Timothy

by Katie Dowe

  Now, standing in front of the mirror and staring at herself, Robyn couldn't believe that in just almost four months she'd gone from being broken-hearted and desolate to being loved completely by a man who amazed her every single day. She couldn't wait to wear his ring on her fingers and exchanged her name for his. “Mrs. Robyn McLaughlin,” she whispered. It sounded so natural and so right!

  “Darling, you look absolutely stunning!” Melina exclaimed as she bustled into the room where her daughter was getting dressed. The dress she'd chosen was deceptively simple—an off-white concoction of rich lace that hugged her slender figure and ended at just above her knees. It was an off-the-shoulder design with fringes of lace going to a point just at her waist. Her hair was piled on top of her head and secured by pins and dotted with tiny rosebuds at the sides and at the front. Dangling diamond earrings were at her lobes, a gift from her fiancé, with a matching diamond bracelet at her right wrist. They'd come over to Hillary’s place earlier to get dressed and the two little girls who would shortly become her nieces were chafing to get ready and go to the church.

  “Thanks Mom,” Robyn admired the smoky grey skirt suit her mother was wearing and how young she looked for her age. Melina Faulkner was sixty years old in February and had her birthday a day after her daughter’s. “You father is downstairs waiting.”

  “Are you two okay?”

  Melina came over and took her daughter’s hands in hers. “This is your wedding day and it should be all about you. Your dad I are fine. At least we're talking.”

  “He wants you back, Mom.”

  “We'll see. Now, let’s get you to that church.”

  ***

  Richard Faulkner placed a hand over his daughter’s as they stood just outside waiting for their cue to walk inside. The church was packed to capacity and there were reporters aimed with cameras milling around and snapping pictures. “How are you feeling?” he asked her solicitously. She looked like her father but had gotten her petite frame from her mother.

  “I'm fine Dad.” Robyn squeezed his arm. “Don’t give up on her.”

  His dark brown eyes twinkled. “Have you ever known me to?”

  “You hurt her pretty badly so I'm afraid you have a lot to prove that you're not the same person.”

  His expression sobered. “I know honey, and I intend to work on that.” He bent and kissed her cheek. “You're the loveliest bride I've ever seen.”

  ***

  Inside the church at the altar, Timothy couldn't help fidgeting.

  “Relax man,” Liam whispered teasingly, his dark grey eyes amused. “You would think she's going to stand you up at the altar.”

  “I have nothing to fear,” Timothy told him loftily.

  “No? I wager that if she'd seen me before she saw you then you wouldn't stand a chance.”

  “Don’t make me hurt you,” Timothy warned him.

  Liam chuckled and both men straightened as the music changed, indicating that the bride was about to appear.

  Timothy felt his hands clench as she walked into the church on her father’s arm. He let out a breath as he got the first look of her in that gown. Jesus! She was breathtaking!

  “My God!” Liam whispered next to him. “She is exquisite!”

  “She is,” Timothy said proudly and leaving his place he went to meet her. She took her hand away from her father’s arm and placed it on his, smiling up at him as if they were the only two people in the building. Time stood still as he stared down at her and not even the sight of his nieces looking adorable in their pink ruffled dresses could tear his eyes away from her. He guided her up the aisle and the ceremony began. In half an hour they pledged their lives and love to each other and Robyn Nicole Faulkner became Mrs. Timothy Elliot McLaughlin.

  ***

  They both changed for the reception, which was being held in the park. Tents dotted the area, which had been cleaned and prepared for the occasion. The Mayor had declared the day exclusively to the wedding and it was a day of celebration with enough food to feed an army. Children ran freely around and the out of town guests were delighted with the fresh outdoors and the activities going on. Local talents were on display, dedicating songs to the newlyweds. After the meal and the cutting of the cake, Timothy had his first dance with his wife and was about to have a second one when he was interrupted by Liam.

  “I really hope you're not monopolizing this exquisite creature, Timothy.” His deep voice was amused and his expression determined as he placed a hand on his friend’s arm. “You have the right to the first dance but after that she's supposed to dance with the best man and I am in fact the best man.”

  “Go away, Liam,” Timothy told him mildly. “Aren’t there enough single women here?”

  “There are some attractive women around but I really think your bride is the most attractive of them all.” He took one of Robyn’s hands. “I know you don’t want to say it to his face but I know what you're thinking: If only I had met him first! Am I right?”

  Robyn laughed in delight at the wicked expression on the man’s face. She'd met him for the first time two days ago when he'd flown over to stay with Timothy and had found herself staring at the incredibly handsome man. Timothy was very attractive but Liam Moses had that dark sculpted beauty of a male Adonis and knew it all too well. She leaned up and kissed her husband full on the lips. “I have eyes only for my husband and I can say that with all confidence.”

  “Let's see if I can't change your mind.” He took her into his arms and guided them away from a scowling Timothy.

  “I can feel the daggers in my back,” he murmured as he stared down at her. “You really are an exquisite creature.”

  “My husband thinks so too,” she told him with a smile.

