“I should have told you. I – I couldn’t. I had to get her away from George. She’s doing really well now, Papa. She looks incredible, she’s absolutely gorgeous – she smiles, she laughs. I know I really hurt you and Mama. I’m so sorry.” His voice cracking from emotion and congestion, he knew his father had rarely heard this tone from him.
He knew his father was worried, and he regretted causing even more concern.
“It’s okay David, I understand. And your mother understands, probably better than anyone. I would let you speak with her, but she’s off planning a party the bridesmaids are having for Debbie. Oh, and it’s supposed to be a surprise, by the way.”
***
He composed himself and drew in a breath before entering Debbie’s hospital room. He’d worried she’d fall apart with the counselor over the incident the previous night. He wondered if she’d still want him after all, if life together would be so precarious.
Her glistening hair caught his eye first as he came through the door. Seated in front of the window, she looked up from her work with a clipboard and pencil. A half eaten breakfast was on the table nearby. “David!” She ran to hug him, a bright smile on her face.
Clouds vanished as he kissed her and picked her up in his arms twirling her onto the bed and kissing her again. They both lost their breath laughing.
When they finally calmed down, he asked about her appointment. “Did the counselor help you?”
Debbie nodded. “Yes, she was very nice.”
He smirked at her. “You know that’s your code for ‘let’s just pretend everything is fine, David’.” She lowered her eyes. “Sweetheart, we need to be able to talk about this. You could have died last night.” Reflexively, he pulled her tighter in his arms.
“It’s okay, David.” Her voice was soft and sure. “If I die in your arms I’ll be the happiest girl in heaven. As long as God lets us stay together, I’ll take it. I don’t care where we are, or what we do, or who is after you, or who is after us. As long as we’re together it’s okay.”
He was speechless. She rose up and kissed his cheek. “I haven’t ever been alive before last December 26th. That’s when I finally started to live. So whatever time I have now, with you, is a wonderful gift. And I thank God, and I take the gift.” She nodded in her usual way, for emphasis.
She crunched down and laid her head over his heart, and a gleeful sound escaped her lips. “I love listening to your heart beat, David.”
***
He’d convinced her to go for a picnic lunch on the hospital grounds. “Here, let’s get your sweatshirt.” He noticed the clipboard. “What’s this?”
She slid off the bed. “Oh David, I thought you could give that to Mr. Cookie. I thought if he could see how nice he’d look after orthodontia, he might go ahead and see the dentist.”
David burst out laughing. “It is. It is Tony Cooke with normal teeth. That’s fantastic, Sweetheart. How do you do that?”
Debbie shrugged. “I told you I wanted to take medical illustration in college, David. So I practice things like that. Especially if it can help someone. And he needs help, David.”
“Hmm. He certainly does.”
***
He drove Debbie to the Bainbridge mansion, grateful that Cindy and her family would take care of her in the time remaining before their wedding. With Cindy as her maid of honor, it would be a good excuse to keep Debbie with her and away from her parents.
Bud and Dottie Bainbridge had invited the entire family to dinner, so hopefully it would mitigate any outbursts with George. Nevertheless, he braced himself for the encounter with the angry father of the bride. As he helped her out of the car, he thought she’d never looked more beautiful. She wore a stylish silk suit she’d chosen at her favorite boutique in Carmel. It lit up her complexion.
Cindy met them at the front door and hugged Debbie like she’d been gone forever. “You look radiant! You’re glowing, honey! I love your outfit. Wow!” She pulled them inside.
They met in the Bainbridge parlor. A tearful Marion ran to embrace Debbie, and they seemed genuinely happy to see each other. George stood back while his wife fussed over her, and the Lambrecht, Clemente and Dominguez families hugged David and Debbie in turn.
At last George reached for his daughter with tears in his eyes.
“Hi Daddy. I love you.”
George’s face grew pink, and the tears rolled onto his cheeks.
