Promise Renewed (29 page)

She loved him so much. Wanted him every minute of the day. When they were apart she couldn’t wait to see him—see that lazy smile—see those green eyes light up. She had it bad and was more than ready to get him in her bed.

She’d gone back into therapy for a while and was pleased to learn that though the memory of her traumatic childhood would never disappear, the consequences—the fear and hatred for Elton would become more and more distant. She was right.

With a little research HPD had come up with another woman he’d married with daughters. They, too, were willing to testify. Especially when they learned he was also a bigamist. With all the evidence of rape and sexual abuse, he’d received a twenty-five-year sentence with no parole. She hoped he died in prison. Hoped the stories she’d heard about other child abusers in prison were true. Pedophiles were not treated well by the prison populace. And that was putting it mildly.

She pulled into her apartment complex. Darin’s truck was here. She frowned. He was early. There went her plans for a long, hot bath, sexy underwear, and a squirt of that new perfume she’d bought yesterday.

She raced up the stairs and straight into his arms. He kissed her soundly. “You’re early.

Taking her keys, he opened the door and led her inside. “Couldn’t wait to see you.”

“But you never came this early before.”

“I missed you. Isn’t that enough?”

“It is. I miss you every minute we’re apart.” Unable to stop herself, she took his face between her hands and kissed him. “You know I love you, but do you know I want to be with you always? I want to have a family like you grew up in. Babies I can love and protect. And I don’t want to wait any longer.”

“Are you a mind reader, Gina?”

She tilted her head to look up at him. She’d all but proposed, and he didn’t take the hint. Had she read him wrong these past months?

Holding her hand, he walked into the small kitchen. When he pulled out a bottle of wine, she asked, “Are we celebrating?”

He grinned as he poured them each a glass and handed one to her. “To us.”

He sat his glass on the cabinet. “You know I’ve loved you almost from the moment we met.”

“So you’ve told me.” She didn’t know where this was going—didn’t know whether to be frightened or happy. The man was driving her nuts.

“You’re the single best thing that’s ever happened to me. There’s no way I can live without you.” He pulled a small box from his pocket. “I couldn’t wait any longer so I came early with one thing in mind. Gina Carlson, will you marry me?”

Hands trembling, she sat her glass down before she dropped it. This was the last thing she expected. “The ring looks familiar. Isn’t it the one Meg Farley showed you?”

“Isn’t it the one Gina Carlson liked?”

They laughed. Gina sobered quickly. “Are you serious?”

“I’ve been waiting for this day for months. Just answer the question.”

“I love you more every day, Darin. I never thought it possible for one human to love another the way I love you. Didn’t you know that?”

“I suspected.” He grinned.

She wanted to hit him. Wanted to make love with him. Wanted to marry him and have his babies.

Instead of telling him any of that, she broke down in tears.

He took her in his arms and cradled her. “Are those happy tears?”

“You big jerk. Of course they are.”

“Good.” He kissed her. Not once, but over and over until breath left her. “I guess the answer is yes.”

She showered his face with kisses. “Let’s seal our commitment in the bedroom,” she said when she could breathe again. “What do you think?”

“Love your ideas, sweet one. Almost as much as I love you.”

“Past time,” she breathed when he picked her up and carried her down the hall.

When the door shut, her thoughts disappeared even faster than her clothes.

****

Two weeks later, Gina looked around the large kitchen. The Callahan women were busy putting on a Labor Day spread for family and friends. Cutting up veggies for a salad, Gina realized she’d never felt more at home. Next to her, Maddy was piling bread into a large, cloth-wrapped basket.

They shared a smile. Darin had insisted that Hank, Jake and Maddy be here. This was a day for family, he’d explained. Maddy was family. It looked as if Hank and Jake would join them for real in the near future.

According to Maddy, after she told Hank her story he had been both sympathetic and understanding. He’d promised to go slow, but made it clear he was serious about their relationship. Maddy was a different person. She had always been confident in her professional life, totally unsure in her personal one. Over the last few months, she’d set aside her fear and was moving forward. When Hank hugged her, she hugged back. Gina had caught the two of them smooching on more than one occasion. She wanted her sister to be as happy as she was.

