Breathless (Meadowlarks) (31 page)

Chapter
Twenty-Two

Today is November 30
th
. It would have been Jeremiah’s birthday. It has been over two months since I lost my father, since Alex proposed to me, and since Elsa Casey finally found out that her husband was cheating.

Sweet (and
like I said before,
sneaky
) Sara wasn’t just answering the phone for Pine Ridge, she was answering Weston’s booty calls, too. It actually explained a lot, once the news really sunk in.

Elsa came into my office about a week after my trip to the home show in Cheyenne. She was in tears,
and they seemed very forced, but I gave her my sympathy regardless.

“That little bitch worked her claws into my husband, right under my nose!” Elsa sobbed. “And here I thought he loved me.”

Thankfully I was hugging her the moment she said that, or I would have puffed out my cheeks, looked anywhere but in her eyes, and starting whistling innocently. The woman claimed to have no idea, but I found it hard to believe.

“I’m just so shocked that Sara would do that…” I sat back down in my chair. “She just seemed...
normal.” I didn’t know what else to say.

Once
Elsa left my office, probably to find her next shoulder to cry her crocodile tears on, it clicked like a light bulb: Weston was miserable that day he overheard Sara gushing about Alex’s looks…and God only knows where she disappeared to after that incident.

Him too.

For all I knew, he was taking it out on her in a completely different way than I had initially thought.

The office ha
d been very…hush-hush. Sara made one appearance. She scurried around, collecting her few personal items, and then left with her tail between her legs. The fictional boyfriend who took her to the Windspur in the past, had indeed been Weston. Maybe, in her world, he was her boyfriend. She was also the woman he slept with (over and over) that night to try and entice me, I just knew it.

Weston Casey ha
dn’t shown his face since the news broke. Rob said he overheard Elsa on the phone saying Weston was going back to New York.

W
ell, good riddance, Mr. Tattoo.

It was real, it was fun…but it wasn’t
real
fun.

I poke
d my head in Elsa’s door. “Mrs. Casey? I was—”

“Please! Just Elsa. Or Miss
Lawrence. No more Casey, for the love of God.” Elsa held her hand up to me, annoyed.

“I’m sorry, Elsa. I was heading out, and I wanted to say goodbye. Have a nice weekend.” I smile
d, and turned to walk away.

“Wait! Riley…thank you. For being so kind to me. Everyone else has just been laughing behind my back, I know it. I was made to be a fool.”

I shook my head. “No. No one is talking about you. We’re all here to support you.”

Elsa half-smile
d, shrugged, and then turned back down to the paperwork on her desk.

I close
d the door, and left to head home. We were all going to get together tonight, to celebrate Jeremiah.

***

“We miss you, buddy. I wish you could be here with us, to see Chase, to see how amazing he his. But, we know you’re looking down and smiling. Love you, Jer…” Blaine raise
d his beer bottle to the sky, brought it back down and sipped it.

We
lit tiny flames in paper lanterns and sent them up into the sky. Isaac wrote a little note to Jeremiah on his; he wouldn’t tell anyone what it said though. Scarlett and Seth scribbled on theirs, and Addison traced outlines of Chase’s hands on another.

Blaine and Alex hug
ged, slapped each other hard on the back, and then stepped away wiping tears, trying to laugh it off.

“Cry baby,” Blaine laugh
ed.

“Dick,” Alex respond
ed playfully while wiping his face.

After we
stood and watched the lanterns flicker and get higher and higher into the night sky, we went inside to warm up. My mom made hot chocolate—homemade, complete with marshmallows—store bought. Sitting around the big table in the dining room, we ate ribs and between the five adults and four children, finish off four pumpkin pies.

A shiver
ran through me. “Brr! I am not a fan of winter…and it’s not even really here yet.”

“I know, I’m not either,” Addison
said, sipping her hot chocolate. “If you two are ever going to decide on a date, please don’t make it a winter wedding.”

Alex laug
hed. “Maybe we’ll just go to Vegas.”

I cock
ed my head to the side. “Actually, that’s not a bad idea!”

