Marooned with a Millionaire (13 page)

“You bet.”

“Okay, now you may kiss the bride.”

“Thank God.”

Jack leaned over and kissed Lizzie with all the love for her that lived deep within his healing soul. Lizzie wrapped her arms around his waist and Jack
suddenly forgot where they were when the world seemed to fall away, just as Lizzie had said it would.

Jack finally ended the kiss when he realized they were slowly descending.

The minister cleared his throat. “I will now recite the balloonist's prayer as you begin your life together. The winds have welcomed you with softness. The sun has blessed you with warm hands. You have flown so high and so well, that God has joined you in your laughter and has set you gently back into the loving arms of Mother Earth.”

With that, the basket landed in the capable hands of Grady and was secured by Lizzie's crew. They were greeted with applause and cheers from the onlookers surrounding the platform—a large group of Lizzie's friends and Jack's colleagues, all prepared for a grand reception to follow at the Key Largo resort.

Jack didn't mind throwing a party; in fact, he had been more than happy to do it. But he intended to leave early so he could get his wife alone and divested of her clothes.

When the minister and pilot exited the basket, Jack pulled Lizzie close to his heart. “You know something?”

“What?”

“For the first time in a long time, I feel like a damn lucky man.”

Lizzie toyed with the necklace resting between her breasts. “I'm pretty lucky, too. And so is my son, considering he's going to have such a wonderful father.”

Jack brushed her hair away and rested a palm on the place that sheltered their unborn child. “That's our son, Lizzie. Our little boy.”

J
ack studied the little girl in his arms, so fragile and innocent with her ocean-blue eyes and downy blond hair, a miniature version of her mother. He'd never paid much attention to babies before now, but he couldn't seem to quit marveling over this one. But then she was
his
child, all his, regardless of her biological beginnings.

Lizzie left the hospital bed where she'd been packing for their return home—a home they had bought together a week following their month-long honeymoon. A two-story house with a huge backyard and a dog named Lucky that Lizzie had rescued from the pound, just as she had rescued Jack from a life not worth living.

Coming to Jack's side, Lizzie laid a hand on the baby's cheek. “I still can't believe she's a girl.”

“I still can't believe we don't have a name.”

Lizzie sighed. “I know, but I just can't make Henrietta work. I do have a suggestion.”

“Bessie?”

“Hannah.”

Jack couldn't think of anything he would like more. “You're right. Hannah it is. My mother would have loved that.”

“And my mother's name was Caroline, so I'd like that to be her middle name.”

“Perfect.”

Lizzie gave him a perfect smile. “You can put her down in the crib until they discharge me.”

“I could, but I really don't want to.”

“Oh, heavens, you're going to spoil her rotten just like you've spoiled me.”

Jack kissed Lizzie's cheek. “And what's wrong with that?”

“Well, nothing, I guess, but I want her to appreciate the value of life, not necessarily things.”

“We'll teach her that.”

“Okay, we'll do that. And while we're talking about the future, I still have to get you up in a balloon for a real ride.”

“Funny you should mention that.” Jack strolled toward the window with Hannah resting on his shoulder in peaceful slumber. “Come here for a minute.”

“Why?”

“I have something to show you.”

She sighed. “Jack, you always have something to show me.”

“True, and if I hadn't shown you something the other night, Hannah might have been two weeks late instead of one.”

Lizzie grinned. “And what a way to begin labor.”

Jack handed the baby to Lizzie and opened the shade to reveal the hospital parking lot—and the gift he'd been waiting to give her for months. Waited until exactly the right time, and that would definitely be now from the astonished look on Lizzie's face. She glowed from the inside out.

“Oh my gosh, Jack! When did you do this?”

He surveyed the bright purple-and-sun-yellow balloon inflated on the lot with Lizzie's former chase crew standing nearby, giving them a thumbs-up. “I've been planning it for a while now. It took some time to have the envelope made since it's a custom job.”

Lizzie giggled. “I kind of figured that. I really doubt you'll find another that says Dorothy and Ahab.”

Jack moved behind his wife, his soul mate, his savior, and slipped his arms around her waist.

Lizzie leaned back against him. “When Hannah's a little older, I want to take her up for her first flight.”

“I'll teach her how to sail.”

“And I'll teach her how to fly. I intend to teach you, too.”

“You already have, Liz, without the benefit of a balloon.” He kissed her neck and held her tighter. “And you know something else?”

She looked back at him, love shining in her eyes. “You have another surprise?”

“No, only something I need to say.” He kissed her gently, with gratitude, acknowledging that she
had brought him that elusive peace. “No matter how this all turned out—and it's turned out damn good— I would have loved you anyway.”