The Last Bachelor (16 page)

“I went to collect the mail.”

“I see. Anything interesting?”

Did he know? Had he seen her hide it? Of course not. He knew nothing. She rushed past him, but he caught her arm and lowered his lips to hers. She'd promised herself she'd avoid such kisses, but she opened her mouth to him. She couldn't pass up the opportunity to taste him again.

When his arms went around her, she came to her senses and shook her head. “We're outside, Joe.” She pushed past him, into the condo, and put the mail on the table. “I must put the dough in the oven.”

“You're making cinnamon buns?” he asked, his smile growing.

“Yes, it's Saturday.”

Once she had the buns in the oven, she offered to call his parents to come have breakfast with them. She felt safer with company.

By the time Ed and Vivian arrived, the buns had
turned a fragrant brown and she'd cooked strips of bacon and round sausage patties. She had put on a pot of her special coffee, too.

The four of them lingered over breakfast for almost an hour. The family feeling she'd always longed for was there in abundance, she realized—until she told Joe her happy news. Then it would go away.

“Something wrong, honey?” Joe asked, staring at her. “You look sad.”

“No, not at all. I'm very happy,” she said briskly. “Mom, have you and Ed seen the movie showing at the theater?”

“No, we haven't, but my friend said it was a real tearjerker. Did you enjoy it?”

“Oh, yes, it was wonderful.”

Ed growled, “How come you call her Mom and me Ed?”

Ginger stared at her father-in-law, worried she'd upset him. “I didn't know if you wanted me to.”

“Of course I do, unless it—Your own father—”

“I never knew him, and I'd love to think of you as my father.”

“Good, then call me Dad,” he said, beaming at her. “Now, did you cry at this movie?” he asked.

“Yes, I did,” she admitted.

“She said it reminded her of Estonia,” Joe said softly. “Especially the fighting.”

Ed patted her hand. “Oh, no, that's terrible. I didn't know things were so horrible for you there.
I'm so glad you're not going back. You'll be safe here.”

“She might not think so after several kidnapping attempts,” Joe reminded.

“But she has you to keep her safe,” Ed said. “In fact, all of us will fight for you if they try that again. Your entire family.”

Ginger felt so loved and protected, even without Joe joining in with his father's words.

“Thank you, Dad,” she said. “That makes me feel so good.”

Vivian stretched out her hand to Ginger's and then Ed extended his to Joe and pushed for Joe to take Ginger's hand, so they formed a circle. A circle of love.

A knock on the door drew everyone's attention. Joe stood. “I'll get it. Probably some kid selling something for the school band.”

Ginger relaxed again, trying to tell Ed and Vivian how much she appreciated their warm welcome.

“Well, of course. You're Joe's wife,” Vivian explained. “That makes you family.”

“Joe's a wonderful man. He's so patient and kind to me,” Ginger said, her lips curling in a smile. Then she stood. “Dad, do you want some more coffee? Mom?”

“Oh, yes.” Vivian stood and reached for Ed's cup. Then she followed Ginger into the kitchen. “Well, did Amy's plan work last night? Did Joe put his arm around you at the movie?”

“Uh, yes, Mom, but it didn't mean anything.”

“Oh,” Vivian said in disappointment. “I thought for sure he would—”

“Ginger.” Joe's voice stirred the quiet of the kitchen.

Ginger became alert. She knew Joe was angry with her from the tone of his voice. She couldn't imagine what was wrong, but she left Vivian standing in the kitchen and hurried to the breakfast room.

Only to come face-to-face with Carl Fisher, the INS man, and a very angry Joe.

G
inger stared first at Fisher, then at Joe, whose expression was fierce. Then Ed shuffled his feet and she realized they had an audience. That was the last thing she needed.

Clearing her throat, she said, “Dad and Mom, we'll call you later. We have a few things to work out.” She kept a smile on her lips, but Joe didn't bother.

However, her in-laws took the hint and excused themselves. She took a deep breath and turned to the INS agent. “Mr. Fisher, I know you asked me to let you know the green card arrived, but I didn't realize it had until this morning. I forgot to pick up the mail yesterday.”

“I'm sorry, but these are highly sought-after. I wanted to make sure it didn't get stolen. You do have it?”

Ginger turned her back on the two men, lifted her shirt and pulled out her green card, then turned back around. “Here it is.”

Fisher reached out for the papers and Ginger surrendered them reluctantly to him.

“And I, of course, knew nothing about this,” Joe
muttered, his voice harsh. “Why is that, Mr. Fisher?”

“I assumed your wife would tell you.”

Both men again stared at her. “I can explain, Joe, but I'd rather do that when we're alone.”

Joe's face was expressionless, but he nodded. She could figure out that he was through with her, but at least he wouldn't tell her in front of Fisher.

The official returned her green card to her and she gave a sigh of relief. “Thank you, Mr. Fisher, for all you've done for me. I promise I'll be a good citizen.”

“I'm glad I could help. You two have been the most likely couple to actually make your marriage work.” He smiled, but Joe didn't respond. “Ah, well, I guess you had your reasons for not telling your husband, Mrs. Turner. I've finished my involvement, but if I can help you in the future, just let me know.”

