Chapter Nineteen

“Are you hungry? You must be. I noticed you hardly ate anything in the cafeteria last night,” Tim observed as they walked hand-in-hand into his apartment’s small kitchen the next morning.

“I am, actually, now that you mention it. What did you have in mind?”

“Well, I have this excellent recipe for omelets, if you’re interested.”

Sarah smiled at the memory he’d invoked.

“Got you hooked on them, huh?”

“And how,” he agreed, pulling out ingredients.

“But mine never taste as good as that first one you made me.”

She giggled, and the sound pierced his core. He abruptly set down the items he’d gathered up, moved around the counter, took her in his arms, and kissed her passionately.

“I missed that,” he murmured. “Hearing your voice. Hearing your giggle. Holding you close to me. I missed us.”

“Me too,” she sighed, laying her head on his chest.

He reluctantly turned her loose so he could cook them breakfast.

As he did, they began to talk. Sarah filled him in on her life since the last time they’d seen each other.

“My day job’s all right, but you know I want to be a writer,” she concluded.

“I do know. You’ve always been passionate about it. I think you should go for it,” he said, smiling at her tenderly.

They sat at his little bistro table, and it was his turn to talk.

He told her about being deployed and about being scared pretty much the whole time. His voice broke as he talked about Dack, and she reached over and took his hand as he relived one of the worst days of his life.

He shared his journey through rehab and training and how he’d come to be in Arlington.

By the time he finished, her eyes were glistening.

“I’m so sorry I wasn’t there for you through all that,” she whispered.

He shrugged.

“But you’re here now. I’m just thankful we found each other again, Sarah.”

“I am, too,” she said, but her face was troubled.

“What are you thinking?”

“I’m thinking… I’m thinking that I can’t believe we lost so much time over a misunderstanding. My misunderstanding,” she confessed.

“Baby,” he said gently as he stood and pulled her into his arms.

“Please don’t do that to yourself. We’re both at fault in this. I assumed, wrongly, that you didn’t want to hear from me, so I didn’t make a nuisance of myself at your parents’ house. I could have. I should have. But what’s done is done. We’re here now. No point in looking backward. We’re together again, that’s what counts.”

“But I still want to know what happened. Why didn’t you get my letters?”

He sighed.

“I have a theory. I’ll be right back.”

***

Tim ducked into his bedroom for a moment, and when he returned, he said, “Whatever happens next, we’ll get through it together, okay?”

She nodded, and he pulled out his cellphone, dialed a number, put it on speaker, and motioned for Sarah to remain quiet.

His mother picked up on the third ring.

“Hey, Tim,” she exclaimed. “What a pleasant surprise! What’s up?”

“Hey, Mom, I have a question for you. You got a minute?”

“Absolutely, son. Anything for you.”

“Mom,” Tim said softly, his eyes locked with Sarah’s, “Did I ever get any mail at your house while I was deployed?”

A long pause, then, “Well, some junk mail, but nothing else.”

“You’re sure that was all?”

“Um…,” Paige hesitated.

“Never got any letters from anyone?”

“Um,” came through loud and clear over the speaker.

“Mom.”

“Well, you did get several letters from Sarah, but I knew you wouldn’t want them. So…”

Tim cut his mother off mid-sentence.

“What did you do with them?”

“I shredded them,” his mother snapped. “She caused you enough embarrassment, leaving you standing up there in front of all our family and friends. I refused to let her embarrass you further.”

Sarah’s eyes gaped in surprise, and her hands flew to her mouth.

“Me, or you?” Tim’s voice was razor sharp.

Paige began to sputter.

“This isn’t about me.”

“Isn’t it? If it was about me, you’d have let me make up my own mind about Sarah. But it’s not. It never was. It was about your reputation in the community.”

“I always felt she was beneath you, and she proved me right by running away,” Paige huffed, and Tim reached out a hand to steady Sarah, who had turned white.

She was never anything but kind to me, Sarah’s mind reeled. Was it all an act?

“Well let me tell you something, Mom,” Tim said, his eyes never leaving Sarah’s and his voice strong with conviction. “I’ve found her again, and I still love her, and if she’ll still have me, I will gladly make her my wife.”

Tim hung up the phone, then reached into the pocket of his robe and brought forth Sarah’s engagement ring.

“But…but…what about…” she began.

“The only opinion I care about is yours,” he replied, love shining in his eyes.

He got down on one knee and softly said, “Sarah Genard, I’ve always loved you, and I always will. Are you willing to give us another try?”

Sarah nodded, beaming with happy tears, as Tim gently clasped her left hand to place her custom-made ring back where it belonged.

***

Three weeks later, Sarah was standing outside the courtroom of the Justice of the Peace, with Jordan, Karli, Jodie, and her parents in attendance. As per tradition, she and Tim had last seen each other the evening before.

