Always a Lady (22 page)

Morgan leaned down for his kiss and smiled as she planted one swiftly on his cheek.

"Here," she said, as she took the computer from Buddy and stuffed it inside his jacket pocket. "Now for the tie."

He stood quietly as Debbie made him presentable. The twins had started to scatter the box of flowers a woman laid inside the door, when Debbie stopped them with a look.

"Wait a minute. I'll do it."

They complied without a word.

Cole watched in stunned silence. He'd never seen anyone quiet so many Brownfields with so few words.

"What did Lily say to do to me?" he asked gruffly.

"You don't want to know," Debbie drawled, and let her eyes roam across his tuxedo-clad shoulders as her hands could not.

Cole choked and turned several shades of red.

Case smiled to himself. He knew he'd been right. Cole was a goner. It was simply a matter of time before he realized it.

Debbie's small, curvaceous figure bounced from one man to the other, pinning boutonnieres, straightening ties, passing out combs for last minute hair grooming, until finally she'd done all she could to assure that her friend's wedding went as planned.

"Buddy," she said.

"Yes, ma'am," he muttered, suddenly overwhelmed by the fact that his sister was about to get married. "Don't fidget, okay?"

He nodded. The computer game went off in his pocket and Debbie frowned. He handed it over without a word and watched wistfully as she dropped it into their suitcase.

"Twins."

They almost snapped to attention.

"You both look perfect. Don't redo anything."

"You got it," they echoed.

"Mr. Brownfield, you're about to get the best son-in-law a man could wish for. I should know. I've known Case all my life."

Morgan nodded and smiled as Case hugged Debbie in thanks for all she'd done to assure there were no hitches.

Cole looked nervous. If there'd been anywhere to run he'd have taken it. He didn't know whether to be glad that Debbie was about to ignore him, or angry that he'd been singled out to be overlooked. He held his breath and then let it out in a slow, quiet whoosh as she walked toward the door. He'd escaped her fit of fixing.

He thought too soon.

"Got the ring?" she asked quietly, as she sauntered by him.

Cole jerked. Surprised by the question. Nervous he could not supply the answer. His hand slid down into his pants pocket. He felt around in short, jerky movements, his heart thumping as he searched for the tiny circle of gold with which he'd been entrusted.

"Can't you find it?" Debbie asked innocently.

Cole turned red . . . again. She wasn't talking about the ring, and they both knew it.

His hand closed on metal. Thank the good Lord!

"Yes," he snarled, as he pulled it up and held it in front of her face. "I didn't lose a thing."

Once again, it had been the wrong thing to say.

"Good. Never know when you might be needing that," she said cheekily, and left them in a huff of pink ruffles and lace.

"My dear, sweet Lord," Cole muttered, and leaned against the wall.

"Don't turn your back on that one," Case grinned.

*      *      *

"Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue."

Lily's muttered reminder to herself ceased. The image of Case's eyes came instantly to mind. She'd never known anything bluer than his eyes. However, the thought did not help her predicament. She needed something blue.

A knock at the door sent her flying for cover. If she knew her man and she did, he wouldn't be waiting for her to come walking down the aisle. She was surprised he hadn't already made an attempt to see her.

"Who is it?" she called.

"Lily?"

"Case! Go away! You're not supposed to see me. It's bad luck!"

"Bull."

"Case Longren! The very idea. Cursing on our wedding day . . . and in church!"

"Are you decent?" he persisted. "Never mind. I'm coming in anyway."

"Case . . . no . . . wait . . . I don't . . ."

It was no use. He was in. He was staring. His bel-ligerent expression disappeared. With glistening eyes, Case walked quietly toward Lily.

"You're so very, very beautiful, Lily Catherine."

Lily sighed. She walked into his arms and nestled her head beneath his chin, suddenly thankful she hadn't put on her veil. It felt awfully good right where she was. And there was always room for new traditions. This would be theirs. One last embrace before they said their vows.

Case stepped back, reluctantly releasing his hold on his woman, and ran his fingers gently down the creamy lace covering her arms.

"My mother's dress," Lily said.

"My father's Bible." Case said, and handed her a small, worn, leather-bound book with the name Charles Longren stamped at the bottom in gold.

Tears shot to the surface and glittered, shining Lily's eyes to a tropical green.

"Darling, I don't know what to say, but I'm honored. It's perfect to carry."

