When Love Comes Knocking, page 24
“I’ve worn these rings around my neck since the day I set myself upon this task. I wore them in the hope that you would use them again.”
She looked up at me, hope and a little fear showing in her eyes.
“Would you?” she asked, softly. “Would you use them again and let me help you raise Sarah? To give her a family. You are her uncle, but I think in time she is going to need a father and a mother. And possibly playmates. I’m asking you to let go of all of that anger and forget all the other things that have happened and, for once, put that stubborn pride of yours aside. Would you do that for us? For Sarah? Would you give me… us… a second chance?”
Her gaze captured mine and held it, boring into my heart.
“If you love me as much as I love you, then it's simple. Ask me.”
I stared down at the rings and then back up at her. She wasn't lying to me, and I could see the resolve, as well as the fear, in her eyes. But mostly I could just see… love.
I had told Mark I was in love with her, that I’d never stopped loving her. I had wanted to spend my life with her once. Looking at the jewelry on the table, I realized that the only thing preventing that wish from coming true again was me.
My hand moved slowly toward the rings. I let my fingers brush over them, separate them and pull out mom’s engagement ring, the one she had given me to use when I had asked Julia to marry me the first time.
I picked it up, holding it between the two fingers of my right hand, moving it, feeling the warmth from where it had lain against her skin.
I looked back up at her, knowing exactly what I needed to do. More importantly, it was what I wanted to do. I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and let it out slowly, trying to let go of all the feelings and emotions from the last few days.
When I opened them, I locked eyes with Julia. I raised my other hand slowly, reaching out to her.
A tear started down one of her cheeks as she raised her left hand and placed it in mine. I could feel the tremble in those fingers, the only real outward sign of her apprehension. I brought the ring up to her finger, but paused. I looked back up at her, silently asking the question. She nodded, and I slipped the ring onto her finger. I picked up the remaining band and placed it in my pocket. Julia gave me a smile that would have melted the knees of any mortal man before turning back to the judge. A curious amount of sniffing was going on behind us in the room.
Julia spoke. “Your Honor, Sarah Peterson will grow up surrounded by a loving family. Whether the label is aunt and uncle, or father and mother, time will tell. Regardless, she will never want for love. Whether that be from Jake and I, or her grandparents. All of her grandparents,” she firmly promised, giving the Petersons a quick glance.
She turned her attention back to me, looking at me but speaking to the judge.
“I can also guarantee there will be no more lapses in judgment by Mr. Attwood that will require any more legal attention.”
The judge looked at Julia and his own smile tried to peek out as he shuffled the papers on his desk, clearing his throat.
“Thank you, Ms. Winston. You may return to your seat. Oh, and congratulations on your engagement.” Julia glanced at me, still smiling, and walked back to sit next to Mom as I sat back down next to Mitch.
The judge looked at us, shaking his head. “Well, I can’t say that this has not been an interesting morning. Based on Ms. Winston's statement, it is the court's opinion that Miss Peterson will be in good hands and, given the strength of conviction that Ms. Winston has shown here today, I have no doubts as to the environment Miss Peterson will live in. The Plaintiff's request is denied. Miss Peterson’s guardianship will remain as is.”
I heard Mom’s sharp intake of breath behind me, and tears sprang to my eyes at his words.
Giving the two tables in front of him another stern glance, he smacked his gavel once and asked the clerk for his next case.
Lawyers and their clients began moving in to where we were sitting. I tried to get around the table to get to Julia and the other two conspirators, but they were already at the doors to the courtroom.
Mitch grabbed my arm and said something to me, but I pulled away from him and started making my way through the crowd.
I tried to follow the three women, but too many people in the courtroom crowd wanted to congratulate me. I finally pushed through the courtroom doors and hurriedly glanced left and right. There was a small lobby to the right where the elevators were and that's where they stood. Julia looked up and our eyes met. Everything and everyone else melted away for me.
I walked at a slow, measured pace until I stood right in front of her.
“Julia, please forg–” was all I managed before a single finger rested on my lips, silencing my apology.
She smiled at me, that little-half smile.
I missed that smile so much.
She moved to me, and our arms naturally enveloped each other. Her lips were on mine and nothing else in the world existed but her. I felt a huge weight flow like water off my shoulders and fade into nothingness.
Someone cleared their throat, bringing us both back to the present. I pulled back far enough to speak, but I didn’t take my eyes off Julia as I addressed the person who had so rudely interrupted us.
“Something you need, Mom?” I asked.
I just wanted to dive into Julia's eyes and never come up for air. What I was seeing promised me that we would do more than kiss very soon.
“Well, Kathi and I wanted to get a jump on the wedding planning, and we need Julia.”
“No,” I stated. It got very quiet and still around us.
I kept my vision focused on Julia.
“Excuse me?” Mom asked. I didn’t have to look at her to know that both eyebrows were arched up.
“No big wedding, no dressing up, no church,” I stated.
“But, I don’t understand. You got engaged. That usually means a wedding,” Mom replied.
Kathi echoed her confusion.
Julia searched my eyes and nodded. Her eyes didn’t leave mine as she answered Mom.
