A Love for all Ages (Crockett County Trilogy Book 1) (30 page)

“Stephanie is fine, Carrie.
She just needs to make an
appointment to find out for sure.”
Taking charge of this situation
she speaks with her authority voice, “Now we need to get the rest of
the dirty dishes, load the dishwasher, then go back outside and
enjoy the rest of the day.”
Shaking her index finger at Stephanie
she emphases, “You will stop stressing.
We are not going to
mention the pregnant word the rest of the night.
Instead we are
going to laugh and gossip and maybe talk the men into setting up a
radio so we can have some music.”

With everyone lending a hand it takes a short time to clean
the patio therefore allowing everyone to relax.
Marty suggests a
little music would be nice just as the patio lights switch on.
Chase
immediately raises going into the house to retrieve a radio.
Returning with a small boom box he plugs it in then begins trying to
locate a decent station.
Settling for a county station he returns to
his seat beside Stephanie.
Taking her hand he lifts it to his mouth
kissing her palm.
Hearing her soft sigh he laces their fingers
together then lays their hands on his thigh.

The beginning of a slow love song plays on the radio; Chase
rises from his chair and pulls Stephanie up in his arms.
As they
sway to the slow beat, Johnny and Marty join them on the far side
of the patio.
Chase watches as his Father approaches his Mother;
he smiles as his Father bows slightly then holds out his hand for his
wife. Carrie blushes as she takes his offered hand, standing within
the circle of CJ’s arms; they begin to sway to the music.
Chase
notices both Andy and Nick sitting quietly talking.
Feelings of
satisfaction that their first party as a couple is successful Chase
concentrate on the wonderful lady in his arms.

Resting his chin on the top of Stephanie’s head he enjoys the
moment.
The sensation of her in his arms has him feeling
complete.
Looking over at his parents he sees the future he wants
with Stephanie.
His parents have been an inspiration to him,
growing up in a loving home has made him long for the same kind of
relationship.
Closing his eyes Chase allows his mind to envision
their future, marriage, children than growing old together.
As the
music ends he leans back a few inches when Stephanie raises her
head to look at him Chase leans down capturing her lips with his.
The softness of her lips has him deepening their kiss.

Andy clears his throat loudly, breaking their kiss Stephanie
steps back as everyone applauses.
Blushing she returns to her
seat.
Chase smiles as he joins her, sitting down beside her he
again takes her hand in his.
Moving close to her he whispers, “I
love you.”

Stephanie stares into his eyes, witnessing the truth of his
words.
She replies softly, “I love you too.”
At that moment she
decides to share with him the news she may be pregnant when they
are alone.
She doesn’t want secrets in their relationship.
Knowing secrets causes problems, having witnessed the pain of her
parents’ breakup.
Secrets lead to lies, lies lead to more lies, until
people don’t know how to stop.
Not wanting to be like her
parents she makes a conscious promise to be truthful with Chase.
Besides she figures Chase can put this situation into logical terms, he
will have rational reasons to dismiss the possibility of her being
pregnant.
Feeling more at ease Stephanie pushes the thoughts of
a baby out of her mind.

Stephanie scans the patio noticing Nick staring at Marty and
Johnny.
Feeling guilty for involving him the first day they met she
resolves to ask Chase if he knows any single women he can
introduce to Nick and Andy.
The two of them need a good woman
in their lives.
Realizing she wants everyone to be as happy as she
is Stephanie smiles, determined the next cook out will be an even
mix, with the females and males paired up.

Bringing her thoughts back to the present Stephanie hears
Nick telling them he is heading home.
As she rises to bid him a
safe drive, Johnny announces him and Marty are going to leave too.
After hugging Marty, Stephanie leans back against Chase; as he
wraps his arms around her CJ and Carrie say their goodbyes also.
Within minutes everyone has gathered their belongings and left.

As they stand in the middle of the patio; neither Chase nor
Stephanie notice when Andy goes inside the house leaving them
alone.
With the radio playing in the background Chase turns
Stephanie around to face him.
“I had fun today spending time
with family and friends.”
Gently he continues, “But today was
special because of you.”
Tilting his head Chase kisses Stephanie
softly on her lips.

