| Chapter One Sighing softly, Kat sank into the cushions of Howie's couch before lifting her mug of flavored coffee to her lips. The day had finally arrived after a long six months of planning. At two-thirty that afternoon, she would officially become Mrs. Howard Dorough. Excitement fluttered through her and a small satisfied smile curved her lips upward as she recalled their parting the night before. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Are you sure you don't mind staying at your parent's house?" Kat asked as she and Howie stood in the foyer saying good-bye. "I'm positive. Your parents need one last night with you as their little girl. Besides, the groom isn't supposed to see his bride on his wedding day until she walks down the aisle. We wouldn't want to break with tradition would we?" he asked teasingly as his fingers slipped into her hair to tilt her head back. "No I guess we don't," she whispered just seconds before his firm mouth covered hers in one of their last kisses of the night. "Just think, tomorrow at this time we'll be married and off on our honeymoon," he whispered as his lips trailed a path along her arched neck, setting fire to her skin. "Don't remind me. The waiting is killing me. I've been counting the hours since I woke this morning," she managed to say as his hands settled on her waist and pulled her closer. "Me too," he agreed softly as he brushed his lips across hers. "Ahem. Sorry to break this up, but it's now one minute till mid-night," Kelly said from the hallway. Howie and Kat groaned and shared a few more quick kisses before Kelly cleared her throat again, signaling the time. "See you tomorrow my love," Howie whispered huskily before claiming one last kiss. "Tomorrow," Kat murmured as the door closed behind Howie. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Hey. How are you doing?" Kelly asked as she entered the living room and sat down beside Kat. Kat just smiled softly without answering and Kelly smirked in a knowing way. "That good, huh?" "Oh yeah," Kat answered and they both laughed. "You and Howie did a wonderful job on the house. It has such a feeling of hominess and love," Kelly said changing the subject, as she looked around the room. "It does look good doesn't it?" Kat asked rhetorically. Months ago, she and Howie had decided they wanted to buy a new house. It hadn't taken them long to find and fall in love with the one they had chosen. During his off time, they collaborated on the decorations, color scheme and they decided what furniture they were keeping from their separate households. Their tastes ran along the same vein and their belongings meshed together so well that people thought that they had bought them together instead of integrating what they already had. "Kitten?" Kat looked over the back of the couch and found her dad, Tim, standing in the doorway. "I'm right here." "You're mother said to remind you that Howie's family will be here in a few minutes." "Thanks dad," she said as he turned and ambled back through the house. "Like you'd forget," Kelly whispered under her breath. "I know. The way mom's acting, you'd think she's the nervous bride-to-be," Kat said with a laugh. "You're nervous?" "No, not at all. In fact, the only thing I feel is impatient. I want two-thirty to hurry up and get here. I want to see Howie standing there in front of the church waiting for me. I want to run, not walk, down the aisle and I want to say 'I do' just as quickly as I can. This being separated stuff is for the birds!" Kelly laughed. "Honey, this short time apart is nothing compared to the time you will be separated while he's on the road." "Don't I know it. But we've discussed that and we've decided when it's possible, I'll be going with him. I know it won't be the same as if we were here at home all by ourselves, but it will be better than staying here all alone while he's gone for months at a time." "True. That must be Paula and the others," Kelly said as the doorbell sounded. Kat stood up and straightened her dressing gown before walking down the hall to greet her family-to-be. Hugs and hellos were exchanged and then as one, Kat, her mom Claire, Kelly, Paula, Polly, Angie and Chelsea made their way upstairs. It was time to start getting dressed. FTM Index FTM 2 Main Page |