Love Beyond Reason(24)
Katherine was no longer surprised that Jace could wear anything and look magnificent in it. Today his navy blazer, camel slacks, cream shirt, and paisley tie would have made the models in Gentleman's Quarterly envious. He moved in dress clothes with the same alacrity and grace as he did when wearing jeans.
Jace suggested that they take her car to the city since the back seat of the jeep wasn't really safe enough for Allison to ride in even strapped into her car bed.
The drive from Van Buren to Dallas took only about two hours on the interstate highway, but those hours seemed like an eternity. Neither of them talked much. They were wary and careful of the other's deep thoughts, and therefore protected themselves with silence or small talk.
When they reached the suburbs, Jace stopped at a service station busy with Labor Day traffic and asked directions to the courthouse downtown.
Curiosity urged Katherine to ask, "How did you manage to obtain a marriage license?"
"I told you. Mark's friend will have it for us when we get there. All we'll have to do is sign it. And write in your middle name. I didn't know it." He took his eyes off the heavy traffic long enough to flash her a brilliant smile.
"June," she mumbled, still lost in the puzzle. "But aren't blood tests and things like that required?"
"A fraternity brother of mine is a doctor in Denver. He certified us both, and Mark sent the necessary papers here."
She was appalled. "That's illegal isn't it? Fraudulent?"
He only shrugged. "Maybe. I don't know." That mischievous glint she was learning to recognize was in his eyes as he asked conspiratorily, "Why? Do you think you might have syphilis?"
"Ohh," she ground through clenched teeth.
Jace laughed. "You'd better not get mad at me. Put on a blushing bride face, because we're here."
Finding a parking space on a holiday weekend was no problem and they stopped Katherine's small car directly in front of the historic red limestone building.
"Wait here a minute," Jace said as he eased himself from behind the wheel and walked toward two men who were standing on the steps of the deserted building. After a brief conference, Jace came back and said, "All set."
Katherine shook hands with both men, not caring to catch their names and trying not to meet their speculative eyes. They probably thought Allison was her baby and that this was a shotgun wedding. The license was signed with dispatch.
The wind was like a tornado as it whipped around the skyscrapers of downtown Dallas. Katherine struggled to keep her skirt down and still maintain a careful hold on Allison, who had begun to wail. Between vows, Jace took Allison from an abashed Katherine and cradled her against his shoulder. She quieted immediately.
It was over. Jace kissed Katherine perfunctorily on the lips when directed to, and they made their way back to the car. When Katherine and Allison were settled once more, he went back to the two men and, reaching into his pockets, took out a roll of bills. He paid each man, shook hands with them once more, and came back to the car.
Jace offered to stop somewhere to eat, but Katherine declined, longing for the sanctuary of her own house.
"Would you like to go to Neiman- Marcus and pick out a wedding present?" Jace asked as he maneuvered her car through the maze of downtown streets.
She was momentarily tempted, for she had never been in the famous store. Allison chose that moment to show her disap- proval of the idea by starting to fret. Reluctantly, Katherine declined Jace's offer.
As usual, he was sensitive to her emotion and read her disappointment. "We'll come back sometime soon by ourselves. I promise."
The trip back to Van Buren was trying. The two adults were uptight and agitated with each other and their new status. Whether Allison sensed the tension between them or whether she was tired from the unconventional day and longing for her usual environs, she cried off and on all the way back.
Jace cursed the dimensions of the small car, declaring that the first thing he was going to do Tuesday morning was buy a decent one. "The biggest damn car I can find."
"Please watch your language in front of the baby," Katherine said sweetly.
He whipped his head toward her angrily and grazed his forehead on the sun visor. He cursed again, but this time under his breath.
By the time they reached the garage apartment, they were all hot, tired, hungry, and angry. Katherine fed Allison her supper of strained carrots and spinach which she sputtered all over herself and Katherine. That made the second bath of the day mandatory. It was with a great deal of relief that Katherine placed her in the crib for the night.
Katherine was exhausted and decided to take a bath herself. Jace, as soon as he had helped her carry Allison upstairs, left for his motel.
"I need to go pack my things and check out. It's been home for almost two weeks now. I'm sorry I don't have a home to offer you," he smiled. "Do you mind if we live in your apartment for a while?"
"No, of course not," she replied. Until that moment she hadn't thought past the wedding ceremony. Now the impact of what this marriage entailed hit her. She was going to be living with Jace. Living and what else? That question haunted her.
On trembling legs she left the bathroom and tiptoed to her closet. She pulled on a University of Colorado T-shirt and her oldest, most faded pair of jeans. Then she slipped her feet into a pair of sandals. Maybe if I don't look like a bride, I won't be expected to perform like one, she thought hopefully. She brushed her hair and piled it on top of her head, securing it with combs.