Stealing Grace (25 page)

“No, I’m not happy. I’ll be with you, ok? Come on, ride with me. I promise you’ll live to see another day. If you don’t, you can kill me yourself.” He was smiling and pulling her arms now and she knew better than to fight those arms.

There was no wait for this ride either.
Of course there’s no line.
They got in the very back seat and Elena scooted as close as humanly possible to him. He put one arm around her and pulled the lap bar down.

“I’ve never been to a fair or festival before, Alex.” Elena said, shaking. “I’ve never ridden any rides before.”

“Never? You’re kidding? Elena, you haven’t lived! How did I manage that one and not you?”

The ride started to hum. Elena clamped closed her eyes and clinched her hands so tight on the bar her knuckles were white.

“El, open you eyes,” he whispered in her ear. “I’m right here. I’m not gonna let anything happen to you. I want you to see this. Trust me.” Alex was rubbing her arm and talking that sweet voice in her ear, his breath moving her hair. “Open your eyes.”

She obeyed and opened her eyes slowly, barely slits at first then wider, just as the ride jolted and started to sway and then they were making their way back and forth. Up and down.

Higher. Higher. Higher.

It wasn’t so bad she thought. Her stomach seemed to go into her throat when they went up and back down but she liked it, it was...thrilling. Her hair blowing in her face felt freeing and it was hard to keep your hands straight up when Alex lifted them to fight the wind.

She smiled, trying not to seem too excited so Alex wouldn’t boast about it later, but it was too late. He was watching her and she couldn’t contain herself.

“I love it!” she yelled over the wind.

“See! I knew you would.” He took her faced in his hands and captured her lips, it seemed like just mere seconds and the ride was already stopping.

Elena was flushed, more from the kissing than the ride, as was Alex. It was their wedding night and they were anxious to call it a night. The sun had gone down now completely and they were went looking for Roger and Amy. The honeymoon suite was calling their names.

* * *

They found them by the picnic tables, munching on pink cotton candy. They looked so sweet, talking and laughing, leaning against the tree together with their knees touching. They almost didn’t want to interrupt them.

“Hey, guys. About ready to head out?” Alex asked as they walked up behind them.

“Yeah, man, we’ve been waiting on you guys. We figured you’d turn up when you were ready to leave. Didn’t want to rush you,” Roger said, chucking their trash in the bin as they headed out to the road to trek back to the trucks.

Alex and Roger had made arrangements at a local bed and breakfast, telling them this would be their honeymoons. They had the room all planned with dinner and flowers. The girls would be surprised and love it, they hoped.

Of course they would. What girl doesn’t like flowers and a romantic getaway?

They made their walk to the trucks parked back at the church, now dark and doors shut. Roger followed Alex to the B&B and got out all the luggage. Once they were checked in and said goodnight to Roger and Amy, Elena followed Alex down the hall to their room.

She was kinda tired thinking of the day they had had, having no idea what was in store for her in the room. Alex opened the door moving her forward with a hand on the small of her back, to go in first and she stopped.

There were lit white and yellow candles and daisies everywhere. There was a little blanket on the floor with two covered plates and glasses set out for a picnic dinner.

“How did you...” she asked, turning to look at him with clear questions on her face.

He grinned at her.

“You like it?”

“Yes. I love it! The daisy’s are insane, Alex!”

“Well, why don’t we get out of the hall and go inside to enjoy it,” he said and laughed as he playfully bumped her bottom with the suitcase.

She realized she was still standing in the doorway. She laughed and helped him drag the luggage and shut the door.

“Hungry?” He lifted the lids on the plates and there was a chilled walnut mandarin salad for them with cheesecake.

They sat and ate, not bothering to unpack their suitcase. They didn’t even know what they were gonna do the next day, whether they would go to another town or stay. But it didn’t matter.

They were free.

There was an impressive stack of chick flicks on the dresser with a small combo TV. After dinner, Alex, knowing Elena was beat, picked one out for them and they lay down on the bed together. She took off his shirt, making him lay on his stomach, despite his protests, and rubbed his shoulders and back. He eventually stopped complaining about her being tired and started relaxing.

“What’s this from?” she asked, running her finger down the large crescent scar on his shoulder.

“I got that from my old man actually. He
accidentally
pushed me down the porch steps onto my bike when I was 12. He was angry at my mom and thought it was her coming up behind him.”

Elena made a small angry grunt.

“Alex...that’s just... So, you saved your mom, even back then,” Elena said, trying to smile through clenched teeth, not sure what Alex was feeling right now.

“I tried not to be trouble but she took many a beating for me. She always looked out for my sorry hide. I never even really understood or appreciated it until much later. I didn’t realize what she had been doing for me. By then, it was too late to change anything.”

“I’m sorry, baby. I can’t wait for us to be able to go get her when this is over with.”

“Me either.” He turned over and pulled her down to lay on his chest. “I don’t think I could get much happier though than right now. Today was just...awesome. I know it was stressful with everything that happened but, did you have some fun at least?”

“Yeah, I always have fun with you. You definitely bring out the daredevil in me.” She laughed when he scoffed and muttered ‘daredevil’ under his breath. “First we escape then you make me ride a boat that swings into the air! But even when I’m scared to death you still somehow make it fun.” She laughed. “I love you, Mr. Smithe.”

“I love you,” he kissed her forehead, “Mrs. Smithe. Does the name sound better to you now that you have it by choice?”

“I’ve always loved you calling me that.” She bit her lip and rubbed her hand across his chest, running her fingers through the little patch of hair. “Today was perfect, I mean it. I couldn’t have wanted for it to be any other way. And Roger.” She chuckled. “He is so great. He was very sweet to me earlier at the church. He really has changed, it’s so amazing to witness.”

