The Manning Sisters (31 page)

“Me, too, love.” He looked at her for a long moment, frowning, then smiling, then frowning again.

“What is it?” Christy asked, reacting to his confusion but not understanding it. She sensed a wonder in him, too, as if he couldn't quite believe they were married.

Christy believed it. Their love was the only thing that had gotten her through the trauma of the past week.

“Are you pregnant?” he asked without preamble, running his splayed fingers through her hair. His hold on her tightened, but Christy doubted he was aware of it.

Involuntarily her eyes widened at his question. “I…I don't know yet.”

“You've been ill?”

“Yes…How'd you know that?” Usually she'd been sick in the mornings, but often in the afternoons, too. If she was looking for a pattern, there wasn't one. She was confused and anxious, and not knowing where to turn, she'd called her sister. “Taylor?” Christy had never dreamed that her older sister would say anything to Cody. She'd counted on Taylor to be discreet.

“No,” Cody admitted, scowling. “I had breakfast with Russ this morning. Rather Russ ate
my
breakfast while he cheerfully pointed out that Taylor got pregnant while they were still in Reno and—”

Christy interrupted him. “You came because of that?”

“No.” Cody dropped his hands and stepped away. “Well, not completely. I did come in part because I was afraid…no, afraid's the wrong word. I was concerned for you. I came for another reason, too.”

He was so sincere, so forthright. “Yes?”

His eyes darkened. “You didn't tell me about the wedding shower.”

Christy's gaze fell. “I couldn't.”

“I realize that now, and I realize a whole lot more. This has to be the end of it, Christy.” His eyes burned into hers. “As your husband—the man that loves you—I can't let you continue this charade any longer.”

Spontaneous tears filled her eyes as she nodded. “I don't think I can pull it off another day. I…thought I was doing what was best for everyone involved, but I see now that I was only prolonging the agony—mostly my own. You were right, so right. There'll never be a good time to tell Mom and Dad. I did us both a terrible disservice by refusing to acknowledge that.”

Cody's lips brushed her forehead. “Don't be so hard on yourself.”

“There's no one else to blame. It's just that it's really difficult for me to disappoint my parents. I love them both so much, and they're so fond of James.”

“But they don't have the right to pick your husband for you.”

“I know.” She exhaled softly. “I would've liked to have spared James this, but he has to know. I…I did him a disservice by not telling him the afternoon I came home. James isn't as emotionally fragile as I've made him out to be.”

Cody's eyes flared briefly before he spoke. “How soon can we get you in to see a doctor?”

“A doctor?” she asked. “Why?” Sure, she'd been overprotective of James and reluctant about telling her parents the truth, but that didn't mean she needed medical help.

“If you're pregnant—”

“Oh, that,” she said, relieved. “Taylor recommended I buy one of those home pregnancy test kits, which I did this afternoon. Only I decided I could deal with
not
knowing better than I could handle knowing. Does that sound crazy?”

Cody chuckled. “No. But do you mind satisfying my curiosity? I, for one, am anxious to find out if I'm going to become a father.”

“You definitely are,” she said, loving the way Cody's face brightened at her words. “The only question is whether or not it's going to be nine months from now.”

Cody's arms were around her, his eyes filled with a tenderness that made her knees grow weak. “The test takes about twenty minutes,” she said, sliding her hands up the front of his shirt.

“Twenty minutes,” Cody repeated.

She moistened her lips, thrilled when her husband's narrowed gaze followed the seductive movement of her tongue.

“Are you suggesting what I think you're suggesting?” he whispered.

Christy nodded.

“But if you're pregnant, will it hurt the baby?” His voice was hoarse, and a dark flame seemed to leap to life in his eyes.

“Not according to Taylor.”

“You're sure?”

“Positive. Besides, it'll do this baby's mother a whole lot of good.”

 

Christy lay contentedly in his arms, her long, sleek body nestled intimately with his. If they spent the next ten years exactly like this, Cody wouldn't have a single complaint. He loved this woman. He loved everything about her.

“Are you disappointed?” she asked softly, rolling over so she could look at him when he answered.

He kissed her, his mouth clinging to hers, his hands caressing her. “You've got to be kidding.”

They'd been on fire for each other from the moment he'd arrived. Their hands had trembled as they'd hurriedly undressed each other, their mouths eager, filled with promises and pleas.