After a few moments Marion pulled her daughter from him, and along with the other women, escorted her from the room, discussing their dress-fitting appointment scheduled for the following day. The men left David alone with George.
David’s nausea returned as he watched George mop his tears with his handkerchief. He felt truly sorry his relationship with his new father-in-law was off to such a poor start. “George, I’m sorry I’ve caused you such pain.” He stumbled over the words.
There was an awkward silence.
George paced the floor. “I suppose you took your pleasure from her.” He did not look at David as he circled the room.
David arched his eyebrows in an attempt to avoid laughing, or making a sarcastic remark. George finally turned to glare at him. David was straight faced.
“Well?” George roared.
“George, isn’t it enough that we love each other, and we are soon to be married?”
“My daughter is not a harlot! She is not to be used. She is not to be disrespected.”
“I would never disrespect, or use, Debbie.” David’s voice cracked with emotion.
George looked up in surprise. He began to back down, much to David’s
bewilderment.
“I will not call off the wedding. I know at this point it would kill Debbie. And no matter what you think of me, I do love her. I do care about her. She is my only child. She means the world to me. I want her to be happy. And I don’t care how great a secret agent you are, young man,” George wagged his finger at him, and he choked on tears. “I will kill you myself if you ever – ever – cause any pain to my little girl!”
***
Eduardo had finally convinced David he should not accompany Debbie and her bridesmaids to their appointment. They sat alone in the conference room. David rested his head in his arms and yawned.
“Ya know…” Eduardo poured the coffee David ignored, “I don’t get this stuff about how one night it’s okay to sleep together and the next night, it’s not. What, last night was some transition between being a wanton woman in Carmel and a virgin again back in Beverly Hills?”
David laughed into his sleeve and shook his head. He had no other answer for Eduardo.
“And while we’re on the subject of virgins, why in hell did Debbie ask Ellen the candy striper to be a bridesmaid?”
David leaned back in his chair. “I don’t know. I guess she spent some time with her at the hospital and she liked her, and she thought she was Paulo’s girlfriend.”
“She shouldn’t think.” Eduardo sipped his coffee, irritation spread over his face.
“Well, I certainly can’t say I know everything that’s been going on lately. But it seems to me both Paulo and Ellen think she is his girlfriend. And you’re the one who’s having trouble with it.”
“Yeah, well as far as I can tell, she’s a gold digger. And he can do a hell of a lot better than her. He’s gonna be a star. I think he’s gonna be a huge star. I mean you turn on the radio, the stuff isn’t half as good as his music.” Eduardo was raising his voice.
“You don’t have to convince me.” David’s even tone brought his friend back to earth.
“Yeah. Well anyway, she’s not the one for him. Ya know – women always eventually turn into their mothers. I hate to tell you that pal.” Eduardo smiled.
David responded with a smirk.
Eduardo continued, “Yeah, well Ellen’s mother is not what you want anyone marrying. I’m sorry. I just don’t want to see Paulo get hurt.”
“Eduardo, he’s only sixteen. He’ll proba
bly have a million girls before he finally settles down. Just because he dates Ellen, and she’s in the wedding party, doesn’t mean she’s going to marry him. Chances are they’ll come to an end sooner or later. He’ll probably become infatuated with someone else. He’s bound to meet throngs of beautiful girls, all adoring fans. He’ll have his pick. So don’t get all worked up about this. Besides, you know if you keep pushing him to dump her, he’ll just want her all the more.”
“Yeah.” Eduardo returned to his coffee, and their colleagues arrived for the morning meeting.
***
As Pearson reviewed the minutia of Cookie’s new duties with the training group, David was back in Carmel, contemplating what might have been had he just a few more days alone with Debbie. But Pearson was picking up on his inattention.
He stared David in the eye. “So let’s get to the trivia portion of our meeting. Our accountant is perplexed, and you know what happens when he’s perplexed. I get to waste time on silly things.”
