by Leigh Morgan
She sounded so hesitant Ram had to smile. There was no way he was going to able to explain this in a way that she was going to understand or accept.
He sighed. “I won’t be alone. There will be all kinds of artists with me. Together we can raise more money for supplies than any of us could donate individually.”
Ram kissed the top of her head. “Trust me Rhiannon when I say we can help. I have to do this, sweetheart. I wouldn’t leave you if I didn’t think I could make a difference.”
Rhia nodded. Ram only used her full name when he was serious, and only sparingly then. He truly believed he could help and she wasn’t going to burst his bubble. He wasn’t Bono for goodness sake. What difference could he make? But that wasn’t really the point. Ram wanted to help, Rhia had to respect his commitment, even if she didn’t share his certainty in the outcome.
“Ram, I do plan on wiring as much cash as I can tomorrow to the red-cross, but I can’t go with you. I only have a few weeks left here and I need to finish this research.”
Ram gave a small laugh. “I don’t want you to come with me. I know you have to finish your research. I am sorry I won’t be able to show you Scotland though. I’d love to take you around Loch Lomond and up to Glen Coe. It’s absolutely beautiful. I’ll show it to you someday. I promise.”
Ram took a deep breath. “I want you to finish your work. I’d feel a lot better knowing you’re doing what you came here to do while I’m gone. I’ll call from the road.”
She just nodded again. What was she thinking? Probably that he was out of his bloody mind. And he was. He had been since he sunk into her and lost his desire to live his life alone.
“You haven’t answered my question, Rhiannon. Do you love me?” Ram tried to keep his voice as neutral as possible but it came out harsher than he expected, and he couldn’t seem to control his arms as they tightened around her.
Rhia had only told one other man she loved him.
How’d that work for you?
If she was giving herself a second change at life, and love, it didn’t pay to be timid. Cautious, certainly, but she hadn’t been cautious with Ram since she first set eyes on him leaning against his Jaguar laughing at her, so why start now?
“Yes Ramsey Macleod. I love you. Like I’ve never loved anyone. It doesn’t make a lot of sense, but there it is.”
“So what do we do about that?”
Ram shifted her so he could retrieve the box from his pocket. Her head hit his jaw and he swore. This wasn’t exactly how he pictured proposing. He didn’t count on having trouble swallowing or his heart beating visibly in his chest either. After finally extricating the thing, he shoved it into her hand.
“Open it.”
She did, and her breath caught in her throat. Rhia didn’t know what she expected, but it wasn’t this. There, sparkling up at her, was a rose gold eternity band with tiny diamonds. Soldered to it was a thin band of platinum, carved with Celtic love knots. It had obviously been worn, but it was still in excellent condition. She took it out of the small red box and the metal instantly warmed in her hand.
Rhia looked at it from every angle. The carving was deep and would last through decades of wear. The diamonds danced in the light, they were small, but clear and melded so well with the platinum. Rhia wanted to slip in on, something about it called out to her.
Ram’s voice jarred her back to the here and now. “Do you like it?” He asked.
“It’s beautiful. I’ve never seen a wedding set as lovely.” Rhia answered truthfully.
“It was my mother’s. My dad had it made for her. He picked the diamonds himself and the gold is Welsh gold. You can’t find it so easily anymore. Most of the mines have closed and the ones that haven’t have a very small yield.” Ram remembered his mother’s joy when she told him the ring’s history.
What he remembered more than that was the look of absolute adoration big Seamus had for his wife while Ram sat on her lap and she told him how his father had this small piece of jewelry made for her. One would have thought his father had given her the Hope Diamond. In Grace’s mind Seamus had done more than that.
“It’s incredible. Your mother must have loved it, and your father very much.” Rhia put the ring back in the box with obvious hesitancy.
Ram took the ring from her before she could close the lid. It looked absurdly small in his large hands. “She did. Love it... and him, I mean.”
Ram took Rhia’s left hand and slid his mother’s ring onto her ring finger. It fit perfectly, snug but not too tight. Ram’s mother had to be a small woman, Rhia thought. Her ring finger was a four and a half and most people didn’t have hands that small.
“It fits.” Ram said kissing the back of her hand.
“Yes it does...but...”
“No buts Rhiannon. Not now, not ever. Not about this. I love you. With my whole heart. You love me. Be my wife, sweetheart. I want to hold you close forever. Marry me, Rhiannon. Please.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Rhia looked at the ring on her finger. Ram still held her hand lightly in his. He had to feel her shaking. Oh God she wanted to say yes. The weight of the ring on her finger felt right. So did Ram’s arms holding her, his breath caressing her hair. She could feel his heart beating rapidly in his chest and knew that his outward patient calm was a facade. He was just as nervous as she was. That realization eased her a little.
“Ram, I’m not twenty anymore. I come with baggage.”
Ram gave her a little shake. “You come with children Rhia, not baggage. In fact I distinctly remember your lack of baggage when we met.”
How could he make her laugh at a time like this? What was she going to do without his easy camaraderie? Rhia prayed she wasn’t going to have to find out.
“Ram...”
