Lights and Shadows (Oregon In Love) (30 page)

“
Dead battery. Sorry.”

Are you all settled in?” he asked.

“
Yes.”

“
I miss you already.”

“
The feeling is mutual.” Julia looked over her
shoulder to where Sara ostensibly busied herself with loading the
dishwasher.

“
I’d like to take you with me to the Deschutes this
weekend. Any interest?”

Julia smiled. It sounded heavenly. “I could be
persuaded,” she teased.

“
I’ll pick you up at eight Saturday morning.”

“
I can’t wait.”

A pause. “I love you, Julia.”

Julia caught her breath and gripped the phone more
tightly. “I love you, too.”

After saying goodbye, she absently replaced the receiver
on the cradle. Turning around, she found Sara wearing a satisfied
smile.

“
Who was on the phone?” she asked with an arched
brow.

Julia knew Sara had recognized Marc’s voice. “Um,
that was my accountant calling to let me know I’m entitled to a
hefty refund from the IRS this year.”

“
Sounds like you got something mushy going on with
that so-called accountant of yours.”

Before Julia could make a comment about eavesdropping,
Sara enfolded her in a warm hug. “I always knew you two were
perfect for each other.”

“
Who, the IRS agent?”

Sara released her and swatted her arm. “You and your
brother. Two peas in a pod.”

Thirty

“
I never get tired of this view,” Marc said,
pressing Julia close to his side.

“
It’s lovely,” she agreed.

The Cascade Mountains loomed snow-capped and majestic in
the blue haze of the spring day. Aside from drawing her attention to
the beauty around her, she suspected Marc was giving her a chance to
catch her breath after their long trek through the rugged trails
along the Deschutes River. She appreciated his thoughtfulness. Her
heart beat like a rabbit’s and a few times she’d been slowed by
dizziness. When she felt recovered from the exertion, she leaned up
and kissed him lightly on the lips.

Pulling her closer, Marc drew things out a little longer
before giving her a chance to catch her breath once again. Then he
took her hand. “Ready to go on?”

She nodded, allowing him to lead her along the trail.
Glancing down at their linked hands, she thought about his gentle
strength and how much she’d come to depend on it.

Some time later, they arrived at an area which seemed
familiar to her. She looked around and said, “This reminds me of
the place we came last time.”

“
This
is
the same place,” Marc said, letting
his backpack slide down from his shoulders.

They settled cross-legged on the ground while Marc
rummaged through his backpack for the food he brought for lunch.
While Julia ate the familiar assortment of apples, jerky, and
peanuts, she remembered the photograph of the waterfall Marc had
taken here. The picture was now on the nightstand next to her bed,
the frame only slightly scarred from its time in her desk drawer.

She pulled in a breath of the cool air. So many things
had changed lately—things she could've never imagined.

Marc seemed to sense it too as he regarded her. “Flannel
is a good look for you.” He smiled, but she was aware of a ribbon
of tension emanating from him.

“
I know, right? From the malls of Southern California
to the wilds of Oregon back country. No one will believe it.”

“
So what happens when the new wears off?”

She raised a brow. She couldn't fault him for talking
around the issue when she was equally unwilling to dive right in. So
much was at stake. “Who said it has to? I've always been one to
seek out new opportunities and broaden my horizons.”

After a moment, he nodded. “Yeah, I think I'm the one
stuck in a rut.”

She heard the slight discouragement in his voice. “I
like to think of it as stability in a shifting landscape. It's nice
to have something to hold onto.”

He looked away and began packing up the food.

It was like déjà-vu when they went to the water to
wash their hands. While she shook the water from her hands in an
attempt to dry them, she watched Marc begin to sort through rocks in
a small pool, examining and discarding several stones in the process.

When he apparently found the one he was looking for, he
sat down beside her. Opening his hand, Marc showed the rock to Julia.
She picked it up and looked at it for a moment.

“
Is this going to be another geology lesson?” she
said.

Marc smiled and shook his head. “Actually, I have a
correction to make. Last time when you asked me about this kind of
rock, after just a glance, I thought I knew exactly what it was.”

Julia looked at him curiously. “And you were wrong?”

Marc took the rock from her hand and held it up to the
light. “If I had looked at it a little longer, I would’ve notice
many other properties about it, which would’ve given me clues about
its classification. But I didn’t take the time.”

Julia glanced from the rock back to Marc and found him
regarding her intently. He reached out and smoothed a lock of her
hair behind her ear.

“
I was wrong about something else. I was wrong about
you.”

Julia’s mouth went dry. “You were?”
Oh, Lord
.
In a bad way? Good way?

“
I was caught by surprise by my attraction to you,”
he continued. “And I made assumptions about you which proved false.
I’m so thankful God opened my eyes, and that you've given me a
second chance.”

“
I'm glad too,” she said in a low voice, relieved
beyond belief.

Marc took her hand. “So the question is, do we go
forward?”

As much as Julia's heart rebelled at the notion of being
apart from Marc, she knew this conversation had to happen.

“
We both have expectations and hopes,” he said, “but
then there's reality. And we’re both old enough to realize the
importance of looking at this with our eyes wide open.” He glanced
away for a moment, his grip tightening. “I don't have a
high-powered job. I don't want one. I'm a simple person. I'll
probably never be rich—”

“
Do you think that's important to me?” she said,
frowning.

His expression was careful. “Just stating the facts. I
just want a family and to live for God.”

She tugged her hand from his and sent him a steady look.
“Okay, since we're talking about reality, you have probably figured
out I'm not a specimen of blooming health. And being in my thirties
could have bearing on my fertility.”

