To Hold Forever

by Carrie Carr

  Amanda stepped into the room. She wished for a camera when she saw her partner trying to reason with their daughter. "Do you need any help, Momma?"

  Lex stood and dusted off the knee of her slacks. "No, I think we have it handled." She took Amanda's hands in hers and kissed her lightly on the lips. "Are you doing okay?"

  "I'm fine. But this had better be a short ceremony. Otherwise, I'm afraid I'll embarrass myself by running off to the bathroom--again." Both turned when they heard a mysterious thump. "Lorrie!"

  "Dere." Lorrie stepped away from the trash can with a satisfied look on her face. Her feet were bare and she was on the verge of pulling her dress over her head when Lex interrupted her.

  "Lorrie, no." Lex dipped one hand into the trash and grimaced when her hand found the shoes. She pulled them out slowly. Coffee grounds covered the leather. "I can't believe you did that." Something unidentifiable dripped from one of the shoes. "Ugh."

  Amanda had to cover her mouth to keep from laughing. The look on Lex's face was priceless. She cleared her throat before speaking. "I don't think those are salvageable."

  Lex took them to the sink. "No kidding." She placed the shoes on a paper towel and washed her hands. "Now what are we going to do? She can't go barefoot."

  "Oh, I don't know. I think it would be cute." Amanda held up her hand before Lex could say anything. "I'm kidding. What other shoes does she have here?"

  "Her boots and I think a pair of sneakers." Lex exhaled heavily when she heard a happy yelp come from Lorrie. The child was now dancing in place, wearing only her white tights and underwear. The dress was hanging half in, half out, of the trash. "Dammit!"

  Amanda grabbed Lex's arm as she walked by. "Honey, wait." She could tell Lex was close to her breaking point. "Since Lorrie's boots are here, I'm assuming her jeans are too?"

  "Yeah. Martha told me she wanted to dress like me this morning, so she wore her cowboy outfit." Now that she was over the original shock, watching Lorrie dance gleefully around the kitchen did seem quite amusing. "Looks like the ring bearer is going to be more casual than everyone else." She kissed Amanda's cheek. "We'll be down in a few minutes." Lex held out her hand. "Lorrie, come on. Time to get dressed."

  They were almost out of the room when Amanda called out to her. "Don't forget her belt and hat. We might as well go all the way."

  That got a laugh out of Lex. She couldn't wait to see the look on Jeannie's face when she saw Lorrie. It would serve her right, for trying to make Lorrie wear something so uncomfortable.

  Fifteen minutes later, everyone was in their place outside. Lex walked slowly toward the minister, with Amanda's hand tucked in the crook of her arm. In front of them Lorrie strutted proudly, her western hat bobbing with each step. Her jeans were neatly pressed, and the shirt she wore was a bright yellow. Even her boots gleamed in the early afternoon sunshine.

  Lex placed a kiss on Amanda's cheek before kneeling to whisper something in Lorrie's ear. She must have been satisfied by her daughter's answer, because she kissed Lorrie on the nose before sitting in the front row.

  The murmuring crowd silenced as the string quartet began to play the traditional wedding march. All heads turned to see Michael escort Jeannie toward her future husband, who stood nervously in place. Rodney's face was pale. It took his younger brother, Jared, poking him in the arm to make him blink and attempt to relax.

  All was going smoothly until it was time for Lorrie to give up the rings. When the minister held out his hand, she tucked the pillow close to her and shook her head. "No. Mine."

  Everyone laughed, but the minister didn't feel like arguing with a three-year-old. "Young lady, you've done a commendable job. Now it's time to relinquish the rings and sit." He reached for the satin pillow to which the rings were tied.

  "Mine!" Lorrie jumped away.

  Rodney waved off Lex, who started to stand. He knelt in front of the little girl. "Hi, Lorrie."

  She wrinkled her nose and looked at him for a long moment. "Hi." Lorrie gave him a bashful smile.

  He leaned closer and lowered his voice. "Are you ready for this to be over? It's kind of boring, isn't it?"

  "Yep."

  "Well, if you'll give the nice man the rings, we can finish all this boring stuff and go have cake."

  Lorrie seemed to consider his request. "Otay." She didn't like the minister so she gave the pillow to Rodney. "Dere."