“Riley!” My mom
said, surprising me. “Please tell me you’re joking. I don’t want my only child getting married by Elvis Presley.”

“Well, it wouldn’t be the real Elvis…” Alex start
ed to murmur, but then realized he should probably just shut up. “You’re right. Riley deserves a real wedding.”

“I have a few freezing months
ahead to plan for it, don’t worry.” I got up from my chair, and started to collect all the plates on the table.

Addison follow
ed me out to the kitchen, with a stack of dishes in her arms, a few empty mugs hooked in her fingers. She gently set down the load, and placed the mugs in the sink. Stepping back, she stumbled a little.

“Whoa!” I reach
ed out, and caught her. “Addy, are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m just a little dizzy. Sorry.”

I held her at arm’s length. “What’s wrong with you? I can tell there’s something up.”

She look
ed around, then her eyes set back on mine. A small grin hinted across her face. “I’m pregnant.”

“What!” I exclaim
ed, throwing my arms around her, almost knocking us both down. “When? Where? How?!”

“Well, when a boy likes a girl…” She hug
ged me tightly. “I found out last week. The doctor thinks my conception date was around the middle of last month.”

“I’m so happy for you! As if you didn’t call me right away…” I pretend
ed to be hurt, but I couldn’t help but smile. I was elated. This news…couldn’t be more welcome. “Blaine Blackstock! Get that gorgeous country ass of yours in the kitchen, now!”

Blaine walk
ed in, and leaned up against the island in the center of the room. “I guess we might as well tell everyone else, now that Riley knows.”

“Rude! But yes, you’re right. If I know, every
one will know. Mom! Come in here!”

My mom
came in the room, followed by Alex.

“We didn’t want to say anything, just yet. It was on Jeremiah’s birthday when I found out I was pregnant with Seth. How weird is that?” Addison
said, hugging Alex.

***

Addison
was going to have three kids…a three year old, two year old, and baby. I laid in bed, still trying to wrap my mind around it. Before I fell asleep, I prayed not to forget my birth control pill in the morning.

I w
oke up before everyone, and remarkably, I felt great. I wasn’t tired, or groggy…I was ready to start the day. Which wasn’t going to be much of anything, aside from grocery shopping and tidying up the house.

“Good morning, mom,” I greet
ed my mother while peeking over my coffee mug. “How did you sleep?”

“
Good! I’d love some coffee too, is there any left?”

“I’ll get it. Can you make a list for shopping today? You know I suck at it.” I ma
de my mom a cup of coffee, and placed it down in front of her at the table.

She grab
bed a small pad of paper from her purse, and clicked her pen to start writing. My mother had always been about notes, sticky tabs, pens, and stationary. Their fridge was always covered with notes, mainly for my dad to remember something.

I smile
d thinking of him. How it has been less than three months, but it seemed like yesterday…and an eternity. I missed his smile, his hugs, his jokes, and even the melodic warmth of the notes on his piano. I watched my mom while she wrote. Her dark hair falling over her forehead, her hand steadily holding her pen. She looked exactly like me.

A twinge of emotion rushe
d through me. I looked away while I tried to push away my tears. She was married to the love of her life, for over thirty-five years, and now it’s gone.

“I love you,” I whisper
ed, reaching over to stop her hand from writing to hold it.

She look
ed up and smiled at me. “I love you, too. Now, when do you want to go?”

Just to get out of Sheridan for a while, to let my mom see a little more of Wyoming, I dr
ove to Buffalo and we planned on doing our grocery shopping there.

The grocery store we end
ed up at, was just like Lander’s. But bigger, and had an enormous meat section. We went up and down each aisle, making sure were not forgetting or missing anything. In the cereal aisle, Isaac talked me into buying some sugary stuff for him. I winced at the memory of the last time I had that in my cart—I was gazing on Weston Casey for the first time.

Pushing the thought out of him out of my head, I toss
ed another box of cereal in to the cart and winked at Isaac.

Scarlett and my mom wander
ed along the doors of frozen food, and we casually strolled behind them.

“Ugh, excuse me. Miss Harrison?” a voice call
ed from behind us.

