Finders Keepers

Of course, the entire evening hadn’t been wasted. After meeting more of Rachel’s family, Jules now understood Jacob’s difficulty in breaking through his memory barriers. Thinly veiled animosity literally oozed from the one named Amanda. The girl had been rude to Jacob, ignoring him or slinging barbs at him at every turn. Her husband Cameron behaved more civilized, but not because it came naturally. Jules knew she had finally met a trophy husband.

Matt seemed friendlier than his sister did even though he had avoided Jacob all evening, finding any excuse to stay far away. Most of his attention was given over to his little girl. Jules couldn't recall her name, some flower or something. She supposed it didn’t matter, it wasn’t as though she planned to pencil them in on her social calendar.

"Hey there."

Jules turned at the sound of a woman’s voice. The other daughter, Paulina, stood in the doorway.

"You needed to escape too, huh?" Paulina crossed the room to stand beside her. "Sometimes it can be a little too much."

"I did not expect so many tonight."

"Yeah, it was supposed to be just family, but when word of you got out, people started inviting themselves let and right. Hospital board members, friends, a little bit of everybody."

"Word of me?"

"Carl hasn’t stopped talking about you since you decided to move here," Paulina said, then smiled. "He’s really one of a kind. Life just wasn’t the same without him."

Ah, another of Jacob’s allies. "I’ve gotten the feeling tonight that, Carl, was not considered a pillar of society."

"The longer you’re here the more you’ll see how narrow-minded people in Bay City can be. I know that firsthand. But hey, I shouldn’t sell you the downside."

Jules looked back at the crowd that showed no sign of breaking up any time soon. Manners or no, she simply had to get away. "Listen Paulina, I need you to do me a favor. I’m still a tad weary from my flight. Could you give Rachel my thanks and tell them I’ve gone home?"

"Sure, just let me call the driver."

"A cab will do."

"Let me call for one then."

"Paulina…"

"No, I insist. You’re one of the family now."

Jules brain locked on the last bit as Paulina hurried from the room. Part of the family. Such a nice thing to say, but Jules wasn’t sure it was what she wanted.

Beneath the star-studded sky, Rachel slipped unnoticed into her already blooming garden.

"Carl," she whispered, straining in the dark for a sign of him. "Where are you hiding this time?" The shrubbery rustled and Rachel found herself being pulled into a hidden arbor.

"Hello my darling," he murmured before brushing his lips against hers.

"Hi yourself." With a sigh Rachel ran her hands up his chest. How amazing life could be. Not so long ago she was raising the grubs alone. Now, Carl was in her arms and her happiness was beyond measure.

Carl gazed down at her, his eyes an inky black. How good it felt to be with him again. "What makes my delicious wife smile this evening?"

"Her magnificent husband."

Carl chuckled. "Such a simple answer. I really make you happy?"

"Very happy. Deliriously happy."

His warm breath tickled against her ear. Rachel closed her eyes and relaxed as they began to sway to some tune only they could hear. Happy? The word didn’t even begin to describe the way she felt whenever he looked at her, touched her.

"Tonight is going well don’t you think?" she gasped as he nuzzled her ear. "I haven’t been able to talk with Jules, but she did seem to be enjoying herself."

"Yes," he pulled her impossibly closer. "A lovely time is being had by all."

"Carl?"

"Mmhmm." She felt his smile as though he knew what was coming.

"Today has been very trying."

"It has?" He kissed up her neck, his lips resting at her temple. "Do you want to go to bed now? We still have guests."

Several rude phrases flashed through her mind as she landed some kisses of her own. At the moment she couldn’t think of anything else she wanted to do.

"Why don’t we just sneak away without saying a word," she countered. "They’ll never miss us."

He tilted his head back and Rachel could see the amazement on his face. "My, my. What a little rebel I married."

"I can be bad when the opportunity arises." Rachel smiled mischievously. "Ready?"

"And willing. Let’s make a mad dash before they send out a search party."

Barely able to suppress her laughter, Rachel grasped her husband’s hand and they fled their sanctuary.