Magic in Our Hearts (16 page)

Taylor felt her body began to fall, and she locked her fingers in Brett’s hair and pulled her close in a kiss. She slid into her orgasm rapidly as it shimmered and sparkled its way through her body until she was incandescent with pleasure.

“Brett, I’m …”

Brett moved her hips harder into Taylor until at last she went slack on the bed. Brett’s head rested on her chest as she caught her breath. Taylor’s hands moved to Brett’s back, slowly stroking up and down. The need to touch Brett was still overwhelming.

Brett started move off Taylor, and Taylor’s arms tightened around her. “Please stay on top of me. I like to feel the weight of you on me.” Brett reached up and met Taylor’s mouth in a kiss, her tongue sliding against Taylor’s upper lip before entering her mouth. Their mouths met in kiss after kiss as passion once again surged through their bodies.

Taylor became ravenous to touch Brett again, and her hand slid between their bodies and found her pulsing clitoris, swollen and hard. Taylor’s fingers surrounded and squeezed, milking Brett until her head arched back and she groaned. Taylor drank in the vision of Brett succumbing to her orgasm. She was so sexy, so beautiful. Taylor felt her body react to Brett’s vulnerability. Brett’s hand slid between them and into Taylor, driving her immediately over the edge, crying out as she held Brett against her body.

In the aftermath of their intense experience, Taylor lifted her hand and looked at the ring glistening in the dark. She began to weep softly. “I’m going to marry you, honey. I’m going to love you for the rest of your life.”

“Yes, you are.” Brett clasped Taylor’s left hand and kissed her finger next to the ring. 

They slid into sleep still holding each other, unwilling for one moment to let each other go. They had been through so much to finally be together, and nothing would ever come between them again. Taylor knew beyond the shadow of a doubt that Brett would never sleep with another woman. She trusted her beyond belief and would do so for the rest of her life. She knew Brett would struggle with alcohol and the loss of her career, but she also knew that Brett would do her best to deal with it, and Taylor would be there for her.

Brett was first to wake and found Taylor tucked up against her back, her arm draped around her waist. She turned around to face Taylor, and her breath stopped in her chest as she watched her lover sleep. She felt tears slide down her cheek as she gazed at her beauty. She lay quietly watching Taylor for almost an hour, until Taylor’s eyes fluttered open to find her lover watching her with love-filled eyes.

“Hi.”

“Hi.”

“This is for real, isn’t it?”

“Yes, it is.” Brett smiled and picked up Taylor’s hand where the diamond sparkled and turned so Taylor could see it. “You are truly mine at last.”

“Yes, I am, for the next hundred years or so.”

“So when do you want to have a baby?” Brett asked as she snuggled up against Taylor.

Taylor couldn’t help but laugh as she saw the childish delight on Brett’s face.

“Don’t you think you ought to marry me before you get me pregnant?”

“We can have a commitment ceremony this weekend. I figure you could be pregnant within a month.”

“A month?” Taylor’s eyes opened wide as she looked at Brett in surprise. “I think we ought to wait a little bit longer than a month, but I think a commitment ceremony real soon is a requirement. I want your mother to be there.”

“Yes, it’s important that she knows I found my soul mate.”

“I have the feeling she already knows that.”

“So can we tell her that you’ve officially said yes?”

“Of course.”

“I asked her for her blessing before I asked you to marry me.”

“I’m glad.”

Taylor ran her fingertips along Brett’s face memorizing her smile as she spoke.

“She loves you, Taylor.”

“I love her.”

“I’m going to miss her so much.” Brett’s eyes overflowed with tears. 

“I know, honey. I’m so sorry.” Taylor pulled Brett into her arms and held her tightly. There was no need for any more talking. They took strength from each other lying together in each other’s arms. As long as they were together, they could handle anything life dealt them.

CHAPTER 16

“Mother, may I speak with you?”

“Of course, Brett, come on in.” Roselin saw her daughter’s beaming face and her heart settled in her chest. She didn’t have to be told her daughter had found her heart.

“Are you feeling okay?”

“I’m fine, sweetheart, just a little tired is all.”

“I could use your help,” Brett spoke softly as she took a seat on the side of her mother’s bed. Roselin put down the book she was reading.

