Pierced: Pierced Trilogy Boxed Set (109 page)

“Josh,” Sam says quietly, turning to look at me. She lifts a sudsy hand to my chest as she asks, “Why aren’t you angry about this?”

“Why would I be angry, Sam?” I ask looking into her worried eyes. “You didn’t get pregnant by yourself, baby.” She says nothing but, she looks relieved at my response, and I tighten my hold on her, kissing her temple once more. “We’re in this together, Sam. We’ll figure it out, together,” I whisper.

She melts against me then, settling into my embrace and leaning her head back against my chest as she sits between my legs. I kiss the top of her head as she lightly rubs my arms with her soapy fingers. This feels good. It feels familiar and comforting. Safe. It feels like home. And it suddenly occurs to me that I am holding my entire world in my arms right now, and I know without a doubt in my heart that I would do anything for them. Each one of them. All three of them. The thought blows my mind, and it brings so much clarity. I know what I need to do.

“Samantha,” I say softly, swallowing anxiously. “Will you marry me?”

She giggles at me and I smile slightly. “I think we’ve already established that, Detective,” she says, playing with my fingers. “You gave me your grandmother’s ring and everything.”

“Okay smarty pants,” I mumble, kissing the top of her head once more. “I mean, can we get married soon? Like right away?”

She sits up and turns to look at me again, her face registering the surprise she’s feeling at my request. “Right away?”

I nod at her. “Yes,” I say definitively, holding her steady gaze. “I know that this might sound old fashioned or even chauvinistic but … I think we should be married as soon as possible. I want you to be my wife before you bring our children into this world. We can just go downtown and get a license and then go to the justice of the peace. Just you and me.”

“Josh,” she says softly, looking at me in disbelief.

“And you said yourself just yesterday that you didn’t want a huge production like Megan just had,” I remind her.

“I know. And I meant what I told Olivia about not wanting a huge wedding but … Josh, I don’t want to get married at the courthouse either.”

I sigh in frustration at her words. But I know that I can’t just decide this on my own. “Baby, it doesn’t matter to me where we get married or how. We can fly to Vegas for all I care. I just want us to be married as soon as we can. I want you to be my wife before you start to show.”

She smiles slowly at me. “You really are old fashioned,” she says softly, mocking me.

“I told you that,” I shrug at her. We stare at each other for a beat, saying nothing. “Please, baby? Look, I’m not sure why it’s important to me; I just know that it is.”

“Okay,” she softly agrees. “I will put my head together with Megan and we’ll plan something small and simple … and soon!”

I smile broadly at her then, gently taking her face in my hands, and I kiss her sweetly. Then I study her eyes for a moment, looking deeply into their bright green pools. “I love you, Sam,” I whisper. “And I know that this is not what we planned, and that we both are going to have a whole lot to learn. But I promise you, baby … I will be a good husband to you. And I will try my best to be a good father.”

“Oh, Josh. I love you so much,” she whispers tearfully.

I kiss her again then, slowly and tenderly this time. And she relaxes into me once again as I wrap my arms around her, and we sit in the soothing warm water and talk softly about our future.

Chapter Twelve

“I told you so!” Megan practically screamed at me. “Twins! Oh, my gosh, Sam. I think I’d go insane. How does Josh feel about all this? How do
you
feel about it?”

“Well, at first we were both scared out of our minds,” I admitted. “But then we calmed down and started to really talk about it. And Josh was so sweet, Meg. He said he wanted me to be his wife before I gave birth to his children. Before I started to show even. And with twins … I’m not sure that’s going to be very much time so, I was thinking maybe three or four weeks.”

“Three or four weeks? Wow. Okay, that’s really soon.”

“Well, I was originally thinking we could do it in the backyard but, it’ll be late November by then and cold and rainy, and the roses will be in decline.”

“Yeah, but anyplace you go to rent will have been booked months in advance. Trust me,” Meg said, rolling her eyes as she recalled her own recent wedding planning.

“I just want something really simple,” I said. “Just family and a few close friends. I’m thinking fifty guests or less. You standing with me, Lucas giving me away.”