  "Thank you, Lorrie." He stood and handed the rings to the reverend. "I think we're ready to finish this up." Rodney took his place beside Jeannie again. They exchanged vows, and the entire gathering was relieved when the happy couple went down the aisle together.

  THE MILLING CROWD was a perfect place to hide. Although she didn't think the Ladies Auxiliary Hall was appropriate for the festivities, Elizabeth had no problem blending in with the other people in the room. The circle of women she had joined were all dressed in their Sunday finery and barely gave her a moment's notice. Most of them were her own age and, without knowing it, their chatter provided her with a detailed description of the wedding ceremony she missed.

  Elizabeth was still seething over the loss of that particular milestone in her daughter's life. Not because she wanted to be there for Jeannie. No, she believed it was her inalienable right as the mother of the bride to be an integral part of the ceremony. I would have done so, anyway, if it had been in a church, like a proper wedding.

  One of the women waved her drink around to punctuate her point. "Mind you, I have no problem with young children having a small part in a wedding. But you think they would give that young one better manners," a particularly snotty woman shared. "Allowing their daughter to throw such a fit. It's not proper."

  The lady next to her rolled her eyes. "Mona Lennon! I thought she was precious. And I don't remember your own grandchildren being very well behaved at that age."

  "Hrumph. Mine are angels, compared to that heathen. I mean, seriously, Shirley. What she was wearing was totally inappropriate."

  "Get over yourself, Mona. You're jealous because Lois was the one who did most of the planning. I would think it's the mother's right, being so heavily involved. Lois did a beautiful job."

  There was another thorn in her side. Elizabeth was hard-pressed to keep an outraged look off her face. She knew all about Lois. The interloper had snagged her husband away from her. It didn't matter to Elizabeth that they had been divorced for nearly a year before he remarried. Michael was hers and no court order could change that. She could be silent no more. "She's not the real mother though, is she? Does anyone know why the bride's own mother wasn't present?"

  Mona snorted. "That psycho?" She leaned in closer to Elizabeth. "I heard she was locked up in a loony bin somewhere."

  Elizabeth was about to defend herself when she heard a commotion across the room. Rodney was dancing in place to the music, holding a young girl on his shoulders. The child had both hands tangled in his hair and was chattering happily. She wondered who the little girl was, until she saw her daughter Jeannie pull on her legs. Could that be? Yes, she was the right age. Elizabeth felt a small stirring of pride at how beautiful her granddaughter had become. Although she would have to talk to Jeannie about how to dress her more becomingly. That western outfit! Disgusting! Jeannie can't truly be well if she let her daughter dress like that worthless dirt farmer of Amanda's.

  Shirley noticed where Elizabeth's attention had shifted. "Isn't she adorable? I think she looks so much like her mother."

  "That she does." Even from her distant vantage point, Elizabeth could see that.

  In the kitchen, matronly ladies moved about at a frenetic pace, loaded with platters of hors d'oeuvres and ingredients for punch. They bustled about with almost military precision as they prepared refreshments for the guests. Amanda, bored beyond belief, sat in a corner out of the way. She had tried to help with the preparations earlier, only to be directed to a chair by her grandmother. Every time she tried to get up several of the women had clucked their disapproval, until she surre
ndered and plopped into the seat they assigned her.

  "Are you all right, dearest?" Anna Leigh noticed the expression on Amanda's face and mistook it for weariness. She sat next to her and in concern, placed a hand on her granddaughter's arm. "Perhaps I should take you home."

  Amanda hated feeling so useless. "Please don't. I'm fine." The baby moved, causing her to groan and stand. "Well, I was. Save my seat, will you? My daughter has made her presence known and demands attention." She moved slowly through the door, grumbling under her breath. "I'm so sick and tired of racing to the bathroom every five minutes." She caressed her stomach while she waddled to the restroom. "Would you please give your poor mommy a break?"

  Another shift in her baby's position made her quicken her steps. "Gee, thanks."

  In the circle of women, Elizabeth gasped when she saw Amanda's condition. "Oh, my."

  Shirley mistook her expression. "Isn't she beautiful? Pregnancy does suit her."