Raising herself on one elbow, Christy smiled dreamily down on him and lovingly traced her fingers over the hard angles of his face as though memorizing every feature. To Cody's way of thinking, that was unnecessary. He never planned to leave her again.

“I wasn't talking about the lovemaking,” she said. “I was referring to the pregnancy test.”

His arm curved around her trim waist. “No. When the time's right, we'll start our family and not because we were in too much of a hurry to—”

“May I remind you how much of a hurry we were in a few minutes ago?”

“No, you may not.” He clasped her around the waist and they both dissolved into laughter.

A woman he could love
and
laugh with—how did he get so lucky?

 

“It might be a good idea if I went over to my parents' house alone,” Christy said. She looked up at him beseechingly. “Please, Cody?”

“I won't hear of it, Christy,” he answered in a voice that brooked no dissent. “We're in this together.”

“But…”

“You phoned James?”

“You know I did. He'll arrive at my parents' within the hour.” James had sounded surprised to hear from her, and even more perplexed when she explained she needed to speak with him urgently. He'd offered to come to her apartment, but when she'd suggested they meet at her family home in an hour, he'd agreed.

“How did Rich find out we're telling your parents?” Cody asked, frowning.

Her scoundrel of a brother had been visiting their parents when Christy called and in fact had answered the phone. There must have been something in her voice that conveyed her intent, because Rich had made it clear he planned to stay around for the fireworks display. That comment reminded Christy that the coming scene was bound to evoke plenty of emotion. Christy wished Cody would wait for the worst to pass before he presented himself as their latest son-in-law.

“Don't even think of arguing with me,” he said. “We're doing this together.”

“All right,” she murmured, holding in a sigh. “The way I figure it, we'll have forty-five minutes to explain everything to my parents before James arrives.”

“Good.” Cody nodded.

“Are you ready?” she asked, and her voice trembled despite every effort to maintain an optimistic facade. Her heart felt frozen with fear. Although she'd wanted to handle this on her own, she was grateful Cody had chosen to go with her.

They spoke infrequently on the drive to her parents' home. When they did, it was to murmur words of encouragement, or reinforce how much they loved each other.

As they pulled in to the driveway, another car came in after them. “Oh, no,” Christy breathed.

“What's wrong?”

“It's James.” Christy climbed out of the car, not waiting for Cody. She turned to face her fiancé. “You're early,” she said, struggling to keep the annoyance out of her voice.

“I called your parents, and they suggested I come now.” James's gaze narrowed as Cody came to stand behind her and rested his hand on her shoulder.

It was clear that James took offense at the familiar way Cody touched her. His eyes went cold as he demanded, “Who is this?”

C
hristy felt Cody's hand tighten involuntarily. The two men glared at each other like hostile dogs who'd inadvertently strayed into each other's territory. She supposed it wasn't a complimentary analogy, but it seemed fitting.

“James, this is Cody Franklin,” she said, hating the unexpected way her voice squeaked.

“So the gang's all here,” Rich shouted, coming out the front door, ready to greet the two men. “I suppose you're wondering why I've called this meeting.” He laughed, obviously in a playful mood.

Christy glared at him, wondering what he was doing.

“Do you mind waiting a few minutes?” Rich asked. “Jason and Paul are on their way.”

“As a matter of fact, I do mind,” Christy snapped. She gripped Rich hard by the elbow and forced him back into the house. “Please introduce Cody to Mom and Dad,” she said.

Rich's mouth fell open. “Me? No way, little sister. I happen to value my neck.”

“I'll take care of everything,” Cody said, slapping Rich on the back. “You have nothing to fear but fear itself.”

“James,” Christy said reproachfully, turning to face the attorney, “it would have helped matters if you'd come when I suggested, but since you're here now, we'll settle this in the kitchen.”

She walked into the house and passed her mother, who was watching her curiously.

“We'll talk in the kitchen,” Christy reminded James when he hesitated in front of Elizabeth Manning and shrugged.

“Christy?” her father called. “What's going on here?”

“I'll explain everything in a few minutes, but first I have to clear something up with James.”

“Actually, I'll be more than happy to explain,” Cody said, stepping forward. He offered Eric Manning his hand, and they exchanged a brief handshake as Cody introduced himself.

“Exactly what's going on?” James wanted to know as they entered the kitchen.

Christy stopped at the huge round oak table. She pulled out a chair and sat down, then gestured for James to do the same.

He complied, but with some hesitation. “You never answered my question. Who is that man?”

