When the Music Ends (The Winter Rose Chronicles) (17 page)

            "Well,
I guess it’s up to them, isn’t it. If she’s even interested
in someone, that’s progress."

            "It
is. So while Sheridan was finding a way to fall in love in spite of everything,
I was able to get back into living my life a little. She didn’t need my
encouragement so much because she gets it from him. So without that pressure I
was able to move forward myself."

            "Move
forward academically."

            "And
musically. After what we shared, going out with anyone else would have been a
step backwards." It was such a sweet thing to say, especially in light of
how badly he had messed up their relationship. Sean was blown away.

            "I
don’t deserve you, Erin."

            "Of
course you do. You’re my anchor. You made it possible for me to get
through high school. All the happiest moments in my life were because of
you."

            "How?
Your achievements had nothing to do with me. I didn’t get you into that
all-state band, for instance, you did that yourself."

            "Sean,
I made state twice before we got together. It was nice, but having you there to
hear me play was what made it great. No one has ever come to a concert just to
hear me before."

            "Your
parents?"

            Erin shook her head.

            "How
can someone as wonderful as you come from such useless selfish people?"

            "I
don’t know. Sometimes I hate them both."

            "You’re
entitled. Don’t let them convince you, though, that you’re
worthless." His trailing fingers were heading to more and more
interesting places. You are precious and valuable. The way they treated you was
like throwing a treasure in the trash. It doesn’t reflect badly on you,
only on them."

            Erin smiled, pressing a gentle kiss on Sean’s shoulder.

            "You’re
the only one who sees me that way."

            "It’s
not true, but at any rate, if the person who admires you most is going to be
your husband, I think that’s rather appropriate, don’t you?"

            "Yes.
You’re right. Do you think you might have recovered enough to…
admire me some more?" She arched against him, showing him what she meant.

            "Let’s
find out."

            He
rolled to his side, pulling her close. They leaned together, pressing their
mouths to each other for a tender arousing kiss, tongues tangling, mating, as
they ran their hands over each other’s bodies, preparing each other for
another devastating round of loving.

            The
more they touched and caressed and kissed each other, the more the years of
hurt and misunderstanding fell away until their love was as pure and
uncomplicated as it had once been. Better, because they no longer felt
responsible for Sheridan. Her pain did not overlay their relationship any more.
She had moved on, survived, and now they could focus entirely on each other. It
was selfish and greedy and decadent and wonderful, the way they devoured each
other. It went on and on, a single endless loving in many acts, with interludes
for showering (together, of course) and ordering and eating pizza. And when the
last powerful orgasms faded away, they cuddled up together and fell asleep.

            In
the morning, reality struck Erin. She had come away with Sean without anything
but the clothes she was wearing. She had no clean underpants, no toothbrush,
not even her purse. It was all locked in her dorm room and she didn’t
have the key. That simply wouldn’t do. While she listened to his soft
even breathing, she picked his pocket for change, working hard to muffle the
clanking of coins. Then she headed down the hall and bought a toothbrush from
the vending machine. For the rest, she would have to go back to her room before
she could do anything else. She was not interested in shopping for an
engagement ring while wearing dirty underwear. Sean agreed, reluctantly. He
didn’t want to delay making their engagement official, but he could
understand why she would feel that way. Besides, it was only 8:30 and the stores weren’t open yet.

            Hoping
Sheridan would still be there, they hurried back to the university, and hand
in hand they approached the room that had been Erin’s home for the last
three years. She knocked.

            "Who
is it?" Sheridan called.

            "It’s
me, Danny. Let me in please."

            "Where
the hell have you been?" Sheridan’s angry voice filtered through
the door.

            "I
got locked out again."

            "When?"

            "Yesterday
afternoon."

            "And
after that?"

            "I
ran into someone. We went on a date."

            "Erin, since when do you go on all-night dates?"

            "Sorry.
Look, I’ll tell you everything, but can you please open the door?"

            "Fine."
She wrenched it open and stopped dead to see her roommate, holding hands with
her brother. They walked into the room, a little sheepishly.

            "Oh,"
Sheridan said, her expression blank, "I see you found Sean. Well,
that’s okay then. I wish you had called and told me though. I was worried
about you."

            "I
completely forgot. As you can see, I’ve never been so safe in my
life."

            "Danny,
I’m sorry I yelled at you yesterday," Sean told his sister
earnestly, "you were right."

            "Of
course I was. I’m not stupid you know."

            "No,
you’re brilliant, and we were both too stubborn to realize it."

            "So,
is everything all right between you now? I guess it must be if you’re
back to spending the night together."

            "Everything
is wonderful!" Erin beamed. "We’re engaged. We’re going
to get a ring today."

            Sheridan considered this in silence for a moment. "Well, getting you two hitched up
should make my life easier. Okay, let me ask an awkward question. Sean, you
didn’t come up here planning to sleep with Erin?"

            "No,
of course not."

            "Which
means you weren’t prepared. Erin, when did you go off the pill?"

            Erin blushed. "A couple of years ago. I didn’t think I would need it."

