The next few months were a struggle for Kiki. She kept to herself at first, sleeping most of the day, sobbing for the few hours she was awake. It wasn’t just that she had to push Steve away, but that she couldn’t tell Mia, or Peter, or anybody. That was part of her bargain. There were days she hoped he’d wait for her, that she could contact him after his film was out in the world; other days she felt like she’d never see him again.

It took a few weeks, but Mia was able to get out of her lease. Her presence was the kick-start Kiki needed. Putting up a pretense of being cheerful and coping turned into the real thing after a while. She thought it would be awkward sharing the house with Mia. It was the house built for her, after all. But they thrived, sharing chores and cooking, watching a movie or taking a walk together when Mia’s erratic shift schedule allowed. Somehow, her sister managed to fit in time to see Ajay, who quickly became a fixture at the house. It felt natural having him around, Kiki noticed to her amusement. She was happy for her sister, but at the same time, it reminded her of what she’d lost.

It was time to throw herself into work again. Her exit from Gates/Walsh was not a smooth one. Had she quit? Was she fired? Gene tried to get her to sign a non-compete in exchange for severance, but she would have none of it. If she couldn’t practice architecture, what would she do, after all? Peter faced the same choice, made more difficult due to his family, but she convinced him to set up shop with her. Top billing, she gave him: Baker+ Parrish + Associates. They added the last even though the only ‘Associate’ they had was Jason, who promised to work his CAD magic when they landed work.

Amazingly, they did land it! Mia had posted Kiki’s new business card in the doctor’s lounge at the hospital, which had raised a few calls. Many clients were attracted by her name, as she expected. Others by BPA’s green design credentials, and still others who’d seen her site and had been taken with the ‘heart room’ concept.

It wasn’t long before they had four small projects going, enough to keep Jason and another kid they’d lured away from Gates/Walsh busy in her living and dining rooms. Mia was a trouper putting up with them, but Kiki knew that they’d have to find new digs soon, and she started looking around. She threw herself into her work as she always did, devoting every free moment to it, and by example or inspiration, had gotten the others to work hard too. Mia tried to tell her to slow down, but she’d have none of it.

“Kiki, you have to make time for other things, it can’t be all work, all the time!”

“Other things don’t pay my mortgage, and it doesn’t help Peter pay his.”

“I don’t want you to be lonely.”

“I’m not! I’m around people all the time!”

“Yes, working!” She paused as if considering her next words. “Come to a movie with us.”

“Movie? I suppose I could handle a movie. Which one?”

“I don’t know, let’s decide when we go. Friday okay?” 

Friday came, and the trip to the movies became a bigger deal than Kiki had expected. Peter and Barb decided to come, and Jason, too. Kiki’s recommendations were rebuffed; she was told to relax and enjoy the ride, which ended up at a dilapidated old community theater with a marquee advertising “Les Miser”

“An abridged version of the musical?” Kiki giggled as the entered the theater. There was no one at the box office. “What is this? A theatrical production?”

“No, it’s a movie. Sit down.”

“No popcorn?”

“No popcorn. Kiki, stop it!” Mia took her by the shoulders and sat her down in a center row. The others took their seats and sat expectantly. The house lights went down and the screen began to flicker.

“What is this?” Kiki asked another time. When images of men mowing their perfect lawns appeared, she had an inkling. Then she heard a familiar baritone that reverberated through her.

“The American Dream. Perfect job. Perfect marriage. Perfect kids. And a perfect house in the suburbs. What is it about the house that makes the picture perfect?”

John Cougar’s “Little Pink Houses” began to play when the title scrolled into view:  ‘Starter Home.’

Kiki was enthralled from the start. Steve’s voice held her attention, but the stories he presented did too:  A second-generation immigrant family owning their first home; a couple in their thirties trying to keep up with the Jones’; an elderly couple who’d lived in the same house for forty-five years, and her. It was amazing how he wove them all together: everyone’s reasons for owning, for moving up or staying put. She gasped when he cut to her sitting on her parent’s back porch. The day they’d first kissed. She put her fingers to her lips, remembering how he felt. But the amazing part was seeing the transformation. Not the renovation, but how the empty shell became full. Full of people, the people she considered her family now. It made her sad that Steve was taking the pictures but wasn’t in them. That’s how it had to be, now.

The film ended with quick montage of all the stories, ending with her and Mia, painting side by side, then standing back to admire their work. Their hands were posed identically on their hips, and their heads were cocked the same way. Everyone laughed at the sight of two women, of different hue, but clearly from the same gene pool. Kiki felt Mia’s hand on her arm. She wiped a tear from her eye and covered her sister’s hand with hers.

When the lights came up, everyone stood and cheered; the bravos echoed in the near empty theater. Michael stepped to the front first, clapping as well.

