by Cindy Kirk
“May I come in?”
When Kate simply stood there, he brushed past her and stepped inside. “I’ll take that as a yes.”
Finally Kate’s mouth caught up to her brain. “What are you doing here?”
“Almond bear claws.” He pressed the bag into her hand and gestured toward her cup. “Got any more of that?”
“In the kitchen.” Kate followed him. “Is Chloe okay?”
“She had a hard time sleeping, she was so excited.” He poured some of the steaming brew into a cup, then reached into the refrigerator for the cream.
“I’m thankful she took the news so well.” Kate dropped the sack of pastries on the table and automatically pulled two small plates from the cupboard.
Joel wrapped his hand around the large mug and took a sip. “Thank you.”
“No problem. I made way more than I need—”
“I’m not talking about the coffee.” His gaze never left her face. “I should have said this last night but I didn’t. Thank you for Chloe. She meant the world to Amy and she means the world to me. Your sacrifice made it possible for us to be parents.”
Kate opened her mouth and shut it.
“I’m sorry I didn’t send the reports and pictures. It was inexcusable.” True regret filled his eyes. He rocked back on his heels. “If I were you, I’d have hired a detective, too.”
“You would have?”
“Absolutely.”
Unsettled, Kate took a sip of her coffee. “This seems to be a complete turnaround.”
“I’ve been doing a lot of hard thinking.” He took a deep breath, but she spoke before he could continue.
“So have I. For all these years I’ve sold myself short. I felt I didn’t deserve real happiness. That’s why I was willing to settle for two weeks of no-obligation sex with you.” As much as Kate had enjoyed their time together, the affair had been a mistake. Her heart was incapable of separating sex from love. “I deserve more. I want a man who loves and adores me and puts me first in his life. I want marriage. Perhaps children. I won’t settle for less.”
“I want those same things, Kate. And I want them with you.”
To his chagrin, she began shaking her head even before he’d finished speaking. “I won’t compete with a dead woman. Love isn’t a competition. Or it shouldn’t be.”
“Amy is my past, Kate. I loved her as much as a man could love a woman. I don’t deny that. But I love you now. And just as much. The comparisons were a way to keep you at arm’s length,” Joel said. “I fell in love with you so quickly that it made me feel disloyal to Amy.”
“Really.”
He heard the doubt in her voice, saw it in her eyes.
“Trying to compare you two is like comparing apples to oranges. I see you for who you are and I love—”
“Who am I, Joel?”
“You’re a fighter. A woman who didn’t let your family’s expectations hold you back from following your dream of becoming a doctor.”
Even though she didn’t respond, Joel could tell she was listening, so he kept talking.
“You’re a woman who loves deeply and wants the best for those you love. That’s why you chose to give your daughter a home where she could grow and thrive.”
Kate shifted her gaze out the window. Her expression gave nothing away. He began to talk faster, not sure how much time he had left.
“You like big, flashy jewelry, making love under the stars and mistletoe. You’re kind and smart and generous. You’re the woman I love and you’ll always be the most important woman in my heart.”
He dropped to one knee and took her hand.
“What are you doing?” She tried to pull her hand back, but he wouldn’t let go.
“I love you, Kate McNeal. I can’t imagine my life without you in it. I want to spend the rest of my life making you happy. Will you do me the honor of being my wife and Chloe’s mother?”
Kate blinked. Was she dreaming?
He slipped his hand into his jacket pocket and pulled out a tiny black velvet box. When he flipped it open, the overhead light scattered the rays, nearly blinding her.
“What is that?”
“It’s an engagement ring, darlin’. The biggest, flashiest, most beautiful ring I could find. Do you like it?”
The uncertainty in his voice told her he wasn’t nearly as confident as he appeared.
The stone was huge, an emerald-cut diamond surrounded by smaller diamonds. The thin platinum band allowed the stone to take center stage.
“It’s beautiful. And big.”
