***
Deedee threw the tinfoil ball across her room and Star chased after it. Grey didn't get the usual pleasure he experienced as he watched his sister giggle and enjoy herself. He knew he was too preoccupied. He knew he was too frustrated to get pleasure out of anything. He'd called Kit at least ten times without success. Her voicemail took her messages. At ten last night, he knew damn well she was monitoring each and every message. He couldn't bring himself to tell her he loved her on a computer chip! He had to do it in person...face to face...heart to heart. Figuring time would help, he'd stayed away for four days. But now he wondered about that time. Maybe it had done more harm than good. Obviously he didn't know how women thought. He didn't know how Kit was feeling right now. As upset as he was? As in love? Was that the real problem–his pride? He didn't want to be rejected again so he'd walked away?
His frustration mounting, he got up from Deedee's bed and went to her desk. Large sheets of drawing paper lay scattered across it. The top one in pencil, depicted Star chasing a butterfly. It was quite good. The drawing underneath caught his attention immediately. Colored in chalks, a garden of zinnias and snapdragons summoned half a dozen butterflies. Grey recognized the greenery behind the vibrant flowers, the flat rocks in the midst of the garden. And his heart ached.
"What's the matter, Grey?"
If he was honest with Deedee, he'd find out how she felt, too. Though he knew no matter what Deedee thought, he was going to marry Kit. They'd work it all out somehow.
Still holding his sister's drawing in his hand, he turned to her. "Kit and I had a...disagreement."
"She's mad at you?"
"That's about it."
"But you're not mad at her?"
"She was right. I was wrong."
Deedee picked up Star and plopped the kitten in her lap. "Did you tell her?"
Was the solution as simple as that? "No, I didn't. Not yet. I'm trying to figure out a special way. How would you feel if Kit and I got married?"
Deedee stared at Star and tickled her under the chin. "I like Kit," she said softly. "And I think she likes me."
"I know she likes you."
"She's not like Susan."
"No, she's not."
"I guess it's okay if you get married. Can we still play catch?"
Grey crouched down on the floor next to Deedee. "Yes, we can still play catch, and go on picnics, and go to ball games. Being married to Kit will make everything better than it was before. The three of us will be a family."
"Not if she's mad at you."
He rose from the floor. "I guess I'll have to fix that." Lifting the drawing, he asked, "Can I give this to Kit? I think it might help."
Deedee thought about it for a moment. "Yep. Can I help wrap it?"
"You sure can. But more important, I'd like you to sign your name."
"Why?"
"Then Kit will know it's from you, too."
***
Planting new bulbs for next spring was one of Kit's favorite gardening chores. But even the promise of ruby red and yellow tulips, and fragrant blue hyacinths couldn't cheer her up. Maggie had scolded her more than once for not answering Grey's calls. Truthfully, she was scared to answer them. This from a woman who'd vowed never to be afraid of anything. Exactly what was she afraid of?
He might say he didn't love her and marriage was just a convenience he'd thought would benefit them both.
He might say he wasn't interested any more.
He might say he loved her.
What then? What kind of relationship could they have if he made decisions for her? If he couldn't tell her how he felt? Each day that passed, Kit realized more and more how much she loved Grey and how afraid she was that he didn't love her the same way. But she also remembered what Grey had said to Maggie. Men like to feel that they're taking care of the people they love. Had he really seen the situation in that light?
Digging into the ground with the gardener's shovel, she scooped down a few inches then bored deeper. By the time she'd planted her third bulb, she was sweating. The end of August. Summer was almost over. And she and Grey...
Suddenly, she knew she was no longer alone. Glancing over her shoulder, she saw a long shadow. Before she had time to take another breath, Grey stood beside her. With her hands trembling so much she could hardly hold the shovel, she laid it on the grass.
His deep voice floated down to her. "You didn't answer my calls."
Pretending a bravado she didn't feel, she plucked the unplanted bulbs into her gardening basket and asked flippantly, "So you decided to come in person to see if my phones are working?"
"No. I came to give you something."
She had no choice then but to look at him. He held a flat box in his hand. It was wrapped in yellow paper and decorated with a red bow. Curious, she climbed to her feet. Grey kept his gaze on her, but she couldn't tell anything from his expression. He handed her the box.
Running her hand under the paper, Kit unwrapped the present. As she lifted out a folded-up piece of paper, Grey took the box and wrappings and laid them with her bulbs. Slowly, she unfolded the paper. She recognized her garden immediately, just as she noticed Deedee's name.
"You're like one of those butterflies
—
strong yet delicate, beautiful yet practical. You've brought me vibrant color, excitement, passion. I love you, Kit. I should have said that first before I said anything else the other night. I screwed up. Badly. I thought about everything you said and you were right. My only excuse is that I'm not used to sharing responsibility. But I promise, if you love me, too, and if you agree to marry me, I'll make a determined effort to remember you're a woman who wants to be a full partner. I promise we'll make our decisions together. Will you marry me?"
Grey looked as if he hadn't slept since their argument. His hair was disheveled as if he'd run his fingers through it recently. What she loved about Grey the most was his honesty and sincerity. And she knew deep in her heart it was real and dependable, not a figment of her imagination conjured up because she wanted to believe it was there. He was in the habit of protecting those he loved. She'd just have to show him she needed his love much more than she needed his protection.
Nothing in the world could have prevented her from asking, "When?"
He laughed joyously and pulled her into his arms.
The kiss was everything she'd ever experienced with Grey and more. It was tingles and escalating excitement, fire and scorching passion, demand and teasing seduction. But now it was also love, commitment, and the promise of a lifetime together.
Caressing her back with long strokes, he splayed his fingers through her hair and kissed her as if they only had today, as if tomorrow might never come. She kissed him back with the same fervor, stroking his face, his neck, his shoulders, leaning into him, trying to get closer. Her body cried out for his touch, her heart sang of its love, her soul wanted union far greater than the physical.