  "Yes, it does." Elizabeth felt vindicated. It's obvious I've missed many things in my children's lives recently. Apparently, Amanda has had a change of heart and has dumped that woman and found herself a husband. It's about time. Now she had two daughters she could be proud of.

  Another's entrance into the hall deflated Elizabeth's happiness.

  Lex strode into the room purposely, stopping along the way to shake hands with several people before gesturing toward the dance floor. She was almost there when Lorrie spotted her.

  "Momma!" Lorrie squirmed until Rodney helped her to the floor. She ran to Lex and held out her arms.

  "Hello there, lil' bit. Have you been good?" Lex scooped her up and swung her around, as her daughter squealed her delight.

  Elizabeth had heard enough. She pushed through the crowd until she was close enough to the pair to be seen. "Put my granddaughter down immediately, you bitch!"

  Lex almost dropped Lorrie but regained her equilibrium quickly. "Watch your language around my daughter, Elizabeth. What are you doing here?"

  "Protecting what's mine." Elizabeth moved closer. "Now hand her to me." A curious crowd began to form around them.

  Amanda had heard the clamor when she came out of the bathroom. In moments, she was at Lex's side. "Mother? What are you doing here?"

  Elizabeth spun around. "Please don't worry yourself, dear. I'm only trying to remove this unwelcome visitor before she causes a scene."

  Jeannie and Rodney were soon flanking Lex and Amanda. Jeannie had told him more than he cared to know about this woman. During Jeannie's rehabilitation, she had told him how Elizabeth had disowned her when she became incapacitated, and about her mother's unhealthy obsession with Amanda. "Mrs. Cauble, perhaps you should leave." He was gratified that Martha had stayed at the Cauble's with Teddy. He didn't want this unstable woman anywhere near his son.

  "I'm not going anywhere until this is resolved. How can you stand here while she puts her perverted hands on my granddaughter?"

  Lex took a step away before passing Lorrie over to Rodney. She wanted her hands free in case Elizabeth did something rash. "As you can see, you're not welcome here. Get out before I have the pleasure of throwing you out."

  "You wouldn't dare!" Elizabeth looked at Amanda. "Surely you're not going to stand there and let her speak to me that way?"

  Amanda entwined her arm with Lex's. "I am. And if I wasn't in this condition, I'd help her. Go home. This is a family event and you're not welcome."

  Elizabeth turned to Jeannie. "Is that true? Don't you want your own mother here?"

  "You haven't been my mother for years, Elizabeth." Jeannie put her arm around her sister in a show of support. "Please leave."

  Lorrie didn't understand what was going on. She wriggled in Rodney's grasp until he had no choice but to let her down. Frightened over the adult's angry voices, she stood behind Lex and wrapped her arms around her leg. "Momma?" She pointed to Elizabeth. "Who's 'dat?"

  It suddenly dawned on Elizabeth what Lorrie said. "Momma? That's impossible."

  Michael quickly joined the group. He took Elizabeth's arm in a firm grasp. "Let's go, Elizabeth. You have no right to be here."

  She jerked ineffectually at his hold. "Release me at once. I have every right. This is my family."

  The excitement was becoming too much for Amanda. Her heart was pounding and she could feel the pressure building in her head. She swayed and would have fallen if not for the grip she had on Lex. "You don't have a family. Please don't ruin this day for Jeannie." She faltered and was relieved to have Lex's support.

  "Sweetheart?" Lex forgot all about Elizabeth when she felt Amanda sag against her. Although she wanted nothing more than to throw her mother-in-law out of the building, her wife was her first concern. "Let me take you home." Without another thought, she turned her back on Elizabeth and carefully led Amanda away from the excitement.

  Lorrie, who had started to follow her parents, glared at Elizabeth. She pointed a bold finger in the agitated woman's direction. "Bad." Then, afraid she'd be left behind, she quickened her pace and grabbed hold of Lex's pants leg.

  Michael waited until they were out of earshot. He pulled Elizabeth in the opposite direction, toward the back door. "Let's go. You've caused enough trouble for one day."

  "Let me go this instant! You can't treat me this way." Elizabeth's voice continued to rise as they left the building. "This isn't over, not by a long shot."

  Jeannie watched them leave. She could feel the room's attention centered on the drama that played itself out. "Well, wasn't that exciting? Come on, everyone. Let's dance." She took Rodney's hand and led him to the dance floor, earnestly hoping her sister was all right.

