Another Chance to Love You (13 page)

To be honest, she was a little hurt that he didn’t invite her along with him. The house seemed too empty and quiet after he left.

On a whim, she decided to go into the office. She wanted to tell Doug Goodman the news of her engagement. She called the Stover residence and asked the sitter if Heather could stay for a couple more hours. After receiving an affirmative response, she called Solutions, making certain Doug was in his office. He was.

“Do you want to speak to him, Ms. Fletcher?” the receptionist asked.

“No, Terri. Just tell him I’m on my way down and not to leave until I get there.”

“I’ll do it, Ms. Fletcher. See you in a bit.”

As she drove toward downtown Boise, Monica wondered if she was wrong to tell Doug before she told her mother. But the truth was, she would burst if she didn’t
share her joy with somebody. She simply couldn’t wait another three hours. And Doug was not only a dear friend but the person she would need to entrust Solutions to in the near future.

She doubted he would be surprised. He seemed to have figured out what would happen before Monica did. It must be that analytical accountant’s brain of his, she thought as she pulled into her reserved parking space in the underground garage.

I’m going to marry Daniel.
Thank You, God, for drawing him to You. Thank You for bringing us together again.

She grinned as she entered the elevator.

I’m going to marry Daniel.

He was right. Love would carry them through whatever decisions they had to make.

All of a sudden, six weeks seemed more like an eternity. Maybe she should have said four weeks. Or three. Maybe only two.

Terri looked up from her desk as the elevator doors opened. “Hi, Ms. Fletcher. Wow, you look terrific. Your holiday must have been great.”

“Yes, it was, Terri. Thanks.”

She breezed through the open glass doors and headed for Doug’s office at the opposite end of the building from her own, returning greetings to other staff members. She was aware of the silly grin she wore and their reactions to it, and that only made her smile broaden.

Doug was alone in his office. Monica stepped inside and closed the door behind her, then leaned against it. “Hi,” she said. “I’m back.”

It didn’t take her friend more than a few seconds to know
something important happened over the weekend. “Spill, Fletch.” He rose from his chair.

“Daniel proposed. We’re getting married.”

“Some weekend.” He came over to her and gave her a hug. “I’m happy for you, Fletch. Real happy.”

“Thanks.” She had tears in her eyes, but they were tears of joy.

“So when’s the date?”

“Mid-July. We have to see when we can get the church.”

He lifted an eyebrow. “Mid-July?” His voice was teasing. “In a hurry, huh?”

She nodded.

“Doing the whole wedding routine, I take it.”

“Yes. Heather wants to be a flower girl.”

“You’re going to be a spectacular bride.” His tone was tender, and for just a moment, he sounded wistful. Then he grinned. “So when do I get to meet this Mr. Rourke? I’m wounded, you know. You never brought him in to let me see if he passed muster.”

She shrugged. “Guess I’m becoming a risk taker.”

“Good for you, Fletch. It’s about time.”

Daniel suspected his future mother-in-law had guessed why they’d come. And even though Ellen gave him her grudging approval the last time they’d seen each other, he still wasn’t sure how she would feel about the news of her daughter’s impending nuptials. He expected a mixed reaction, considering he would be taking both Monica and Heather away from Boise.

“Did you have a nice time in the mountains, dear?” Ellen asked as she hugged her daughter.

“We had a wonderful time, Mom.” Monica grinned. “Bet you never thought you’d hear me say that.”

“No, I didn’t.” Ellen turned toward her granddaughter who stood beside Daniel, holding his hand. “And how about you, Heather?”

“It was really cool. I caught three fish, and I baited my own hook with
live
worms.”

“Oh, my.” Ellen’s eyes widened.

Daniel gave Heather’s hand a squeeze. He and Monica had made her promise to let them break the news. He could tell, by the way she was switching her weight from one foot to the other, that she was dying to blurt it out.

Ellen waved a hand toward the living room. “Well, go in and see your father while I check on dinner. He’s taking a catnap in his recliner.”

“Can I help in the kitchen, Mom?”

“No, I can manage just fine. Shoo. Go on with you.”

Monica cast a surreptitious glance in Daniel’s direction. He gave her a wink of encouragement, then followed her into the living room.

