| |
Charlie clapped her hands. “This is the one, don’t you agree, Eleanor? Brooke? What do you think?”
Lindsay stared at herself in the mirror. It was a beautiful dress in champagne-colored lace enhanced by layers of misty tulle and organza, which added texture to the A-line silhouette. Beaded spaghetti straps balanced the sweetheart neckline of the semi-sheer bodice while more lace cascaded down the entire length of the soft skirt. It was perfect, and Blake would love the lace.
And if she’d known when she’d be getting married, she’d buy the dress in a heartbeat, but for some or other reason her fiancé refused to talk about wedding plans. Every time she mentioned it, he mumbled something about a surprise but she had yet to discover what the surprise was.
The last few days had been crazy. Her days were busy in the shop and she’d looked forward to spending time with Blake in the evenings, but each night he’d told her he had things to do. She’d hardly seen him. She had enough to keep her busy and she could hardly keep up with mixing enough creams for her shop, but she missed him.
“Oh, it’s perfect.” Brooke sighed.
“I love it,” Eleanor said, her eyes full of tears.
“What do you think, Linds?” Charlie wanted to know.
Lindsay turned away from the mirror and tried to open the row of tiny buttons at her back. “It’s a lovely dress, but I have no idea when we’re getting married. How did we end up in a bridal shop anyway? I thought we were Christmas shopping?”
“We are, but we happened to see this bridal shop, and seeing that we have a bride-to-be with us, it makes sense to try on wedding dresses.” Charlie smiled.
“I still can’t believe you talked me into joining you today to go Christmas shopping in Bozeman.” Lindsay smiled, trying to get out of the dress. “It’s three days before Christmas and it’s the busiest time of year in the shop.”
“There’s always time for fun,” Eleanor said.
Charlie helped her with the dress. “And now it’s time for lunch, what do you all say?”
“Yes, please.” Lindsay grinned. “Baby seems to be always hungry.”
Charlie patted her own tummy. “Tell me about it.”
Outside, Charlie motioned to a coffee shop across the street. “I think I’m going to get that pair of shoes I saw earlier. Get a table for us; I’ll be right there.”
Shoes? Lindsay frowned and stared after her sister. She couldn’t remember Charlie trying on shoes? But Eleanor grabbed her arm. “Come on, I’m hungry!”
––––––––
On Christmas Eve, Blake stopped in front of Lindsay’s shop just as she was locking the door. He’d been counting the days. Thank goodness it was finally time.
When he’d thought of surprising Lindsay today, he definitely hadn’t thought of the day-by-day consequences of keeping such a surprise a surprise.
She’d lost her sparkle and he hated that, but hopefully after tonight, the sparkle would be back in her beautiful blue eyes.
The car was packed and they were heading out to Logan’s ranch, where everybody would be staying until tomorrow. Gavin had been staying with Logan and Charlie since he’d arrived, and Eleanor, Brooke, and Connor would probably also spend a few more days on the ranch after Christmas. But he had plans to whisk Lindsay away to sunshine, long beaches, and longer nights.
As she walked towards him, his heart simply tumbled to the ground. He loved this woman, and each day he thanked his lucky stars she loved him right back.
“Hi, beautiful.” He smiled and hugged her close.
“Thank you for saying that, but after this day, I really don’t feel beautiful. I can’t wait to put up my feet.” She smiled and hugged him back. “Where’s the sling?” she asked, surprised, and touched his arm. “Stiches out?”
“Yep, so now I can use both hands again.” He grinned and stroked her back with both his hands.
She nestled close to him. “Mmm, I’ll fall asleep right here if you continue. But we better get a move on; Charlie has been phoning all afternoon.”
Fifteen minutes later, they stopped in front of the lovely homestead on Logan’s ranch.
Lindsay bent to pick up her bag, but he stopped her. It was time to tell her about the surprise. “I have a question.”
“Yeah?” she asked absentmindedly while picking up her bag.
“You remember you agreed to marry me?”
She stilled before she looked at him. “Yes?”
He could see in her eyes she was beginning to suspect something. “And you did say at any time, any place, if I remember correctly?”
“Yes?” she whispered.
“So how about we get married on this ranch, tomorrow?”
For long minutes she stared at him while every single emotion she was feeling passed over her face in rapid succession. And then she smiled—a wide grin that told him all he needed to know.
“Of course, I’ll marry you!” she cried out and leaned forward for a kiss. But his lips had barely touched hers when she lifted her head. “But how? I don’t even have a dress?”
The door on her side flew open and Charlie laughed. “Yes, you do! Remember the one you tried on in Bozeman a few days ago?”
Lindsay looked at him before her head swiveled back to Charlie. “You knew about this and you didn’t tell me?”
“Yes!” Charlie called out. “I could burst with wanting to tell you, but we promised.”
