My Once in a Lifetime

by Nicole Vidal

  “And now?”

  “I’m fairly certain we’re side by side on the same page.”

  I glance at my phone. “We are.” Sliding my hands around her face, I show her how I feel with my mouth. Her lips are so soft, it’s almost unfair. “Come on. Surprise time.”

  “Really?”

  I take her hand and lead her into my office, guiding her into my leather chair. I log into Zoom. Shortly thereafter, Kelly and Joseph appear on the screen.

  “Hi, guys!”

  “Hi! How are you?” Kelly asks, trying to make sure she and Joseph cover the entire screen.

  “You are already together? It’s early,” Norah asks.

  “We wanted to say hi before you had dinner with Jacob and his family.”

  “That’s nice. I’m hanging in there. I crave order, so this is difficult for me.”

  “We know,” they reply in unison.

  “Is Kelsey there too?” Norah asks.

  Kelly and Joseph step to the side as Kelsey moves closer to the camera.

  “What are you doing there so early?” Norah asks Kelsey.

  “I came to drop off goodies before going to Mari and Zoe’s for dinner.” Mari and Zoe are her sisters-in-law. They have been married for almost three years. They have been working on adopting a child for almost a year now.

  “Connor, where do you want…?” Christoph asks him. His voice coming through the computer.

  Norah turns to look at me. “They’re here? All of them?”

  I smile and nod as she jumps into my arms, kissing me hard.

  Pulling back slightly, she exclaims, “Thank you doesn’t begin to cover how grateful I am. I love you so much!”

  “I love you. Go, I’ll be right over.”

  She takes two steps away but turns back, her face emanating genuine happiness. It’s a look I see more often as I allow her to burrow deeper into my soul. Eliminating the threat to her and ensuring her happiness vacillate between the first and second items for me each day. I shut off the computer and step into the bedroom to grab a hoodie for her. Chances are she slipped on my slides and ran over.

  When I make it to the barn, she’s animatedly talking with Kelsey, Kelly, and Genevieve while their other halves and James talk nearby. I lean against the door, watching her. Her youngest nephew, Nick, on her hip. He grabs a fistful of her soft hair. She gently pulls it away before rubbing her nose to his to distract him. Norah with a child in her arms is a vision. Imagining her holding our child hits me deep in my chest. I never considered having a family until Norah asked. I want it with her. Norah’s life may be in danger, but at least today, she appears to be free from worry.

  “Well done, Jake.”

  “Thanks for your help, C. It’s the best I can do right now.”

  “It appears to be enough given the circumstances. Where do you want me to put their luggage?”

  “Put Kelly’s and Kelsey’s to the left and Genevieve, Joseph, and the boys’ luggage to the right. That guest suite is big enough for the four of them.”

  “Will do. What time is our family arriving?”

  “In about an hour.”

  Connor nods and pulls the luggage behind him. I walk over toward the ladies when Norah’s nephew James approaches me.

  “Hi, I’m James.” Tank circles around him. James laughs while bending down to pet my dog.

  “Hi, James. His name is Tank.”

  “He’s great! His fur is super soft.”

  “It’s nice to meet you in person. Norah has told me a lot about you.”

  “Really? Like what?”

  “You’re super smart, love math but not English, and are great with dogs, especially Kelsey’s dog, Knox. You love Lego and have built almost all the city sets. There are still three that you haven’t built yet.”

  “Wow, Auntie was thorough. She hasn’t mentioned you though.” Straightforward is apparently a Cavallaro trait.

  “Well, that’s a bit complicated.”

  “Nothing’s complicated if you love her.”

  I’m dumbstruck by his statement.

  “Do you?” he asks.

  “How old are you, James?”

  “Almost ten.”

  “That was a very mature statement.”

  James shrugs.

  “Yes, I love her.” More than anything, more than I thought possible.

  “Good, she looks happy here.”

  I smile, and he scampers back to the group of men with Tank on his heel. He’s astute for a young kid. An old soul some might label him. I approach Norah from behind, setting the hoodie on her shoulders and kissing her cheek.

