Someone to Love (17 page)

“I made it here in one piece and no panic attack. I was just so worried about you.”

“I’m sorry I scared you. I can’t imagine what you were feeling.”

Tears began to pour down her face. Rushing to the hospital after an auto accident made it impossible for her to run from her feelings. It also made her no longer afraid of them. She realized that everyone had been right. Losing her parents hadn’t taken away the love they had shared, nothing could take that away. As she raced to Cooper, she realized that even if he didn’t make it, she was happy to have loved him and that he gave her the twins. Her regret was that she’d wasted time she could have spent loving him being afraid of losing that love.

“I was feeling regret that I’d been too afraid to tell you that I love you.” There she’d said it and the world hadn’t come to an end.

“Will you say it again?”

“I love you.”

“Magnolia, I love you.”

“Still?

“Always.” He pulled her to him and kissed her until the heart monitor began to beep erratically. When he ended the kiss he pulled her as close as he could to him despite the pain of his ribs. “Say it again, this time with my name.”

She smiled and looked deep into his eyes. “Cooper Smith, I Magnolia Freeman, do declare my love for you. Was that what you wanted to hear?”

“It’s what I’ve been waiting months to hear,” Daphne said. They were so wrapped up in each other that they hadn’t even heard her enter the room. “I wish it didn’t take all this to get you two to admit it.”

“You’ve always said I have a hard head, ma.”

“My mother used to say that about me too.”

***

Late the following morning, Noli returned to the hospital, hoping Cooper would be well enough to return home. That morning the doctors thought it would be likely, but they had not given the official okay to release him yet. Diane had offered to once again watch the twins and let Noli borrow her car. Daphne had spent the night, so she was already there when she arrived.

Noli went and kissed him on the lips, being sure to steer clear of his ribs. “Good morning, love.” His smile broadened at the word love coming from her lips. She then embraced Daphne.

“How was the drive in?”

Though the fear induced adrenaline that pumped through her veins last night was gone, she still found herself able to drive. “The anxiety was still there, but far less gripping and not near panic attack inducing levels. I don’t know if I’m quite ready to do it every day.”

The door opened and Amara and Ryan walked in. “You have room for two more?” Amara said carrying a bouquet of flowers in a vase. She hugged Noli and kissed mother and son on the cheek. Ryan did the same except he simply nodded at Cooper.

“What are you two doing here?”

“Diane called and told us Cooper was in an accident,” Ryan said.

“You’d think she was the journalist the way she gets the word out,” Noli said.

“And she reports the truth,” Amara said. “Maybe you could learn a thing or two from your little sister, Ryan.”

“How are you?” Ryan asked Cooper ignoring the jab.

“I’m lucky it wasn’t worse. Usually an accident like that would do more damage. I hit the ground pretty hard.”

“That would explain the crater. I saw on the way in,” Noli said.

“I wish you were as funny as you think you are.”

“What about you, Noli? Are you okay?” Amara asked in a hushed voice meant for Noli.

“I’m good. Better than usual. I drove here last night and this morning.”

“That’s great,” Amara said hugging her friend.

“How’s the house?”

“It’s great,” Amara said.

“You two getting along as housemates?”

“Yes,” Amara said shaking her head and rolling her eyes.

“Those are beautiful flowers you brought, Amara,” Daphne said.

“They sure are.” All the heads turned to see Kayla standing in the door. “I would have brought some too if anyone had bothered to call and tell me you were in the hospital.” Her hostile statement was directed towards Cooper. “I show up early for my shift to check on a couple of the brews and ask where you are to be told that you flipped your stupid bike last night and was in the hospital.”

Tears flowed from her partially from anger, partially from sadness. Her hands were shaking from her mixed emotions. “I understand your mother and Noli knowing before me. I can even understand Jack finding out before me. But Ryan and Amara even knew before me. I am the last to know.” She wiped at her eyes with her fingers then ran the back of her hand under her nose.

“They are practically family,” Daphne said gesturing to Ryan and Amara. “We left word at The Smithery for the staff.”

Kayla shook her head. “I don’t know why I expected more from that man’s son than to be forgotten about. She threw up her hands in surrender. “I’m not practically family,” she said and rolled her eyes. “I’m just staff. In fact, I’m not even that anymore. I quit effective immediately.” She ran from the room before anyone could respond or stop her.

