Then the last reason - mutual comfort. From the evening she found out about Harry's death Cal had been there to help her. When Brenda died, she had been there for him. They were great partners outside of the bedroom. They had similar philosophies on life, on money, on faith and on sex so they were able to reinforce each other when Tim or the girls needed proper Christian guidance.
Mutual comfort. Phyl sighed and smiled. Recently the cuddling and kissing had gotten more intense, but it was supremely comforting to know that she was not alone in the world, that she had a true partner that wanted her for more than just her kisses. She had been fearful of Cal retiring and being too much in each others' company but the more time she spent with him the more she wanted to be with him.
She got up to freshen up and get another drink of water. Looking in the mirror she squared her shoulders and said, "I am marrying Cal Richardson for all the right reasons." Then she grinned at the bags under her eyes and the sudden emergence of doubts. Banishing the echo of Jeanine Humbolt and Heddy Erickson in the mirror, she closed her eyes and prayed that the Holy Spirit would be with her during this time of preparation.
Felicity was used to getting attention from the boys at school. She was a petite and perky brunette in a school full of long tall blondes but she was the one who drew the appreciative glances from most of the boys. She snuck a glance at Lydia who was chatting with some of their less clueless male classmates. Lydia looked like someone had opened a bottle of sunshine and applied it to her smile.
Cal and Phyl worked together in the cafeteria to make sure that the refreshments didn't run out. One of the older mothers tried to organize them but stopped after it became apparent that they were a good team and didn't appreciate the advice. They tried their best to keep their displays of affection to a minimum but no one was fooled.
The principal heard two of the other volunteers start to make a fuss about it. "Mrs. Vokeman, Cal and Phyl are getting married tomorrow. It isn't unusual for an engaged couple to show affection for each other or newlyweds for that matter." There was a significant pause, "If I remember correctly your eldest daughter Anna married shortly after graduation. She and Case were pretty openly affectionate in their last year here."
Mrs. Vokeman blushed and changed the subject. Cal drew Phyl into a hug so that she could laugh into his shoulder. They released each other before they could draw any more negative looks. The other volunteers, though, smiled indulgently as they came up to wish them well.
Before too long, the dinner came to a close. Cal pointed to a group that he assumed included Felicity because he could see a gap next to Lydia. "The girls seem to have attracted some attention, my dear."
Phyl looked over to see a mixed group of about a dozen young men and women chatting amiably about something. One of the young men mimed a free throw, so she assumed they were talking about the junior sports teams. She pulled Cal back to the cafeteria.
"Cal, I'm so glad you convinced me to have the girls come here." She pulled his head down for a quick peck on the cheek.
"I was thinking that when I was in grade nine, if I was talking to the girls it was because I wanted to see if I could get one of them into a dark corner."
"And I would have been at the front of the line hoping you'd ask."
"This is much healthier." Cal tucked Phyl's arm in his as the stood by the window waiting for the girls to be ready to go home.
"We were very lucky, both of us. Brenda showed you the way to Jesus and Harry showed me the way."
"And now we get to show the kids." He gazed longingly into Phyl's eyes. "So far so good."
The principal came to stand with them and offered his congratulations on their marriage. "Your daughters are fitting in well."
"I think Felicity was getting a lot of attention tonight." Cal offered.
The principal laughed. "She's the only student in the school under five foot, but her personality is big enough to fill the gym. She's very popular." He turned to Phyl. "I heard a story that she and Lydia were born at the exact same time."
Phyl laughed and began to tell the story to another appreciative audience.
"Mum, you look so beautiful and so happy."
Phyl gathered her daughter into a hug. "It's almost time to go. You look pretty happy, too."
"Felicity and I have been hoping for this day since we saw the way you and Dad looked at each other at family camp the year Papa died."
"I didn't realize how much we loved each other until much later. Did we embarrass you very much?"
"Well, you were pretty blatant at family camp this year."
Phyl smiled. "Yes, I was. It was fun, though. You might have to get used to it. I like the way Cal reacts when I flirt with him."
"He is pretty sweet. Will I ever find a guy like him?"
"No, Lydia, you won't. But you will find the right guy for Lydia, and if you're unlucky enough to lose the first one, like I did, you'll find another one when you need him."
They entered the church hall and hung up their coats. Then she spotted Cal. He offered his arm and the two of them went to wait in the vestry. "There's a lot less ceremony the second time around." Phyl whispered.
"You are your own woman this time. You don't need anyone to give you away." Cal whispered back.
"I can hardly wait to give myself to you."
"And I still can't believe that you want to."
She pulled his head down for a quick reassuring kiss and said, "Never doubt it."
Father Gary came into the vestry from the church hall and poked his head out the door to the nave. "It looks like everyone else is in place. Do you have the rings?"
Cal patted his sporran. Gary snickered and said, "I'll go put them on the service book."
Phyl snickered, too, and said, "Good idea."
Gary came back into the vestry and said, "Are you both ready?"
Cal offered his arm and led his bride into their new life together.
Epilogue – Family Camp
Cal watched with amusement as Felicity flirted with the university aged canoe instructor, knowing that the young man was trying to fend her off. Phyl was napping in the shade next to him with their sleeping newborn daughter Grace gathered close. Tim was with the gang of louts lined up to use the diving board at the end of the dock and Lydia and Brenda were teaching Erica how to swim. Life was very good.