  “Thanks.”

  I look down at her feet. Just as I suspected, her polished toes are peeking out of my slides that are three sizes too big. “I’m going to chat with the guys.”

  “Okay,” she replies before placing a chaste kiss on my lips. Her eyes however scream that if we didn’t have an audience, the loft would be used again.

  Chapter 53

  Norah

  No words. I have no words. He brought my family to me. I hurry to the barn to find my entire family ready to hug me. Jacob is working on using words, but he certainly understands a grand gesture. Before I reach them, James is beside me.

  “I can’t believe you’re here! Thank you for coming!” After I hug everyone, the guys move away. Nick reaches for me. He’s nearly eight months old now. With him perched on my hip, Kelly and Kelsey start digging for details. Genevieve is quietly looking around the barn.

  “How are you?” Kelly asks.

  “Are you two together?” Kelsey wonders aloud.

  “This place is majestic!” Kelly admits.

  They inquire rapid-fire.

  “Slow down. I’m overjoyed right now. I can’t believe you’re here. Where’s Dad?” I ask.

  “He’s with Mabel in Colorado,” Kelly answers. I’m sure this surprise came together in the last few days.

  “Overall, I’m okay. Arguably, I can’t leave here. It’s beautiful, and you have only seen maybe a third of it.”

  “What label did you pick?” Kelsey asks, glancing over at William. Kelsey and William are expecting early next year. Pregnancy looks fabulous on her. Her bump now noticeable but barely. Her skin is glowing. He keeps looking this way as if she needs extra protection because she’s carrying his child. William has always been overprotective of Kelsey from the moment they met.

  “We didn’t really pick a label, but he and I are together.” I don’t plan to share that Jacob isn’t a fan of the term girlfriend, although nothing else really applies right now.

  “Are you coming home when you can?” Kelly asks softly.

  “I don’t know.”

  “I wouldn’t leave here,” Genevieve interjects. Truthfully, Gen and I are acquaintances. We were friendly as kids, but mostly she spent time with Joseph not Kelly and me. I would rather talk to my brother. My youngest nephew is cooing and babbling in my arms.

  “It’s peaceful here like Aspen. I see the appeal,” Kelly says, looking directly at me.

  Her husband, Nicholas, is originally from Colorado. He has a home in Aspen as well as in Maine. They spend most of their time in Maine. Their wedding was in Aspen, and it was epic. So was my night with Jacob. That night in Aspen was almost as hot as our first night together. I push the memory away as fast as it comes because now isn’t the time to be blushing.

  “Where did your mind just go?” Kelsey asks.

  Caught! “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  Kelsey is the only person here who might have an idea, but she won’t say anything.

  “Those rosy cheeks say otherwise.”

  As if he could hear the girls ribbing me, Jacob slides his hand across my back, resting it on my hip.

  “My family and Connor’s will be here in a little less than an hour. Do you want your family to get settled inside before dinner?”

  They’re staying here. This man is too much.

  “Sure.”
r />   He takes my hand and moves to the barn door. Everyone dutifully follows us into the house. Jacob shows everyone to their rooms and me into the master.

  Thankfully, there’s a lock on the door. Walking back until his legs hit the mattress, I push him down onto the bed, landing on top of him with a bit more force than necessary. I take this time we’re alone to kiss him thoroughly. Between kisses, thanking him profusely. “Thank you for bringing them here. How did you pull it off? I have been beside you almost 24/7.”

  His smile is so wide, tempting me. I would strip him naked if I thought I had enough time. Naked time with Jacob is never quick. “I actually started with William because calling him wasn’t suspicious. He conferenced in Joseph and Kelly.”

  “When?”

  “After the second video. I knew you wouldn’t be able to leave. I also know that, despite your acquiescence, you miss them. I brought them to you.”

  “Thank you doesn’t even begin to express how grateful I am.”

  “I can think of a few ways you can express your grat—”

  “Why am I not surprised?”

  He smirks up at me.

  “Is there anything I can do to help with the food?” I ask.

