Page 15 of Miracles and Marriage (Making a Family #5)

“We don’t know each other beyond work. If we’re to present a convincing front to your family and friends when we go public, I think we need to find out more about each other. I would never send in an agent if he or she hadn’t been briefed. I don’t feel briefed.”

It made sense. But the images that flared had nothing to do with sharing information. Honeymoons were more physical—like sharing a room and a bed, kisses. Her imagination went into overdrive.

“Write me up a bio,” she said, stalling, hoping he couldn’t guess her thoughts.

He shook his head.

“Too brief. We’ll spend a couple of days together this weekend. That’ll give us a good start.”

“I don’t know,” she said, hoping inspiration would come fast so she could get out of spending more time with Cal. Until she needed to.

It wasn’t as if she didn’t like being with him, but he made her nervous, self-conscious. Ever since that kiss.

“Consider it prepping for an assignment,” he said.

“I’m an analyst—I don’t go out on assignment.”

“Yet you’ve taken this one. And maybe we need to get the hurdle of the first time out of the way.”

Thursday flew by. Friday afternoon Cal called Zoe in her office. She’d seen him in passing at work. She half expected him to offer lunch or dinner, but according to Emily when Zoe asked about his schedule, Cal was inundated with meetings and small crises that required his attention.

When he called Friday, Zoe picked up, surprised to hear him if he was that busy.

“I’ll pick you up around six. Do you want to eat around in town or wait until we’re on the road?” he asked.

“You still want to go?”

They had decided to try the cottage again.

“Oh, yes, I most definitely want to go away with you,” he said very deliberately.

She rubbed her forehead, trying to think.

“Fine. I’ll be ready at six. And I’d like to eat at Katie’s Steak House. It’s about half way between here and Seagrass Point.”

“Sounds good. See you then.”

He hung up without another word.

By the time six o’clock arrived, Zoe had changed clothes twice and made a mess of her bedroom choosing and discarding clothes to take to the cottage. Each member of the family had a dresser at the cottage with assorted beach clothes to save packing and unpacking for short stays.

None of those outfits were quite what she wanted to wear around Cal. She refused to examine why this was important to her, but it was.

She left the apartment a few moments before six and arrived at the lobby door just as Cal pulled up. Before he could park, she waved and hurried to the car. He stowed her suitcase in the trunk and held the passenger door for her.

“With so many children in your family, I guess I’m not surprised you are always punctual,” he said as she settled in.

“My folks made a rule. If you weren’t in the bathroom at your assigned time, it became open for whoever wanted it. My sisters loved to primp, so we learned early on not to be late.”

“Uncle Hal used to say it was rude to keep people waiting,” Cal said as he pulled back into traffic.

“It is. How are you coping with his being gone?” she asked gently.

“It’s not as hard here. There’s lots going on so I’m not thinking about it all the time. When in his home in Richmond, I expected him to appear every moment. It’ll get easier. At least that’s what people say.”

“Easier, but the longing to see him, the wish for one afternoon again never quite fades,” she said sadly.

“Speaking from experience?” he asked.

Zoe nodded.

“A dear friend died when we were in college. I still miss her.”

Cal didn’t speak again until Zoe gave directions for the steak house. Dinner didn’t go as quickly as she had hoped since it was Friday night and the restaurant was crowded. By the time they finished their meal and were back on the road, it was after ten. They reached the cottage after eleven.

The wind blew from the ocean and the town of Seagrass Point was closed up. Few lights beyond streetlights illuminated the night. When they turned onto the road where the cottage sat, no lights showed at all.

“Not a lot of people live out here it seems,” he said.

“Most of these places are summer homes. Which makes it ideal the rest of the year to get away. I love it when the beach is deserted and I can have it all to myself.”

Once inside, Zoe hurried to turn on the heater.

“Fortunately my great-grandparents had hoped once to live year-round here so equipped the house for all weather. It’ll warm up soon.”

She stood in the living room and looked around, wondering what Cal saw. Could he imagine the years of loving visits from boisterous children and indulgent adults? Or did he see it as a casual home that showed its eclectic background and age?

“Shall I take the same bedroom as before?” he asked.

She nodded, breathing a soft sigh of relief. At least he wasn’t going to pursue the matter he spoke of before. Maybe his idea of a honeymoon was different from hers.

