by Rinyu, Beth
“You’re welcome,” I murmured, feeling a strange connection to this woman. Like me, she had wronged Lukas too. But I was the lucky one he chose to forgive, and she, the unfortunate one he didn’t.
Chapter 42
Lukas
IT WAS AS if a huge weight had been lifted from my shoulders, allowing me to move freely once again. My brother was the last piece in the puzzle to my happiness. Emmeline was right, I did get to that point where I no longer seethed with anger just thinking about him and her. I had forgiven my brother and surprisingly found room inside my heart to let him back inside despite everything that had happened. I realized how much I loved him and cared about his well-being when I saw him looking so weak and vulnerable, unable to move in that wheelchair. He had always been my big brother, my protector, and it killed me a little inside to have seen him in the way he was now. I instantly loved his son the same way I’d always love Alfred. He was a part of my brother and a part of me.
Hannah was a different story. My feelings for her were just like Emmeline had said they would be once I reached that point—nonexistent. I felt nothing when I looked at her, like she was some stranger I had never met. I had to admit, it felt a lot better than the hate and anger that had been building inside of me for so long with just the mere thought of her. That was a chapter of my life that had ended. It was bittersweet, but now the book was continuing, and I was certain it would have a much happier ending since Emmeline had been written into it.
Emmeline and I sat in the airport, waiting to board the plane. She had been texting back and forth with Bridgette, who ended up going into labor a day ago and giving birth six hours later. “Oh my God, she’s such a gorgeous girl!” Emmeline stared at the latest picture of the baby that Bridgette had sent.
“I’m so sorry you weren’t there.” I knew how much she was looking forward to seeing her niece being born.
Emmeline put her phone in her bag and inched closer to me. “Don’t be.” She shook her head. “Connor is there with her and that’s how it should be, and I’m here with you, and this is how it should be. You’re my people now, and there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you, so please don’t apologize for that.”
I knew I must’ve done something right in my life to be lucky enough to be able to call her my wife in just six more months.
“Besides, I’d rather see her all cute, clean, and wrapped up in a blanket instead of looking like a little alien covered in afterbirth. I wouldn’t want to get freaked out for when it’s our turn to have a baby.”
I smiled, thinking about the future that lay ahead for us and all the possibilities.
“This is the final boarding call for Flight 232 to JFK International airport. All remaining passengers please report immediately to boarding at gate A04,” a voice bellowed over the loud speaker.
Emmeline took a deep breath and grabbed my hand. “Ready to do this?” she asked. I nodded, stood up, and picked up my bag. She stood up next to me and flung her backpack over her shoulder. “You want to say one last goodbye to home?” She looked up at me sadly.
“No,” I whispered. “I’m not saying goodbye to my home, I’m saying hello to it. Home is wherever you are, Emmeline. It doesn’t matter where, just as long as you’re there.” Her eyes danced with emotion like a beautiful field of lavender blowing gently in the warm summer breeze. She reached for my face and stood on her tippy-toes to meet my lips, ignoring all the passengers maneuvering around us, scurrying to make the flight.
Emmeline once told me that her father would always say it didn’t matter how long you knew someone. It could be days, hours, or even minutes…when you find that special someone you just know it’s meant to be forever. I tried to remember back to when I had that feeling, when I knew Emmeline was the one for me, and she was my forever. Was it when I first told her I loved her? Was it when she spoke to me so openly and honestly about my relationship with my brother, helping me see things so much clearer for the first time ever? Was it seeing her again for the very first time after being without her for so long? Was it when I placed that ring on her finger in a promise of marriage? Then it dawned on me. All of those instances were just times she reconfirmed what I had already known all along. My forever was confirmed the moment that adorable, tipsy American girl approached me for the very first time, gazing up at me with those gorgeous blue eyes. The night that changed my life forever. The night my heart finally met its other half after searching for so long. The night we met.
Epilogue
Emme
Six months later . . .
IT WAS SO hard for me to grasp that in twenty-four hours, I was going to be married, and all the months of planning were finally over. Bridgette was the best wedding planner ever. She had truly missed her calling. In between 2:00 a.m. feedings, diaper changes, and all the other responsibilities that came along with a baby, she still managed to help me put together what I knew would be the most magical day ever.