I turn
ed, look around for who in Buffalo would be calling me. “Detective Campbell! Hi!” I waved.

He walk
ed up to us and extended his hand. “Good to see you again, Miss Harrison. And, how are you doing Isaac? I’m very happy to see you, son.”

“Hi,” Isaac
said, shaking his hand as well. “Nice to see you too!”

“What are
you up to today in Buffalo?” the detective asked.

I blush
ed. “Grocery shopping, actually. We just wanted to go see what the competition is like…Mom!” I called over to my mom, she stopped and turned. “Come here for a sec!”

She walk
ed back, hand in hand with Scarlett, and smiled quizzically when she arrived to where we were standing.

“Mom, this is Detective Campbell. He helped Isaac.” I smile
d. “Detective, this is my mother, Ann.”

“Pleasure to meet you, ma’am,” he
said, gallantly, tipping his hat down to her. “Call me John.

“Very nice to meet you, as well. Thank you fo
r everything, by the way. We’re very grateful.” Mom shook his hand, and I think she actually blushed.

They
stood for a few moments, conversing about the weather, and how it varied day to day as of late. How Detective Campbell—err, John, would like to visit Maine again, and actually see it next time.

Scarlett pull
ed on my hand, asking me to open the glass door and pick out a box of colorful popsicles.

“Well, y
’all have a good day now. Take care. Good seeing you again.” John tipped his hat once more, and turned to walk away.

“Bye, John!” Isaac call
ed to him.

“See you later, buddy.”

“What?” My mom asked when I turned and looked at her.

“Nothing.” I raise
d an eyebrow and smirked. “He’s cute…for an old guy, huh?”

“I didn’t notice.”

“Sure.” I winked and turned to the kids. “Ready to go? I think we got almost everything in the store.”

Isaac nod
ded, Scarlett tried to open the box of frozen treats and my mom ignored me.

Chapter
Twenty-Three

“Mom! Are you ready yet?” Isaac cracked the door of the bedroom open and peeked in. “Everyone is here! You’re going to be late.”

“Come in here, handsome.”

Isaac walked in, and I carefully straightened his bow tie. He looked so grown up, I felt myself getting emotional just looking at him. My dark hair, and Dane’s green eyes…made one fetching little man.

“There! That’s better. Now, how do I look?” I
twirled around.

Isaac whistle
d.

“I’ll take that as a compliment, thank you.
Do you like the flower?” I asked, gently touching the petals on the single white dahlia in my hair.

“Mom, you’re beautiful.”

Today was the day that most little girl’s dream about their entire lives. They met their Prince Charming, probably in high school, lost their virginity to said Prince, married and moved into the house with the cliché picket fence. Then, after all that jazz, they would have kids.

The perfect vision complete.

Well, I did it back-asswards.

But, regardless of how, and when…I’m marrying my version of Prince Charming. He goes by one, Alex Cole.

Addison kissed my cheek before she walked out, ahead of me. “Love you, girl.”

“Right back atcha, babe.” I smile
d. “Now go before I change my mind.”

The doors open
ed, the music cued…and out she went.

I tr
ied to breathe, but I was currently incapable of anything except for trying to reign in my rampant heart. When it was my turn, I started to walk, slowly, like I practised when I was a little girl.

Then I
saw Alex, and I lost all train of thought. He was standing at the end of the aisle, wearing a black suit, and all I could see was him. The ocean spanned in the background, and I couldn’t care less about it, his eyes were all I wanted to be swimming in.

I push
ed down the lump in my throat, afraid I would choke on it when had to start talking. I smiled when I passed my mother and John. He finally made it to Maine, and actually got to see it, just like he wanted. They had become good friends, and as much as I tease her, she claims he’s only a comforting ear. I don’t care what he is; he makes her smile, and it’s been a long time since I saw her really do that.

“Who gives this woman to this man?” the preacher
asked.

“Me!” Isaac
said proudly, his arms hooked around mine.

“Thank you, baby. I love you,” I whisper
ed in his ear before he went to sit with my mom, Scarlett and John.