Gina looked at the ring on her finger. It wasn’t the ring itself making her heartbeat quicken, it was the connection it gave her to Darin.

It was becoming difficult to remember how painful her early years had been. Even as a cop she had always been on the alert. Looking for Elton for so many years had been a driving force in her life. To think he’d been living under another name—had changed his name to avoid divorce proceedings and disclosing any of his wealth to his victims, still amazed her.

Peace swept through her. A calm she had never felt before settled around her. All of that was behind her now. As she watched the Callahans work in the large kitchen, each doing their chore with smiles and a confidence born of their love for one another. Gina thanked God again for His blessings.

As a member of this family she would be loved, protected, and urged to follow her dreams.

Little wonder she was so at peace.

“How does it feel to have so many women in your kitchen, Mom?” TJ asked.

“Wonderful. I always wanted more daughters.” She smiled at each of them.

Phyl, Donovan’s wife, gave her mother-in-law a look of love and contentment. The two of them shared the ranch house
and
the kitchen.

Douglas’ wife, Lisa, looked up from chopping fruit for a fruit plate. “You’re going to love being a member of this family, Gina.”

“You’ve been a member longer than anyone except me,” TJ reminded her best friend turned sister-in-law.

“I’ve always loved being here. Now more than ever.”

“We’ve loved you since the first day you came to visit with Taralyn back when you were both in college,” Nellie said, giving Lisa a kiss on the cheek. “I’m so happy you and Douglas fell in love.”

“Amen.” Lisa grinned.

Kate, with baby Devlin in a sling sleeping like an angel against her chest, gave them all a serious, but loving look. “I’ve known the Callahans since I was a girl, and I can tell you that they stick together, they love one another, and are always there when needed.” She laughed. “Over the years, there have been many times they’ve come together to help one another. I thank God every day I’m a bona fide member.”

Gina caught her breath. What an extraordinary bunch. “I’m lucky then.”

“I’m the lucky one,” Nellie said. “I’ve lived to see all my children happily married. Almost. One to go.” She ran a hand down Devlin’s soft cheek. “I’m blessed with five beautiful grandchildren.” She looked at Lisa and Gina. “And look forward to more.”

The back door slammed. “Mark,” Nellie explained. “He acts more like Donovan every day.”

“Doesn’t he though.” Phyl laughed as she took a large casserole out of the oven.

“Mom?” he called out. “Dad says the table is ready for the food.”

“Tell him we’ll be right there. Are you watching your sister?”

“Yes?”

“By osmosis?”

His brow knitted. “I don’t know what you mean.”

“It means, how can you watch Susie and be here in the kitchen at the same time?”

Twelve-year-old Mark laughed. “Dad has her.”

“Good. Tell him we’ll be out shortly.”

“From boots to cowboy hat, Mark dresses like Donovan. I swear the boy wants to be just like him. And ride…he rides like the wind. Sometimes he makes me nervous,” Nellie told them.

Phyl gave her mother-in-law a contented look. “You spoil him. Just like you spoil all of us.

“It’s not spoiling,” Nellie explained. “It’s loving.” She lifted the lid on a huge pot of beans simmering on the stove. “As soon as the cornbread is done, we should be in good shape.”

“With all this food plus what the neighbors bring, we’ll have enough to feed an army,” Phyl reminded her.

Nellie chuckled. “I’m always afraid we’ll run out.”

Gina looked at the kitchen table laden with desserts. “You won’t run out of sweets. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a more tempting table in my life.”

“Everyone has a favorite,” Lisa explained. “So when we have a big blow-out, Mom makes them all.”

“But I didn’t know what to bake for you.” Nellie took Gina’s arm and led her to the table. “Is your favorite here, or will I have to add another for the next event?”

Gina bent over the luscious mounds of sweetness, chocolate cake, strawberry shortcake, German chocolate cake, carrot cake, coconut and chocolate pies, brownies. “What else is there? I feel as if I’ve died and gone to heaven.”

“Humm! Wait until your wedding day,” Lisa warned her.

“Are you and Darin positive you want a quiet wedding? We had the entire town here when Dugan and Kate married. Almost as many when the others had theirs.”

“We’re positive. Just the family.”