He paused and watched them, as if hoping they'd confess their difficulties to him, but Ginger had no intention of doing so. It was going to be hard enough to explain to Joe without making him even madder.

Fisher told them both goodbye and left.

Before she could turn to face Joe, he went to his bedroom and slammed the door shut behind him.

This explanation was getting off to a rocky start, but she wasn't going to give up just like that. She went to the door and without knocking opened it. Joe was staring out the window, his back to her.

“Joe?”

He didn't turn around as he spoke. “Do you need help packing? Or do you want money? Just tell me how much. Let's take care of this as quickly as we can.”

“I have money, Joe. My savings. I thought you would want to know why.”

“No. I know why. I did this knowing I was too old for you. I thought you'd be honest, but I guess that was too much to ask. At least this way I get to say goodbye.”

“I don't want to say goodbye.”

“So that's too much to ask? Then go. Just go.”

After several minutes of silence, he turned and stared at her. “Why are you still staring at me? I said you could go.”

“I don't want to go.”

He opened his mouth to blast her, but then he closed it and frowned at her. “Which is it?” he asked. “You don't want to go or you don't want to say goodbye?”

“Both,” she said softly. “That is why I didn't tell you anything about the card. You promised me a year. I thought if I stayed with you for a year, perhaps we would become…fond of each other.”

Ginger held her breath for his response.

“That's impossible!”

She gasped as pain shot through her. Her dreams crashed to an end. Joe didn't think he could love her, even with time. She ducked her head. “I see. Thank you for all you've done for me.” She turned to leave.
“I have to go tell Dad and Mom—I mean Ed and Vivian—goodbye. Then I will be gone.”

She hurried to her bedroom before he could see the tears sliding down her cheeks. There, she pulled out her old cloth bag and packed only the clothes she'd owned when she was a waitress at the Lone Star Country Club. She couldn't take the things Joe had bought. It would be impossible to forget him, then. When she turned to leave, she found Joe standing in the doorway.

“You're forgetting a few things, aren't you? Do you think I'm going to wear these?” he pointed to the outfits and nightgowns hanging in the closet.

“No, but Vivian will know someone who can use them. She won't let them go to waste.” She tried to push past him, but he blocked her way and refused to move.

“Where are you going and how will you get there?”

“I plan on asking your father to take me to the airport. Please let me through.”

“You're taking a plane?”

She kept her head down, hoping he wouldn't notice. “I don't know.”

“I thought you wanted to live in Mission Creek.”

“I can't.”

His strong hand curved around her chin and forced her face to the light. “Why are you crying, Ginger?”

Almost shouting, she said, “I told you I didn't want to go.”

“No one is forcing you to go.”

Stupid man! She couldn't live in the same town with him when he didn't love her. “I have to.”

“I can help you find a place to live and start your business.”

“No! I have to leave.”

“Ginger, you're too inexperienced to go out on your own. If I return to Chicago, will you stay here in Mission Creek?”

“Your parents would hate me. They're so happy that you've come home.”

“But you know Mom and Dad love you,” Joe insisted.

The tears returned. “I never had parents who loved me.” She wiped her eyes with her hands. “I shouldn't have said that.”

“I've got an idea. Why don't you stay here with me until the year I promised you is up? We'll get your business started. Maybe you'll even meet someone you want to marry.”

“No.”

“Why not? That's what you said you were planning to do.”

Ginger drew a deep breath and took a big risk. “It's too late for that plan.”

“What do you mean?”

“I've already found the man I want to marry.” She couldn't look at him because she was afraid he'd read the expression in her eyes.

“Who?”

“You.”

Joe stared at her, and she feared he'd stopped
breathing. “I know you think I'm too young for you, but I feel a lot older than Kitty and she's a year older than me. Life in Estonia is more difficult. It makes us grow up faster.”

“You're right, you do seem much older than Kitty. And she's going to be a mother soon.”

“Yes, it's a good thing she has your mother and the girls to help her take care of the baby.”

“She and Rodney have been married a year, so I guess she got married at nineteen, too.”

“Yes.”

He stared at her for several minutes, his face unreadable. Then he said, “Tell me again who you want to marry.”

“You, Joe. I want to be married to you.”

“Because it's easier, since we're already married?”

“No.”

“Because I've got money?”

“No.”

“Because I've got a great family?”

She smiled at him. “It's true, you do, but that's not why.”

“Then why, Ginger? Tell me why.”

“Because I love you. Because I want to sleep in your bed for the rest of my life.” She opened her eyes wide and waited for his response.

“That's convenient, because I feel the same way.”

Astonished, Ginger stared at him. “But you turned me down. I asked you twice!”

His arms went around her and he pulled her
against him. “I didn't think you wanted me. I thought you just wanted Leo to go away.”

“True,” she said in a considering manner. At Joe's frown she explained, “That was a side benefit, but not the most important one.”

“So, what was the most important?”

“I wanted you.”