Pearson held up an invoice. “Agent Lambrecht, tell me, why does David Henning need a white horse?”
David watched Jimmy’s shoulders shake in silent laughter. Eduardo rustled in the chair beside him. Shit. He’d forgotten he’d put that expense on that account.
“He needs to improve his image, Sir,” David said.
There was howling laughter.
What else could he say? “Actually, it’s a dapple gray – Sir.”
Pearson almost fell out of his chair.
Glori
I showed up on the terrace to see Cin, Debbie, and their mothers and Maria, all surrounding poor Mrs. Button, the wedding planner. She sure had her hands full.
When Cindy saw me she broke away and hurried over. “You’ve got to get Debbie out of the way for a little while. We need to discuss the bridesmaids’ party.”
I put my hand on my hip. “First of all, I’m supposed to be helping with the planning – not playing with Debbie. Second of all, I have some good news.”
Cin skipped to the important part. “What good news?”
“Guess who called Doug and practically begged to direct my music video?”
Cindy chuckled. “Who?”
“That famous Hollywood director Don Coulson.” I burst into rollicking laughter.
Cindy couldn’t help but join in. “Isn’t he a little late?”
“Yeah! The jerk!”
Cin shook her head in wonder. “So your dear old Dad is back – now that you’re successful.”
“He’s a user, Cin. That’s what users do. And now I can finally tell him where to go.”
***
I wasn’t in the mood to be subtle, so I took Debbie by the arm and told her we needed to give Mrs. Button some privacy to discuss some surprise details with Cin. Of course Cindy gave me a look, but Debbie could’ve cared less. She went right with me, and we wandered around the spectacular gardens Raphael had created with the Bainbridges’ landscapers.
“I need to paint these beautiful gardens before they fade,” Debbie said as she sniffed every flower.
“Yeah. That’s neat idea, hon.” I took a deep breath, and the scent was better than any perfume I’d ever smelled. “How come you’re not all over all the wedding planning stuff? I mean, I know you think marrying David is the best thing ever. But you don’t seem to care a thing about place settings or menus or any of that stuff.”
Debbie giggled. “Being married to David, being with David is the best thing ever. I don’t really care if we have a big wedding. I just want to be his wife and be with him. That’s all.”
“Wow.” When did Debbie get so smart?
By this time we had wandered to the kitchen entrance. The head of the security force, Agent Washington, came running up. “Miss Coulson, I need to speak to Mr. Bainbridge.”
“Um. I saw him a while ago in the parlor. Is everything okay?”
He nodded and went through the door, and we followed. Sure enough Bud was with a bunch of the men in the parlor. Sounded like George was going over the details of the bachelor party at his club.
“Mr. Bainbridge, there’s a horse trailer parked outside the gate. The driver insists the horse is to be delivered here, but I have no record of this expected delivery. My men have checked the truck and trailer and there’s no threat that we can find. Are you expecting this horse?”
Bud’s mouth opened but nothing came out, and he scratched his head.
“Valentine!” Debbie was breathless with excitement, and we all turned to her. She shut up as Agent Washington strode over.
“Miss Aldridge?”
“Valentine. That’s my horse.”
“Then you are expecting this delivery…” Washington’s voice was drowned out by ol’ George.
“Your horse? What are you talking about?”
Debbie ran for the exit, and George struggled out of his chair to follow, along with David’s father and all the others that heard him bellowing.
We gathered just outside the front door as a horse trailer pulled up the drive. Debbie was practically jumping up and down. Cat appeared out of nowhere and unloaded a massive white horse. Frederick was already on the phone, tracking down the real culprit, David. George was yelling to Debbie not to go near that thing, but she didn’t pay much attention.
Cat jumped on top of the horse’s bare back, and held on to its mane. She looked like a peanut up there, but Cisco didn’t seem worried. When Frederick got off the phone he reported there was an error, and the horse was supposed to be delivered to a local stable, and David would be right along to take care of it.