  “So there's no use my trying to steal you away from him?”

  “None whatsoever.”

  “In that case, let’s enjoy the dance.”

  Chapter 16

  “We're probably going to have to consider buying a house,” he said lazily as he stripped off her clothes. It was almost midnight and they'd left people still milling around in the park. Most of his friends had flown back home on their private jets and her mother and father were staying at the small house where her medical center was. They were leaving in the morning but Robyn had seen where things had progressed between them.

  “I like this apartment.”

  “It’s a bachelor pad and not conducive to children,” he pointed out. His fingers were playing all over her naked body and making it hard for her to follow the thread of the conversation. The honeymoon had been put off for the time being but tomorrow they would be taking his boat out and spending the day on the river, if her stomach could stand it.

  “I want three,” she murmured.

  “Three houses?”

  “Three kids.”

  His brows lifted and his body tightened. “Can we get through this one first before making a concrete decision?”

  “You don’t think I'm going to stop at one?”

  “I think I'm terrified of what you'll go through and I just want you to get through it before we decide to increase the family. The thought of you going through the rigors of childbearing has me all knotted up,” he confessed.

  She captured his hands as they wandered over her stomach. “We live in modern times and there are wonderful drugs that take away the pain and make it much easier for women to bear children. With that in mind, I'm saying that I'm not going to stop at one. I'm an only child and I was very lonely.”

  “We'll see,” he said enigmatically. “Did you like Liam?”

  “He's charming. Why?”

  “He thinks you're exquisite,” he murmured casually. “And Liam has a way with women.”

  Robyn laughed and he looked up to stare at her. “Darling, are you jealous?”

  “Should I be?”

  “Are you serious?”

  “I sound like a fool,” he said with a sigh. “But I saw you in his arms, laughing and talking to him, and
I wanted to pull you away.” He shook his head. “I'm afraid I don't want other men touching you, especially men like Liam Moses.”

  “As I recall, you were like him before we met,” she pointed out.

  He considered that for a moment. “I was never in Liam’s league. Before I met you I had sex without strings attached and I made that very clear. I never cared enough to want to form a relationship until I met you. Liam was born with a gold spoon in his mouth and the looks to go with it. He doesn't exactly use women, Robyn, he actually cares about them and that's the problem. They end up falling in love with him and expect more, never knowing that where he's concerned there isn’t any more. So you see we're very different.”

  “God help him when he does find that one woman,” Robyn said thoughtfully as she pulled him over her. “Can we skip the talk now?”

  “Most definitely,” he whispered as he shifted to lie next to her, one hand cupping her breast and watching the nipple react to the slight touch. “Do you know what I was thinking when I saw you coming inside the church?”

  “No. What were you thinking?” She moved restlessly as he continued to tease her hardened nipple.

  “That I must be dreaming. There was no way you were coming to me to be my wife.”

  “I am your wife,” she said dazedly, her eyes meeting his. “Forever and always, until death parts us, in sickness and in health for better or for worse, no matter what I am your wife and you are my husband, I'm Robyn McLaughlin.”

  “Mrs. McLaughlin.” His body shuddered at her summation of their marriage vows, words that had been spoken quietly and with resounding effect. Words that he would keep until he drew his dying breath. Words that meant so much to him, not just platitudes or rote but something that he meant to show her for as long as he lived.

  “I love you.” His voice had thickened as he bent his head towards hers, his lips inches from his, his fingers busy on her nipple, sending the tremors through every inch of her body. She reached up and pulled his head down, her mouth touching his, her tongue tracing his bottom lip and sending shudders throughout his body. His mouth opened over hers, taking her tongue between his teeth sending shock waves through her as he bit down gently, his tongue touching the tip of hers before pulling it into his mouth, teasing her by not going all the way, driving into her mouth and retreating, giving and taking it back and driving her so crazy that she felt as if she was going to burst with the need of him. He finally gave in and plunged his tongue deep inside her mouth and the kiss went wild.

  Robyn felt the fire burning hot inside her, her skin clammy and hot to the touch as she responded to the incredible ardor, the passion that heated up their flesh and clamored at their bodies. He dragged his lips from hers reluctantly and stared down at her, his eyes darkened with passion, his handsome face intense with pent up urgency. He dipped his head and Robyn arched her body in anticipation as his tongue touched her pebble-like nipple, swirling around the tight bud before taking the nipple inside his mouth, pulling at it until she was moving restlessly against him, her fingers digging into his muscled shoulders, the nails making indentations in the skin. She couldn't take much more of it. She wanted him inside her, this wasn't enough and he had to know it. “I can’t!” she whispered achingly. “Please.”

  But he only transferred to the next nipple, giving it the same treatment but this time he added pressure, his fingers seeking and finding the core of her. She opened her legs for him, easing her body up as his fingers dipped inside her, thrusting into her slowly at first and setting more fire to the flames shooting inside her body.

