A Bride for Adam

Manny said he’s having trouble with one of his instruments.”
Greta cringed. “I hope it’s nothing serious.”
Tully took the plate from Greta’s hand. “This might be a good time for you to take him a sandwich and a drink.” He placed a sandwich on the plate and filled a cup with coffee. “Here.” He held them out to her.
Greta took them and walked up to the deck to find Adam bent over a metal gadget, looking frustrated. He didn’t look up as she approached. “I’ve brought you up some lunch,” she said, startling him.
He gave the gadget a disgusted wave and gave her a smile. “How thoughtful. Thank you.”
Greta feared how he might answer her next question: “Is it an instrument we need to get home?”
Adam took a bite of his sandwich and then a drink of his coffee. “Every instrument is needed, but never fear: I’ll get us home.” He pointed up at the sails. “We have another strong wind day ahead of us and we’re moving quickly along.”
Greta watched him finish his sandwich and coffee before making another bold move, reaching out to squeeze his hand resting on the broken gadget. “I want you to know that I appreciate everything you’re doing to get us home.”
Adam looked at her hand as it rested on his, and he gave her one of his heart-throbbing smiles, the kind that made his eyes sparkle.
He flipped his hand over and squeezed. “I want to get home as quickly as you do.”
Emboldened by his reaction, she asked, “Will you be satisfied staying home?”
Adam brought her hand to his lips and kissed it. “I’ll be happy at home as long I get to keep my family.”
Greta was about to ask him if it was just because of his promise to Seth, but Adam spoke first. “Can we talk about this later? I have to get this sextant fixed before dark.” Adam turned back to his instrument.
Greta picked up his plate and cup. “I’ll see you at supper, then.”
Adam looked up. “Let’s have our supper in the cabin so we can talk. I don’t mean to cut you short, but I’m frustrated over this broken instrument.”

Chapter Fourteen
Adam went into the cabin to see that Greta had set up their dinner. They took seats across from each other at the desk and exchanged smiles.
“Hmm,” Adam said. “This stew is delicious. Did you make it?”
Greta nodded. “With Tully’s help. He’s taught me so much that I think I want to cook my own meals when I get home.”
When they’d finished their meal, Adam stood and said, “All right, what did you want to talk about? Can we sit on the bed? I’d like to be closer to you when we talk than across a desk.”
Greta smiled. “All right.” She sat on the bed, and he sat beside her.
Greta fiddled nervously with the folds of her skirt before asking, “Why did you contest the annulment?”
Adam shrugged. “Because I didn’t want it.”
“But why?”
“Because I’d made a promise to Seth, telling him I’d take care of his family. I’d planned to keep that promise, but now I realize that you and I have a partnership in the horse breeding business, and I don’t need to be married to you to carry out that promise.”
“So, you’re all right with the annulment now? You’ll cancel the annulment challenge?”
Adam rubbed the back of his neck as if thinking, and then he sighed. “Only if that’s what you truly want.”
“I want it for one reason: a marriage needs more to hold it together than a promise to your brother.”
“I agree,” Adam said. “I was wrong to assume I could marry without the main ingredient.” He was afraid to say the word, love. If she didn’t feel the same, it would ruin everything.
To his dismay, Greta asked the question he didn’t want to answer.
“What, in your opinion, is the main ingredient?”
He looked at her and tried to think of what to say next. She smiled and squeezed his hand. Was she showing him that she felt the same? Should he say the word? She looked so fetching, sitting there with wide, expectant eyes.
She squeezed his hand again. Without planning to, he leaned over and touched his lips to hers. His heart felt as if it had dropped several inches in his chest when she returned the kiss. After, they sat there looking into each other’s eyes. Adam knew for sure how he felt—the fact that she’d returned the kiss gave him the courage to say the word.
“The main ingredient is love, but at the time, I didn’t know that I was in love.” Greta smiled, and his courage was bolstered again. “I love you, Greta.”
“And I love you, Adam Sutherland. I have since I was thirteen.”
Adam was shocked. “You what?”
“I would watch you every Sunday in church. I’d see you now and then in town, too. I allowed Seth to court me in the hope I’d get closer to you, but you’d left for the sea.”
Adam kissed Greta again, and they somehow fell backward onto the bed. Adam whispered, “Do you want to stay married to me?”
Greta nodded and put her arms around his neck. “More than anything.”
“If we consummate the marriage now, it will seal our vows.”
Greta sat up. “No.”
Adam was still reclining on the bed. “You said you loved me, so why not? We’re married. Sweetheart, let’s make it real. Right now. Tonight.”
“I can’t. I have to wait to see if you can really stay on dry land. What if we consummate and you get a craving for the sea, then what?”
“I never break a promise. I can’t truthfully promise you I’ll never have a craving for sailing, but if I do, I’ll take you and Bethany with me.