“With what?”

“I need you to help me plan a commitment ceremony. Taylor agreed to marry me.”

Roselin’s eyes filled with tears as she reached out for her daughter’s hand. “I’m so happy for you both. I’d be more than pleased to help you.”

“We don’t want anything large or too fancy, just family and close friends, here in the back yard.”

“That sounds perfect, honey. What do you want me to help with?”

“Could you help me choose what to wear and who to invite? I also need you to help us pick out the invitations.” Brett wanted to include her mother as much as possible.

Roselin didn’t know if she had the energy to accomplish these small tasks, but she would do as much as she could for her daughter. She hoped she lived long enough to see the ceremony.

“Mother, there’s one other thing we’d like to ask of you.” 

“And that is?” Her daughter’s dark brown eyes were so full of happiness. Roselin felt that she would be able to let go now. God could take her at any time and she would be ready.

“Would you give us both away?”

Roselin couldn’t have been asked anything more special than giving her daughter and the woman she loved away. “Oh, honey, I would be honored.”

“Good. I’ll let you rest now. Taylor’s going to stop in to visit in a little while.

She had some calls to make. I’m going to go work out.”

“Brett, I’m so very proud of you.”

Brett turned in her mother’s doorway, stopped, and then turned to face the woman she respected more than anyone. “That means everything to me. I’m not going to disappoint you and Taylor.”

Her daughter left, and Roselin closed her eyes in thanks. She had lived long after her two husbands and it was time … time to let go and let God and nature take its course. Her daughter would be fine with Taylor watching over her. And she knew her daughter had rediscovered her strength. There was new determination in her voice. When Brett put her mind to something she couldn’t fail.

Taylor called Jeb first to tell him the news. She was bubbling over with emotion. Close to tears, she waited impatiently for him to answer his telephone. He was her family and she had to share her happiness with him.

“Mind and Body Clinic and Spa, Jeb speaking.”

“Hi.”

“Well, hello partner.”

“Jeb, Brett asked me to marry her.”

“It’s about time!” he teased. He had heard the tremor in Taylor’s voice and knew she was close to tears. “You okay, sweetie?”

“I’m fine, just a little bit overwhelmed. Everything is happening so fast.”

“But you’re in love with her.”

“And she’s in love with me, but it’s still overwhelming and I need your help.”

“You name it. By the way, I’m very happy for you.”

“You and Rex are my family I want you to be here with me.”

“Name the date and time. We wouldn’t miss it.”

“I’ll let you know just as soon as everything is firmed up. Anything I need to know about at work?”

“No, other than that the spa is booked solid for the next two weeks.”

“You’re kidding! That’s good.”

“Yeah, and the clinic is bursting out of its seams.”

“So we should have an excellent quarter.” 

“We’re having a record quarter, and that’s what I want to talk to you about. I think we’re due for some expansion.”

“We talked about growing our space out.”

“Yeah, but I’m thinking maybe a second space.”

“You think it’s time?”

“Yep, and I’ve already considered some locations.”

“Good, let’s hear them.”

“I thought I could come to visit you and we could go over some ideas I’ve been tossing around in my head.”

“That’ll work. When do you want to visit?”

“How does Thursday sound?”

“This Thursday?”

“Yes, I can get a late flight out on Wednesday afternoon. Be there in time to take you and Brett to dinner. We can talk Thursday, and I can be home that evening.”

“You can stay here. I’m sleeping in Brett’s room, so you can have mine for the night. Roselin, Brett’s mother, is living here now. She’s not doing very well.”

“How’s Brett dealing with everything?”

“Okay, so far. She’s had to deal with quite a lot in a short time.”

“How’s she doing with the alcohol?”

“She seems to be dealing with it. She actually doesn’t talk much about it. I know she still wants to drink, but she’s been handling it.”

“I’ll see if I can get some time alone with her. She might find it easier to talk to me than you about this. It’s not going to go away over night. She’s going to be struggling with her alcoholism for the rest of her life.”

“I know. I would like it if you talked to her about it.”

“So, you think Thursday will work? It won’t disrupt Roselin too much?”

“Thursday is perfect. I’ll talk to Brett as soon as she finishes her workout. Roselin will be fine.”

