White Chocolate Moments (40 page)

Gage prayed himself back to sleep, a peaceful sleep. When he woke again, the nurse was there with his breakfast. Gage thanked her, asked how she was, and remembered to pray for her as well, so deep was his gratitude that God had brought him to this place.

Luke and Erika brought Gage home. It had taken some doing. His car had to be retrieved, along with his bike, which was not in the best shape. Luke pulled the car into the driveway, parking alongside a brand new bike with a helmet hanging from the bars. They appeared to be the very image of his old bike and helmet, and Gage got out of the car as fast as his body would allow.

He looked in amazement at the new bike, knowing exactly who had done this but not sure how she had accomplished it. Without further ado, Gage turned for Sam's.

"Oh, no, you don't," Luke said, taking his brother-in-law by the arm and steering him back to his own front door. "The doctor said to take it very easy."

"I have to see Arcie."

"We'll get her over here. Just come in and rest'

But Luke wasn't able to make good on his word. He went next door to get Arcineh but was told she wasn't there. This news received, Gage was on his cell phone seconds later. He had to work very hard on his attitude when he got nothing but her voice mail for the next hour.

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Arcineh was on her way home when her phone rang. She almost didn't pick up, but the light changed and she found herself sitting. "Hello."

"Hello, yourself"

"Gage! Hi! Are they letting you out?"

"I'm home."

"You're home?" This threw Arcineh off. "I didn't think it would be this early."

"Well, I am, and I can't find my girlfriend."

"I'm coming! I was just at Nicky's helping Libby with some wallpaper, but I'm on my way:'

"Hurry:' Gage said. "Be safe, but hurry."

Arcineh hung up on a laugh and went directly to Gage's. She knocked on the front door but went in when she found it open. Gage was halfway across the foyer, and although he finished the distance rather slowly, he came directly to her and took her in his arms.

"I don't want to hurt you:' Arcineh said, her arms moving very carefully.

"Just don't squeeze too hard around my middle'

Arcineh's arms settled around his neck. That done, she looked up at him.

"Did you find your presents?"

"Yes. How did you manage that?"

"Sam and I made phone calls and then ran all over Chicago." Gage looked down into her face.

"You're amazing."

"I'm glad you think so."

Gage tightened his hold a little, his face growing serious. "I don't want to waste any more time. My accident could have been fatal. We've got Rugby where it needs to be, and I want to get on with my life."

"Okay," Arcineh agreed, not sure what she was supposed to say.

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"You didn't answer my question," Gage said.

"What question?"

"The one in the hospital'

Arcineh smiled before saying, "You were in a drug-induced state. I wasn't sure you meant it:'

"I meant it:'

"In that case, yes, I'll marry you, Gage Sefton:'

Gage was done waiting. He claimed Arcineh's lips with his own, all aches and pains from the accident fading away in the sweetness of her embrace.

"Is it official?" Mallory asked her boss when he was back on the job several days later.

"Yes. I mean, we haven't set a date, but she said yes:'

"Why isn't she wearing a ring?"

Gage stared at his assistant. Why hadn't he thought of this? "Is she wearing a ring?" Mallory asked.

"No, but thank you for saying something. I completely forgot:'

Mallory's eyes twinkled at him, but she didn't comment. Gage managed to smile back at her, but his mind was already at work. His acumen at romance had been lacking so far. It was time to pull out the stops. Gage asked not to be disturbed and disappeared into his office to solve this problem.

"So how is Margo working out?" Arcineh asked about the new assistant, the one who had made her redundant.

"Very well, liked by all:'

"I'm glad. Where are we going, by the way?"

The two were in Gage's car and headed out for the evening. Gage

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had said it would not be fancy, and since the weather had turned very warm, they were both in shorts.

"I'm in the mood to go to the Shedd:' Gage said just before they got close enough for Arcineh to figure it out.

"That's always good news:'

"I thought you might say that:' Gage said as they parked, praying and working to keep his heartbeat at a normal pace. He had a ring in his pocket and wanted to bring it out at just the right moment.

They started at the Caribbean Reef before slowly making their way toward the Oceanarium. The dolphin show was over, so they sat for a while and looked out at the lake, but eventually Gage took Arcineh's hand and led her to the walkway outside. The sun was setting--streaks of red and orange could be seen in the sky--and Gage slipped an arm around Arcineh and drew her close.

"I think it's time I make this official:' he said quietly.

Arcineh looked at him, not sure what he was talking about until she saw the ring he held in two fingers.

"Oh, Gage she breathed, her heart beginning to thunder as she looked at the large diamond surrounded by sapphires, her favorite stone. "It's so beautiful."

"Then it's perfect for you:'

Arcineh watched as he pushed it onto the ring finger of her left hand before throwing her arms around his neck. Gage caught her close, giving her a long kiss before turning her and pointing to the windows of the Soundings Restaurant.

"I think they're ready for us:'

Arcineh's mouth opened when she saw whom he'd gathered. Sam, Violet, Jalaina, Will, Quinn, Pastor Simon and his wife, Nicole, Grandma, Marco, Nicky, and Libby were all waving from the window.

Arcineh turned back to Gage and threw her arms around him again. "I'm going to love being married to you:'

"Was there ever a doubt?" he asked, his eyes alight with love. "Not a one she told him as his lips drew near. "Not a one:'

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Epilogue

TWELVE YEARS LATER

"Arcineh?" Gage asked sleepily, coming into the kitchen at 2:00 A.M. "oh, I'm sorry:' she whispered. "Did I wake you?"