“Wasn’t that great? Ah, not a dry eye in the house, very good!” He laughed, looking at Kiki and Mia who were both still wiping their eyes. He looked in the back and called out. “Steve, get your ass down here!” Scuffling noises clamored from the back, then Steve trotted down the aisle. Everyone cheered again. Steve grinned and bowed before turning to Kiki. Her heart skipped a beat, or two, and she grinned back.

“Hey, Kiki-cat. You came.”

“This was a surprise, but I’m so happy to have seen this. It’s fantastic, Steve.”

“You’ll sign the release then?” Michael interjected.

“Michael, Jesus, can’t you wait a minute! Let her gush a little more,” Steve added with a laugh.

“There’s lots to gush about, but I’m speechless.”

“We’re thinking of getting someone else for the narration. Someone with a little more name recognition.”

“No! It’s so personal with your voice! It’s your story, Steve.” Kiki wanted to say ‘and ours’ but she stopped herself.

The others agreed that his narration was perfect for the piece. Steve thanked everyone, and even though he spoke with them, his eyes still darted back to Kiki’s. “What are your plans for distribution?” Peter asked.

“If Kiki signs the release,” Michael said pointedly, “we can market to some of the cable networks, hit the festival circuit. Hope it gets juried somewhere. The hard work’s just beginning.”

“Just beginning?”

“Yeah, months.”

“Months?” Kiki repeated with some despair. It could be months before the Duncans’ hold on the project was loosened. There was no way she could stand in the way of Steve’s success.

“’Fraid so, Kiki-cat.” 

“Okay, I’ll sign.” Her mind raced. Were the Duncans’ following her? Would they know she was here, that she was talking to him? “But FedEx it to my house tomorrow, to have a record that it was delivered for signature.”

“Why? You can sign it here.”

“It’s more official if you have the delivery records.” 

Michael frowned but shrugged. “Okay, I don’t understand, but I’ll do that. Okay, everybody, who wants some champagne? I have it chilling in the lobby.”

Steve and Kiki had barely taken their eyes off other and she kept having to remind herself to breathe. “Wait, wait, I want you all here for this,” Steve said. He walked to the row in front of Kiki and took her hands in his. “I can’t believe you’re here.” Kiki nodded, her heart pounding too hard to answer. “I don’t know what happened that night at City Hall. Why you didn’t answer my phone calls or my emails? I know, I know, you said you had a lot to think about.” He paused to run his hands through his hair. “But I can’t move on, Kiki-cat. Not after waking up to your image every day, seeing your face the last thing before I’d go to bed. I almost didn’t want to finish editing this, isn’t that right, Michael?”

“It was a struggle, yeah.”

“Steve, I can’t listen…” She started to pull away but he held her tight.

“No, listen. Please. I don’t ever want to go to sleep not seeing your face. Kiki. I don’t want to go another day without you. Babe. Please.” He took one hand off, fumbled in his pocket, and pulled out a box, flipping open the hinged top with his thumb. “Marry me?”

Kiki gasped when she saw the ring. A small, round sapphire surrounded by small diamonds in an exquisite setting. “Oh it’s beautiful, Steve.” She wanted to reach for it, but held back.

“I found this in New York. I knew it had to be yours.”

“No, I can’t. I’m sorry. It’s not going to work.” She scurried into the aisle and called back. “Mia? Take me home?”

“You sure, Kiki?” Mia answered.

“I’m sure!” She walked toward the door, each step faster than the next.

“Kiki, will you stop running away and talk to me, for fuck’s sake!”

She stopped and slowly turned around. “I’m not changing my mind, Steve. You have a wonderful film there, and you need to see it through until the end; you never know when this chance will happen again. I’ll just ruin things.”

“How? How can you ruin it? None of this means anything without you, Kiki.”

“Don’t you get it? I’m not worthy. I’m selfish, stubborn, fickle, and too high maintenance. I’ll just hurt you. We had some fun, right? Maybe when it’s all over and you’re not with someone, and I’m not with someone, we can hook up, have some laughs again.” She couldn’t help it; she reached out to touch his face. “But that’s all we can ever have.” The look on his face was breaking her heart. “Mia? Go now?”

“Kiki, wait!” Steve jogged in front of them, walking backwards. “Take this anyway, for what we had.” He pushed the ring into her hand and stepped aside. Kiki didn’t know what to do and she squeezed the box tight into her fist. He looked incredulously at her, but let her go.

Kiki held her breath all the way to the car and waited for Mia to let her in. She’d shed so many tears about him, she didn’t think she had any left.

“Kiki, are you crazy?” Mia asked as they drove off.

“I can’t explain. I had to.”

“He loves you, Kiki.”

“And I love him too much to ruin his life. It’s for the best, you’ll see.”

