CHAPTER 14
Deborah had emerged from Alex’s room to ask them to all come upstairs a couple of hours later. Yes, even Lauralee and Jamie, she’d specified. With curious looks at one another, Julia and Dev had stood, Dev scooping Jamie up into his arms, and Julia taking Lauralee’s hand in hers.
As they entered Alex’s room, Deborah stood at his bedside.
“Deb thought we should do this properly, so…” Alex looked up into her glowing face.
“We’re getting married!” she announced.
Dev stood still, holding Jamie, the only evidence of his surprise a slight stiffening of his posture.
Though Julia had been expecting it, somehow, it still surprised her. She supposed it was the idea of getting used to yet another change. She put a smile on her face and moved forward to embrace Deborah, then bent to hug Alex carefully, with a murmured, “Congratulations!”
After congratulations were given all around, Alex asked, “Do you think the reverend’ll come out again to squeeze us in before the New Year?”
• ♥ •
Dev watched his brother’s expression closely, trying to discern if this was something Alex truly wanted to do or if he felt somehow trapped into it. Alex seemed genuinely happy—for the first time Dev could remember.
Of course, that wasn’t saying much, was it? Considering the scant moments he had spent in his brother’s presence over the years.
“I’ll ride into town for him myself,” Dev said. “Maybe we’ll have a Christmas Eve wedding here at the Flying C, if he’s willing.”
At that, Deborah impulsively rushed to Dev and threw her arms around him. “Thank you!”
“It will have to be just us,” Julia said. “I’m afraid there won’t be a way to invite friends and family on this short notice, and especially with the holiday upon us.”
“It doesn’t matter,” Deborah said, her eyes shining as she turned to look at Julia. “I’m afraid I—I have no family. Not anymore. And probably, no friends, after what my father attempted.” She looked down, embarrassed.
Julia put her hands on Deborah’s shoulders until she looked into Julia’s face. “You are not your father, Deborah. And you are not responsible for what he did—or tried to do.”
Deborah nodded after a moment. “Thank you, Julie.”
“Now, let’s go hang what poor strands of popcorn we’ve made on the tree and plan what we are able while Dev rides into town. Hopefully, he’ll bring the reverend back with him, and you two will be married before dark.”
As the women and children left, Dev walked over to stand by Alex. He looked at him a moment, then sat in the chair beside the bed. “This is what you really want?”
Alex nodded. “She turns my guts inside out, Dev.”
Dev grinned. “Well, I suppose it must be love. No truer testimony than that.”
Alex gave him a relieved smile. “I knew you’d understand. I was worried you might feel betrayed somehow, though.”
“How’s that?”
“After what Aaron Miles tried to do, I was afraid you might believe Deborah was truly a part of it. I know her, Dev. She was as taken in as anyone else on that deal. She’d never do anything to hurt a child. And as far as her throwing herself at me, like I said—well, I reckon—I reckon that was a mutual thing, after all.”
“I reckon,” Dev agreed drily.
Alex’s dark complexion became ruddy. “I’ve never felt…like this. And she’s a good person, Dev. An angel. I trust her.”
“You don’t believe Aaron told her anything of his plans? Only told her to hurry things along with you?”
“No. I don’t think she was part of it—whatever ‘it’ all consisted of. And he needn’t have bothered. We’re both perfectly content to ‘hurry things along’,” he added sardonically. “Though I have no idea why he was so bent on it.”
“I’ll tell you all about it later,” Dev said, rising. “And, if you’re certain, I’ll head on into town for Reverend Sites and see if he’ll come.”
“Do you think it might be possible to get a bath?”
Dev grinned. “I’ll have Pete and a couple of the others carry in the water to be heated and get it up here for you, long as you’re strong enough to get into the tub.”
“Thanks, brother.”
• ♥ •
That night, an exhausted Julia climbed gratefully into bed, relishing in the feel of the soft mattress. She snuggled into the comforting softness, her mind drifting over all the events of the day.
Reverend Sites had been accommodating, and Alex had managed to get dressed, with help, after bathing. The ceremony had been brief in Alex’s bedroom, with Lauralee giving a spontaneous cheer as Alex was directed that he may now kiss the bride. Julia figured her fidgety niece had just been glad the short service had ended—not that the couple was going to actually kiss one another.
Julia had heated up the leftovers from the meal Dev had brought back the day before, and they’d eaten—all except the reverend, who’d needed to get back to town for Christmas Eve services.
The children had given their packages under the tree a last shake or two, then Julia had gotten them ready for bed. Dev told them a story while Julia cleaned the kitchen, and then they’d been hustled off to get to sleep and wait for Santa Claus.
