Kathleen Brooks - Secrets Collide

Gemma shielded her eyes from the sun and looked at the rider. He was in jeans and a button-down shirt with the long sleeves rolled up on his masculine arms. A dusky brown cowboy hat set low on the man’s face, but she didn’t need to see it. She knew Cy’s body anywhere.

The café door opened and people started pouring out onto the sidewalk, but Gemma didn’t even see them. She started walking down the street toward Cy. He slowed the horse in front of her and dismounted with an amazing amount of grace. The hat hid his face, except for the smile he was wearing. He turned back to the saddle and set Fred down on the ground. Gemma put her hand to her chest and laughed at her little dog with a black bandana around his neck.

“Fred and I have come to find you,” Cy said as he swept off his hat. The sun shone on his face. His eyes danced with excitement as he smiled at her.

“Well, here I am.” Gemma was overtaken by excitement. She belonged here, with him.

“He’s turned into a good farmhand and doesn’t want to leave. I don’t want you to leave either.” Cy’s smile disappeared as he hung his hat on the horn of his saddle. He took her hands in his and looked into her eyes. “Gemma, this is me. The new me and the old me, all mixed into one. A former spy and stuntman turned farmer. I've had trouble coming to terms with my new life, but I've never had trouble coming to terms with how much you mean to me. I love you, Gemma. I loved you when I was a stuntman, when I was a spy, and now as a farmer. Do you think you love me for who I am now? A boring farmer living in a crazy small town in Kentucky with a huge family?”

Gemma reached up and ran her fingers along his jaw. “Oh, Cy. There’s nothing boring about you. I love you so much—the real you. The one who loves his family and the one who embraces this town.”

She raised her chin and pressed her lips to his. At first he was hesitant, but then his arms wrapped around her and he deepened the kiss. Cheers erupted from the patrons spilling from the café.

Cy smiled against her lips and stepped back. He dug into his pocket and Gemma couldn’t stop staring as he pulled out a black box. She heard herself and all of Keeneston gasp when Cy went down onto one knee. Fred ran around him barking and wagging his tail as Cy opened the box, showing her a ring—a solitaire diamond between two emeralds.

“I love you for everything you are, have been, and will be. I am yours and the love we share will only grow throughout our lives. I look forward to each day when I wake up with you beside me. Gemma Perry, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”

“Someday we’ll find the one we cannot live without. The perfect man who will love us both,” Gia giggled as she wrapped Gemma in a hug. “He’ll make you smile and laugh and put up with you talking to me every day.”

Gemma felt the tears streaming down her face as Gia’s voice filled her head with the memory of their conversation when they were just sixteen. And she was right. Gemma had found the perfect man who made her smile and laugh. She looked down at Cy’s nervous face and nodded. “Yes.”

Cy fumbled the ring but managed to slip it onto her shaking finger before standing up and pulling her to him. He kissed her with such love and passion that Gemma forgot she was in front of other people. His tongue caressed her mouth as she flung her arms around him urging him on. The sharp sound of catcalls and whistles broke the spell as Gemma felt her face flush with embarrassment.

“Come on. I know the perfect place to celebrate,” Cy whispered in her ear before grabbing his hat and mounting his horse. “Thank y’all. Miss Lily, would you mind watching Fred for a bit?”

“Not at all.”

Congratulations broke out from the crowd. Gemma smiled and waved, but looked up at Cy, wondering what he was planning.

He held out his hand. “Grab my hand and put your foot here.” He withdrew his foot from the stirrup and when she put her foot in it, he swung her up and into his lap. His arm wrapped securely around her waist as he turned the horse and trotted back up the road.

“Where are we going?” Gemma asked as she tossed her head back in the air and soaked up the moment.

“Home.”

Cy sat down next to Gemma on the blanket and tossed his hat on the ground. He looked out at the flat field surrounded by large trees like the one they were sitting under. “I thought we’d put the house right here. What do you think?”

“Oh, it’s lovely.” Gemma glowed with excitement. He leaned over and kissed her. He had a romantic picnic planned, but right now all he wanted was her.

As he deepened the kiss, Gemma arched forward, pressing her breasts against his chest. Cy fought for control as his hand slid up her side, caressing the outside of her breast before reaching her shoulder. He slipped her dress straps down, freeing her to him. His hand cupped her as his thumb traced a nipple.

