Sophie met Kate and Marcus at the front door of Rachel’s home, still clad in her purple pajamas and carrying Lily.
“Auntie Kate!” she squealed.
“Still in your pajamas?” Kate dropped her spare key into her purse then drew her niece into a bear hug and laughed. After two weeks back in the United States, she still had to constantly remind herself that Sophie really was safe. “It’s almost lunchtime, silly girl.”
“Mommy said I could stay in my pajamas all day, if I want. Like a slumber party.”
“Well, a slumber party sounds fun to me.” Kate turned to Marcus. “Do you remember the FBI agent who helped rescue you?”
“In Paris?” Sophie’s head bobbed enthusiastically. “Hello.”
Marcus pulled out a sparkly gift bag from behind his back. “I brought you a present. I heard you like making paper dolls.”
“I do.” Sophie’s grin widened. “I love them. And I’ve got lots of presents. Everyone from church, some of our neighbors—”
“Sophie,” Kate started. “Remember what your mother said about gifts.”
“It’s okay.” Marcus laughed and handed Sophie the bag. “Everyone deserves a bit of spoiling every now and then if you ask me. Especially someone who’s been as brave as you have.”
“Thank you.” Sophie beamed up at him.
Marcus winked at her as they stepped inside the house, then shut the door behind them in order to keep out the Texas heat. “You’re welcome.”
“Is your mommy awake?” Kate asked, looking across the living room. Dora the Explorer sang on the flat screen in the living room. Women from church had come in and transformed the house so that no one could tell what had taken place the day that had changed all their lives.
“Grandma’s helping her get ready.”
A moment later, Rachel and her mother started down the stairs, while Kate sent up a short prayer, thankful for the simple fact that her sister was alive and beginning to heal both physically and emotionally. Losing Chad would always leave a hole in her heart, but one day, maybe she’d find someone else to help fill that hole.
“I was hoping that was the two of you.” Rachel smiled as she made her way slowly down the stairs.
“Marcus, you’ve already met my mother. This is my sister, Rachel,” Kate said as her sister stopped at the bottom of the stairs.
“I’m happy to finally meet you, Rachel,” he said, shaking her hand. “Glad to see you up and out of the hospital.”
“I’m the one who’s happy to meet you,” Rachel said. “I owe you so much. You saved my daughter’s life.”
“And Mrs. Elliot,” Marcus said, shaking their mother’s hand.
“Please.” Kate’s mom smiled up at him. “Call me Sharon.”
“All right. How are you, Rachel? Kate’s been able to keep me updated via Skype.”
“I’m tired.” Rachel went to the couch, while the rest of them took her lead and sat down with her. “The doctors said I should have a complete recovery. The road there might not always be the easiest, but we’re going to make it.”
“A lot of prayers have been answered,” Kate said.
Sophie jumped up on the couch beside her mother.
“So, Marcus,” Rachel said, “I heard you’ve just arrived home from Paris a couple of days ago.”
“Took a while to finally wrap up the case, and there will be more involved once the cases go to court, but we’ve made a total of nine arrests.”
Rachel tousled Sophie’s hair. “I was hoping for the opportunity to thank you in person for everything you did for me, for Sophie and for Kate.”
“You’re very welcome.”
Rachel leaned forward, her gaze on Kate. “To be honest, I don’t want to hear more about the case. What I want to know about is the two of you.”
“What about the two of us?” Kate’s eyes widened.
They’d taken every chance they could over the past two weeks, between Marcus’s investigation and her schoolwork, to talk, making Kate realize what she was discovering with Marcus was worth holding on to. They’d talked about family, work, fears and plans for the future, and in turn, she’d begun to see him as the one she wanted to spend the rest of her life with.
Marcus winked at Kate as she fumbled to answer. “Marcus just got back in town.”
“Mom has told me about the late-night Skype calls,” Rachel teased.
“The time difference made it a challenge,” Kate said.
“Chad and I were married three months after we met.” A shadow crossed Rachel’s face at the mention of Chad’s name. “But while my marriage might not be the best example, don’t let it discourage you. Besides, there’s something mysterious about Paris when it comes to love.”
“As for us,” Marcus said, and squeezed Kate’s hand, “it might be a bit...complicated, but we both think it’s a relationship worth working on.”
“Look what he got me,” Sophie said, pulling out the paper-doll book and smiling up at Marcus. “Will you help me with it later?”
“I would love to, but first I have another present to give out.” Marcus smiled at Sophie. “This one is for your aunt Kate.”
“Marcus?” Kate’s eyes widened.
Marcus reached into his pocket and pulled out a black velvet box, then turned to Kate. “Call me a bit old-fashioned, but since I couldn’t ask your father, I decided to ask your mother.”
“You asked my mother?” Kate looked at her mother then back to Marcus again. Surely he wasn’t...proposing...now? “You asked her permission to marry me?”
“We went out for coffee,” her mother said. “And as far as I’m concerned, you’ve found yourself quite a catch, Kate. I think you should say yes.”
Marcus got down on his knee in front of her and opened up the box. “They’re pink amethysts, untraditional, maybe, but diamonds just didn’t seem like the right choice. And yes,” he rushed on, “I know this is crazy, and fast, but I don’t care because I love you and want to spend the rest of my life with you.”
Kate covered her mouth with her hand, tears welled in her eyes and her heart felt as if it were about to explode. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Yes would be the answer I’m looking for.”
“Yes...yes...of course.”
He kissed her firmly on the lips until she was certain she was going to melt into a puddle of emotions, while Sophie squealed in the background and her mom and sister clapped and hooted.
“Wow.” Kate’s heart was still pounding as he slid the ring onto her finger.
“That’s just the beginning. I plan to make you very, very happy.”
“What else did you have planned?”
“Besides a house in the suburbs and three or four babies?” he asked with a broad smile.
“Three or four?”
“We can talk about that later,” he said, grinning. “For the moment, I was thinking dinner with the five of us as a way to celebrate.”
Kate couldn’t stop smiling. “Are you up to it, Rachel?”
“Absolutely. The doctor said I should try getting out some. Just give us a few minutes to get ready. Someone is still in her pajamas.”
“Oh, and there is something else I have planned,” he said a moment later when they were alone.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and smiled. “What is that?”
“A honeymoon in Paris. I’ve always thought you needed to see the city with someone who loves you.”
“Paris in the spring is supposed to be beautiful.”
“I’m not planning to wait until the spring.” He kissed her on the nose, then fully on the lips.
“You’re making my head spin,” she said.
“I know this has all been fast, but if you have any doubts...”
She shook her head. “None. And while it seems crazy, I feel completely at peace. Like you’re the missing piece in my life.”
“Good, because having you as my wife sounds pretty perfect to me.”
* * * * *
Read on for an extract from PLAIN PERIL by Alison Stone.