Wayne Fletcher must have heard them coming for he was getting up from his chair as they entered the room. He gave his daughter a hug and returned her kiss on the cheek with one of his own. He listened for a few moments to his granddaughter’s fishing tale, then he turned his attention to Daniel.

Daniel was surprised by the sudden dryness in his throat and the nervous feeling in his gut. “Good to see you again, Mr. Fletcher.” He held out his hand.

“Likewise.” Wayne shook the proffered hand. “You’ll have
to tell me about Chicago. You’ve made quite a name for yourself in the news world.”

Daniel shrugged, not wanting to talk about his work.

He remembered the evening he’d come here with Monica to announce their previous engagement. He’d known her parents disapproved of him and Monica living together, and he’d known they were as much relieved as anything by their news. But he figured they’d also looked at the cocky, head-strong kid he’d been and wondered if he could make their daughter happy.

He wanted this time to be different. He might not need Wayne and Ellen Fletcher’s permission, but he wanted their approval.

He looked at Monica. She smiled, as if understanding his thoughts.

“I’m going to step into the kitchen to get Mom,” she said. “You three sit down and talk. Heather, tell your grandpa more about our weekend. He’ll love to hear about the setting up of the tents.”

Daniel didn’t know if he wanted to kiss her for getting Heather talking, thus freeing him of having to answer questions and make small talk, or to pinch her for having Heather tell about the tent fiasco. But it wasn’t long before he was laughing right along with his daughter and Wayne, and he decided kissing his future bride was more in order.

Monica returned with her mother in tow just as Heather finished telling her story.

“The vegetables are going to boil over,” Ellen protested, to no avail.

“This will only take a minute, Mom.”

Monica let go of her mother’s hand and went to the couch where Daniel and Heather sat. He rose and put his arm around her back. The moment was here.

Daniel looked straight into Wayne’s eyes. “Mr. Fletcher.” He looked toward Ellen. “Mrs. Fletcher. I’ve asked your daughter to marry me.” He dropped his gaze to Monica. “And she’s done me the honor of saying yes.”

She smiled, her entire face aglow. He felt just as she looked—as if nothing could ever go wrong again.

“I’m gonna be Mama’s flower girl,” Heather piped up.

Before Daniel knew what was happening, he was hugged and kissed by Ellen and his hand was enthusiastically pumped by Wayne while he received several slaps on the back.

No one thought about dinner for a long time.

In the kitchen, the forgotten vegetables boiled over on the stove.

Later that evening, after Heather had reluctantly gone to bed, Monica and Daniel sat on the sofa, Monica nestled in the comfortable curve of Daniel’s arm, her head resting against his chest.

They were content to sit in silence, simply enjoying being with each other, both of them lost in their private thoughts. Daniel stroked his fingers over Monica’s hair, and she listened to the beat of his heart beneath her ear.

After a long while, she said, “The folks were glad for us.”

“Seemed to be.”

“Mom’s probably making lists right now.”

He chuckled. “No doubt.”

“Maybe we should have eloped.”

“Maybe.” He kissed the top of her head. “But I’m glad we didn’t. Even if it’s just for Heather and your mom.”

Monica smiled to herself, thinking how lucky she was. She wondered how many men would have considered the feelings of the bride’s mother and daughter the way Daniel had.

“I’ve got something for you,” he said.

She raised her head, looking at him, her eyebrows arched in question.

He shifted on the couch and pulled his arm from around her shoulders. Then he reached into the pocket of his Levi’s. She was aware of all this without taking her gaze from his.

He took hold of her left hand. “If you don’t like it, we can get something else.”

She looked down as he slipped a diamond engagement ring onto her finger. “Oh!” The marquise-cut solitaire glittered brilliantly on a wide gold band. “Daniel,” she whispered, “it’s exquisite.” She looked up at him. “This was the errand you had to run.” It wasn’t a question.

“Yeah.” He placed his arm around her again. “I wanted to make sure everyone knew you were taken. Your neighbors. Everybody at your office. Even strangers on the street.” He gave her a sheepish grin. “Archaic, huh?”

“No, it’s not. It’s sweet.” She kissed him. “Very sweet.”