“We’re in a courthouse, Mary. We have two witnesses, we have rings. We don’t want to waste another moment.”
“Not one more damn moment,” I said quietly before kissing my soon-to-be-again wife.
NINETEEN
Taking Julia’s hand in mine, I pulled her over to the elevators and up to a directory posted on the wall. She ran one finger down the directory, stopping at the third line from the bottom.
“County Clerk's office, 1st floor,” she said, turning to me.
I nodded back and punched the down button, surprised when one elevator immediately opened.
“Must be our lucky day,” said Julia, smiling and squeezing my hand.
I pulled her into the elevator and waited for Mom and Kathi to pile in behind us.
“I’d say you two are nuts, but I’d be wasting my breath,” Mom said, crossing her arms. That got a giggle from Kathi. Mom glared at her, and Kathi looked at her innocently.
I looked down at Julia and she grinned up at me.
“Nuts?” I asked softly.
“Totally,” she replied just as softly before lifting my hand and kissing the back of it, sending a pulse of heat through my arm.
The elevator dinged as the doors opened on our floor. I led my small group out into the foyer, paused, checked the signs, and turned left.
Two more turns and one set of double doors later and we were at the clerk's office. We walked over to the row of windows where the obligatory red number holder was attached to the wall near the first window. I snapped off the paper tab hanging there. Number forty-three was stamped on it in black. I glanced up at the overhead monitors and saw they were on number forty-one. Still holding Julia's hand, I led her to a seat in the first row of chairs. Mom and Kathi moved to the back row and were soon engaged in a quiet conversation.
I turned in my seat to face Julia to find her already looking at me. I needed to know that she was really good with this, and not just caught up in the moment.
“Julia…” was all I managed before she placed her hand on my chest.
She smiled at me, and I could see the love shining in her eyes.
“Yes, I’m sure. I’ve never been surer of anything in my life,” she said quietly.
How did she know what was bothering me?
“Did you mean this?” she asked, holding up her hand and wiggling her newly bejeweled finger. “Are you absolutely sure you’re doing this for you? For us?”
“Yes,” I said, hoping the goofy grin on my face didn’t seem so goofy to her.
Her smirk told me that goofy was okay.
“Good answer.” She nodded. “Next question. Do you love me? Are you in love with me as much as I am with you?” Her eyes searched my face.
I reached up to cup her cheek and then gently pulled her to me. My lips devoured hers for several seconds before I pulled back, sucking her bottom lip lightly. She moaned softly.
“Does that answer your question, wife-to-be-again?”
She gave a small breathy sigh and patted my chest lightly with her hand.
“That answered the question of ‘can you still kiss me like no other’? Now, what about the other question?”
I took her hands in mine and leaned forward, letting my forehead touch hers.
“Julia Winston, I never stopped loving you, and I am hopelessly in love with you again,” I said softly, but firmly, as I gave her hands a squeeze. “Does that answer your question?”
“It does, Jake Attwood,” she replied, reaching up to caress my cheek.
We both leaned in for another kiss but were interrupted by a single electronic beep and a computerized announcement.
“Serving number forty-three at Window Six. Forty-three at Window Six.”
Julia and I stood and walked over to window six, with Mom and Kathi following close behind. Behind the window sat an older woman in a floral sundress. She had graying-blue hair and glasses that were connected to a chain around her neck.
“How can I help you?” she asked in a bored, nasally voice, pushing the glasses up on her nose as she peered at us.
“We’d like a marriage license, please,” I replied.
“Drivers licenses and social security cards, please,” she said.
We slid the requested IDs across the counter. The clerk pulled them down, glanced at us to confirm the photos matched, and began clicking at her terminal. After a few minutes, she paused and looked up at us.
“Will you have someone marry you or are you doing it yourselves?” she asked.
“Ourselves,” Julia replied.
I glanced at her. “Can we do that?”
Julia smiled and nodded. “We just have to sign the paperwork and we’re done. We don’t have to wait for anyone to be free to marry us.”
“Really? How do you know about that?” I asked, surprised at her answer.
She actually blushed and nibbled at her bottom lip before she answered. “I may have done some research since our first date.”
“Pretty sure of yourself, huh?” I asked, softening my words with a grin.
She just shrugged, giving me an embarrassed look.
The clerk went back to typing. She finished with a final click or of her mouse and watched as the printer on her desk spit out a form. She pulled it off, and I watched as she used a yellow highlighter to annotate two signature lines. She slid the form up onto the counter for us and pointed to the cup of pens sitting at the corner of the window.
“Each of you sign and date.”
I picked up a pen, but Mom interrupted me with a hand on my shoulder.
“What, no vows? Just smear some ink and all is good?”
I looked down at Julia and her eyes sparkled.
I knew what was coming.
“Do you, Jake?” she asked.
I nodded. “Yep. Do you, Julia?” I responded.
“Oh yeah,” she said.
I nodded again and signed the first signature line before handing the pen to Julia. She turned the paper to her and signed under me. We laughed at the muttered “damn kids” coming from Mom.
We slid the license back to the clerk, and she grabbed a metal stamp and affixed a seal to the document.
“That’ll be thirty-five dollars, please. No checks.”