  He lifted his head and captured her frantic moans inside his mouth as he increased the pressure of his fingers. His body was straining with his own incredible needs but right now it was all about her and he was willing to hold back on his own pleasure to make sure she had hers, it was important to him. He felt when she stiffened and plunging his fingers deep inside her he brought her up and over, glorying in the exquisite pleasure she was experiencing as the orgasm crashed inside her and had her clinging to him, her body trembling, her heart racing and her body hot.

  He took his time easing out of her and holding his aching penis in his hand he guided it inside her, his body shuddering as she received him, wrapping around him and pulling him inside her. Robyn arched her body closer to his, her arms going around his neck, the tears slipping down her cheeks. He bent his head and using his tongue he traced the direction of the wetness on her cheeks, before he kissed her wet lashes and then gently her forehead. He was buried inside her to the hilt and didn't move for the moment as he savored her wrapped around him, joined intimately with her, touching the core of her and becoming one with her, his soul joined with hers forever. Even after death he believed that in some way they would be together because he refused to let her go—it would always be her and no one else no matter what.

  He finally moved and wrapping her legs around his waist she moved against him, her body curving against his strong muscled one. They moved together, their rhythm fluid, their hearts thumping in one accord, their bodies heated as they gave in to the passion flowing through their bodies at an extremely rapid pace. The orgasm tore at them both, pulling them in and closing around them with a force that had him crying out against her lips, his large muscled body shuddering on top of her. He'd become somewhat accustomed to what she brought out in him but tonight it was even stronger, and it felt as he was being torn apart by the incredible emotions inside him. He waited a few minutes before he moved off her and pulled her half on top of him. His hands curved around her back, his fingers soothing her as they both waited for their heartbeats to return to normal. She shifted her head and looked up at him and he met her gaze. “How does it feel?” he asked her softly.

  “How does what feel?”

  “To know that you hold my entire being in your hands?” he joked shakily.

  “I would ask you the same question,” she whispered. She lifted one hand to his chin and her touch lingered. “You have to stop thinking that this is one-sided, darling.”

  “It feels that way sometimes.” He captured her hand and kissed her palm. “But I'm happy it is not.”

  ***

  “Dr. McLaughlin!” It took a moment before she realized that the person was calling her. She'd been married for two weeks now and she was still getting used to her change in status and even more to the change of her name. The people in Fallen Oaks insisted on calling her by her married name even though she'd told her patients that it was okay to use Faulkner. She turned and saw the tall willowy doctor hurrying towards her.

  “Yes?”

  “I was hoping to catch you before you left. I know you have to go back to your facility but I was hoping for a consult.”

  “A consult?” she stared at the greying brunette with a frown. She'd started to come to the hospital to attend the clinic there and realized that it was an excellent one. She was getting her usual check up from the OBGYN and would be due late February. Timothy had fumed that he had to go out of town and wasn't there to be with her but she'd assured him it was okay.

  “I'm Doctor Emily Fells.” She indicated her name tag. “I've read up on you and know that you were an orthopedic surgeon before you came to Fallen Oaks.”

  “I don’t do that anymore, and besides I'm newly married and with a baby on the way. I also have the medical center to take care of.”

  “It's just a small consult and I promise not to keep you for very long. I just need a second opinion.”

  Robyn felt the familiar tug and couldn't ignore it. She glanced at the slim Gessner watch on her wrist that her husband had given her a week ago and nodded. “I have to get back in another half hour.”

  “Right this way,” Dr. Fells said gratefully. She led the way into a room and pulled the curtain to reveal a young woman reclining on the bed with her left leg propped up on some pillows. “Annemarie this is Dr. Robyn McLaughlin.”

  “I was at your wedding,” The woman told her with a smile.

 
“Thanks for being there.” Robyn pulled up a chair and took the chart from Dr. Fells, studying it quickly before handing it back to her. She snapped on gloves and tentatively pressed down on the girl’s swollen knees. “How long have you been having pains and swelling?”

  “Since last week.” The girl looked at her anxiously. “I figured that it was because I do a lot of standing up. I'm a waitress at the Dragon Den. What's causing it?”

  “We're going to find out.” She patted the girl’s hands. “Don’t worry about it. You're in good hands.”

  She nodded and closed her eyes. Robyn got to her feet and both doctors left the room. “What do you think? I want to show you the x-rays we did and the blood work.”

  Robyn nodded and followed her to the lab.

  “There's swelling around the knee cap but there's also something else that we can't identify.” Dr. Fells pointed to the x-ray photos. Robyn peered at the small white dots closely and felt her heart quicken. “I've seen this twice before. It’s more than bursitis of the kneecap.”

  “I figured as much.” Dr. Fells nodded.

  “They're lesions but the good news is they appear to be benign, which means that they can be removed by surgery.”

  “I was thinking the same thing.” The older woman said gratefully. “Would you consider coming to help out here at least three times a week? We could really use your expertise.”

  Robyn hesitated. She missed the hospital smells and the frenzied activity and the trauma associated with a large hospital. Fallen Oaks General was certainly not as large or as functional as the hospital she'd worked at before but it was still a hospital nonetheless. “I'll have to talk to my husband before I make a decision like that.”