  “Not really. Joyce and my mom are bringing the main meal items, and Jill handled the appetizers. Kelsey brought dessert.”

  Just thinking about Kelsey’s yummy desserts makes my mouth water.

  “Ready? My family will be here soon.”

  “Absolutely.” I grab some socks and shoes before following Jacob into the kitchen.

  We were in the bedroom a bit too long. Joyce, Connie, and Kelsey are chatting away, moving dishes into the oven to keep them warm or into the fridge.

  Both Joyce and Connie hug Jacob and then me. “How can I help?” I ask after greeting the women. Jacob disappears out the front door with Connor and Christoph who just brought in Kelsey’s desserts. Kelsey immediately hands me a cheesecake to put in the fridge. Kelly soon joins us in the kitchen while Nicholas, holding his son, looks out the French doors toward the backyard.

  “This is my sister, Kelly. Kelly, this is Joyce, Connor’s mom and Connie, Jacob’s mom.” Pleasantries extended and the moms put Kelly to work. We bring the dishes into the barn, which now boasts two large tables set to accommodate this gathering. Jill runs over to hug me after I set the cornbread stuffing on the table.

  “It’s so good to see you again,” she remarks, pulling me in for a tight hug.

  “You too. Thank you so much for the food for our date. It was amazing.”

  “You’re welcome. My brother is finally happy again, and that’s because of you.”

  “I don’t know what to say, Jill. He’s something else.”

  “He’s special, Norah, and so are you.” She hugs me again and walks away as Jacob approaches.

  “What was that about?” he asks.

  “You.”

  Chapter 54

  Jacob

  “Me? What did I do wrong this time?” I ask, feeling a bit exasperated that Jill always finds something I did wrong.

  “Nothing. Absolutely, nothing. She was thanking me actually.”

  “For?”

  “For making you happy.”

  “She’s right. You do, more than I thought was possible. I feel different with you.” I press my lips to hers.

  The volume of the barn immediately plummets. The only thing I hear is Nick’s babbling. I feel everyone’s eyes on us. When I pull back, her eyes are reciprocating my feelings.

  “Are you playing later?” I ask Norah.

  “Playing what?”

  “Football.”

  “Hell yes!”

  I slide my fingers into hers and continue to introduce the rest of our guests until everyone has at least met one another. Mom, Joyce, and Jill have outdone themselves with this meal. Along with the normal Thanksgiving staples like turkey, stuffing, and cranberry sauce, Jill added a ham, mashed sweet potatoes, glazed carrots, and some other root vegetable.

  Normally, each adult would share something they’re grateful for. This year we are taking a moment to reflect before dinner. I’m grateful for Norah. Her patience with me and understanding about Mara is more than I deserve. I never thought I would ever find someone to love me as I am, nor did I think I could ever let go of the guilt I’ve carried for the last six years. She gives that to me.

  The dishes start rounding the table, and everyone partakes in this amazing meal. Joseph and Nicholas are chatting behind their wives while the women laugh and eat. Most notably, Norah has a huge smile plastered on her face. I had one goal for this surprise. Dare I say, I’ve accomplished helping her forget the bounty on her head and the danger outside the fence. Hopefully, for the next day or so, Norah will feel normal again. The moment she figures out where the ledger is, our lives will move forward—together.

  “Jake, is it time yet?” my brother, Cameron, asks.

  Norah raises an eyebrow, and I shake my head.

  “Soon, Cam, soon.”

  Our family starts laughing.

  Leaning closer, Norah whispers, “What is he asking about?” I’m sure she isn’t intentionally setting off my nerve endings, especially with our families here.

  “Football,” I reply quietly.

  She nods and continues her conversation with Kelsey. Unfortunately, Genevieve looks uncomfortable now that she and Kelly aren’t chatting anymore.

  Leaning back toward her, I ask, “Norah, should we do something about Genevieve?”

  “There isn’t anything we can do. She’s always like that. I’m sure Joseph dragged her here.”