Everyone in the room, except for Cooper and Noli had looks of stunned confusion on their faces. Cooper tried to get up as though he was going to go after her. “You can’t get up. I’ll go get her, but I think it’s time you explain some things to your mom.” Now Cooper looked confused too because he wasn’t aware that Noli knew his and Kayla’s secret.

Kayla moved fast. In a few seconds she was out of site. Then she saw her backtracking past the room in the direction of the bank of elevators. In her anger she must have gotten turned around.

“Kayla, I’m so sorry. I didn’t think to call you last night because I wasn’t thinking and neither was Cooper. We’re the only two that know you should be called because you are family.”

“I’m just half family. The half that he wishes he didn’t have. I’m just not important to him or he would have called. It’s okay, I’m going. I’m tired of all the secrets. I feel like the other woman you thought I was and not like a sister.”

She began to cry again and Noli took her into her arms. “You are plenty important. Last night, the hospital called Daphne because she’s his mother and is listed as next of kin. She couldn’t get me because my cell doesn’t always have a signal out at the house. When Diane showed up and told me what had happened, I went into autopilot. My mind was all out of sorts from driving here to see how he was after the accident.”

“What about him calling me this morning?”

“Give him a break, he’s had a sister for a year. And he had a concussion. He’s not like your father. He loves you and wants you in his life. If you’re going to be mad at anyone be mad at me because I didn’t call. I was so scared I forgot anything but getting to Cooper.”

“I’m sick of being a secret. Your cousin and his girlfriend looked at me like I was the jealous other woman.”

“It won’t be secret for much longer. I even think he’s telling his mom now. Amara isn’t Ryan’s girlfriend.”

“She’s something to him.”

“Stop playing match maker.”

“I’m not playing match maker. Can’t you see there’s something going on there? I think she’s mad at him though and he’s trying hard to get back in her good graces.”

“Let’s get back in there. If we’re gone any longer he’s going to try to come after you again.”

***

“What was that all about?” Ryan asked. “Are you with her and my cousin?”

“It’s nothing like that,” Cooper said not taking his eyes off his mother.

“What is it that Noli thinks you need to tell me?” Daphne asked.

“Maybe you should sit down, ma.”

“I’m fine standing. I can’t think of anything you could tell me that would be worse than that call last night from the police.”

“We should leave,” Amara said to Ryan.

“I’m staying,” Ryan said still glaring at Cooper. “I want to know what’s going on with my cousin.”

“This isn’t some news story. Noli already seems to know what’s going on and doesn’t seem upset. This sounds like a conversation between mother and son.” Amara grabbed Ryan by the wrist to pull him out.

Cooper put his hand up to stop them. “You can stay. He’s just looking out for his cousin. I understand that.” He paused and took a deep breath. “Ma, I didn’t tell you because I was looking out for you. Kayla chose to go to school here to be near me.”

“Why did she want to be near you?”

“Because she’s my half-sister. She’s
his
daughter.”

“Why keep that secret?” Ryan asked.

“Because he didn’t think I could handle his father having another family,” Daphne said.

“I know you still love him. I didn’t want you to go back to before.”

Daphne shook her head. “I don’t still love him. I’ve been over him for decades. Yes, there was a while that I was a total wreck, probably for longer than was right, but I’ve moved on.”

“It doesn’t seem like you have. You don’t date or anything.”

Daphne laughed at the naiveté of her son. “Honey, I’ve dated. It’s been over twenty years since he left. I’ve dated and even had sex. Lots of—”

“Whoa, ma. Please stop there.”

“I know how to be discreet. I never wanted to bring someone around unless it was going to be permanent. I wasn’t the only one that your dad’s leaving hurt. I didn’t want to put you through that again.”

Cooper’s expression changed from concerned to protective. “Do I know any of these guys? Why haven’t you brought any around lately? I’m not a child that will think some guy’s going to be my new daddy?”

“Because I know you’d try to intimidate any guy I was dating.”

“I probably would because I don’t want you to get hurt again.”

“You couldn’t do anything about that. I’ve been hurt and I’ve done some hurting. It’s part of life. I’m not the same barely twenty something girl that fell to pieces.”

“Are you seeing anyone now?”

Daphne smiled but didn’t say anything.

Kayla and Noli walked back in.

“I’m sorry,” Kayla said.

“Don’t be,” Daphne said walking over to Kayla. “I’m sorry. If I had known you were his sister, I would have called you last night.” She studied the girls face for a moment. “I don’t know how I missed it before. You have his eyes, and his nose, but you’re far sweeter.”