They gave her a look.

“Don’t give me that look, Kate. You know we’ll include your gram and Ed. And it includes Maddy, who will be my maid of honor, and Hank and his son, Jake. Isn’t that enough?”

Nellie smiled. “It will seem awfully small. You might think on it.”

But Gina and Darin
had
thought about it, discussed it, and came to the same conclusion. At Thanksgiving the family got together anyway. They would get married early that morning here at the ranch. Then have their regular big Thanksgiving dinner.

After that they’d leave for a short honeymoon.

It would be perfect.

“Do you have your dress?” Phyl asked. “We could help if you’d like us to.”

“I would love to shop for a wedding dress.” Lisa sighed.

“So would I,” Kate added. “Maybe we could all get together.”

“I don’t want to put a damper on a shopping expedition, goodness knows it sounds like fun, but Maddy and I shopped last week. We found just what I wanted.”

“Tell us!” TJ begged.

“It’s a surprise.” Maddy chuckled. “Wait until you see her. She looks beautiful in it.”

Devlin squirmed and let out a howl. “Figured the peace and quiet wouldn’t last,” Kate said wryly. “I’ll feed him and be right back.”

“Okay, girls. Let’s get this food outside.”

Everyone grabbed a dish and followed Nellie. It was a beautiful day. It was still warm, but the normally high heat in early September had gone out of the air like a slow leaking balloon. It wouldn’t be long until fall.

Another season. Another wedding for the Callahans. Gina’s heart soared. Her wedding. A day she never thought she’d see.

Gina spotted Darin immediately. He was slicing brisket, laughing with his brother Douglas as he chopped links of sausage into small one-inch pieces.

All of the brothers had a job to do.

Max, TJ’s husband, was chasing his son Duncan around the table. “Enough, Dunc. Slow down.”

When Max caught up with him, he lifted his son high in the air. Duncan squealed. “I’m getting too old for this,” Max complained with a smile when he saw the women.

TJ went to him and kissed his mouth. “Never,” she said. Their daughter Dana held out her arms and jumped to her dad, which caused him to drop Duncan. The youngster promptly squealed his disapproval. Max bent down and picked the boy up again. With a child in each arm, he grinned at his wife. She shrugged.

It was obvious to Gina these kids were the lucky ones. Loved and protected, they would never feel the pain she and her sister had. Which was the way life should be—the way it would be with her and Darin’s children.

Friends and neighbors came up and introduced themselves, then added their dishes to the mix. Gina could almost hear the food table groan in protest.

Nellie carried a smile with her as she greeted first one then another. Gina had a feeling she would become a mother to her as she had to all the other in-laws in the family.

Grace and Ed came up to Kate who had just come out of the house. “How’s our baby?” Grace asked.

“He’s wonderful. Thank goodness he’s finally asleep.”

“I’ll take him,” Grace volunteered.

“Wait until he wakes. I’ll be happy to give him to you then.” Kate chuckled. “I haven’t had a chance to talk to you, Ed. How did your show go?”

Heʼd had his second art show at a gallery in San Antonio. The first one was highly successful. Ed had been stunned at its success. His concern that it would be pretentious and a dud were unfounded.

“He sold every canvas,” Grace said with pride. “They want to schedule another. He can’t paint fast enough.”

Ed grunted. “I’m taking my time. I want my stuff to be good.”

“Your paintings are always good,” Kate said. “Congratulations. I knew you would be a smash.”

Gina listened to the snippets of conversation, wondering if she would ever get the history of each of them straight. Dossiers had only skimmed the surface. She walked over to stand by Darin. He stopped what he was doing to lean over and catch her lips in a kiss. A kiss that sent a bolt of need right through to her middle. Would she always feel like this? Be this happy?

“How much longer?” he whispered.

“Eighty-six days and counting,” she whispered back.

“Too long.”

“I agree.”

“Should we elope?”

“Your mom, plus every one of your siblings would never forgive you.”

He sighed deeply. “Then we’ll make the most of every day until then.”

“And count our blessings.” She smiled.

A large F-250 pickup roared to a stop next to the other vehicles parked in the field next to the picnic area.

“I thought everyone was here,” Nellie said.