“Oh, my God, Lucas! That’s it, Sam. What about Lucas’ conservatory at his house? It’s the perfect spot for a party,” Megan beamed. “He has his big New Year’s Eve bash there every year. There’d certainly be enough room for an arch and we could create an isle with the chairs. On the other side we could set up tables for the dinner, assuming you want a dinner. You could always choose the appetizers and champagne route,” she rattled on as I smiled and listened intently. “And it has that small stage already. You could have a band or a DJ … whatever you wanted. And once the ceremony’s over, we move the chairs and there’s room for dancing.”

“Megan, you’re a genius,” I said grinning broadly. “You really have a knack for this wedding planning thing!”

She rolled her eyes at me and groaned. “I just know all the ins and outs of the game after spending the last year planning mine,” she said jokingly. “But don’t you worry. We’ll make yours simple and intimate and elegant, and beautiful … in only a month!”

~~~~~~~~

I smile at that memory now as I watch Megan’s reflection in the mirror as she helps pin my hair up. I’ve chosen a loose bohemian sort of updo to compliment my vintage Vera Wang gown. The dress is simply beautiful. An ivory, form-fitting, strapless, floor-length, gown with a sweetheart bodice and a million cascading ruffles at the bottom. There is a sash around the waist that forms a large flower to the left side. Originally, that sash was a light lavender color but, I’ve changed it to champagne. This way it will compliment both Megan’s gorgeous maid-of-honor dress and Josh’s beautiful tuxedo.

Once Meg finishes with my hair and Karen does my makeup, I’m ready to step into the gown. I can’t believe that I’m actually getting married today. In less than an hour!

As Meg and Karen help me into the gown, I hold my breath while they zip it up. I know that it will fit. I’ve had it let out slightly to accommodate my tiny but growing baby bump. I know it was gutsy of me to choose such a form-fitting dress when the objective is to keep my condition under wraps for a while but … it’s just such a beautiful dress. I fell in love the minute I saw it in the window of the vintage couture consignment shop. And Meg flipped when I tried it on; I knew it was perfect.

When the dress is all zipped up I stand in the mirror gazing at myself and run my hands gently over my bump, turning to the side to determine how we look.

“I don’t think it’s noticeable,” Karen whispers.

“Really?”

“No, the dress looks fabulous, Sam,” Megan confirms quietly. “Unless they already know the situation, no one will be able to tell.”

I smile at their words and turn back to the mirror, letting out a small sigh of relief. The only people who know about our little secret are Meg and Lucas and Karen. The girls were thrilled for me, of course. Lucas on the other hand, was hesitant. He was worried that maybe the pregnancy was the reason for what he called ‘a hasty engagement.’ But once Josh and I explained that we didn’t know about the babies until after we had gotten engaged, and he saw how determined we are to be married before I begin to show, he relented. He didn’t even give me a hard time about my decision not to make Josh sign a pre-nuptial agreement. In fact, Lucas accepted my decision about that much easier than Josh did. He said it was a private matter between the two of us and we should hash it out among ourselves.

Josh was insistent at first that he wanted us to have one. It was as if he was determined to prove to my family that he wasn’t after the Colby fortune. We talked and argued about that, and other money issues like joint bank accounts, for days before we finally came to an agreement.

“Oh my goodness.” The words are uttered as if in awe, and I turn toward my mother who is standing just inside the doorway of the guest room I’m getting dressed in. “Samantha. You look so beautiful, darling.”

Her sentiment brings tears to my eyes and I remember our harshly spoken words at Megan’s wedding. She really has been trying to accept my choices these last few weeks. She even had Josh and me over for lunch. It was a bit awkward at first but, she apologized to him again for threatening to expose the truth about his father’s death and attempting to use that knowledge to try and split us up. Josh was very magnanimous about it, and it actually turned out to be a lovely afternoon. She was even warm and gracious to Josh’s family when we all had dinner together at Canlis the other night. I’m still not sure where our relationship will end up but, at least she’s trying.

“Mom.”

“You make a gorgeous bride, my sweet baby girl.” She hugs me tightly then, and I can feel myself getting emotional.

“Okay, go away. You’re going to screw up my makeup,” I tell her with a tearful smile, and she laughs slightly, pausing to touch her palm to my face.