“I don’t understand.” Kiki shook her head vigorously, ending the conversation. Mia looked at Ajay, who patted her on the shoulder. When they got home, Kiki went straight to her room. It was only then she allowed herself to look at the ring again. Beautiful. And he picked it out for her. With a choked-back sob, she put it on her dresser and rolled back over on the bed, pulling the pillow close to her. A pillow that would never turn into the man she loved.

The next morning, Kiki awoke to the sounds of lovemaking. Not, alas, to her own. “Those rascals,” she chuckled to herself when she realized where the noises came from. Not wanting to intrude on their privacy, she pulled on some sweats, tied back her hair and went for a vigorous walk around the neighborhood. When she returned, she stood at the end of the driveway, remembering how she stood in that very spot her that day she closed on the house. So much had happened since then. It was almost a surprise to see Ajay emerging from the front door, dressed and with his wet hair slicked back. She fought back the impulse to ask if he’d had fun.

“Kiki, do you have a moment?”

“Sure, what’s up?”

Ajay pointed to the front steps and they sat.  “I have a question for you, an important one.”

“Is there anything wrong?”

“No, no. It’s just, as Mia’s sister, I thought I should ask you.” Kiki cocked her head, trying to divine his meaning. “For her hand. I’m asking permission to marry her.”

“Ajay! How wonderful! But it’s not a question you should ask me, you should ask her.”

“I did, and she said yes, I just wanted your blessing, as her nearest relative.”

“Of course you have my blessing! When did this happen?”

“Last night. What Steve said about waking up every day . . . I feel the same about Mia.”

“I swear, that almost got me too,” she said with a sigh. Ajay wrapped his arm around her shoulder and she leaned against him.

“It’s not my place to ask this, Kiki, but why did you turn him down? You two, I’ve watched you for some time. We all have. It doesn’t make sense.”

“Not your place? You’re my friend; you’re going to be my brother-in-law. But . . . it’s complicated.”

“Complicated. He gave you a ring, Kiki; I think you owe him a better explanation than you did.”

“That’s what’s complicated, Ajay.” She hung her head.

“Keeping it to yourself may be making it more complicated than it need be.” Kiki shook her head again. “Okay, I’ve said my piece.”

She stood and stretched, looking a long time at the house again, thinking of all the effort that had gone to renovating it, all that had happened, making new friends, leaving old ones. It was time. “As much as I like having you around, it’s no way to start a marriage, living with your sister-in-law. You should have your own place.”

“I understand. We hadn’t talked about that yet.”

“Want to buy a house? I know one for sale.” She gestured toward the front door.

“This house? Kiki! We couldn’t buy your house.”

“Why not? This is more Mia’s house than mine, and God knows you’ve put a lot into it too. This is just a starter home, right? It’s time for the next project.”

“Your next project? You’re serious about that building downtown? Can I tell the Investment Trust people?”

“I’ve decided, yes. But right now, I’m going to go in and congratulate my sister.”

~*~

“Daddy, you okay?” Steve couldn’t hide his mood from his daughter. He was stunned by Kiki’s inexplicable rejection the night before.

“I’m just sad about something, Livvy. A weekend with you will cheer me right up.” He hoped so. Truth was, the hurt carved a hole in him he could literally feel. Peter had no explanation; Michael didn’t either. Steve was convinced she felt the same as he did; how did it get so twisted? His two friends played good and bad angel on his shoulder. Pete told him to give her more time, Michael told him to get a life. He didn’t want to give it any more time, nor did he want to give up, either. In the meantime? Little Olivia Green Thumb needed to harvest her carrots. They made their way to their plot at the community gardens, which was bustling on a sunny Saturday. The Community Garden Association had just secured an injunction against Duncan Development. Any construction would be months if not years away now, and the mood in the community was celebratory. A band was playing in one corner of the garden, and people were bartering their crops.

Olivia was happy too. Her carrots had come out big and bright orange. Steve made an attractive tableau of them in the basket they had brought and was busy snapping pictures for posterity. “These are the prettiest carrots I’ve ever seen, Livvy, and I’ve photographed the best,” he chuckled.

“They are lovely. A bumper crop! Congratulations, Olivia!”

“Kiki-cat!” Steve nearly fell over from his crouch when he heard his daughter cry out. He looked up and saw her, dressed in a t-shirt and jeans. The sunglasses and baseball cap made her almost unrecognizable. Almost. He’d recognize her form anywhere. Of course Livvy hadn’t been fooled either.

“Shh, Olivia, I’m traveling incognito.” 

“What brings you down here? And why disguised?” He tried to act cool, as if she hadn’t torn his heart out the night before.

“You know that building around the corner, the one for sale? Ajay’s bank has a group of investors interested, and we’ll design the renovations for an office for Baker+Parrish. And I was thinking a residence for myself on the top floor. I’ll be able to walk to work, like your Dad does, Olivia.”

