Scrapbook

Our Wedding Day May 22, 1985We posed for this picture at the top of the Naval Academy Chapel steps, and a second one, with a kiss, underneath the arch of swords.Then one more at the bottom of the steps, with Mack's friends in a double row behind us, swords still raisedsix handsome men wearing brilliant white.In Celia's opinion,her new husband outshone them all. The highcollared dress uniform dramatized Mack's dark brown hair, bright blue eyes and tanned skin. Standing next to her groom, she felt like a sparrow perched beside an eagle.A pregnant sparrow. She'd broken the news six weeks ago, while they'd waited for pizza during their usual Saturday night date. Mack had stared at her as if she'd sprouted two heads. "You're...pregnant?" Celia nodded."The baby's due in November.Around Thanksgiving." "But..." He raked a hand through his hair, and the diamond in his USNA class ring flashed fire under the restaurant lights."Are you sure...?" Why wouldn't he hope she was mistaken? She had, herself, until the third testlike the first twocame up positive."Yes, I'm sure." Mack looked at his hands,pressed flat on the tabletop. His cheeks flushed red under his tan."But...how could this happen? I mean, we used" "Shh!" She glanced at the crowded tables around them."I don't know how it happened.I guess something went wrong." He snorted and shook his head."You can say that again." Aggravation was not the reaction she'd hoped for. "Forget I said anything." She surged out of her chair. "I'm sorry I bothered you. Have a nice life." "Celia" Mack grabbed for her hand. She jerked away, feeling her clammy skin slide against his.With her arms wrapped across her churning stomach, she stumbled across the room, reaching the exit just as the door opened from outside. The newcomer barreled in, stepping on Celia's foot and knocking her sideways in the process. She knew an instant of fear before her knees buckled and the world mercifully went black. Mack arrived in time to keep the unconscious Celia from hitting the floor. She wilted against him, practically weightless. "I called 911."Timmy, the owner of the place, used two fingers to brush a honeygold curl out of Celia's pale face."Should be here in five minutes." "She's already coming around,"Mack said.Her forehead creased,and she lifted a defensive hand to ward off...what? Timmy clicked his tongue. "You oughta get her checked out. I don't want to get sued." "You won't get sued."Looking down again,he saw her long,dark lashes flutter."Celia? Celia,it's okay.I've got you." At the sound of his voice, she opened her brown eyes wide. Panic flooded into her face, and her body stiffened in his hold. "Shh, shh." Mack rested her weight on his knee and cupped her cheek with his free hand."Relax, honey. I'm going to take care of you. I'll take care of everything. I promise." "Pput me down," she whispered. "I want to go hhome." He couldn't let her go, not until they'd had a chance to talk."Let's get you checked out by a doctor first.The ambulance is right outside." Red lights flashed through the narrow windows on either side of the door. "No." She clutched at the front of his shirt. "Please, Mack, no..." Despite her protests, the EMTs strapped Celia to a gurney and locked her inside the back of their truck. Mack paid for the pizza they hadn't touched, took the pie with him and drove to the hospital, cursing himself and praying for a chance to make things right. He just hadn't gotten around to considering the specifics of getting married,that was all.Only six weeks from finishing his last year at the Academy, he was thinking about taking exams, about interviews for flight school, about graduation.he'd assumed his futurKent, Lynnette is the author of 'Scrapbook ', published 2007 under ISBN 9780373654116 and ISBN 0373654111.