All the Waters of the Earth

Chapter 42: Promises

"We had a meeting at work."

His eyes seemed to get deeper, a blue that was almost black. He looked like a kid, hand raised, bursting to tell the answer in class, but who knew that he had to wait until he was called on. Well, a kid in a dark gray business suit with a blue and silver striped tie.

"What? Tell me," I gasped.

"A few things," he said, teasing me, making me wait. I put my hand on my hip in my classic sassy-Lucy posture, and he smiled and leaned over and kissed my nose again. "We voted to make Amelia Crowley a partner in my law firm."

I squealed. "That's great! She totally deserves the promotion."

"She does. She's already taken over most of my cases. She put in her time. She's due."

I did a little happy dance, shaking my booty. Amelia, breaking the glass ceiling. He watched me dance until I stopped moving, and then I smiled saucily up at him. But I thought of something.

"She's not going to work too hard is she?" I asked, suddenly worried about my lawyer.

"No. We hired another young attorney, a woman, to help her."

Excellent.

"There's more," he continued, denim eyes still dancing.

I pushed his chest. Oh, yum, his chest. "Oh yeah? Hit me with it."

He leaned over and got right in my face, a beaming smile on his handsome one. I almost expected him to do a happy booty dance. Heck, I wanted to see that. "I have a new job."

Awesome!

"What? Where?"

He wrapped his hands around my waist, pulling me to him. "The court has a program for helping people who don't have attorneys, and a staff position opened up. It's got limited hours—nine to four—and I'll be helping people directly. People who can't afford lawyers."

"That's fantastic!"

"It's a huge pay cut but I don't think that matters anymore."

I squealed again and jumped up and wrapped my arms around his neck. He swung me around, as jubilant as I was.

"I'm gonna have time, Lucy honey. Time for you, for Rob, for our daughter." He paused. "Time to paint."

"Yay," I whispered, and he kissed me again, this time pressing me against the wall, his legs between mine, caging me in with one arm on the wall next to me, and the other one on my ass, pulling my leg up.

When we broke apart, I wasn't breathing.

"That's too hot for right now," I said, whispering again.

"It's a promise for later," he replied, whispering back.

Just then Rob came out of his room, thankfully when we weren't entangled, and we set to work making dinner.

The next week, on Friday morning, Sara and Georgie sat on my bed, watching me dress.

"I still can't believe you didn't tell us you were pregnant," Georgie charged, a sassy-Lucy hand on her hip.

"I told you I was sorry, girl," I replied, "but I needed to get things squared away with Jake before I could tell anyone. And then I wanted to get through the first trimester."

"But we could have helped you," Sara said sensibly.

I smiled and kissed the top of her hair. "You're helping me now."

My parents camped out in the living room with Rob, who I'd taken out of school for the day. My son had his hair slicked down, slacks and a dress shirt on, and his shoes shined. He looked sharp. Jake had already left for the historic and stately Santa Barbara courthouse, bringing his dad with him. His mother, step dad, brother, and sister were going to meet us there.

I slipped on my dress. It was a bigger size than usual, but still fitted, strapless, knee length, and very me. Simple. Elegant. And white. Sara zipped me up the back and fastened the buttons.

Shoes on, hair down and straight, lip gloss applied. I was ready to get married.

Teetering, as usual, in high heels, I walked out of my bedroom and looked at my parents. My mom, dressed up in a navy skirt suit, came over to me with tears in her eyes. "Lucinda, you are a beautiful bride and you make your mama very proud."

I smiled and then mock-complained, "Don't make my mascara run."

My dad came over and without a word, wrapped me in a hug. "Dad, not you too," I said, this time fighting tears for real. He took my hand and walked me outside, all of us leaving. I locked the door and then we all climbed into a black limo that was waiting at the curb.

Walking into the courthouse, and then the courtroom, I had an entirely different feeling than I did the last time I was here. Last time, of course, I was nervous with anticipation. This time, yes, I was also nervous with anticipation. But it was the delicious, happy kind.

We found the courtroom and walked in, the door unlocked for us.

My handsome Jake was standing up front, talking with the clerk. He wore a well-tailored black suit, black skinny tie, and looked like a Tom Ford ad.

And he was mine.

My dad held my hand and walked me up to Jake. My eyes locked on his, I held onto my dad for support, but I discovered, as I got closer to Jake, that I didn't need it. My mom, Rob, my friends, and Jake's family found seats in the audience. I held Jake's hand, which was warm, firm, and comforting.

The clerk called the judge, who came out and spoke to us about how marriage was not to be entered into lightly, but with careful thought. And how the most important things in a relationship are love, communication, trust, honesty, respect, and understanding.

I looked back at my parents, holding hands, my mother daubing her eyes with a handkerchief. Those qualities were what my parents had and what I had with Jake. Glancing around, I saw Rob holding Georgie's hand, looking interested. And Jake's family, all with smiles on their faces. We had everyone's support.

The nervous anticipation disappeared. I was in the right place with the right people. I wanted to do this and I was so, so happy.

The judge continued.

"Do you, Jacob Slausen, choose Lucinda Figueroa to be your lawful wedded wife? Do you promise to love and comfort her, and to honor her and keep her in sickness and in health, in prosperity and adversity, and hold her needs above all others, so long as you both shall live?

"I do." Jake's words rang out, filling the courtroom with authority. My lawyer in the courtroom.

"Do you, Lucinda Figueroa, choose Jacob Slausen to be your lawful wedded husband? Do you promise to love and comfort him, to honor him and keep him in sickness and in health, in prosperity and adversity, and hold his needs above all others, as long as you both shall live?"

"I do." And as I said the words, I knew that all of that was true and would be as long as I lived. I would love this man who loved me back, who sacrificed for me, and who put my needs first before his. He'd done so already, in every way possible.

Rob came up and handed us our rings. I kissed him on his cheek and then watched him sit back down. And Jake and I exchanged rings.

The judge continued. "The groom has informed me that he has something to say."

"I made a promise to Lucy today, but I am also making a promise to her son, Roberto." He turned and looked at him. "Rob, I promise to care for you and put your needs above mine. I promise to read with you, play with you, and guide you. I love you."

And the nerves and the tears that had been in check came bursting out of me, and judging by the rustling noises behind me, out of others. Jake loved me. But he also loved my son. And that was yet another way to my heart.

"Inasmuch as Jacob Slausen and Lucinda Figueroa have thus consented together in marriage; by virtue of the authority vested in me by the State of California, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride."

And my husband very gently, very sweetly, very slowly, and while looking me in the eyes, kissed me in front of our friends and family. And he was mine.