“Why do you need a new place to live?”

“I’m selling the house.”

“You are? After all that?”

“To Mia and Ajay. It’s as much their place as it ever was mine.” Steve gave her a puzzled look. “They got engaged last night. Apparently, you inspired them,” she added with a wry chuckle.

“They weren’t the ones I wanted to inspire.”

“I know.” She sighed and knelt in front of Livvy. “Look at you, you’re growing so tall!”

“You want to be my neighbor then?” Steve said, the sarcasm not heavily veiled.

Kiki looked up at him, taking off her sunglasses. Jesus, that look again. Why did she look at him that way and say those things?

“Kiki, what’s that around your neck?”  Livvy reached out and touched her necklace, but Kiki tucked it back in her shirt. “I’m sorry.” Livvy replied, realizing she’d been rude.

Kiki looked at Olivia and back at Steve. “I’ll show you, but be very, very quiet.” She pulled on the chain and held whatever was on it in her hand. Steve couldn’t make it out.

“Why are you wearing it on a chain and not on your finger, Kiki? It’s so pretty.” Steve craned his neck, and not being able to see, fell to his knees with them. Kiki shyly showed it to him.

“Yeah, why isn’t it?” He grinned.

“A ring like this needs to be placed on a finger, that’s why.”

He thought his heart would burst with her words. “Why didn’t you let me do that last night? Can I do it now?” He offered his hand but she shook him off.

“When do you think you can distribute your film, Steve? I mean, so that your investors are out of it, get their money?”

“I don’t know. We think it’s good, but who knows what anyone wants? Six months? Two years? Why does that matter?”

She looked around again, as if someone was listening in, and then sucked in a breath. “The Duncans are your angels.”

“No, it’s some other dude. Arnold Merton. Don’t know much about him, but he keeps tabs on us.”

“Steve, Arnold Merton is one of the Duncans’ lawyers.”

“No shit? Jesus, why?”

“So they could shut your production down if I contacted you again. That’s why I’ve stayed away, Steve. I couldn’t let them do that to you.”

“Aw fu . . .,” he’d begun to swear but caught his daughter’s eye. “Fudge.”  He stood, running his fingers through his hair. “I told you, none of it means anything without you. If I’d have known, I would have dropped it immediately!”

“That’s exactly what I didn’t want to happen. It’s so brilliant, Steve. Can’t we wait it out? Sneak around them? We could find a way. Use untraceable cell phones, maybe Jason could work out some hacker thing and we could email each other. Meet in the middle of the night.”

“Why don’t you make up a second identity and have a second life with me?” He raised his eyebrow. “No cloak and dagger stuff, Kiki. I mean it. To hell with the film.”

“First of all, you don’t mean that. Not really. You’d just hate me for it eventually. And Michael? It’s his too.”

“Fuck,” Steve thought to himself. She was right. What could they do? He paced back and forth. They stood in silence, saying nothing, as their thoughts raced.

“Daddy? You gave Kiki a ring? Are you getting married?”

“Yes, baby, I did. I didn’t ask you first, did I?” He realized he probably didn’t handle this very well. He hadn’t spoken to Beth, either. He thought Kiki would say yes, and then they’d work out all the details. “But I don’t know if we’re getting married, yet.”

“Can I be flower girl if you do?”

Kiki giggled. “Would it be okay with you then?”

Livvy took her hand. “Mommy’s not alone any more, so Daddy shouldn’t be either.”

Kiki gave Steve a questioning look. “Gym teacher.” Steve said with a soft chuckle. “He’s an okay guy. Likes mowing lawns.” He knelt down to speak with his daughter. “It’s a little more complicated, Livvy.”

“Why? Isn’t America a free country?”

“In theory, honey.” He stood again. “Let me call Michael. Maybe he’ll have an idea.” He whipped out his phone to call his partner. He tried to keep calm as he explained about their backer, but it wasn’t easy.

“I can take the first offer that comes in, do you want that?” Steve sighed at Michael’s words. He didn’t want that. “Hell, man, I can’t stand to see you miserable. Just go to Reno, do the deed, before they can fuck you up. Then it’s down to whether they want to lose money or not. I guarantee I can make them think there are a lot of good offers to be had. Making money always trumps losing it.”

“Unless they want revenge.”

“Revenge? For what? So they had to cancel a little wedding. It was cheaper than her getting half his assets. She should have married him first. She did them a favor.”

“You have a point,” he laughed. Michael always knew how to spin things. “Okay. Reno it is.”

“Go for it, Steve. Good luck.” Steve was searching for the ‘end call’ button, but Michael spoke again. “Wait! Steve, I just remembered.”

“What?”

“That Hal Pembroke guy. He’s a notary! He can marry you, is he around?”

“A notary? I don’t know, you need a license, and it’s a Saturday.”

