Second Time Around (19 page)

“You go ahead, Em. I'll take care of Ricky.” He sat down and turned Ricky in his lap so the nebulizer pipe could blow directly on Ricky's face. With each gasp for air, Ricky's laboring lessened slightly.

“We'll need to take his vitals and listen to his lungs, Mr. Berthoff, if you could please undress your son.”

Kevin laughed to himself, suddenly flattered to be
mistaken not only for a married man, but for a father. He must be doing okay at the job if he'd already convinced one nurse. The moment of humor was a welcome reprieve. “Come on, Ricky. Let's show the nurse your muscles.”

She took over holding the pipe, while Kevin undressed Ricky. Kevin tugged on the sleeves of the boy's gold-and-black CU Buffs football sweatshirt and gently worked it over his blond head. The toddler squirmed in Kevin's lap, snuggling closer as if cold. Kevin indulged in the chance to wrap his arms around the boy to keep him warm.

After the treatment, the nurse put an oxygen mask over Ricky's mouth and nose. A doctor arrived and wrapped his hand around the metal disk of the stethoscope to warm it for a minute, then placed it against Ricky's back.

It was as if Kevin were back in the hospital himself, watching as the doctor listened to the little boy's lungs and heart. Kevin looked up, surprised to see Emily standing calmly in the doorway with her gaze fixed on him.

In that moment, he realized that God had given him another chance to have the love and happiness he had pushed so far away. He had allowed Emily's love to heal him. Kevin winked, and gave her a slow, secret smile, which he knew she understood.

They were a family.

Emily stepped closer and knelt next to the chair. “How's he doing?”

“Better. Aren't you, sport.”

Ricky nodded.

“Thank you for coming along, Kevin.”

“That's part of being a dad, isn't it?” He smiled.

Emily's mouth gaped open. As soon as they were alone, she looked at him with hope in her eyes. “Are you serious?”

“Of course I'm serious. I'd never joke about becoming a father.”

The nurse returned a while later. “Mr. Berthoff, Dr. Berthoff, this is a prescription for Ricky's medicine…”

Emily looked at Kevin and started to correct the nurse, but Kevin shook his head and winked.
What in the world are you up to, Kevin MacIntyre?

“If you'll just sign here, you can take your son home. The doctor is comfortable with you monitoring his treatments.” The nurse gave Emily more instructions and handed her a form to sign, while Kevin dressed Ricky.

On the way out the door, Emily looked up at the two blond men in her life. “‘Mr. Berthoff'?” she repeated incredulously. “Isn't that carrying your point a bit far?”

He chuckled. “I thought it was kind of cute, myself. And I will say, I definitely liked being mistaken for your husband.” He paused. “Ricky, what do you think of adopting a mommy and a daddy?”

“Yeah! Can I have a brother and a sister, too?”

Kevin laughed. “We'll have to wait and see what God has planned on that one.” He looked at Emily. “I know it's been like beating your head against a wall, Emily, but this little guy here finally drove the point home. What do you think of becoming Mrs. Dr.-Emily-Berthoff-MacIntyre? Or whatever you want to be called.”

“I think…it's about time.” Emily smiled and leaned forward to give Ricky, then Kevin, a kiss.

“Are you twitterpated
now,
Dr. Em—Mom?” Ricky asked, his voice raspy.

“Yes, Ricky, I am.” She looked at Kevin again. “Always was,” she murmured.

“Don't I know it! We'd better get back to the cabin. Your mom and sisters are going to wonder what happened to us.”

F
irst thing Monday morning, Emily arranged to take a few weeks of family leave. She and Kevin took Ricky to see a specialist so they could learn more about controlling his asthma. As far as they could tell, his attack in the mountains had been caused by the high levels of pollen and dust. Now he was improving.

Emily was scheduled to sign the adoption papers that Wednesday, but postponed it so she and Kevin both could do so after the wedding ceremony.

With all the changes Ricky had already been through, she and Kevin had decided it would be easier on everyone if there wasn't a long engagement. That way, when Emily went back to work, their family would already have settled into their own routine, however chaotic.

She called George and Harriet and put Ricky on the phone. “I'm going to get a new mommy
and
a new daddy. Dr. Emmy is getting married to Kevin this Saturday.” Emily laughed at how quickly Ricky
was picking up new expressions from Kevin, such as calling her Emmy. The two were inseparable, just as a father and son should be, she thought.

Though this was the busiest time of the year for weddings, Pastor Mike had worked to fit them into the church schedule. She and Kevin agreed to have the ceremony in the courtyard, and have the reception at a nearby restaurant.

Her sisters and mother were troopers, pulling everything together for the small ceremony. Emily took the box out of her closet and tried her wedding dress on for the first time in eight years. Once she had it cleaned, it would be perfect.

