"We"re going to be late," Andie said, as she bent over in the closet. Everything in there was a mess, as usual. She"d kept promising herself she was going to give their closet a good spring cleaning. This was the third springtime that had gotten away from her. "We"re going to be late and I can"t find my black pumps."
"Did you mean these?"
She turned slightly and saw Jeff dangling a black patent-leather shoe from each index finger. She blew a strand of hair off her face and straightened. "Those are the ones. Great. Is everything else ready?"
"We"re just waiting on you."
She pushed back the sleeve of her black robe and glanced at her watch. "Oh, we"re going to be late."
"We"re not going to be late," Jeff said, handing her the shoes. "Everything is ready. Jamie is dressed, Mitch.e.l.l"s bag is in the car and Bobby is keeping watch to make sure no one gets dirty."
Andie rolled her eyes. "He"s the one who gets dirty the most." She slipped on her shoes and tugged at her gown. "How do I look?"
Jeff grinned. "Like a lawyer."
Andie turned and glanced at herself in the full-length mirror. Her long hair hung down the back of her black graduation robe. "I feel old. Do you know how long it"s taken me to get through law school?"
Jeff came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. "Yeah, I know. But you had a few distractions along the way." He nudged her hair aside and started nibbling on her neck. "And I can hear one of them in the living room."
"Mo-om, Mitch.e.l.l"s crying"came the confirming call.
"Bobby, check his diaper for me," she yelled back.
"That"s gross."
"I"ll check," Jeff said, giving her a quick squeeze before walking into the other room.
Two-year-old Jamie came toddling in. "Mama, we go in the car," she said.
"I know." Andie smiled at her daughter. Two children, a new house, a husband and now a law degree. It had been a busy three years. She resisted the urge to glance at her watch again. They wouldn"t be late for her graduation, she told herself. They couldn"t be.
"He"s dry," Jeff said. "But we"d better go."
Andie grabbed her purse from the dresser,then picked up Jamie. Her daughter had white-blond hair and big eyes the same color as her father"s. Six-month-old Mitch.e.l.l looked more like Andie. She thought all her children were beautiful.
Jeff stood by the front door. He had Mitch.e.l.l"s baby seat hooked over one arm. He was holding Bobby"s hand and propping the door open with his heel. Her oldest stood tall and proud in his new suit.
"Don"t forget your hat, Mom," he said, pointing to the flat black graduate"s cap on the hall-tree shelf.
She grabbed it as she went by. Within minutes, they were all strapped into the car and speeding down the highway toward the university. The spring air was warm, almost tropical. It reminded her a little of St. Lucas.
"What are you smiling at?" Jeff asked.
"Just thinking about how we met."
He reached for her hand and brought it to his mouth. He kissed her palm. The tingles had never gone away. Even now they raced up her arm and made her wish they were alone.
"There they go again," Bobby grumbled. "Gettin" all mushy."
Jeff read the desire in her eyes. "Tonight," he promised. "After the party celebrating your graduation."
"Tonight," she agreed.
Tonight, and tomorrow and for all the nights left to them. He loved her with a pa.s.sion that made her catch her breath. They"d survived the mourning and the pain. They"d found their way out of the past, toward a future filled with promise.
"I love you," she said, smiling at him.
"I love you, too," he answered.
"Ah, you guys," Bobby complained. Little Jamie just giggled.
end.