Whatever Tomorrow Brings (The Californians 1) (39 page)

May spent the next hour reassuring Kate about her wedding. Kate learned that the church had a special group of ladies, of whom May was one, to handle wedding arrangements. May also told her daughter-in-lawto-be, that she would love to make her a wedding gown. Kate was feeling like the sun had broken through on a cloudy day. She was actually going to be married seven weeks from today.

"Are you ever a hard guy to track down!" Jeff stood at the entrance to the room and spoke to Rigg, "I understand congratulations are in order." Rigg stood up and Kate watched the two men embrace.

"I can't think what you've done to deserve her," Jeff commented as he leaned to kiss Kate's cheek.

"You've got some nerve, insulting me and then kissing my woman," Rigg laughed.

Kaitlin and May fled on that note, both thinking that the two of them were hopeless. They joined Marcail in the kitchen and filled her in on the news.

Kate and Rigg did end up going to the mercantile just after lunch, but Kate was in a fog. She couldn't have told anyone what she'd done that day if her life depended on it.

fifty-nine

Kate found it delightful to be greeted with a morning kiss. It was Sunday. She had stayed with the Taylors and when Rigg had come to take her to church, he'd kissed her as he helped her into the wagon.

They talked as they rode, and Kaitlin brought up a subject they'd completely forgotten to discuss the day before.

"Burt Kemp is going to want an answer from me today and, in all fairness Rigg, I need to give him one. Do you mind if I teach again this year?"

"I have only one problem with your teaching and that is the chance that you'll be pregnant before the year is out." Kate thought her face would flame it was so hot.

"I wonder how many years we'll be married before you stop blushing in front of me," Rigg remarked softly.

"You took me by surprise," Kate explained without looking at him. She took a deep breath and continued.

"You've got a valid point, though. Mother taught when she was carrying Sean and Marcail. In fact Marc's delivery was so easy that Mother's labor began about an hour before school was to let out, but she didn't tell anyone. And then she sent for Father after she dismissed. We were only home about two hours before Marcail was born.

"There is, of course, no guarantee that things will be the same for me but I don't think the possibility of my having a child should keep me from teaching."

They were not yet within sight of the church and Rigg pulled the team to a stop in the middle of the deserted road. He put his arms around Kate and she looked up into his face, so near her own.

"We've never talked about children. You do want some, don't you Katie?" His words, said sweetly, almost hesitantly, made Kaitlin wonder if he was feeling a little insecure about something.

"I wouldn't mind if we waited a little while, but I would like some-no less than five, to be exact." That statement earned her a beaming smile and another kiss.

As Rigg drove the remaining distance to church, Kaitlin told him of her conversation with Joey. "You should have seen his face, Rigg, it was heartbreaking.

"'Miss Donovan,' he said, 'you are going to teach school this year, aren't you?' He nearly burst into tears when I said I hadn't decided."

"Maybe he'll be there this morning," Rigg commented, "and you can tell him the good news."

Rigg and Kate's wedding plans spread like wildfire and many members of the congregation offered felicitations, before and after the service.

Kate had been correct about Burt Kemp. He tracked them down within seconds of the benediction and then nearly hugged Kaitlin for saying yes. Kate and Rigg both felt comfortable with the decision and Burt made an appointment with Kate later that week to go over anything she might need.

When they finally made it to the wagon they found Jeff waiting for them. For the first time Kate could remember, he wasn't alone.

"Kaitlin," he said by way of greeting, "I want you to meet Sylvia Weber. Sylvia, this is Rigg's fiancee, Kaitlin Donovan."

"It's nice to meet you Sylvia," Kate greeted the other woman and tried to keep the awe out of her voice. Sylvia was beautiful, strikingly so. Her dress was a deep rose velvet which accented every curve of her perfect figure. The feather on her matching hat was so high it brushed Jeff's forehead when Sylvia stepped close to him.

"Congratulations." Sylvia's voice was smooth and cultured. "I'm sure you and Rigg will be very happy." Kate couldn't help but respond to the genuine sincerity in her eyes and the four of them talked for awhile.

It seemed that Sylvia and Jeff had finished school the same year. Sylvia's family, all except her married sister, had then moved east shortly afterward. Sylvia was here staying with her sister for an indefinite period of time.

"Are you coming to the house for lunch?" Rigg asked.

"No, Sandra and Carl are expecting us," Jeff supplied.

"Sandra is my sister," Sylvia told Kate. 'And her husband is Carl, Carl Boggs."

The couples went their separate ways a moment later and Kate turned in her seat to watch Jeff and Sylvia climb into a snappy little buggy pulled by a dapple gray mare.

"She's beautiful."

"That she is. I've always liked dapple grays."

Kate's head whipped around to see if he was teasing her but saw in an instant that he was dead serious.

"I meant Sylvia."

"Oh."

"Rigg, are you really trying to tell me you didn't notice that mass of blonde hair and those huge blue eyes?" Kaitlin's voice told him she wouldn't believe him no matter what he said.