Kevin came in after work and looked around at the piles of fabric and ribbon. “I thought this was going to be a simple ceremony—me in jeans, you in…oh, never mind, that's later. Sorry, got the ceremonies mixed up.” He winked, pleased to see her cheeks turn a brilliant shade of pink. He lifted the corner of material and took a peek. “Have you seen Ricky under all this stuff recently?”

“He's playing at Laura's. They're going to bring him home after supper. By the way, what are you fixing?”

“Fixing? For dinner? Me? How about my specialty, pizza?”

Emily laughed. “Good idea. Mom doesn't like mushrooms, but anything else goes.”

He looked at Naomi and smiled. “We have one thing in common, anyway.”

Emily's mother smiled back. “It looks like I owe you an apology, Kevin. I should have put my own selfishness aside and let my daughters find happiness years ago.”

Kevin wrapped an arm around her. “I'm in no position to criticize. I am glad you're putting the past behind you, for your own sake, as well as Emily's. And I want to thank you for giving me such a precious gift.”

Naomi looked at Emily, confused. “You haven't opened my gift yet, have you?”

Emily shook her head, and Kevin chuckled mischievously. “I'm talking about Emmy. Your daughter is an incredible woman. Thank you. I promise to take good care of her and to be faithful 'til the day I die.”

“I have no doubts you will, Kevin.”

The doorbell rang, but Ricky didn't wait for an answer. He ran inside, dragging the Beaumont family with him. “See, Chad, I get a new daddy, too. Kevin's going to be
my
dad.”

“So what, I get
two
babies!”

“I can have two, too,” Ricky argued.

Laura and Bryan trailed in behind the rest of the gang. “Guess our news is history, huh?”

Emily looked at Laura, her eyes open wide. “Twins? I was wondering…”

The couple laughed. “The ultrasound you suggested was scheduled for this morning. No wonder I'm getting so big.”

Kevin patted his friend's shoulder in congratulation. “Six kids? Wow.”

 

Saturday morning was warm and sunny, a perfect day for a wedding. The organist played, and Kevin and Bryan tossed the football across the tiny church parlor as they waited for Pastor Mike to come for them. Finally the oak door opened, and Mike gave
Kevin a wide smile. “That bride of yours is beautiful, you know.”

“About that visit we had in the hospital, Mike…”

“It's okay, Emily had already told me about your relationship.”

Kevin put a hand on Mike's shoulder. “I was going to remind you that I meant every word of it. I love her, and I'm not going to let her go this time.”

Mike laughed. “And I'm going to hold you to it! I think she's ready, what about you?”

“Ready. This is the best day of my life.” Kevin turned from Mike to Bryan. “Now don't forget to give me the ring, would you?”

“Turnabout's fair play,” Bryan said as he followed Mike and Kevin to the church courtyard.

“Why's that?” Kevin murmured from the corner of his mouth.

“You set Laura and me up.” Bryan turned to look at him. “But I don't think either of us could have taken Laura's matchmaking much longer!”

“Remind me to thank her.” Kevin smiled and heard Bryan's soft chuckle.

The organist played more loudly, then eased in to the processional, and Emily appeared at the end of the grassy aisle.

Kevin had never seen her more beautiful. The ivory dress flowed over her curves, simple yet elegant, perfectly Emily. Kevin's smile grew wider and his heart beat faster.
Thank you, Father. I don't know what took me so long to get here, but I'm sure glad You didn't give up on me.

Naomi walked Emily down the aisle and offered her daughter's hand to Kevin. They shared a special smile, and Naomi gave him a hug.

Kevin looked into the eyes of his bride. His heart skipped a beat. The sprinkling of freckles across her nose was as charming as on the day they had first met. Flowers circled the bun on top of her head and delicate strands of her beautiful red hair framed her face.

Kevin took her hand in his. It was small and delicate, warm and reassuring. Today he was marrying his best friend, the bride of his youth, the only woman he'd ever truly loved.

“In Ecclesiastes, King Solomon tells us that two are better than one, for if one falls down, his friend can help him up….” Pastor Mike's voice faded, and Kevin realized the truth of His words.

“… Though one can be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. Emily and Kevin, your relationship has proven the strength of the bonds of love and forgiveness can survive the tests of time.”

Emily's eyes sparkled with tears, and Kevin lifted his hand to dry them.
I love you,
he mouthed silently, as they turned to face the altar.

I love you,
she mouthed in return, a look of admiration filling her gaze. Standing hand-in-hand, they bowed their heads.

Kevin heard Ricky's voice among the congregation, and knew that His timing was perfect, and that the rough eight years he and Emily had survived hadn't been wasted. He was finally ready to be a husband and a father.

“Do you, Kevin James, take Emily Ann…”

Kevin said his vows, which were echoed by Emily's softer, gentler voice, then placed the ring on Emily's finger. Surprised to find her trembling, he
winked. She smiled confidently and slid the gold band on his finger.

