Marriage Matters (39 page)

“Is that what?” she cried, wrapping her arms around his neck. “The thing that I’ve wanted for my entire life? Yes. All I have wanted, all I have
ever
wanted, is to be with you.”

Kevin’s body shook with laughter or emotion, it was hard to tell. “Firecracker,” he murmured, kissing her hair, “you haven’t been around me that much in a few years. I can guarantee you’re gonna get pretty tired of me, pretty fast.”

“Don’t make jokes.” Gently, she reached out and stroked his cheek. “Not now.”

Kevin stared at her, his eyes as blue as the sea. After a long moment, he scooped her up and carried her over to the windows. Setting her gently against the brick sill, he pushed her hair back from her face, leaned in and kissed her. The kiss was soft, gentle and overflowing with love.

Kristine held on to her husband as tight as she could, her body shivering against his.

“Are you still cold?” he whispered, pressing his forehead against hers.

Kristine shook her head. Her body and her heart were filled with a warmth that she hadn’t felt in years.

Closing her eyes, she pressed her cheek tightly against his. A strange thought passed through her mind and she sucked in her breath. Pulling away, she looked at him.

“What?” he asked. “What’s that look for?”

Kristine held up her left hand. It was glaringly empty. A cloud passed over his face. “Oh.” Taking her hand, he flipped it over and studied it.

“I was thinking,” she said. “That maybe you should be the one to put my rings back on. Would you . . . Do you still want to renew your vows with me?”

Kevin’s face broke into a smile. “Do you?”

“Yes.” She nodded. “But this time, I’d like to do it our way.”

* * *

Later that night, Kristine walked through Charley’s garden toward the gazebo. It was decorated with white Christmas lights and piano music played softly over small outdoor speakers. Kristine wore a pair of fluffy white snow boots, her original wedding dress complete with its pink and green velvet ribbons, and she gripped a bouquet of violets in her hands.

Kevin waited for her in the gazebo, dressed in a perfectly fitted black suit. He looked tall, strong and handsome, just as he had so many years ago. Catching her eye, his face split into that familiar grin. The years they’d shared seemed to pass between them in just one look.

“Here comes the bride,” June cried. Chloe cheered and Charley clapped. The group was small and intimate, exactly the way Kristine had always wanted. As she stepped into the gazebo, the sudden warmth from the heat lamps made her cheeks flush.

“This is so beautiful,” she murmured, looking out at the silent night and the garden, its rosebushes frosted in snow. “Charley, I can’t believe my mother ever wanted you to tear this place down.”

“Well, I was wrong,” June chuckled. Giving a meaningful look at Kevin, she said, “It happens on occasion.” Patting him on the back, she said, “Kristine, you made a really good choice with this one.”

“Oh, I know.” She studied her husband. His ruddy face was neatly shaven, his hair combed perfectly in place. He was the most handsome man she had ever seen.

“If someone would have told me, back on our wedding day, that the time would come where I would love you even more,” she told him, “I wouldn’t have believed them. But with every day that passes, I do.”

Kevin’s eyes misted with tears. He started to say something, but was too choked up to speak. He tried to chuckle, but ended up just shaking his head.

Kristine handed her bouquet to their daughter and reached for his hands. This time, it was her hands that steadied his. “I love you,” she said. “All I have ever wanted was to spend the rest of my life with you.”

The priest stepped forward, opening the Bible. “Are we ready?”

“You sure you want to do this?” Kristine teased, just as Kevin had so many years ago.

He smiled. “More than anything in the world.”

“Dearly beloved,” the priest began.

Flakes of snow drifted down around them like baby’s breath.

Eighty

C
hloe was running late. Her stupid curling iron was broken, so she dragged out an old set of Clairol rollers from the back of the linen closet. They were covered in a layer of dust and even after ten minutes they were barely hot to the touch.

“Dammit, dammit, dammit.” Chloe looked at the clock. “Hurry up!” She only had an hour until she was supposed to be at the church to help her grandmother get ready. By the time she tamed her hair, got dressed and called a cab, she would be lucky if she got to the church on time.

Picking up her phone, Chloe called her mother and put her on speaker. “Hey,” she barked when Kristine picked up. Grabbing a lukewarm roller, she started wrapping her hair around it. “I might be five minutes late. Or thirty.”

“It’s a good thing you’re not getting married today,” her mother sang. “You’d be late for your own wedding.”