Now, it was her turn to finally fall into bed and rest, at last. Tomorrow would be a bright new day, and there would be the Christmas meal to prepare…happy faces around the table…wonderful new memories in the making for all of them.
Dev slid into bed beside her with a relieved sigh. He’d had a full day, too, she thought. Tomorrow, she hoped, would be more relaxing for everyone after the week they’d had.
“You still awake?” Dev said softly.
She turned to face him. “I thought I’d be asleep as soon as I laid down, but…maybe I’m just overtired. Or excited. I’m like a child about Christmas.” She laughed at herself softly. “I was more curious than either of the little ones about what was in those packages you brought in to put under the tree.”
“What you asked for—a doll for Laura and blocks for Jamie.”
Julia propped her head up, looking down at Dev’s handsome features. “I think, Mr. Campbell, there were far more than two packages you put under that tree.”
He gave her a lazy smile. “You’re right. I wanted it to be a good Christmas for both of them—and for you—after what happened. Hell, Julie, you must think you ran straight out of the frying pan into the fire, coming here. I want to make it up to you—somehow.”
She slowly lowered herself until their lips met in a tentative, gentle kiss—a kiss that became heated in seconds.
“Dev…make love to me,” Julia whispered, blushing in the darkness, glad he couldn’t see.
He stopped moving, then his bare chest came across her breasts, covered only by her threadbare nightgown. The warmth, the power of him, left her breathless beneath him. But in the low shimmer of moonlight filtering through the curtains, she could see the naked desire in his dark eyes.
“Julie—are you sure?”
In that instant, she was. All doubts were gone. She and Devlin Campbell were going to make this marriage work. And they were going to be happy. The ghosts of the past could be banished with the memories that waited to be made.
She looked up into his face, her hand tracing his cheek.
“Yes, Dev. Oh, yes. I’m sure. And merry, merry Christmas.”
• ♥ •
“The heathens…” Dev sleepily mumbled in the darkness. The delighted squeals that came from downstairs heralded the fact that Christmas Day had, indeed, begun…even if dawn hadn’t broken yet.
Julia moaned. She hated to move out of the strong warmth of Dev’s arms, but…the children were up. The day had started, like it or not.
Happy laughter sounded from downstairs, and Julia managed to rise, after all. She reached for her robe, her entire body heating in embarrassment to realize she’d been sleeping nude after she and Dev’s lovemaking throughout the night. Oh, the things they had done—no need to be embarrassed now, she told herself. Then, she smiled in wicked remembrance as she tied the sash of her robe.
Dev had pulled on a pair of denims and shrugged into a flannel shirt, buttoning it as he walked toward the door.
“Here we go, Mrs. Campbell. You ready?”
She stood on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek. “Ready for anything. Let’s go.”
• ♥ •
“Oh, can I open this one, Debbil? I mean…Papa?”
Dev grinned from the bottom of the stairway as he and Julie took the last step together. “Yep, that’s yours, Lauralee, from Ol’ St. Nick.”
“There seem to be more presents here than there were last night,” Julie whispered.
He shot her a mock-surprised look. “Well of course there are. Santa came!”
“But, how—oh…when you went to talk to Alex—” She shook her head as Lauralee ripped the paper from the package to reveal a beautiful set of miniature cups, saucers, and a teapot. “You have all kinds of tricks up your sleeve, Mr. Campbell.”
“Oh!” The little girl’s gasp of pure pleasure let Dev know he’d made the right decision. Cardinals or roses had been his pattern choices. He’d chosen the cardinals.
“Aunt Julie, look! Red bird tea cups!”
“Oh, goodness, Lauralee! Those are just beautiful! You’ll have to be careful—those are very fragile…”
“I need a room of my own…” Lauralee answered wistfully, shooting Jamie a glance.
“Well—”
“You’ll have one, sweetheart. I promise,” Dev interrupted. “Just as soon as we sort everything out.”
She laid the tea set down carefully, then hugged his leg. “Thank you, Debbil.”
Catching Julie’s admonishing look, he knelt and hugged Lauralee. “Thought you were gonna call me Paw-Paw—no wait. That’s not right. Father?” He shook his head, as if he were trying to remember. “Huh-uh.”
She began to laugh.
Jamie barreled into them. “Pa-pa!”
Dev laughed as he almost lost his balance.
“Papa!” Lauralee shouted.
“Oh, yeah! That’s it. How ’bout it? I think I like that better than ‘Debbil’.”
She nodded vigorously. “All right, Papa.” She hurried back to the tree. “Here, Jamie. This name starts with a ‘J’, and that’s you.”