Ram stopped her before she came up with more reasons to take that ring off her finger. “No Rhiannon. Listen to me for a second.” Ram ran one hand through his hair. This would be easier without her sitting in his lap, but Ram didn’t want to let her go.
“Ethan’s seventeen and he’s set to graduate high school in December. Hunter will be starting her second year of college. Your children are grown. They’ll always need you, but they aren’t little any longer.” Ram sighed. This was too damn important to screw up and he was certain he was doing just that.
“Ethan told me he’s already got eighteen months of college credits because of all the AP courses he’s taken. That kid is going to start college in six months as a Junior.”
“You talked to Ethan?”
Oops.
“Yea. One of times he called, I picked up the phone. Don’t worry. He thinks I’m your landlord.”
“You are my landlord.” Rhia interrupted.
“That’s not the point and you know it. Now cut it out.”
Rhia blushed and shut up. He was making sense. Her life was changing. Her children were grown up, and he was right, once Ethan started college she’d only see him a few times a year. He’d been accepted to MIT and he’d be far too busy with school to spend time with his mother. Hunter was closer since she was attending UW in Madison, but even during her freshman year she only came home four times during the school year.
“The point is your children are mostly independent. They are going to be away from your home more than they will be there. They will always be your priority. I understand that, but there’s room in your life for me.”
That was true Rhia thought. More than enough room. But did that mean they had to be married?
“Your kids will like me Rhia. I’ll do everything I can to help them and I know I’m going to love them. They’re a part of you.”
How did he know just what to say. Hunter and Ethan would love Ram. No doubt about it. His easy going manner would appeal to Ethan who was too intense for his own good, and Hunter had been pushing Rhia to date since her divorce was final. Hunter had such a strong feminist streak and she’d declared that her mother ‘deserved to be happy’ especially since ‘daddy was’
.
“What about the obvious Ram. You’re younger than I am. I may not be able to have more children. I’m not sure I even want more children. Are you willing to give that up?” Rhia’s heart was beating double time. She didn’t want to push him away, but she couldn’t stomach regrets later.
“I am twenty-eight. I’ll turn twenty-nine October thirtieth. You’re a decade older than I am, give or take a few months. I knew that the moment I looked at your driver’s license. It didn’t stop me from asking you to marry me. I want you, Rhia, not your ovaries.” Well that didn’t come out quite the way he’d rehearsed it. Ram gathered his thoughts and tried again.
“I’d like children of my own. No doubt about that. But I wouldn’t be guaranteed that with a twenty year old woman.” He sighed. “I love you. I’ll spend the rest of my life loving you. I’d prefer to do it with you actually in my life.”
“Ram, we’ve only known each other a few weeks.” Rhia said pointing out the obvious.
“How long did you know your ex before you married him?”
“Two years.”
“Would it have changed the outcome if you’d known him another two before you married him?”
The truth of Ram’s question hit her between the eyes. “No. Our lives changed after that. And the truth is William would have immersed himself in seventy hour work weeks and weekend golf outings no matter what, and I would have let him if I hadn’t been slapped in the face with his infidelity one too many times.” Rhia cringed. That said more about her lack of character than it did about Williams’ as far as she was concerned.
“I will be faithful. I don’t need to sow any oats. Believe me, I’ve done more than my share of blind sowing. That part of my life is over. I do work hard. There will be times when I’m gone weeks at a time. But you can come with me if you want to. And I’ll also be home for weeks at a time. I earn a good living so I can provide for you and your children. I’m not a felon and I’ve never raised a hand to a woman or an animal in my life. What more do you need to know about me? Ask, I’ll tell you anything.” Ram let out a breath.
What he’d said was mostly true. The only stretch was the felon part. He wasn’t a convicted felon, but only by the grace of God. He’d committed his share of felonies. Thankfully that part of his life was also behind him. He’d tell Rhia about it someday. Just not the day he was asking her to marry him. He had enough of a hill to climb without coming completely clean about his past bad-boy behavior.
“Yes.”
“What?” Ram asked, certain he’d missed something.
“Yes.”
“You’re not coming through here. ‘Yes’ what?” He didn’t want to risk any misunderstandings between them.
“Yes. I’ll marry you.”
“That’s it? You’re sure?” Ram asked, certain it couldn’t be that easy.
Rhia smiled up at him. Marriage wasn’t something she’d even contemplated when she set out to carve a new life for herself. But Ram was right, she could know him another decade and she still wouldn’t be able to protect herself from what might come. He was here now and she loved him. He loved her. What else mattered? It wasn’t as if her life would change all that much being married to him. She’d see her children as much as she did now and she could write and teach just about anywhere.
Rhia laughed at the dubious look on Ram’s face. She laughed in earnest when his green eyes narrowed. “Were you expecting a different answer?” She asked, watching the tension leave his face as her words sank in. “You asked. I answered. You’re stuck with me now big guy.”
Ram kissed her before she could say any more. This wasn’t how he wanted to propose. Paris, Nice, Lake Como even, those were places where the rich and famous proposed. Even so, Pentla house was about as perfect a place as any to pour out his heart.
Rhia kissed him back. His bare chest was warm and welcoming. She straddled him and felt his arousal begin to form under her. She was holding his head to hers, kneading the back of his neck when she became aware that he was gently but forcefully pushing her away.
