Tempting Fate (19 page)

"I'm happy you found him."

Lauren could have told her that Kyle had been the one to find her broken down in an empty parking lot. He'd rescued her that night. In more ways than one. Did he really know what he'd done? She'd have to make a point to tell him in her own special way.

They all walked into the house together and introductions were made. Judy and Wally stayed back as Lauren introduced Kristen to her grandparents.

"This is Grandma and Grandpa, Krissy."

Kristen clung to Lauren and stared at her grandparents. Lauren had expected as much and hoped her parents were hurt by Kristen's shy reaction.

Samuel took Kristen by the hand and said, "Do you see this bag? I'll bet you can find a present or two in here with your name on it. You want to sit down with your Grandma and Grandpa and take a look?"

Kristen peered up at Lauren with a weary expression.

"It's okay, honey. I'm right here."

Lauren stayed by Kristen's side as she unwrapped more gifts. She was aware of Kyle's gaze the whole time. When it looked as though Kristen was comfortable being doted on by Brenda and Samuel, Lauren went to Kyle's side.

"Thank you for this," she said, taking his hand, knowing she could never adequately express her feelings for all he'd given her.

He wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her head. "You got your Christmas wish."

"And what about you, Kyle? What's your Christmas wish?"

He breathed deeply and she felt his chest press firmly against her breast. He tipped her chin with his fingers so she'd meet his gaze. "I have everything I want right here in my arms."

She sighed. "It's not just me. This is a package deal."

"I wouldn't have it any other way. I love that little girl as much as if she was my own flesh and blood."

"I know. I just needed to hear you say it."

Kyle bent his head and kissed her. "I have something for you," he murmured against her lips.

She chuckled softly. "Kyle, you've done enough. What more could I possibly need or want?"

"For us to be a family. I can't think of anything I'd want more."

She gazed into his eyes and saw the promise of forever. "You're serious."

He pulled a velvet box from pocket. The room went still as if everyone was focused on the two of them alone. Kyle opened the box to reveal a sparkling diamond solitaire. "Oh, Kyle," Lauren gasped.

He placed the ring on her trembling finger, and she peered at it through tear-filled eyes.

"This was my Christmas wish. I love you and I want us to be a family." He took a deep breath and held her, pressing her hard against his body.

"I love you, too. So much."

"Now maybe we could find a way to make Kristen's Christmas wish come true."

"You mean it, Kyle?" Kristen squealed from the other side of the room. Everyone in the room started to laugh.

Kyle crouched down to Kristen's level, and she ran to him, wrapping her arms around his neck.

"Would you like me to be your daddy?"

Kristen beamed up at Lauren, as if hoping to get approval. When Lauren smiled and nodded, Kristen jumped up and down and said, "You bet!"

The next moments were filled with hugs and kisses from the whole family congratulating them on their engagement. Julie and Kristen were giggling about being sisters. Judy and Brenda laughed about how wonderful it was to have a wedding to look forward to in the coming year. And Samuel and Wally were busy getting acquainted.

Lauren couldn't remember ever feeling as happy as she did at that moment.

Kyle drew up behind her, resting his and on her shoulder. "You got quiet all of the sudden. Are you feeling a little overwhelmed?"

"Never. Just appreciating my blessings."

"We've got a lifetime of those ahead."

"I'm so glad. Merry Christmas, Kyle.”

He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her against him, kissing her long and forcefully. She had a family again and a lifetime of kisses from a man that took her breath away. Who could ask for anything more?

THE END

# # #

THE MARRIAGE CONTRACT

by

Lisa Mondello

KINDLE EDITION

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PUBLISHED BY:

Lisa Mondello

The Marriage Contract

Copyright © 1999 by Lisa Mondello

Second Edition published 2011

First Edition published 1999 by Domhan Books

License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or obtain it through the Kindle Lend program, then you should delete it and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the author's work.