“Not nearly as big as my love, sweetheart.”
Kate blinked. He was still there. She blinked again.
This time she saw clearly the love and promise in his hazel depths. Her heart rose to her throat.
“Will you marry me, Kate? Will you be a wife to me and a mother to Chloe and to any other children we might have?”
“You want other children?”
“I’d love a whole houseful.”
“Oh, Joel.” She smiled through her tears.
He fought a surge of hope. “A simple yes will do.”
“Yes,” she said. “Yes, yes, yes.”
He rose to his feet and pulled her to him, kissing her until she heard fireworks and cymbals and bells. Until her knees were so weak that he had to pick her up and carry her to the bedroom.
Epilogue
Kate pulled on her ice skates and expelled a happy sigh. Six months had passed since Joel had proposed. It had been three months since they’d married in a small ceremony surrounded by friends and family.
Her parents had arrived for the wedding, along with Andrea and her husband and children. Chloe had enjoyed playing with her new cousins. Kate had high hopes that her relationship with her sister would continue to improve.
Joel had just broken ground on their future home in the mountains, close to where several of their friends already lived. Life was good. And it was about to get even better.
Chloe was already out on the ice with her friends, so Kate had Joel all to herself. She wore the same black skirt and silver top she’d worn last summer at the rink.
“Where’s Mitzi?” Joel asked. “I thought she was coming tonight?”
To Kate’s surprise and delight Mitzi had chosen to remain in Jackson Hole. She’d become a permanent member of Spring Gulch Orthopedic. Kate didn’t fully understand what had made her friend turn her back on her dream job in Beverly Hills. Especially considering that she and Benedict Campbell, the president of Spring Gulch Ortho, were always at each other’s throats.
“Something came up.” No need to tell him she’d asked Mitzi to stay home.
“Let’s skate over there.” Kate gestured with her head toward the other side of the rink. There were some seats not far from the ice where she and Joel often sat. Unlike where they were now, it was private. Even though his skating had improved, she had the feeling her news was better given sitting down.
Halfway across the rink, he changed course, pulling her along with him.
“Hey, where are we going?”
“To the center. I’ve always wanted to skate under a mirror ball.”
The ice rink was a multipurpose facility. When it wasn’t used for skating, the floor was covered and the place was rented out for dances and receptions.
“The ball looks funny tonight,” Kate said as they approached the center of the ice. “There’s something hanging from it. Why, it’s a big sprig of mistletoe.”
“Today is our three-month anniversary. I know how much you love mistletoe and I know how much I love you… .” Joel pulled her close. He gave her a toe-curling kiss and somehow managed to remain standing in the process. “Happy anniversary, darling.”
“I have a surprise for you, too,” she said.
“It’ll be hard to beat the mistletoe,” Joel said, trying hard to be modest but not succeeding.
“You wanna bet?” She leaned up on her tiptoes and whispered in his ear.
His eye
s widened. A grin split his face. “A baby?”
“Not for another seven months, but—”
“Hot damn.” Joel grabbed and held her tight.
“What’s going on?” Chloe skated up.
“We’re going to have a baby,” Joel said before Kate could get the words out. “You’re going to be a big sister.”
Chloe shrieked and flung herself at her parents. Joel cushioned his girls’ fall when the three of them tumbled to the ice, the mirror ball shining brightly overhead, the mistletoe dancing in the air duct breeze.
Kate laughed. Because she was happy. Because she was in love. And…just because.
* * * * *
The Anniversary Party
Dear Reader,
I am a big believer in celebrating milestones, and for Special Edition, this is a big one! Thirty years…it hardly seems possible, and yet April 1982 was indeed, yep, thirty years ago! When I walked into the Harlequin offices (only twenty years ago, but still), the first books I worked on were Special Edition. I loved the line instantly—for its breadth and its depth, and for its fabulous array of authors, some of whom I’ve been privileged to work with for twenty years, and some of whom are newer, but no less treasured, friends.
