A Will and a Wedding

“Mine isn’t,” she heard him mutter sotto voce.

“This marriage, if it happens, will already be starting out with a lot of obstacles,” she protested. “If only Judith hadn’t tied everything up.” She swung her head around to stare at him. “Does your father know about the will?”

He shook his head, then bent to pull an oak leaf from her hair.

“He knows she died, of course. And that she left a will. But beyond that, nothing. I specifically asked Jones to keep things quiet until it was all settled.”

Cassie pulled herself to her feet and wandered farther into the woods. It was all so confusing. And she had no one to confide in. On the one hand, it would be ridiculous to turn down such a wonderful opportunity. On the other…well, it certainly wouldn’t be a love match.

You always said you’d only marry for love. This is business. Her conscience pricked her once more.

Yes, but if you marry him, you get to keep the house for the kids. Lots of kids. You could continue the work God called you to. It could become a sort of sanctuary.

It was an internal argument that went on for the duration of their walk. Jeff spoke no more about the issue, leaving Cassie time to sort through in her own mind all the ifs and buts that flew like quicksilver through her muddled thoughts.

How could she deny David and Marie the opportunity that Oak Bluff with all its wonderful prospects presented to the two homeless teenagers? They could have a stable life without worrying about the future. They could blossom and develop into capable, responsible adults without worrying whether or not they would be able to continue their activities tomorrow or next week, or whenever they moved on.

And what about the other children who came into her hands? Cassie asked herself. Could she deny them all the things Judith’s money would buy just because she was holding out for love? Was this windfall really from heaven, or did she just think so because she’d benefit?

It wasn’t an easy question. And it was one Cassie decided to think on long and hard. But after all, she reminded herself, it wasn’t as if she had ten other offers sitting on the table.

And there were definite sparks when Jeff had kissed her back there. More than sparks!

“Help me,” she prayed silently. “You gave me the job. Now show me how to make the right decision. Direct me away from the biggest mistake of my life.”

Chapter Three

“Chocolate cake! Thanks, Mrs. Bennet. It’s my favorite.” David’s pubescent voice was squeaky but full of happiness.

Jeff and Cassie ate dinner with the children, feasting on a succulent stew and featherlight homemade biscuits that Mrs. Bennet had prepared.

The older woman stroked her hand over the boy’s perpetually tousled head and winked at Cassie.

“I know it’s your favorite, dearie. Yours and someone else’s.” Her gleaming eyes settled on Jeffs loaded plate. “That’s why I baked it.”

Cassie watched David inhale the generous slice and marveled at his appetite. Of course, teenage boys did grow by leaps and bounds, and devoured everything edible along the way. David was shooting up by inches and Cassie had taken him shopping several times to accommodate feet that expanded in direct proportion to the seemingly endless stretch of his legs.

“Are you finished your homework, Marie?” Cassie watched the girl shift restlessly in her seat.

“Almost. I’ll be done before Nate phones later.”

“Well, don’t stay up all night talking to him. You will see him at school tomorrow, you know.” She smiled at the happy little grin that appeared on Marie’s face.

“I’ll try not to be too long, Cassie.”

The flush of pink in the girl’s cheeks gave her a glow of beauty. It was too bad people couldn’t see how kind and loving these two were, Cassie fumed. David and Marie had been subdued during the meal, barely speaking unless they were addressed first. It bothered Cassie.

They were afraid of a future over which they had no control, she realized. Worried that they would be separated after having spent so much time depending on each other. A permanent home, one they could rely on, would make such a difference in their young lives. And with so few people interested in raising teenagers, Cassie doubted anyone would create much fuss if she asked to keep the two on a permanent basis.

She studied Jeff as she ate, watching him speak to the teens. He was especially good with David, drawing the quiet boy out with each comment. He had a knack of treating David as if he were an equal. He listened to what he had to say with interest most people would only offer an adult. It was a manner Cassie had found sadly lacking in many of the homes that housed foster children.

“How about a Monopoly tournament after dinner?” she asked brightly.

David grinned at her, eyes shiny with mischief.

