To Catch A Man(37)
“Love?” he scoffed. “You did this all for love? What about the money?”
“I wanted the money, too-”
“I thought so.”
“I admit it. I did. But I wasn’t planning on spending any of it on me.”
“Yeah, right.”
“No, really. Ask Mr. Marshall. In my file are the plans I submitted to him on how the money should be disbursed. All of it will go toward helping children in the countries where I’ve worked. I’d love…” she hesitated then gave him a shy look, “I’d love to be able to set up a children’s home like the one you have here.”
For a long while Stone stared down at her then he shook his head. “Your story, it’s so crazy. Is any of it true?”
“All of it,” she said, her voice firm. “The lawyer can verify everything.”
He shook his head again. “Then, Indiana Lane, you are one heck of a woman.” He walked over to where she sat in the chair. “Only you could have pulled it all off.”
She stared up at him then she shook her head. “I haven’t pulled off anything. I’m not married yet.”
“No, but you will be. Tomorrow evening, if you’ll still have me.” He leaned down and pulled her up off the chair and into his arms. “I’m sorry I ever doubted you, Indie. Will you still marry me?”
She slid her arms around his waist and rested her head on his chest. “I don’t know,” she said. “I’m sure I could find an available man somewhere around here.”
He chuckled and pulled her close. “I don’t mind,” he whispered then kissed the top of her head. “As long as it’s me.”
******
Next evening, as the setting sun threw red, orange and yellow streamers across the sky, in the company of family, friends, co-workers and children, Stone Hudson and Indiana Lane exchanged wedding vows.
And as they danced together on the carpet of green grass to the sound of African drums, Indie went on tiptoe and tilted her mouth to whisper in her husband’s ear, “I still want my birthday presents tomorrow.”
And Stone’s laughter, rich and deep and strong, echoed across the open plain.
EPILOGUE
“Congratulations, little Mommy. You have a beautiful baby girl.”
Indie’s eyes filled with tears as the nurse laid the baby on her breast. A baby of her very own. Who would have thought? And a loving husband by her side. Could anything be better than this? She smiled down at the little pink-cheeked baby on her breast then she looked across at Stone who was busy videotaping everything.
“Now take it easy,” the nurse was saying. “Remember, you just had a C-section. Slow movements for today, okay?”
“Okay,” she said obediently then turned to look up at the camera. “Put that camera down and come meet your daughter.”
He did. Stone kissed Indie on the forehead then took the swaddled baby into his arms and this time he was more confident as he held the infant, more sure. Maybe it was because he was now a daddy. A real one.
“Now, in addition to your boys, you have a little girl of your own,” she whispered to him. “When we leave Canada to go back to visit they're going to spoil her. You know that, right?”
“I know,” he said, not taking his eyes from his daughter’s face, “and I don’t mind at all. My little Zuri Sky Hudson. She’ll be able to handle them. She’ll be tough just like her mommy. My little warrior princess.”
Indie sank back into the pillows and smiled. She was already thinking of her next major project: how to keep Stone from spoiling their brand new daughter. That was going to be a tough one.
THE END