Revealing Destiny

by C. J. Corbin

  “We’re looking forward to seeing you both,” I said excitedly. “I’ll start reading the script as soon as it arrives today. I can't wait to see it!”

  After we said our goodbyes and disconnected, Michael wrapped his arms around me, hugging me from behind. “I’m so proud of you babe,” he whispered, his lips close to my ear.

  I grinned, “Can you believe this?”

  “You’re going to be a busy girl today. Let’s see, you have to call your sister, and then there is Debi and Annie. Do you want to tear yourself away for a jog first?”

  “Of course, I’ll run with you, but first,” I handed him my empty oatmeal bowl. “Can you make me some more oatmeal?”

  CHAPTER THREE

  My hands shook with anticipation as I opened the FedEx package, which arrived that afternoon. Even though we tried to relax, waiting all day for the package had keyed me up. We lived at the furthest point from the center of town and, as a result, we were always at the end of delivery schedules.

  Michael and I met last summer when he moved into his newly renovated house and became my new next-door neighbor. Our homes, located on the shore of Lake Mintock, were the last houses on our side of the lake. His was far larger than my little two-bedroom cabin, and, as our relationship heated up over the autumn, it was natural for me to move my things to his house. My cabin became our offices.

  While I wrote my romance novels, he edited his wildlife photography, and, together, we worked on an eagle storybook for children. The mountain connected to our town and the lake had two nesting eagles; I was convinced that our love of these eagles had brought us together. When we teamed up to work on the book, it became a magical time for both of us. I had to admit, writing a children’s book was new for me, but his praise and encouragement pushed me to stretch myself as a writer.

  “Michael! It’s here!” I exclaimed as I walked into the kitchen from the back porch.

  He handed me a champagne flute filled with sparkling apple juice. “Congratulations, my love. Open it- let’s see!”

  My stomach started the flip-flops but it was definitely not morning sickness. Sitting down at the small kitchen table, I read the title page aloud, “Trouble Always Happens, based on the novel by Elizabeth Sommars.” I turned the page and continued, “Opening Scene: Focus in on our heroine - Wendy Bolton is tied to an office chair inside an empty cavernous warehouse…”

  Looking up at him, I clinked my champagne glass with his. “They have the beginning correct, now let’s see what they did with the rest.” I took a sip, “Mmmm… this is good. I suppose you just happened to have this in the pantry?”

  Michael bent over and kissed me. “Of course, babe,” he laughed, “And I had to scour three markets to find it today.”

  A knock at the back door interrupted our revelry. “Who could that be?”

  Grinning, he went to open the back door. “Just a little surprise for you.”

  “Hey darling, whatcha doing?” The voices of my girlfriend Debi and her husband Don greeted me as they walked into the kitchen.

  Michael came up behind them. “I invited Debi and Don for dinner tonight to celebrate with us. Annie and Frank are coming over too.”

  “Oh!” I exclaimed, hugging both of my closest friends. Debi's hug took my breath away, it always did. The top of her dark blond head barely reaching my shoulders.

  Don not much taller than Debi held my arms out from my sides and perused me up and down. "Yeah. Definitely pregnant," he proclaimed.

  I pushed his shoulder, "You can't tell like that." I giggled.

  "I'm right, aren't I?" He chuckled.

  I shook my head and rolled my eyes. "Debi, I don't know how you put up with your silly man."

  Debi winked at me, "He has his good ass...ets." We laughed as she drew out the word.

  “Why don’t you girls go on into living room and let us guys handle getting dinner ready.” Michael handed them both beers he had retrieved from the refrigerator.

  The boys didn’t get any argument from us.

  We settled into the large black leather couch in the living room. The weather had cleared up during the day and we enjoyed watching the sun slowly set behind the mountain, the sky turning a flamboyant red and purple. Streams of pale light filtered in between the trees and a chill set in as the shadows deepened.

