Stealing Time (13 page)

“Dad, let me talk to him when you’re
done.”

“Great, just pack it in a safe place. Hold on
a minute, Kate wants to talk to you.” He passed the phone.

“Thanks, Carl, for doing this. I need Lindsey
at my wedding...and you. You’re coming, right?”

“I’m debating what I should do. I don’t know.
I feel like I’d be cheating on Renae.”

“You have to come. Rachel’s part of your
past, and you need to...”

“Sleep with her? Is that what you’re going to
say?”

“Carl! Well, maybe I am. We want to make sure
Josie’s born.”

“Definitely, but I thought once something
happens we don’t really need to repeat it.”

“Yeah, I feel that’s true, but do you really
want to take the chance?”

“I guess not. I planned on going anyway, no
matter what happens with Rachel.”

“Why didn’t you just say so?”

Carl laughed. “Love to make you work for it.
Have a safe trip. See you soon.”

“You, too. Love you.” Kate hung up the phone
and handed it back to her father. “I’m sure you know what that
conversation was about. What do you think? Will Carl have to go
back year after year to make sure Josie is born?”

“Hard to say. I hope not.” Her dad looked
perplexed. “If he’s willing to test out the theory, we can all stay
home next year.”

“Let’s worry about that next year then. I
have a few things to finish up before we head to the canyon. I love
the thought of getting married all over again!” Kate twirled around
the room and landed in Drew’s lap.

“I love the thought of making you Mrs. Martin
over and over again, too,” he whispered in her ear.

* * * *

Loud pounding noises interrupted Kate’s
dream. She felt her head throbbing and willed herself awake. Still
groggy, she focused on the pine walls, trying to get her
bearings.

The boardinghouse? My wedding!
Kate
flew out of bed, realizing the pounding came from the door.
Standing in the hall were two similar blondes, smiling from ear to
ear.

“Surprise!” Lindsey pushed past Kate as she
entered the room. “This is totally different than last year.
Grandma J came up to my room, scaring me to death.” She jumped on
Kate’s bed, laughing.

“And don’t call me Grandma J again! You have
to call me Anna.” Anna pounced on the bed next to Lindsey. “It was
just a little practical joke!”

“Climbing into bed and tickling my nose with
a feather isn’t a practical joke!” Lindsey screamed with laughter.
“You’re so much fun, Gran...I mean Anna!”

Kate stared at the two of them, speechless.
They were so cute and having so much fun, but she had to intervene
and joked, “Excuse me, isn’t this my day? You two are upstaging
me.”

“Kathryn, stop being such a sorehead.” Anna
pulled her onto the bed.

“Sorehead? Oh my gosh, that’s too funny!”
Lindsey rolled around on the bed in fits of giggles. “I’m sorry,
Kate. I can’t stop laughing. Slap me or something.”

“I’m not going to slap my best friend.”

“Hey!” Anna sat up, causing Lindsey to
continue laughing.

“She likes me best today, Grandma J!”

“I warned you.” Anna produced the errant
feather.

“No, please, no! I’ll be good.” Lindsey held
up her hands.

Kate longed to stay in the middle of the
craziness but knew there were more important things to do. She
stood up and went into the hall. Lindsey’s dress was hanging in the
closet right where it was supposed to be. Bringing it back to her
room, she handed it to Lindsey. “Here, go get ready. Daniel will be
here before we know it. You’re supposed to be gone.”

“Okay, ruin our fun.” Lindsey grabbed the
dress and went back upstairs to get ready.

“Kathryn, I never had this much energy around
Lindsey back at the ranch. I hope she remembers this day and
treasures it.” Anna wiped a tear from her eye.

“Of course, she will. I won’t let her
forget.” Kate brushed her hair and started packing a small bag to
take to the ranch. “I’m so glad we get to share this day together.
We had so much fun during my first wedding. It will be hard to top
that.”

“I’m going to try my best. I better finish
getting ready, too. See you in a bit.” Anna gave Kate a huge
hug.

Kate’s mom appeared at the door as Anna was
leaving. “You two seem to be enjoying yourselves. Sorry to
interrupt, but I have to get the wedding party out the door.”

“Mom, we’re almost ready. You go ahead. I
need to get Molly and Ruthie.”

