Bea (20 page)

“I want you to be my wife. I want to love you and cherish you and protect you for now and forever. I want you to wear my ring and bear my children. I want to wake up in the morning with you at my side. I want your face to be the last thing I see before I go to sleep each night.”

His eyes were as bright and vivid as a summer day, and Bea knew it was a forever kind of love.

“Say yes, Bea.”

“Yes, Russ. Now, get off your knees and feed me. I’m starving.”

Russ grabbed her bag and they raced to his pickup. When they were inside the cab, they grinned at each other for a while, pleased with themselves and the world.

“I guess you’ll want a big wedding in Florence with all your family?”

That was exactly what Bea had been thinking, but when Russ asked her, he looked so lonesome, she couldn’t bear the thought of waiting all the months it would take to plan a big family wedding.

“Let’s get married here, Russ.”

“Here?”

“Right here in the mountains where we found each other. Just the two of us. We can have a big celebration with my family later.”

“Why don’t we start right now?” he said.

“Start what?”

“Celebrating.” He pulled her into his arms for kiss and that lasted so long the windows got fogged. Laughing, he wiped them with his handkerchief so he could see to drive. Then they went to Freddy’s General Store for a private celebration dinner.

Freddy joined in the festivities by spreading a piece of oilcloth on the cracker barrel and decorating the makeshift table with a birthday candle stuffed into a beer bottle. He served his specialty, fried catfish and hushpuppies. Bea and Russ declared it was the best meal they’d ever had, and they meant it.

“Now I’ve got a special treat for the bride-to-be,” Freddy said. He disappeared behind a counter piled high with yard goods, assorted cheese cut in hunks and wrapped with plastic, spools of thread in every color of the rainbow, and a few selected brands of chewing tobacco. When he emerged, he was holding high a Cracker Jack box.

“Dessert.” Freddy put the box on the table with a flourish.

Laughing, Bea and Russ opened the box and began to feed each other the caramel-coated popcorn. They ate to the bottom of the box, with Freddy standing by grinning. When they had finished eating, Russ started to crumple the box.

“Wait,” Freddy said. “You missed something.”

Russ reached into the box and pulled out a small plastic-wrapped trinket.

“I forgot about the prize,” he said, tearing off the wrapper. A make-believe engagement ring lay in the palm of his hand, its glass “diamond” winking in the light of the candle.

He got down on his knees and took Bea’s left hand in his.

“Every woman should have an engagement ring.” He slipped the ring on her finger.

“Every woman should have a man like you.”

He closed her left hand into a small fist and clasped it between his hands. Then he smiled up at her.

“Bea, this will have to do until I can buy you the real thing.”

“This is the real thing, a gift of love. What more could a woman want?”

Russ laughed and looked up at Freddy.

“I think I’ll marry this woman,” he joked. “Do you know where I can find a justice of the peace?”

“You’re looking at him.” Freddy chuckled. “In a town like Pearcy, a man has to wear many hats. I also fill in for the barber, in case you want a haircut... or that beard shaved off.”

“Don’t you dare.” Bea cupped Russ’s face. “I don’t want a hair on his head changed.”

They all laughed and took turns admiring Bea’s ring. Freddy brought out a bottle of his favorite wine, muscadine, made in his kitchen using his secret recipe. Bea and Russ declared it was the best wine they’d ever had. They meant that, too.

Finally, warmed by laughter and love and wine, they made their way back to the Paradise. Sitting in the truck, holding hands, they looked at the neon sign blinking orange and green. Both of them were thinking of all the sign promised.

“I have a room,” Russ said.

“I guessed you might.”

“I want you there, Bea. More than anything.”

“I know.”

Then and there she decided to break Rule Four. Janet would lecture and Clemmie would get teary-eyed. Belinda and Molly might approve, and Cat could go either way. Joanna would want details.

Suddenly he pulled her into his arms and she laced her arms around his neck and buried her fingers in his thick hair.

“Bea.” His voice was muffled against her cheek.

“Hmm?” Hers was smothered in his neck.

“Would you mind terribly if we waited? I know it seems pointless and old-fashioned, but I want everything about our marriage to be perfect. I want us to start our life together as husband and wife in a marriage bed that will be sacred.”

She had to mentally pinch herself to keep from laughing. That wouldn’t do. He might think she was laughing at him, and then she’d have to tell him about Rule Four, and it would rob him of every bit of his chivalry.

“Russ, that’s the sweetest, most chivalrous thing any man has ever done for me.”

“Really?”

“Yes, really.”

“It will just be a few days, Bea, until we get the blood tests and license.”

o0o

They were married in Pearcy at the back of Freddy’s General Store. He had decorated it for the occasion. Pine boughs and Christmas tinsel were strung around the ceiling. Two life-size angels, borrowed from the Baptist church’s Nativity set, stood guard beside the potbellied stove. Twenty-five birthday candles, assorted colors, stuck in brown beer bottles were lit and glowing on the counter.

Bea wore her a yellow dress with a short skirt and her favorite black boots with the high heels.

Freddy’s wife, Miss Honey June, stood up as witness, wearing her best girdle and her Sunday hat with the artificial roses. Her sister, who usually stood up with her, was in bed with flu; so the local sheriff had been pulled in to witness. In deference to the occasion, he wore a plastic lily of the valley in his gun holster. The gun was hidden in his boot.

Russ and Bea pledged their vows and then stayed for a brief reception, hosted by Freddy and Miss Honey June. Everybody in town came, including the cats and dogs. The men bore Russ off to give him some friendly advice, and the women took charge of Bea.

