Chapter 61

“Thank GOD it’s finally over”, Callan said when he and Miranda went to bed for the night.  “I was afraid that we’d never get married.”

Miranda giggled.  “I know.  It seemed like the closer we got the longer the days got.  But, we finally did it and I wasn’t bridezilla.”

He chuckled as he climbed into bed next to her.  “You were almost a bridezilla?”

“Well, I was bitchy yesterday because it felt like nothing was going my way.  Gramma talked a little sense into me and everything was fine.”

“Your Gramma is very good at that I’ve noticed.”

“When you have to manage ten kids as well as the temper of my Grampa, you kinda have to be a peacekeeper.”

“I’ve noticed that as well.  But, she’s feisty in her old age.”

She laughed.  “That she is.  But, enough about my grandmother.  It’s our wedding night.  What are we going to do?”

“Well to be honest, as much as I’d love to make love to you right now I’m more afraid that in doing so I’ll put you into labor and that I’m sure is the last thing either of us wants”, he said with a chuckle.  “A full term, healthy baby girl is what I’m looking forward to.”

She laughed softly.  “Me too.  Why don’t we just lie here and hold each other for the first time as husband and wife?  We can leave the love making for after the baby arrives.”

“Honestly, I think that’s the sweetest thing I’ve heard all day since I heard you say, ‘I do’.  Holding you is all I want to do right now.”

She snuggled in closer to him and pulled his arm across her after rolling onto her left side, sighing in content.  “You have no idea how I’ve longed for this the last several months.”  As she spoke, her emotions overcame her and tears trickled down her cheek.  She was overjoyed to finally have the man she loved lying in bed next to her and he wouldn’t be leaving unless he had to.  Then she knew he would be coming back.

He brushed the tears from her cheek.  “Probably as much as I’ve longed for it.  I’ve missed you more than you know, Miranda.  And now, I’ve got you and I don’t have to let go unless Uncle Sam sends me somewhere I can’t take you and Gracie.  Please, honey, don’t cry.  I’m not going anywhere.”

“These aren’t tears of sadness, Callan.  These are tears joy.  I’m so happy the wait is finally over.”  She twisted her torso so that she could look up at her husband.  “This is what I’ve been looking for my entire life.  I’ve been looking for you.  My patience has finally paid off.”

He kissed her softly on the forehead.  “Ditto, Miranda.  I’ve been patiently waiting for you my entire life.  Now, here you are in my arms.  I have the privilege of calling you my wife, finally.”  He chuckled softly.  “Honestly baby, life doesn’t get any better than this.”

She smiled and wiped away the tears that were leaking from the corners of her eyes.  “You’re absolutely right.  Life is certainly grand right now.”  She settled deeper into the bed.  “Stupid question.  Do you think your parents are upset that you’re staying in my hotel room tonight?”

“No.  I told them that’s how it was going to go.  My mom wants to know when it’s a little closer to the delivery date so that she can be in the area.  I told her that you don’t need nursing advice or anything like that considering how big your family is.”

“What did she say to that?”

“She just wants to be there so that she can greet her new granddaughter.”

Miranda laughed.  “I love your mom.  She’s hilarious.”

“No kidding.  But, this is her first grandchild from me so we’re kinda obligated.  Well, I am at least.”

“No, we are.  It’s not just you anymore.  What you’re obligated to, I’m obligated to.  If it will make your mom happy to be in the area when I have Gracie, then we’ll give her a call next month.”

“She’ll be happy to hear that in the morning as we pack up your brother’s rental so that we can go to Colorado.”

“So we’re riding back with Eli and B?”

“I figured it would be a little easier to do that considering the fact that your parents have the triplets plus your twin and his girlfriend riding with them.  B made the offer during the father- daughter dance while I was waiting to steal you back from your Dad.”

“Was Eli standing there when he mentioned it?”

“Yes.  Eli reiterated the offer, citing that your parents’ car was full and that it would behoove us to ride with them.”

“I’ll keep that in mind when we order breakfast in the morning and Mom asks how we’re getting home.”  She yawned softly, turning her head so that the yawn didn’t spread.  “Baby, we really should get to sleep.”

“Then why don’t we put on a little bit of background noise and do just that?”

She smiled.  “Sounds good to me.”  As he turned on the TV and found something that would bore the hell out of the both of them so that they could sleep she settled into the bed and got as comfortable as she could.  Once they were both still and comfy, they drifted off to sleep in each other’s arms for the first time as husband and wife.

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With a sigh of relief, Brie Draiman laid her head down on her pillow. First the first time in weeks, she rolled on to her back. When David saw her on her back he was a little stunned. "Baby, is everything ok?"

She nodded slowly. "For the most part. My back is really tight right now. Why did we say as long as we did at the reception?"

"You wanted to stay, my love. That's all I know. You pushed yourself to stay."

She chuckled. "Why did you let me go and do something stupid like that?"