Kate walked down the hall and knocked on the
door. Two redheaded girls popped out of the room, dressed for the
wedding. Anna joined them, and they walked out the front door to
find Daniel waiting in his car.

“There’s the blushing bride!” Daniel called
out just like he did the first time. Kate put her head down acting
shy as she had before but really did feel like a blushing
bride.

Everything felt familiar as the car pulled up
to the ranch. The girls headed down the hall to the large back
bedroom where everyone would get ready. Kate’s mom was already
there, dressed and waiting. A flurry of activity began as they
rushed into the room. Hair and make-up needed to be done. The
dresses and headbands were put in place. Her mom pulled Kate over
to the side of the room so they could talk.

“I’m still a little nervous about seeing Aunt
Lucinda. I can’t get used to doing things over and over again.”

“You’ll be fine. Stick to the script.”

At that moment Lucinda burst into the room
and ran over to Kate as they grasped hands.

“Kathryn, you need to get dressed! The guests
are arriving.”

She turned and looked at Kate’s mom, studying
her carefully. “So this is the famous Joanna I’ve heard so much
about. Jack is a lucky man. Why do you look so familiar? Have I
ever met you before?”

“No, this is the first time. Nice to meet
you, Lucinda.” Joanna shook her hand.

Then Lucinda announced she was feeling
queasy, just like last time, and went outside to get some fresh
air. Kate knew her aunt was pregnant but couldn’t say anything. She
had to keep history the same and followed the advice she gave her
mother. After Lucinda left, Anna, Kate and her mother were alone in
the room. Anna came out from the corner where she was dressing.

“She’s pregnant! I never realized it at the
time. I just thought she was complaining as usual because she
wasn’t the center of attention.”

“Anna, we know that’s not true. Lucinda’s a
very sensitive, kind person.”

“I know that now, but at the time that’s what
I thought.”

“I keep forgetting. Sorry.”

“Don’t worry. This is your day, so let’s get
you ready.”

This time both Anna and Kate’s mother helped
her dress. They fussed over her hair and placed the headband and
veil just so on her head. A knock at the door startled them.

“Anna, I don’t think you were here when I met
my grandmother.”

“I think it will be alright. We both know,
don’t we?”

“Yes, I keep forgetting. Grandma already
knows quite a bit. Right, Mom?”

“She’s still meeting you for the first time,
but I’m sure everything will be fine.” Kate’s mom opened the door.
“Lillian, you look lovely. Kate, come meet your grandmother.”

This time Kate ran directly into her arms,
embracing her. “I know you’re seeing me for the very first time,
but you also know that we’ve already met.”

Lillian dabbed at her eyes with a small
embroidered handkerchief. “I feel like I already know you, dear,
and feel like there’s more to come.”

“Mother, I have to take you to your seat so I
can come back and walk my daughter down the aisle.” Kate’s dad took
his mother’s arm, closing the door behind them.

“I’m so glad I got to be part of that.” Anna
sat quietly in a corner chair, observing. “It was so very sweet. I
wonder what she meant by there’s more to come.” She shrugged as if
she had no idea, stood up and straightened her dress. “Now, let the
show begin!”

Everything was as Kate remembered. Her
handsome husband waited for her underneath a canopy of white
lilacs. Lucinda had outdone herself. Kate had forgotten how
beautiful everything looked.

Lilac colored sashes were tied around white
covered chairs. Beautiful shades of purple and lavender lilacs were
everywhere. Soft glowing candles were on tables and in free
standing candelabras, making the room seem like a fairyland.

Kate glanced around the room as she headed
down the aisle, taking in the people—friends, family and some she
had yet to meet. Last time it was a blur, but now she distinctly
saw their faces, memorizing the moment.

As she reached the front of the room, there
was one face that could ruin the day, but Kate was prepared.
Nicolas—her soon-to-be father-in-law—glared at her from his front
seat on the groom’s side of the aisle.

You’ll grow to love me or at least like
me.
Kate wanted to giggle at the thought, but her father
stopped, ready to give his daughter to his good friend and take his
place as best man.

The service was lovely, and Kate stared into
Drew’s emerald green eyes the whole time she said her vows. She
soaked in his words and let them flow through her as he said his.
Nothing could ruin this perfect day.

