Chapter 33 #2
Ted smiled in amazement as the whirlwind finally slowed long enough for him to consider just how much had changed in the course of that day. “Yes, I guess she is.” He held the car door for her.
After he got in, she said, “I’m glad I got to see her in a less stressful situation last weekend. Because of that I know there’s another side to her than what I’ve seen in the last few days.”
“She’s usually so amazing.”
“I was relieved for you that she took the first step just now.”
“I was relieved for all of us. With my grandmother so sick, we don’t need any more tension.” He reached into his pocket and withdrew his cell phone. “What do you say we call my mother-in-law and fess up to what we’ve done?”
Caroline winced. “Do we have to?”
He smiled and nodded.
With great reluctance she took the phone and dialed the number.
“Hi, Dad.” Caroline sent a fearful look Ted’s way and tipped the phone so he could hear.
He reached for her free hand.
“Is Mom home? Can you ask her to pick up the other extension?” Caroline waited for her mother to come on the line and with a deep breath and another glance at Ted for reassurance she told them her news. After a long silence, she asked, “Are you guys still there?”
“We’re here,” her father said. “This is very surprising, Caroline.”
“You did a nice thing for his grandmother, honey,” her mother said. “I’m sorry we weren’t there to see it, but you did a good thing.”
“That’s how it feels to us, too, Mom. I promise you we’re going to do it again very soon and have all of you there. Ted wants to talk to you guys, okay?”
She handed the phone to him.
“Hi, Mr. and Mrs. Stewart.
“Hello, Ted,” she said.
“I’m sure you have a lot of questions and a lot of worries, but I want you to know I love Caroline very much, and I’m going to take very good care of her.”
“That’s good to know,” her mother said. “We’re looking forward to meeting you.”
“Depending on what happens with my grandmother, we’ll be up next weekend, if that’s all right with you.”
“Of course it is. We’ll keep your family in our prayers.”
“Thank you. Well, I’ll give you back to Caroline.”
She talked to them for a few more minutes while Ted drove them home to get what they needed to spend two nights at the Ritz.
After she ended the call, Caroline turned in her seat so she could see him. “Were you born with that or did you acquire it along the way?”
“Born with what?”
“The ability to charm the mothers, even over the phone, and even after you’ve just basically eloped with their daughters.”
He rolled his eyes. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Since I’ve never eloped before I don’t have a whole lot of experience with how to talk to mothers-in-law.”
“Well, you said exactly what she needed to hear.”
“That’s good. I was afraid we were going to be adding them to our list of problems by telling them after the fact.”
“Why don’t we put that list aside for tonight, okay?”
He squeezed her hand. “Absolutely.”
On the way back into the city, Ted called the hospital and was relieved to learn there had been no change in his grandmother’s condition.
“Your grandparents were so sweet to do this,” Caroline said as they rode the elevator to their suite on the top floor of the Ritz Carlton.
“It’s just like them to think of something like this. Their generosity has always been astounding and even overwhelming at times. I wanted to kill them when they bought me the Mercedes.”
“Why?”
He shrugged. “It just seemed so excessive and embarrassing. But it’s the giving that delights them, and because there was never a single string attached to any of it, I stopped saying no and learned to just say thank you.”
“You’re a good boy, Ted Duffy.”
With the rakish lift of an eyebrow, he said, “I’m a good boy who’s having some very naughty thoughts about his wife at the moment.”
She smiled and stepped aside so he could open the door. “Oh,” she sighed when she caught her first glimpse of the opulent suite.
“Wait.” He lifted her into his arms and carried her across the threshold. “I don’t want to forget anything I’m supposed to do tonight.”
She looped her arms around his neck and kissed him senseless.
That’s where the bellman found them when he arrived with their bags. Embarrassed to have been caught, Ted eased her down and went to tip the man.
“Will there be anything else, Dr. Duffy?”
“No, thank you.”
“Have a nice evening.”
Ted closed the door and leaned back against it to gaze at Caroline. “Oh, I plan to.”
She giggled at his lascivious expression. “Shouldn’t we eat at some point?”
“Probably.” He crooked his finger at her.
She went to him.
Reaching for her hand, he said, “Let me see.” He took a good first look at her two new rings. “I like the way they look on you.” He sighed. “My wife.”
“Let me see yours.”
He gave her his left hand, and she kissed the ring on his finger. “My husband.”
“It’s still kind of hard to believe, isn’t it?”
“Totally. A week ago tonight I couldn’t imagine how we’d ever find a way to be together.”
“And now we have the rest of our lives.” Still leaning against the door, he buried his hands in her hair and fell into a deep, soulful kiss, the effects of which he felt everywhere.
When he finally resurfaced, he peppered her face with kisses.
“My grandmother said the strangest thing to me before we left.”
“What was that?”
“‘I’ve done my part,’ she said. ‘Now you do yours.’ What do you suppose that means?”
“I don’t know.” She pressed against his erection. “But it seems to me you’re doing your part at the moment.”
Ted groaned and everything else was forgotten.