“No, he has a service – it might cost you a bit, but he’ll do the license and officiate. Saturdays too. Remember that crewmember we had who needed to get married in a rush that time? He used someone like that.”

“Hal Pembroke, really?” Steve craned his neck to see if he could find him. “He might be here, everybody’s celebrating the injunction.”

“If you can swing it, call me back, we’ll drop over.”

“Of course. Thanks, Michael. I owe you.”

“Yes you do,” Michael laughed. “Again.”

Steve hung up, still smiling. “What did he say about Hal Pembroke?” Kiki asked.

“He can marry us, today, if we can find him.” Steve started walking ahead.

“Marry? Today? Now wait a minute.”

Steve took her by the arms, and looked into her eyes imploringly. “What do you say? Let’s do it. It’ll take the wind out of their sails, won’t it?”

“Yes, but . . .”

“No buts! You know it would! Michael has a plan for the rest. We’ll make it work. C’mon, Kiki, you know you wanna.”

She exhaled sharply, her eyes darted around as if looking for someone. “Here? You think? Let me call Mia and Ajay.”

“Let me find Hal.” He trotted off into the garden while Kiki made her phone calls. He couldn’t find him, so he went to the musicians and asked to borrow their microphone. “Hal Pembroke, please report to the bandstand, it’s an emergency!” It went silent for a minute then erupted into a buzz as everyone tried to figure out what the emergency was. Steve made the same announcement a couple of times before Hal appeared.

“What’s the emergency?”

“I need to get married. Today.”

“In this day and age, young man, no one needs to get married. Call for an appointment on Monday.”

He turned to walk away, but Steve stopped him. “We need to get married before someone finds a way to stop us.”

“Forgive me for saying this, but that’s not a good reason to enter a union. Now it’s my first Saturday off in six months. I’m spending it with my family.”

“Hal, wait!” Steve trotted in front of him, and turned, walking backwards. “Even if it were the Duncans?”

“The Duncans? Trying to stop you from marrying? Why would they do that?”

“Because it’s Kiki, Katherine Parrish. Remember her?”

“Oh yes, lovely, talented young woman.” Hal looked him once over. “I heard a bit of business about her and the younger asshole.”

“Yes, now they’re trying to keep us apart. C’mon Hal, can you do it? It would really piss them off.”

“Now that I’d do on my day off. Fuckers. Paperwork’s in my office. I need to get there first. I’ll need ID, proof of dissolution if you’ve divorced within the last two years.”

“Oh, shit, it’s in my safety deposit box.”

“Then I’m sorry, I can’t help you.”

“I’ll get it, I’ll get it. What else?”

“Five hundred dollars, major credit cards accepted.”

“Five hundred?!”

“Did I mention it was my first Saturday off in six months?”

“Okay, okay, five hundred.” Steve pulled out his wallet and gave him a credit card. “Can we do this at the pergola?”

“Sure, in an hour. Be ready.”

Steve ran back to his plot. Kiki was helping Livvy put things away. “Okay, let me try again. Maybe I can do this properly now.” He fell to his knees and took Kiki’s hand. “Kiki? Would you marry me?”

“Yes,” she giggled. “I will. When?”

“In an hour? Have ID on you?”

“Do I have ID? How romantic!” She patted her pocket for her wallet. “It’s here. But Good Lord, I’m in jeans!” 

“You look beautiful, Kiki, just like that. I’ve done the tuxedo thing already.” Twice, he thought ruefully.  

“And I almost did the gown thing. I always thought it was wasteful to buy a dress you’d only wear once.”

“See? Do you want anyone else here? I have to make a couple calls.”

“Let me call Mia back. Jason! Peter!”

“Get on it, I’ve got calls too.” They pulled out their phones at the same time. Steve took a deep breath, wondering if Beth would do him a favor.

“Hey, Beth-baby, how you doing?”

“Okay, Steve, there’s only one reason you call me Beth-baby. You and Livvy need a ride somewhere?”

“No, I was wondering if you had some paperwork.”

“Paperwork?”

“The divorce papers. Mine’s in a deposit box, and I need it.”

“Sure, I’ll bring it when I pick up Livvy.”

“Could you bring it now?”

 

“Now? Why?”

“I’m getting married in an hour, if I have the paperwork. So can you?”

“Steve! To who? Why didn’t you tell me? Is she about to give birth or something? And where’s Livvy?” Steve hit his forehead, he really didn’t plan this well.

“Livvy’s here, Beth. She’s flower girl.”

“Flower girl? And you didn’t tell me?”

“We just decided five minutes ago. It’s Kiki, Beth, okay? Can you just bring it? I’ll explain when you get here.”

“Steve, you’re impossible!”

“I know. Do me this favor, Beth? Please?”

“I suppose you’ll want Livvy to come back with me, too?”