Kate prepared herself to meet Drew’s parents
again. They decided beforehand to stay unrehearsed and recreate the
scene the best they could.

“Kate, my wife, I want you to meet my
parents.” Drew stood in front of the handsome couple after the
ceremony was over.

Kate almost forgot how beautiful Ilene was
with her dark auburn hair, pale skin and green eyes, reminding her
so much of Drew’s. His father, strikingly handsome as ever with
wavy black hair and brown piercing eyes, looked right through
her.

“So nice to finally meet you, Kathryn.”
Drew’s mom took her hands.

“Nice to meet you, too, Mrs. Martin.” Kate
nodded

“You can call me Ilene if you are comfortable
with that.” She wore a sincere smile. “Nicolas, say hello to your
daughter-in-law.”

“Humph, hello.” He could barely look at her,
just like before.

“Father, Kate’s my wife. I expect you to
treat her with a little more respect.” Drew seemed just as angry as
the first time.

“Yes, yes, of course. Welcome to the family.”
Nicolas took her hand but didn’t seem any more sincere.

Anna appeared out of nowhere. “I need to
borrow the bride for just a minute.” She smiled sweetly at the
group, taking Kate by the arm and led her away. “The introduction,
I take it? I thought you needed rescuing.”

“Yes, it went just as well as the first
time,” Kate answered sarcastically. “Let’s find Lindsey and see
what she’s up to.”

They found her standing with Maya, Carl Sr.
and Carl Jr. on the side of the room closest to the kitchen. Carl
went by the name of Joseph at the canyon. He acted the part of
Maya’s cousin. They were already holding glasses of champagne and
held them up in toasting fashion when Kate approached.

“To Mrs. Martin.” Lindsey sipped from the
glass and then offered some to Kate. “And to me...for not having to
babysit Carl this year,” she whispered.

Kate remembered designating Lindsey as Carl’s
official babysitter last year. She was worried he might do
something stupid which he managed to accomplish anyway. Taking Carl
Jr.’s arm, Kate walked him to a quiet spot. “Is Rachel here?”

“Of course she is. She’s Thomas’ date. Drew
invited her.”

“And have you talked to her?”

“Yes, we’ve already arranged to meet in the
barn. I have to admit when I see her I fall instantly in love all
over again. It makes me want to bring her home to Ohio and never
let her come back here again. Her life as a maid can’t be easy. I
could make things so much better for her.”

“She’s your first true love, isn’t she?”

Carl shrugged. “I guess.”

“Aww, you’re so cute, but stick to the plan.
Don’t get any big ideas. Aren’t you supposed to be gone by
now?”

“Ouch, that was sweet and mean all at the
same time, sis.”

Returning to the group, Kate wished she could
stay with them throughout the evening but knew she needed to
mingle. “Have fun, everyone. I’ll try to be back as soon as I
can.”

Kate knew exactly where she’d find Drew. He
was having his conversation with Nicolas in the bedroom where she
had dressed for the wedding. She’d have to burst in, have her say,
and then Drew would carry her out to the reception.

She readied herself for the next act in the
play, aware that was the last of the drama for the evening. Her
wish was to be in Drew’s arms for the rest of the evening. Taking a
deep breath, she headed down the hall, giving herself a pep talk.
As she reached for the doorknob, waiting to make her grand
entrance, she listened to the voices coming from the other
side.

Things were going well. Nicolas was telling
Drew that Gia still loved him and was waiting for him back in New
York. Drew accused him of wanting to build an empire between the
two families. Nicolas offered to get their marriage annulled,
saying he could wait until Drew came to his senses. That’s when
Kate was to burst in and say her piece. Suddenly her heart began to
pound. It didn’t sound like last year’s conversation. Drew just
went off script.

“First off, Father, I will never get this
marriage annulled. I love Kate. We’ll be together forever whether
you like it or not. When we come to New York next week, you’ll get
to know her and love her as I do.”

“You’re coming to the city? I didn’t realize.
Does your mother know? I’m sure she’ll want to have her own
reception. This is good news, son. Very good news.”

Kate slowly opened the door. “You ruined the
surprise, Drew. I thought we were going to tell them last minute we
were coming.”

“Kate, I’m sorry. Forgive me. Father, if
you’ll excuse us. We need to get back to our wedding.”