“I agree with everything you said. I’m not used to sharing my decisions with someone else, and I’ve always kind of left everything up to everyone around me. I know that all needs to change and it will, I promise you. It may take me time adjusting to it, but I swear to you I’ll never put you in a situation like I did today.” With a smile that had my knees wobbling, he whispered, “It’s you and me now.”
The smile on my face grew as his words settled into my mind. “You and me always.”
When he slowly lowered me to the bed, I let every worry slip away. “I’m going to make love to you, Paislie.”
I couldn’t help the smile that spread across my face. There was nothing better than being lost in Malcolm.
“ARE YOU NERVOUS?”
Glancing over to Paislie, I smiled. “No. Should I be?”
She gave me a sweet grin in return. “I don’t think so. Even though Elizabeth is like my mother, and father, and sister, and best friend all rolled into one.”
My heart sank. “Okay, now I’m nervous. Do I earn any extra points for being raised Catholic?”
She chuckled and squeezed my hand. “Nope, but I’m sure she is pleased about that.”
“She’s not going to ask me to recite anything, is she? Paislie, I haven’t stepped foot in a catholic church in a number of years. Even then I always had headphones on.”
Shaking her head, she looked forward. “There, pull over and park in front of that store. The restaurant isn’t too far from here.”
I did as she said and parked her car. We got out and walked hand in hand down the busy street. I’d already been by St. Patrick’s and talked to the bishop. The wedding date was set for six months out and he had insisted Paislie have a wedding with a mass. Memories of my cousin Jenn’s wedding flashed through my mind. I’d never tell Paislie, but I got up thirty minutes into the ceremony and left.
When she stopped walking and took both my hands in hers, I knew she was nervous. “Are you sure you want a catholic wedding?”
It was as if she had been reading my mind. “What would you like, babe?”
Her eyes fell to the ground as she kicked at a pretend rock. “I’ve always wanted a traditional wedding, but if you want something simple, we can do that too.”
Pulling her to me, I gently kissed her on the lips. “I want what you want, baby. I’m in this for the long haul.”
Her eyes lit up and I knew there wasn’t anything I wouldn’t do for her.
“Paislie, there isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for you to make you happy.”
“I love you so much,” she whispered. “You ready?”
Taking in a deep breath, I nodded. “Ready.”
The moment we walked into the restaurant, I searched for a nun. When Paislie said, “There she is!” I looked in the direction she was facing.
“Where?” I asked as I followed her. A slightly older woman stood and smiled warmly at us. “Is that her?”
“Yep!” she said as she wrapped the woman in her arms. “Elizabeth, I’ve missed you so.”
I couldn’t believe my eyes. The woman standing before me was beautiful. She was dressed in a simple black dress with a belt that wrapped around her waist, showing her figure. Her blue eyes took in Paislie with so much happiness, I could practically feel the love she had pouring out of her. Her hair was in a sleek ponytail and she wore very little if any makeup.
“Elizabeth, I’d like for you to meet Malcolm. Malcolm, this is Sister Elizabeth, but you can call her Elizabeth.”
“Sister, I mean, Elizabeth. I um . . . well you’re not what I expected.”
Her brows rose as she tilted her head. “Pray tell what were you expecting?”
I motioned with my hands to look at her. “Not this. A habit, an older woman who was grumpy looking.”
Paislie playfully hit my chest as she motioned for us to all sit down.
“Mr. Wallace, how long has it been since you have been to the church or spoken with a nun?”
My face burned as I sat. “Please, call me Malcolm. To be honest I couldn’t tell you the last time I actually talked to a nun. Probably while taking my catechism classes. Sister Margret was old and grumpy. Had I had a teacher such as you, I might have kept going to church.”
“Malcolm!” Paislie said with a look of horror on her face. Elizabeth laughed and told Paislie to loosen up some.
“It’s okay, I’m rather flattered, Mr . . . I mean . . . Malcolm.”
“So, when did you become a nun?”
“I was about sixteen when I felt the calling.”
I about choked on my own spit. “Wow.”
“I get that response a lot.”
Paislie cleared her throat and said, “We just met with Bishop Mark. I requested Father Tim for the wedding.
Elizabeth forced a smile and moved about in her seat. “I’m sure he would be honored to perform the sacrament.”
Paislie grinned from ear to ear. “He is very happy to do so; he said so himself when we asked him.”
“He was there? I thought he was on his trip.”
Something moved across Elizabeth’s face, and if I didn’t know any better, I’d say Elizabeth had feelings for Father Tim.
No way.
“He must have come back early because he was in the bishop’s office,” Paislie said. I could tell by the look on her face, she had the same thoughts I had.
Clearing her throat, Elizabeth picked up the menu and looked over it. “This is my favorite place to eat, Malcolm. They have the best lasagna in all of Dallas.”