            "I
doubt it’s still working. So you’re back to unprotected sex again?
Remember what happened the last time?"

            "I
would like that," Erin said softly.

            "Not
while you’re still in school, baby."

            "Nine
months from now I’ll be done."

"Erin…"

"You promised me," she reminded him intensely. He fell
silent.

            "Erin," Sheridan said firmly, "I’m not going to be happy with you if you
get pregnant again before you’re married."

            "It
may already be too late."

            "Well
then why don’t you guys forget about getting engaged and just get
married."

            The
couple looked at each other, stunned. Get married? Be married? No question
about who belonged with whom, no question about when it would end.

            Erin took a deep breath. "Her idea has merit."

            "It
does. I can’t imagine anything more appealing. But can it be done?"

            "Only
one way to find out," Erin said.

            "Yes.
Get dressed. I’ll work on the details."

            Erin hurried into some clothes while Sean scoured the phone book. A quick call told him
everything he needed to know, and he was very glad that he generally kept his
birth certificate in his wallet. Erin’s was in a box under her bed. They
had just enough time to get themselves over to the city offices where licenses
were issued, just as the place opened.

            They
were called to a window where a sweet, grandmotherly looking woman was waiting
to help them from behind a cheap veneer counter with high walls that formed a
cubicle.

            "Hi,"
Erin said, "We would like to purchase a marriage license."

            "Of
course. Here’s the paperwork my dears. You did know there was a five day
waiting period, right?"

            Erin’s face fell. "I didn’t know. We were hoping to do it today."

            "Why?
Is there a reason for your hurry?"

            "I
have to be at work Monday, and I live three hours away," Sean told her.

            "And
I’m a student here and I have class. I can’t just leave."

            "Oh.
Well, if you want, you can apply for a waiver. Here’s the form. Go fill
it out quickly, okay? Good. Listen, I don’t know if I can get this
approved, but I’ll try. It’s a pretty quiet time of year. I’m
going to attempt to push it through, but it might be a lengthy wait. In the
meanwhile, here’s a list of people who officiate weddings. We don’t
have justices of the peace in this state. Try calling them and see if anyone
can work with you, if we can get the paperwork approved."

            "Thank
you," Erin told the woman earnestly.

            "Baby,"
Sean said as they took their seats, "I think you need to make the calls.
If I do it, it’s going to look bad, like I’m pressuring you.
I’ll work on this paperwork."

            "Okay."

            Erin pulled out her cell phone and started dialing. At the first number, no one answered.
The second was a woman who told her that she needed at least two weeks notice,
and they would never get their paperwork approved anyway. The third was only an
answering machine. Erin was starting to get discouraged.

            "Keep
trying."

            The
fourth person on the list, one Rick Williams, answered the phone.

            "Hello,
my name is Erin. I’m trying to find someone who would be willing to
officiate a wedding."

            "That’s
my job. What do you have in mind?"

            "Nothing
fancy. We just want to get it done. The thing is, we want it done today."

            "Yikes,
that’s fast. Do you have the license?"

            "We’re
working on it. They’re trying to push it through."

            "Well,
if you can get it, I don’t have any plans for this afternoon. No one much
really gets married in November. If what you want is a bare bones legal
ceremony, I have a budget option for $150.00. Do you have a venue in
mind?"

            "No."

            "Would
my office be okay?"

            "Sure.
That’s fine."

            "Any
guests?"

            "I
think one."

            "All
right. Let’s say four o’clock. If you can’t get the license
approved today, call and let me know, and we’ll reschedule something
later, okay?"

            "Great.
Thank you so much." Erin sagged with relief.

            Of
course, just because they now had someone to officiate didn’t mean the
wait was over. It was after noon, and Sean, who had eaten nothing since the
pizza last night, and who had just spent long hours exerting himself on top of
it, was beginning to contemplate stepping out for some lunch when the clerk
called them back.

            Erin was trembling slightly, certain their waiver had been denied. It was too much to hope
that she would ever really get to be Sean’s wife.

            "Well,
my dears, this would never have happened in June, but here you go. Good luck.
Here’s your approved license and waiver."

            She
handed Sean a sheaf of papers. Erin was on the phone with Rick about half a
second later, confirming the arrangement to meet in his office at four.

            "Erin," Sean said as they walked back to his car, "Don’t you have classes
today?"

            "Yes,
actually. I have a bassoon lesson scheduled for about half an hour from now.
Thanks for reminding me." She called the instructor and promised to
reschedule for the following week. Dr. Yamamoto had been hearing this all day,
and wasn’t surprised, except that Erin had never missed a lesson before.

            "Bassoon?"

            "Yes.
I’m a double reed major, Sean. I have to be proficient all the oboe
variations, English horn, bassoon, and contra, as well as piano. I’ve
even been working a little with the flute. The more I know, the more lessons I
can teach later. Anyway, my other class today is Political Science, which I
hate. We are allowed three no shows per semester. I’ve never missed one,
so it’s okay."

            "I
kind of liked that class."

            "Well,
run for mayor, if you want. I can’t stand it. It’s hard to imagine
anything worse than politics."