* * * * *

“A wonderful romance where a couple get a second chance at happiness. This story is never boring, yet it is very heartwarming as well.”
HUNTRESS REVIEWS

“A grandmother who goes skinny-dipping in public, a mother who plans
a wedding when there isnt one, and Caras reluctant boyfriend, the hapless Roger, bring life to this romance…THE MARRIAGE CONTRACT is a very entertaining read.”
FOUR STARS Romantic Times Sunnye Tiedemann

* * * * *

They were destined to fall in love.

But sometimes fate steps in…

Cara Carvalho and Devin Michaels became best friends one distant summer. No two people were more in sync about what they wanted their lives to be. But fate and their own inner need for success forced them to separate.

And sometimes fate needs a helping hand…

Now both are approaching that magic age of 35 and are seeking more from their lives. When Cara’s mom finds a glib promise on the back of Cara’s 17th birthday card, she decides to take matters into her own hands and bring Devin and Cara together again. With a little help and “creative” planning, can they have a second chance at happiness?

* * * * *

THE MARRIAGE CONTACT

Chapter One

Cara Cavarlho could think of a hundred places she wanted to be right now.

This wasn't one of them.

She tugged on the rope dangling above her head. A musty cloud of dust hit her in the face as the stairs leading to the attic of her parents' Westport home dropped, gaining her access. Gripping the splintered stairs, she began her ascent into the “black hole”, she so affectionately dubbed the attic in her childhood, with mixed emotion. Ever since her parents decided to sell the home she had grown up in and move to Florida with the senior league, she found herself becoming overwhelmed with emotion.

Of course, her thirty-fifth birthday being right around the corner wasn't a big help. That her mother kept reminding her of her single, childless status only added to her emotional unrest.

She yanked on the metal chain dangling above her head and light quickly spilled into the sweltering crawl space. “It's a furnace up here!” she called down, immediately feeling the cool air below bathe her warm face.

Whose idea was it to delve into this black hole on a hot August afternoon? Certainly not mine! she fumed silently.

“I know. We should have done this earlier in the day, before the sun had a chance to heat the attic,” she heard her mother, Ruthie, call up from below. “Do you want me to get the fan?”

I want to get out of here and not do this. “No. I can't stay up here long, anyway. I'm already sweating like a pig.”

On her hands and knees, she carefully crawled along the aged planks, feeling them bend under her weight. Aerobics twice a week and running three miles a day had her wearing the same size she had worn since college. With each creak of the aged floor boards, she was glad she’d taken pains to keep her figure trim.

Despite the dim light, it was difficult to see. She squinted and tried to focus. Boxes. There were loads of them scattered Helter Skelter around her, tucked into corners they'd been placed in years ago and long since forgotten. The life she used to lead was lost up here. Why couldn't things ever remain the same...?

“Just start with a few, dear. We can rummage through them first and price anything you want to include in the tag sale,” Ruthie suggested.

“Sounds like a good idea. I'll come back up tomorrow morning before breakfast to get more. I can barely breathe up here now.” Cara's eyes roamed the piles of memories one last time. After choosing the five boxes closest to the hole and carefully lowering them to her mother, Cara descended to fresh air once again.

She helped her mother drag the boxes down the stairs and out to the back porch of the beachfront home. Plopping the last one on the wrought iron patio table, she puffed her cheeks and slid the back of her hand across her sweated forehead. The sooner we get through this the better.

Ruthie was the first to begin the unveiling and plunged into the first box while Cara poured both of them a tumbler of her mother’s homemade lemonade. After a few minutes of digging, Cara found her tension ease. While she'd been dreading the idea of unearthing old memories, she found the task easier once she delved in and became lost in them.

The first box was filled with old Christmas ornaments and treasures she and her brother, Manny, had made in school when they were kids. A paper doll chain. An old wooden whale Manny had made in woodshop. The next box had old crochet blankets and booties from when they were babies. While Cara fingered the soft yarn of a baby afghan, Ruthie dove into the box filled with old yearbooks and newspaper clippings from Manny's athletic high school days.

