Magic in Our Hearts (19 page)

“Oh, God …”

While Taylor tasted and savored both breasts, her fingertips traced down Brett’s slim thighs and over her hips. The she brushed the dark curls between Brett’s thighs and barely touched her wet center. She loved touching Brett this way, loving her completely. Her fingers found Brett’s clitoris swollen and hard, and she slid her fingertip against it, just enough to tease.

“Taylor, please …”

Taylor smiled and tucked her face against Brett’s as her fingers stroked her harder, her other arm tucked around Brett’s shoulders. Brett’s breathing grew ragged, and her hips churned on the bed as her body drew closer and closer to exploding. She reached down with her left hand and surrounded Taylor’s wrist holding her as she continued to tease Brett.

“That’s it, honey, let me love you.” Taylor breathed her words against Brett’s face, knowing that Brett was close to an orgasm.

“Taylor, I love you.”

Taylor slid her fingers deep into Brett. Her thumb circled Brett’s clitoris, once, twice, and Brett was undone. Brett cried out in pleasure, her body shook, her head fell back, and her eyes closed. Taylor watched the climax move across her face, and fell in love with Brett all over again. Brett slowly relaxed and turned into Taylor’s body, burying her face in Taylor’s breasts. Taylor felt moisture against her body and reached down, lifting Brett’s face up so she could see her.

“Honey, why are you crying?”

Brett’s face was streaked with tears, her eyes dark with emotion. “I love you so much, it’s overwhelming. My life is perfection.” Taylor’s own eyes welled up. “I feel the same way. We’re very lucky to have found each other again.”

Brett wrapped her arms around Taylor and sighed softly. “I think I could stay right here for the rest of my life.”

Brett fell asleep within moments of speaking, and Taylor watched her for a few minutes before covering them both with the comforter and surrendering to a night of rest.

CHAPTER 19

The morning of the commitment ceremony, the weather was clear and sunny guaranteeing an outdoor event. Taylor and Brett awakened early and helped Helen and Fran with the food, the flowers, and the decorations. By two o’clock, everything was in readiness, and Taylor was helping Roselin into her dress. Roselin was feeling very weak and found it difficult to help with anything. She was in constant pain and could barely get out of bed, but she was determined that nothing would keep her from watching her daughter and Taylor commit themselves to one another.

“Roselin, are you going to be okay?” Taylor took in the pale face and trembling hands.

“I’ll be fine, Taylor. Go get dressed. Tell Helen to come up in about thirty minutes to help me down the stairs. Go, you need to get ready.”

“Roselin, I want to assure you that I love Brett very much and I promise you I will take care of her for the rest of her life.” Roselin’s eyes filled with tears as she gathered Taylor’s hands in her own. “I know you will, and I know Brett will take care of you. I have no doubt that the two of you were meant to be partners.”

“Thank you for bringing us back together.”

“Taylor, I only got you into the same house. Your hearts did the rest. Now go before Brett thinks you’ve gotten lost.” Roselin waited for Taylor to leave before lying back down on her bed. She just wanted to close her eyes and go to sleep, letting all the pain go. “Just a little while longer,” she whispered, as she closed her eyes and rested. 

Taylor raced down the stairs and almost collided with Fran. “Sorry Fran, where’s Helen?”

“She’s getting dressed.”

“You look very nice.” And she did. She was wearing a long floral-patterned dress. Her ash brown hair was pinned up on her head.

“Thanks, you need to go get dressed yourself.”

“You don’t think I can get away with sweats and a tee shirt?” Taylor teased.

“Brett wouldn’t care what you wore.” Fran grinned.

“Could you have Helen go up and get Roselin in about thirty minutes? She’s dressed and ready, but she’s going to rest until the ceremony.”

“I’ll tell her. Get going! Everything’s been taken care of.”

“Where’s your husband?”

“He’s outside pinning the last of the roses onto the arbor.” Fran’s husband had built the arbor and planted the climbing roses in pots, weaving them up and over the arbor so they would surround the two women.

“He did a beautiful job on the rose arbor.”

“He is pretty handy. I think I’ll keep him,” Fran chuckled as she gently pushed Taylor. “Go get ready.”