"You think I felt like arguing with you, stubborn ass?"

"Touché, mon ami", she laughed, wincing not but a moment afterward.

"Are you ok, Brie?" he asked her.

"Not sure. My back is spasming, but not nearly as bad as it was when Seth decided to be a little ass and drive like a bat out of hell."

"Do I need to call down to Jake's room and have him bring pain medication?"

She shook her head slowly. "I just need to get my back to relax."

"Did you bring those muscle relaxers that the doctor back in Israel gave you?"

She nodded.  “In my suitcase.”  The request that he bring them to her was unspoken.

He opened her suitcase and pulled the bottle out so that she could take the pill, got her a drink of water and handed them both to her after helping her sit up enough to do so.  “Take your medication.  You’re no good to anyone if you can’t get up and move around.”

She laughed quietly.  “Unfortunately, you’re right; loathe as I am to admit it.  Can’t help prepare for our little prank on our children if I can’t get up and do what I need to do.”  She took a drink of the water in that glass her husband of 48 years brought her and swallowed the pill.  “Did you think I forgot about our plot with Skyler and Kaylian to put the fear of God into our children and make sure that they’re ready to let us go when the time comes?”

He laughed.  “No.  I didn’t think you forgot and I hadn’t forgotten either.  I’m going to have the Masons come out and meet with us about that when we’re going to pull this little stunt when we get back to homestead.”  He sat down on the edge of the bed and rubbed his hand gently up and down her thigh.  “How are you other than your back, love?  How are your hands?”

“They’re fine.  I still have limited function, but it’s better than nothing I suppose.  I couldn’t sit down at a computer and type but that’s what our smart pads are for.”  She yawned.  “What a day.  I’m ready to go home tomorrow.  What about you?”

“Yes.  I’m ready to go back to Colorado.  I love Southern California, but I’m ready to get some distances between us and the busy big city of San Diego.”  He stood carefully and made his way around the bed so that he could lie down next to his wife.  His knees were going snap, crackle, pop as he walked but it was par for the course.  He’d gotten used to it over the years.  His knees had been shot for years.  It was only once he was older that they really started giving him trouble.  Once he was sitting on the bed, he put a pillow under his knees and sighed in relief.  “Ah, much better.  Now that I have my legs up I can relax.”  He took the remote off of the bedside table and turned on the TV, putting on the news.  Once he was settled into the bed, she settled in against him and waited for the medicine to kick in so that she could try to get some sleep.

This was one day where David and Brie were certainly feeling their ages.

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“One child married, two more to go in the next year and a half”, Malachai laughed as he and his wife made their way back to their hotel room after the party in the ballroom ended.  They stayed as long as there were people to party.  Once the Marines that Callan worked with had reported back to base and hit the rack, they decided to call it a night.  The happy couple had gone to bed several hours before, followed by the father of the bride’s parents not long after.

“Then three more after that to graduate high school and get into college after that.  What were we thinking when we had 6 kids?” Mandy replied with a laugh.

“I think us having six was like my parents have eight before planning for Jessi and Marc.  It was a fluke of the In Vitro with the surrogate.  It just happened.  All we wanted to do was even out the number we had of each.  Well, lucky us we had a very delicate balance.  It never happens like that unless you’re cool.  We must be really cool.”  He laughed.  He couldn’t help himself.

She laughed too.  If she didn’t laugh she was going to start crying.  It was a bittersweet day for Amanda and Malachai Draiman.  It was the day that their little girl- their ONLY girl for over a decade- became someone’s wife.  She was soon to become a mother.  They were going to be grandparents soon.  It was all too much to take in.  After they finally settled in, they both sighed.  “What a day”, she said.

“I know.  And we get to drive back home in the morning.  I’m sure that everyone that’s flying will be leaving out before we do.”

“Yeah.  I wonder how Miranda and Callan are going to get home in the morning”, she mused.

“We can always ask in the morning when everyone comes down for breakfast before we check out.  If I’m not mistaken, we’re going to have a truck full either way and Eli will wring Isaiah’s neck if he starts ranting about how awesome Callan is.”

“Yeah.  I’m sure that’s going to get annoying.  Callan was pretty cool about it today though.”

“My question is how long is it going to last?  I’m sure even Callan has his limits.  That much was evident the day he came out to meet everyone and beat the hell out of her ex.”

“I’m glad he hasn’t tried anything stupid since that happened.  I’m sure he would have ended up dead after that.”

“Oh yeah.  Me too.”  He left it at that.  He was sure that everyone that had been there that day knew what would have happened had Zachary Winfield come back to Colorado.  Instead the boy stayed away.  He decided to change the subject.  “So in three months at the outside, we’re going to be grandparents and our oldest daughter is going to move away to Japan for at least six more of those, taking the baby with her.  Thoughts?”