  This was the reason I loved living in Mintock - being away from the hustle of a big city, running with the dogs along the lakeshore, and having my best friends close. Debi and I had met in high school in our home town of Torrance, in southern California. During the summers, I would come up to Mintock to stay with my aunt Ruth and met Don and his family. Debi started coming with me and fell in love with Don.

  I loved this dear friend of mine, who had stood right with me through all the difficulties of my life, including my disastrous first marriage. She knew me better than most and I could always count on her to be in my court.

  Debi’s tortoise shell-colored eyes stared at me, as if to prompt me to dish.

  I smiled and tucked my feet under me. “I’m feeling pretty spoiled right now.”

  Debi’s round face nodded. “You should feel that way. I’m sure the man in that kitchen is planning to spoil you for the rest of your life. Now let’s see the ring!”

  I stuck out my left hand to her. “Isn’t it beautiful?” The platinum ring had a two-carat, princess-cut center stone with matching channel-set diamonds and rows of pave’ diamonds down the sides.

  Debi’s lips made a big ‘O.’ “You know that cost a small fortune. It is certainly very shiny and I’m jealous.”

  “Can you believe it, Debi? I’m pregnant, engaged, and my book is being made into a movie!” I marveled. “Michael is so happy about the baby, too. I was afraid to tell him.”

  “I don’t know why - you know how much he loves kids. It's evident he cherishes you as well.”

  "I didn’t think he’d want to start a whole new family. Now that Tammy and Katy are both in college, he had talked about traveling. In fact, he’ll be up in Canada visiting the polar bears in March for several weeks. The project he’s doing with the San Diego Zoo finally received approval from the Canadian government. I'm a little afraid that he'll feel tied down again with a new baby.”

  Our attention diverted to the dogs barking and a commotion in the kitchen. Don’s parents had arrived. Frank was Mintock’s police chief and Annie, an elder with the local Native American tribal counsel of the Pomo people, was my second mom. After my mother passed away several years ago, she had taken me under her wing.

  She came out of the kitchen first, her arms wide open for a hug. Dressed in her jeans, cowboy boots, and denim shirt, her slim body moved quickly across the room. She hugged us together. I could see tears in her eyes as she looked at me, which, of course, started my own waterworks.

  “Oh Mija! I am so happy for you and Michael,” she said, hugging me even tighter. Even though I towered over her tiny five-foot frame, her hugs made me feel enveloped somehow. Her little nickname for me, meaning “daughter” in Spanish, was always special to me. Ever prepared, she produced a small packet of tissues from her pocket to dry my eyes. “I know your mother would have loved Michael. He will make you a good husband.”

  I nodded happily. Michael had won Annie over from their very first meeting, which was a remarkably difficult task. Considering everyone disliked my first husband, and what a catastrophe my marriage to him was, my future with Michael seemed especially bright.

  Frank joined us in the living room. “Do you girls want to eat? Michael said it’s all ready and I’m starving!”

  I took Annie and Debi’s hands. “Me too! Michael has been cooking all afternoon- the smells from the kitchen have been driving me crazy.”

  Debi laughed, “Nothing wrong with your appetite.”

  Laughing with her, I agreed. “You’re right about that. I’ve been eating like a pig and will probably be a huge pregnant woman.”

  “You can stand to gain a few pounds, skinny girl,”
Don said, playfully squeezing my shoulder.

  I winced as Don’s hand inadvertently moved over the scar on my shoulder. The scar, the source of my nightmares, and the result of my ex-husband brutally attacking, and almost killing, me last Thanksgiving.

  Frank's expression darkened. "I'm glad that son of a bitch is behind bars where he belongs."

  I sighed deeply. "They still expect me to testify. It's not something I'm looking forward to."

  Annie wrapped an arm around my waist. "Don't worry, Mija. We are all here for you. Kevin will get the justice he deserves."

  “Elizabeth, I’m sorry, I keep forgetting about your shoulder,” Don grimaced.

  “No worries Don. I’m okay.”

  Michael placed the heaping tray of bubbling homemade macaroni and cheese on the table. “With your recovery from the injury, and your morning sickness, you’ve shed enough weight.”

