by Cindy Dees
“And who exactly is your boss?” she sputtered.
He stared up at her blankly for a moment. And then, of all things, he blushed. “Uh, Elise. As you may have guessed, I haven’t been entirely honest with you.”
“You think?” she exclaimed with all the sarcasm she could pack into the words. “I know you’re not just some arms dealer. I guessed you might be a soldier or a spy. And after all we’ve been through, you could tell me your real name, or something close to it.”
His gaze slid away from hers, but then returned resolutely. “My name’s Theodore Fisher. I’m a captain in the United States Army. I was sent to Colombia to impersonate a dead arms dealer named Drago Cantori. My mission was to find out who he was doing business with and what the customers planned to do with the weapons he was supposed to sell them.”
“And the customer was the Army of Freedom?”
He nodded.
“Theodore. Like Alvin and the Chipmunks?”
“I like to think in terms of the dead president, myself,” he replied dryly. “My friends call me Ted, if you like that better.”
She tapped a front tooth with a fingernail. “I don’t know. That’s an awfully cuddly name for a macho guy like you. It’ll take some getting used to.”
He stopped in the act of saying whatever he’d been about to say and stared. “Does that mean…” He trailed off.
She waited him out while he caught up with the conversation. Sometimes men could be so slow on the uptake. Although in his defense, he was badly injured.
“…does that mean you don’t hate me?” he asked tentatively.
“I don’t hate you,” she confirmed.
“And does that mean you might actually like me a little bit?”
“It does. And I do.”
“Like me?”
“No, you big, sweet idiot. I love you.”
He sat up fast and she reached for him reflexively as he sucked in a hard breath. In spite of his obvious pain, he reached for her with both arms and drew her close in the big, warm hug she would never tire of. She laid her head carefully on his good shoulder.
“How much do you love me?” he asked cautiously.
“Why?” she replied with equal caution. “What did you have in mind?”
He paused a long time and then asked soberly, “Has Father Ambrose already found a family to adopt Mia and Emanuel?”
“Not to my knowledge. He usually spends a few months helping refugee children acclimate to American culture and learn a little English first. He likes to get to know the children so he can place them in a home that will be ideal for the kids based on their needs.”
“What do you suppose the odds are that he’d consider us to adopt them?”
She leaned back to stare at him in confusion. She said blankly, “But we’re not even married.”
He grinned down at her. “That’s easy enough to fix.”
“Excuse me?”
“You are planning to marry me, aren’t you?”
“Well, yes. But I figured I’d have to spend a while longer convincing you that you can’t live without me.”
He laughed and winced simultaneously. “I’m already there. Thing is, can you live without me?”
“Not a chance.”
“So you’ll marry me? Even if we don’t get the kids?”
“Absolutely…Ted.” His real name felt strange on her tongue. “Yeah. That’s weird. I may have to keep calling you Drago—”
But then he was kissing her and she didn’t care what his name was. Cheering erupted from somewhere behind them and Mia and Emanuel jumped on top of her and Ted. They opened their arms to include the children in the embrace and Ted manfully swallowed his pain. If possible, she loved him even a little more in that moment. She’d never met as generous a man in all her life.
She glanced up and met Grandma’s smiling gaze. “I suppose now’s as good a time as any to tell you I’m not really a nun.”
“I’ve known that all along, child.”
“But how?” Elise stuttered.
Grandma laughed gaily. “Father Ambrose told me that day when you called him.”
“But you said—”
“And I meant it. Any woman who would risk her life to save two children she’s never met deserves to be a saint. And any woman who would risk her life for a man, like you have for this one, deserves a long and happy life with him.”
Elise laughed and looked over at her man. “From your lips to God’s ear, Grandma.”
Chapter 15
Father Ambrose was as fussy as ever, ushering Elise and Ted into his office and making a production out of preparing tea for them. She sat down, savoring the feel of his hand resting lightly on her shoulder. She’d never get enough of him.
The priest asked, “Are you ready for the big day?”
Ted smiled down at her and she answered for both of them. “Definitely. I’m just sorry my parents aren’t here to share it.”
“Aah, child, but they are. They’re always watching over you from heaven.”
She smiled and took a sip of her tea as Ted asked, “Any news on Grandma’s green card?”
“Why, yes. Her residency documents came through a few days ago. She’s agreed to stay with Mia and Emanuel indefinitely. Sadly, her surviving son and daughter died when the last remnants of the Army of Freedom were destroyed in Mercado last month. With her home gone, she has nothing to go back to Colombia for. She will provide some much needed stability in Mia and Emanuel’s lives.”
Elise nodded. “I think maybe she needs the kids as much as they need her.”
The priest nodded solemnly. Then he asked Ted, “How’s your shoulder doing?”
“Better. I can’t be in the Special Forces anymore, but I have almost full use of it now.”
“Have you decided what you’re going to do next, my son?”
Elise smiled proudly as Ted answered, “I’ve been thinking about medical school. After all those years I spent killing people, I think I’d like to spend a while healing people.”
After a moment of reflective silence, Father Ambrose commented to her, “So what did you think of being a nun?”
She laughed ruefully. “I think I’m not cut out for a life of such hard-core self-denial. You’re made of sterner stuff than I, Padre.”
He laughed gaily. “It was more difficult for you without the calling we people of the cloth answer to. I expect your wedding gown will look much better on you than a wimple.”
“Thank you.” Her heart filled with peace at his words. A wedding. Her wedding. Hers and Ted’s. “It’s almost time, Father.”
“Impatient to become Elise Fisher, are you?” He made a small production of having them each sign their marriage license. As she rose with the intent to go change into her white lace gown, Father Ambrose raised his hand to stop her.
“Before we go and marry you two off, I have a small wedding present for the two you.”
“You didn’t have to,” she and Ted exclaimed in the perfect unison they seemed to do so many things these days.
“Aah, but I did.” He passed them a plain manila envelope with a broad smile. “I need both of you to sign these.”
She pulled out a thick sheaf of legal papers and gasped as she spied the title: Petition for Adoption in the State of New York. Ted swept her in his arms and squeezed her so tightly and so long she thought she might pass out.
Finally he whispered, “Our very own family. Now I have everything I ever dreamed of.”
His shirt front absorbed her welling tears as Father Ambrose continued, “You and Ted were willing to give your lives for Mia and Emanuel, and the children adore you both. Who am I to break apart a family that God has clearly brought together?”
Elise fanned herself vigorously with the papers, unable to stop herself from babbling in her joy. “I’m going to cry and then my mascara will run and I’ll look like a clown and Mia was so hoping I’d look like a princess today.”
Ted passed her a handker
chief and waited while she dabbed at her eyes and collected herself. Then he murmured down to her, “Let’s go make our family official, shall we?”
As she stepped out into the church to the strains of wedding music, Elise reflected on what a funny thing faith was. It was a lot like love. Just when she thought she’d lost them both, they went and found her again.
Thanks to a man with a giant heart, a pair of orphans a lot like her, and a wily old priest who knew her better than she knew herself. Maybe redemption was possible in this world, after all, with a little faith and a lot of love.
* * * * *
ISBN: 9781459219632
Copyright © 2012 by Cynthia Dees
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