“Cody Franklin.”

“That doesn't explain much.”

“No, it doesn't,” she agreed readily. With a sigh, she wondered where she should even begin. “He's from Montana.”

“Ah, that accounts for the cowboy hat.”

“We met when I went to spend time with Taylor. Cody's the new sheriff of Custer County.”

James nodded, urging her to go on. She'd explained the easy part; everything else was hard.

Unable to stay seated, Christy surged to her feet and frowned as she organized her thoughts. “Sometimes, not often I think, but sometimes when two strangers meet something happens…something special.” She paused and looked at James, hoping, praying she'd see a glimmer of understanding. She didn't.

“You're talking about fairy tales,” he said, and laughed as though she'd made a poor joke. “Are you going to break into song next?”

Christy ignored the question. “A special magic, a chemistry that flows between the two of them,” she went on. “There was magic when Taylor met Russ. At first they both resisted it and—”

“Yes, yes,” James interrupted, “but what have your sister and her husband got to do with anything?”

“Cody and I experienced that same…chemistry,” she announced, astonished this genius attorney could be so obtuse. “Neither of us was expecting to fall in love.”

“You didn't,” James said flatly, dismissing her claim.

“But I did.”

“You can't be in love with Franklin. It isn't possible when you're in love with me.”

“James, please, let me explain—”

He interrupted with an upraised hand. “Christy, darling, what you experienced for this man is a simple case of homesickness. It's perfectly understandable, and forgivable. We were only engaged a day or two, and after working so hard for all those weeks, it only makes sense that you'd look to another man for companionship.”

“James,” she said, taking both of his hands in her own, “that's not the case. I wish it was that simple, but it isn't.”

“Nonsense.” James hadn't been touted as a brilliant attorney without reason. With infuriating ease, he twisted everything she said around to suit his own purposes.

“I love Cody.” She said it forcefully enough, she prayed, for James to accept it as truth.

“As I already said, that isn't possible.” He stood, placing his hands on her shoulders, his look indulgent. “You love me, remember? Otherwise you wouldn't have agreed to become my wife.”

“I agreed to your proposal because I
like
you. And because it pleased my mother and father,” she cried.

“Christy.” He said her name softly, as if she were a petulant child. “I'm sure you're mistaken.”

“I'm not.” Her hands on his forearms, she stared directly into his eyes. “I love Cody Franklin so much I married him.”

It hurt Christy to watch the transformation come over his face. She hated the pain she saw. The disbelief. The humiliation.

“It's true,” she said before he could question her.

Anger flickered in his eyes. He jerked his arms free from her and dropped them to his sides.

“When?”

“Does it matter?”

“No, I guess not.” His eyes drifted briefly shut. That said more than any words he could have spoken.

She took a moment to open the clasp of her purse and take out the diamond ring he'd given her. When she handed it back to him, James stared at the velvet box as if he'd never seen it before. “Keep it.”

“No, I can't.”

He removed it from her hand and turned away long enough to shove it into his coat pocket. When he looked at her again, he was able to mask the pain, but she knew him well enough to realize how deeply she'd hurt him. Causing him such intense suffering was the most difficult thing she'd ever had to do. James didn't deserve to be treated this way.

“I intended to tell you the minute I got home from Montana,” she said in her own defense, the words coming so fast they nearly blended together.

“The engagement party,” he supplied for her. “You tried to tell me then, didn't you?” He didn't wait for her to answer. “I sensed something was wrong and trapped you into setting a wedding date.” He scowled. “On a subconscious level I ignored the obvious, immersed myself in my work, hoping whatever had happened with you would pass. I know I made it difficult to talk to me. But am I that unreasonable that you couldn't have told me the truth?”

“That wasn't it.” Christy felt it was important to correct that impression. “I just didn't feel I could. You were so heavily involved in the Mulligan case and I didn't want to—”

“I'm still involved.”

“I know. But the worst of it's over, and I couldn't go on pretending. I'm sorry, James, sorrier than you'll ever realize.”

He snickered, but didn't openly contradict her.

“I'm terribly fond of you and I'd give anything to—”

“Fond.” He spit out the word as if it were an obscenity.

His vehemence was a shock. James wasn't a passionate man. Rarely had Christy seen him reveal any emotion, in or out of a courtroom.

