“And we’re going to slip out now, before your mother breaks down the door to get in to see the babies,” Quinn said. “Do you need anything?”
Annie shook her head. “Meg, thank you.”
“No, thank you.” I bent and kissed her cheek. For a moment, I rested my hand on top of little Maggie’s head. “You, all of you, helped show me this is home and you’re my family.”
“Really?” Annie might be exhausted but excitement lit her expression.
“Really,” I replied. “Now get some rest. We’ll be back later.”
When we entered the waiting room, a barrage of questions greeted us. Tired, hurting and wanting to get out of there so Drew and I could have some time alone, I let he and Quinn tell everyone about Annie and the babies. Seeing Miss Serena sitting near the windows, I moved to her side. She smiled and reached for my hand as I sat next to her.
“Are you all right?” she asked softly, her concern clear.
I nodded. “Tired, sore.”
“What else?” She reached over and brushed a lock of hair from my forehead.
“Nothing, really. I just want to go home.”
“Wichita?” she asked, and I heard the disappointment in her voice.
“No, ma’am. This is home. Mossy Creek might not be ready for me, but it’s what I need. Mom was right about that.”
A smile broke out on her face and she hugged me, careful of my injured ribs. “Why don’t we fix up the caretaker’s house for you this weekend? Then we can go to Wichita and bring the rest of your belongings here.”
“I’d like that a lot.” I glanced over to where Drew stood with others from town, talking about his little niece and nephew as he reassured everyone Annie was all right.
“You’re very good for that boy. Don’t let him get away,” Miss Serena added softly.
I grinned at her. I had no intention of letting him get away.
“Drew.” Miss Serena spoke just loudly enough to draw his attention. “Will you take Meg home and make sure she gets something to eat? I’m going to stay here for a while.”
He looked down at me, a slow smile spreading across his face. “Of course, Miss Serena.”
I felt everyone’s eyes on us as he helped me to my feet. Then, surprising him – and, to be honest, myself – I framed his face with my hands and kissed him deeply. If there had been any doubt in their minds about our relationship, I planned on putting them to rest right away.
“I love you,” I said, my lips moving against his. “You’d better get used to having me around.”
He slid his arms around me, hands on my ass. “I know my sister sort of jumped the gun, but she had the right idea. What do you say, Meg? Will you marry me?”
I chuckled softly and he pulled away, looking at me in concern. “I say you’re pretty damned lucky your mother’s not around, Andrew Grissom. I do not want a society wedding or anything like what Annie said she tried to get her and Sam to do.”
“Is that a yes?” he asked hopefully.
“Take me home and I’ll make sure you understand exactly what it is.” I looked back at Miss Serena. “We’ll see you soon.”
But not too soon I hoped.
We left the waiting room, well-wishes ringing out behind us. Drew didn’t let go of my hand until we were at the Discovery. He reached for my keys and I shook my head. I might be battered and tired, but no one drove the SUV but me. At least not until it was more than a few days old. Once inside, I leaned over and kissed him again.
“Think we can elope before your mother finds out?” I asked, suddenly terrified of what sort of wedding plans his mother would come up with.
A tapping at the window interrupted us before he could answer. We both stared in surprise at the half dozen or so who surrounded the Discovery. All wore smiles a mile wide. But it was the look on Judge Caldwell’s face that had my eyes narrowing. My suspicion didn’t ease when I looked at Drew and he looked as confused as I felt.
I rolled down the window. “Yes?”
“You want to get married?” the judge asked with a grin.
“Yes, sir,” Drew answered.
I nodded, still not sure what they were up to.
“I assumed you want to do it without his mother trying to help?” Miss Serena looked straight at me, her eyes twinkling.
Yes!” Drew and I said at the same time.
“Well, I happen to have a wedding license made out in your two names,” a woman I recognized from the county clerk’s office said as she produced the piece of paper.
Drew and I looked at one another, wondering what in the world was happening. Before we knew it, the judge had us out of the Discovery. With Quinn standing with me and Lucas with Drew, Judge Caldwell quickly married us. When it came time for wedding rings, Miss Serena tugged the rings from her finger and handed it to Drew. Before I could object, she stopped me. These were her wedding rings. Amy had already decided she wanted her great-grandmother’s rings when she got married. Then she reminded me we were family by choice and any objections I still had died.
With that settled, I promised Drew we’d find him a ring as soon as possible. I wanted him wearing my ring just as I wore his. The judge cleared his throat and asked if we were ready to continue. As he did, I fought the laughter building inside me. It was as if he, and the rest of them, were afraid I’d run for the hills if they didn’t get Drew and me married right away.
“We can do something a bit more formal later if you like,” Judge Caldwell said after he pronounced us husband and wife.
Drew and I nodded, more than a little shell-shocked.
“I’ll talk with Mary Kate. I’m sure she won’t object to co-hosting a reception for you at our place, Meg.” Miss Serena kissed Drew’s cheek and then reached for my hands. Affection lit her expression. “You two head home, Meg, to our place. The house is more than big enough for you to have your privacy until we get the caretaker’s house ready for you. Besides, Drew’s mother won’t show up there unannounced.”
I smiled and hugged her. I might have lost Mom but she’d made sure I had a family. “Thank you.” I kissed Miss Serena’s cheek. “I love you,” I whispered.
“And I love you, child.” She smiled and gently cupped my face in her hand. “You’d best run on. We’ll head back in so no one suspects anything.”
Drew and I climbed into the Discovery. As we did, we watched as everyone began moving back inside the hospital. For a moment, I watched as Miss Serena and Judith hung back from the others. When they glanced back at us, I smiled and lifted a hand to wave. That’s when the sound of Miss Serena’s voice drifted on the breeze and through the open window.
“That’s two. How long before the others return?”
I knew I needed to think about what she’d said, but later. For now, I hoped Mom knew how happy I was. I reached Drew’s hand and lifted it to my lips. Everything else –the trouble with her birth parents, Faith Nelson’s estate, breaking the news to Annie I married her twin without her being there – could wait.
“Are you sure about this?” he asked softly as I turned onto the drive leading to Miss Serena’s – no, to our – home.
“Yeah.” I glanced at him and smiled. “There’s one thing, though. I think the smart thing to do is hide from your mother, not to mention your sister, for the next month – or year. Maybe we could hide under the covers until they forgive us for getting married without them.”
He threw his head back and laughed. “I do like the way you think, Mrs. Grissom. I year in bed with you is just what the doctors ordered.”
For both of us.
Request from the Author
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About the Author
I’m older than twenty and younger than death and that’s all you’ll get from me about my age. After all, it’s not polite to ask a woman how old she is. I’m a mother, a daughter and was a wife. I’ve spent most of my life in the South and love to travel. The only problem with that is my dog always thinks I’ve abandoned him when I do, and it takes weeks to reassure the poor thing and my cat resents the fact I came back before he could figure out a way to kill the dog and hide the body. My house is haunted – it is, really. I swear it. What else explains the table that plays music and the light that comes on by itself? – but it’s mine and I love it. Okay, I’m a little strange. But that makes life interesting.
You can contact me at:
[email protected]
Or follow my blog to keep up-to-date with my publishing schedule:
http://nocturnal-lives.com
Also by Ellie Ferguson
Eerie Side of the Tracks
Slay Bells Ring
Witchfire Burning
Skeletons in the Closet
Hunted by Moonlight
Hunted
Hunter’s Duty
Hunter’s Home
Wedding Bell Blues
Light Magic Page 35