“No, wait—” Dev said, scrambling to take the package from her. “There’s another name that starts with ‘J’—Julia…Julie.”
“Oh…well…Jamie needs one—” Lauralee dove back into looking for one for Jamie, crying out triumphantly, “I found another one!”
Dev took a quick look. “Yep. That’s Jamie’s.”
“I’ll help him open it,” Lauralee stated seriously.
“Well—” Julie began, but Dev shook his head.
“That’s what big sisters do, Julie. Let her go.”
As the paper came off and Jamie’s set of blocks were revealed, Lauralee was every bit as happy as Jamie was.
“We can build things together!” she said.
Dev’s heart overflowed. We can build things together. A family. A life. A world. When he’d felt he’d lost everything, Miss Julia Jackson had appeared like a guardian angel. She’d travelled some rough trails to get to him, and brought her own brand of healing to his soul.
Just then, Lauralee opened her doll, a beautiful miniature version of herself, with blonde hair and blue eyes.
“Say, that looks like someone I know,” Dev said as she held it up for Dev and Julie to see. “Looks like one of my favorite girls!”
Julie shot him a quick glance of appreciation.
“Here, Aunt Julie! You open one!” Lauralee insisted.
Julie looked at Dev as he took the present from Lauralee and held it out. “Yes, you open one,” he said in a low voice.
• ♥ •
As Julia took the bright red package, she felt awkward. She had had no chance to buy Dev a gift. And she’d certainly had no money left after their long journey from Georgia to spend…five dollars…
Now, here he was, presenting her with a pretty package—one she couldn’t accept in good conscience. Oh, she understood that it was perfectly proper—a husband often bought a present for his wife with no expectation of reciprocity, but…this was Christmas! Oh, why hadn’t she done something differently? Even a small gift would have been better than this—nothing at all!
“Go ahead,” Dev encouraged. “Open it.”
“I—don’t have anything for you.”
“You gave me mine last night,” he said with no hesitation. “Remember?” He gave her a teasing wink.
She managed to smile but even with his attempt to tease her, she still felt ill at ease.
“Open it, Julie,” he said more seriously. “Can’t a man give his wife a gift around here?”
“Open it, Aunt Julie!” Lauralee begged.
There was no choice. And she didn’t want to appear to be ungrateful… She pulled the red paper off to find…three new pan grips. Just as she’d asked for.
Pot holders. The old saying flashed through her mind: ‘Be careful what you wish for—you may get it.’
She’d gotten it in Dev. What she’d wished for—and so much more. But…pot holders…so much had happened—oh, well. She needed them. They were a practical gift.
“Oh, look…there’s a string—” Dev said, as if he’d just noticed it.
Julie held up the blue pot holder, and saw that it was no string, but a delicate silver chain, fastened around one of the hanging loops on the side.
“Oh…” she breathed, pulling the clasp open and removing it. A locket! Heart-shaped, with a filigreed pattern on the silver, it was a simple but beautiful piece of jewelry she knew she would wear every day. A symbol of the growing love between them. She put it on, giving it a pat at her throat.
“Julie—uh, there’s more…”
“Oh, Dev—this is so perfect.” How had he known what this would mean to her? “I love it…and I love you.”
• ♥ •
“Julie—” His breath escaped on a sigh.
She came into his arms, and he knew he held his world, right here. When had it happened? He suspected she’d stolen his heart the minute he’d opened the front door and blown in, the blizzardy wind as cold as his heart had become.
But Julie had been a joyful surprise that he never could have predicted. She’d brought light and laughter and love back into the dark cave his life had become over the past several years.
A weight had been lifted from him. He was a new man—really alive, and living again! Instead of putting one foot in front of the other, going through nothing more than a joyless existence of responsibility, he’d been given the gift of a new beginning. With Julie.
A few days ago, the outlook had been bleak for him. Now, he had a new wife and daughter, his own precious son, and had welcomed his brother back into his life—along with a new sister-in-law.
The house he’d built so long ago for a future family was finally fulfilling the dream he’d had so long ago. Julie lifted her head from his shoulder. Her eyes held a question, and he said the words aloud he’d never thought to say to anyone again.
“I love you, too, Julie. With all my heart.” He touched the heart-shaped locket at her neck, meaningfully. Then, he pulled her close, bending to kiss her.
“Ugh,” Lauralee muttered.
Jamie wrinkled his nose as he stacked his blocks. “Ewww.”
But “Debbil” only smiled at Miss Julia Jackson. Mr. and Mrs. Devlin Campbell were ready to face anything, now. Together.