Complete Indelible Love Series

by Cee, DW

  “You know that the Bennington tiara is at least three times the size of Laney’s?” I asked my date. “It’s customary for all future Bennington duchesses to wear that tiara on their wedding day.” I only received a smile in response.

  “Now I was told that Roland, only a Baron in title, brought the Ascot family treasures when he married Estelle. My bride’s sons asked how I would top a chest full of jewels. They obviously have never dealt with a duke. I came prepared.” There was a collective gasp of expectation among the women.

  Chloe leaned over and whispered, “Do you know how he’s going to top a treasure chest?”

  “No, but with Grandfather, anything is possible.”

  Grandfather walked to his bride and said, “My love, for you, I’d give you everything, including my life. Since I’d like to at least spend a night with you, I’ll hold back on my life and give you this instead.” Grandfather pulled out a diamond eternity necklace on steroids. “I had this specially made for you when I first thought you’d be my duchess. It’s been with me for seven decades. I knew if I held onto it long enough, I’d one day be able to place it around your neck.” He did as he had wished for so many years. All the women were in tears, clapping for the bride and groom.

  “Wow. I never realized how much my grandfather loved Estelle Cowper. What a love story to tell our kids.” I said to a silent Chloe. She, too, was mesmerized by the wedded couple.

  “For the rest of you ladies, I know you’re wondering how I’m going to top Roland’s gifts. Rather than one measly chest, I brought three chests full of Bennington treasures.” The collective joy was deafening. “Come on up and enjoy, Ladies. All that I have is yours.”

  The expected rush happened, but it was done orderly and politely. I saw Lilah digging through the chest with her mother and asking her cousin Elizabeth what she wanted. She kept handing her jewels that Elizabeth refused.

  “Why aren’t you up there?” I noticed Chloe was still seated. She shook her head but didn’t answer. “Go. You won’t get your fair share if you don’t get in there.”

  Chloe finally answered, “Those chests are meant for family. I am not family, Michael.”

  What she said angered me, but I forced myself to shake it off. “Grandfather has always considered you his granddaughter. He has never treated you differently from Rubes, Niles, or myself. He would be hurt knowing you don’t consider yourself family.”

  “Grandfather has been kind and generous to me all my life, but I still don’t feel right joining the group. I’ll pass, Michael. You know I’m not into jewels.”

  I couldn’t convince her otherwise; she sat and watched all the other women enjoy their good fortunes.

  “Look, Uncle Michael. Look what I got.” Lilah ran over with another shiny bauble on her wrist. “Mommy says this is precious and I need to be very careful, but I think the one you gave me is prettier.”

  “Are you bothering Uncle Michael and Auntie Chloe, again?” Laney came to police her daughter.

  “I came to show Uncle Michael my pretty bracelet. I like Grandpa Harry, Mommy. He’s so nice.”

  “This girl is trouble, Laney. Donovan better keep her locked up,” I kidded.

  “No, I don’t want to be Rapunzel.” Lilah complained to our delight.

  “Auntie Chloe. What did you get from the treasure chest?”

  “Nothing, Lilah. I was enjoying watching you pick out your present.”

  “Nothing?” she asked in surprise. “Come here,” she gestured with her cute hand. “Let’s go together. I’ll help you pick something out if you don’t know what you want.” Auntie Chloe had no choice but to go with this angel. “Uncle Michael?” she inquired.

  “Yes, Beautiful?”

  “Do you think Grandpa Harry would mind if I took just one more present? I promise to wait until everyone gets one and then I’ll pick just one more.”

  “I give you special permission to take just one more, Lilah.”

  She squealed in delight. “Next to Mommy and Daddy, Uncle Michael is my favorite. I like him more than my brothers,” she told Chloe.

  “She’s a doll, Laney.”

  “She’s trouble is what she is. My mom tells me she’s even more precocious than I was at that age.”

  “But not as adorable,” Donovan chimed in. “What’d you pick out, Princess.”

  “This,” she showed him her bracelet. “Your daughter insisted I get the matching pair.”

  “How goes it, Michael? You and Chloe looked pretty chummy tonight. I’m here if you need any advice on handling your woman.” He offered so graciously.

  “I think I have it under control. I’ll keep you in mind if trouble arises.” I answered dryly.

  “Do you know that between Roland’s properties that was bequeathed to the family and all your properties, we have a home in just about every major country? It’s good to join with a powerful family,” he kidded.

  “Grandfather tells me we need to sign some documents tonight?”

  “Yep. When this party is over, we’ll meet in my office and go over all documents.”

  “Uncle Michael!” Lilah yelled over the noise. “Come here!”

  “I’m being paged. I’ll see you both later.”

  “Welcome to the family, Michael.” Laney reached over and hugged me.

  Ten years ago, I didn’t think Laney and I would end up being in-laws. Today, I would have it no other way.

