Elena beamed. “When are you going on this grand adventure?”
“I promised Sean I’d do this feature for him. He thinks it’ll happen in about six weeks. He’s working on all the documents and arrangements now. I should only be gone two weeks, then I’m done.”
Elena fixed me a look. “So eight weeks and my girl can stop her constant worrying?”
“Elena!” Ally admonished quietly.
“It’s fine,” I assured her. “Yes, Elena. She can stop worrying. You both can.”
Elena sniffed. “I never said I worried about you, boy.”
I winked. “I know you do, you miserable old bat. You love me.”
She rolled her eyes. “You think too much of yourself.” Then she chortled. “I can hardly wait to see the look on Sarah’s and Ronald’s faces when the two of you announce your engagement.” She clapped her hands. “I have to be there.”
I shrugged. “Sorry, only those who love me can be present to witness that showdown.”
Ally chuckled as Elena shot me a frown.
“Alexandra, my dear,” she announced haughtily, “I need some tea.”
I watched her leave, smiling as she glanced back toward me then wiggled her fingers, admiring her ring.
“You made two of the best decisions of your life today, Adam.”
I smirked at Elena. “My job and marrying Ally, you mean?”
She snorted. “No, playing poker with me and choosing that scotch. Of course I meant that, you dolt.”
Laughing, I shook my head. “I know.”
She leaned forward, suddenly earnest, clasping my hand tight. “Life’s too short, boy. Stop taking sad pictures and grab this opportunity. Marry her and take her away—show her the world. Make sure she knows what she means to you. Make lots of babies and memories.”
I squeezed her fragile bones carefully. “I will.”
“Your decision of a career change is a good one. You can still do what you love and be close. She needs you here—she suffers when you’re gone more than you know.”
“How?”
“Not only does she miss you terribly every time you leave, and worries herself sick, but Sarah and Ronald use every excuse to try and cause trouble for you. They invite that Bradley to butt in every chance they get. They smother her in darkness when you’re gone. Use guilt on her every time you’re absent. She needs you here with her. Get her away from them or they’ll control her forever.”
I had suspected everything she told me, but Ally had never breathed a word. I felt the stirrings of anger in my gut. “Why can’t she break free?” I growled. “I’ll take care of her. She knows that.”
Elena shook her head. “Adam, she was a child when the accident happened. A child already unsure of her place in life given the way she was treated. It’s been drummed into her head all these years she isn’t enough, that what happened was her fault, and she had to make amends by being perfect.” She shook her head. “An impossible task for anyone, but she’s tried so hard all her life. It will take her time to finally accept it’s okay for her to be happy. To think of herself, to think for herself.” She patted my hand. “Be patient and keep loving her. She needs to be loved—openly. It’s what she’s always needed.”
“She’ll have it forever.” I leaned closer, worried. “I’ll get called away again before this is over. I promised Sean I’d give him that.”
She nodded. “I’ll watch her. But promise me as soon as your final commitment is done you’ll take her away.”
I hummed in agreement. I was already planning a trip to Fiji. I wanted Ally to see the beauty of the island, sleep the mornings away with her every day, and dance on the sand under the stars until late in the night. I wanted her to lie by the pool and see her pale skin kissed by the sun, and watch the stress leave her body.
And marry her.
“Come with us.”
Elena looked startled. “What?”
“Come with us. I’m taking her to Fiji. It’s beautiful, and the villa I plan on renting is huge. You can have your own suite.”
“You don’t want an old lady there,” she scoffed, but I saw the flicker of delight in her eyes.
With a grin, I lifted her hand and kissed it. “No, we want you. Ally would love it. You can stay for a week or a month—whatever you want.”
“You want to see me in a bikini.”
I threw my head back laughing. “You got me.”
“I won’t go with you, but I’ll come visit for a few days.”
“At least a week. Two would be better.”
“On one condition.”
I grinned. “Negotiations? Excellent.”
She grinned back. “I want to be there when you tell Sarah and Ronald.”
