Trust Me (78 page)

“Still trying to save the world, eh?” Andrew asked, causing Creighton to narrow his eyes at him.

“I make a very nice living, trying to save the world.” Sandra cleared her throat softly, bringing the two men’s eyes toward her.

“How much longer before we’re able to move in?” she asked the man beside her even though they had already discussed the time frame. Creighton knew it was her way of putting a halt to the argument before it went any further.

“The majority of the work will be finished by the time we’re back from our honeymoon,” he told her with a smile that assured her he was aware of her interference and thankful for it. “We can move in at that point, all that will be left is the decorating and final details.”

“Where are you going on your honeymoon?” Irena asked, excitement echoing in her tone.

“Sandra and I have discussed it and it’s a private matter for her and me alone to know.”

“That’s not fair,” she grumbled, causing the others around the table to laugh.

“The Reverend Keller will be over this evening to speak with the two of you,” Emma said, looking directly at Creighton and Sandra a few moments later.

“What for?” Creighton said with a frown.

“He wants to make certain there are no reservations with either of you and he wants to meet Sandra before the wedding,” his mother explained.

“It is standard practice,” Derek assured his younger brother. “We had to go through the same thing. I was so nervous, I thought for sure I was going to chuck all over the man’s desk.”

“Thanks for that image, Derek,” Sabrina snapped, pushing her nearly empty plate aside and frowning at her brother as the table erupted in another round of laughter.

“The ceremony has been set for two o’clock, which should give us all a chance to take our time getting ready. Michelle sent your tuxedo yesterday,” Emma said, looking at her son. “And Sandra’s dress has been altered and cleaned.”

“My dress?” Sandra asked with a frown.

“It is a designer original,” Creighton said with a smile. “An up and coming talent from Oxford.” Sandra gasped, her eyes wide as her fork slipped from her fingers, clattering to the plate.

“Sabrina’s gown?” Creighton’s smile widened.

“You looked so beautiful in it; I asked her if she would be willing to sell it to us.”

“I loved that dress,” Sandra said, tears filling her eyes, her arms wrapping around the man’s neck as he pulled her within a warm embrace.

“There is nothing I won’t do for you,” he whispered against her ear, his lips kissing her cheek affectionately.

“What dress is this?” Cathy asked with a frown.

“Your sister helped me with my final project for school,” Sabrina said quickly. “I am taking textile designing and management in school and I had to make a design of my own and take it from print to model, but the woman who was supposed to do the photos was sick, so Sandra did it in her stead. Because of her, I received the highest marks in my class, so when Creighton asked if I would be willing to sell my design to his future bride, I agreed willingly.”

“It was your design that earned you the grade, not the photos,” Sandra said with another blush, when Creighton released her from his embrace.

“Just think, everyone is going to see it and want one just like it,” Irena said excitedly. “It will be just like Hollywood. You’ll both be famous.”

“I’m more famous then I’d prefer to be,” Sandra said shyly.

“Sabrina, you and Irena go get the dessert and we’ll adjourn to the parlor.” Emma said to disrupt the conversation and return it to normal. The girls did as told and the rest of the family walked to the parlor, talking excitedly about the wedding, farm life and the plans for the house next door.

The conversation turned back to the plans for the following day as they all sat down on the sofas or in the chairs, while the girls brought out a custard and raisin dessert and coffee. Sandra sat next to Creighton on one of the sofas, eating the dessert, listening to Nana and Emma discussing the preparations and itinerary. Everything had been arranged and notes had been passed around those involved in the ceremony so they would know what to do.

Sabrina used one of her designs for the attendants’ gowns and with Creighton’s influence; they had been sewn within hours and were hanging in the appropriate closets. New spring flowers had been obtained for the ceremony and would arrive at the church in the morning and the church’s string quartet had been hired to play. Derek would be Creighton’s witness while Cathy would be Sandra’s and Papa would give her away.

Creighton had arranged for his limousine to take the family to the church at one o’clock, where they would dress and have the ceremony. A small informal lunch had been planned back at the family farm with a larger reception the day after. Creighton did not want to be anywhere the press could have free access to, so he insisted that the reception be held at his parents’ farm. He had arranged for added security to make certain only those invited were admitted and had hired Chang and his wife to take photos of both the ceremony and the reception. One of the portraits Marie Marchant’s son-in-law had taken of Sandra had been enlarged and would be presented to the wedding couple at the reception, while an album of their vacation together had been prepared for everyone to look through.

Their wedding night would be spent in a location Creighton refused to disclose so not to be interrupted, pointedly looking at his little sister with a wicked grin, causing her to blush scarlet. He insisted that since Sandra loved romance; their wedding night would be a special gift to her.

The doorbell’s ringing brought an abrupt halt to the conversations while William left the room to answer it. Sandra glanced across to where Cathy and Andrew sat at the game table, sipping white wine and speaking softly with each other.

“How
was supper?” Creighton asked in a hushed tone, bringing her out of her quiet observation.

“It
was wonderful, though I think I need to spend a few hours at the gym after the past two weeks.” Sandra smiled, leaning her head against his shoulder while he wrapped his arms around her.

“And
the dessert, did you enjoy it?”

“Yes,
it was delicious, why do you ask?” Creighton kissed her forehead tenderly.

“I
asked my mum to make it special for you. It was spotted dicke.” Creighton smiled as Sandra looked up at him with wide eyes. “I told you it was good and there was no need for a doctor.” Sandra shook her head, chuckling softly at the man watching William walk into the room, the Reverend Keller in his wake.