“We?” Lindsay said. “You mean to tell me...”
“Yip.” Charlie grinned, motioning towards the house. “We all knew.”
And standing on the porch was everybody Lindsay called family, and who were now also his family.
“And you have the dress?” she asked Charlie.
“I have the dress.”
Lindsay hugged her sister while she searched for Blake’s eyes. He still looked at her, a little unsure. She waited until everyone had entered the house before she took his hand. “Thank you.”
“You sure you’re okay with this?”
“I’m getting married without the usual hassles—of course, I’m sure.”
“Good answer.” He grinned as they stepped into the house.
––––––––
By eight o’clock they were all gathered in the dining room. The table was beautifully laid with Charlie’s best china, and Christmas decorations. In the corner, the huge Christmas tree was lit up, giving the big room that special warm-and-fuzzy Christmas feeling.
Lindsay sighed and caught Charlie and Gavin’s eyes. They were all thinking of Christmas days past when their parents had been still alive.
But Charlie patted her eyes with a tissue and smiled. “No tears tonight—we have so much to be thankful for and to celebrate.”
Logan got up and cleared his throat. “We have several announcements to make before we eat.”
“Really?” Eleanor called out. “Does it have to be now with the food in front of us? I don’t know about the rest of you but I’m hungry.”
“One of the announcements concerns you, Mom.” Logan grinned.
Warily, she looked first at Logan and then at Brooke. “You’re not going to put me in an old age home, are you?”
Everyone burst out laughing and Logan shook his head. “They’ll send you back. I won’t dare,” he joked. “Besides, we want you close to us, and I’ll get to that in a little while. But first things first. We’ve decided on a name for our baby girl.”
Eleanor’s eyes immediately filled with tears. “Yes?” she breathed.
“She’s going to have her grandma’s name!” Charlie called out just as Logan opened his mouth.
He tried to look sternly at his wife, but she got up and kissed him. “You were taking way too long. She’ll be Eleanor, but we’ll call her Ellie.”
Eleanor clutched her chest with both hands. “Oh, how wonderful,” she sniffed. “I’m so happy. Ellie. What a beautiful name.”
“It means ‘shining light,’” Charlie said. “Like her grandma.”
While Eleanor looked for a tissue in her bag, Brooke smiled. “So what other announcements do you have?”
“Well,” Logan said, taking Charlie’s hand. “Charlie and I have been talking. We have this big ranch and we’d like to share it with you. That is, of course, if you want to. Blake has already agreed—part of his surprise for you, Lindsay, so I’ll leave it to him to explain. But Mom and Brooke, and of course, Gavin, we’d like all of you to come and stay on the ranch. Everyone would have his or her own house, of course. But we’ll be together and this way, Mom, you can see your granddaughter whenever you like.”
“Think about it,” Charlie said. “You don’t have to decide right now, but I can’t think of anything nicer than to have all of you close by. But now, let’s eat!”
By this time, Lindsay’s head was reeling.
Blake took her hand. “Say something? Will you be okay with living here on the ranch close to your sister and brother?”
Still stunned, Lindsay nodded. “I can’t think of anything more wonderful, but how? And when? I...I don’t...”
Smiling, Blake kissed her. “Logan reached out with the suggestion that we build our own house on the ranch. I know how close you and Charlie are...”
“But what about you? Are you okay with the idea of staying on Logan’s farm?”
“I simply want to be where you are. Besides, thanks to Miss Betty, I was able to invest in the ranch, so now we own part of it.”
“Really?”
“Really. Our house isn’t finished, though, but we have a bedroom for tonight, and tomorrow night before I whisk you away on our honeymoon, we’ll spend the night there together.”
Shaking her head, Lindsay laughed. “Well, my head is spinning. It’s a good thing I love surprises, isn’t it?”
“A very good thing.” He grinned and took her hand. “You sure about marrying me?”
“Of course. I love you.”
He cupped her face. “I love you, too.”
“Hey, you two,” Charlie called out. “You’re going to need food at some point. Please eat.”
Lindsay caught Blake’s eye. She wasn’t hungry for food and neither, it would seem, was her fiancé.
He leaned over to her. “Do you want to see our new house?”
He heart leaped up and she nodded. “Yes, please.”
Logan got up. “Excuse us, I’m going to show Lindsay our new home.”
“Okay! I’ll keep your food!” Charlie called after them.
––––––––
Late the next morning, Logan waved as Lindsay walked towards the big homestead. Charlie had been calling Lindsay’s phone for the last hour, but each time she’d tried to get up, he’d managed to get her to stay in bed just a little longer.
He stared after his fiancée. He would probably never understand exactly why he’d been given this chance at love, but he was going to do everything in his power to always love and protect Lindsay.
Logan and Gavin appeared around the corner.