“You’ll have to say it,” I teased.
She leaned forward, cupping my face in her hands. They were as soft as powder, the skin thin and pale, her veins a map of bruised purple under the skin. Her rings were cold on my cheeks, but her expression was filled with affection.
“I love you, boy. You and my Ally. The two of you are my heart.”
I held the gaze of a woman I had come to love dearly. She was blunt, honest, and snarky—and underneath all the bluster was the sweetest woman I’d ever known aside from my girl. We loved spending time with her.
I kissed her cheek. “Front and center, Elena.”
She beamed back at me.
Ally walked in, carrying a tray, smiling at us.
My phone rang.
She stopped smiling.
I shared a look with Elena. She dipped her chin, telling me silently she would watch closely.
I stood to answer, moving past Ally. She gave me a brave nod, but I saw the worry in her eyes already taking hold. I stopped beside her, brushing her lips with mine. “Soon,” I promised.
I hit accept to stop the ringing, already looking forward to the day it was silent forever.
Chapter 15
Wind tore through my hair, the fierceness of it stinging my eyes. Debris flew around, and I ducked and bobbed, trying to avoid being hit as the storm raged.
This time I was closer to home. The phone call from Sean had been to tell me about a huge hurricane blowing toward the Atlantic coast, and Chris and I flew out to capture the images as it hit and the aftermath. We’d been watching it roll in, capturing the violence and the beauty as it came inland. I hit the ground as a huge piece of debris barely missed my head and I knew it was time to retreat. We needed to hunker down until we knew it was safe to return and capture the remnants of the storm.
Trapped in the small hotel with other media people, we listened to the howling wind and the crashing outside the thick walls. There was no sleep for anyone, and there wouldn’t be until this was over. The noise was horrific, the resonances never ending. Finally, the eye of the hurricane passed over us and the storm eased.
We ventured out into the weak morning light, staring at the path of destruction. Grimly, I glanced at Chris. “Time to get to work.”
Hours later, I returned to the hotel, exhausted. I hadn’t slept in three days, going on adrenaline and caffeine when I could grab it. Wearily I sat on the edge of the old bed, powering on the satellite phone. There was no other way of getting hold of Ally and I knew she’d be worried, so I needed to talk to her before I tried sleeping. With the time difference, she’d be at work, so I called the hospital directly. I was shocked when the person who answered the phone informed me she wasn’t there and refused to give me any more information. When I asked if Vivian was on duty, she replied with a terse no, then hung up. Immediately I dialed Ally’s cell phone, worried she was ill. When she answered, her voice was thick and raspy. When she heard my voice, she began to weep.
I stood, and started to pace when I heard her deep sobs. “Ally—what is it? What’s wrong?”
There were more sobs—heart-wrenching, pain-filled cries that were frightening. “Baby,” I pleaded. “Tell me what’s wrong. Are you hurt? Ill?”
“No,” she gaspe
d out.
“Take a deep breath. I need you to calm down and tell me.”
Her voice was so rough, I knew she’d been crying for hours. “Elena,” she whimpered.
My heart sank. “Elena?” I repeated in a low voice.
“She—she died, Adam.”
—
I had to fight, bribe, and plead my way home. There were no flights leaving the storm-ravaged coast. Chris stayed behind to keep working, and with Sean’s help, I found a car. I drove as fast as I could, finally getting to a major center, and flew back to Toronto and my brokenhearted girl.
Elena had suffered a stroke, Ally was finally able to tell me. She had found her, collapsed on the floor of her kitchen, and had attempted to perform CPR while waiting for the ambulance.
“I couldn’t save her,” she’d sobbed into the phone.
I had to tamp down my grief and use everything at my disposal to get to her. Elena had died two days prior and the funeral was happening today. Ally had been alone and dealing with her grief for two days, unable to get in touch with me.
When the plane landed it was already past two and I had missed the ceremony. I knew they would be at the cemetery, so I instructed the cabbie to take me straight there.