“You must be feeling lucky,” he teased. “Watch out, Jeff. She owned everybody last time. I’m lucky I’m not still paying back what I borrowed.”

They played for an hour before Marie’s soft voice broke into the silent concentration.

“You’d better get started on that science project,” she reminded David in a sisterly tone. “The proposal is due in a week and you haven’t done any research.”

“And you’d better go phone Nate before he dies from not hearing your voice.”

It was typical sibling banter and Cassie smiled as she heard it. David and Marie were not related at all but from their teasing demeanor no one would have guessed.

Marie left the room quietly, her long blond hair flowing behind like a cape, but not before she tapped David on the shoulder.

“Jealous?” she asked pertly.

Groaning, David stretched to his full five-foot-ten-inch height.

“You wish!” He carefully replaced the game pieces in the box and snapped it shut. “I hate science,” he muttered, before glancing shamefaced at Cassie. “Sorry, Cassie, but it’s so boring.”

“What kind of a project are you supposed to do?” It was Jeffs deep voice. Cassie stared at him in surprise.

“We can choose,” David replied, kicking his toe in the carpet. “That’s worse,” he confessed, “because I haven’t got a clue what he expects us to do.”

“I know a little about science,” Jeff murmured softly. “Could I look at your text? Maybe together we could come up with an idea that would get you started.”

“Cool” was all David could manage to answer.

Cassie smiled as they left the room, talking and gesticulating. She hadn’t expected Jeff to take such an interest in the boy. In fact, she recalled, he had spent several evenings doing things with both children this past week.

Well, since he had taken over the science problem, it left her free to start a project that had made her fingers itch for weeks. Cassie buried herself in the library for the next three hours, refusing to allow her mind to dwell on the marriage proposal she had just received. She’d always found her work the best panacea for solving personal problems.

Cassie was knee-deep in sketches of Bored Boris, the magical dragon, when she startled at the soft touch on her shoulder.

“Don’t do that,” she squeaked, holding a hand over her heart. “People my age have been known to keel over from a shock-induced heart attack.”

“That’s okay.” Jeff grinned. “I know both CPR and mouth-to-mouth. Want a demonstration?”

Cassie frowned at him reprovingly. “No! Thanks, anyway.”

She studied him closely. The immaculate shirt was unbuttoned allowing her glimpses of dark curling hairs that covered Jeff’s broad chest. His tie hung haphazardly out of one of his jacket pockets and his made-to-order jacket was slung carelessly over one shoulder.

The perfectly creased black trousers he’d sported earlier in the day were dusty and wrinkled. And that impeccably trimmed hair was tousled and disorderly, one black lock hanging over his left eye.

He looked smug, Cassie thought. As if he had swallowed a whole bowl of canaries. She stood in an attempt to bolster her bravado which was a little shaky after this afternoon.

“Well, did you come up with something?” she demanded, her low voice sharper than she had intended.

But Jeff merely stared at her curiously before answering.

“Depends,” he replied cryptically, head tipped to one side as he studied Boris. His dark eyes met hers. “Can we use that big empty room downstairs for a lab?”

“A lab,” she repeated, wondering what on earth they had concocted between them. “Why do you need a lab? It’s just a simple science project.”

Jeff stepped backward and pushed the door closed with his foot before speaking.

“That kid is very bright,” he told her seriously. “And mighty ambitious. But he hasn’t had much encouragement and he doesn’t know where or how to begin.” The muscled shoulders shrugged.

“I would have thought the teacher could have done a bit more explaining, but at any rate, I want to get him interested in some preliminary physics so that later on he won’t be overwhelmed by everything. He’s got a natural curiosity about things that hasn’t been stifled.”

Jeff studied her quizzically through those melting chocolate eyes. Cassie rushed into speech before he could say anything more.

“But what about when the house is sold and he can’t have his lab anymore?” She stood straight and tall in front of him, prepared to do battle for her child. “What about when you get tired of teaching him and want to go back to the playboy scene? What does David do then?”

Cassie could see the brown sheen change to black in Jeff’s darkening gaze. His eyes were like a sheet of the notorious black ice that covered Toronto highways in winter. You could sail along with no problems until you needed to put on the brakes. Then you were in big trouble.

