Danielle Steel - Wings

“Oh…” She hadn't thought of it, but he was right. And they couldn't be married in the church if he was divorced. She wondered if her parents would mind terribly, though her parents had never been very religious. “What are you, by the way?” she asked innocently. She had never even thought to ask him. “I'm Catholic.”

He smiled. She was still a child sometimes, and he loved that. “I suspected that. I'm Episcopalian. But I think a nice friendly judge would do just fine, don't you?” Feeling herself swept away on his tides, she nodded. “And you'll need a beautiful dress… I'd say, something short but very elegant, in white satin. And a hat with a small veil. It's a shame we can't order something from Paris…” Hats from Paris, fifteen-carat rings… marriage to Desmond Williams on Valentine's Day. Suddenly she was staring at him, wondering if she had dreamed it all, but she hadn't. He was sitting there, talking about white dresses and hats with veils, and she was wearing the biggest diamond she had ever seen, as she looked up at him, and tears filled her eyes. She looked like a child as she sat there beside him.

“Desmond, tell me I'm not dreaming.”

“You're not dreaming, my love. And we are engaged. And very soon, you'll be married to me, for better or worse, forever.” He looked ecstatic and triumphant.

“Do you want to get married here?” she asked quietly, leaning against him. It was too much to absorb, she almost felt weak looking at him, and suddenly she realized more than she ever had before, how powerful he was, and how handsome. He had a quiet sexuality that he kept in control at all times, but now she could sense his nearness to her, and his interest. He hadn't stopped kissing her since he'd proposed, and she was almost feeling dizzy.

“I think we should get married here. It's not as though we can have a church wedding in Illinois, Cass. I think this is simpler, more discreet, and requires fewer explanations.”

“I guess you're right. I hope my parents come.”

“Of course they will We'll fly them out for it. They can stay at the Beverly Wilshire.”

“My mother will die.” She grinned.

“I hope not.” And then he took her in his arms again, and forgot all the arrangements. She was so young, so sweet, so pure, he almost felt guilty kissing her, and there was so much more he wanted now. But it was still too soon, and he knew it.

He seemed to have to force himself to leave that night, and he called her the moment he got home, and then again, as he always did, at three-thirty the next morning. They chatted like old friends, and it was exciting knowing that soon she would be his wife, and she would share his life forever. And together, they decided not to tell anyone, until she had told her parents. They both knew that the entire country would be very excited.

He took her to the airport himself and as usual, she had checked out a plane to fly home. But this time, he told her repeatedly to be careful.

“It hasn't affected my brain, you know. Or maybe it has,” She grinned, kissing him again. She noticed one of the ground crew watching them and smiling. “It'll be all over the papers if you don't watch out.”

“Something more dramatic might end up in the papers, if you don't hurry up and marry me soon, Miss O'Malley.”

“You only asked me last night! Give me a chance to get a dress and some shoes for heaven's sake. You don't expect me to get married in my uniform, do you?”

“I might. Or less. Maybe I should have come to Illinois with you.” But he was only teasing. She knew he had too much to do to go anywhere, with all the plans for the Pacific tour. But she was still sorry he wasn't going.

“My parents are going to be disappointed that you didn't,” she said sincerely. Especially when they heard the news. She still couldn't believe it herself, even when she saw his ring on her finger. And she would never forget how sweet he'd been when he'd asked her.

“Fly safely, my love,” he warned her again, and a few minutes later he left the plane, and waved as he watched her from the runway. She took off easily, and the flight was smooth. She had plenty of time to think of him, and Nick, along the way. Her heart still ached for him, but he had made his choice, so had she. They both had to move on now.

The flight to Good Hope took exactly seven hours. She landed at dinnertime and the first person she saw at the airport was Billy.

“Ready to come to California with me next week?” she asked, but she didn't need to. He was ready to leave that night. For weeks now, it was all he could think of. And then as she signed her log, he noticed her ring, and stared down at it in amazement.

“What's that ? A flying saucer?”

“More or less.” She grinned up at him, feeling awkward suddenly. But she'd have to tell him sooner or later. “Actually, it's my engagement ring. Desmond and I got engaged last night”

“You did? “ He stared at her in disbelief, knowing that was impossible. Or was it? “What about Nick?”

“What about Nick?” she asked coolly.

“Okay… sorry I asked… but does he know? Did you tell him?” She shook her head in answer. “Are you going to? Did you write him?”

“He doesn't write to me,” she said unhappily. Why was Billy trying to make her feel guilty? “He'll find out sooner or later.”

“Yeah I guess,” Billy said, confused by what she'd done. Ever since he'd met them, he had known how much she and Nick loved each other. “He's going to be very upset, isn't he?” Billy said quietly and she nodded, fighting back tears. But she had made her decision, and she couldn't let Desmond down now. He wanted her to be his wife. Nick didn't. He had said so. But still, being back home made Nick all the more real, which only made it harder for her.

“I can't help Nick's being upset,” she told Billy quietly. “He didn't want any ties to me when he left. He said he wanted me to marry someone else.” She looked at him sadly.

“I hope he meant it,” Billy said softly, and drove her home to her parents. Everyone was there waiting for her, and it was only a matter of moments before one of her sisters let out a scream, pointing at her finger.

“Oh, my God, what is it?” Megan asked, and Glynnis and Colleen pointed it out to their mother, who was playing with the children.

“I think it's a light bulb,” Colleen's husband explained.

“I think it must be,” Megan teased, as her parents exchanged a look. Cassie hadn't said anything when she called them.

“It's my engagement ring,” Cassie said calmly.

“I figured that much out,” Glynnis said. “Who's the lucky guy? Alfred Vanderbilt? Who is it?”

“Desmond Williams.” Almost as soon as she said his name, as though on cue, the phone rang. It was Desmond. “I just told them,” she explained. “My sisters went into shock when they saw my ring.”

“What did your parents say?”

“They haven't had a chance to say anything yet.”

“May I speak to your father, Cassie?” Desmond asked gently, and she passed the phone to him, and after that, Desmond talked to her mother. Her sisters were all going wild by then, and her brothers-in-law were teasing her. She had just told them she was getting married in Los Angeles on Valentine's Day, and Desmond was going to fly her patents out for the wedding.

Her parents had come back from the phone by then. Her mother was crying softly, which she did a lot these days, and she hugged Cassie close to her. “He sounds like such a nice man. He promised me he'd always take care of you like a little girl,” She kissed Cassie then, and Pat seemed pleased as well. The man had said all the right things to him. But when he was alone with his daughter that night, he asked her some questions, and he wanted to hear her answers.