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I turn my attention to her dad again who replies. “No. No, I haven’t yet,” he confides.
He takes several long strides towards me, and extending his hand to mine, he grips it firmly.
“You saved my daughter’s life, Xander. Professor… Colonel… Whoever you are. And I owe you mine because of it,” he says choking back emotion.
Taking a step back and saluting me, I feel my face warm before I reach over and embrace him.
“You haven’t lost a daughter, only gained a friend,” I remind him. Holding him as long as he needs to compose himself.
“Well,” he finally says, wiping his eye free from dust or grit I guess. “I’ll leave you both to it,” he says and I let Gillian go just long enough so she can see her dad to his car, hugging him farewell before we both stand at the end of our driveway, waving him goodbye until he visits again.
Gillian hands me a small paper sack.
“What’s this?” I ask. Hearing her clear sweet voice in my mind reply.
Cough syrup and aspirin, just like you wanted.
I laugh out loud, lifting her up and kissing her again, stooping a little more than usual as I carry her across the threshold.
Home.
Our new home.
“I love you, Professor Sexton. My hero,” she whispers as I lean against the door to close it.
“Hero?” I ask.
“For saving us from that crazy stalker?” she adds. Looking down at her belly.
“There’s no end to loving you Gillian,” I tell her. “I’ll love you today, tomorrow, and into eternity,” I whisper, wondering why she’s rolled her eyes.
She giggles, like a girl with a secret.
“How ‘bout we start with Wednesday?” she adds, winking up at me.
Cleverly helping me out with what day it is without me having to ask.
That’s my girl.
Epilogue
Two Months Later
Gillian
I don’t know what’s harder, keeping certain news from a certain husband to be who can read minds or keeping my lips sealed?
Either way, my wedding dress is safe but the wedding night lingerie arrived while I wasn’t home, so I had to order a different set once Xander opened it ‘by accident’.
I swear the man has x-ray vision too sometimes.
Xander wasn’t unhappy with the first choice, mind you. I didn’t think he’d be so interested in the wedding preparation and that sort of thing, but he’s still full of surprises.
I thought dad would take our engagement so soon a little hard, but he’s insisted on being involved with the wedding. Even wanting to pay for everything, but Xander won’t let him do that.
Xander wants to plan as much as my dad, but between them, they haven’t achieved much so far.
My job? Dress and outfits. The boys seem hell-bent on planning the wedding of the century.
“Why so soon honey?” is all dad asked.
“I have my reasons,” I smiled coyly, joking that with a catch like Xander I needed to put a ring on him before he got away.
Dad nodded and tapped the side of his nose. “A clever move. But I think Xander’s just as smitten as you are,” is all he commented, and don’t I know it.
It’s like we get closer every day, and keeping certain things, good things a surprise is almost impossible.
Almost.
There was a suggestion that the ceremony be a big deal, courtesy of Xander’s friends in certain high places but he wouldn’t hear of that either.
“Just a simple ceremony with a few friends and family, right?” he keeps asking me, trying to be agreeable but his usual aloof self, but still making a face whenever dad or I make any actual suggestions.
“The date’s been set,” I remind him, thrusting my engagement ring finger in front of him to remind him.
“We just need to book a chapel or minister or whatever it is you want,” I remind him as the days turn into weeks.
“Just no space stuff, right? We don’t need lights over the neighborhood or you disappearing for a few days,” I caution him which makes him quiet for a few days.
In the end, I have to step in. Not hard to do when nothing’s happening.
Dad’s busy with work and Xander seems to have learned how to sulk. Cute, but not helping.
It’s the closest we’ve come to an argument, but needs must so I take full charge by going straight to the professionals.
I go to the Palazzo’s without Xander knowing, and with her blessing, Nonna Palazzo promises to arrange everything at the restaurant for the wedding day reception.
That just leaves the ceremony itself.
All that matters to me is a dress I can pass on to our children and to marry the man I love in, and if we can avoid doing it in outer space or some secret government bunker with the groomsmen wearing spiral earpieces, I’d be grateful.
Xander surprises me almost a month out from our date when I get home from another dress fitting. I was ready to postpone but figured he had something up his sleeve.