She wondered if anyone on earth felt as happy as she did at this moment. Then she decided they couldn’t possibly, for she was the only one with Daniel.

“Y
ou look exhausted,” Doug said in his usual blunt style several days later. “Staying up late with Daniel?”

Monica leaned back in her office chair. “I wish.” She sighed, then gave him a weary smile. “Mom’s got me so busy with details for the wedding that Daniel and I hardly have a moment to ourselves.”

Her mother was inexhaustible. Like a drill sergeant whipping her troops into order, Ellen made sure each and every detail of the wedding was seen to in its proper time. There were the invitations to select, order, address and mail. There was the wedding gown to choose, followed by the necessary alterations. There was the hall to rent for the reception that would follow the ceremony. Flowers for the church, a bridal bouquet and a cake to order. Decisions needed to be made, one right after the other.

“That’s how it always works. So I hear.” Doug motioned
toward the files on her desk. “Why don’t we go over this stuff later? You should go home and take a nap.”

In a defeatist tone, she said, “Mom would find me.”

He laughed, but nodded in sympathy.

She was silent for a short while, then sat forward, placing her forearms on her desk and clasping her hands. “Doug, I’m going to make you a partner in Solutions.”

“What?”

She had clearly stunned him by her announcement. His expression left no doubt about it.

“I’ve given this a lot of thought,” she continued. “If you’re going to be running the company after I move to Chicago, you ought to have a share in its future.”

“But, Fletch, I don’t have the kind of money needed to buy into it.”

“I’m not asking you to buy in.”

He frowned. “Listen, as your accountant, I can’t very well approve of you
giving
away partnerships.”

“I’m not asking for your approval. But if that’s how you feel, we can work out the financial aspects of a partnership later. Right now, I want it known that you
are
my partner and that you have a new title. Vice president.”

“I…I don’t know what to say.”

“I wouldn’t do this if I didn’t think it was best for Solutions. This isn’t because you’re such a good friend to me. It’s because you’re the best person for the job.”

“I appreciate that.”

“Then it’s settled.” She rose and held out her hand.

“Well…” He stood and took her hand. “Yes, I guess it is. Partner.”

They shook on it, both of them grinning.

Daniel chose that moment to arrive, walking into the office unannounced. “Looks like I’m a bit late,” he said as he approached Monica’s desk. Then he offered his own handshake and congratulations. “Monica told me about her decision to make you a partner. I’m glad she’ll have you looking out for the company. It’ll be one less thing for her to worry about.”

The two men had met the previous week. It hadn’t taken Daniel long to figure out Doug Goodman cared a great deal for Monica. A great deal more than just the friendship she felt for him in return. He could have felt jealous, but instead, he’d found himself liking the guy.

Daniel leaned forward and gave Monica a kiss—mostly for Doug’s benefit. So, okay, maybe he
was
a bit jealous and felt a need to stake his claim. So sue me, he thought.

To Monica, he said, “I came to steal my girl for lunch. Can she get away before her mother comes up with another crisis?”

“I think she can manage that.” Monica’s smile made his pulse race.

The intercom buzzed, then Terri’s voice said, “Ms. Fletcher, your mother is on line four.”

The three of them exchanged glances. The men burst out laughing. Monica didn’t look as if she found it as amusing as they did.

“Too late.” Daniel tried to sound sympathetic but failed.

“Foiled again,” Doug added with a wicked grin.

Monica waved for them both to be quiet as she lifted the receiver. “Hi, Mom… No, I haven’t had a chance to call them yet… Yes, they all went out in Monday’s mail… The
Herald
? No, I haven’t sent it to them. I was waiting for… Yes, as a
matter of fact, he’s here with me now.” She held the phone toward Daniel. “She wants to talk to you.”

He gave her a horrified look and warded her off with wave of his hand.

She punched him in the arm.

He took the phone, muffling his laughter. “Hello, Ellen. What can I do for you?”

“I was in the bridal shop today and they told me you hadn’t been measured for your tux yet.”

“No, ma’am, I haven’t.”

“Daniel, really. You mustn’t put it off. Can you get in there this afternoon?”