“I thought you worked out with her?”

“Only three days a week. She wants to learn to do it herself, so once a week I check on her program. She’s also eating very healthy food even though her first choice would be chips and salsa.” Taylor started chuckling.

“And you aren’t cashing your checks from Mrs. Camden.”

“How do you know?”

“She’s sending them to me.”

“I can’t take money from Brett’s mother, especially since I’m going to marry her daughter. Please don’t cash them. I’ll pay you back for my time.” 

“You sure as hell aren’t going to pay me, and I’m not going to cash them,” Jeb laughed. “She sure is persuasive.”

“So is her daughter,” Taylor admitted with a grin.

“I’ll e-mail you my flight information.”

“I’ll pick you up and make reservations for dinner.”

“I miss you, partner.”

“I miss you. See you Wednesday night.”

“You bet.”

Taylor was smiling when she headed upstairs to visit with Roselin. She knocked quietly on Roselin’s bedroom door and entered when Roselin’s faint voice invited her in.

“Hello, Taylor. Congratulations.”

Taylor sat down on the chair next to Roselin’s bed. She looked so pale, so weak, that Taylor caught her breath. “Thank you, Roselin, but I think you already suspected this might happen.”

The tiny twinkle in Roselin’s eye made Taylor laugh and reach out to grasp her hand, squeezing it with affection. “I only gave fate a little nudge. Taylor, I need to speak to you about something. I’m not going to last more than a month or so and I want so badly to see you and Brett celebrate your commitment. If you’re agreeable, would you suggest to Brett that you plan your ceremony no later than a couple of weeks from now?”

“Roselin, I’m so sorry.” Taylor couldn’t keep from crying.

“Taylor, it’s time sweetheart. But Brett is going to have difficulty accepting my death. I know I’m asking a lot of you, but can you help her? She’s just getting back to being her old self and I don’t want my passing to keep her from all that she’s capable of. I know she’s still struggling with alcohol, too.”

“I’ll always be there for Brett, I promise you that. I love her.”

“I know you do, and she loves you.”

“I’ll talk to Brett this afternoon and suggest that we plan to have our ceremony in a couple of weeks.” Taylor smiled. Roselin was an amazing woman. “My business partner, Jeb, is coming to visit for a day to go over some business opportunities with me. Roselin, he’s a recovering alcoholic and is going to talk to Brett about what she’s going through. He wants to make sure she knows he will help her if she needs it.”

“That’s good. I understand what she’s dealing with. She will need all the support she can get. Is your business doing okay?”

“It’s fine! It’s bursting out at the seams. We’re talking about expanding.”

“I’m glad. My checks aren’t being cashed.” 

“Roselin, I don’t want to be paid for being here. I want to be with Brett and I just can’t accept your money. I hope you understand.”

“Taylor, I can’t think of anyone else I would want my daughter to be with. I’m glad she met you.”

Taylor blushed with embarrassment. “I love you and Brett.”

“We love you. I want to thank you for moving your commitment ceremony up. I know that it isn’t fair for me to ask that the two of you change your plans for me.”

“Roselin, both of us want you to be there with us. What matters is that our family is there. I consider you family.” Roselin reached up and placed her hand against Taylor’s cheek. “You’re my family, too.”

Taylor and Roselin had been talking for about thirty minutes when Taylor noticed Roselin’s hand was trembling in hers. Her eyes were also drooping. “Taylor, I’m going to have to shorten your visit. I’m a little tired.”

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have stayed so long. Do you need anything?”

“No, sweetheart, I think I’ll just take a short nap.” Taylor stood up and then bent down and kissed Roselin’s pale, dry cheek before leaving her room. She closed the door and then leaned back against the wall as hot tears streamed down her face. She didn’t have much family of her own, but Roselin was special to her and Taylor grieved over her impending loss.

She had enormous respect for her and was hoping to have more time to spend with her. She also knew that Brett was unprepared to lose her mother, and Taylor was at a loss to find the best way to help her.

“Taylor, what’s wrong? Is Roselin okay?” Fran came up to Taylor, concern on her face.

“Yes, but she’s very tired so she’s having a nap.”

“She’s not eating enough to keep a bird alive.”