The
man was middle aged, balding with grey streaked red hair and bright blue eyes. He was short, about five feet four and slightly overweight with a pot belly. He wore a black suite with a white collar and carried with him a leather folder. He was quite friendly, smiling at everyone and patting the children on the heads as they each came up to him, talking rapidly about the wedding and the usual senseless drabble children found interesting.

Creighton
stood, pulling her up with him and shook the Reverend’s hand while Sandra waited nervously beside him. Nana and Papa were introduced to the man as well as Cathy, each taking their turn in greeting him before he turned to Sandra.

“I
am so happy to meet you,” the Reverend said with a genuine smile. “The Ashford’s have been very excited about this day.”

“So
have I,” Creighton said, causing the woman to blush softly.

“Yes,
well, shall we get started?” The man cleared his throat when William patted him on the back.

“Why
don’t you use the library,” he suggested showing the three to a room down the hall next to the open door of the powder room. He opened the door, flipped on the switch for the sconce lamps and left, allowing them to speak in privacy.

The
Reverend took up a seat behind an antique desk while Creighton and Sandra sat in two chairs nearby, holding hands as the man unfastened the clasp on his folder and withdrew a legal looking form.

“So
Sandra,” he began, setting a pair of reading glasses across the end of his nose. “This is a copy of your marriage license. I just need to review the information and verify that you are the same person listed on the application.”

The
next half hour passed by in a flurry of questions. They reviewed the ceremony before the discussion turned to the vows and promises they would make. They discussed whether they were to use traditional or modern vows, biblical or hand written, formal or informal. The young couple decided to base their wedding vows, since they were to be the only ones either of them ever spoke, on the formal traditional version, filled with religious sentiment.

Creighton
spoke openly of his feelings for Sandra, his love for her and the way he knew beyond reason that she was the only one for him, leaving Sandra to speak of her feelings of him. It was awkward at first, since Sandra wasn’t a very open person and had never really spoken of her feelings to anyone, outside of Cathy. After a few minutes, the Reverend Keller smiled, replaced the papers in his leather folder and stood.

“I’m
very happy to give you both my approval,” he said, shaking first Creighton’s hand then Sandra’s. “I have interviewed many young couples, but I have never seen so much love or conviction as you two have. Congratulations.” Creighton walked to the door and opened it, being held back with a firm hand on his arm from the woman beside him.

“Will
you do me a favor?” she asked him softly when Creighton closed the door.

“Of
course, anything.” He wrapped her in his warm embrace, kissing her lips very tenderly.

“I
want you to talk with Andrew,” Sandra continued a moment later. Creighton’s expression changed immediately to one of irritation, apprehension and slight anger.

“Sandra…”
he began.

“He’s
your brother,” she interrupted, touching his cheek gently. “I don’t want anything to interfere in our marriage. You’re both adults - okay, maybe he isn’t the best farmer in history, neither is Cathy - but that is old news. He is what he is and he has his own opinion on how he wants his life to be lived; it doesn’t affect you or me. You need to tell him about Miriam’s book and you need to clear the air Talk to him, if not for my sake than for your mother’s, it’s obvious that she doesn’t want her boys at odds with each other.” Creighton drew a deep breath and sighed.

“I
know you mean well, Sandra, but this is different than an argument over a toy. He was a lazy bugger who refused to help father and shagged the same girl I was. He always treated people like they were less than he and I have no respect for him. How am I supposed to just pretend that we’re old friends? Hell, I could get on with a hog better than with him.”

“Then
pretend he’s a hog, but talk to him. He’s your brother and always will be. It doesn’t matter what he did, the fact that you share blood will not change. You don’t have to approve of him or accept the choices he’s made, but you do need to at least tolerate him.” Creighton’s jaw clenched and he drew another deep breath. It was obvious he was trying to reign in his anger.

“Please,
Creighton, do it for me. Take the initiative and just talk to him. It doesn’t even matter what he has to say in return, but he needs to know how you feel.” Sandra leaned into him and kissed his lips with a tender touch, her tongue brushing them the way his always did hers. She could feel his resistance slipping and knew she had won him over when his arms wrapped around her tighter, his body pressing up against her slender frame.

“Only
for you,” he whispered. “I’ll talk to the bugger and clear the air, but it is definitely going to cost you.”

“A
payment I will be very happy to make, so long as you keep your word.”

“I
don’t believe in lying and I do not break a promise. I’ll talk to him.”

“Tonight?”
Creighton sighed again. “Better now than later, especially since we’re leaving for our honeymoon in two days. I don’t want this hanging over us while we’re starting a new life together.”

“You
definitely owe me,” he growled, grabbing hold of her butt cheeks hard then slapping them and smiling as she squealed.

Sandra
walked into the bedroom and opened the window, sitting on the window seat. The night was calm and the breeze was warm; it was very pleasant here and she sighed, looking out toward her new house. The noise and confusion of construction had wound down about an hour ago, leaving a peaceful silence to filter through the air.

The
joined families had gone outside after the Reverend Keller left, playing a simple game of football in the side yard. Andrew spent a great deal of time explaining the game to Cathy, while Creighton took Sandra in hand and taught her the basics. Her grandparents joined in for a short time, but chose to sit out the second round, laughing and cheering them on from the porch. Creighton was a great player and Sandra was amazed at how he practically single handedly won the game for their team.

Irena
was as much of a powerhouse as her brothers and gave them a run for their money. She was a strong athlete and Sandra found herself admiring the girl’s stamina and ambition. Emma and William got in on the games as well and had just as much fun as their children. The children acted as the cheering squad for the teams and with their uncle Cray’s help, managed to kick a few balls of their own.