“Actually I was thinking about taking Heather fishing on the river.” It was sheer perverseness that caused him to tease her this way.

“Fishing?”

“Right after I take Monica to lunch.”

“Daniel Rourke, the wedding is less than four weeks away. Even your best man has been fitted for his tux. Tony Cristobal went into the bridal shop the day after I talked to him, and he’s certainly much busier than you are, what with his construction business and all. You can’t put this off another minute.”

He imagined his future mother-in-law flushed with frustration. Monica punched his arm again and glared at him, as if she’d read his mind.

“Okay, Ellen. I know this is important. I’ll go in this afternoon and take care of it.”

“Wonderful. Thank you, Daniel. Now, may I speak to Monica again?”

“Sure. Here she is.” He passed the phone to her. “Back to you,” he whispered.

A few minutes later, Monica placed the receiver in its cradle and met Daniel’s gaze. “I’ll be glad when this is all over.”

“We both will.”

“I haven’t even begun to pack for the move.” The strain was showing in her eyes. “I don’t know what we’ll need and what I should put in storage.”

He took hold of her hand. “Come on. You need that lunch and some time without any demands. Get your purse.”

“I really should stay—”

“Doug, tell your partner she has to go to lunch.”

Doug nodded. “Go, Fletch. Daniel’s right. Take a couple of hours and stop thinking about it all.”

“Okay.” She sighed. “Maybe you’re both right.”

Twenty minutes later, Daniel’s car pulled up in front of his dad’s house.

“I thought we were going to lunch,” Monica said as he cut the engine.

“We are.” He opened his door and got out, then came around to her side of the car. “Come on inside.”

She raised an eyebrow but took hold of his hand and let him help her out. He didn’t let go as he led her up the walk.

The moment Daniel opened the front door, Monica saw the small dining-room table was set with china and crystal, three unlit candles in the center. Sheer curtains at the living-room windows let in a soft light. The sweet strains of a Strauss waltz drifted from the speakers of the CD player.

The door closed behind them. Suddenly Daniel’s hands
were on her shoulders. He turned her to face him. “At last. I have you all to myself.”

She stepped into his arms and indulged herself in the warm emotions surging through her as they kissed. She let herself forget the myriad problems and decisions and tasks that had filled her days the past few weeks. Instead she thought only of Daniel and the love they shared. Nothing else mattered at the moment.

He drew slightly back. “You make me forget why we came here.”

“To eat.”

“Oh… Yeah.” He kissed her again, lightly this time. “Then I guess we’d better.” With a hand in the small of her back, he guided her to the table, then pulled out a chair for her. “I’ll be right back.” He disappeared into the kitchen.

Monica looked at the beautiful table setting. Daniel had gone to a great deal of effort to make everything look so lovely. “Are you going to spoil me like this once we’re married, Mr. Rourke?”

“I plan to, Ms. Fletcher,” he replied from the other room.

She smiled to herself. It wouldn’t be long before Ms. Fletcher was a name of the past and she became Mrs. Rourke. Monica Rourke. Mrs. Daniel Rourke. If she were sixteen again, she would be writing the new name across the covers of her notebooks, testing the way it looked on paper and crossing out letters to see if she and Daniel were meant for each other.

She heard his approach and looked up in time to see him step through the kitchen doorway, two plates in hand. And on those plates were diced wieners and baked beans.

Expecting an elegant meal to match the table setting,
Monica was momentarily stunned into silence. Then she started to laugh. She laughed so hard, tears ran down her cheeks.

“It’s not
that
funny,” he protested, but he couldn’t disguise the twinkle in his eyes nor hide the grin that tweaked the corners of his mouth.

When she caught her breath again, she said, “This was what I needed, Daniel. To laugh. It just might restore my sanity.”

“Good.” He kissed her forehead. “And in case you’ve lost your taste for this particular delicacy, I’ve got tossed salads waiting in the kitchen. Mixed greens, baby tomatoes, onions and croutons with nonfat ranch dressing on the side.”

“Just the way I like it.”

“Just the way you like it.”

The telephone interrupted their byplay. Daniel murmured something unintelligible as he went to answer it.

Monica dried her eyes with her napkin, still smiling. Wieners and beans with china and crystal. He’d known it would make her laugh. No wonder she loved him.