“I left the water heater on when we left before, so if you want a shower, the water would be hot,” she said, feeling a bit bewildered.

This wasn’t quite turning out like she thought.

“I’d prefer to take one in the morning, after our run.”

“Want hot chocolate or something before bed?” she asked.

“If you’re making it, I’ll have some. After I take our bags up to the rooms.”

By the time the beverage was ready, the house had warmed enough Zoe could take off her jacket. Cal had returned after depositing the bags and lounged against the counter watching as she prepared the hot chocolate.

“I didn’t see your laptop,” she said, adding cocoa to the warming milk.

“Didn’t bring it. But you reminded me,” he said, taking his phone from his pocket.

He turned it off and laid it on the counter.

“No interruptions this time.”

Zoe was startled. He was never incommunicado for work.

“What if someone needs you?”

“I’ll be back in the office Monday morning. It can wait.”

From the startled look on Zoe’s face, Cal knew he’d surprised her. But he was serious about getting to know the woman he’d married.

He didn’t see the need to tell her he’d reviewed her personnel file before coming this weekend.

He figured he should know some of the basics, if only from the interview before he hired her.

She was a graduate of Georgetown University.

She’d worked as an analyst for two years for the Department of State and much preferred to work without close supervision.

She’d received glowing reviews from her supervisor at State and had never given any trouble at Protection, Inc.

Her insights were legendary. They worked well together, but this was different.

He didn’t know what colors she liked, how she felt about discipline in children, or even names she’d want for their baby. Was she serious about staying home the first year, or would being with an infant all the time soon have her searching for adult companionship?

When Zoe handed him the mug of hot chocolate, he knew there were many more aspects he wondered about—how did she like to be kissed. How soft was her skin? Did she sleep snuggled up against a man or want her own space?

This weekend should answer a lot of questions.

Cal slept well and woke before dawn. He lay in bed a few moments considering all the things he would have done this weekend if he hadn’t insisted on accompanying Zoe. Rising, he dressed in running clothes and went to see if she was awake.

Hearing movement in her room, he knocked. A moment later the door opened. She wore sweats and had her hair tied back into a ponytail.

“Ready?” he asked.

“I just need to put on my shoes. Aren’t you going to be cold?”

He wore only shorts, shoes and a warm-up shirt. It would be cold starting out, but once he reached his stride, he’d be glad for fewer clothes.

“I’ll be fine.”

They did stretching exercises together. Cal was intrigued by the lithe body of his wife. He’d never noticed before. Or ever gone running with a woman. In the past, his social life was surface only. He was venturing into new territory.

The sun was just peeking above the horizon. The water was still more gray than blue. When they stepped outside, the breeze was cold. It wouldn’t reach summer temperatures, but he hoped the sun would warm the day somewhat.

“Okay, I usually head north, where they’re fewer houses,” she said. “It doesn’t really matter, the beach is deserted at this time of morning.”

“And you like the loneliness of it,” he guessed.

She shrugged. “I like to be by myself.”

“Even now?”

“No, let’s go.”

They started out in tandem, he matching his pace to hers.

Soon Zoe seemed to reach her stride. He could have pushed for more, but her pace was fast enough.

They ran side by side, on the wet, packed sand.

The ocean was on their right, sand dunes and houses on the left.

Alone on the long expanse of seashore, they had the perfect place to run.

Cal relished the run. He’d been so caught up with work the last few days that he’d neglected his daily runs and missed them. A couple of days of this and he’d be back in top shape and raring to go back to work on Monday.

“This is two miles,” Zoe said, slowing a bit and making a wide loop. “I usually run about four at a time.”

“Works for me.”

The time back seemed suspended. He noted the empty houses. The one house that had smoke coming from a chimney. Someone else up for the weekend. He wondered what Zoe would do in an emergency with so many empty places around.

He hadn’t worried about anyone before. Now she was his wife. The only relative he had in the world. Would they really make a baby together, have a small son or daughter who would love the beach? To whom he could talk of his uncle Hal and growing up in Richmond?

The baby would have plenty of cousins on their mother’s side. He’d encourage family ties even though he’d might never be included in many activities. Zoe would undoubtedly invite him, but everyone would know theirs wasn’t a real marriage. Politeness wouldn’t be the same as belonging.

Still, his child would be surrounded by love, both his and Zoe’s.

He’d make sure of it.