His heart pounded as he eased her down on the large blanket. Soon all pretenses of slow and romantic faded as she tore his shirt off and tossed it on the ground. When words weren’t enough, action was. And he was going to show her just how much he loved her.

Four months later…

Gemma heard her new sisters in the room next to her laughing while they got dressed. Her hair was finally pinned up and the fingertip veil floated around her as she grabbed a replica of the maid of honor’s bouquet and put it in a basket. Without saying a word, she went down the large staircase of Miss Lily’s bed-and-breakfast. She picked up the front of her A-line gown and hurried down the street. The smell of fall was strong in the air. The trees were radiant shades of red, orange, and yellow as she ran past them.

It only took five minutes to make it to the Keeneston Cemetery where she stopped in front of her sister’s grave. After her engagement to Cy was announced, Gemma sent notice to her magazine and had movers pack up her house while she and Cy went to Gia’s apartment to pack. They arrived back in Keeneston the next day and buried her sister next to Morgan’s mother. The whole town came out to support her and to honor Gia, who was laid to rest with honor befitting an American hero.

The next day Tammy and Pierce announced they didn’t want to wait to get married. They got married the following weekend in a beautiful ceremony at the church. Tammy looked fantastic in her tea-length dress with sky-blue high heels. The Rose sisters had been hired to cater and were in a state of frenzy and pure delight to have been asked.

Gemma had needed an outlet and had started writing her and Gia’s story. It was a story of a sister’s love and determination and the downfall of an international criminal. Marianne from the Keeneston Journal had run the first chapter, and before Gemma knew it, she had become an author and the small newspaper's articles were being picked up around the world.

Gemma opened the basket she had brought with her and pulled out the book she had placed inside. “This is the first copy of our book, Gia. I found my passion finally. You led me to it. It’s writing.

“Yesterday Cy gave me my wedding present, the Keeneston Journal. I own a newspaper. Marianne wanted to write part-time and couldn’t keep up with the demands now that other papers have picked up my articles. She’s covering the court dockets and I’m writing hard-hitting and feel-good articles.  Every now and then, I’ll sneak in to host the weekly gossip column. It’s actually a ton of fun. It’s silly, but when done right, the gossip column can bring true joy and laughter.”

Gemma set the book down and pulled out the bouquet of flowers. “Today I’m getting married. I wanted you to have this. You will be my maid of honor, just like we talked about. Katelyn has agreed to stand in for you and we’re wearing the matching charm bracelets we made on spring break our senior year of high school. It’s actually quite a compliment to have a world-famous model wearing your design.” Gemma laughed and wiped away a tear. The pain had lessened over the months, but it hadn’t gone away yet. She didn’t know if it ever would. But there were more good days and more happy memories than bad, so she took that as improvement.

“You were right, Gia. I did find the one perfect man I couldn’t live without. And today I’m going to marry him. Hopefully we’ll have a family of our own soon. I wonder if we’ll have twins?“ Gemma stood and smiled. She was ready to get married.

*     *     *

“Suck it in, Tammy,” Annie ordered when Gemma entered the room full of bridesmaids getting ready.

“I am.”

“Well, try harder.”

“Tammy, raise your arms above your head and then suck it in,” Katelyn calmly instructed. Tammy followed her instructions and the zipper slid up.

“Thank goodness,” Tammy sighed.

“Well, I know Katelyn and I had that same scare, but we couldn’t suck it in.” Morgan joked at she rubbed her baby bump.

“No kidding. I’m about to burst.” Katelyn slowly lowered herself into the chair and put her feet up.

“There you are. Oh, you look beautiful.” Paige clapped her hands just the way Gemma noticed Marcy did.

Gemma blushed and did a little twirl for them. “Thank you. I feel beautiful. And anxious. But I’m really looking forward to the reception.”

“Right. That’s the part you want to get to,” Tammy giggled.

“Ladies, it’s time to go. Oh . . . don’t you look lovely?” Miss Lily twittered as she kissed each lady on the cheek. “Now, we don’t want to be late.”

Cy stood at the altar and waited for the doors to open. His sister and sisters-in-law had all made their appearance and now he was waiting for his bride to make hers. The months had flown by and they’d only fallen deeper in love. Their house would be done by the time they returned from their honeymoon. He hoped they’d be filling that house with children soon.