Alex wipe
d his eyes on the cuffs of his jacket, and laughed softly while taking my hands in his. They held me tightly, and through each and every word spoken, I felt him squeeze.

I
didn’t get the father-daughter dance at my wedding reception. Instead, I got a mommy-Isaac, Riley-Blaine, Riley-John, and Riley-everyone else, dance. I even twirled Scarlett around to a few numbers.

Alex’s parents—my new in-laws, proudly cradle
d Addison and Blaine’s new babies in their arms while we all line danced together.

That’s right
babies
.

Plural.

Last month Addison had two more boys; twins! Blue eyed blondes named Brett and Ben.

“Are you ready to go
yet, wife?” Alex asked, growling into my ear so no one could hear him. “I just
gotta
get you out of that dress.”

We bl
ew kisses, waved, and ducked from the rice being tossed at us. I hugged and kissed my babies before we left, and cried when my mom threw her arms around me. She will be staying at the resort for a few days, instead of going back to our old home; she’s just not ready yet. On the plus side, the kids will love spending extra time by the ocean.

***

“Welcome to the “Big Easy”, baby,” Alex
said sweetly, holding my hand as the plane made its descent into Louisiana. It didn’t really hit me until we were in the taxi on our way to the bed & breakfast that I was really in New Orleans. It had always been a dream of mine to come here, and now that I was, I just wanted the driver to keep going so I could see everything right now.

We pull
ed up to the curb outside of the breathtaking B&B we booked for the duration of our stay.  Even in the dark I could see the two-storey pillared mansion was surrounded by large majestic oak trees, with flowing and wispy branches, it had a balcony extending the front of the building, with white rocking chairs on it.

“Alex, this is amazing,” I whisper
ed, feeling my heart race with the anticipation of staying in such an old and elegant piece of history.

Our suite
was even more spectacular. A warm blue painted on the walls, trimmed in stark white, with dark and ornately carved antique furniture. A four-poster bed, a roll-top desk, and creamy chaises with dark wooden trim; it’s like something straight out of my dreams.

“Ry, check this out.” Alex
stood, between two sliding doors and I stepped past him into the bathroom. A giant tub was filled to the brim with bubbles, and on either side of the bath sat vases overflowing with white dahlias.

I turn
ed to him, and started to unzip my plain white dress. The one I changed into after the wedding so I was able to fly in comfort. “Can you?” I turned around, asking Alex to unzip the rest for me.

His hands travel
ed over my bare shoulders, down my back and once the dress was pooled at my feet on the floor, his mouth kissed and bite the back of my neck. He lifted my hair, making way for his soft lips.

Deep in the tub, surrounded by sweet fragrance and bubbles, I sit with my legs wrapped around Alex’s body. My fingers trace
d his jawline, appreciating his beautiful features, and when I leaned in to kiss his lips, those enchanting sparks flew between us and it ignited our passion even more.

“I love you, Alex,” I breathe
d into this mouth between kisses. “I’ve always loved you.”

He lift
ed me up, and the water splashed out from around us, petals float gently in the water. Alex Cole, my husband, my lover, my best friend…my everything, pulled me onto him, filling me like it was our very first time again.

This time it wa
s softer, gentler, but more ardent than I had ever felt before. There was a new charge racing between us, like we were both running a marathon with no end in sight, no finish line. We scrambled out of the tub, keeping our lips locked while trying not to slip on the wooden floor.

Making our way to the bed, Alex pull
ed me up into his arms, taking my feet right off the floor and all the oxygen out of my body. I stared down at his face, and his magnificent eyes gazed up at me with hunger. He licked his bottom lip, and I knew I was done for.

***

The next morning, we’re greeted with an authentic Creole breakfast. Complete with bread pudding (only made perfect with the added Bourbon whiskey—
oh, my
), eggs, Bananas Foster atop French toast, and grits. As I stared down at the feast, I thought I may just have to take a nap after consuming this much food. But, oh did it taste heavenly.

While Alex
sat across from me, eating and talking on the phone to Scarlett, I watched him. Seeing how his eyes lit up when he listened to her talk, how his mouth moved with each word that escaped it, and even the few strands of hair that softly fell on his forehead when he leaned down to laugh at something she has said to him.