“That’s probably because he had very little to do with raising me.”

Cooper, Kayla, and Daphne all chuckled. Amara and Ryan looked at each other with questioning looks. Noli’s nervous gaze never left Cooper and she stayed by his side the rest of the day. Everyone else had gone, even his mother, before he could convince her it was okay to go home.

***

“Sir, since Magnolia’s father is no longer with us, I wanted to ask you. I know this is out of order, since we’ve already started our family, but I was wondering if you would approve of me asking your niece to marry me,” Cooper asked Robert Clark when he’d called to check on him.

“It’s about time you did the right thing.”

“I’ve wanted to do the right thing, but this is the first time I thought she might say yes.”

“Of course you have my permission.”

“Can I also have your help?” Cooper explained his proposal plan to Robert. He found himself explaining it again the next day to Jack.

“I’m going to go check on how things are going at the bar,” Cooper said unwrapping his arm from around Noli who was cuddled on the couch next to him.

She reluctantly let him get up. “For a man that’s supposed to be resting, you’ve been spending a lot of time working.”

“I’ve been resting. I haven’t worked out once.”

“No, you haven’t. You’ve been too busy checking in on the bar or on the phone about the bar. If I can manage to stay away from a business I’m trying to build, you should be able to also.” She’d stayed home to take care of Cooper while he recovered.

“It’s not like we had plans to do anything but sit on the couch.”

“Together, we would be sitting on the couch together. Travis and Kayla have everything under control, you don’t need to go in.”

“I’ll be gone an hour tops. By the time you read the twins their story and get them settled, I’ll be back and then I’m all yours.”

Noli nodded and picked up the remote. Her mouth was in a straight line that was on the verge of turning down. Her eyes were muted with disappointment as she looked down and not at the TV channels she was flipping through.

Cooper kneeled down and kissed each of the twins, who were gently rocking in their swing. He then kissed Noli on the forehead. “I love you,” he said.

“I love you too.” Noli gave him the half smile that was usually reserved for when she was just being polite or smiling because she knew she was supposed to. This time she just couldn’t muster a real smile.

He was halfway out of the door when he turned back and said, “The twins really liked the book I started reading to them this afternoon, you should finish it for them. I left it sitting on the dresser.”

“Okay.”

After being released from the hospital Cooper stayed home and slept the first couple of days, but after that he’d been itching to get out. Noli hoped it was nothing more than cabin fever, but there was a part of her that couldn’t stop thinking it was because he didn’t want to be around her. He’d said he’d forgiven her for running away after he’d told her he loved her, but had he?

He’d asked her to marry him fifty times a day before the accident, but now nothing. Not a single word about it. He seemed content now to just ‘play house’, as he had so frequently accused her of wanting to do. She’d finally been able to express her love for him in words and the marriage talk disappeared.

Noli threw the remote on the couch, not bothering to turn the TV off. She picked the twins up to carry them upstairs. She held one in each arm and took a deep breath to take in their scent. Her sad mood dissipated with them in her arms.

There were two cribs, but they preferred to share. She laid them down and picked up the book off the dresser before sitting in the chair. Mindlessly she began to open the book, but the cover caught her attention. The title was The Legend of Paul Bunyan. On the cover, standing in front of his blue truck, wearing a buffalo plaid shirt with an axe over his shoulder, was Cooper. She opened the book and began to read.

“Usually one stork delivers all the babies to a town.  When Paul Bunyan was born it took two storks to carry him. The vibrations from his cries were so strong they broke the windows in every room in the house.”

There was a picture of Cooper as a baby. He was chunky baby with fat, kissable cheeks and thighs with lots of rolls. Having recently had a regular sized baby, Noli hoped two storks really did bring Cooper. She turned the page.

“When he was just a boy he could chop down a hundred year old tree with one swing. As a teen he could carve rivers by dragging his axe behind him. He traveled the world chopping trees and carving rivers with his faithful blue ox Babe by his side.”

There was a high school picture of Cooper. He was out by the river wearing jeans far tighter than a male of any age should wear. If it were at all possible the look in his eyes was even cockier than now. Truth be told, that was one of the things about him that turned her on.

“Paul Bunyan was the strongest, bravest, most handsome man ever. His heart was as giant sized as he was. There were many women that wanted to be by his side, but that giant sized heart of his was bruised so he stayed alone with only Babe.