“You suppose Manny would want to keep any of these things?” Ruthie asked, picking up a yearbook and fanning the pages open. A candied piece of what looked like edible underwear fell to the floor boards by their feet. Ruthie retrieved the “article” and held it up in the air between her fingers.

Cara laughed, remembering the gag gift Manny had given her years ago. It was harmless, but she knew her mother wouldn't find the truth so humorous.

“Those are mine, Ma. Manny gave them to me before he left for the seminary.”

As she expected, Ruthie threw her an appalled look. “How would your brother know about such things? He's a priest, for goodness sake!”

Cara sobered immediately, sucking in her cheeks to keep her laughter at bay. She knew her mother had a hard time remembering Manny as a normal everyday teenager before he'd left for the seminary. Now wasn’t the time to remind her.

But as usually, Cara didn't leave it alone. She reached across the table for the naughty underwear. “What size are they anyway?”

“Never you mind.” Ruthie dropped the brittle article of “clothing” in the green rubber garbage can by the table. “If your grandmother saw this, she'd probably take them for herself.”

Cara gasped. “She would not!”

“Oh, you'd be surprised. The other day I caught her standing in front of the full length mirror, trying on one of those tight bustiers Madonna wears all the time.”

“You're kidding. You are kidding, aren't you?”

Ruthie sighed heavily, a worried looked suddenly etching her face. “I think she has Alzheimer’s.”

Cara’s hand flew to her chest. “Why?”

“She's acting strange.”

“So what’s new? She always acts strange. She's a free spirit.”

Ruthie remained somber. “As we speak, she's at church.”

“So?”

“It's Tuesday.”

“What? People only go to confession on Sunday?”

She slapped the yearbook on the table. “She thinks she's Madonna. And there's the fishing thing.”

Cara held up her hand to halt her. “Fishing?”

Ruthie sighed and reached across the table, patting Cara's hand. “You’ve been away for a while, honey. You'll see what I mean after a few days.” Cara turned her attention back to one of the boxes in front of her and pulled out a pair of white baby booties.

“Oh, were these mine?” she crooned, examining the tiny booties.

“No, dear. I made them for your children, just after you were born. Not that they'll ever be used,” Ruthie quipped under her breath.

“You made booties for your own grandchildren when I was still a baby? What about me? What did I get to wear?” Cara shook her head in disbelief. Utterly bewildered, she stared blankly at the silk threads sewn in minute stitches with loving care. Her eyebrows furrowed as she read the name embroidered on the heels. “Omar? What's this Omar you have embroidered here?”

“Your grandmother made you plenty of booties when I was a little girl. I was merely passing on the tradition. One that I won't hold my breath you'll continue.”

Oh, this vacation is going to be good, Cara thought. A full three weeks helping her parents get the house ready for sale, and listening to poor Ruthie dig about her lack of grandchildren, was going to be a slow, agonizing death.

It was times like this she could throttle her brother for becoming a priest and dropping all the procreation pressure on her shoulders.

“And Omar,” Ruthie continued, “is the name I picked out for your first born son. What can I say? I had a thing for Dr. Zhivago.”

“You were already naming my kids!? Omar?” She mouthed the name with disgust.

“You didn't like Dr. Zhivago?”

Cara drew in a deep cleansing breath of salted sea air, wondering how she could have been born to this crazy family. This was going to be an extremely long three weeks.

Ruthie plucked out an old birthday card from the box and read it. “Devin Michaels. Mmmm. Now that's a name I haven't heard you speak in a long time.” Turning it over, she read the ink staining the back and squealed in delight, practically jumping from her seat. “Devin proposed to you!”

“What are you talking about? He did not.”

“On your birthday card. He proposed!” Ruthie sputtered, “How come you never told me about this?”

“Let me see that.”