Raising his head he picks her up cradling her in his arms.
Walking through the kitchen he spots Andy but doesn’t stop.
Chase continues through the house, up the stairs and down the hall
to their room, shutting the door with his foot, he stops beside the
bed gently he sets Stephanie on her feet.
Sensing she is about to
speak, he lays a finger to her lips, “No more words, all I want from
you tonight is to allow me to hold you in my arms.”
Smiling he
utters, “I want to feel you asleep beside me.
Can you do that for
me?”

As she slowly nods her head he begins undressing her.
Standing perfectly still as Chase removes her clothes Stephanie
waits for him to finish, he then lifts the covers for her to lay down.
Chase moves to his side of the bed, after removing his own clothes
he lays down under the covers with her, Chase slides Stephanie
close to him.
With her head on his forearm he turns so they are
spooning.

Stephanie’s last thought before falling to sleep is she will talk
to him in the morning.
Lying beside her Chase reflects on his life before meeting
Stephanie.
After his break up with Beth he had felt abandoned, he
had thought he had been in love with her and when she left he had
figured he would never find anyone to love again.
Thinking back
he has already established he hadn’t been in love with Beth; it had
taken years for him to come to that conclusion.
Accepting this
made him feel guilty for blaming her for leaving.
Knowing now she
had done both of them a favor when she walked away.
Pulling Stephanie closer to him, Chase rubs his hand down
her thigh.
The silkiness of her skin under his callus hand brings
thoughts of waking her so they can make love.
Dismissing the idea
he glides his hand back up her thigh continuing until his hand rests
on her hip.
Admitting his feelings for Stephanie is true love, the
kind of love that lasts forever.
The kind of love that has him
determined to keep her safe.
He now knows the meaning of love,
for him the meaning is simple; the person you love comes before
your own needs.
He knows he would give his own life to save hers;
with no regrets.
Closing his eyes Chase snuggles closer to Stephanie.
As he
drifts to sleep he wonders if it would be proper etiquette to send
Beth a thank you card.
Chapter Twelve

Seated in Carrie’s car Stephanie lays her head back closing
her eyes.
For three days she has tried to talk to Chase.
Now on
her way to the doctor appointment she is a nervous wreck.
Realizing she hadn’t tried hard enough to reveal to Chase she may
be pregnant Stephanie feels guilty about the deception.
Straighten
in her seat she opens her eyes turning to Carrie, “I am a deceitful
person.”
Feeling close to tears she continues, “I haven’t told
Chase.
I had wanted to tell him the next morning after the cook
out but he was busy and then I had a phone meeting.”
Holding
back the tears her voice breaks as she resumes, “I know he loves
me.
I just don’t want him to feel obligated to do something crazy.”
Huffing out a breath Stephanie opens her mouth to speak but closes
it when she hears Carrie’s chuckle.

Trying to concentrate on driving, Carrie listens as Stephanie
shares her concerns.
The chuckle escapes without conscious
thought giving a quick glance at Stephanie she tries to explain, “Oh
honey, my son would never feel obligated to marry you.
You are
right, he does love you.
how to propose to you.”
And I bet he has already started planning

Using her right hand Carrie pats
Stephanie’s leg then places her hand back on the steering wheel.
“You are sitting there like a person waiting for the gallows.”
Laughing softly, “You need to relax sweetie.
Waiting until the
results are in before you tell Chase is not a bad thing.
It doesn’t
make you a liar or a deceitful person.”

Listening to Carrie it made sense to wait, why bother Chase
when she didn’t even know the results.
It amazed her she
remembered to make her appointment Monday morning.
Stephanie had been surprised the Doctor had an opening for the
next day; she had figured it would be several weeks before she
would be able to actually get in.
Relieved for the opportunity to
meet with the doctor this quickly as she didn’t think she could
handle waiting longer for the outcome. Using the excuse of her
wrist Stephanie had made the appointment then requested a
pregnancy test to be done.
Documenting the time Stephanie had
immediately called Carrie to ask if she would drive her.
Remembering the glee in Carrie’s voice has her smiling now.
Stephanie returns to the present when she hears Carrie asking
about the investigation.