Meanwhile Cat decided to ride it, and Frederick went in to high C. “Cat! I don’t want you riding on the pavement with no saddle or bridle on that horse.”
Raphael was on his phone, and arranged for the gardeners to return at his expense. That way Cat could ride on the lawn, and when David got back, he and Debbie could ride.
Ol’ George exploded over that one, but Debbie was all excited helping Cisco get the gear on the horse. I thought there’d be a riot. It was pretty funny, really.
Once Cat got the okay from Frederick and Bud, she was off to the races literally. That horse was so huge, it didn’t take long for her to gallop off into the sunset. Debbie was all smiles, and determined to find some carrots. I thought Marion would pass out.
It was about an hour later when David drove up, still in his fatigues. If looks could kill, George’s stare would’ve dropped him right there. Debbie was in his arms instantly, still holding her carrots. David was full of apologies, but Frederick just shook his head, and George wasn’t hearing them.
The real fun began when Cat returned with the horse. David gave it a quick inspection, mounted the horse, and pulled Debbie on board all before George could say, “How did this ever happen?”
In the blink of an eye they were galloping off into the sunset with Valentine.
Chapter Twenty
Debbie
David and I arrived at the church early for our appointment with the priest and minister for pre-marital counseling. I had no idea what that was all about, but they told my parents we had to do it before they’d agree to perform the ceremony.
We sat in upholstered chairs across from them and refused the tea and cookies they offered. Pastor Evans was the minister in the church I’d grown up in, and he was cordial. After some pleasantries he said, “Often when we are asked to schedule a wedding so quickly, there’s a baby on the way. Is that the case here?”
Before David could respond, I nodded, smiling. “Oh yes! We’re having six babies!”
The pastor and the priest looked stunned, and David began the worst coughing fit he’d had in months.
David
Back at the Bainbridge mansion, David escorted Debbie to a seat on the patio. “I’ve got to speak with Cat, Sweetheart.” He kissed the top of her head, and turned on his heel.
He spotted Cat in the garden, pummeling the soil with a shovel as big as she was. He strode through the grass, and
grabbed the shovel.
“Oh!” She jumped and landed on her butt in the dirt. “David.” The fright on her face confused him. She wiped a tear, creating a swirl of mud on her cheek.
His anger rose again and got the better of him. “Nita always tells us you have the gifts of prophecy and discernment. It’s obviously not working well today.” Nausea welling up told him his sarcasm was wrong.
There was a tempest in her eyes and a scowl on her face. She ignored his outstretched hand, his offer to help her up, and instead sat cross-legged in the soft topsoil. So he braced himself with the shovel and knelt in the dirt on one knee. “I’m sorry, Cat. It’s just –”
“Forgive me, David. I was wrong. I meant to encourage Debbie, but it obviously backfired.”
“Backfired is putting it mildly.”
“Yes. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control…”
“I don’t need a Bible lesson today. But perhaps if you used some self control –”
She pounded her fists into the dirt. “Look at the pot calling the kettle –”
“And I don’t need a lecture on self control!” He slammed the shovel into the ground.
She looked at the shovel and then at him, deadpan. He choked back a cough.
Cat’s eyes focused on his. “I did not exhibit self control. I blurted out what was expedient, what I thought would encourage. I took away your joy, your peace. That was not loving or kind, was it? I was not led by the Holy Spirit in this, was I? I was prideful. I was led by my own selfish desires. Forgive my sin.”
David was confounded. “You’ve never sinned in your life.”
Cat rubbed her face with more dirt from her hands. “We all have a sinful nature, David. We all fall short.”
He shook his head. Cat never had a selfish desire in her life. Despite the nausea and her apology, and the dirt all over her face that made him want to laugh, he still couldn’t let her off the hook. “Debbie can’t possibly have six children. It’d kill her.”
Killer Cupid (The Redemption Series: Book 1) Page 22