The Marriage That Didn't Stay in Vegas (BWWM Romance) (7 page)

              “I know.”

              “Don’t you want me?”

              “I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t.”

              “Take me.”

              “No.”

              “I’m
your
wife.”

              “Then, show me.”

Chapter 6

Where Are You Now?

              My flight landed at Kingsford Smith’s International Airport.  I had been out of the country before but only to Canada and Mexico.  Now I was in Sydney, Australia and I was exhausted.  It took me two days to get used to the time change.  I had four days left to enjoy this beautiful country.  My first adventure was to visit the Royal Botanical Gardens. I took a tour and ate at the famous Botanic Gardens Restaurant.  I did some site seeing and then, that evening, I went and watched Swan Lake at the Opera House. When I got back to the hotel room, I was exhausted, but I had sworn to Xavier that I would send him an email about my day each evening. 

Xavier,

First off, I have to say thank you for this.  I know I’ve just started this journey of self-appreciation, but I love it already.  I’ve never really appreciated flowers before.  Yes, I’ve bought them for birthdays and I’ve owned a plant or two, but to learn and appreciate their beauty and purpose is a whole other ballgame.  I think you should plant some Plumeria Rubra out front. They're called the Intense Rainbow and that kind of reminds me of us.  I’ve seen just about every flower and plant that grows in Australia.  And, I saw Swan Lake at the Opera House; it was amazing. Now it’s time for bed, so I can wake bright and early and enjoy the rest of this beautiful country.   Now here’s a big kiss for you from me, down under...

Yours Truly,

Phoebe 

Phoebe,

I know you're good and asleep now, but I’m so glad you had a good time today.  I hope you see everything that Sydney has to offer you.  Sonic and Boom say hi and that they miss you.  Momma is coming down to spend some time with me for a couple of weeks.  Clara says to bring her a souvenir from each city you visit. She said she could see the world through your eyes.  I have another favor to ask of you. I know you're still working on one, but I have another.  I can’t help it; I’m a very greedy man.  Please send me pictures of you daily.  I want to see if that beautiful smile can get any bigger.   I love you, Phoebe, and I miss you terribly. 

Always,

Xavier

              The next few weeks were absolutely amazing.  I had been to four different countries and six of their major cities. 

Xavier,

I had the best time today.  I ate at a small café around the corner from my bed and breakfast, and I met a plus-size fashion designer.  I’m apparently staying in a fashion district, and I had no idea.  We sat and talked for hours, and then she insisted I come back to her studio.  She measured every inch of me and was determined to have a beautiful gown made for me before I leave on Saturday.  It’s so beautiful here. We’ll have to come back here one day.  It’s so romantic, and it’s so quiet here you can really think.  I didn’t know how much I appreciated quiet, but I do.   I walked by a horse stable, and I couldn’t do anything but think of you. I miss you so much, and I can’t wait to see you.

Love,

Phoebe

Phoebe,

It sounds like you're having a blast and I’m happy for you.  Momma is still here and I don’t think she’s leaving anytime soon.  I wonder if she and Dad had an argument.  She’s never stayed this long before, but it’s nice to have her around.  I hired a new hand by the name of Jamie to help with the horses. Jamie and I went to buy a few more horses today.  I really think I want to get into racing the horses and maybe even get a few show horses.  Jamie knows all about that stuff.  Apparently, back in the day, Jamie used to do all of that with the horses.  I think that tomorrow we're going to look at some better stalls, and maybe, a few more possible upgrades for the stables.  I think I’m going to keep Jamie on full-time; I could really use the help.  I can’t wait for you guys to meet.   

Always, Xavier

Xavier,

I had lunch with a seven kids today.  I couldn’t resist; they kept staring at me from a side street.  The poor things were begging for money and food.  I had the waiter go over and bring them chairs so they could sit.  After thirty minutes of our lunch, people from the restaurant ended up coming over.  They all wanted to give the children money, and everyone wanted to pay for their food.  The owner of the restaurant put our lunch on the house. I couldn’t believe one small act from me caused a commotion.  I felt good and made a lot of friends today.  I don’t know how many times I can thank you.  Xavier, you have changed my life more than you’ll ever know.  My eyes used to be shut. Now, they're wide open.  Thank you for making me and my life better.

Love,

Phoebe

Phoebe,

You don’t have to thank me.  Just reading your joyful words on my computer screen is thanks enough.  I can so image you with a truckload of kids.  I think that would really be a good look for you (hint hint).  I know how you can bring out the best in people.  I’m not surprised at all by the acts of the others in the restaurant.  Today was not one of my best days.  But, hearing about your very eventful day makes mine a little more tolerable.  We lost three sheep this morning. Someone did not secure the gate correctly, and some coyotes got in.  The herdsmen that live the closest to the sheep shot one of the coyotes, but the other four got away.  I’m going to get a double fence put up this week for extra protection.  I slept through the whole thing.  I’m ashamed to say that I sleep with a couple of your garments tucked around a pillow.  I think of you a lot, and this helps me sleep.  Until your next email.

Always,

Xavier

Xavier,

I am so sorry about the sheep.  I’m sorry I’m not familiar enough with the farm to know how much damage this is.  I think the double fence is a great idea.  I wasn’t sure what a coyote was.  I looked it up one on the Internet, and it scared the shit out of me.  Now, I see why you have the complete property surrounded by fences.  Do they ever come up to the house?  Now I fear for Sonic and Boom.  You have a really big house, Xavier. No wonder you didn’t hear anything.  I’m sad about the sheep now, and I wish there were something I could do.  How is Clara, and do you ever see Mr. Ben and his wife from the resort?  Please tell everyone I said hello and that I wish everyone well. Sweet dreams, and until the next.