When his hands tightened around her upper arms, Cassie was pretty sure this qualified as big trouble.

“Will you please get it through your head that I am not, nor have I ever been, a playboy.”

The words snarled out between lips so tightly pursed, Cassie wondered if they had ever been as softly caressing as she remembered.

“And this house only has to be vacated if you refuse to marry me.” His mouth was a straight line of disapproval. “I like the kid and I want to help him with this.” He stared down at her furiously.

“Or maybe you’re jealous because you wanted to do it?” he demanded suddenly.

Cassie tipped her head back and laughed. She fixed him with her own gaze.

“I’ll have you know that I hate anything to do with grade ten science projects.” She laughed again. “It’s a great relief not to have to help him with his homework.” She pushed his hands away before stepping backward. “I am concerned only for David and his welfare. I have to be sure that this will be a positive experience for him and not one where he’ll feel abandoned when it’s no longer convenient for you to help him out.”

The air crackled with tension as they stared each other down. Jeff was the first to move by thrusting out his hand toward her.

“Okay, truce,” he mumbled. “I know your primary duty is always to protect the kids’ interests. I promise I won’t leave him in the lurch regardless of what happens between us.” His black eyes sparkled down at her.

“Although, if you hate science that much and you’re going to opt for the artificial route to children of your own, I suppose someone will have to do some remedial work with you, too.” He grinned at her, obviously delighted with the flush of color that stained her cheeks.

“Close your mouth, Cassie,” he teased. One finger brushed down her tip-tilted nose. “It’s a part of life…grade eight health, in fact. Certainly nothing to be embarrassed about. And it’s something we do have to think about. I still want that son.”

Cassie was embarrassed. It was nice to know that he had given some thought to their future situation, she supposed. It was good that he was considering all the pros and cons. But how could he say such things out loud with absolutely no warning? And how could one touch of those long fingers make her all quivery and shaky inside. Could this be from God?

“You are a very lovely woman, Cassandra.”

And then she forgot everything. His arms surrounded her and hugged her against his muscular form. She could feel the silky brush of his mustache against her cheek, the smell of wood smoke on his clothes.

But most of all, she could feel his heart thudding just as quickly as hers. And she knew that Jefferson Haddon was no more immune to her than she was to him. Which should have been reassuring.

Shouldn’t it?

Moments later, when all Cassie wanted was more of his touch, Jeff pressed her gently away from himself, easing her arms down from his neck. She couldn’t even remember how they’d gotten there.

“Think about what I said,” he whispered in her ear.

Then, leaving her bemused and befuddled, he walked out of the room. Moments later Cassie heard the powerful roar of his car. But it was virtually impossible to think coherently as she carefully put Boris and his friends away. And if she listened, Cassie was sure she could hear Judith’s hearty laughter resounding through the room.

“Go for it,” she seemed to say and Cassie smiled as she fingered the portrait on the old desk of her benefactor.

“Perhaps I will, Judith,” she murmured. “Perhaps I will. But not before I get a second opinion.”

She picked up the phone and dialed, a faint smile tipping the corners of her lips.

“It said what?” Robyn’s voice squeaked with surprise. “You mean to say that if you marry the guy, you get to keep the house and a pile of dough besides, and you can’t decide what to do?” She snapped her fingers in Cassie’s face. “Earth to Cassie. Hello?”

“I know it sounds simple,” Cassie admitted. “Take the house and the money and go with it. It would solve a lot of problems.” She thrust away the thought of her own family. “But this is serious. I have to marry Jeff, as in forever. And that’s serious business. I can’t just go into it with a way out already prepared. I don’t believe in divorce any more than you do.”

“Yeah, that’s heavy stuff all right,” Robyn agreed. “But I wonder if you’re looking at this right.” She frowned, her blond head tipped to one side as she considered her friend.

“What do you mean?” Cassie frowned. “I’ve thought about nothing else for ages. I just can’t see a way through.”