She stood in a small alcove out of sight of the courtroom doors, wearing a simple sheath gown and fingertip veil, waiting anxiously and clutching the bouquet her mother had made for her.

“You look beautiful, honey,” her father said and kissed her cheek.

“Thanks, Dad,” she answered, and hugged him. “Um, what time is it?”

“Two minutes to ten,” he answered.

“Is he here yet?”

“I’ll go check.”

Her father disappeared around the corner and returned moments later.

“Not yet,” he confirmed. “But I’m sure he’ll be here any minute, Sarah.”

“Okay,” she exhaled, trying to calm her nerves.

Why am I nervous? I’m marrying the love of my life, my best friend. Nothing to be nervous about.

A hugely pregnant Karli came around the corner a few minutes later.

“Any sign of Tim?” Sarah asked.

“Not yet,” Karli said. “You want Jordan to call him and see if he’s on his way?”

“Yes, please,” Sarah answered. “I don’t have my cell phone.”

“Okay, hang tight,” Karli said, and then added, “You look beautiful, by the way.”

Sarah smiled softly.

Another ten minutes passed, and still no Tim. Karli reappeared several minutes later to confirm Jordan had called multiple times but was not getting an answer.

Oh, no, she thought, tears beginning to form. Is he… is he leaving me at the altar this time as payback?

She shook her head trying to force the fear from her mind, but it started to take root.

At ten-thirty, just as the first round of tears began to fall, she heard a commotion from around the corner.

“Where is she? Is she mad? There was a wreck, and I stopped and rendered aid; I couldn’t just drive by.”

She stepped out into the hallway and relief flooded her to see Tim walked slowly toward her.

“You… you’re an absolute vision in that dress,” he whispered as he looked at her.

Then he noticed her brimming eyes.

“What’s wrong, honey?”

“I thought maybe…” Sarah began, then faltered.

“You thought… maybe I wasn’t coming?” he guessed, and she nodded as twin tears streaked down.

“Oh, Sarah,” he said, taking her in his arms.

“Honey, the only thing in this world that’s going to keep me from marrying you today is if you tell me ‘No’. I passed a minor accident on the way here. There was a pregnant woman who was already in labor involved in the accident, and no emergency crews were on scene yet, so I stopped to help her. I’m so sorry I made you worry.”

She sniffled even as she smiled.

“You delivered a baby?”

“I did,” he confirmed. “A beautiful, healthy baby boy. But I still should have taken two seconds to let someone here know what was going on so that you wouldn’t worry. I’m so sorry, Sarah.”

“It’s okay,” Sarah told him, love shining in her eyes. “You’re here now, that’s what counts.”

“So,” Tim murmured, “you ready to do this?”

“With all my heart,” she replied, and together they walked into the courtroom.

They stood, hand in hand, looking into each other’s eyes as they recited their vows.

Tim’s voice was husky with emotion as he said, “I do” and slipped the band he’d had made to match her engagement ring onto her finger.

Then it was Sarah’s turn, and Tim felt and saw the sincerity of her words as she recited them to him, then placed his ring on his left finger as well.

The Justice of the Peace pronounced them husband and wife and Tim grinned ear-to-ear as he leaned in to kiss his bride.

At the end of the ceremony, Sarah turned and gasped as she saw Patrick and Paige Fresco walking toward them.

Tim, following her gaze, instinctively stepped in front of Sarah to protect her.

“I’m so sorry,” Paige began, reaching out as she began to cry, her voice heavy with sincere regret. “I said that out of anger, and I didn’t mean it, and I am so sorry I let my pride keep the two of you apart. I’m so sorry I put myself above your happiness. I know I have no right to ask this of either of you, but please, please forgive me.”

The group was silent, watching and waiting, as Sarah slowly moved around Tim and contemplated his parents for a long moment.

Then she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around her new mother-in-law.

“I’m so glad you could come,” she said earnestly as she hugged her, and Paige sobbed on her shoulder.

One year later…

“You did it! I am so, so proud of you,” Tim said as they opened the box containing the proof copies of her first novel.

Sarah giggled.

“Did you know your mom was the first one to say she wants an autographed copy?”

“Did she now? Too bad. The very first autographed copy is mine,” Tim told her before he kissed her.

“I can handle that for you right now. Hand me a Sharpie,” she gestured, and he quickly located one and passed it to her.

She opened the cover, thought for a moment, then wrote an inscription.

“Here you go, honey,” Sarah beamed as she held out the book.

He opened it and read what she’d written, and his jaw dropped open.

“Really?”

“Really.”

“How far – “

“Two months.”

Tim tossed the book aside, scooped her up and twirled her around.

The book slid off the couch and tumbled to the floor, coming to rest open-faced so that what she’d written to him was plainly visible.

To my husband Tim - My rock, the love of my life and the father of my child.