"Sylvia is very pretty," Rigg said, his voice full of logic. "But my tastes run to Irish girls, black hair, eyes as soft and brown as pansies and stubborn chins."

Another wagon was coming toward them or Kate would have thrown her arms around Rigg. He had meant every word.

"I love you Rigg." Kate was feeling so emotional that the words were not in English.

"Are you going to translate that for me?"

Kate shook her head. "Just trust that I meant it." Those words weren't in English either, but Rigg could tell by the look in her eyes and the sound of her voice that he was loved.

"Now if you will come into the living room," May said with barely contained excitement, "your father and I have something to tell you."

Rigg and Kate exchanged a glance and seated themselves on the sofa.

"We've been discussing a wedding gift for you. I think we've just the right thing. We want to fix up Rigg's house-the cost will be on us! We'll paint, wallpaper and make new curtains. We also want to replace any of the rugs that are worn, such as the one in the living room.

"I figured we would need to do most of it after the wedding but we'll start in the bedroom and see how far we can get. What do you think?"

Rigg leaned forward on the sofa to see Kaitlin's face. She looked worried.

"Katie?" When Rigg spoke her name she looked at him.

"Rigg, have I said something to make you think your home isn't suitable?"

"Oh no, Katie," having heard the question, Bill broke in. "We know you would live there without a single complaint but things are showing their age and it's nice to start out with a few new things."

"Is it all right with you?" Kate asked Rigg. "I mean, it's your house and if you'd rather things were left alone-"

"It's our house and I like the idea. I probably won't be much help in the color selection but whatever you and Mom come up with will be fine."

"Well, it's all settled," May beamed. "Come in the kitchen Kate and I'll show you some fabric I picked up yesterday."

Rigg looked at his father after the women left. Gil was sprawled in a chair with the newspaper but Rigg knew he was the soul of discretion.

"How long did it take for Mom to start thinking of your things as hers? And money... how long did it take for Mom to get comfortable enough to say she needed some money?"

Bill looked at his son with compassion. "It'll come, Rigg, just give her time. Tradition states that the bride's family pays for everything and Kate has been somewhat worried, since the day she arrived, that she was a burden to us. Keep reassuring her that you're going to take care of her.

'And unless I totally miss my guess about everything I've heard about Aunt Maureen, I think Kate will have a wedding the likes of which she's never dreamed."

SIX

Rigg had mailed his letter to Patrick Donovan in Hawaii first thing Saturday morning. On Monday, Kate sat down and wrote to her father, as well as to her aunt. Aunt Maureen was in Santa Rosa a week later, on the first of four such trips she would make before the wedding.

Maureen Kent was a welcome surprise to the Taylors. She genuinely desired to help yet did not take over. And she wanted to pay for everything!

After two days, Kate stopped arguing with her because Aunt Maureen's response was always the same: "This is the way your father would want it."

On Aunt Maureen's third trip to Santa Rosa, three weeks before the wedding, she brought her niece a sizable box of nighties and feminine apparel. Maureen watched as Kate took the clothing from the box and exclaimed in delight over each one.

"Thank you Aunt Maureen," Kate breathed when the box was empty. "They're all so lovely and I've never had anything like these before."

"The pleasure is all mine, Katie," the older woman assured her warmly. "Katie," Maureen spoke again and something in her voice immediately snagged Kate's attention.

"I can't help but think that you must miss your mother more at a time like this. Am I right?"

"Yes," Kate replied softly.

"I know you and Theresa were very close and I'm assuming she has talked to you about the intimate side of marriage."

"When I was fifteen."

"I'm glad to hear that, honey, but your mother isn't here now and I want you to come to me if anything is bothering you. But I want to tell you something, Kate, that not many women practice. After you're married, the best person you can talk to is your husband.

"Rigg adores you; I can see that every time he looks at you. If anything is bothering you be sure you go to him. He might suggest you see May or contact me and that's fine, but I'm in my second happy marriage and I've found that men want their wives to enjoy every aspect of married life. And they'll go to any length to see that we're happy and cared for. I'm quite certain Rigg is no different."

The words were spoken so tenderly that Kaitlin felt for the first time that she'd missed something precious and dear by not being able to be closer to this woman.

Kate thanked her aunt with a hug and they talked for a while longer.

"Kaitlin," Aunt Maureen spoke almost hesitantly. "Have you ever forgiven my son?"

"Oh, Aunt Maureen," Kaitlin said with deep feeling, sensing that her aunt had agonized over this issue. "I can't tell you that it didn't bother me, but I'm all right. Sean and I have talked about it and so have Rigg and I. Percy has been forgiven and blame is not being cast on anyone, including myself, as I once did."

"You don't know how happy that makes me, Katie," her aunt spoke tearfully. The women embraced again and, because it was Saturday, Kaitlin had to excuse herself soon after to work on her school lessons.