“One day he was out swinging, ripping trees up by the roots with his bare hands and stomping out lakes with his feet when he saw a beautiful lady sitting under a magnolia tree. She was so small he almost didn’t notice her at first. But he did see her. He saw warmth in her pretty brown eyes and a joy in her soul. She stole his heart right away.”

The tears were threatening to fall, but she wouldn’t let them because she didn’t want to mess up the beautiful book with her tears. She took a deep breath and turned to the last page. The tears began to flow.  There was a photo of Cooper in his full lumberjack gear, on one knee. She was too choked up to read the last page aloud.

Magnolia, I fell in love with you the moment I saw you. My life without you would be empty. Will you marry me?

Of course he would propose without actually being present. How was she supposed to say yes if he wasn’t even here? The front door opened. Noli jumped out of the chair and ran down the hallway. She was halfway down the stairs when she stopped in her tracks.

“Aunt Catherine, what are you doing here?”

“I have your dress.”

Catherine said it as if that would clarify things. It did not. Diane and Daphne followed her through the door carrying what looked like a make-up case suitable to prep the entire Miss Universe pageant for the evening gown competition.

“What is all this? What are you guys doing here?

“We’re here to get you ready for your wedding,” Diane said.

Daphne sat her stuff down and hugged Noli. “I’m so glad you’ve finally made this family official.”

“But I—”

Daphne’s phone rang. The single word that she spoke was hello. Everything after that was a series of grunts ending with a sigh. She hung up and shook her head. “That boy,” she said shaking her head again.

“Is there a problem?” Catherine asked unzipping the garment bag.

“Yes, my lovely son chickened out and didn’t stick to the plan.”

Diane stopped unpacking an array of eye shadows. “He didn’t propose last night?” she asked looking between Daphne and Noli.

“No,” Daphne answered.

“Yes,” Noli replied at the same time.

“Well did he or did he not propose?”

“He did. Kind of but not really. What I’m trying to say is he did but not directly and not last night.” Opening the book to the page with the proposal, she passed it to Diane.

“That’s so sweet,” Diane said.

“No it’s not. Sweet would have been for him to actually be here on bended knee when she read it like we planned. But no, he got nervous that she’d say no again so he left,” Daphne said obviously frustrated and possibly just as nervous as her son. “So, is your answer yes?”

Noli shook her head. The shoulders of the other three women dropped in disappointment. “I’m not saying no. My answer is yes. I just don’t understand something. Even if he had stayed and I was able to tell him yes face to face, why are you here for my wedding?”

Daphne took the book from Diane and turned the very last page that was just after the proposal and handed it to Noli. There was one word written there. She flipped the page back and read it as it were supposed to be. “Will you marry me today?” Exhaling long and slow she sat. “Today,” she said then repeated a few more times in a volume just below a whisper.

“Yes today. That way you won’t have a chance to freak out and run.”

Cooper was a smart man because Noli had already worked her way up to full fledge freak out mode in just a few minutes. Yes, she wanted to marry him. Yes, she had been expecting him to ask, but she thought she’d have months of wedding planning to get accustomed to the idea of getting married. That was it, a valid reason not to get married today. She sprang off the couch.

“I don’t want a courthouse wedding. I want a real wedding, and reception, and all that.”

“Is that what you want?” Diane asked.

“Yes. It is.”

“Good, because that’s exactly what Cooper has planned, for today,” Diane said.

“He’s planned everything, right down to a reception with food inspired by all the countries you visited,” Daphne added.

“Then it’s time to turn you into a bride,” Daphne said smiling from ear to ear.

“Did Cooper pick my dress? Because I don’t want a plaid wedding dress,” Noli said.

Things went quiet. The sound of Catherine unzipping the garment bag was amplified. She freed the dress from the bag and held it up.

“Your uncle and I thought you would like to wear your mother’s dress.”

Noli reached her hand out then pulled it back before touching the delicate lace and bead work. She used that hand to cover her mouth and stop a whimper from escaping. Her eyes glistened with tears.

“We have an alternative if this is too much.”

“It’s not too much. It’s perfect.” Noli took the dress from Catherine and sat down on the couch with it over her lap. Studying the dress she said, “I used to stare at mom and dad’s wedding pictures all the time. She was such a beautiful bride. I remember one day I asked her if I’d become a princess like her. She told me yes, that when I found my prince, I’d wear this dress and be a princess just like her. Then she kissed daddy and I thought that was pretty gross. Maybe Evie will gaze at pictures of me in this dress and ask if she’ll be a princess too. Then I’ll kiss Cooper and she’ll say ‘ewww’.”