Joe smiled at her. It seemed the most beautiful sight. “Then we've wasted a hell of a lot of time, young lady. Come on.”

“Where are we going?” Ginger asked, holding her breath.

“To bed.”

She didn't argue.

 

“Did I hurt you?” he asked softly as he rubbed her back. She stretched sensuously against him.

“Mmm, no. You gave me a lot of pleasure. And I'm willing to repeat it anytime you feel like it.”

“Oh, really? That sounds like a challenge,” Joe murmured, pressing himself against her. “I'm ready.”

“I'm impressed. I thought it took ‘older' men time to recover. Either I was misinformed, or you lied about your age,” she teased him.

“I think my age is accurate, so you must be misinformed. Or there is another reason,” he whispered in her ear. She pressed several kisses against the skin on his neck.

“What would that be?”

“It could be that you inspired me.”

“Mmm, I like that idea. But I do have a concern.”

“What's that?” he asked before he kissed her soft lips.

“How will Mission Creek ever get the design for their new project? You won't have time if I keep tempting you.”

“I've got a plan.” He began making love to her again and it took a while before Ginger could catch her breath.

“You'd better tell me what it is.”

“Yeah, and I'm going to apologize for my plan before I tell you. I should've discussed it with you first.”

“What is it?”

“We didn't use any birth control. I figure you won't be as eager if you're pregnant. I hope that doesn't upset you. I'm so old I can't afford to wait too many years for a family.”

She ran her hand up his bare chest. “I think you're in pretty good shape, but I'm ready for a baby at once. Mom and Dad will be happy about that, too.”

“Yeah. Mission Creek seems to be a swell place to make love. There seem to be lots of babies and lots of weddings here lately. We want to stay in fashion, don't we?”

“Yes, we definitely want to stay in fashion.”

“That reminds me. I bought you a diamond ring back when we first got married. I think it's about time you wear it.” He slid out of bed and went over to the dresser and opened a black box. When he got
back in bed, he slid the diamond onto her finger and kissed her.

“It's beautiful, Joe, but I don't need it.”

“I do. It's big so all the men in town will know you're taken. Forever and ever.”

She kissed him. “Oh, Joe, I love you so.”

The ringing phone interrupted their kiss. Joe stretched out an arm to reach it, and Ginger snuggled up to her husband.

“Yeah, Mom, everything's fine. Sure we can, in about an hour or two. Yeah, that will be fine.” He hung up the phone and looked at Ginger. “I hope you don't mind. We're going to Mom and Dad's for dinner tonight.”

Ginger looked at her watch. “We still have plenty of time.”

He kissed her. “I don't think so. After we make love again, I have to show you a time-honored tradition in the Turner family.”

“What's that?” she asked, raising one eyebrow.

“We're big on saving water. Conservation is very important.”

“How do we do that?”

“Shower together,” he informed her, his face serious.

“I'm glad to hear that. Conservation is very important,” she assured him. “Do we time our showers?”

“Oh, no, darlin'. In fact, we shower twice as long so we'll be real clean.”

“I can't wait.”

 

Ginger squeezed Joe's hand. “Will we need to tell them that we're really married now?”

Joe chuckled. “No, if nothing else, when I fall asleep during dinner, they'll know.”

“Joe! Surely you won't do that.”

“No? Okay, the fact that I can't keep my hands off you and we go home as soon as we've eaten will be a clue.”

“Joe Turner, don't you dare embarrass me,” Ginger protested.

“We'll see. Could be you're the one who gives it away.”

“Not me.”

They entered the house, already filled with family. Immediately, everyone stared at them. “Our shower worked!” Amy shouted.

Ginger's face flooded with red.

Joe turned to his wife. “I didn't say a word, I promise.”

“You didn't need to,” Vivian said.

“Then how did you know?” Ginger asked.

“When I called Joe, he sounded more relaxed than he's been since you got married.”

Ginger blushed again. “See, Joe, it
was
you.”

Joe smiled sheepishly. “Well, I don't mind being the guilty one, as long as you're going home with me tonight, sweetheart.”

“Every night,” she whispered.

Several hours later, when Joe was ready to abandon his rowdy family to take Ginger home, he
crossed the room to whisper his intentions in her ear. But he didn't get the response he'd hoped for.

“No, Joe, we can't!”

Stunned, he stared at her. “Why not? We've stayed long enough.”

“I know, but Mom and I are concerned about Kitty. She's having some pains. I'm not so sure it's false labor.”

“How would you know? You're only nineteen.”

“I told you I've had lots of life experiences. I've delivered several children in Estonia.”

Joe stared at his young wife in surprise.

“We didn't have many doctors in Estonia.”

On cue, Kitty grabbed her stomach and bent over, a look of surprise on her face.

Ginger left his side at once, wrapping an arm around Kitty. “Come on, Kitty, I think you've gone into labor.”

“No, that can't be. The doctor said I had more time, Ginger. It has to be false labor, but I didn't think it would hurt so much.” Then she bent over again.

Ginger looked at Joe. “Go get your mother. Rodney, do you have your doctor's number?”