PART 3
"Well?" Nick inquired when Jo finally emerged from the boys' room.
She frowned. "Meg and I have cleaned everything up, but I can't figure out what's wrong with him. I… Nick, I think maybe we should get Dr. Pierce."
"I'll go," he offered.
Jo looked like she wanted to cry. "Oh, Nick! I-"
"It's alright," he insisted. "I'll hurry, and the night ain't over yet."
Jo kissed him and then returned to the sick room.
Nick sighed. "I always heard ya don't get much sleep on your weddin' night," he said to himself as he went down the stairs, "but this sure ain't what I had in mind!"
Nick was yawning loudly when the door to the boys' room finally opened. "What does Dr. Pierce think?"
Jo sighed. "He's not sure. He thinks it may just be something Tommy ate, but he's giving him a full examination now."
"Jo…" Nick began, seeing how tired and upset she was. "We don't hafta leave tomorrow if Tommy's sick. We could find a later-"
"No. No." Jo insisted, wrapping her arms around his waist. "I appreciate that, but it's unnecessary. If Tommy's really sick Meg can just send him home until he's better. I want to leave with you tomorrow, just like we planned."
"Wouldn't be the first plans to be messed up…"
"Oh Nick!" she cried, leaning her head on his chest. "I'm so sorry. I wanted everything about today to be perfect. Especially tonight."
"It is perfect," he insisted.
She smiled. "You're just being sweet. I know this isn't how you pictured your wedding night."
"It's exactly how I wanted it," he said seriously.
"Now you're lying."
"No, I ain't," he persisted, turning her head to look into her eyes. "We're married, and we got a lifetime of nights ahead of us to be together. That seems pretty perfect to me."
Jo's heart melted. "Thank you," she said softly, hugging him tight.
The door opened again, and Dr. Pierce appeared. "I can't find anything wrong with him, Mrs. Bhaer--Excuse me, it's Mrs. Riley now, isn't it?"
Jo smiled at Nick. "Yes, it is."
"I believe it must just be something he ate-"
"Or maybe how much he ate," Nick put in, remembering Tommy's plate at the wedding dinner.
"Yes," agreed Dr. Pierce, "but if he's not better in the morning you should send for me."
"I'll be sure to tell Meg," Jo promised.
"I'll take Dr. Pierce home," Nick said, starting for the stairs.
"I'll be waiting," Jo called after him.
Nick bounded up the stairway as quietly as possible. Poking his head into the boys' room, he found Meg, not Jo, at Tommy's bedside.
"Where's Jo?" he whispered loudly.
Meg smiled. "She's waiting for you in her room."
Nick grinned. "G'night!" he blurted, shutting the door without waiting for a reply.
He opened the bedroom door slowly. "Jo?" By the candlelight he could see her in her nightdress, reading in bed. "I'm back," he announced softly, but she didn't respond. He walked to her side, and his heart sunk when he realized she'd fallen asleep! "Jo!" he whispered, shaking her gently. But she barely stirred. Though he desperately wanted to wake her, he knew how hard she'd been pushing herself to put this wedding together, and he just couldn't bring himself to do it. She looked so beautiful when she was asleep. "Perfect," Nick muttered to himself.
Nick slid quietly into bed beside his bride, trying not to wake her, but half hoping she'd wake up on her own. He held his breath as she stirred, but she merely rolled over on top of him and continued sleeping. Nick looked down at her head resting on his chest, held her in his arms, and thought about how long he'd wished for moments like this. Suddenly, his wedding night seemed pretty perfect after all.
HOME