I was a mess—still wearing the same clothes from the previous day, my dark jeans and T-shirt wrinkled and worn. My hair was wild and I hadn’t shaved in days. It didn’t matter to me and I knew it wouldn’t matter to Ally, either. My ink was on display and I looked rough and haggard—Elena would have loved it.
I stood at the back of the mourners, finding Ally in the crowd. She was standing to the side, right at the front. Dressed in black, her hair pulled back off her face, she was pale, her skin dull and white against the black of her attire. Her arms were wrapped around her torso, as if she was holding herself in. I wanted to go over and draw her into my arms, but I knew it would cause a scene, and out of respect for Elena, I remained apart from her, waiting for the right time. Her mother and Ronald stood near, neither showing any emotion, nor attempting to comfort Ally. Hovering close was Bradley. More than once I saw his hand reach for hers, but she shook him off each time, moving to avoid his contact. Carefully, I circled the group, coming up across from them, lowering my head in reverence to the woman we were saying goodbye to. I kept my eyes on Ally, hoping when she finally looked up, she would see me. When the service ended, and people starting to disperse, I focused all my attention on her, willing her to see me.
I moved closer, ignoring the fact that Sarah had spotted me and grabbed Ally’s elbow, attempting to pull her away. Her plan backfired, as she glanced over to see what Sarah was frowning about, and with a gasp, ran straight into my open arms.
I held her close, engulfing her tiny frame completely. She gripped my neck tight, sobbing into my chest as I nuzzled her head, whispering words of comfort to her as I rocked her from side to side. Looking up, I met the baleful stare of the good doctor Bradley, who frowned before turning around and walking away.
“I’m here, Ally,” I murmured. “I’m so sorry, baby.”
“Adam—” she sobbed, sounding broken.
Sarah approached us. “Alexandra—control yourself. We need to go to the club. There’s a luncheon, and we can’t be late.”
I gaped at her. Her daughter was on the brink of a breakdown, sobbing openly in my arms and trembling so hard I was holding her up, and she was worried about being late for a lunch?
I shook my head. “We’re not going to a lunch.”
The coldhearted bitch smirked at me.
“You, Mr. Kincaid, were not invited. You’re hardly dressed suitably for such things. I’m surprised you managed to pull yourself away from your hobby to make an appearance—as inappropriate as it is.”
I narrowed my eyes, ignoring her jibe about my work and my place here. “I’ve been in a place with no power or amenities for the past week, Mrs. Givens. I’ve spent the past thirty hours trying to get back here to be with your daughter. I don’t think how I’m dressed matters.”
“Really, well—”
“What matters”—I cut her off—“is the fact your daughter is distraught and exhausted.”
“What matters,” she hissed back, “is that Alexandra stops this emotional grandstanding and pulls herself together. We will present a united front at the club. She can give in to these ridiculous dramatics later in private.” She reached out, attempting to grab Ally’s arm. “And you have no idea what matters here. Nor do you have any say.”
I stepped back, taking Ally with me, and glared. “I believe I do have a say. She isn’t going anywhere with you. We’re going home.”
Sarah glanced behind her, and I shook my head in disgust. Her daughter was an emotional wreck and all she was worried about was what people would see, what they would think, or say, about our interaction.
“Don’t worry, Sarah,” I sneered. “All people see is me holding your daughter and us having a perfectly civilized conversation. Although, if you don’t back off, right the fuck now, they’ll get a show none of you will ever forget. I promise you that.”
Our gazes locked.
“Do you want to go to this lunch, Ally?” I asked quietly, not taking my eyes off Sarah. I’d go with her if that was what she wanted.
She shook her head against my chest, pulling back and lifting her ravaged face to her mother. “I’m staying with Adam,” she rasped. “You go without me.”
“Your place is with us,” Sarah insisted. “Remember your duty.”
I rolled my eyes at her statement. I’d had enough of her “duty” when it came to Ally.
“My place is with Adam.”