"I think so. What are you doing?"

"Are you hiding any white chocolate?"

Gage had to smile. His wife's stomach was so extended she couldn't even reach over the top of the fridge. And as with all of her pregnancies, white chocolate had been the mainstay.

"I think I might have some in the den."

"I already looked:'

Gage had to smile again.

"I just need a little," Arcineh said.

"Right now?"

"Yes. Do you think Sam has some?"

"Knowing Sam, he does, but we're not going to wake him." "I'll run to the store."

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"Are you a little tired?" Gage asked, praying for a yes but also thankful he was off work right now.

"Come on, I'll rub your back until you fall asleep. And then in the morning," Gage continued, talking when she might have tried a new tack, "I'll head right to Sam's for white chocolate'

Arcineh agreed, knowing it was selfish to do anything else but not sure she would fall back to sleep. She hadn't planned to wake up, but she'd had to use the bathroom, and then the vanilla scented soap had sent her mind off.

"Come on," Gage invited her, his arm going around her.

And he was good at his word. He rubbed his wife's back for almost 30 minutes. It took that long for her to fall off to sleep. Indeed she slept so hard that Gage was back with the white chocolate before she woke. Arcineh found it on the night stand when her eyes opened.

"I want you to go," Arcineh said.

Gage stared at his wife, trying to gauge the situation, but then she played the trump card.

"The boys will be so disappointed, and this is Kenny's first year:' "But they'll understand if you're about to go into labor," Gage argued.

"I just saw the doctor. It's going to be ten days at least and probably two weeks:'

The boys they were speaking of made an appearance before Gage could say anything else. Ten-year-old Ethan was first. Behind him was three-year-old Kenny and then eight- and seven- year-old Tanner and Derek.

"We're hungry:'

"That's a shock," Arcineh teased, reaching for the crackers. "Peanut butter or cheese?"

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The answers to that were varied, so Arcineh made a few of each. Even Gage wanted some.

"Not hungry?" he asked his wife.

She looked guilty before admitting, "I ate all four squares of the chocolate:'

"Was it good?" Gage asked with amused eyes, reminding Arcineh why this man was so special.

"It was. Thanks for getting it:"

"You're welcome. Now, back to the discussion:'

Gage drew his wife into the family room, telling the boys to stay put. He sat her down and spoke seriously. "We can postpone this trip:'

"Please don't. Even if something starts, you'll have the phone and you're not that far:'

"Three hours:'

"Things never move that fast:'

With a little more discussion, Gage agreed, hoping they were doing the right thing. He did so with some reservation, but he was also very excited. His annual bike trip had turned into a much less taxing trek that the family made each year. Gage didn't know when he'd had such fun. The first year, Ethan and Tanner had been only five and three. They had repeated it ever since, three being the magic age when the boys could join them and not stay with great-grandpa. Arcineh usually went with them, but being eight-and-a-half months pregnant made that out of the question.

Kenny came looking for his mother just then. He tried to climb

into her disappearing lap, and Arcineh cuddled him close. "Are you ready for the bike trip tomorrow?" she asked.

"I want you to come Kenny said. He'd been a bit clingy lately. "I want to, but it's not going to work this year. You'll still have a

great time:'

"Papa says we can pray for you:'

"Thank you:' Arcineh said, pressing a kiss to his forehead. "I'll pray for you too:'

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Kenny looked up at her, and Gage had to fight his doubts again. Kenny was reticent, and his wife looked ready to burst. Arcineh looked his way and caught his expression.

"Go:' she said softly. "It will be all right."

Gage nodded, and true to his word, they left in the morning.

Jalaina and her two youngest had just left when Arcineh felt a familiar pain. She had gone into false labor twice over the years, so she didn't panic but thought she would check to see if Sam and Violet were at home. Her grandfather came right away, but Violet was out.

"I'm too old for this:' he told her, kissing her cheek and taking in the sweat on her brow. She had had a strong contraction that felt like the real thing right after talking to Sam.

"I need your advice Arcineh said.

"Okay."

"I pressed Gage to go on the bike trip. Do I tell him about it so he has to rush back or just have the baby and hope he understands?" Sam's look of horror was hysterical.

"You haven't called him yet?"

"No

Sam began to stand, but Arcineh stopped him.

"I'm not sure yet, Sam. It could be falser

"Get up:' he ordered. "We're going to the hospital:'

"Why?"

"So they can tell us if this is real."

Arcineh nodded and began to stand. She had just straightened her back when her water broke.

"What's the matter?" Sam asked, his face alarmed.

"My water just broke:'

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Sam sighed before saying again, "I'm too old for this:'

Arcineh laughed as she dialed her husband and then the doctor. She only reached the latter, and much as she hated to do it, left her husband an apologetic message before gathering her things to leave for the hospital.

"Any sign of him, Vi?"

"No, sweetheart, but we know he's on his way!' Vi said, having just arrived herself.

Arcineh looked up at Violet, who had finally begun to age, and smiled at her.

"What would I do without you?" Arcineh asked.

"Same thing I would do without you--be heartbroken!' Arcineh smiled at her just as another pain hit. She heard Violet

praying softly, glad for the reminder that God had a plan and that

His plan had included saving Violet just before Ethan was born. "That was bad!' Arcineh gasped. "I feel like I need to push:' "I'll get someone:'