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  THE WEEKS FOLLOWING the wedding were uneventful. Lex spent most of her time close to the ranch house, concerned about Amanda. Her partner had been uncharacteristically quiet after the wedding, even though Elizabeth had made herself scarce.

  At the moment, Lex was searching for her missing daughter. Lorrie's disappearance was completely her fault. She had gone inside the house earlier and forgotten to make certain the latch closed on the back door. When she returned downstairs, the back door was wide open and Lorrie was nowhere in sight. Lex had to find her before Amanda woke from her nap. She had Martha checking the house for the missing tot.

  Lex stepped inside the horse barn. Nothing seemed out of place. "Lorrie?" She didn't think her daughter was strong enough to open the door, but she wanted to make sure. "Lorrie? Are you in here?"

  She checked every stall, but there was no sign of her. A quick check of the tack room door showed it was locked. Lex headed through the back and toward the hay barn.

  The side door to the barn was partially open and Lex took that as a sign that Lorrie could be there. There wasn't much inside that could hurt a small child, thankfully. The sweet smell of hay tickled Lex's nose as she crossed the threshold. "Lorrie!" A far off rustle alerted her to the child's presence. "Come on out, kiddo."

  High pitched giggling was the only answer.

  Lex moved deeper into the barn. The hay muted the sounds, so it was impossible to tell where Lorrie was hiding. "Lorrie, I'm not playing around. Where are you?"

  Soft footfalls above surprised her. There was only one way to get upstairs and that was by ladder. With her heart pounding, Lex jogged to the ladder and climbed as quickly as she could. As she reached the top, she saw a blur duck behind a bale of hay. "Lorrie! Stop running around." Lex hoisted herself up and went to where her daughter was hiding. As she reached the bale, Lorrie laughed and took off running again. "Damn it! Lorrie, get back here."

  "Get me, Momma." Lorrie giggled and ran toward the ladder.

  "Wait!" Lex chased after her. The twelve foot drop to the barn floor was getting too close.

  Lorrie continued to run. It was fun being chased by her momma. She turned and saw Lex getting closer. "Yay! Get me!" She didn't notice how close to the edge she had become.

  "No!" Lex dove toward Lorrie, stretching out as far as she could
reach. She was barely able to get her fingers around a tiny arm, as Lorrie tumbled from the loft.

  "Momma!" Lorrie squealed in pain and surprise. She swung through the air, crying. "Momma!"

  Lex slowly lifted Lorrie into the loft. "It's okay, sweetheart. You're safe." She pulled the screaming child into her arms. "Sssh."

  Lorrie's cries grew in intensity. "Momma, hurts!"

  "Let me see." Lex noticed the discoloration on Lorrie's lower arm where she had grabbed her. "I'm so sorry, baby." She touched Lorrie's elbow, which sent the little girl into renewed screams. After a closer look, it was obvious that something was wrong. "Damn." As carefully as possible, Lex tucked Lorrie against her chest and cautiously made her way down the ladder.

  THE EMERGENCY ROOM doctor wrote in the chart before closing it. His dark eyes blinked behind the wire rim glasses he wore. "It's actually a very common injury among children, Ms. Walters." He had seen dozens of cases of "nursemaid's elbow", where the child's elbow becomes dislocated. It was a quick fix to pop the joint into place. "She'll be good as new in a day or so."

  Once her arm had been taken care of, the sudden relief from pain mixed with the mild sedative caused Lorrie to fall asleep. She lay peacefully snuggled against Lex, who rocked her gently. "Will she have any problems with the arm when she's older?"

  "Probably not. At her age the joint is mainly cartilage, so there should be no lingering effects." He showed her out of the examination room. "She'll have forgotten about it long before you do."

  "You've got that right." Lex adjusted Lorrie in her arms and held out her hand. "Thank you." After shaking his hand, she maneuvered her way through the people milling in the hall and was met by Martha.

  "Everything okay?" Martha brushed her hand lightly over Lorrie's hair. "Poor little tyke looks tuckered out."

  Lex blinked away her tears. Now that the emergency was over, the shock of what could have happened to Lorrie hit her. "Yeah." She kissed her daughter's hair. "Thanks for driving us in."