“Well . . .”

“Okay, with any luck you’ll be able to repay this favor soon. Be there in about forty minutes.”

He called Michael next, who teased him a little, but said he’d be there with his wife. When he closed the phone, he saw Livvy offer her carrots to Kiki. “Do you want to trade my carrots for some flowers?”

“You can’t trade those beauties. Let’s see what we can do. Will you excuse us, Steve?” Kiki put her arm around Olivia and they headed away from him, their heads together conspiratorially. Steve checked his watch. An hour. Less. What could he do? He approached the band playing on the south side and appealed to them to play a song or two. Michael and his wife showed up and volunteered to fetch champagne and sparkling cider. Paper cups would have to do in a pinch. Mia and Ajay came next. Mia hugged Steve tight but then ran off to help with whatever Kiki was up to, leaving Ajay, who kept grinning and shaking Steve’s hand. Pete and Barb were there shortly thereafter, followed by Jason and his new girlfriend. It wasn’t long before the whole garden guessed something was up; groups began to gather around the central pergola.

Beth and Bob Wilder came with five minutes to spare. “I never thought I’d come to your wedding, Steve,” Beth said with a chuckle. “But she must be something special for you to do something so crazy.”

“She is, Beth, thanks.” He kissed her on the cheek and shook Bob’s hand. “Although I don’t know where she is, now, and here’s Hal Pembroke!”

“I have Katherine’s ID; she stopped me on the way in. Do you have yours?” He looked over Steve’s documents and sat down to finish what he had to. “All right, let’s get this started. Are you ready?”

“I am when she gets here.” Steve looked over the gathering crowd.

“I’m to signal her. Are you ready?”

“Yes.” His heart started pounding in his chest. This was happening, at last. He nodded to the band. They started playing and he looked expectantly up the garden row. There was his beaming little girl, a wreath of flowers around her head, holding a bouquet of carrots and daisies. Fighting the urge to giggle he looked up to see another sight, one that took his breath away. There was Kiki, looking straight at him, walking up the aisle escorted by her sister. She had a wreath of flowers on her head like Livvy did, and she was holding a small bouquet of daisies interspersed with red runner beans still on the vine. Mia handed Kiki’s hand to Steve.

“Be good to her.”

He nodded and Kiki stood next to him, still smiling. “Scarborough Fair?”

“Didn’t want the ‘Wedding March’. I like your bouquet. Is that our dinner salad?”

“No. I’m throwing it away later, remember?”

Hal Pembroke cleared his throat. “Let’s get started, you two. Ladies and Gentlemen, we are gathered…”

“Wait! Steve, we haven’t talked about anything!”

“Like what?”

“We haven’t talked about kids, where we’re going to live. How we’re going to be!”

“Okay. Kids. If you want them, I’m there. If not. I’m there too. And we can live anywhere as long as the only gardening I need to do is here.”

“Okay,” she said with a smile. “I’m not changing my name.”

“I don’t want you to. I’m not learning to drive.”

“Oh God, no, please don’t. I’ll never go to bed angry.”

He shook his head. “I can’t promise that, but I promise that as long as you’re with me, I’ll never wake up angry.”

“I can live with that.”

“We’ll work the rest out later, babe.” Kiki breathed in deeply and nodded her head.

The notary rolled his eyes and shuffled his papers. “Good, we can start now? Fellow Santa Monicans, we gather…”

“Wait! I haven’t told you I love you, Steve.”

“Yes you have, Kiki-cat.”

“Not in so many words.”

“Now would be the time for that, Miss Parrish.”

Kiki took Steve’s hands and kissed them. “I love you, Steve. I think I have from the first day we met. I think I even know the moment.”

“Yeah? When was that?”

She looked around, her face turning pink. “I’ll tell you later.”

“Okay, that’s settled. Now?”

“Now.” Steve and Kiki spoke in unison, then giggled.

“As I was saying, we’re gathered to witness the marriage between Katherine Parrish and Steven Morrison. If there’s anyone who knows a reason why these two people cannot be joined please speak now, or forever hold your peace.” Steve didn’t take his eyes off her. Kiki looked nervously around and squeezed his hands tighter. “There being no objection, let me move to the vows.”

“No.”

“Steve?”

“Not the canned ones. Kiki?” He took a step closer to her. “You and me. Nothing’s gonna stop us from being together ever again. Sickness, health, all that shit. Whatever. It’ll be us, okay?” Kiki smiled. Damn, he should have prepared this, he sounded like an idiot. She pressed his fingers to her lips. Her soft, soft lips.

“It’s forever this time.”

“Forever.”

They looked at each other, letting the word hang between them, letting the weight of it sink in.

“Yes.” They said, together.

“That’ll do. Are you exchanging rings?”