Diane exhaled and asked, “So those are tears of joy?”

Noli nodded. “What I’m wearing is settled. What about my bridesmaids? What are you wearing? And where is Amara? Did Cooper know that I’d want her as a bridesmaid? What about Kayla? I would have asked her too?”

“You’ve been spending a lot of time with Kayla haven’t you?” Daphne asked in response to the rapid fire questions.  “Cooper had help from almost everyone. Kayla was either going to be your bridesmaid if you wanted her to be, or what she called a ‘groomsmaid’ if not.”

“Amara is one of your bridesmaids, but she got caught up at work and is running about a half hour late. We’re wearing this,” Diane said pulling a dress out of a second garment bag. She rubbed her swollen belly. “It was the only cute thing I could fit all this into.”

The dress was Grecian style with an empire waist. It was a pale lavender shade at the bodice that ombred into darker shades, ending with purple at the bottom. The full and flowing skirt was a style Noli was quite fond of. The color scheme was perfect too. She probably would have chosen the dress if she’d been given the opportunity.

“This all explains why Cooper was all of a sudden curious about my favorite color, and my favorite flower, and my favorite everything.”

“I am sure you are curious about all the wedding plans, but you need to get ready or there will not be any photographs for Evie to look at in the future. There is a schedule and we should try to maintain it, Catherine said.

“Yes ma’am,” Noli said once again suppressing the urge to stand at full attention and salute.

An hour later she was alone in her room standing in front of the mirror looking like a bride. There was no desire to run because she wasn’t scared. She wasn’t even that nervous. There were butterflies, but that was out of excitement. She was going to have a family again. She still missed her parents, but she wasn’t sad anymore because for the first time in the past couple of years she didn’t feel alone.

“You look beautiful, Magnolia.”

Noli looked past her reflection in the mirror to see Catherine.

“Thank you.” She turned to face her aunt. “And thank you for being supportive through all this.”

“You’re welcome. We are family and that is what family does for one another.”

“I’ve been expecting a lecture from you about being more responsible and the plight of the unwed mother.”

“No lecture. We all have our less than stellar moments. Believe me, I know.”

“Still, I thought you and my uncle would be disappointed in me, like I think my parents would have been.”

“I doubt they would have been disappointed. The thing Robert and I were disappointed about was that you didn’t tell us. You did not need to endure a pregnancy alone. Wed or unwed, motherhood is hard. What you needed was love, not a lecture.”

“Well, thank you. I have felt very loved.” She also felt very guilty for all the negative things she’d ever said or thought about her aunt. Noli even thought she’d seen her aunt’s eyes glisten with tears.

“It is time to make you Mrs. Magnolia Smith.”

“Freeman-Smith. I want to keep my parents’ last name. It makes me feel close to them. Like a little piece of them is always with me.”

***

“At this time we will hear from the bride and groom who have prepared their own vows.”

“We have?” Noli asked Cooper.

“We have.” He handed her a piece of paper.

It was obvious from his smile that she should be concerned. She began to read out loud without pre reading it silently. “Cooper, you are the love of my life. From the moment I saw your ruggedly handsome face, I was mesmerized, I couldn’t take my eyes off you or keep my hands—” she stopped. She began reading silently then just started laughing. “I would never say most of this,” she whispered.

“You’re just too scared to say what you’re thinking.” He leaned forward and whispered with a smile.

“I’m not reading this.”

“You can either read this or come from the heart.”

“Are we ready to go on?” The pastor interjected.

“We are,” Noli said. She took a deep breath and started to speak what was in her heart. “When we first met you scared me. You made me feel safe. You made me feel hope. You made me feel a little less alone. That scared me because I was desperately trying not to feel. You healed my heart by filling it with love and made me whole again. Despite being a giant, you are the love of my life and I’m so happy that I’m going to be your wife in a matter of minutes.”

Cooper looked at the folded paper in his hands and tucked it into his pocket. “Magnolia, I never thought I’d fall in love. I thought I’d protected myself from that fate. Then you came into my life. I’m not going to say I fell in love with you the moment I saw you, but I did think you were beautiful, tiny like a fairy, but beautiful. It wasn’t long after that that I did fall in love. You say I healed you, but it was your smile and your love that healed me. I’d bet I’m happier that you’re my wife than you.”