Another huge help in the whole process was Myra. She had returned to New York back in the spring. Turned out Florida and John just weren’t for her. It had all fell into place perfectly. Lukas and I moved into someplace bigger, something that was ours together, allowing Myra to take up residency right over the boutique. She was also a godsend at the shop. She assured me her role would be very part-time when needed, and she hadn’t regretted her decision to hand the business over to me. She was going to use her semi-retirement time to travel and find herself. I laughed when she told me that, as visions of Julia Roberts in Eat, Pray, Love popped into my mind. For now, I was just happy she was back to share this special time with me and allowing me time away from the boutique so Lukas and I could take our ten-day honeymoon to Provence and the French Riviera. Lukas warned me that the lavender fields wouldn’t be blooming at the time of year we were going, but I didn’t care. I much rather preferred our own little personal lavender field on the wall anyway.
Keeping up with tradition in my father’s family, we were all celebrating our impending nuptials the night prior in a more informal sort of way at my father’s bar. So far, the evening had been filled with lots of laughter and lots of alcohol. The more alcohol that was served, the louder those laughs would become. My father’s family from Ireland was there, as well as Lukas’ parents and their spouses, along with his brother, nephew, and Hannah.
Lukas’ father seemed to be a nice guy. We had gone out to dinner with him and his wife on the night they had first arrived, and it was a lot more relaxed than when I had first met his mother and her husband. He was quiet, yet kind and considerate, and his wife, who seemed to be around ten years older than Lukas and me, was sweet and friendly.
I had also seen a different side to Lukas’ mother when she took me out to lunch earlier in the day, just her and me. At first, I was a little hesitant over accepting her invitation without Lukas there to act as a buffer, but then I cast my fears aside. Regardless of my initial feelings for her, she was still the mother of the man I was marrying, which meant I had to try and bridge that gap for him. After listening to her speak and expressing her gratitude to me for changing her son in so many ways and bringing her boys back together, I realized she really did love her children. It was just so hard for me to see at first because it was so different from the motherly love I had been used to my entire life.
I was shocked and speechless when she reached over the table and handed me a box containing a beautiful diamond necklace, the same diamond that was in her mother’s engagement ring. It felt weird for me to accept such a precious family heirloom from this woman I hardly even knew, but she assured me she was saving it for the right person, and that person was me.
I decided at that moment, I’d wear it on my wedding day as my something old. It would go perfectly with my something borrowed, Bridgette’s gorgeous diamond earrings that I always admired from the day Connor had given them to her for their first wedding anniversary. My something blue was the most special thing of all. It may not have been as expensive as those other two items, but its se
ntimental value was worth more than any amount of money could ever buy. A simple tiny blue heart that my mom and dad had on top of their wedding cake tied to the stem of my bouquet with a silk ribbon. It was my way of carrying a piece of their happy marriage for so many years into mine.
I was filled with happiness as I looked around the bar filled with the people I cared about most. My eyes caught Hannah’s, standing in the corner all by herself. Her husband and son had been by Lukas’ side the entire night. Along with Oliver, who had been our house guest for the past three days. Right next to him was my best friend, Alison, who was falling hook, line, and sinker for Oliver’s good looks and boyish personality. Hannah looked so out of place, and my heart ached for her. I poured two glasses of wine and approached her.
“Hey there,” I greeted, taking her a little off guard. I handed her one of the glasses in my hand, and she smiled in appreciation.
“Hello, Emme.”
“Have you guys been enjoying your stay so far?”
“We have. We took William to the zoo in Central Park yesterday. It was a really nice day.”
I smiled as she watched Lukas holding her son while her husband threw his head back and laughed over something Lukas had just said.
“I shouldn’t be here, but it’s so hard for him to travel on his own.”
Lukas’s brother was still confined to his wheelchair but was beginning ever so slightly to bear some weight on his legs. The doctors were positive that it was only a matter of time before he’d be walking again.
“I wanted to stay back at the hotel, but Alfred wanted me to come. I feel like I’m just in the way and making it uncomfortable for everyone.”
“You’re not.” I shook my head. “You’re Alfred’s wife, and he’s Lukas’ brother, so yes, you do belong here.”
“But Lukas—” she started.
“I’m going to be Lukas’ wife, and I say you belong here,” I said very matter-of-factly.
“Thank you. Thank you so much for your kindness, Emme.” She covered my hand in hers with tears filling her eyes.
“Have you met my sister?” I asked, trying to make her feel more at ease.
She shook her head and I led her over to Bridgette and my aunt. “Bridgette, this is Hannah, Lukas’ sister-in-law. Hannah, this is my sister, Bridgette, and my aunt Colleen.”