Love,

Phoebe

Phoebe,

I didn’t mean to bring you down. Baby, when you live on a farm, this sort of thing happens. They started on the fence today and said it will take three days to finish.  The coyotes go where they can find food.  This is the second or third time they’ve made in the gates, but they only made it in because someone forgot to shut a gate.  Our gates are well secured, and if one of them got too close to the house, Sonic and Boom would smell them. As for Sonic and Boom, they are too old and way too mean for anything to eat them.  I saw Mr. Ben and Pauline down at the farmers' market the other day.  They asked about you and so did about a hundred other people.  Word has spread like wildfire that I got married to some big shot lawyer from the city.  People aren’t normally so nosey around these parts, but I think they're all excited for me.  Everyone wants to meet you and they want to know what kind of clothes you’re going to sell in your boutique.  I told everyone who asked that you're on a fashion world tour.  I told them you’re getting hands-on experience and one-on-one conversations with some of the biggest fashion gurus.  Clara is fine. She told me to tell you that she misses you and to hurry home.  But I say you take all the time you need.  I’ll be waiting for you right here on the farm.       

Always,

Xavier

Xavier,

Today was an extremely eventful day.  I watched an authentic Roman toga being made.  It was amazing and so beautiful.  Rome is different; everyone here seems so hard as a rock.  And their native tongue is so beautiful. To stand in front of the Coliseum and the Vatican just took my breath away.  I wish you were here enjoying all if this with me. Everything here seems so sturdy and strong.  During the tour, the guide even seemed mesmerized by everything she showed us.  There were two families on the tour from California.  We chatted it up for a while.  Tell Clara I have some recipes for her to try out.  Check the attachment; I uploaded some pictures.  Until the next.

Love,

Phoebe

Phoebe,

I bet you enjoyed every bit of that toga making.  It sounds fun, and I bet they used the best fabric out there. I know the Coliseum and the Vatican looks beautiful on TV.  I can’t even imagine being up close and personal to them.  I got all of the pictures, and they are all amazing.  Next time, let someone take a picture or two of you in the pictures.  I would love to see your beautiful face and your beaming smile. I’ll tell Clara about the recipes, and I assure you she will be grateful.  She loves trying new things and to have a recipe all the way from Rome, she’ll flip.  Jamie has been out sick for the past two days.  I didn’t know things would get so backed up with the horses.  I’m going to have to hire a couple more people for the horse training and attending.  I’m really enjoying prepping the horses for the shows and racing. Until the next.

Always,

Xavier  

              I had been hinting around for weeks to Xavier and the man wasn’t biting.  I wanted him to come join me on my extended vacation, but he didn’t.  I knew exactly what I wanted out of life and I knew whom I wanted to spend it with.  Xavier was my husband and I planned to keep him that way. 

              I had just emailed Xavier last night and told him I had just arrived in Italy, which was a tiny lie.  I wanted to surprise him and I wanted to tell him face to face what I wanted.  I drove down the long rock road and pulled up to the Iron Gate. 

              Mrs. Luther’s voice came through the box. I told her I had a delivery and she buzzed me in.   When I drove up, I waited for Sonic and Boom, but neither one of them came.  I got out of the car and walked up to the front door.  I knocked, and Mrs. Luther was wiping her blue-stained hands on an apron. 

              “Thank you, Jesus!” she yelled and then yanked me into a bear hug.  She pulled back and popped me with the dishrag.  “Where in tarnation have you been? Wait… Are you here to stay?”

              I smiled wide and nodded.

              “I knew it!” she squealed and pulled me into the house.

              “Clara!” Mrs. Luther yelled through the house. “Clara!” she yelled some more. 

              Clara came jogging into the front room and stopped. 

              “Oh my word!” She rushed over to hug me and kiss both sides of my face.  

              “Clara, she here to stay,” Mini crooned. 

              Clara widened her eyes and started yelling in Spanish. 

              Three young girls came running from the kitchen.  One got my keys from my hand and the other two ran up the stairs. 

              “What are they doing?” I asked.

              “Xavier hasn’t slept in your bedroom since that horrible day.  He said if you came back that he’d go back in there." 

              “Oh Honey, it’s been almost a year,” Mini said.

              “I know, but I’m all straightened out. I’m ready to see my husband.  Where is he?”

              “You know he’s out back, somewhere.  Go on now.” She shooed me out the door.

              “Mother Luther?”

              “Mini,” she corrected me.

              “Mini, why have you been here so long?”

              She gave Clara a look and pushed me out the door, without meeting my eyes. I wasn’t going to push her for the answer, so I walked out to the barns and he wasn’t in there.  I asked one of his farm hands and they told me he was in the haystacks.  Something inside me jolted, and I all of sudden, I felt almost sickly from my nerves.  I was so excited to see Xavier that I was almost obsessed with him wrapping me up in his arms. 

              I kicked my shoes off once I reached the haystacks.  I wanted to surprise him completely and my shoes crunching on the hay would give me away.  I almost made it to the haystack clearing; I could hear someone singing softly in the distance.  I walked even more carefully and the voice got even clearer.  Someone was singing a slow love song.  She sang about a lost love and starting over with someone new. I could see the clearing now as I peeked around the corner.  I was shocked from the site before me. 

              There was a pretty, thin, blonde sitting down in between Xavier’s legs.  She was singing and he was French braiding her hair.  He touched her with love and affection. I could see it and feel it.