Meant-To-Be Marriage

A hamburger and a movie would help her get through another evening while she waited to be with him day and night for the rest of their lives.

Maureen smiled when Sydney entered the main office. “He’s still going strong in there.”

“Is he alone?”

“No. He’s in a session with someone. I don’t expect he’ll be much longer. Would you like a drink while you wait?”

“No, thank you.” After a slight hesitation, “Have you heard anything about the case against you and Jarod?”

“There’s going to be an unofficial hearing before the board in a couple of weeks. Don’t let it worry you, and don’t allow it to ruin your wedding plans.”

“I won’t.”

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen a man more excited to get married. I’ve been thinking all men ought to try being a priest for a few years first. It’s just a hunch, but I think it would make them better husbands later.” She chuckled.

Sydney couldn’t help laughing, too. When it subsided she said, “So far Jarod’s perfect.”

“Is that right?” He spoke directly behind her.

She swung around. “I didn’t know you were through—”

In his gray suit, his green eyes seemed to glow as they played over her features. He took in all the details that sent the blood rushing into her cheeks.

“My last appointment left through the other door of the office. So what else were you telling Maureen about me?”

“That’s our secret,” the older woman quipped. “Don’t want you to get a swelled head too soon.”

These days Jarod seemed to smile more and more. It had to be a sign that he was happy.

Her breath caught. “I came by to take you out for a change.”

“I like the sound of that. Give me two minutes to make a phone call, and I’m all yours.”

Since it was a warmer Autumn day than usual, they walked from his office to the drive-in holding hands.

Halfway there he kissed her cheek. “You don’t know how many times I yearned to do this when we’d happen to meet on the street in Cannon.”

“You mean when I managed to meet you, accidentally?”

“How many times did you lie in wait for me I didn’t know about?”

“Every time.”

Her confession must have shocked him because he stopped walking for a minute.

“You’re serious.”

“Yes. Now perhaps you understand the depth of my guilt. I knew your schedule, where you went to eat, the people you visited on a regular basis, the hours you worked at the farm and the hours you saw clients in your office.

“I tried not to take advantage of it all the time, but I spent those nine months plotting and scheming to make the most of every week where you were concerned. I’m sure you think less of me for doing that, that’s part of the reason I left Cannon with every intention of never seeing you again.”

He slid his arm around her shoulders before they continued walking. “Now that I think about it, you did seem to show up at the precise moment I was aching for you. It’s a good thing you did. Otherwise I would have had to find more creative ways to make certain our paths crossed.”

Impatient with herself she said, “Let’s not talk about Cannon anymore. It’s too painful. I can’t relate to that period now. Tonight we’re going to experience another first and go to a movie together. There’s only one in town, so you have no choice over the selection.”

His hand slid down her back to squeeze her waist. “That’s all right because in any case, I’ll be watching you most of the time. I can’t take my eyes off of you.”

While she basked in his attention, they ate a quick dinner, then headed into the theater across the street.