Grey held her by the shoulders and with a frustrated groan pulled away. Leaning his forehead against hers, he said in a ragged voice, "I want to carry you inside and make love to you. But we have to straighten out a few matters first."
Her heart took a scared little leap, but then she gazed into the green depths of his eyes and knew they could solve anything with persistence, determination, and love. "What?"
"I'm not only asking you to share my life, but my burdens too."
"Deedee's not a burden."
He smiled and kissed her forehead. "I know. But her care could be. We have a couple of options." He straightened but linked his arms around her. "I can sell to Red Bucket, become their manager and make a nice salary, and keep Deedee at the home. I can keep Corey's Hardware and Deedee could live with us. Or...I can keep Corey's, hoping business keeps growing, let Deedee stay at the home, and ask you to help with expenses. I need your honest feelings on this. I want to do whatever is best for our marriage. So I guess I'm asking you to seriously consider the consequences of marrying me. All I can offer you is my love and support and the promise I'll love you always."
"That's what I want, Grey. Your love and support. And I vote for keeping Corey's and letting Deedee stay where she is. Of course, I'll help with her expenses. And after another year, we can reevaluate. We'll do whatever we have to do. If at any time Deedee wants to come live with us, we'll welcome her with open arms. We'll always consider what's best for her as well as what's best for us."
Grey held Kit close for a moment and stroked her hair. "Do you know how special you are?"
She tilted away and smiled. "I know how special you are and how much I love you."
The evening sun shed beams of light and warmth on them as they gazed into each other's eyes, communicating with their hearts. A slight fluttering nearby finally broke the intensity of their unspoken words.
An orange and black Monarch butterfly lighted on Grey's shoulder.
Kit asked softly, "Do you know what that means?"
"What does it mean?"
"That we'll be blessed with happiness and good fortune."
Grey smiled, bringing her into the curve of his arm without disturbing the butterfly. "I was blessed with happiness and good fortune the day you walked into my store."
Kit leaned her head against Grey's shoulder, accepting his strength and the promise of his love.
Grey carried a large white sheet cake onto his patio and set it on the redwood table. Eric stood beside Maggie's lawn chair as she cuddled their new son in her arms. In the yard, Deedee hit a croquet ball and watched it roll.
Kit crossed the threshold behind Grey, a coffee pot in her hand. "The christening went well. Michael couldn't have been a better baby."
Grey took the coffee pot from her and set it beside the cake. "I think his godmother was terrific. He never considered crying because you rocked him the entire time."
Grey watched an expression play across his wife's face as she glanced at Maggie and the baby. In the first nine months of their marriage, he and Kit had kept no secrets, told each other their concerns.
"What's wrong?" he asked softly.
"I wasn't going to say anything yet..."
"Spill it, kiddo," he prompted.
Kit got that soft and vulnerable look on her face, the look that made Grey want to take her in his arms, hold her, kiss her thoroughly, then lead her to bed. With an uncertain smile, she murmured, "Holding Michael feels so good. And when I was rocking him at the christening, I had this strong, strong feeling. I'd like one of our own."
Because of Kit's career, Grey hadn't brought up the subject of children. His love for his wife glowed in his heart as he responded, "So would I. But I thought maybe you needed more time. Your career is important to you."
"Yes, it is. And I'd like to keep involved with public relations. But I also want to have your baby. I think it would make life more...complete."
He put his arm around her and pulled her close, whispering in her ear, "Want to slip away and start now?"
She laughed and jabbed him in the ribs. Then her smile faded. "Can we afford it? I mean we have to think of the future. College..."
"The store's doing great thanks to your bright ideas. Customers just needed to know Corey's existed. And as long as we make personal service our trademark and keep expanding, I foresee a bright future. Your decorating center with paint and fabric samples was brilliant. The fabric shop sends customers to us, we send customers to them... More ideas like that and I'll have to V the t I hire more help."
"Deedee told me the gallery sold another of her paintings."
Because of Deedee's drawings, Kit had suggested she take art lessons. Within a month, she'd blossomed under her teacher's tutelage and the woman had found a gallery willing to show her work. Now working with oils and watercolors, she painted on a regular basis.
Grey chuckled. "She's becoming quite an entrepreneur. Not only is she selling her paintings, but she told me Maggie's going to pay her to help her at home."
"Maggie says Deedee has been a godsend the past few months. Now that the baby's here, she can use her help even more. Between the pet shop, and painting, and now helping Maggie, Deedee is almost working full time."
"She seems to love it."
"Because the work gives her independence she needs. We have to let her try her wings, Grey."
"And we have to try ours. I want to see you swollen with my child. If you're ready, so am I."
She gazed into his eyes saying solemnly, "I'm ready."
Deedee called to Grey and Kit. "Look at the butterflies."
As the weather had gotten warmer over the past few weeks, Kit and Grey had planted a garden with butterflies in mind. Now swallowtails dipped and hovered over the red and white impatiens. As the zinnias grew taller and the snapdragons and phlox filled out, more and more butterflies would be drawn to the area.
Kit and Grey strolled to the garden where Deedee watched the delicate creatures. Maggie and Eric followed.
Kit felt the comfort of her sister and brother-in-law by her side. As Deedee sidled closer and brushed Kit's elbow with a smile, Kit knew she'd found true happiness. The wings of love had brought Grey to her. She'd treasure the love and happiness they shared...always.
When Grey wrapped his arms around her, she treasured the love they'd found and looked forward to whatever the future brought...because they'd embrace it together.
"I love you," he murmured in her ear.
"I love you, too," she whispered back, looking forward to treasuring the moment and believing in the future.