“Fine,” Bex countered. “What I really want to know is about Liv anyway.”
“Oh great, here we go,” Olivia groaned.
“Did you really stab Rhys?” Bex asked, her eyes wide and inquiring.
“New bar!” Olivia exclaimed.
Thomas chuckled. “Well, if she did, she comes by it honestly.”
“What’s that supposed to mean, Grand?” Bex asked.
“Oh, didn’t Gran ever tell you how she stabbed the radio executive that tried to give Grand a raw deal,” Jacob asked raising his eyebrows.
“What?” Olivia and her cousins shrieked in unison.
Cassidy only laughed and swirled her glass of gin. “Served him right. No one messes with my family.”
“Here, here!” Liv’s father said, raising a glass.
“Here, here!” The rest of the table exclaimed joining the toast.
“Was it with the same knife?” Bex asked and the table erupted in laughter as Olivia threw her napkin at her cousin.
Thomas leaned over to Alex during the chaos and said quietly. “Are you sure you know what you’re getting yourself into?”
Alex grinned. “Yes, sir. I’ve never been more sure of my feelings for anyone in my life.”
Thomas smiled and extended his hand. “Welcome to the family, son.”
Alex shook Thomas’s hand vigorously, his heart swelling with pride. Alex had craved a family his whole life—people who would love him and protect him because he was their own. Not only had Alex found love with Olivia, but she’d given him something he’d given up hoping for—a family and a place to belong.
At that moment Alex caught Cassidy smiling at him. She winked a sparkling blue eye at Alex and leaned over to her husband and whispered. “I told you so, Thomas. Sometimes people just need a little push to find what they’re looking for.”
Epilogue
Ten weeks later, Olivia graduated from UCLA. Her father was in the crowd cheering like she was the rock star, as she received her diploma. The next day, she returned to New York, as promised, with her father at her side. And her grandparents and Alex were waiting at the airport to pick them up.
Gran was wearing three-inch heels and a beautiful cream suit, tailored to fit her perfectly. She clicked confidently by Olivia’s side, chatting excitedly about their future plans, making Olivia wonder if her vivacious grandmother had ever really been sick at all, or if it had simply been the only way she knew how to steer Olivia to the future she’d forgotten she deserved.
Alex’s career exploded in the New York art scene and Olivia was there to see every minute of it. He found strength in their love and it gave him the confidence to share the different way he viewed the world through synesthesia. The painting he did of Olivia’s cello piece became the most sought after of all of his work—most likely due to the fact that it was made famous by Alex proposing to Olivia in front of it.
Olivia had agreed to play the cello at Alex’s big gallery opening. A spotlight had been on her and the painting while she played. All of the other gallery lights were off. When she finished and the lights came back on, Alex was kneeling in front of her with an engagement ring.
Of course it didn’t matter how famous the cello painting became, because Alex had gifted it to Cassidy the day he took the red-eye flight to tell Olivia that he loved her. And no matter how many outlandish offers Cassidy received, she refused to part with the painting that helped her granddaughter find what she’d lost.
Olivia Crain and Alex Tine wed at Carter Ridge. The whole family returned to the lake cottage for the ceremony and to cheer them on as they carried out the tradition of carving their initials into the legendary doorframe.
They returned to Alex’s SoHo apartment while Olivia fulfilled her dream of attending Julliard’s graduate program. She eventually joined the New York Symphony and Olivia’s whole family was there, sitting in the front row on opening night to hear her play.
Alex and Olivia shared their success with the city they loved, giving back by buying the old school building that housed their loft and converting it into an art center specifically geared to getting children off the street. They also created scholarships for creatives with synesthesia and supported charities to help those with alcohol and substance abuse.
The couple spent many happy years in SoHo, painting and making music together in the city. They had two children, and adopted six more. Their home was always filled with music, art, laughter and love. And Olivia and Alex, two people who’d known so much loneliness, were never lonely again.
When Cassidy Crain finally passed, her faithful husband and soul mate, Thomas Crain, passed a few short hours after. They left the Carter Ridge cottage to Olivia and Alex, who made it their goal to always keep the doors open, in order to help those find what they thought was lost—the strength to keep going and hope for the future. The true magic of the Carter Ridge cottage.
Acknowledgments
I’d like to thank everyone who made this book possible. To my husband, whose unyielding belief and encouragement forces me to pour my best self onto each and every page. To three of the most amazing women I know, Molly, Megan, and Terese, who take time out of their lives to let me blab endlessly about my books while they help make them shine. I’m blessed to call you friends and grateful beyond words for your help. To Vince, for literally sitting by my side during every word, edit and rewrite. You are the heartbeat at my feet. To those who see the world differently and aren’t afraid to share it. And again, to the Carter’s, for opening up their beautiful home that inspired the concept of Carter Ridge. To my parents for teaching me that love conquers all. And to everyone who still believes in it. And to all of you who are taking the time to read this to the very end.
And finally, special heartfelt thanks to all the men and women who serve this country. Your sacrifices have shaped our nation. I am forever grateful for the freedoms you fight for. I will continue to write love stories, knowing they will never be as profound as your love of country.
Want to take your own Retreat Again tour?
Some of the places in the book are fictional, but many are real and can be visited.
Sip coffee at Prologue Coffee Room in NYC
Browse amazing art at David Zwirner Gallery in NYC
Enjoy linguini rustica at Pellegrino’s in NYC
Visit the posh Mark Hotel in NYC
As for Carter Ridge, it was inspired by the beautiful Sky Valley, Ga.
To my readers,
I want to personally thank you for taking the time to seek out this great little indie book. Writing is truly my passion. I believe each of us can find a small part of ourselves in every book we read, and carry it with us, shaping our world, our adventures and our dreams.
Following my dream to write frees my soul but knowing others find joy in my writing is indescribable. So thank you for your support and I hope your enjoyed your brief escape into the magic of these pages.
If you enjoyed this story, don’t worry, there’s plenty more currently rattling around in my rambunctious imagination. Let me and others know your thoughts by sharing a review of this book. Reviews help shape my next writing projects. So if you want more books like this one be sure to shout it from the rooftops (or social media.) ;-)
- Christina Benjamin
PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW HERE
About the Author
Award-Winning author, Christina Benjamin, lives in Florida with her husband, and character inspiring pets, where she spends her free time working on her books and speaking to inspire fellow writers.
Christina is best known for her wildly popular Young Adult series, The Geneva Project.
Her best-selling novel, The Geneva Project - Truth, has won multiple awards and stolen the hearts of YA readers. Packed with magic and imagination, her epic tale of adventure hooks fans of mega-hit YA fiction like Harry Potter, The Hunger Games and Percy Jackson.
Christina loves to read and write across genres. YA is her favorite but she’s a sucke
r for a good love story. Don’t miss her romance, paranormal and historical fiction, as well as the multiple anthologies she’s been a part of.
Follow her Amazon Page to get updates when new books are released. HERE
For more information
@authorcbenjamin
ChristinaBenjaminAuthor
www.christinabenjaminauthor.com
Also by Christina Benjamin
ROMANCE
Retreat To Me
Retreat Again
YOUNG ADULT ROMANCE
The Practice Boyfriend
YOUNG ADULT FANTASY/DYSTOPIAN SERIES
The Geneva Project - TRUTH (Book 1)
The Geneva Project - SECRETS (Book 2)
The Geneva Project - LIES (Book 3)
The Geneva Project - DESTINY (Book 4)
The Geneva Project - Complete Box Set
The Geneva Project - Prequels Collection
Retreat Again (The Retreat Series Book 2) Page 19