Not Quite Forever

Walt couldn’t remember another time when his mother rambled so much.

“Yes. That’s what they call it.”

“Besides, Arizona is closer to you two. Once the baby comes I’m sure your father and I will want to be more involved than just holidays.”

Walt placed a hand on his mother’s head, peered closer. “Did you hit your head?”

She shooed his hand away. “Don’t play doctor with me. I’m just fine.”

Beside him, Dakota laughed and his mother joined in.

His mom placed a finger in front of her lips. “Shh!”

Dakota winked and made a zipping motion over her lips.

“Secrets? You two have secrets?”

“What happens in snowbound cars, stays in snowbound cars.”

His mom took a deep breath, blew it out. “How is your father?”

“Restless. We told him you were both snowed in at the house and waiting to get down the hill. I don’t think he bought the lack of phone service, but he was too tired to argue that much.”

They arrived at the house with a rush of activity. Brenda grabbed a hold of her mom and didn’t let go.

The police took a statement and eventually left.

Walt forced Dakota to sit through a simple blood pressure and blood sugar test before he allowed the EMTs to leave.

They shed their coats and shoes before the massive fire in the fireplace and sighed.

Walt took their coats, placed them on a drying rack.

Brenda was already warming up hot soup, and Larry was calling family.

Walt turned to see Dakota rubbing her hands over his mother’s. “Let’s not do that again, OK?”

His mom grasped her hands and held them. “Thanks for keeping me sane.”

Dakota smiled and they both looked down at their hands.

His mom patted her hand, and that’s when Walt noticed the shine coming from Dakota’s ring finger.

“I think I’ll find that bubble bath before I eat.”

JoAnne walked by his side, patted his arm, and smiled before walking away. “Brenda, honey, can you bring that to my room? I must shed these clothes.”

Walt heard the others exit the great room. He moved to Dakota’s side and took her hand in his.

The ring was perfect, and the fact that it sat on her ring finger made him smile like a kid on their sixteenth birthday. Car keys in hand.

“I thought I lost that.”

She stretched out her hand, admired the ring. “Oh, is this yours? I found it under the backseat while searching for canned tuna.”

Walt lifted her chin to meet her eyes.

“I thought I lost you.”

Dakota shook her head, slowly. “Takes more than a little snowstorm to get rid of me. Besides, I have some seriously unfinished business to take care of in this life.”

He smiled, loved that she could laugh in the face of what had to have been a harrowing experience. “What’s that?”

She searched him with a look. “I need to tell the man who bought this ring that I love him.”

The words were music, like a breathing child, like a heartbeat where there once was nothing. They filled him, she consumed him.

“I love you, Walt. I really hope this ring is our next step.”

He stepped closer, felt her body against his. “Are you ready for the next step?”

Her smile was ear-to-ear. “I need a little sleep, a long shower, and some food, but after that I’m ready.”

“So we’re getting married.”

“Oh, we’re getting married, Doc. We are so getting married.”

He brushed his lips against hers. On a sigh, she melted into his touch.

Their child, not quite ready to say hello to the world, kicked him.

Dakota pulled away laughing. “We’ll get your father healthy enough to wear a suit, make sure my parents and sister can be here. Fly Mary in, get Trent and Monica here . . . maybe even my agent.”

“Sounds like forever.”

“Not quite forever. I’m thinking this weekend will work. Gotta snag ya while your mom still likes me.”

Walt scooped her up, spun her around. “I love you.”

He kissed her again, felt his heart sing.

“I need food, a bath, and a bed,” she told him.

“You got it.”

She stopped him before they headed up the stairs. “Wake me in the morning with a kiss.”

“I’ll wake you every morning of our lives with a kiss.”

Epilogue

She felt him long before he slid into the space beside her, placed his lips against her ear, and said, “Please tell me that ring doesn’t mean you’re married.”

Dakota pulled her hair aside to feel the warmth of his breath on her neck. “Oh, I’m married.” She laid a hand on her belly, felt Junior stretch to the point of rearranging one of her lungs. “But you might convince me to stray.”

The woman sitting at the bar beside her looked Dakota up and down, and then swung her gaze to the man trying to pick her up.

His breath tickled the lobe of Dakota’s ear, made her lean into him.

“I’m in the penthouse suite,” he murmured.

“Tempting.” Dakota sucked in her bottom lip, gave it a little chew.

The eavesdropping woman clicked her tongue, grabbed her drink, and left the bar in a huff.

They both started laughing as Walt took the now unoccupied seat.

“Is everything all set?” she asked.

“The room is filling, the books are stacked, even our moms have added their own personal flavor to the event.”