A grey haired couple being towed by a five year old boy came close and the woman stopped. "Mind if I set up next to you?"
Cal looked up and said, "Not at all."
The woman spread out her blanket and piled all of the sandals neatly then sat down. "First time here?" Cal asked.
"Oh, no. We used to take our kids here when they were younger. Now that we have Thomas to spoil we decided to give our number two and her husband some time to themselves." She glanced at Cal and said, "I'm forgetting my manners. I'm Theresa Walker and that's my husband John. Are you here with your daughter and grandchildren?"
"Yes, actually, but it's not quite what it looks like. I'm Cal Richardson and two of those four girls are my granddaughters, Erica who lives with us and Brenda her half-sister who doesn't, one is my daughter, Felicity, and the other is my stepdaughter, Lydia. The lovely ladies by my side are my wife Phyl and our daughter Grace, and that screaming lout that just hit the water is my stepson Tim."
Theresa looked at all of the active children and shook her head. "I don't know how you have the energy."
Cal laughed and said, "It good that we have three teenagers to help us out. It took Phyl a long time to convince me to take a chance with her."
Phyl heard her name and stirred. "Cal?"
Cal's voice softened as he reached over to stroke her hair. "Right here, sweetheart."
"Do you mind moving Grace so I can get up without crushing her?"
Cal reached over his wife and gently picked up his daughter for a snuggle and a kiss. Theresa saw the besotted look on Cal's face and waited for a whole five count before asking, "Can I hold her?"
Cal hand
ed the curled bundle to Theresa, who wrapped her up in a firm hug. "Thank you. She's gorgeous. How old is she?"
"She's five weeks. She has the same birthday as her two half sisters over there." Cal nodded at Lydia and Felicity then smiled as Phyl sat up and collected a hug from him. "Phyl, this is Theresa Walker. The Walkers are here with their grandson, Tom."
Thomas came racing back with his grandfather following more sedately. Phyl smiled a welcome to them and said, "As odd as it still seems to me after a year and a half of marriage, I'm here with two of my grandchildren."
John closed the distance and shook his head. "Well, Theresa. Trust you to find the babies and pry them from their mothers."
Theresa shrugged then introduced her husband. John stated, "You're far too young to have grandchildren, girl."
"Well, they're really Cal's, but Erica and the other little kids are in the family calling me Bestemor. It's what I called my Norwegian grandmother."
Cal and Phyl looked at their daughter in Theresa's arms then caught each others glances and the world went away for a moment while they kissed. John and Theresa exchanged a knowing look then John said, "There are children present."
Cal and Phyl blushed and Theresa said, "It good to see people who aren't afraid to be in love." She looked fondly at her husband then smiled, "I'll bet you have a good story to tell us. Maybe you can sit with us at supper?"
Looking out to see that all of the kids were accounted for, Cal said, "If you're up for it, Phyl."
She gave him an affectionate kiss that threatened to go on too long with Lydia saying, "Oh no. They're at it again."
"We should tell them. It's a good story, old man." She drew him close for another kiss, "with a very happy ending."
###
About the Author
Bill is a professional accountant who lives in Ottawa, Ontario. His wife and four sons think that he travels too much for work, but the quiet evenings in the hotel give him the time to write. The two dogs don't seem to react any differently whether he goes to the other end of the country for a week or just to the grocery store for milk.
Other books by Bill Sanderson
Choosing Hope
When Kyle drugged her drink Lily ran and called David to rescue her, again. But Kyle keeps threatening Lily and refusing to let her go, so David made sure she was safe. This time Lily notices that David is not just her uncle's friend who is willing to help. This time she sees a man who is kind and honourable and loving ... the kind of man she's always dreamed of marrying.
But when Kyle takes his brutal revenge on Lily she finds herself pregnant. Is it David's child or Kyle's?
In the end, Lily makes the only choice she can - she chooses hope.
Available at Smashwords.com: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/108408
Running Home
Miriam Nadif, head buyer for her family's grocery stores in Lebanon, had thought she would be the spinster aunt, content to support her father and help him build up the family business. But her father's untimely death transferred her guardianship to her uncle, a Hezbollah supporter who refuses to allow her out of his house. When they find her Bible, she is threatened with stoning and is forced to flee. She thinks immediately of her best friend from university in Canada, Jerry Ernst, whose gentle example led to her conversion to Christianity.
But she hasn't had any contact with Jerry in the six years since graduation. Will the spark between them still exist? Will her troubles follow her across the ocean? Will he even want to help her?
Available at Smashwords.com: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/108967
Coming Soon
Getting His Attention
Thirteen year old Connie Pereira fell in love with the boy next door the summer he helped her father build the new deck on the house, but Terry O'Connell never noticed her. Now he's the CEO of a world famous computer graphics company based in Vancouver with multiple Emmy and Oscar nominations and the most eligible bachelor in town. But Connie is all grown up now. Armed with a camera, a full scholarship to the University of British Columbia and a brand new sun dress, Connie has only one mission – getting his attention and keeping it.
A May-September Wedding Page 21