Once more she tried to explain. “I don't expect you to understand how difficult this was for me. That would be asking too much of you.” She knew she sounded shaken, but she couldn't help that. “If there was any possible way I could've done this without hurting you, I would have.”

He didn't respond.

“You're a wonderful man, James, and someday a woman will come into your life—the right woman. And you'll know what I mean.”

“You were the right woman. Or so I believed.”

“I'm sorry. So very sorry.”

He shook his head as if he didn't quite believe her. His hand was buried in his pocket, and Christy guessed he'd made a tight fist around the diamond.

“I only wish you the best,” she whispered.

He breathed deeply, then nodded, although Christy had the impression he didn't agree with her. She was about to say something more when a thunderous shout came from the direction of the living room.

“Your father?” James asked.

Christy nodded. “Cody must have told him.”

James's gaze continued to hold hers. “You'll be all right?”

“Of course.”

He seemed to accept that. “Can I kiss you, one last time?”

In response she opened her arms to him, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. James reached for her, his touch gentle. He held her close for just a moment, then pressed his mouth to hers.

He broke away, and his finger touched her cheek, his eyes clouded. “Be happy, Christy.”

“I will.”

With that he turned and walked out of the kitchen. Christy stood by the window and watched him move down the walkway, then climb inside his car. For what seemed an eternity, James sat in the driver's seat with his hands gripping the steering wheel as he stared straight ahead.

Christy couldn't delay the confrontation with her family any longer. Squaring her shoulders, she walked into the living room to find her brothers, Paul, Jason and Rich, perched on bar stools as though viewing a stage performance.

“Christy,” her mother sobbed, dabbing a tissue under her nose, “tell us it isn't true.”

She moved next to Cody and sat on the arm of the chintz-covered chair. She slipped her hand into his. “Cody and I were married last week.”

“Married!” Her father stormed to his feet as if she'd desecrated the Constitution of the United States.

Confused, Christy's eyes went to Cody's.

“I hadn't gotten around to telling them that part yet,” he told her.

“Married,” her mother repeated. “It can't be true. Christy would never do anything so…We have a wedding to plan. You couldn't possibly have gone off and gotten married without telling your own mother and father. It isn't like you to do something so underhanded.”

“I thought they knew,” she whispered, bewildered. “I heard Dad shout, and I thought…I assumed.”

“All I said,” Cody explained, “was that you wanted a little privacy with James so you could return his engagement ring.”

“Oh.” She swallowed and closed her eyes for a moment. “Well, Mom and Dad,” she said brightly, looking at them once more, “I see you've met your new son-in-law.”

“Welcome to the family,” Paul said, holding up a soft drink can in tribute. “From what Rich said, you're a friend of Russ's.”

Cody nodded.

“But you couldn't possibly be married,” her mother whimpered, turning to Eric as though he could explain everything.

“Trust me, Mom, we're married.”

“They're married,” Rich said, saluting them with his own can of soda. “I should know. I was at their wedding night.”

“Hear, hear,” Jason cried, wearing the ever-present baseball cap. “Wait a minute. At their
wedding
night?”

“I don't find any of this humorous or in good taste,” Eric roared. “Your sister's turned down the best man in three states for some…some small-town lawman. Bad enough that Taylor had to marry a country boy, but Christy, too? Never!”

“Dad,” Christy reminded him softly, “the deed is done.”

“But, Christy,” Elizabeth wailed, “I bought the material for the bridesmaids' dresses and we've put down a deposit on the hall for the reception, and—”

“I didn't mean to cheat you out of a wedding, Mom. I really didn't.”

“What will we say to our friends?” Her mother appeared to be in a state of shock. She'd gone deathly pale, and her shoulders jerked as she tried to gain control of her emotions.

“If you're worried about what to tell your friends,” Paul said, sounding knowledgeable, “I'd suggest the truth.”

“Stay out of this,” Eric shouted, dismissing his eldest son with a shake of his head. “We're in one hell of a mess here.”

“How's that?” Cody asked.

“Christy's married to you is how,” Eric informed him none too gently. “My daughter doesn't belong in the country. She was born and raised in the city. We've already got Taylor living out in the sticks. I won't allow Christy to be out there slopping hogs or whatever you do in that backwoods community.”

“Dad!” Christy was outraged. “It's
my
decision. And Cougar Point isn't any backwoods community. Besides, we won't be living there.”

“You're moving to Washington state?” Elizabeth asked Cody, her eyes wide and hopeful.