When it came time to plan our thirtieth anniversary celebration, we wanted to give our readers something from the heart—not to mention something from our very beloved April 2012 lineup. So many thanks to RaeAnne Thayne, Christine Rimmer, Susan Crosby, Christyne Butler, Gina Wilkins and Cindy Kirk for their contributions to The Anniversary Party. The Morgans, Diana and Frank, are celebrating their thirtieth anniversary along with us. Like us, they’ve had a great thirty years, and they’re looking forward to many more. Like us, though there may be some obstacles along the way, they’re getting their happily ever after.
Which is what we wish you, Dear Reader. Thanks for coming along for the first thirty years of Special Edition—we hope you’ll be with us for many more!
We hope you enjoy The Anniversary Party.
Here’s to the next thirty!
All the best,
Gail Chasan
Senior Editor, Special Edition
Contents
Chapter One by RaeAnne Thayne
Chapter Two by Christine Rimmer
Chapter Three by Susan Crosby
Chapter Four by Christyne Butler
Chapter Five by Gina Wilkins
Chapter Six by Cindy Kirk
Chapter One
by RaeAnne Thayne
With the basket of crusty bread sticks she had baked that afternoon in one arm and a mixed salad—insalata mista, as the Italians would say—in the other, Melissa Morgan walked into her sister’s house and her jaw dropped.
“Oh, my word, Ab! This looks incredible! When did you start decorating? A month ago?”
Predictably, Abby looked a little wild-eyed. Her sister was one of those type A personalities who always sought perfection, whether that was excelling in her college studies, where she’d emerged with a summa cum laude, or decorating for their parents’ surprise thirtieth anniversary celebration.
Abby didn’t answer for a moment. She was busy arranging a plant in the basket of a rusty bicycle resting against one wall so the greenery spilled over the top, almost to the front tire. Melissa had no idea how she’d managed it but somehow Abby had hung wooden lattice from her ceiling to form a faux pergola over her dining table. Grapevines, fairy lights and more greenery had been woven through the lattice and, at various intervals, candles hung in colored jars like something out of a Tuscan vineyard.
Adorning the walls were framed posters of Venice and the beautiful and calming Lake Como.
“It feels like a month,” Abby finally answered, “but actually, I only started last week. Greg helped me hang the lattice. I couldn’t have done it without him.”
The affection in her sister’s voice caused a funny little twinge inside Melissa. Abby and her husband had one of those perfect relationships. They clearly adored each other, no matter what.
She wished she could say the same thing about Josh. After a year of dating, shouldn’t she have a little more confidence in their relationship? If someone had asked her a month ago if she thought her boyfriend loved her, she would have been able to answer with complete assurance in the affirmative, but for the past few weeks something had changed. He’d been acting so oddly—dodging phone calls, canceling plans, avoiding her questions.
He seemed to be slipping away more every day. As melodramatic as it sounded, she didn’t know how she would survive if he decided to break things off.
Breathe, she reminded herself. She didn’t want to ruin the anniversary dinner by worrying about Josh. For now, she really needed to focus on her wonderful parents and how very much they deserved this celebration she and Abby had been planning for a long time.
“You and Greg have really outdone yourself. I love all the little details. The old wine bottles, the flowers. Just beautiful. I know Mom and Dad will be thrilled with your hard work.” She paused. “I can only see one little problem.”
Abby looked vaguely panicked. “What? What’s missing?”
Melissa shook her head ruefully. “Nothing. That’s the problem. I was supposed to be helping you. That’s why I’m here early, right? Have you left anything for me to do?”
“Are you kidding? I’ve still got a million things to do. The chicken cacciatore is just about ready to go into the oven. Why don’t you help me set the table?”
“Sure,” she said, following her sister into the kitchen.
“You talked to Louise, right?” Abby asked.