I
felt tears prickle in my eyes. I loved him so much. I couldn’t believe I almost threw it away. How selfish was I? Not wanting to turn thirty, not wanting to live in Wyoming, not wanting to accept that this, indeed, was the life I was blessed with.

Now, that thirty ha
d passed (and I made it through just fine...totally drunk, but fine), and I’m married to the love of my life, I’ve wondered why God had given me all of this, knowing I didn’t deserve it. Regardless, I am thankful, and forever will I give thanks for this man in front of me, and the two beautiful children that were waiting for us at home.

“Okay, Mommy wants to talk to you, baby,” Alex
said, before saying goodbye and handing me the phone. I spoke to Scarlett, Isaac, and my mom before finishing my breakfast.

Our first outing as man and wife
was a riverboat cruise down the Mississippi. We toured a historical park and preserve, the Chalmette Battlefield, and after almost three hours we departed the magnificent paddlewheel boat and made our way to the French Quarter.

“Is it possible for something to be this gorgeous? I mean, wow…” I marvel
ed at our surroundings. Photos do this place no justice, you have to take in New Orleans with your own two eyes; it’s like nothing other. “And this is only the daytime. We have to see this at night.”

“Yes, but I’m starving. Let’s eat.” Alex pull
ed my hand and we found a local deli, with no tables or chairs as it was packed into a tiny space. We ordered two huge sandwiches and walked over to a nearby park to eat. It was right on the Mississippi, so we watched boats travel up and down the river.

“You know, there aren’t many people around,” Alex
said, slyly. “I’m still hungry.”

“Oh, and what exactly are you in the mood for?”

“You,” he said, bluntly.

I manage
d to charm Alex out of the idea of mid-day sex in public. But, as soon as the sky darkened, and it got busier…I couldn’t even hold myself back any longer.

We found a building on Bourbon Street, and even with all the bustle around us, the jazz music, the yelling; the buzz was loud enough to drown out my cries as Alex pressed me up against the wooden wall and made love to me.

My leg pulled up to his hip, my dress lifted, his pants unbuttoned and pulled down just far enough to get the job done. His mouth eagerly sucked and kissed my neck and collarbone, and when he unravelled his groans were muffled by his mouth pressed into my skin.

It start
ed to rain, but we didn’t stop. Again Alex pushed into me, and the cool torrent of water graced our heated skin. Our clothes clung to our bodies, and in the heat of the moment, I reached my fingers between the spaces in Alex’s shirt, tearing the buttons and ripping the shirt off his chest.

“Oh, fuck!” He roar
ed and grinned salaciously at me, all the while thrusting deeper and harder.

***

We
scurried hand-in-hand into the lobby of the bed and breakfast, while getting a few smirks and surprised glares from the staff at our drenched and dishevelled state. We laughed and ran up the stairs to our room, kissing all the while, like eager teenagers on prom night.

Once we we
re dry and cuddled in the lush bed, I rested my head on Alex’s chest and listened to the rhythmic beating of his heart. “Did Blaine help you with your vows?” I asked, grinning up at him.

“No! Why?” Alex ask
ed, surprised. “Didn’t think I could come up with that all on my own? It took a while, but I think I covered it all.”

“Say them again.” I kiss
ed his chest and laid my head back down.

“I, Alex Cole, take you Riley Harrison, to
be my sex slave for life, and—”

“Alex.” I growl
ed.

He laugh
ed. “I, Alex Cole, take you Riley Harrison, to be the love of my life, for the rest of my life. To only see your face in a crowd of thousands, and your hand the only one my fingers reach for. I loved you before you knew it, and I pray that my last breath is one where I’m telling you that I love you.”

I use
d one of the sheets to wipe my eyes.

“Are you crying again?”

“Who wasn’t? Alex, you’re amazing.”

He kisse
d my hair, and wrapped his arms around me tightly. “I don’t want to leave tomorrow.”

“I don’t either. But I miss the kids.”

“Me too.”