“We could make a baby, you know,” he says, out of breath.
“Someday.”
“Maybe we just did.”
“Maybe.” I can’t stop smiling.
“I love you, Sarah Booker.”
“I love you too, Jeremy Oliver. And Cassie. And Laura.”
He leans up and looks down at me. “And Laura too?” His eyes are full of unshed tears.
I start crying, but they’re all happy tears coming out of my eyes. “I do. She brought us together. I know she did. And I sense her happiness in this house. If I’m going to love her daughter and her husband, I have to love her too. How could I not?”
“Other people won’t understand what you mean, but I do.”
“Other people don’t have to know our business.” I reach up and stroke his beard-roughened cheek. “It’s just us here. You and me. No one else.”
“You don’t think Laura is watching over us?” he asks.
“Do you?”
“No.” He holds my hand against his cheek, turning to kiss my palm. “I don’t feel her right next to me anymore.”
“Does that bother you?” I feel sad for him until I see his smile.
“No. It’s fine. I know she loves me. It’s just time for her to move on. It’s time for me to move on too.”
I reach up with my lips to kiss him. He presses my head back into the pillow with his responding kiss. “You need to relax now,” he says against my mouth.
“I am relaxed,” I say, wrapping my arm around his neck.
He swings his leg over mind and rests himself against my hip. I can feel him growing hard.
I look down and laugh. “Already?”
He grins at me. “I plan on continuing until you submit.”
I bite my lip trying to hold in peals of happy laughter. “I guess I’m going to have to hold out a little longer, then.”
He growls and rolls on top of me and then we start all over again. I cannot think of a single time in my life when I’ve been happier or felt more fulfilled.
Chapter Forty-Two
“I can’t believe you’re getting married before I am,” Leah says, scowling at me for two seconds before she grins again. “This is so exciting and romantic!”
I look around the courthouse and roll my eyes. “We’re getting married by a judge. What’s so romantic about that?”
She spanks me on the butt. “Shush. You know falling in love in a cabin and everything you did with Cassie and whatever is totally romantic. And you get to be all skinny and gorgeous.” She points to her belly which has grown very, very round. “I’m never going to be skinny again.”
I pat her baby bump. “Yes, you will. Just wait. After this angel is born you’ll be back to your slim, flower child, incense-loving self.”
“Have you thought of where you’ll honeymoon yet?” she asks.
I open my mouth to answer her, but then my words are stolen away when I see who’s come in the courtroom door.
“Jana’s here,” I whisper to Leah.
Leah turns around and then runs as fast as her pudgy legs will take her. “Jana! You made it!”
She walks towards us, her expression cautious.
I step forward with my hands out in a gesture of welcome, or at least I hope that’s how she’ll take it. She stops just in front of me, and I let my arms drop to my sides. I’m not going to force her to like me. She has to get there on her own.
“I got your note,” she says. “Thanks for inviting me.” She’s very stiff and obviously uncomfortable. Her black business skirt and white blouse under a black jacket is an outfit more suited to a funeral than a wedding, but I’m not going to read into it more than I should. She looks stunning and she’s here; that’s all that matters.
“Of course,” I assure her. “We wouldn’t want to get married without you here.”
The door opens again and James comes in, carrying Cassie.
“Moo!” Cassie yells, reaching for her aunt.
Jana turns around, but not before I see the stricken expression on her face.
“Baby girl!” she says after just a moment’s hesitation, moving towards her with her arms out.
“Oh, that sucks,” Leah whispers near my ear.
“It’s okay,” I say very softly. “We’re getting through it.”
Jana takes the baby and hugs her close. She’s smiling like crazy when her face shows itself again. “How’s my adorable niece doing? Did you miss me.”