  I nod and kiss her cheek before pulling away. Soon after Cam’s request, we start to clear the dishes. My team and siblings carry the dishes into the kitchen while Norah and I set half in the dishwasher and handwash the rest. Generally, there’s nothing fun about washing dishes, but nothing with Norah is ever boring. We laugh, joke, and kiss until the last dish is dried.

  Cam and Connor have taken control of setting up the game. Two-hand touch football. Connor marked off with cones for the out of bounds and a line for the end zone in my backyard. Normally, the game is small, but more guests means larger teams. The teams are set. My team has James as an extra player because he’s ten and there’s an odd number of players. Connor is crafty. He purposefully separated the couples. Norah is on his team instead of mine.

  Genevieve, Maia, Joyce, Connie, Jill, and Jackson are sitting along the sidelines. When I leave the huddle with my team, I glance over and see Nick curled up in my mom’s lap. The sheer glee of holding a baby is impossible to miss. Gen has a more relaxed look on her face. I don’t know her well, but something is up. I’ll make a point to ask Norah later.

  We line up. Connor is defending Christoph off to my right. Kelsey and Norah have James, and the dads are matched up. Nicholas and Kelly are jockeying for position. William and Cam are still sizing each other up. Joseph lines up in front of me.

  “Are you any good, Jacob?” Joseph asks.

  Hearing Norah giggle, I smirk. “I can hold my own,” I reply, dropping back.

  Christoph takes off down the sideline, and so does James. James slants to the right, but Norah has him well covered. James doesn’t care. He has a huge grin on his face. I release the ball, and Christoph hauls it in with minimal effort. He scampers backward and hops over the line for a touchdown. After the play, Kelsey swaps out with Maia. After verifying Kelsey’s fine, William rejoins us in the huddle.

  In previous years, I played quarterback for both teams. Apparently, Nicholas has some experience playing a quarterback for a movie role, so he is doing the honors for Connor’s team. After a few series, the score is tied at two points for each team. We take a quick drink break before lining up again. We continue playing for another half hour before Kelsey indicates dessert is ready.

  In the huddle, I explain the last play to Joseph and James.

  “Mr. Jacob, Auntie is all over me. There’s no way I’m going to be open.”
<
br />   Joseph laughs. Norah has been keeping James close the entire game.

  “She is, but I’ll take care of her. Just be ready to catch the ball.”

  “I’ll do my best,” James states empathically before lining up with Norah.

  I nod to James and Joseph. I take one step back, pitching the ball to Joseph. James is running toward the endzone with Norah stride for stride. I make a beeline straight for Norah. Joseph is uncovered waiting to throw the ball. When I get close to James, I shout, “Cut left.”

  James goes right, which was set up in the huddle. I cut left, following Norah. I grip her hips with my hands, hauling her against me. I curl around her, landing on my back in the remaining snowbank near the gate. James is celebrating in the endzone when I’m able to look over.

  “You set me up,” Norah pushes out in shallow breaths. Her breasts flush against my chest.

  Tugging her closer, I admit, “It was the only way I could get my hands on you appropriately with this audience. Even this is barely enough.”

  “You’re sneaky, Mr. Blackthorne. Very sneaky.”

  “Admit it. You love it.”

  “I do, I truly do.” A huge grin stretches across her face.

  “Come on, lovebirds, dessert is waiting,” Jill shouts from the sideline.

  Norah buries her face in my neck. I’m sure her face is bright red.

  “Norah, it’s just us,” I murmur.

  Before lifting her head, she kisses along my jaw to my mouth, but she doesn’t stop there. She continues along the other side of my jaw before drawing her tongue along the shell of my ear.

  “Woman, I need you to stop! I won’t be able to go inside for a while if you don’t.”

  Norah nips my earlobe before whispering, “Fine, but I need some alone time later. Deal?”

  “I’ll give you all the time you want later.” Every second for the rest of my life.

  Norah plants her lips on mine, kissing me deeply. I growl because I truly don’t want her to stop, but I know our guests are waiting.

  “Ready? Kelsey’s desserts are waiting.”