Kiki slipped the necklace over her head and handed Steve the ring. He saw her eyes brim with tears as he placed it on her finger. It looked as perfect as he’d imagined it.

“I don’t have one for you!” She whispered desperately.

“We’ll take care of it later, babe, don’t worry.”

“No, wait!”

“Again with the waiting?” Pembroke was sure cranky for a guy who performed weddings.

Kiki reached into her jeans pocket and pulled out a pen. “I’ll draw one on!”  Grabbing Steve’s left hand she quickly drew an intricate weaved pattern around his ring finger.

“Wow.”

“You like?”

“I do.”

“Finally, an ‘I do’! By the powers vested in me by the State of California, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride. Or wait, if you want.”

There was no waiting this time, and they shared a quick public peck. No, that wouldn’t do. She put her hands to his face and pulled him close, and the band began to play the song they recommended. Yes, that was it, he’d hungered for her touch a long, lonely time, and now he could touch her forever. Their tongues entwined in the way only theirs could, and their arms wrapped around each other. He wanted to make their clothes disappear, taste and touch the rest of her, hear her little gasp as he sunk into her and breathe in her sighs as she came in his arms.

“Excuse me, that’s enough, you two.”

“Oh!” Kiki broke away from Steve, giggling shyly. “I’m sorry, it’s been a while.”

“That part of the ceremony is best left private, I think. Congratulations.” He smiled, at last, and offered his hand. Steve shook it and Kiki hugged him. “All right, don’t make me feel bad for taking money for this.” He stepped back and held out his arms to present the couple to the crowd. It was then Steve noticed the cheering.

Livvy ran up first to hug them both around the legs. Steve swept her up into his arms to kiss her, then Livvy reached for his lovely bride, too. He couldn’t keep the grin off his face. The rest of their friends quickly surrounded them for congratulations and kisses.

“Wait, I need to toss the bouquet!” Kiki took her flowers from Mia and stood back up on the small platform. “Ready, everyone?” She untied the bean plant from around the daisies and tossed it behind her, spreading flowers not just to one lucky person, but to whoever reached up. “Why shouldn’t everybody be next?” she said with a grin. The rest of the afternoon was a blur for them both. How did it turn into a party? The band continued playing; the champagne and cider held out for most to get a cup. A local shop saw the goings on and pulled in a cart to serve Italian ice to the crowd.

After dancing a little and accepting congratulations from his neighbors, Steve started looking for a graceful way to exit. The few kisses and caresses he was able to snag were not enough. It was with relief that Beth announced that she was taking Livvy home.

“She’s on cloud nine, Steve. I hope if I ever get married again she’ll be as happy.”

“She will be, Beth, she’s a special kid. You okay? Sorry for the surprise.”

“Michael explained it to me,” she said with a chuckle. “You’ll have your hands full, but I think you like it that way.”

“Have a happy honeymoon, Daddy,” Livvy said in her sunny voice. “What is it, a trip?”

“Of a sort,” Steve chuckled. “Thanks, baby. You’ll stay with us next weekend, okay?” He squeezed her tight and kissed his special girl. Kiki came over and said her goodbyes as well.

After watching Olivia, Beth and Bob disappear into the garden, Kiki wrapped her arms around his waist. They kissed again to the hoots and hollers of those nearby. “Think we can go now?”

“Yes. Let’s get our stuff.” It wasn’t easy to extricate themselves from the final goodbyes, but they did, carrying the bags of gifts that had been showered on them. 

“Now we have dinner,” Kiki chuckled as they put the bags down at his front door. “What are we going to do with all this zucchini?” 

Steve peered into one of the bags. “This would make a nice display, actually, with you, naked, in the middle.” 

“Do you have a kinky side I don’t know about?”

“Could be.” He waggled his brows at her as he unlocked the door. “Now wait here, I’m carrying you in.” She giggled and stood in place as he took the bags in.

Five minutes later, she was still standing outside. “I’m still out here!”

“Just putting the food away, be right there.”

“Putting the food away? Steve!”

“I’m here, I’m here.” He trotted back to the front door. “There’s my bride.” Kiki giggled at the words. “You said not to call you ‘Mrs’.”   He swept her into his arms, rocking her back and forth. “Did my bride have the wedding of her dreams?”

“Yes! Not a mushroom cap, ice sculpture, or goody bag in sight. It was perfect!”

“It had you, that’s what made it perfect for me.” Kiki giggled and held up a flower she’d pulled from Steve’s hair. ”Why do people throw things at the bride and groom?”

“Be thankful it wasn’t the vegetables.”

“I am. Flowers are better than most things.” They kissed and sighed together when they released. “Honeymoon time, Kiki-cat.”

“Finally.” He carried her over the threshold and into the bedroom, where they began to kiss again. “Love the way you kiss me,” she sighed.