“Ha-ha.” Chloe cringed at the thought. Geez. It really
was
a good thing she wasn’t getting married today, in more ways than one. “Alright. I love you. See you—”

There was a pounding at the door and Chloe stood stock-still. The series of knocks were more than a little familiar. Quickly, she said, “Mom? I’ve gotta go.”

Whiskers was already at the door by the time Chloe got there. Reaching out to open it, she remembered the curlers in her hair.
Shit!
Oh, well. It wasn’t like Ben hadn’t seen her like this before.

Chloe threw open the door. “I’m sorry about my hair,” she said. “I look . . .” Her voice trailed off as she took in the sight of him.

Ben was devastatingly handsome in a navy blue suit. His hair was cut close to his head and a slight shadow of a beard covered his face. His eyes were the most radiant shade of blue that she had ever seen.

Chloe gulped. Suddenly, she had no idea what to say. “Um . . .”

Reaching down, Ben pet Whiskers. The cat weaved in and out of his legs, purring like crazy. Dropping a new toy on the floor, Whiskers batted at it in delight. Chloe couldn’t fight the smile that stretched across her face. Ben was so good-looking and so . . .
kind
that it just seemed a little unfair. In fact, she wanted to kick him in the shins.

Getting to his feet, Ben grinned. “Should I come back? Give you a few minutes? I mean, I don’t know if you’re planning on pulling out your makeup chart or . . .”

Chloe laughed. “No, no. Come on in.” As he walked past her, she had to put a hand on the wall as though to steady herself or, rather, to not reach out and try to tackle him.

“You alright?” he asked, turning to face her.

Actually, no. The sight of him in that suit was almost too much to handle.

“I’m just happy,” Chloe said, her voice a little too bright. “Happy my grandmother’s getting married and happy that . . .” Holding his gaze for a moment too long, her bravado slipped. “I’m happy that I’m just a guest at the wedding,” she admitted. “And that I’m going there with you.”

Ben’s gaze melded into hers. “Yeah. Me, too.”

Whiskers scampered across the room, the new toy jingling away.

Dropping her eyes, Chloe headed for the bathroom. She chided herself for being so ridiculous. The only way that she and Ben could go back to being friends was if she’d stop acting like some schoolgirl with a crush. Maybe he’d been in love with her at some point, but that didn’t mean he was anymore. A lot had happened, a lot had changed. She needed to stop thinking about it and just get on with her life.

She could start by taking the stupid rollers out of her hair.

“Have a seat or something,” she called. “I’m sure there are some magazines or something for you to look at. I’ll be ready in—”

Suddenly, Chloe felt two strong arms wrap around her from behind. She sucked in a sharp breath as Ben turned her toward him and pulled her in close. Her face was squashed into the sharply starched lapels of his suit, but she couldn’t imagine a better feeling. Other than, of course, the hard sinew of his body underneath his clothes and the strength of his thighs against hers. They held each other for a long moment, their hearts beating with the same frenetic rhythm.

“Oh, man,” Chloe finally said, her voice muffled. “I don’t think I can do this.”

Ben’s body seemed to stiffen. “Do what?”

“Pretend like this is a fucking friendship hug.”

Ben was silent for a moment. The only sound in the room was Whiskers batting at her new toy. “That’s good news,” he said. “Because this isn’t going to be friendly at all.”

Taking her face in his hands, Ben crashed his mouth into hers. Chloe felt a jolt of desire more powerful than violence rush through her as he probed her lips open with his tongue and his mouth melted into hers. Her robe fell open and his hands were everywhere as he kissed her face, her neck and her body.

In a tangle of flesh and joy, Ben lifted her up and carried her over the threshold of the bedroom.

Eighty-one

K
ristine looked around in delight. The enormous church where June’s wedding was to be held was still decorated for Christmas, just as they’d planned. Garlands draped the pews, while red and white poinsettias dotted the aisles. The wedding planner had added clusters of holly decorated with tulle and bright red berries. White candles glistened from tall holders and a harpist strummed softly, filling the church with music.

Charley, the silver fox, stood waiting at the altar. He was impeccably handsome in a simple gray suit. His back was straight and his hands were folded as he patiently awaited his bride.

Kristine smiled at him as she slid into the pew. He nodded, giving her a slight wink. “I like that man so much,” she told Chloe. “He has really brought out the best in June.”

“It’s bizarre,” Chloe said. “Who would have thought
that
tiger could be tamed? If we’re not careful, she might expect us to run our own lives.”

Kristine thought about that for a moment. “That will never happen,” they chorused.