  I laughed while approaching the table. “You keep cooking like this, and, like I said, I’m going to be a huge pregnant woman.”

  He leaned over and kissed my neck. “And I will love you forever, no matter what,” he said as he nuzzled my ear.

  Annie’s eyes sparkled, again looking moist. She raised a champagne glass that Frank had been busy filling. “A toast to love. To new love, old love, the love of a wife, the love of a husband. The love of a mother, father, and of friends. May it always surround those who live in this house and who live in our hearts.”

  The clinking glasses made a merry sound as we toasted. My eyes were only on Michael after I took a sip of the cold sparkling apple juice. “I love you,” I whispered.

  “And I love you more,” he whispered back to me.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  The days leading up to our departure for New Orleans hurried by. We were flying in the weekend before Fat Tuesday, Mardi Gras. There were parties planned for each night and a whirlwind of daytime activities. I had a feeling I would be exhausted by the time Wednesday arrived. We were staying with Marcus and Nancy during the first half of the week, and then the entire party would move to Michael’s other best friend’s home, Tommy and his wife Marie. Their house was located a half-hour outside of New Orleans in the bayou.

  I had finished reading the script and felt the writer had done a remarkable job of keeping the tone and flavor of the book. We collaborated over the phone, because she wanted to change some of the scene sequences, which I readily agreed to since her ideas made sense. The production company had already started casting and was scouting locations in the Los Angeles area. Their attention to small details in the script surprised me - everyone I spoke with was enthusiastic about capturing my vision. My fans would be quite outspoken if the movie did not follow the book, which was the main reason the first try had failed.

  Michael made packing for our trip easy for me since he had shipped my gowns to New Orleans in advance. I loved vintage clothes and Michael had given me two gowns for Christmas as replacements for the dress his ex-wife had destroyed last year. Normally I wasn’t fashion conscious, but I had purchased the vintage Ceil Chapman dress several years ago with earnings from my first book. I loved that dress and finally had an opportunity to wear it when Michael and I attended a special function at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Afterward, though, his ex-wife, Margaret, stole my dress and made sure I’d never wear it again. If I never saw her again, it would be too soon. It was evident both of us had crazy ex-spouses.

  We headed down to San Francisco on Thursday morning, after dropping the dogs off at Debi and Don’s house. Spending the day and night in San Francisco before flying to New Orleans on Friday had been Michael’s idea. Valentine’s Day was Sunday and he wanted to pamper me by ourselves first.

  I sat down on top of my suitcase, trying to close it, as Michael came into the bedroom.

  “Elizabeth, what are you doing?”

  “Trying to get my suitcase closed,” I said with exertion.

  He laughed and pressed down on the top with his large hands while I finished closing the zipper.

  “What do you have in there? We’re only going for a week.” He laughed again.

  “Girls have to have clothes. I have to have different shoes with each of the dresses, too.”

  “Oh…” he nodded and looked at me with a smirk. Michael took my hands and lifted me to my feet. “I don’t want you to forget your shoes. If you did everyone would say you’re barefoot and pregnant.” He grinned at his own joke.

  I patted him on the chest, “Go ahead and laugh at my expense.”

  Still grinning, he tried to look contrite. “Sorry.”

  I didn’t think he was, but knew karma would get him when he lifted the suitcase, which he tried to do five seconds later.

  “Ooof!" He grunted with effort as he set the suitcase up on its wheels. "Like I said before, what do you have in this suitcase? I pity anyone who has to pick this up.”

  He finished loading the Jeep while I supervised. I actually liked this pregnant thing, because it meant Michael turned all macho on me. He wouldn’t let me carry anything, even though I was perfectly capable, well, except maybe my suitcase. I had to admit it was very heavy.

  We arrived in San Francisco two hours later and, after checking into the opulent Fairmount Hotel, we set off on a shopping expedition, our first stop a small antique jewelry store. It puzzled me that Michael would choose this store to visit. I smiled broadly when we stepped through the door and the owner himself greeted Michael warmly.