He returned her gaze without flinching. “I want the
family God has for
us
. No one has any guarantees of how that
comes about.”

Us
. Her heart tightened at the notion. And there
was truth in his words. No one could map out their own
future—something she should know better than most. And yet, here
she was, still wanting the guarantees.

“
And I want to support you in your endeavors and
dreams. I know we can come up with a balance that works for us.”
Marc reached out and took her hand again, a new uncertainty in his
eyes. “Does this sound like something you want to explore?”

Julia looked at his hand covering hers, felt the warmth
in his grip. She wanted to explore this all right, but she needed him
to spell it out. She needed him to make the first move. “What? Like
be backpack buddies?”

His tense expression evaporated as a slow smile spread
across his face. “Well, there
is
that.” Marc dropped her
hand and reached into his pocket. “And there's the part where you
wear this. I hope.” He held out a small jewelry box.

Julia stared at it, almost too afraid to take it. She
reached for it with trembling fingers and lifted the lid. Inside was
an artisan diamond ring that had surely been designed by his father.
The sunlight sparkled across the surface, echoing the light
reflecting on the river. She looked up at Marc.

His gaze caught and held hers. “Marry me, Julia.”

Her heart swelled with inarticulate love as tears
blurred her vision. Drawing his head toward hers, she kissed him,
hoping her lips would communicate her feelings until she was able to
form words.

He pulled away slightly. “Is that a yes?”

She nodded as tears slipped down her cheeks. “Yes.”

Marc took the box from her hand and pulled out the ring.
“It was my mother’s. One my dad made for her. I hope you like
it. If not—”

Julia shook her head, cutting him off. “It’s
perfect, and even more meaningful.” She held out her hand and he
slipped it on her finger. Julia stared at the ring and thought of all
it represented—and how she was blessed to be a part of something so
precious. When she looked up at him, she wiped her eyes and took a
cleansing breath. “Thank you.”

He touch a stray tear on her cheek and leaned close. “So
now that we have all the wrinkles for the future smoothed out...”

She smiled at the irony in his tone.

“
...how soon can we be married? Tomorrow is good for
me.” He nuzzled her neck, his breath warm against her throat.

Julia closed her eyes, reveling in the feel of his lips
against her skin. It was a lovely thought. “I’m sure you’re
aware weddings can take up to a year to plan.”

Marc pulled away, his eyes wide. “You’re
kidding.”

“
We could probably plan one in as little as five or
six months.”

He shook his head. “Two months, tops. I’ll be
finished with school by then and we can have a very long honeymoon.”

She toyed with his collar. “See, we’re compromising
already.”

His smile was rueful. “So we are.” After a moment,
Marc got to his feet and helped her up alongside him. “I guess I
should probably take a few shots while we’re up here. I’m
compiling material for another book I want to do.”

Julia dusted off her derrière. “Another book? Hey, I
just thought of something.”

“
What?”

“
Another compromise.”

“
Go on.”

“
A job that I could do from home and the pay would
only be room and board.”

His lips twitched. “I’m listening.”

“
Is the offer still open for the position of your
agent?”

Marc grinned. “Are you serious?”

“
Of course! It would be wonderful to market your
incredible talent and who would be more motivated than your adoring
wife?”

He settled his hands on Julia’s waist. “I could put
together an attractive bonus package. Say, a kiss or two for every
percentage point of profit.”

“
A minimum of two kisses per point,” Julia insisted.

“
You drive a hard bargain.” He ran his knuckles
along the curve of her cheek. “How about a payment in advance?”

Julia’s reply was muffled as the deal was sealed.

***

That evening, Marc and Julia returned to the B & B
to make an official announcement. After a flurry of congratulations,
Julia held out her ring for inspection at Sara’s request.

“
It’s just lovely,” Sara said with a sniff.

“
I’m very happy for you,” Brian said. To Marc, he
said, “Although I feel compelled to warn you to watch your back
when my sister gets miffed. Luckily, she’s a lousy shot.”

Marc laughed and glanced at Julia with raised brows.
“How will I know she’s getting ready to throw something at me?”

“
The look she’s directing at me right now is a good
indication a handy missile is about to become airborne.”

Sara rolled her eyes. “Ignore my husband and say
you’ll stay for dinner.”

Chapter Thirty-Two

After notifying her parents of her upcoming marriage,
Julia called Spencer and asked to see him. She wanted to tell him
about her engagement before he saw the announcement in the paper or
heard it through the grapevine. Julia felt she owed him that much.
They met for lunch and Julia was pleased and relieved with his
gallant response and sincere congratulations.

When she arrived back at the B & B, she found the
dining room table stacked high with an assortment of bridal
magazines.

Sara shrugged guiltily when she saw Julia’s
speculative look. “I just want you to know I’m available to help
plan the wedding.”

Julia couldn’t resist tweaking her just a little.
“Actually, Marc and I thought we’d avoid all the fuss and just
get it over with at the county courthouse.”

Sara’s expression of dismay was so comical, Julia
laughed out loud. “Okay, for you, we’ll have a conventional
ceremony.”

The truth of the matter was Julia felt daunted by the
task of planning a wedding. Not so much in the logistics involved,
but it distracted her from her new endeavor. She brimmed with ideas
for advancing Marc’s career and wanted to focus all her energy in
that direction—that, and the longing to dispense with all the fuss
so they could be together sooner than later. A visit to the local
Justice of the Peace held definite appeal.