Pastor Mike smiled. “I now pronounce you man and wife. What God has joined together, may no man put asunder.” He turned to Kevin. “You may kiss the bride.”

As Kevin and Emily sealed their vow with a kiss, the wedding march began.

From the corner of her eye, Emily could see Ricky squirming in his seat next to her mother. Kevin's family had all made it just in time for the ceremony.

She looked at Kevin, overwhelmed by the reflection of her love in her husband's blue eyes. She'd waited a lifetime for this day—to marry the man of her dreams. Never, though, had she imagined a day so perfect. She was not only marrying her only love and officially becoming Ricky's mother, but, most wonderful of all, she had her own mother's blessing.

“I now present Kevin and Emily MacIntyre—” Ricky ran up the aisle and into Kevin's waiting arms “—and their soon-to-be son, Ricky.”

“That's my
new
mommy and daddy, Mike. They're twitterpated.”

“That's my boy!” Kevin's laughter was joined by a chorus of background accompaniment.

Following the ceremony, the adoption papers were signed. Then Kevin lifted Ricky into the crook of one arm, embraced Emily with his other, and the three became a family.

When they left the church, she could see Bryan and Alex had taken it upon themselves to make certain that Kevin's truck was appropriately adorned for the festivities. Brushing the crepe paper and pop cans
aside, Kevin lifted Emily and Ricky into the cab for the ride to the reception.

Her sisters and mother had left early that morning to complete the decorating. The reception area was stunning. On each ivory table were small clusters of wildflowers. And Laura had insisted on making the cake—three oval tiers of ivory with fresh wildflowers between cakes.

Among the guests were Kevin's employees and Emily's co-workers. The receiving line was one long “I told you so” followed by “playing hard-to-get, my foot!” and many hugs of joy.

“These last few weeks on the clinic are going to be interesting, aren't they?” Kevin said as he followed Emily to find his brother and twin sisters, who had arrived just before the ceremony.

Emily turned her head and smiled mischievously. “If you had just let me give you that tetanus shot without making such a scene, they wouldn't be having nearly so much fun with this.”

He wrapped his arms around his wife's waist and smiled. “Then again, neither would I.”

He savored the sound of Emily's deep laugh and the vanilla scent of her perfume. His willpower was wearing thin.

Kevin and Emily visited with relatives for a while before cutting the cake. Ricky and his friends were there immediately, ready for the first bite, having already eaten half a plate of the homemade butter mints.

Emily gracefully cut a bite of cake and lifted it to Kevin's mouth.

“Can we leave now?” he whispered.

“Not until you give me a bite.”

“Oh, yeah, I forgot. I'd hate for you to get light-headed—yet.”

Going against tradition, they served the cake themselves, enjoying another chance to visit with each of their guests.

Then they changed from their wedding clothes and rushed out the door, but the truck was gone.

“Uncle Alex moved it. I got to ride with him,” Ricky exclaimed. Birdseed pelted them as they hugged Ricky goodbye.

Emily was torn over leaving him already. “Aunt Katarina will take good care of you. We'll be home in two days.”

“I know,” he said confidently. “Uncle Alex says he'll take me for pizza.”

Emily prepared to toss the bouquet, and smiled at Kevin. “You go find a car, while I find our next bride.”

Emily turned her back to the gathering of women. Just as she let the bouquet go, Kevin's clean truck pulled to a stop in front of them.

The bouquet flew high into the tree and caught in the branches. Kevin jumped up and grabbed the limb to loosen it, and it bounced off another branch and into Alex's hands.

“Oh, no, you don't.” Alex batted it away, directly to Katarina.

“You two had better give in now,” Kevin exclaimed as he helped Emily into her seat.

An hour later, they arrived at the hotel, and Kevin carried Emily over the threshold. “We finally made it, Doc.”

“Kevin, don't you dare refer to me as your ‘doctor' again, because the minute you touch me, I don't
think or feel a bit doctorly. I only want to be Mrs. MacIntyre, a woman in love.”

“Excuse me.” Kevin stopped. “But to me, you'll always be the heart specialist. Not only did you save my life, but you fixed my broken heart, too.”

“I don't know—you're the one who gave mine a jump start, remember?”

He laughed. “That kid…”

“I miss him already.” She looked into his eyes. “Think he misses us?”

“With the brood at Laura and Bryan's, and his Aunt Kat and Uncle Alex to entertain him? He's probably going to be lonely once we get him home. Maybe we ought to get busy filling that house of yours—ours. After all, we were supposed to be the first ones down the aisle. We've got some catching up to do.”

“We are
not
competing with the Beaumonts, Kevin.”

“Maybe not, but we can sure give it a try!”

Emily blushed.