But what if Will did show up among the missing? Why hadnt she spent a little time in New York checking out current fashion and then bought some of it? And some decent underwear! She shuddered just thinking about the white cotton bras and panties she bought three to a pack at the Ben Franklin store in Blue Hill, Vermont. This might be her chance to
embark on that ship of love that will sail them to the shores of supreme happiness
and she wasnt prepared! She cast another glance at the beautiful bridesmaids, the gorgeous groomsmen. These were Wills type of people. She sighed. She didnt have a chance.
At least the church was prettySt. Andrews, favored for weddings by Dallas brides, Cecilys mother had told her. The early afternoon Texas sun shone through the stained-glass windows, tinting the bridesmaids pale shoes petal pink and bathing their sharp-featured faces with a rosy glow. The scent of vetiver-scented soaps and aftershave drifted in Cecilys direction from the collection of groomsmen, while light, summery perfumes emanated from the bridesmaids, as though to compete with the flowers that would soon fill the church.
It was an exquisite scene, but not a serene one. The chaos continued, even increased in motion and volume. Miss Peach dispatched her army of minions hither and yon. A photographer fiddled with lights and tripods in the balcony overlooking the sanctuary. The good-looking man scribbling on a pad must be a reporter. Sallys mother stood at the back of the church, wringing her hands. Of course, three members of the wedding party were missing the rehearsal, and Gustall, broad-shouldered, as heavily muscled as an ox and at the moment, looking tenseappeared capable of murdering all of them. She hoped Sally hadnt married the Mob. Cecily supposed that was enough to make a mother of the bride wring her hands.
Listening to the minister drone on, sounding as if even he didnt believe a word he was saying, she swallowed a yawn of the most graceless magnitude. It was too bad shed known Sally since they were tiny, adorable babies in breathtakingly expensive dresses, Sally looking like a dark-haired devil, Cecily a blond angelnot that Cecily remembered, but her mother had sent a packet of pictures to jog her memory. It was also too bad that Sally, known to be the wild child in her group of friendsa fact sorrowfully confided by her mother to Cecilys motherwould suddenly reveal her sentimental streak and invite her first friend rather than her best friend to be her maid of honor.
Even in an unaccustomed fit of sentimentality, how could inviting Cecily to be in the wedding have crossed Sallys mind? By the time they were five their interests had taken them in different directionsSally to ballet, Cecily to horseback riding. That, plus the fact that Cecilys father had moved from Southern Methodist University to Purdue, the first of a string of moves, meant she and Sally hadnt been close friends since they were five and hadnt seen each other since they were sixteen.
But through all those moves, Cecilys mother had never lost a friend. Thus it was embarrassingly possible she had suggested to Sallys mother that since Sally was dead set on leaving her wild reputation behind when she married Gus, inviting her first friend to be her maid of honor would convey that impressionsomething the wedding reporter might pick up on.
Cecily had tried saying no, that she couldnt leave Vermont during calving season. Her mother, whod joined the Mothers in Support of Offspring Guilt Club upon moving to New York, had called to say weepily, Dont you care about anything but cows? Cant you give a passing thought to your family and
friends are here to witness their vows and share their happiness as they embark upon
A dangerous sea in a rickety boat. Thats what marriage was. But Cecily had capitulated, although she hadnt been happy about it.
Do you, Gus Hargrove, take Sally Shipley to be
If Will appeared, if he showed even the slightest flicker of interest, shed take him in a New York minute! As far as she could tell, an available, compatible man didnt exist in Blue Hill or points nearby. To require the services of a large-animal vet, a man apparently had to be married, preferably a long time, therefore both married and old. She worked so hard that these were the only men she came in contact withplus Dr. Vaughn, of course, but not only was he older and more married than any of his clients, Maddie Vaughn had become Cecilys surrogate mother. So the part of the plan that involved having a string of casual lovers had reached desperation point. She hadnt had a date, much less sex, for three years.
A long, steamy twenty-four hours in Dallas stretched in front of her like an invitation to wild and uninhibited behavior. No one in Blue Hill would ever know that their own Dr. Connaught, respected veterinarian, was a tightly leashed tigress inside.
I do, Gus said.
Instead of the traditional vows, Sally will read a poem she wrote in honor of this, the most important event in her life.