“Think, Cass. Think about the book of Genesis. In those days there were arranged marriages all the time. In fact, that’s how they got started. Isaac needed a wife and Rebekah was the one that was chosen by God. They didn’t even know each other until after she’d already promised to marry the guy!”

“That was thousands of years ago,” Cassie protested. “We do things differently nowadays.”

Robyn laughed sourly.

“Yeah, we do,” she agreed. “And does the world seem any better for it? There are kids all across this country growing up in homes where the adults have separated because they’ve lost that love that seemed so wonderful when it first grabbed hold of them.”

Cassie nodded.

“I know, Rob. I know. But this is my future I’m deciding here. It’s not at all what I had planned.” Her voice died away as she let her mind roam.

“Cassie,” Robyn said, drawing her attention back to the present. “Wasn’t it you who told our entire grade nine class that you wanted to look after kids who needed help?”

“Yes, but.”

“And wasn’t it you, just last week,” Robyn continued unfazed, “who said that even though Judith had died, you still believed God would provide a way for you to do this work?” She waited for Cassie’s dark head to nod agreement. “Well, then. Maybe this is God’s way of providing for you.”

Cassie studied her friend as she thought about her work. She had always felt a connection with children; but she was especially drawn to the needy ones. They lacked so much that mere human kindness and a stable home could provide.

“I know you said Jeff’s not religious. I know he’s got a problem with his family. And I know you said he loved Judith.” Robyn’s face screwed up in thought. “Maybe that’s the key,” she muttered.

“What key? What are you talking about?”

“Yes, it makes sense. Don’t you see, Cass? Jeff likes what he sees in you.”

“Which is?” Cassie frowned.

“You’re resemblance to Judith, your faith in God and His power in your life. Maybe it’s what he craves for himself. You can be His light, Cass. Maybe your job is to show him the way to the source of that light, to help him understand that God loves him.”

“It sounds like an awfully convenient excuse for me.” Cassie shook her head dubiously.

“I think this is the only way there is for you to keep the kids. At least right now. And while you’re doing that, you can help influence Jeff’s life in the right way.” Robyn studied her. “Have you got enough courage to take a leap of faith and trust God to work it all out for the good?”

Cassie stared at the ceiling, her mind whirling with problems. It was a lifelong commitment, she knew. Marriage was a solemn promise to another person. It was not to be entered into on whim, or discarded when things got tough.

“I’m praying for you, pal.” Robyn patted her on the shoulder. “Whatever decision you make, I’ll still be here.”

“Thanks,” Cassie muttered, picking up her handbag and moving to the door. “I think.”

“Are you telling me that you will or that you won’t marry me?” Jeff queried, his eyes darkening to a deep sherry brown.

Cassie focused her own gaze on his left shoulder and said the words that needed saying.

“I’m saying that if we can come to some agreement on the conditions of this marriage, I will agree to it. The first thing is the children. I want us to adopt David and Marie. Legally,” she added when he continued staring at her.

“And?”

“And I want to continue to accept foster children whenever I’m asked, for whatever time. If the arrangements become too unwieldly, we can discuss it then.” She said it in a puff of energy, as if she were afraid to stop.

He stood there, tall and silent, staring at her. Cassie could feel his eyes pressing into her, but she stood firm.

“Fine. I agree.”

It was as if someone had punched her in the tummy. Just like that he was agreeing?

“So, what date shall we set?”

Cassie sucked in a lungful of air. “There is one other thing.”

He frowned.

“I think we should wait out the two months’ grace period that Judith gave us. We’ll be engaged but free to break off the arrangement if either one of us changes our minds.” Her heart lost its regular beat for a moment and then resumed a breakneck speed as she met his dark eyes.

“Why?”

“We have to be sure, Jeff. Both of us. I don’t believe in divorce and I’m not going into this marriage with a way out already prepared. If I’m going to be married, it will be wholeheartedly. For life.”

“But waiting means another five weeks,” he complained. “That puts us right before Christmas.”

“I know. It’s enough time to really think things through, don’t you think?” Why did her voice sound so uncertain, Cassie wondered. She’d gone over this a thousand times and this was the way it had to be.