Taylor flashed another grin and quickly headed for Brett’s bedroom. She had less than an hour to be dressed and prepared to say her vows to Brett. She entered the room and stopped dead in her tracks at the sight of Brett standing just outside the bathroom. Her black hair was glossy with good health, and her face was filled with happiness. She was wearing a cream-colored linen suit over a pale yellow silk blouse. Her shoes were soft brown leather, the same color as her belt. She looked sexy, excited, and most of all healthy.

“You look fantastic,” Taylor whispered, as she stared at her lover.

“Thanks, and you’d better hurry. Rex and Jeb will be here in about twenty minutes, and the rest of our guests shortly after that.”

“I know. It took longer than I expected to help your mother dress.”

“Is she okay?” Brett’s expression reflected concern.

“She’s very weak but she’ll make it through our ceremony.” Brett held her breath to rein in her emotions. She was on the verge of crying and had been most of the morning. “I’ll go check on things and let you have the bathroom and bedroom all to yourself.”

“Thanks honey. Do you have the rings for Jeb and Rex?”

“Yes,” replied Brett, patting her jacket pocket.

“I’ll see you shortly.” Taylor moved past Brett, touching her hand briefly as she entered the bathroom and shut the door. 

Brett sighed, turned away from her, and went to take care of a few last minute details. She needed to get the flowers out of the refrigerator, for one. As she crossed the large living room, Jeb and Rex stepped through the front door. Both men were wearing black tuxedos and looked extremely handsome.

“Hey guys, come on in. Taylor is running a little behind in dressing, so Fran, Helen, and I will have to entertain you.”

“You look fantastic, Brett.” Rex hugged her tightly. He was so glad to see how well she looked. There was no sign of a limp, and her left arm had regained almost all of its movement.

Jeb hugged Brett hello and wished her well on this special day. Then all three of them went into the kitchen to help Fran display the rest of the flower arrangements. They were all standing in the kitchen area when Rex’s eyes grew big and he stopped talking. Brett turned to see what had him so surprised. Taylor stood just outside the far bedroom door in a turquoise gown that clung to her body like a second skin. The dress had thin spaghetti straps and an enticingly low bodice that revealed her full breasts. Her hair was swept up on her head in a cluster of curls, held back with delicate hairpins that sparkled like diamonds. She wore matching heels that gave her a couple of inches in height and made her shapely legs appear even more beautiful through the slit in her gown. She stood still watching Brett gaze back at her.

Brett’s eyes never left her as she walked slowly up to Taylor and stood directly in front of her. She reached out and placed her hand gently against Taylor’s cheek as she spoke.

“I’ve never seen anyone more beautiful than you.”

“You are.”

“You look incredible.”

“So do you.”

“I love you, Taylor.”

“Good thing, because I’m mad about you.” Taylor’s smile was for Brett alone, as they drank each other in. It was indeed a moment to remember. “Helen, you should go get Brett’s mother.”

“I’ll go, Helen,” Brett responded, still smiling at Taylor. “I’d like to bring her downstairs.”

Taylor watched as Brett turned away and began to climb the stairs, no apparent limp in her stride. Then she approached Rex and Jeb. “You guys look gorgeous.”

“Thank you, honey. But I have to tell you, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you looking this beautiful.” 

“Thanks, Rex.”

“I thought Brett was going to swallow her tongue,” Jeb teased as he hugged his partner and best friend.

“Wait until she sees what I got for later,” Taylor laughed.

Brett knocked quietly on her mother’s door. “Come in.” Brett entered the room and found her mother slowly sitting up on the side of the bed. It broke Brett’s heart to see how much her mother had changed as a result of her illness. Her skin was translucent, her hair thin, and her eyes were dull with pain. What she wouldn’t give to make her mother well again. It broke her heart that she had wasted so much of her time with her mother. She would give anything to have all that time back.

“Are you ready, Mother?”

“Yes, honey. You look very nice.”

“Thanks, so do you.” Brett helped her mother to her feet and supported her as she moved out of the bedroom and made her way down the stairs. She was going to find her mother a chair for the ceremony. Roselin was too weak and unsteady to stand for any length of time.

Jeb met them at the foot of the stairs and graciously took Roselin’s other arm.