Usually she didn’t like being taken charge of, but the women were so cute and gave such funny advice, such as feed your man redeye gravy if you want boys, that she had a wonderful time.

After the reception, they honeymooned at the Paradise. Russ carried his bride over the threshold of Room Two and kicked the door shut behind them.

“Do you know how much I wanted you that night I came to this room with wine and cheese?” he asked.

“Do you know how much I wanted you to want me?”

“It didn’t show.”

She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled his face close to hers. “Does it show now?”

“You’ll have to convince me, Mrs. Hammond.”

She spent a very, very long time doing just that.

Chapter Eleven

From: Molly

To: Bea, Janet, Belinda, Catherine, Clemmie, Joanna

Re: Worried about you

Bea, I haven’t heard from you in DAYS! It’s not like you to mope. If you’re back in Dallas feeling blue without calling me, I’m going to whip your butt.

Molly

From: Janet

To: Bea, Molly, Belinda, Catherine, Clemmie, Joanna

Re: Regrouping

I hope you’re regrouping! I’m certain if that man had shown up again, you’d let us know. Good riddance, Bea. He didn’t even have a
job!
Charge forward and don’t look back.

Janet

From: Clemmie

To: Bea, Molly, Janet, Catherine, Belinda, Joanna

Re: Hope

Oh, I did so hope Russ would change his mind! I’m making a batch of fudge with pecans to send to you. Chocolate always helps.

Clemmie

From: Belinda

To: Bea, Molly, Clemmie, Catherine, Janet, Joanna

Re: Love

I hope you’re not holed up somewhere crying, Bea. Listen, if this man truly loved you, he’d have come after you. With your killer looks and your big personality, you’ll have somebody else before you know it. Just please email so we will know you’re all right! I can’t even have sex without wondering where you are!!!

Belinda

From: Catherine

To: Bea, Belinda, Janet, Joanna, Clemmie, Molly

Re: Phone

Is your phone out of order? I’ve been calling and
calling!
I had the weekend off, but now I’ve missed you and there’s no telling when I can get loose again. Vet school is no picnic in the park! If you don’t get in touch soon, I’m going to have a nervous breakdown and have to drop out of school and it will be all your fault!

Cat

From: Joanna

To: Bea, Catherine, Janet, Molly, Belinda, Clemmie

Re: Stuff

Has it occurred to anybody that Mr. Right DID come back, and that Bea is having so much fun turning VIRGINIA loose, that we’re not even on her RADAR? Tell me it’s so, Bea, and tell ALL!!!!!

Joanna

From: Bea

To: Molly, Clemmie, Catherine, Janet, Belinda, Joanna

Re: I’M MARRIED!!!!!

Russ came back and we got married in the craziest little ceremony I’ll tell you all about when I see you. We honeymooned in a little hotel called
PARADISE!!!
How cool is that!!! (No details, Joanna. You’ll find out for yourself one of these days.)

Confession: I was all set to
break Rule Four,
but Russ saved me from myself!

We traded his pickup and my ancient Jag for a nice, sturdy station wagon in Hot Springs. He wants plenty of kids and I do, too. We’ll be living in Florida, and
yes,
Janet, this wonderful man has a future planned. He’s going to buy another citrus grove and I’m going to turn in my resignation to the witch from hell, pack up my apartment, and help Russ run his business. What could be more
perfect
!!! With his knowledge of citrus groves and mine in advertising, we’ll make quite a team.

Another confession, we make
quite a team already
! And I’m talking sex here. If my husband makes Virginia any hotter, it’s going to spontaneously combust!

We’re at a little picnic spot now, on the way to Dallas. I’ll let you know when we get to Florida. We’ll have some sort of formal reception. Mother didn’t get to see either one of her children get married, and she’s itching to throw a big shindig!

Bea

Bea closed her email and headed toward the bathroom while Russ spread their picnic lunch. Like many bathrooms in remote places, it was dark and dingy – and something was whimpering in the semi-gloom.

In a far corner of the bathroom, huddled under the sink were two mongrel puppies, their hair matted and their skin stretched over jutting bones.

“Oh, you poor darlings.” She bent over them, petting and soothing both at the same time. “Whose puppies are you? Where did you come from?”

They snuffled and sniffled, and when Bea stood up, they followed her. Every step she took, they took, too.

“Poor little waifs. Poor little orphans.”

She gathered them up in her arms and carried them outside to Russ.

“Guess what, darling?”

He turned and saw the squirming bundle in her arms.

“What do you have, Bea?”

“I’ve already made you a father.” She came close and handed him one of the puppies. “Aren’t they precious?”

“With a little tender loving care, they will be.”

Bea thought he was nearly as happy over the puppies as he had been over their wedding. He had given her a glass diamond and she had given him stray puppies, but both had been gifts straight from the heart.

The puppies ate most of the lunch, with Bea and Russ watching and laughing. Then the four of them loaded into the station wagon and set out for Dallas. They stopped at the nearest store and purchased puppy food, two plastic bowls and two small collars.

“I’ll take them to the vet as soon as we’re in Dallas,” he said.

Since most motels refused to let puppies into the room, Bea and Russ found a camping spot and he set up the tent.

That night Bea got to find out what it was like to sleep in Russ’s sleeping
bag.
Snug against him, she felt more cherished than she’d ever felt in her life.

She loved the way they fit together, just right, and the way his beard tickled her, and the way his voice became musical when he murmured words of love to her. A storm began to brew outside their tent, but she barely notice because of the one brewing
inside.
For a long while, nothing existed for her except Russ and feelings so new and exciting, she saw now why she had made Rule Four. Even in her innocence, she’d somehow know that the best things are worth waiting for.