  Brendan: Celebration of Friendship

  “Hi Brendan.”

  “Chloe. You’re early again.”

  “I think you’re late,” she teased as she stood up to greet me. Both of us kept a polite distance. Maybe Cat and Daniel were onto something.

  “How was the duke’s wedding?”

  “Magical. Simply marvelous. I can’t begin to explain the amount of love that was captured in one backyard. Of my ten-year career, this was the most beautiful wedding to date.”

  “I was told he had pined for his bride for over seventy years?”

  “He had. She was the one that got away, twice. Can you imagine?”

  “It’s encouraging to know even at ninety-five, you can find love again.”

  “It sure is.” Chloe agreed. “How are you doing, Brendan? How’s that son of yours?”

  “My son is in heaven because his mother is in town. As for me, I am miserably confused.”

  “Do the ‘in heaven’ and ‘miserably confused’ both have your ex as the common denominator?”

  “There’s no fooling you, is there? Let’s go grab our table and I’ll tell you all that’s happened.”

  Chloe followed my lead and once we were comfortably seated, I explained my dilemma.

  “Veronica, my ex, wants us to get back together.”

  “Oh!” Surprised, but not disappointed—perhaps this wasn’t going to be too hard.

  “She promises she’s changed. She even insists that she’ll give up her career and stay home with Nolan. She’s saying all the right words and doing all the right things with our son. I don’t know if this is a ruse or if I should believe what she’s promising.”

  “Do you want to believe her?”

  I thought about that. “I guess I do,” was my honest answer.

  “Then you should, Brendan. Everyone deserves another chance. Look at the duke, seven decades later, he’s received another chance with the woman he loves. If your heart wants to give Veronica another chance, do it. Follow your heart.”

  “Does this mean you’re following your heart, too? If so, where’s your heart headed?”

  She blushed. “I think Michael and I will try again as well. That’s why I wanted to meet with you today. I worried you might be upset, but I see both of us have another chance at love—just not with one another.”

  “I don’t know how to react, Chloe. Should I be happy for you?”

  “You should, as I am happy for you.” She reached over and placed her hand atop mine. “I am glad we
met again. I am also glad we didn’t get anywhere the second time around. Had we started something, it would’ve been much harder for us to let go.”

  “So this is where I exit from your life?” I asked in jest.

  “No. I hope we can start new—as friends. You and Michael were friends at one point. Cat and Daniel are friends and family to everyone. Can we be friends?”

  “You truly believe I’ll be all right giving it another go with a woman who walked out on me?”

  “I think you want to give it another go. You’ll regret not having tried again. Plus, what will you do when your son finds out that his mother wanted to reconcile but you didn’t act on it? How are you going to beat Nolan O’Shaughnessy in a war of words and brain power?”

  “Shit. You’re right about that. He’s pushing for his mother to stay with us, ‘forever.’”

  “What’s the worst that can happen?”

  “She hurts us again.”

  “Nolan will be hurt regardless of when his mother leaves. He wants her to stay. I think you should oblige.”

  “How about you, Chloe? Will you be all right? Will Michael make you happy?”

  “I’ve loved Michael since I was a child. It took us a long time to get here, but I think we’ve finally arrived at the same place at the same time. I, too, need to take a chance and try again. If I don’t, I’ll regret it the rest of my life.”

  “So this is good-bye, Chloe?”

  “No, Brendan. This is hello. I want all of us to be friends. Who knows, with the way your son flirted with Lilah Taylor, we may even be extended family one day.”

  It was bittersweet to walk away from a possible relationship with this fine woman. Knowing she was headed toward her happiness made me feel better about heading toward my own. As she said, we’d stay friends.

  Chloe: A Mysterious Beginning To Our Eventual Celebration?

  “Are you ready to leave?”

  “I am, but I’m feeling a bit empty. We’ve been here long enough for it to feel like home. I don’t want to leave, Michael.”

  “Agreed. The Reids have a way of swallowing you into their umbrella of love, family, and friendship. We will miss them, but we’ll come back soon. As long as Grandfather and Gram are alive, I think we should spend our time near them.”

  “So where are we off to now?”

  “Once again, it’s not a surprise if you know all the details.”

  The wedding was a few days past and after the wedding breakfast, Michael disappeared for a day. Once he returned, he said we had places to go and asked me to hold off from working until the New Year. Considering the end of the year was near, that wasn’t hard to do.

  “Can we say good-bye to everyone before we leave?”

  “Already planned. Everyone’s at Emily’s waiting for us.”

  “You really have thought of everything.”

  “This is the next phase of our relationship, Chlo-No. Bear with me, stick with me, and stay with me—that’s all I ask.”

  “Already there, Michael.”