“I have something for you,” she says softly, taking a small velvet pouch from her purse and handing it to me. I open it slowly and pull out a large, absolutely stunning diamond broach. The center stone is a round, perfect, clear diamond that must be at least four carats, and it’s surrounded by smaller clear, champagne and chocolate colored diamonds that form the petals of a flower. It is stunning.

“Mom!”

“This broach takes care of your ‘something old’ and your ‘something new.’ You see, the center diamond is old. It’s the stone from the engagement ring your father gave me. I had it removed and placed into this new setting. I figured the champagne and chocolate stones would match your wedding colors; that way whenever you wear it, you’ll think of your special day.”

“Oh, my God, Mom! You are so over the top sometimes,” I whisper tearfully and she hugs me tightly once more.

“I love you dearly, Samantha,” she says looking into my eyes. “And I know in the past, I’ve shown that in all the wrong ways, and I’m sorry. But I desperately want us to be closer.”

“Mom, I want that too. And I’m going to need you, especially now.” I hesitate a beat as she looks at me questioningly. I take a deep breath and whisper, “I’m pregnant, Mom.”

Her eyes fly open wide as her hands fly to her mouth, and I wonder frantically what she’s thinking. The tears roll unchecked down her cheeks as she looks at me. “Samantha!” It’s an astonished whisper, and I can’t tell if she’s happy at the news or upset with me. “Oh, my baby is having a baby,” she whispers.

Smiling timidly and biting my lower lip, I whisper, “Two. It’s twins.”

She says nothing and wraps her arms around me, hugging me tightly yet again. Then she takes hold of my shoulders and looks me square in the eye. “Samantha, is this the reason you’re getting married so hastily?” Her voice sounds as if she’s ready to mount an intervention, and I sigh heavily.

“No, Mom! Well … yes, but not in the way you mean. Josh and I didn’t know we were pregnant when he asked me to marry him. We just want to be together. The babies are simply an extra blessing,” I smile at her, holding her serious gaze and trying to will her to be happy for me. And she studies my face for a long moment, trying to read me. Then she lightly rubs my arms and smiles at me.

“Your father would be so tickled with the thought of you having twins,” she beams, and I laugh with her. “You really are happy, darling?”

“Oh, Mom. I have never been this happy before!” She smiles and caresses my face once more. And I can see that this is really hard for her, trusting the decisions I’m making for my life. But she says nothing more.

“It’s almost showtime, ladies,” My Aunt Jenny says, and I feel a palpable wave of excitement run through the room.

“Time for me to go to my seat,” Mom says. Then she blows me a kiss and turns to leave.

The room clears out and Karen and Meg each provide me with something borrowed – a beautiful gold bracelet from Karen – and something blue – a gorgeous silk handkerchief embroidered with my new initials from Meg. I carefully tuck the hanky into my bouquet and Megan helps me fasten the diamond broach to my dress in the center of the flower of the champagne sash. It looks fantastic there, almost as if it were meant to be part of the dress, and I am suddenly so excited and so nervous.

“Oh, no,” I whisper, feeling slightly nauseous. “Not now. Please, not now.” I take a few deep breaths as I try to stave off the wave of unpleasantness. The term ‘morning sickness,’ I’ve quickly come to realize, means random and vicious bouts of nausea at any time of the day or night.

“Nauseous again?” Megan asks and I nod my head. She runs to her bag and pulls out a small baggie and hands it to me.

“You’re carrying saltine crackers in your bag?” I ask incredulously.

“Hey, I take my maid of honor duties very seriously,” she says matter-of-factly, giving me a stern look. She looks so pretty in her strapless, champagne colored maid-of-honor’s dress. It’s much like mine, form-fitting with a sweetheart bodice and ruffles at the bottom. Only it comes to about her knees and the sash at her waist is chocolate.

“It is my job to get you down that aisle without you puking all over that amazing gown,” she says to me. “Now eat. Would you like a ginger ale to wash that down with?”

I giggle at her as I take a bite of cracker, trying not to get crumbs on my dress. I’m enjoying her witty nervous chatter as I munch on crackers and sip my ginger ale to calm my tummy when there’s a small knock on the door and Lucas peeks his head in.

“Everybody ready in here?” he asks with a smile as he steps inside. “It’s about that time.”

I feel a flutter of butterflies as Meg kisses my cheek and smiles at me. Then she and Karen hurry out of the room to take their places, leaving Lucas and me alone. He stares at me for a long moment and then shakes his head.