“I didn’t realize you knew about the investigation.” Shaking
her head to clear her thoughts Stephanie responds, “Chase has a
few new leads but I don’t think it’s close to being solved.
And that
is another reason for the timing of this.”
Realizing she is picking at
her cast Stephanie lays her hands on her lap as she stares out the
windshield.

After a few minutes of silence Carrie tells her, “Archibald told
CJ and CJ told me.
I was mad at first, since Chase hadn’t told us
himself.
Then it dawned on me, my son would have told us in his
own time.”
With a slight smile on her lips she enlightens
Stephanie about Chase, “As a child Chase would think, plan and try
to solve his problems.
We would know he had something on his
mind but he wouldn’t tell us until he was ready.
Even when it was
something he had no clue how to proceed with, he would wait.
My son is a thinker.
He looks at all sides, he even tries to
anticipate the outcome.”
Laughing softly Carrie glances quickly at
Stephanie.
“Don’t get me wrong, he is also a man of action when
the situation calls for it.
He always reminds me of the strong silent
type in the old western movies.”
Chuckling at her comparison
Carrie pauses giving Stephanie time to absorb the insight regarding
Chase.

Considering Carrie’s assessment Stephanie shares her own
perception of Chase, “I think you have described why Chase is a
good Sheriff.
I have seen him quietly observing a situation,
analyzing it until he feels comfortable with his assessment.
Right
now he is committed to protecting me, he is obsessed with keeping
me safe.

Twisting in her seat Stephanie changes the subject asking, “If
I am pregnant do you think Chase will be upset with me for not
telling him the news first?”
Concern has her again picking at her
cast.

“Sweetie if you are pregnant, trust me Chase will be so
excited he won’t care who you told first.”
Knowing this is really
bothering her Carrie decides to give Stephanie a way to tell Chase
first, but would also allow her to know the outcome.
Smiling at
her own sneaky plan she explains, “How about if you are pregnant
you call Chase from the Doctor office and ask if he can come pick
you up.
You can tell him I had to go to the Diner to cover a shift.”
Before Stephanie can comment she continues, “You tell me you
want Chase to pick you up and I will leave.
I will go home and wait
for Chase to call me with the news.”

Amused by Carrie’s plan Stephanie informs her, “I realize if I
tell you Chase is coming to get me; I am essentially telling you I am
pregnant. Although, I wouldn’t actually be disclosing I am
pregnant just that Chase will be taking me home.
I guess I can
pretend since I won’t say the word pregnant, I will be telling Chase
first.”
Shaking her head at the silliness of the plan, but
understanding it will solve her guilt Stephanie agrees to do it.
“We
are splitting hairs on this but I agree.”
Both ladies are laughing as
Carrie parks the car in front of the doctor’s office.

After Carrie switches the ignition off she looks at Stephanie.
The lady sitting before her is the Mother of her Grandchild.
She is
beautiful both on the inside as well as the outside.
Stephanie
dressed in blue jeans and tank top with flip flops on her feet looks
younger than her twenty-six years.
But having spent time with
her, Carrie knows Stephanie is smart, kind hearted and a gifted
artist.
Loving the fact Stephanie is an artist like her, Carrie smiles
accepting Stephanie is the woman meant to make her son happy.
“So I will stay in the waiting area, you get the results and if you need
me to leave just tell me.”
Winking at Stephanie she opens the
door sliding out as Stephanie laughing exits the car too.

Stephanie sits on the hard chair in the patient room, she had
just returned to the room after being told to go fill a cup, she had
blood drawn and her wrist has been x-rayed.
Due to the fact she
may be pregnant she had to put on the heavy jacket to protect the
baby.
Waiting for Dr. Coup Stephanie knows she is pregnant,
having gotten use to the idea she admits to herself the test results
are just a formality.
At the sound of a knock on the door Stephanie
jumps then says come in.

Dr. Coup opens the door striding inside the room.
Shutting
the door with his foot he walks to the table and lays the file down as
he turns to Stephanie he tells her, “Your wrist is healing nicely.
I
think due to the damage of the cast you can have just a wrist brace.
It will allow the wrist to heal but you will have more mobility with
it.”
Reaching down he lifts her left hand, the cast is a mess.
Having seen this before he knows the damage was caused by
Stephanie picking at it.
Laying her hand back down, he asks, “How
long has your nerves been bad?”