“I don’t have to ask whether you had a good night—it’s written all over your face.” Logan grinned as they came closer. “Hopefully, by the time you’re back from your honeymoon, we should be finished with the kitchen.”
“I don’t know how to thank you,” Blake said. “There wouldn’t even have been a room without your help.”
“You’ve paid for it all.” Logan grinned.
“You’ve made it possible.” Blake had to swallow a few times before he could speak again. “Never thought I’d be part of a family.”
Logan slapped him on the shoulder. “Great to have you here. I’m also hoping you’ll help us with a new security system?”
“Of course. We’ll discuss it when we’re back.”
“So, Gavin, what about you?” Logan asked Lindsay and Charlie’s brother. “We’re really hoping you’ll also settle here. I know Charlie would love to have both you and Lindsay close by.”
Gavin nodded. “Thank you. But for now, I’ll stay in Charlie’s house in town until I figure out what’s next. I still have work to do for the firm in South Africa...”
“But you are considering my proposal to join my firm?” Logan asked.
Gavin nodded. “Yes, but I need time.”
“Of course. Come on, Blake, I want to talk to you about the kitchen.”
“I thought we’d ask Lindsay about color schemes, but what do you think about having a big window here, overlooking the ranch?” Logan asked.
Blake joined Logan and stared out over the rolling hills where horses were grazing in the distance.
Home. Family. A place to call his own. His and Lindsay’s. His body felt too small for all the emotion, and he had to inhale deeply.
––––––––
The next day, Lindsay’s heart was in her throat as she walked towards her bridegroom, beside her brother, her arm linked through his. She had a hard time not rushing down the short aisle in Logan and Charlie’s spacious sitting room.
When she’d joined her sister, and Eleanor and Brooke, and just about everyone else from town just before lunch, they were already in the process of transforming the large dining room and lounge into a wedding venue.
Everyone had pitched in. Some were cooking, others were doing the flowers, others laid the tables while the men made sure fairy lights went up just about everywhere. She felt so lucky to be part of such a caring community.
“I can always get you out of here,” Gavin said, under his breath.
“I’m right where I want to be.” She grinned. “I’m so happy you’re here. Thanks for your support.”
“Of course.” He cleared his throat. “Mom and Dad would’ve been so proud of you, Linds.”
She hugged his arm, tears threatening to spill. Oh, how she wished they could’ve been here today. Her dad would’ve loved Blake’s quiet way of doing things, and her mom would’ve made a remark about her handsome, new son-in-law.
Swallowing against the lump in her throat, she laughed with everyone as Blake began to walk towards them.
“You’re taking way too long to get my bride to me, Gavin.” He grinned and caught her hand.
“You make her happy, or...” Gavin said, his voice not quite steady, and this time Blake did wince as they shook hands.
“I will,” he promised before he turned towards her.
“Beautiful,” he murmured and bent his head. “You look so beautiful.”
“The kiss is only supposed to be much later.” She giggled.
“I can’t wait any longer,” he said, and kissed her.
––––––––
Lindsay was out of breath and laughing by the time they’d finished dancing to her song about crazy and beautiful. Blake had danced her out onto the porch, and when the music stopped, he took her hand. “Come with me? I’ve told Charlie we’re leaving. You’ll see them all tomorrow morning before we leave.
“So are we having our honeymoon in our new home? Surely you can tell me now?” she asked as they started to walk down the short road to their house.
“We’re sleeping there tonight, but then, beautiful, I’m taking you far away to an island in the sun.”
“It sounds perfect.”
In front of the half-finished house, she stopped and caught her breath. “Did you put the fairy lights on the porch?”
“Of course.” He smiled. “It had to be like it was in my dream.”
“What dream?” she asked as she leaned against him, staring at the lights.
“The one of us with two little girls with their mother’s clear blue eyes and a boy with dark hair. There were fairy lights on the porch, just like there are now. Oh, and we have to get a dog. A spaniel.”
She laughed. “A spaniel. That’s very precise.”
He turned her around to face him. “I saw them all so clearly. And I promise, I’ll always be there, protecting you all.”
“Of course, you will. Take me to our bed, husband?”
“Yes, Mrs. Davidson,” he said as he led her up the half-finished porch to their bedroom.
“Mrs. Davidson?” She smiled. “Well, have I told you Mrs. Davidson has her own surprise for you?”
“Yeah?”
“You remember the conversation you overheard in my shop with Suzie Stevens?”
He gave her a stern look. “Told you I don’t have problems in the bedroom.”
“Oh, I know. But I do have something that may just...well...enhance the pleasure,” she said as he opened the bedroom door.
She just had time to see his eyes flash before he gathered her close. “Enhance the pleasure? So how are you going to do that?”
“Well, I remember you like ylang-ylang...” she began, but he bent down and kissed her. It was going to be a while before she could take out the lovely massage cream she’d made just for him.