Case shrugged. Lily could see he was moved yet unwilling to admit how deeply.

"I guess I'd better be going before Debbie comes sauntering through here and finds me."

Lily nodded her head and clutched the Bible tightly.

Case had started out the door when he turned, almost as an afterthought and muttered, "There's a flower pressed inside the Bible. It's from their wedding."

Lily's mouth trembled. She could tell this was difficult for him to admit.

"I'll be very careful with it," she said, and clasped it to her breast.

His last remark hung in the air between them as he walked out of the door. "It's a bluebonnet. My father was from Texas."

Something blue!

Lily started to shake. Suddenly she was alone. Beyond words at the coincidence that had sent Case to her just when she was searching for something blue, Lily opened the Bible.

It was brittle and yellowed, faded by the years. Yet it had outlasted the marriage, as well as the man who'd placed it so lovingly between the words many years ago. The significance of its durability was not lost on her. She closed her eyes and prayed that they would be so fortunate.

Morgan Brownfield swallowed a huge lump in his throat and smiled back at the look of joy Lily was wearing. He allowed her to fuss as she straightened his tie, smoothed his hair across his forehead, and kissed him lightly on the chin.

"Love you, Daddy," she said gently.

"Love you, too, Lily Kate," he growled.

The music swelled. The small gathering of family and the assortment of friends turned in unison as father and daughter entered the sanctuary.

One collective sigh whispered through the audience at the look of radiance on Lily Brownfield's face. No one saw the scar across her cheek. They were too busy admiring the elegant young woman crowned in a halo of light from the single stained glass above her head.

Case caught his breath. My Lily!

He had to be the only man in the world who'd placed an ad for a cook and gotten an angel instead.

And then she was standing beside him, her hand resting in the trust of his own, as the minister's voice intoned the truth that was shining from Case Longren's eyes.

"Dearly Beloved . . ."

EPILOGUE

Lily squirmed. The chair by the window of her hospital room was not the most comfortable she'd ever occupied. But she knew it wasn't the seating accommodations that had her antsy. Today was the day the bandages came off of her face. Today she would be whole. Not some pieced replica of the real tiling. Of that she was convinced.

Case stood against the wall and watched her impatience growing. He was scared to death. He didn't know what he'd do if she wasn't satisfied with the doctor's handiwork. A tiny voice kept niggling at the back of his mind, telling him that he might have to start all over with her if this failed. And then sanity would resume, and he knew that nothing would change between them. She was his life. And she'd allowed him to be hers.

"Lily?" Case watched her thoughts focusing.

"Hmmm?"

"We need to think about babies."

If he'd announced he was growing long ears and a tail, Lily could not have been more shocked. It wasn't that she was against the subject. It was just so far off the matter at hand that she was in a quandary.

"Think . . . or start?"

Case's expression was even more determined.

"I would like three. How about you?"

"I would like these bandages off my face first," Lily answered.

"Maybe next year, no later than the next. What do you think?" Case asked.

"I think you're not listening to me," Lily whispered.

She knew exactly what was at the bottom of his conversation. He was afraid she would leave. If her face was healed, he feared she wouldn't need him. If her face wasn't, he feared she would bolt.

"Case. I hear you. Do you hear me?"

He stalked across the room, gathered her in his arms, and buried his face in the silken swath of her hair.

"Well now! Are we ready to check the results?"

The doctor's question, as well as his presence, startled them. Neither was aware of his entry into the room.

"No! Yes!" echoed simultaneously with his question.

Case shrugged. His had been the dissenting vote. It didn't count. He stepped away and walked to the foot of Lily's bed as the doctor seated her on the side and began to remove the bandages, layer by layer.

Case wanted to look, but fear closed his eyes. Panic boiled in his gut and weakened his knees.

The doctor's exclamation of delight was obvious.

As was the cry of joy from Lily when he handed her the mirror.

"Oh! Oh my!" Lily whispered and ran a fingertip lightly across the pink but perfect cheek.

Only the faintest of traces remained and they would disappear within the coming weeks. It was as the doctor had predicted.

"Case! Look! Isn't it beautiful?"

Case opened his eyes. But he couldn't see through the tears. His voice was thick as he leaned against the foot of her bed and whispered.

"You always were, Lily Catherine. You always were."

into them like a lost child who's just found the front door to home.