“I know what you mean. I was wondering what was taking you two so long to come down the aisle. I looked up and you were just chatting it up back there.” He chuckled and ran his hand up and down her arm. “Amy’s sweet, too. She was so embarrassed by the whole thing. She asked me if I knew that I was the luckiest man alive?” He laughed remembering the memory.

“Aww, Amy, she’s sweet. I said the same thing to Roger about her. He’s very lucky and as strange as it would have seemed before, so is she.”

“Yeah, but I’m the luckiest man hands down.” He squeezed her to him tighter, pressing her in intervals up and down her body.

She didn’t know if he was trying to ease her or lull her to sleep.

The candles were burning down as they lay down on their backs and watched the big white ceiling fan. The room was an old time theme, perfect for Elena’s taste, with Victorian lamps and paintings. The walls were navy blue wallpaper with gold trim and intricate weave and wiry designs.

She felt like the luckiest. Alex had gone through all the trouble of making sure everything was perfect for them, even remembering her favorite flower. And knowing how tired Elena was he hadn’t even tried to make a move on her yet.

On their honeymoon.

She smiled at that thought. She thought back and he had saved her life, not once but three times. Nursed her back to health, not once but twice, making the words in their vows very true. And now given her a perfect day and memory of how their wedding should have been.

She felt like she hadn’t done anything for him in comparison. She would make it up to him one day. Somehow repay his kindness and love to her, plotting to save her even when he didn’t know her yet.

She rolled back over to lay there on his chest, checking occasionally to see if he was still awake, as they finished the movie. Her wavy hair was laying across her back and arm. She was making little circles with her finger near his belly button. When the movie was over he took the remote from the nightstand and turned off the television.

He took a deep breath, more of a sigh.

“Ready for bed?” he asked quietly.

“We’re in bed, silly.”

“Yeah, true. Are you ready to go to sleep, then? You’re beat,” he said it as a statement, not a question.

She sat up and looked at him with a look of awe and love on her face.

“Do you really think I’m gonna deprive you on your wedding night, Mr. Smithe?”

He looked surprised by her statement.

“I just thought...you were tired. It’s been a long day. I didn’t want to push you. Today was a lot to handle.”

“Sometimes, you are so silly,” she said before grabbing his face with both hands to kiss him and rolled herself to hover over him. “I’m your wife, for real, now. Right now, my only job is taking care of you and making you happy. You are
my
whole
life and I want nothing more than to be your wife tonight.”

She reached down to kiss him again before he could protest about her purpose in life. She wanted him to be happy in every possible way. He did such a good job of taking care of her.

He was kissing her back too, solid and eager. His hands were keeping themselves busy in her hair and on her waist and back. Until he suddenly stopped and rolled Elena off onto the bed, jumped up and then threw her over his shoulder as she laughed at his enthusiasm.

There was a Jacuzzi hot tub in their bathroom and they were about to make good use of it.

* * *

No one woke them in the morning, which was fine with them. It was eleven before they even thought about moving from the soft yellow sheets. They just lay there, playing with each others fingers, looking at each other. Thinking about this day that had no plans and wanted none. They knew they needed to make some but were too peaceful at the moment.

Were they far enough away from the community to stay there, for a while at least? They would meet Roger and Amy for lunch and talk about it. But first, they had to force themselves out of this bed.

Elena hoped Amy’s night was as great as hers. She was pretty sure it was.

“Alright, sleepyhead, we’ve got to start moving...eventually.” Alex was rubbing her back, trying to coerce her out of the wonderfully warm down blankets and his arms around her.

“I know, I know. Thank you so much for yesterday. It was perfect, I mean it.”

He smiled shaking his head a little still rubbing her back. He leaned down to whisper in her ear.

“Thank you. You were amazing,” he kissed her neck, “and I’m not just talking about the Jacuzzi.” He tweaked her nose and she laughed at him. “You handled everything great. I’m really glad that after living with me you still wanted to marry me again.”

“Of course. Why else would I have let you persuade me to get tortured on the pirate ship?” she joked.

She rolled over to kiss him one last time before he dragged her up and out of bed, literally, by her arms. As happy as everything was, there was something not so pleasant that needed to take precedence now. They needed to get back down to business, making some decisions about themselves and a bunch a women that still were in desperate need of their help.

Chapter 11

The four of them sat around the big family table at the bed and breakfast. The innkeeper served pancakes and sausage for lunch since they had missed breakfast. Even though there were big decisions to make, everyone was relaxed and all smiles with bright eyes.

The coffee was strong and fresh. Elena drank three cups of it, trying to prepare herself for the day. Alex decided it was time to start, they were the only patrons left in the dining hall and he leaned in quietly to address the group.

“Alright, Roger, what do you think? Should we set up shop here for now? You think we’re far enough out, just for a little while?”

“This town in nice enough, and small enough. We are pretty close to the city. I think this will work. What are you thinking? Renting a place together or...”

“Yeah, I figured that way if this drags out longer than we think, hopefully the money won’t run out, and we’d be needing to be in touch all the time anyway, plus it’s safer with two of us to watch the place. We can start looking today. I’m meeting my man today at four to get our I.D.’s and new marriage certificates and all. Once the festival stuff clears we’ll head into the city and take what we got to the police and Channel 4 News, see if anyone wants to bite.”

“Sounds good. We need to start off slow, don’t do anything in town to let anyone know who we are or turn heads. We still can’t be sure how far the community’s arms reach.”

Everyone agreed.

* * *