  I’d known Michael my entire life but he really did seem different since the wedding. His actions were assertive, he was clear on what he wanted, and aside from this next trip, he asked for my opinions on more topics than necessary. Of course I eagerly answered every question and gave him what he wanted, but inside, I was giggling at how attentive he’d become.

  “It’s never a good sign when you think so hard about anything. What has you grimacing and giggling?”

  “Can I ask you something?”

  “Is it going to piss me off?” he asked with a serious sigh. “We are in a good place. I feel like one foot is finally in front of the other and we’re moving forward. Will this question set me back to before Grandfather’s wedding?”

  “So sensitive.” I kidded, but he didn’t take it in jest. “All right. I’m asking this question because I’m curious. Please don’t be upset. You don’t even have to answer if you don’t want to.”

  He sighed. “Ask it and let’s move on.”

  This might not have been a smart thing to do, but I had to know. “I’ve known you all my life and I’ve never seen you so attentive. You’re more charming. Your words are sweeter. You’re even funnier. Is this how you are with all your girlfriends, fiancées, women you are pursuing?”

  Michael’s ears turned red which meant he wasn’t happy with my questions. “You and I did date at one point,” he reminded me.

  “I know, but we were younger. Either you’ve changed and improved with age or I was too young to notice. I was only wondering, Michael.” What I said wasn’t anything bad. The change was dramatic enough for me to question what was happening.

  The longer Michael stayed silent, the less color there was in his ears. This was a good sign. “I’m sorry if I was never this attentive to you. Obviously, I’m different with someone I care for and would like to eventually marry. You’ve been my best friend for a long time. You shouldn’t be this surprised with my change. From here on out, you shouldn’t see the less funny Michael any longer.” With those words, we were all good. “Grandfather and his new bride are waiting for us. If you’re packed, let’s head out to Reid Place.”

  Our drive was most enjoyable knowing we were headed in the same direction.

  “He’s here! Uncle Michael is here!” Lilah shouted to her father, who was swinging on the front porch with her. She hopped off and ran to her favorite uncle. “Look at my arms, Uncle Michael. I’m wearing your bracelet and the two I picked out from Grandpa Harry’s treasure chest!” Everything she said was done with utmost excitement. “Do you think Grandpa Harry will bring us another treasure chest? Can he go back home and bring more bracelets?”

  Michael picked up his favorite five-year-old and answered, “I think Grandpa Harry is here to stay but I have a little treasure chest to house all your shiny jewels.” Michael pulled out a gorgeous antique jewelry box. Where the hell had he been hiding that? In his back pocket with his iPhone? “Look inside.”

  He didn’t have to tell her twice. She opened the box and found a necklace to match the expensive bracelet he originally gave her. “Look, Daddy! It’s a shiny necklace! I love it! Thank you Uncle Michael.” The joy, the smiles, the hugs—they came by the dozen.

  “You’re spoiling her, Uncle Michael. What man is ever going to match those sparklers?” Donovan pointed to the ruby, sapphire, and emerald encrusted necklace. That had to be worth a small fortune.

  “Hopefully, next time I see his little girl, Chloe and I will be on our way toward producing one of our own.” Michael kissed Lilah on the forehead and let her go show off her new toy.

  “MOMMY!!!” Lilah screamed.

  “That girl is louder than all of us combined,” Donovan complained with a smile. “I guess this is good-bye for a while.”

  “We’ll be back often. Since Gram won’t leave her family and Grandfather won’t leave his bride, the Benningtons will rotate in and out.”

  “I’m headed to the office but I wanted to stick around and wish you good luck in wooing your woman,” he told Michael. “Since you don’t have anyone trying to sabotage your efforts and your precarious future, it shouldn’t be too difficult.” Donovan chuckled and put out his hand. Michael shook it and the two men gave one another a hug. “If Chloe is to you what Delaney is to me, you have years and years of pure, unadulterated joy ahead, my friend.” Donovan left us with those words of encouragement.

  “This family makes me crazy happy, Michael.”

  “I know what you mean, Chlo-No. Grandfather married well. Speaking of,” Michael pointed toward the newlywed’s home, “there he is, calling us over.”

  We quickly visited the newlyweds in their home. “We saw that you and Donovan finally made peace.” Grandfather had never been this jolly. “That Donovan Taylor is a good man whose daughter is going to make him age prematurely.”

  True that! “How are you doing Grandfather, and where is your beautiful bride?” I
embraced a man whose lips wouldn’t stop smiling.

  “I’m right here, Chloe. Why don’t you three come up?”

  Michael and I greeted his new Grandmother and sat in their sunroom. “You two lovebirds have been well?” Michael teased.

  “We are happy and still alive,” Gram answered with a grin.

  “Happy? That’s all you are—happy?” His Grace argued.

  “What else can I be? I’m just grateful to see another sunrise and another great-grandchild born.”