  “Mr. Hoffman, please come in. Everything is ready.” The white-haired man showed us to a small office in the back of the store and we sat down in the chairs he provided.

  “Thank you, Mr. Wellington,” Michael said. “This is Miss Sommars, my fiancée.”

  A thrill ran down my spine when Michael introduced me as his fiancée. I offered my hand and Mr. Wellington shook it affectionately.

  He went around to the other side of his desk and produced a large flat velvet box from the drawer. “I think you’ll be very pleased. It is exactly what you were looking for, and we authenticated the history of the piece.” He opened the lid with great flourish and set it down in front of me.

  My eyes widened when I saw the necklace inside the box. I looked up at Michael and then back down.

  I gasped. “I don’t understand... is this for me?”

  A double strand of pearls with a huge sapphire connecting them in the center lay on the black satin. I wanted to pick up the necklace and, at the same time, I could not believe it was real. I looked back up at Michael.

  A large smile was painted on his face. “Do you like it?” He carefully picked up the necklace as Mr. Wellington set a large mirror in front of me.

  Automatically I lifted my hair away from my back and shoulders while Michael clasped the keepsake around my neck. When the sapphire came to rest in the hollow of my throat, it was as if the choker had been made especially for me.

  “Perfection!” announced Mr. Wellington.

  While looking in the mirror, I touched the necklace softly, and caught Michael’s eyes. “Why?” I only mouthed the word.

  Michael merely smiled warmly. “There doesn’t need to be a reason. Only know how much I love you.”

  A tear slid down my cheek as I turned to embrace him. After placing a box of tissues near the mirror, Mr. Wellington slipped discreetly from the room and closed the door.

  Michael pulled me to my feet and held me closely. “Now no crying.” He lifted my chin up with his fingers; his lips were soft against mine, the tenderness of his kiss overwhelming me.

  “I don’t know what to say. Thank you. You are spoiling me so much,” I blubbered, trying to keep the tears from falling.

  We kissed again and I felt completely contented to remain wrapped in his arms forever. Reaching for a tissue, and as he dried the tears from my cheeks, he looked secretive. “There’s one more place we have to visit.”

  This perked my interest. “Oh?”

  “Yes and then I think I’ll have my way with you,” he said
laughing as he squeezed my butt.

  I giggled and pinched his in return. “I might just have my way with you!”

  We put the necklace back in the velvet box and opened the office door.

  “Would you have this delivered to the Fairmont hotel this afternoon?” he asked as he handed the box back to Mr. Wellington.

  “Absolutely, Mr. Hoffman,” he said before he looked at me smiling. “It is ravishing on you, my dear. You will be the Belle of the ball!”

  I blushed. “Thank you. You had mentioned you confirmed the necklace’s history - what is the story?”

  “Oh, my dear, it is really quite delightful!” Mr. Wellington almost clapped his hands together. “The necklace was designed by Tiffany and Company in 1930 for Agatha Christie, and was given to her by her husband Max Mallowan on the occasion of their wedding. The estate sold it at auction after Mr. Mallowan’s death in 1978. The purchaser was a collector of Christie memorabilia and displayed the necklace in a small museum in Torquay, England - where Christie was born. The museum recently fell on hard times so they sold it, at auction, to a private investor living here in San Francisco.”

  I looked at Michael. “How did you find out about it?”

  “Actually my sister told me about it. She thought it would make a great gift for you and I asked her to see if the owner would be willing to part with it,” he answered truthfully. “You know Christina - she’s an incurable romantic, though she would never admit it. When I told her I was going to ask you to marry me, she started the search right away.”

  “I will have to thank her the next time I see her! It’s beautiful - thank you, Michael.” I leaned up and kissed him again. “And thank you as well, Mr. Wellington. I’ll definitely enjoy wearing this wonderful piece of history.”

  After leaving the jewelry shop, we walked hand in hand for several blocks to the next stop. When I saw it was a vintage clothing store, I paused in front of the window.

  “Michael, what did you do?”