“It’s a little scary, but at least we’ll get to meet our grandbaby before she takes off on us.  And they’ll be back if he can get leave.”

“Yeah.  But, I don’t remember her growing up.  When did she become the beautiful woman we saw on that beach today?”

“Around ten years ago when she graduated high school and ran off to Julliard to study music at the premiere music and theater at the school for the preforming arts in the nation.”

He looked at her like she had grown a second head out of nowhere.  “I don’t remember that.  I remember sending my little girl to Julliard, not the woman that was on that beach today that said ‘I do’ that you handsome young Marine.”

“How many times have we heard your father say that about one of your sisters?  Maddie, Makayla, and Jessi’s weddings.  I don’t think it gets any easier.  You could ask your dad if I’m right if you doubt me.”

Malachai laughed.  “Have I told you recently that I love you, Mandy?”

“Yes.  You tell me countless times a day, every day.”

“Well, I’m saying it yet again.  I love you, Amanda Draiman.  Thank you for the last 29 years and I look forward to 29 more.”

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“You looked beautiful today”, Jax said to Miri.  “Absolutely stunning.”

She shook her curls out of the up-do it was in after pulling the pins out of her hair.  “Thank you baby.  I can’t wait until I’m planning my own wedding.”  She laughed.  “Hell, I’ve been planning my wedding since I was ten.  Who am I kidding?”

He laughed with her.  “Really?  You’ve been planning your wedding since you were ten.  What are some of the details?  I mean, if there’s any possibility that I’m going to be the groom then I should know”, he teased.  He thought that it was super cute that she had been planning her wedding since you was ten.  It meant that she knew what she wanted.

“No, you don’t get to know anything about it until there is a ring right here”, she giggled as she flopped down on the bed where he was lying, holding up the ring finger on her left hand.  “The only time I’m opening up my wedding journal to you is after you have my Dad’s permission to marry me and I’ve said yes.”

He laughed a little harder.  “Well damn.  I thought I was being slick.  Apparently not.”  He reached out and pulled her up to where she was almost eye level with him.  “Can I admit something to you?”

“Of course you can.  I not only encourage honesty; I demand it.”

“I was just a little jealous of that Marine that escorted you to the altar for your cousin and her husband to say their vows.”

“Why?”

“You looked so beautiful in your gown and I have to admit he was a looker in that uniform.  I was almost afraid that you were going to dump me during the reception and chase the uniform.”

She laughed out.  “You’re insane.  I’m not a uniform chaser.  That’s never been me.  Yes, he was a very handsome man and he was good looking in that uniform but you have nothing to worry about with me.  I’m not leaving you to chase a uniform.  Anyway, we talked during dinner and he’s very happily married.  He has a gorgeous wife he’s been with for 5 years, a three year old son and a baby girl on the way.  Neither of us is interested in the other like that.”

Jax faked a sigh of relief.  “What a load off!  It’s refreshing to know that I’m the only man that has you’re attention.”  He brushed a lock of her deep mahogany brown curls from her face.  “Have I told you that I love you, Miriam Draiman?”

She laughed.  “Not today, no.  We’ve been pretty busy.”

He pressed his lips to her forehead.  “I love you, Miri.  I hope like crazy that your Dad give me permission to marry you.  It would make my lifetime to call you my wife.  A sheila like you doesn’t happen to a roughneck bloke like me every day.  You’re a once in a lifetime kind of woman.”

She smiled brightly.  “Well, what about you?  It’s not every day that a roughneck bloke like you shows up and sweeps a sheila like me off of her feet.  What do they teach you guys in Australia?  Do they have a school that they send you guys to where they teach you how to charm a simple little American girl like me with that voice?”

“Is that what got you?  My accent?”

She blushed, ducking her head and hiding her face in his bare chest.  “I admit; it helped.  It’s certainly what caught my attention.”

He couldn’t help but laugh.  “You… what am I going to do with you?  I have no idea what I’m doing here.  You’ve trashed every preconceived notion I had about American girls just by being the sweet person that you are.  I’m completely out of my depth here.”

“I’m complicated, but that’s what makes me worth it.  Wouldn’t you say?”

He nodded.  “Completely.  You’ve been worth the chase.  Listening to you going on and on about that horse you worked with over the summer, and dealing with the many animals you have in your dorm room has been quite the adventure.  I just hope that we can make it an everyday thing eventually.”

“You keep being the charming guy that you are and my Dad will give you my hand in no time.  He’s a bit of a softy like that.”

The more they talked, the more Jackson Tompkins fell in love with Miriam Draiman.  A voice in the back of his head told him that what she was saying was correct.  He would have her father’s permission- as well as her grandfather’s- to marry her in no time but that her grandparents wouldn’t live long enough to see it happen.  It would be bittersweet for everyone, but it was how life was.  The cyclical nature of the mortal experience was like that.  He just hoped that when the time came she would lean on him for the strength necessary to get through it.