I pulled my wallet and slid my debit card through the window. Our efficient clerk ran the card, printed a receipt, and then slid my card, the receipt, and the license back to us.
“Congratulations. Have a nice day,” she said and then promptly turned back to her screen and resumed her clicking.
I grabbed Julia’s left hand, pulled the engagement ring off, and slid the wedding band on her finger, followed by the diamond. Julia held her hand out, looking at the rings before glancing up at me. She took my left hand in hers, her fingers rubbing my empty ring finger.
“Do you still have yours?” she asked. “I feel bad that I don't have anything for you.”
I clasped her fingers in mine, giving them a squeeze and a small caress.
“At home, in my sock drawer. We can get it later.”
She smiled and nodded. We headed back to the main lobby, still holding hands. Mom and Kathi followed us. Hugs and congratulations began. I wasn’t positive, but Mom might have gotten a bit teary-eyed.
“Okay,” Mom said, wiping at her eyes. “I guess we can finally call this day done. I don't know about you three, but I’m beat.”
Kathi cleared her throat and then smiled as she glanced at Julia. “Julia, do you know where the Oxford Hotel is?”
Julia looked at her, an expression of confusion on her face. “Yes, why?”
Kathi then looked at Julia and me before smiling even wider.
“Because there is a reservation for the Attwoods there for the next three days. Consider it a wedding present.”
Overwhelmed with surprise and touched by the generous gift, I pulled Kathi into a hug. I put my lips next to her ear, whispering quietly.
“Thank you for everything.”
“I’m happy for you both,” she whispered in return, giving me a light squeeze.
When I stepped back, Julia replaced me, hugging Kathi as well. I couldn’t hear what was said, but Julia nodded her head vigorously to something Kathi whispered into her ear.
Mom then surprised me by handing me her car keys. I held my hand out, but she pulled back slightly. Her eyes locked onto me like little lasers.
“Scratch it,” she growled, “and I’ll hang you by your toes from the rafters of the barn and let Owen feast on your bones.”
“Yes ma’am,” I replied meekly as she dropped the keys into my hand.
The scariest part was that I was firmly convinced she would do exactly what she promised.
Forty-five minutes later, I slid the cardkey into the door’s lock and watched the light go green. I pushed down on the door handle as the electric lock cycled. Pushing the door open, I stepped back to allow Julia to enter, then followed, the door closing with a loud click.
I glanced around the room as Julia dropped her purse on the small credenza. She also reached down and slipped off her heels. She turned to me, and I could see she was nibbling at her lower lip while she played with her rings.
I shucked my suit coat off and tossed it on a chair. I started working on my tie, trying to get it loosened enough to get off, but my fingers were shaking, and I couldn’t get the knot to cooperate. Julia stepped over and put her hands on mine, stilling them. She deftly untied the tie and pulled it out from under my shirt collar, tossing it onto my coat.
She stepped in and her arms went around me, burying her face in my chest. I wrapped my arms around her and inhaled deeply, filling my lungs with her scent, feeling her breath against my shirt.
It took a second before I realized that she was also trembling. I kissed the top of her head and hugged her closer.
“Hey,” I asked quietly. “What’s wrong?”
Julia took a deep breath before mumbling something I couldn’t make out.
“What?”
She pulled back and looked up at me, her eyes capturing mine.
“I said I can’t believe we’re here.”
“What do you mean?” I asked, puzzled. “Here at the Oxford?”
Julia put her head back to my chest and took another deep breath. Stepping back, she grabbed my hand and pulled me over to the bed. My heart began to beat faster as she sat down on the edge and pulled me down to sit next to her. She took both of my hands and squeezed as she looked at her lap. It took her a moment before she lifted her head and looked up at me.
“Ever since I told Dr. Barlow what I was going to do, it’s been a rollercoaster of emotions for me. It was all going so good; I thought we were connecting. At dinner that night, I could tell you wanted me as much as I wanted you. It was scary, and exciting at the same time, to see it in your eyes.”
I shook my head, chuckling lightly. “You have no idea.” I took a moment and reached out to tuck a strand of her hair back behind one ear. She sighed and leaned into my hand even as she reached up to grasp it with one of her own.
“But after what happened…” she paused, lowering her eyes, before whispering, “Jake, I thought I had lost you again.”
I tugged at her until she stood up and then pulled her back to sit in my lap. She leaned into me and laid her head on my shoulder. I wrapped my hands around her and held her tightly.
“Look,” I said as I let my fingers run lightly up her arm, causing her to shiver slightly. “How we got here doesn’t matter. All that matters is that we’re here now.”
I reached and lifted her left hand and twisted the rings a bit.
“These are back where they belong. We’re both back where we belong—together.”
Julia turned and planted a kiss on my neck and then lightly nibbled on my ear lobe.
“Jake?” she said, her warm, soft breath washing over my ear and sending shivers down my spine. I could hear a slight quiver in her voice.
“Yes?”
“Love me.”
“I do love you, Jules.”
Her hand came up and turned my head to face her. She pulled me in and kissed me, her lips soft and gentle, but at the same time insistent. She pulled back and I could see a different look in them now. A need. A desperate need.