He walked with them outside to the waiting rose arbor in front of the white fold-ing chairs that had been set up for guests. The back yard was freshly mowed providing a carpet of green grass and the rose arbor had been placed in front of the chairs and was draped with pale yellow climbing roses. It was a breathtaking setting with the mountains in the background. Jeb waited until Roselin was settled in her chair, and then sat down next to her to keep her company. Taylor came out with a yellow rose corsage, and Brett pinned it to her mother’s dress, then kissed her on the cheek. Helen and Fran snapped pictures. They had volunteered to take photographs of the occasion. Then Taylor and Brett pinned boutonnières on Rex and Jeb. Finally, Brett kneeled in front of her mother so she could pin her corsage on her jacket.

It was a poignant moment for everyone when Roselin began to cry. “I’ve waited so much of my life for this moment, and I’m so proud of you. Taylor will be as much my daughter as you are, and I know you’ll both have a long, full life together.”

Brett wiped the tears off her face as her mother kissed her gently. Taylor approached Jeb and smiled up at him. “You’re my best friend and family, would you pin my corsage on?” 

“I’d be honored, honey.” Jeb finished pinning the flowers to Taylor’s thin shoulder strap then wrapped his arms around her and hugged her tightly. “I’m so happy for you.”

“I’m positively ecstatic and completely overwhelmed at how everything has turned out.”

Within thirty minutes there were about twenty people milling around at the house, all close friends of Roselin and Brett. Even Rachel had been invited, showing up on the arm of a rather stunning dark haired woman wearing a suit and tie.

Rachel went up to the wedding couple and gave them both a hug.

“Congratulations you two. You both look pretty terrific.”

“So do you. We’re glad you were able to attend. Why don’t you introduce your friend?”

Rachel blushed and turned to the tall woman at her side. “Taylor and Brett, this is Kate Turner. Kate, meet Taylor and Brett, the lucky couple.”

“Congratulations.” Kate’s voice was robust, her grin wide as she shook both of their hands in greeting.

“Thanks, we’re glad you could make it.”

“I’m trying to talk Rachel into a commitment ceremony.” Kate’s dark hair was cut short, her brown eyes large and gentle, and her arm wrapped snugly around Rachel’s waist.

Rachel blushed and slid her arm familiarly around Kate’s back as she looked at Brett and Taylor. “We just decided to become a couple. I thought we should wait a little while before getting hitched.”

Taylor grinned and leaned over so only Kate and Rachel could hear her speak.

“Why wait? It’s amazing to imagine being together for the rest of your lives.” Brett smiled and gathered Taylor’s hand in her own.
Yeah, that was a pretty
great feeling
.

The ceremony was short and sweet, and Brett and Taylor stood in front of their family and friends and pledged their love. Their vows were personal and meaningful as they pledged their lives to each another.

“I knew my life was not complete until I found you. I was waiting for the one woman who could make me whole. I have found that in you, Taylor. No matter what happens in my life you will be my partner in all things. I will love you and take care of you as long as I live. I will be forever grateful for the second chance I have to get things right.”

Taylor nearly wept as she spoke the words she had composed from her heart.

“I will always be by your side. I am so proud of you and what you have accomplished. You have given me something I have wanted my whole life, a love that I trust completely. I will love you and take care of you for the rest of your life. You make me feel safe and protected within your love.” Brett’s mother gave them her blessing. “I have been lucky to have found love twice in my life. Brett, my daughter, nothing has pleased me more than when you told me you had found the love of your life. I am so proud of you. And Taylor, my daughter, you have been a blessing that I will cherish, and I know your love for my daughter is true and deep. May you both find strength and pleasure from each other for the rest of your lives. I wish you nothing but happiness.” There wasn’t a single dry eye when the ceremony concluded with a kiss and a round of applause. Brett and Taylor were in a daze as everyone crowded around them to wish them well and congratulate them.

All they wanted was for everyone to leave so they could be alone together for the rest of the day. They were inseparable while their guests mingled and enjoyed the food, conversation, and happy ambience.

Taylor thought she would go crazy just standing next to Brett unable to touch her in the way she wanted to.

Brett leaned over, and her lips brushed Taylor’s ear. She whispered quietly, “Can we get out of here yet?”

Taylor turned and kissed her lover softly shaking her head in frustration. “Just one more hour and then we’ll take our leave.” Brett had booked them a suite at a local bed and breakfast for the night so they could have the evening completely to themselves.