“You’re disrespecting Elena’s memory, Alexandra. This is for her.”
I couldn’t help the snort that escaped. Elena would have cared less. “You, lady, have no idea what respect is. Your daughter doesn’t want to go, so she isn’t going. She’s staying with me.”
“My daughter is coming with me—where she belongs.”
A sudden breeze stirred the branches of the trees around us, causing the picture of Elena on the easel to thump loudly on the metal bars. I recognized the photo—I had taken it myself one night during a poker game. Elena was glancing away from the camera, laughing hard at something Ally had said, the warmth so few people knew radiating from her. It was my favorite photograph of her and a smaller copy was in my loft. No doubt Ally had supplied the picture for the service.
I almost started to laugh at the timing and knew this was the moment I’d been waiting for.
It was time to give Elena her last wish. She was waiting—impatiently—and had given me the sign.
Front and center, I’d promised her.
“Ally is staying with me,” I stated clearly, drawing in a deep breath. “My fiancée is exhausted and overwrought and will not be joining you at the lunch. She’s going home—with me. That is where she belongs.”
Sarah’s face became ghostly white as her eyes widened. “What did you say?”
I grinned at the horror in her voice. “You heard me, Mom. Ally and I are engaged. So I think I do have a say in the matter. And I say she belongs with me.”
“You lie.”
Ally turned in my arms. “Don’t speak to him like that, Mother. He isn’t lying. He asked me to marry him and I accepted.”
I lifted my arm with a smirk. “Want to give me a hug and welcome me to the family?”
Sarah’s lips thinned, a deep scowl now marring her face. Strangely, it made her look the most human I’d ever seen. “We’ll be discussing this when you’re calmer.”
I shook my head. “No, thanks. We’ve already decided on a small, intimate ceremony in a place of our own choosing. We don’t require any discussions.”
“I won’t allow it.”
Before I could say anything, Ally spoke up. “You have no say in it—I’m an adult and it’s my decision. I’m marrying Adam. I love him and he loves me.”
I pulled her closer and kissed the top of her head, smiling at
her declaration.
“He’ll be the ruin of you.”
“No, he showed me what life is about. He loves me for me. He makes me happy.” She placed a hand on her mother’s rigid arm. “Can’t you be pleased for me? Adam’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me. Give him a chance, please.” She squeezed her mother’s arm beseechingly. “Please…Mom.”
For one brief second, I thought she had succeeded. There was a small flash of something in Sarah’s eyes at the word Mom, but they quickly became cold again.
“You’ve been nothing but a disappointment. You do this and I wash my hands of you.”
Ally sagged into me at the harshness of her mother’s words, her hand dropping in defeat.
“You coldhearted bitch,” I seethed. “How could you say that to her? You’ll turn your back on your own daughter because she wants to be happy?” I shook my head. “Of course you would. You turned your back on her when you chose that prick of a husband over her. I shouldn’t be surprised. You don’t deserve her.”
With those words, I lifted Ally into my arms, cradling her next to my chest. “We’re staying here for a while and then I’m taking her home. Unless you want that scene, I suggest you step aside.” I indicated the small groups, still hovering around, now watching us with interest. “I’m sure your counterparts would love a good show to talk about at your lunch.”
With a glare, Sarah turned on her heel and stormed away. Ignoring everything and everyone around us, I walked over to Elena’s grave and sat down on the stone bench that was close, holding Ally.
We needed some time with Elena—alone.
—
“I tried to save her.”
“I know, Nightingale.”
“She wouldn’t wake up. I tried,” she repeated, her voice plaintive. “But she stopped breathing and she was gone.”
I drew back, concerned, looking down at her. I had seen her strong and capable. Happy and laughing. Weary and tired. I had also seen the effect her mother and Ronald had on her, destroying anything positive and making her feel less than she was, but right now she sounded so lost and vulnerable—almost broken.
“I’m sorry you found her like that, but I’m sure she knew you were there with her.”
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