“Love the way you kiss back.” He placed her on the bed. “Right where you belong.” He drew his hand up her leg, over her shirt, to her cheek, into her hair. He covered her with his body and breathed her in deeply. “Hmmm, you smell good.” She giggled and grinned broadly. “What’s so funny?”

“You said ‘hmmmm’. I love your ‘hmmmm’.”

“Hmmmm, do you now? When do I hmmmm?” 

“The first day we met. You said it into my ear. Over the phone.” She giggled again at the memory. “I guess it’s safe to say it did me in then and it does me in now.”

“I wish I’d known earlier.”

“I wish I’d listened to my heart earlier. We’ve wasted so much time.”

“Hush,” he put his finger to her lips. “Let’s not waste any more.” He tugged at her t-shirt, and pushed it high, his hand sliding over her belly. “Mhmmm, Kiki-cat skin.” He moved a little higher. “Kiki-cat tits. Beautiful.” He reached around her back to release the clasp of her bra. One taste of her tender nipples and he had to possess her all. He peeled off the rest of her things and began to touch. Feet, calves, thighs. Her soft sighs spurred him. Bum, hips, little tiny belly. She writhed beneath him. Breasts, neck, up to her plump lips that were waiting for him.

“Steve, baby, I love you,” she said softly into his ear. “Such a relief to be able to tell you, now.”

“Don’t stop telling me, then.” She held out her arms to him and brought him back to her breasts. He kissed and nibbled at them, smiling as she arched her back and moaned his name. “Gotta be inside you, love being inside you.”

“Yes, oh yes.” He lifted her thigh and she wrapped her leg around his waist pulling him into her. She said everything she’d wanted to say to him, but for every tender word she spoke, he replied tenfold with a touch, a gesture, and look. The tears started with her climax, and flowed stronger when he released into her, his passionate murmurs filling her ears.

Kiki held him tight, not letting him lift from her. “Husband and wife,” she sighed.

“Consummated,” he said, smiling and kissing up her neck. He lifted up and brushed the hair from her face. “Best thing is, you don’t have to rush off anywhere; you’ll be living with me, now.” He rolled to his back and pulled her to his shoulder.

She grew thoughtful and drew circles on his chest with his fingers. Steve picked up her hand and kissed her ring. “I love the ring, Steve. I hope you didn’t spend too much on it. We haven’t talked about money, either.”

“I’m far from the Duncan’s league, but I’m doing okay. I live simply, after all,” he added with a chuckle. “Besides…” he shifted in bed, bringing them to a sitting up position against the headboard. “It may not be real. I was planning to have one made just like it if it’s not.”

“No!  This is the one you gave me. This is what I’m wearing. It’s perfect!”

“Even if it turns your finger green?”

“If it does I’ll put nail polish on the inside. Besides, all you got is a Sharpie Ring!”

“Which I love.”

“How about we get one made like it?”

“Okay, but until then I want you to re-draw it every day.”

“You got it!” She nestled onto his shoulder again and looked around the room. “I guess my stuff needs to go back in storage.”

“We can move.”

“I really like that space I saw today, but it would be at least a year before it could be ready,” she sighed.

“We’ll manage, Kiki-cat.”

“Sure we will.” She didn’t sound convinced; he had to change the mood.

“Someone slipped us a bottle of champagne among the veggies. Let me go get it. This is our honeymoon after all.”

He climbed out of his bed, tugged on his boxers and padded to the kitchen.  The champagne alone seemed a meager offering, so he pulled together some snacks from the kitchen. He worried that she was having second thoughts. She was used to finer things, larger digs. Fuck, they hadn’t even gone to a hotel for their wedding night. He should have taken her to a hotel. Maybe she would bolt the first chance she got. Steve was getting more and more agitated as he placed the items on a tray. He had to keep her from having second thoughts!

When he entered the room again, she wasn’t in the bed, nor was she in sight in the room. She’d left him already!

Then he heard the humming coming from the walk-in closet.

“Kiki? You in there?” She walked out, dressed in one of his t-shirts. “You surprised me, what are you doing?” 

Her lips curled up coyly, and she crooked her finger at him. “Come look,” she giggled. Steve put the tray down on the bureau and followed.  She’d pushed his clothes aside and had hung up her jeans and shirt. She pointed to her shoes on the floor, next to his.

“What is this?”

“I’ve moved in.” 

He stepped in quickly to pick her up in his arms again. “You had me worried for a minute.”

“I did have a moment,” she admitted, “when I heard that inner voice asking me if this was a good idea.” 

Steve sucked in a breath. “And?”

“I answered myself.”  She smiled, laughed, and put her arms around his neck to kiss him. Steve swirled her around then placed her on the bed, grinning down at her beaming face.

“What did you answer?” He knew. But he wanted to hear it.

“I’m home.”

THE END

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