Destiny's Magic (29 page)

“I'm honored.” She gazed into his verdant eyes. “Was that your wish?”

“Not at all.” He chuckled. “I'm wishing for a church wedding of our own and a honeymoon to go with it.”

“Those are two wishes.”

“Too bad. Are you game?”

“I am. As long as we honeymoon at 21 rue Royale. I've missed being there. And I've missed you.”

“I was hoping you'd say something along those lines.” He winked and rocked her even closer. “I'm thinking of a later date for the honeymoon. Say, New Year's Eve. I'm thinking a great way to say good-bye to the old and ring in the new is at lakeside. Just you and me. A bonfire. Some dancing. Could be we'll start another baby out there . . .”

She tickled his ear. “What makes you think we won't be expecting by then?”

His hands cupped her bottom. “After the wedding, what do you say we burrow in at 21 rue Royale? And work on 'expecting.' ”

They did. And when the end of December rolled around, they celebrated as planned and expected. It all had to do with the magic of love.

New Orleans has long intrigued me. I came by it naturally. My father—a rogue to rival any I've ever read or written about—learned to love the Crescent City as a young ship's surgeon. The
S
/
S Peterson
made stops at the Port of New Orleans on returns from the banana lands.

Many years later Morty feted his only daughter on her ninth birthday with a visit to the Crescent City. Quite a trip that was! Dinner at Antoine's and a fancy hotel with enough noise on the street below to keep me awake half the night, as if the excitement weren't enough. An able historian, Morty gave lessons as I studied the French Quarter, St. Louis Cemetery, and that wide boulevard called Canal. This kid was in heaven.

Alas, that was my last birthday with the brilliant physician whose looks were every bit as striking as any fictional hero. This moon child lost him the next October. To drink. He'd never recovered from a star-crossed
affaire de coeur.

Although I didn't rely on my father to create Captain Burke O'Brien—their situations, deeds, and misdeeds were totally different—I couldn't help but realize, as I was writing, the similarity behind the two tortured men. It was a fine feeling, saving Burke. I hope you enjoyed his and Susan's story.

Now I will concentrate on Jon Marc. Look for
Magic and the Texan
in mid-January 1998.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Copyright © 1996 by Martha Hix

 

 

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ISBN: 978-0-8217-5965-3