her arms around his waist, and laid her head on his chest. He bit back a groan.
Easing his hips sideways, he put his arm around her shoulders. Her thin gown was no protection. His skin felt seared where her body touched his.
"Having a restless night, Jenny?" Was that desire-clogged croak his voice?
"Yes."
No matter what was happening in his life, he could count on Jenny to cut right to the heart of the matter. One of the hallmarks of the truly innocent was total honesty.
Daniel thought of the news article resting in his wastebasket. Where did you draw the line between being protective and being dishonest?
Jenny held on a moment longer then stepped out of his embrace. "I know about the newspaper stories. Did you know?"
"Yes. I wanted to spare you that."
"I don't want to be protected." She squeezed her hands tightly together, praying for the right words. "I'm no longer a child. I'm a woman."
"There was never any doubt in my mind that you're a woman, Jenny."
"Would you have told a normal woman?"
Would he? Would they have laughed together over bad press, or would his male ego have demanded that he play the role of protector and hero?
"I honestly don't know, Jenny."
"Would a normal woman be sleeping in
a separate bedroom?"
Caught off guard by her sudden veering of topic, Daniel couldn't come up with a quick answer. The truth was he would definitely not be sleeping in a separate bedroom. But how could he say that without hurting her? Another truth was that he loved Jenny more than he'd ever loved another woman. And yet, because she was special, he felt an urgent need to protect her ... even from himself.
His silence damned him.
Jenny put her hands over her face, then balled them into fists and began to pace. He'd never seen this defiant side of Jenny, and he'd never loved her more. She was magnificent, stalking about in the moonlight with her filmy gown swirling around her lovely legs and defining her high, proud breasts.
"I want truth and pain and real emotions. I want to sleep in the same bed with you, Daniel, and to know everything.'" Only inches away, she stood in front of him, tall and beautiful and so desirable that she took his breath away. Her chin came up and her eyes shot sparks. "I don't want to be treated like a retarded woman."
Fierce and swift, he closed the space between them and pulled her hard against his chest. Pressed full against her, he felt every tempting curve and every sweet hollow in her body.
"I never meant to do that, Jenny. Never."
"Do you want to love me, Daniel, man to woman?"
"More than you can possibly know."
"I know, Daniel." To his astonishment and delight, she touched his rigid flesh. It was a fleeting touch, so butterfly soft, he might have imagined it. "Gwendolyn told me."
Her eyes were so big and blue and innocent that a man could get lost in them.
"Jenny..." He was determined to be strong, but her slender fingers touched him once more, moving on him as he'd seen them move over a canvas. She had no idea what she was doing to him ... nor what he could do to her. There she was, his beautiful guileless Jenny, imploring him for something he wanted to give her so badly, he hurt.
"Did she tell you it's dangerous to touch a man there?" Gently he set her hand aside, but there was to be no easy relief for him. She'd set needs in motion that couldn't easily be conquered.
"I want to be dangerous." Her jaw was set in stubborn lines as she challenged him. "I want a sweaty, tangled coupling, Daniel."