Those liquid chocolate eyes were fixed on her, staring deep into the doubts and fears that filled her tortured mind.

“I don’t need to think about it,” he murmured, never breaking the stare. “I feel quite sure we can both achieve satisfaction from this arrangement, but if you need the extra time, I’ll go along with it.” He tugged a small leatherbound booklet out of his jacket pocket and consulted it for several moments.

Cassie wanted to say something-anything. They weren’t having an arrangement, for heaven’s sake. They were getting married!

“Saturday, December 10th,” he muttered. “That would give us time to prepare for the Christmas celebrations afterward.” One long lean finger tapped the book thoughtfully as Jeff glanced up, eyes gleaming. “How is December 10th for a wedding day, Miss Newton?”

Cassie blinked. That was it? He agreed to everything and then checked his calendar? Somehow she had expected a fuss or an argument. Anything but this calm acceptance.

“Cassie? The tenth?”

She stared up at him, bewildered and confused.

“Uh, yes, okay. I think so.”

“Good.” He brushed his lips across her cheek before rechecking his book. “Now. About the ring. I think if we were to go now it would be best. I know a jeweler who will meet with us privately and design exactly what you want. Maybe he can do everything right now, while we wait. Then we can announce it to the children and the staff. I assume you’ll want the Bennets to stay on?”

He was holding her red wool coat out, ready for her to shrug into. Cassie didn’t move. She couldn’t. She could only stand there staring at him. He was moving way too fast.

“Ring? What ring?”

“Your engagement ring, of course.” His tone was soft and gentle. Teasing even. “We are talking about a marriage, you know. A real marriage. And like you, I’m fully prepared to make it work.”

“Yes, but.”

He had her bundled into the coat and moving out the door before Cassie could even think. She stopped on the step, stubbornly refusing to be moved.

“Wait a minute!”

Jeff stopped politely, tugging his collar up around his ears as the cold north wind whipped down from the roof and tugged at their clothes. His eyes were mildly inquiring and he didn’t move his hand from under her elbow.

“Is there a problem?”

“Yes! I don’t need a ring.” She said it fast so she couldn’t retract it.”And there won’t.be any big wedding. This is an agreement between us two. That’s all.”

“I don’t think so.” He grinned boyishly.

Cassie felt the strong warm arm around her shoulders as he hugged her against his side. If he had ordered or hollered she wouldn’t have listened. But this soft cajoling was something entirely different.

“I asked you to marry me. You agreed. That means we’re going to be man and wife. And I’m going to give you a pledge of my commitment.”

“Yes, but.”

He cut her off, blithely ignoring her objections.

“We will now move to the next stage of this courtship which entails finding an appropriate ring for this finger.” He rubbed her ring finger with his hand.

“Yes, but.” Cassie stopped as his lips brushed across hers softly.

“I am not finished, Cassandra.” His deep voice whispered in the still silent evening, effectively stifling her protests. “Maybe we’re not the traditional love match, but we can still go into this as friends. And totally committed to making this marriage work. I don’t want anyone thinking anything else. The ring will solidify our position.”

He sounded so loverlike one moment and businesslike and coldly calculating the next that a shiver of apprehension rippled down her spine to dissipate like the morning dew at his next softly spoken words.

“Besides, I don’t think any bride should miss out on the old traditions. Especially not one as lovely as you.”

Cassie swallowed her nostalgia. A diamond ring didn’t have to mean love, she told herself. It was just a stone. It could signify friendship as well as love; or commitment to making something work. Why not relax and enjoy it?

She curtsied.

“Thank you, kind sir. I would be pleased to accept your ring.”

It began as a fun evening which came as a surprise to Cassie. She hadn’t expected that someone like Jefferson Haddon would be able to unbend so easily. They laughed and joked about the strange customs of marriage as they visited Jeff’s favorite jeweler but neither could agree on just what type of ring Cassie should wear.

“I work with kids, Jeff. I don’t want some big, gaudy showpiece. Something small and practical will be just fine.”

“This isn’t overly large.” He held up an opal close to the size of a golf ball with glittering diamonds surrounding it.