“Hello.” Hannah smiled. Her nerves still seemed a little rattled.
“Oh, is that little cutie over there your little boy?” Bridgette asked.
“He is,” Hannah replied with a beaming smile and her confidence returning. Bridgette gave me an I got this look as the two of them jumped right into conversation, exchanging motherhood stories like old friends.
“Hey, Em.” Alison pulled me aside. “I think sexy British guy over there is gonna be my one-night stand.”
Oliver paused his conversation from a across the room, lifting his chin and raising an eyebrow at her.
“Maybe we’ll be the next great love story, like you and Lukas.”
I didn’t have the heart to tell her not to bet on that. Alison was nursing a broken heart, just as I was when I had first met Lukas. So, if that’s what she needed to help get her through it, who was I to stop it?
“Just make sure the start of that love story happens at your place and not mine.” I crinkled my nose and we both busted out with laugher.
I walked away and gasped when Lukas snuck up behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist and peppering my neck in kisses. “Sir, I’m going to be a married woman tomorrow. I don’t think my husband would appreciate that,” I teased.
“Your husband doesn’t need to know about it,” he whispered in my ear with that same sexiness to his voice that made my insides ache for him.
I turned around to face him. “I suppose…” I stretched my neck and kissed him on the cheek. “We can get in one more quickie before I become a married woman.”
He shook his head and chuckled. “You’re not being serious...are you?” He looked around at the bar full of people.
“Oh, but I am.” I raised an eyebrow. “Unless, you’re unsure of yourself and aren’t up for the challenge.”
“Now, when have you ever known that to be true?”
“Never, and I sure hope it doesn’t change now.”
“Lead the way,” he said with his trademark impish grin plastered across his face.
I was finally able to catch Bridgette’s attention, jerking my head to the steps and then to Lukas. Emme! she mouthed, after catching on, rubbing her index fingers together in a whittling shame on you motion. I laughed, knowing she’d have me covered with keeping my dad at bay.
Lukas’ and my lips were pressed together, and we were half undressed by the time we reached my old bedroom. Lukas kicked the door closed, and I came up for air from our deep kiss. “This is the last time Emme Flynn will be having sex with you. Tomorrow, I’ll be Emme Reinier.”
“No.” He shook his head. “Tomorrow, you’ll be Emmeline Reinier.” He said my name in that sexy sort of way that drove me crazy in the best way imaginable.
“Say it again.” I laughed.
“Emmeline, Emmeline, Emmeline,” he repeated, laying it on even thicker with his overenunciation.
“Oh, you are so getting lucky right now.” I laughed.
“That was my plan.” He pushed me down on the bed and Emme Flynn made love to him for the very last time, already looking forward to twenty-four hours later and the first time as Emmeline Reinier.
The End
Author’s Note
I wasn’t planning on releasing this book so soon. My goal for the past few years has been two books per year spaced evenly apart. I’m a true believer in quality over quantity, and I would never rush through writing a book just to put something out there. It took me almost a year to write I’ll Be Seeing You. I finally finished it the end of 2018 and published it March 2019. When I finished, I figured my next storyline would come to me and hopefully I could release again toward the end of 2019 or early 2020. Well, on New Year’s Day 2019, a storyline did come to me and the characters wouldn’t stop speaking until I typed “The End”, a little less than three months later. I have NEVER written a book that fast, and I was a little scared that maybe I did rush it after I promised I’d never do that. But as I read the story over and over again, I fell in love with it and my characters over and over again. I went back, added a few scenes just because I wasn’t ready to let them go, and when I finally sent it off to my editor, I felt like I had gone through a breakup. Every set of characters of mine are special to me, but there’s just something about Emme and Lukas, and I’m not sure what it is. I’ve said it before...writing is my therapy. My escape when things aren’t always at their best, and let’s just say they helped get me through some sad days. So maybe that’s why I felt such a strong connection with them and all of the characters in this book. They were like friends who didn’t ask questions, didn’t give advice, they were just there inside my laptop when I needed them. I hope you enjoyed them as much as I did…and maybe, just maybe we’ll get the chance to revisit them in Oliver’s story? Not sure if that’s a go yet, but I’m seriously considering it!
Ps. If you enjoyed Emme & Lukas’ story…get to know, Nicole and Dailan in An Unplanned Lesson, Gabby and Will in A Will to Change or Rose and Alex in Miss Demeanor.