Laughing, Kristine reached out and pulled her daughter into a half-hug. Rue was sitting two pews over and eyeing them with disdain. Kristine let out a little sigh. Subtly indicating Rue with her chin, she said, “Are you doing okay?”

Chloe followed her gaze. Giving Rue a bright smile, she waved. The old woman tossed her head and looked away. “Oh, she’ll thank me soon enough,” Chloe promised. “Mark my words on that one.”

Kristine nodded. Based on some of the things Chloe had said, it wouldn’t surprise her if Geoff did indeed get back together with his ex-wife. In some ways, that could be the best thing for everyone.

“Besides,” Chloe beamed, “I’m sorry, but . . .” Turning to Ben, she patted him on the knee. “This is the man I love.” Looking slightly embarrassed, she said, “Can I say that yet? The whole ‘I love you’ thing? Or is it too soon?”

Ben, who had been busy reading the program, closed it and grinned. “Dating tip number seven thousand: Only if you are totally confident that the guy you’re saying it to is going to say it back.”

Chloe considered this. “Okay, so . . .” She grinned. “I love you?”

Ben’s face lit up. “I love you, too.”

Even though the kids were laughing, Kristine could see that they meant every word. She shook her head, amazed at how things worked out. After so many years, Chloe had finally found the man of her dreams and he had been right in front of her, the whole time.

The first seductive notes of “At Last”
by Etta James
started to play.

“It’s starting,” Chloe squealed, and Kristine held her breath.

There was a sound at the back of the church. The heavy wooden doors were thrown open and June took center stage. As she surveyed the church, her ash blonde hair perfectly in place and her jewelry shimmering, Kristine couldn’t remember a time when her mother had looked more radiant.

Quickly, she turned toward the altar in order to capture the look on Charley’s face. It didn’t disappoint. He was shaking his head and smiling at June, as though she were the most astonishing thing he’d ever seen.

“Grandma’s so happy,” Chloe whispered. “Just look at her.”

Kristine nodded, squeezing her hand tight. “I know. She looks . . . Well, as June as ever.”

Chloe burst out laughing.

True to form, June was dressed in the most outrageous wedding getup Kristine had ever seen. The dress was pure white, with a fitted corset that was perfectly molded to her upper body. Around the neck, a dramatic gathered neckline made out of red silk plunged down and across the bodice, where it was cinched into place with a dried white rose attached to a sparkling piece of jewelry.

“That’s the flower from the bouquet,” Chloe practically squealed. “Ben, look! Remember the bouquet?”

Thinking back to that day at the wedding, Kristine felt a profound sense of sadness. She and Kevin had veered off course and had no idea they had such a long journey in front of them.

As Kevin walked her mother down the aisle, Kristine watched him with a renewed heart. She couldn’t imagine being separated from him for even a day, ever again. Opening her purse, she showed her daughter her collection of dried baby’s breath from the bouquet at the wedding.

Chloe’s eyes widened. “Hey! You told Grandma you threw that out.”

Kristine grinned. “I was just torturing her.” She clicked the latch on her purse shut. “Of course I kept it. I was carrying it with me last night.”

Chloe smiled. “Nice one, Mom.”

Ben leaned forward, squinting. “Wait a minute . . . My eyesight could be failing me but is June covered in flowers?”

Kristine pulled out her camera. “She sure is.” Just below the sparkling jewel, a cacophony of blooming white roses moved with the delicate sway of the dress. The seamstresses had gone to work that very morning, to ensure the white roses were as fresh as possible.

“Now do you see why I had to drop out of this wedding?” Chloe teased Ben. “It wasn’t that I was secretly, madly in love with you. It was because it would have been impossible to outshine my grandmother. Who could compete with that?”

Kristine had to agree. The dress was spectacular. The wedding guests oohed and ahhed, several of them pulling out their phones to take pictures. As June swished by to join Charley up at the altar, the sweet waft of roses trailed behind her.

“It’s perfect,” Kristine sighed.

“And very symbolic,” Chloe added, “considering they were brought together by roses.”

Looking up at the altar, where Rose and Bernice fussed over June’s dress, Kristine smiled. “In more ways than one.”

She watched with pride as her husband kissed her mother on each cheek. As everyone in the church fell silent, Kevin gave June’s hand to Charley. Then, he walked down the aisle toward Kristine. Sliding into the pew, he wrapped his arm around her. She placed her left hand in his.

“Dearly beloved,” the priest began.