Your eyes delight me, Sally began in a Miss America voice, gazing passionately into Guss eyes, which shifted away uneasily. Your lips excite me, she continued, and Guss mouth tightened. Your love ignites me
Oh, for chrissakes. Sallys father should have hired somebody to write that poem. Maybe he had. A very bad poet. Mr. Shipley should ask for his money back, because
Sorry, sorry, sorry. The voice came like thunder from the back of the church, and Cecily whirled against an imminent lightning bolt.
Will! Sally shrieked. Youre late, you turkey. Wheres Muffy?
She didnt make it. Shes having the baby. I need help. Fast.
Mrs. Shipleys moan was audible from the back of the church.
Cecily felt as if she might moan, too. Eros had shot an arrow straight to her crotch. One look at Will and her heart had dropped to the tips of her unpedicured, possibly not even clean, toenails. God help her, had he ever aged well.
Memories flooded back as he gave Sally a warm hug and Gus a manly slap on the shoulder. That hair, short and tousled now, the silky red-brown of a fine Santa Gertrudis bull. His shoulders had actually broadened and they held up a loose-fitting, short-sleeved white polo shirt that showed off muscled arms and a spectacular tan. Stone-colored pants hung casually off tight buns. The pants had a logo across one pocket. It said Ralph Lauren.
As he talked to Sally, Cecily got a profile view of his eyelashes, as long as the bridesmaids skirts. Unlike the groomsmen, his only facial hair was his thick, glossy chestnut eyebrows. Not a fashion victim, even if he was wearing pants with a logo, which shed forgive.
A shiver ran down her thighs. She felt hot and wet, and swayed rhythmically from a sudden attack of heavy, dreamy lethargy. Here he was, the prize bull of her dreams, and shed lassoed him too late. He wasnt merely married, he was about to be a daddy.
She wanted to burst into loud sobs.
Call the po-po, chirped the bridesmaid with the perfect navel. Cecily swiveled to stare at her. Shed meant 911, surely.
Will swiveled, too. I did that already. Im telling you the babys coming right now, in my car, in the church parking lot! He raised his voice to include everybody in the church. Is there a doctor in the house? Anybody with medical experience or first aid
Cecily, Sally said, grabbing her arm and pushing her toward this frantic Will person. Cecily can deliver the baby.
Cecily, Sally said, grabbing her arm and pushing her toward this frantic Will person. Cecily can deliver the baby.
Cecily? Will said in a suddenly hushed voice, and his gaze locked directly on her. From the Green Trails Stable? His hazel eyes glinted with gold and they were filled with some emotion Cecily didnt care to explore. She hated to think what her eyes were saying to him.
It was more than she could bear. Cecily spun away from those marvelous eyes to hiss at Sally. No, I cant. Im a vet, not a
Dont tell Muffy, Sally snarled back.
Cecily Connaught, Will went on in that distracted voice. I cant believe it really is you. After all these
Hed remembered her name, her entire name. Cecily leaned toward Sallys ear, anything to keep from looking at Will. It might even be illegal.
Sally practically spat into Cecilys opposite ear. Muffys a bitch. Youre a vet. Whats illegal? Then she wheeled them both into positions flanking Will. How nice youve already met. Get going.
Mrs. Shipley sped forward, wringing her hands even more violently. But Sally
Chill, Mama.
So, youve become a doctor? Will didnt seem inclined to move.
Catch up on old times later! Have you forgotten the baby? This is an emergency! Sally sounded a lot like Miss Peach.
Right, Will said, taking his eyes off Cecily at last. It is an emergency. Suddenly purposeful, he grabbed Cecily while Sallythe snakeslithered back up to the altar and Mrs. Shipley shrank into a pew and sank limply onto the cushion. All of you stay here, Cecily said over her shoulder quite unnecessarily, since nobody seemed to be rushing forward to help, either from the wedding party or the mob in the foyer. The fewer spectators, the better. Her words trailed away on the breeze she and Will made as he propelled her through the foyer crowd and out the doors of the chapel into the glaring sun. Wait a minute, wait a minute
We dont have a minute. He sounded grim.
My bags in the church foyer. I need it.
Cecily felt the jolt when he halted. You brought your medical bag to the wedding rehearsal?
Had to come here straight from the airport. I never travel without it. She spared a second to wonder why. Had she thought a horse might turn up in first class needing a tracheotomy?