Ram broke the kiss before she made him forget he was leaving tomorrow. He’d won one victory tonight. Rhia wasn’t taking his ring off her finger and she’d agreed to marry him. Should he push for more? Hell, he didn’t get where he was by playing it easy.
“Let’s do it tonight.” He said, holding her shoulders so she couldn’t keep kissing him.
“I’m trying you stubborn man.” She grumbled.
Ram smiled at her disgruntled expression. “I’m not talking about that. We’ll definitely do that. I mean let’s get married tonight. Flossie’s son, Robert, is a minister and he could marry us here. Tonight.” Ram didn’t add that Robert was probably finishing his third or fourth pint at the pub by now. Robert had a good constitution for Scrumpy and Stella.
“Are you out of your mind?” She hadn’t meant to shout, it just came out that way.
Ram tried to placate her. “I know you’d like to have your family around you. Maybe you’d like a large wedding? You can have that. I promise. Whatever you want, we’ll do it. But let’s say our vows here, now. Let’s make Pentla house our first home together.”
Rhia studied his face. He was serious. Here? Now? Was he crazy? She didn’t want or need a large wedding. She had that the first time. She’d like to have Hunter and Ethan with her, but Ram was right, she could have a lovely ceremony with her children present when she got home. Maybe they could have the ceremony outside at Boerner Botanical Gardens in Milwaukee, just the four of them. She’d already agreed to marry him, so why not now?
Because it’s madness.
Yea, well, logic hadn’t gotten her very far when it came to her love life thus far.
“Okay Ramsey Macleod. But I’m hyphenating my name. If you need more time to settle into that we can always wait to say our vows.”
Ram scooped her up and swung her around in tight circle that made her dizzy. “Yes Mrs. Thorson-Macleod. Anything you say Mrs. Thorson-Macleod.” Ram was laughing when he said it, but it sounded so funny to Rhia’s ears that she decided to sign the license Rhiannon Thorson Macleod. She wouldn’t use the hyphen, but she’d be damned before she gave up her maiden name entirely ever again.
...
They were both barefoot and dressed in jeans for their wedding.
Flossie made a quick flower wreath for Rhia’s head and Ram wore one perfect white rose in the pocket of a black silk t-shirt. Flossie’s son, Robert, had to repeat their vows twice before Rhia got the words right. Ram said them perfectly the first time. Flossie, David, Molly and her husband served as the only witnesses.
None of that mattered much. Ram and Rhia were married at what was now their home. To make it official Ram presented Rhia with a skeleton key for the front door.
“Pentla and everything else I have are yours now, Rí.” He said as they made their way to her bedroom. “I’ll have an architect draw up plans for a new master suite if you want. My room is a little macho and this suite is too small for both of us.”
“I love this room. And it’s hardly small. All this is too much. We should have discussed finances before we did this. I just didn’t think of it. Pentla is worth so much more than my house. It’s not fair. We can have a post-nuptial agreement drafted if you want.” Rhia didn’t like his sudden silence or the tension she could feel in the air as he shut the door behind him.
Ram’s back was to her as he opened cabinets above the wet bar looking for champagne glasses. He got a bottle of the same champagne he’d purchased in Cardiff from the kitchen and brought it with them.
Rhia took the bottle from him and shut the cabinet. He still didn’t turn around and she could see every muscle in his back pulse through his tight t-shirt. Rhia reached around him from behind and hugged him.
“Ramsey, I didn’t marry you to get my hands on Pentla. It’s lovely and I’m thankful to call Pentla home, but this spot belongs to you and your family. I’ll sign whatever is necessary to make sure it stays that way.”
Rhia felt him relax against her.
“There will be no post-nuptial agreement.” Ram turned in her embrace. Looking down into her lovely, earnest eyes Ram held her chin in one hand, massaging her bottom lip as he did so. He wanted her attention because he wanted her to remember this conversation when she found out what he was really worth.
“You, my darling, may not have considered our financial situations before we said ‘I do’, but I did. When David and Flossie were tracking Robert down, and you were in the shower, I called my lawyer.” Ram looked at his watch.
“Ten hours from now the paper work granting you access to my accounts will be processed. I’ve also redone my will. Everything I own is yours too, including Pentla.” Pentla was the least of it, Ram mused. Hell, he would have given her Pentla any time. All she had to do was ask.
Then it hit him full force. He was married.
And Rhia was trying to get him to sign a post-nuptial agreement. She married him because she loved him, not because of who he was in public or how much money he had.
Heaven help me when she finds out just how much that is.
That was a worry for another day. He was leaving in the morning and he wanted to make love to his wife.
Rhia was looking at him like he’d lost his mind. He smiled into her eyes. She looked so beautiful barefoot in jeans with that flowery thing Floss made for her sitting cockeyed on head.
“Don’t worry Rhia. You can keep your money. All I ask, demand really, is that you accept what I have to share with you.”
“But...”
Ram picked her up and kissed her breathless before setting her back down. “That’s the end of it. I know what I’m doing. I’m a big boy and I won’t have it any other way.”