“Yes. She had everything ready when I stopped at her office on my way over here. I’ve got a huge gift basket in the car. You should see it. She really went all out. Biscotti, gourmet cappuccino mix, even a bottle of prosecco.”
“What about the tickets and the itinerary?” Abby had that panicked look again.
“Relax, Abs. It’s all there. She’s been amazing. I think she just might be as scarily organized as you are.”
Abby made a face. “Did you have a chance to go over the details?”
“She printed everything out and included a copy for us, as well as Mom and Dad. In addition to the plane tickets and the hotel information and the other goodies, she sent over pamphlets, maps, even an Italian-English dictionary and a couple of guidebooks.”
“Perfect! They’re going to be so surprised.”
“Surprised and happy, I hope,” Melissa answered, loading her arms with the deep red chargers and honey-gold plates her sister indicated, which perfectly matched the theme for the evening.
“How could they be anything else? They finally have the chance to enjoy the perfect honeymoon they missed out on the first time.” Abby smiled, looking more than a little starry-eyed. Despite being married for several years, her sister was a true romantic.
“This has to be better than the original,” she said. “The bar was set pretty low thirty years ago, judging by all the stories they’ve told us over the years. Missed trains, lousy hotels, disappearing luggage.”
“Don’t forget the pickpocket that stole their cash and passports.”
Melissa had to smile. Though their parents’ stories always made their honeymoon thirty years ago sound dismal, Frank and Diane always laughed when they shared them, as if they had viewed the whole thing as a huge adventure.
She wanted that. She wanted to share that kind of joy and laughter and tears with Josh. The adventure that was life.
Her smile faded, replaced by that ache of sadness that always seemed so close these days. Oh, Josh. She reached into the silverware drawer, avoiding her sister’s gaze.
“Okay. What’s wrong?” Abby asked anyway.
She forced a smile. “Nothing. I’m just a little tired, that’s all.”
“Late night with Josh?” her sister teased.
Before she could stop them, tears welled up and spilled over. She blinked them back but not before her sharp-eyed sister caught
them.
“What did I say?” Abby asked with a stunned look.
“Nothing. I just…I didn’t have a late night with Josh. Not last night, not last week, not for the last two weeks. He’s avoiding my calls and canceled our last two dates. Even when we’re together, it’s like he’s not there. I know he’s busy at work but…I think he’s planning to break up with me.”
Abby’s jaw sagged and Melissa saw shock and something else, something furtive, shift across Abby’s expression.
“That can’t be true. It just…can’t be.”
She wanted to believe that, too. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything. Forget it. You’ve worked so hard to make this night perfect and I don’t want to ruin it.”
Abby shook her head. “You need to put that wacky idea out of your head right now. Josh is crazy about you. It’s clear to anybody who has ever seen the two of you together for five seconds. He couldn’t possibly be thinking of breaking things off.”
“I’m sure you’re right,” she lied. Too much evidence pointed otherwise. Worst of all was the casual kiss good-night the past few times she’d seen him, instead of one of their deep, emotional, soul-sharing kisses that made her toes curl.
“I’m serious, Missy. Trust me on this. I’m absolutely positive he’s not planning to break up with you. Not Josh. He loves you. In fact…”
She stopped, biting her lip, and furiously turned back to the chicken.
“In fact what?”
Abby’s features were evasive. “In fact, would he be out right now with Greg buying the wine and champagne for tonight if he didn’t want to have anything to do with the Morgan family?”
Out of the corner of her gaze, Melissa saw that amazingly decorated dining room again, the magical setting her sister had worked so hard to create for their parents who loved each other dearly. She refused to ruin this night for Abby and the rest of her family. For now, she would focus on the celebration and forget the tiny cracks in her heart.
She pasted on a smile and grabbed the napkins, with their rings formed out of entwined grapevine hearts. “You’re right. I’m being silly. I’m sure everything will be just fine. Anyway, tonight is for Mom and Dad. That’s the important thing.”