“How bad is it?”

She wasn’t sure if it was his tone of voice or the words themselves that caught her attention. She twisted in her chair.

Daniel stood in the doorway between the dining room and kitchen. He frowned, his eyes worried. “Of course… Sure…I understand.”

Her stomach tightened.

He met her gaze. “Okay, Charley. I’ll do it… I’ll call you as soon as I know when. Bye.”

She stood as he hung up the phone.

“That was Charley Cooper.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Ed Tuskin, one of our reporters, was shot. They’re not sure he’ll make it.”

“Oh, Daniel, I’m sorry. Was he a close friend of yours?”

“Close enough.” His eyes searched hers for understanding. “Charley wants me back in Chicago as quick as I can get there. Ed was covering an important assignment, and Charley needs me to take over.”

“He wants you
now?
”

He nodded.

“What about the wedding?”

He stepped forward and took hold of her shoulders. “I’ll be back for the wedding. Nothing will keep me from it.”

“I’ll miss you horribly.” She blinked at the rising tears.

She was being silly. She knew it. It wasn’t all that long. Just a few weeks. She could stand a few weeks without him. It wasn’t as if she hadn’t been on her own for years. After the wedding, they would be together for the rest of their lives.

“Come with me, Monica.”

Her eyes widened in surprise.

“You and Heather. Come with me.”

“But there’s so much—”

“Nothing your mother can’t handle.”

“But—”

He pulled her closer. His voice lowered. “Come with me. Call it a vacation. You could familiarize yourself with Chicago. You and Heather could stay in my apartment and decide what we need to make it more of a home. I can bunk with a friend who lives in the same building.” He kissed her forehead. “I don’t want to be without you. This would give
us a chance to visit some churches, too. To look for our new church home.”

“Mother will have a fit.”

He kissed her again.

“It would be such a crazy thing to do.”

He drew her into the circle of his arms.

“How can I—”

“Just for a couple of weeks.” His breath was warm against her forehead. “Then you can come back to take care of all those last-minute things. Please go with me.”

“I shouldn’t. I know I shouldn’t.” She sighed. “All right, Daniel. We’ll go with you.” She pulled back and looked at him. “But
you
have to tell Mom.”

He smiled. “Done.”

Daniel was able to book them on a direct flight to Chicago the next afternoon. Monica couldn’t believe it happened so quickly.

Their seats were in the first-class cabin. Heather chose the window, and Monica sat next to her. Daniel was directly across the aisle from them.

Monica made certain her daughter’s seat belt was fastened snugly around her waist, then did the same for herself. She retrieved a book and her reading glasses out of her purse, took a swig from her water bottle, and tucked the soft airline blanket around her legs. Poking at her carry-on bag with the toe of her shoe, she made sure it was properly stowed, according to the attendant’s instructions. Then she checked Heather’s seat belt a second time.

Monica didn’t realize how tense she was until she heard Daniel say, “Relax, sweetheart.”

The airplane began to taxi toward the runway.

She gave him a tight smile. “I’m not a very good flier.” She didn’t bother to tell him she could count on one hand the number of trips she’d made by air, all of them many years ago.

The captain announced they were next in line for takeoff and asked for the flight attendants to be seated. Monica gripped her armrests, all the while telling herself to relax.

The plane began to roll forward. Faster and faster and faster.

“Wow, Mama, look at that! This is way cool. We’re off the ground.”

She couldn’t have looked to save her soul. Her eyes were squeezed shut. She even had to remind herself to breathe.

Yes, breathe. That would be a good idea. In… Out…In… Out…

“Mama, I can see our house. Look.”

Monica opened her eyes a slit just as the airplane banked sharply to the right. Maybe she could have seen their house as she stared straight down at the ground, but it took all her concentration to keep from screaming.

As the plane leveled off, she squeezed her eyes shut again, mentally repeating lines from the Twenty-third Psalm. She skipped the part about the valley of the shadow of death, vaguely aware of Daniel’s hand covering hers on the armrest.

It seemed an eternity before the flight attendant’s voice came over the speaker, saying passengers could get up and move around the cabin. Not on a bet, she thought.