Oh. They reversed direction and he whizzed her back into the church, where she swooped down and gripped the bag without losing speed, and then they were off again toward the parking lot, racing past limousines, the florists van and enough BMWs to start up a dealership.
Her shoes werent made for running. She was in agony. Has it been a normal pregnancy? she said, thinking ahead.
Far as I know.
Full term?
Apparently. The baby is coming.
It was clear he hadnt taken the proper interest in his wifes pregnancy. Maybe hed grown up to be one of those men who only looked good. But oh, wow, did he ever look good.
Here she is. He flung open the back door of a still-running luxurious gray sedan. A blast of icy air emerged along with a piercing scream.
Where have you been? Im about to drop a baby all by myself onto a church parking lot from the back seat of a freaking car!
Together Cecily and Will leaned into the car. Cecily was shoulder to shoulder with the muscles, hip to hip with the tight buns, smelling the scent of a deliciously clean, very hot man. He turned to her with a desperate glance. They were nose to nose, eye to eye, and Eros was shooting arrows like a madman, zigzags that shot down through the center of her body. Move over, Muffy, Im the one who needs the back seat of this car.
She felt the heat rise to her face. It had been an inappropriate thought, and fortunately no more than a thought. Will was looking at Muffy now, oblivious to anything other than the crisis at hand.
Muffy. She could tell he was trying to be firm, but his voice wasnt totally steady. I said lets go to the hospital, you said it was a false alarm, you said
Cecily whacked him on the elbow and, wonder of wonders, he got the message.
Heres the doctor, he said, calm now and very gentle. Shell take care of you.
Muffy raised herself up on one elbow and left off screaming long enough to puff a few times and then say, You dont look like a doctor. Have you ever delivered a baby?
Many, Cecily said, taking a second out to put her hand on Muffys flailing one, trying to make a connection with the woman before they got to the hard part. It worked with cows and horses in distress. Maybe it worked with bitches. Keep up your breathing while I prep.
Forget prep. Wash your hands and get on with it! A long, pitiful wail emerged from a wide, carnivorous mouth as another contraction consumed her.
Cecily glanced at her big, chunky, utilitarian watch, starting to time the contractions. Breathe, thats right, breathe. Puff, puff, puff She dived into her bag, wincing at the sight of the huge syringes, the Veterinary Purposes Only medications and the oversized forceps, got out the antibacterial wash, poured it over her hands and slid them into sterile gloves, then slid a sterile apron over her sundress. Im doing a quick exam. Dont push. In spite of herself, shed said it pretty sharply, because Muffy was pushing like mad.
Areyouinsane? Muffys words came out sporadically between puffs of breath. If I dont push, how the hell am I going to get this thing out of me?
Cecily reflected on the advantages of delivering calves. No cow had ever mooed at her in that tone of voice. Nor had she ever delivered a calf with the bull running around in tight little circles, clutching a cell phone to his ear. Nor had she ever lusted after the bull, but that was another story. Soothing, that was what she had to be. Calm and soothing. If everythings fine, Ill tell you to push. Just hold back for a minute, okay? You, she said to the father-to-be, hold her hand, help her with her breathing.
Yeah, sure, that will do a lot of good, him holding my hand, helping me with my breathing. He tried to smother me once. Tell him to go away. Hes making me dizzy.
What do you mean if everythings fine? That was Will, looking for something else to worry about.
I want to be sure the heads coming this way, not the hooves.
The what? Muffy rose up on her elbows.
A doctor joke, Cecily said, still struggling for calm and soothing. I meant the feet, of course.
A loud shriek came from Muffy. A deep moan came from Will.
The mother is often not herself during delivery, Cecily murmured to Will. Dont take it personally.
She is herself, Will said. Muffys a hater. Just deliver the baby, okay?
Righto, Cecily said, wondering if Wills marriage might be destined to end in divorce. Probably not. Men gravitated to bitches, confident in their ability to tame them. The worst of her lust attack was over, dimmed by the harrowing excitement of the impending birth as well as awareness of the futility of lusting after Will.
A sigh rose from deep inside her anyway. Oh, well, if shed found Will too late to have his baby, she could sure as heck deliver it.
She didnt have time or the equipment to do an episiotomy. But Muffy was fully dilated and the baby was crowning, Cecily noted with great relief. Now you can push, she told Muffy. Thats right, push, push, almost there. Come on, youre a trooper, you can do it