by D. A. Young
“Because you’re a terrifying dragon lady who’s pissed that she has insane heartburn but refuses to stop shoving food into her pie hole.” This droll answer came from the corner of the room where an older white, silver-haired gentleman in a gray suit sat with three children, watching the bickering couple with wide eyes.
“Not helping, Ian,” Casey scolded him. “Ms. Annabelle, that’s my goddaddy and resident snark-shark, Ian Rusnik.”
Ian inclined his head at her with a genuine smile. “Hello, my dear. Graham, good to see you, lad.”
“Hey, Ian.”
Annabelle grabbed Graham’s arm and squeezed it. “Is that—” She couldn’t take her eyes away but asked, “Did you do this?”
“I know I said we’d wait, but it was killing me not to see babygirl,” Graham admitted with a sheepish grin.
It was Ruby who spoke first. “It’s Mummy and Daddy, Rory! Go see Mummy and Daddy!”
Rory jumped down from the sofa and ran to Annabelle and Graham. “Mummy! Mummy! Mummy!”
Annabelle bent down and caught her little body, squeezing her carefully as Rory hugged and kissed her while Graham allowed them to have their moment.
Sidra started bawling, “That’s so beautiful. Casey. Aren’t they beautiful? Do you think Moira and I will be like that? I’m so tired. Baby, my arms are killing me…”
“What’d I tell you about tryin’ to windmill your man, baby?” Casey led her from the room with a promise, “Let’s go lay down, and I’ll rub them for you.”
“You promise, Casey?” Sidra waved tiredly at Annabelle. “I’m demanding that we try this again in a couple of months. I’m not really like this. It’s—”
“We know. It’s your poor defenseless baby’s fault. Casey, stop springing your wife on unsuspecting victims like a psychotic jack’n’ the box!” Ian rose from the sofa and held onto Ruby’s hand. “I think I’ll come along as well, just to make sure your room is sufficiently padded and comes with an outside lock. Come along, children.”
With a kiss to Annabelle’s cheek, Ian guided Ruby out of the way, but D.J. remained behind and shook Graham’s hand. “Good afternoon, Uncle G. Ms. Annabelle. I was wondering if you could point me in—”
“She’s with her daddy, who’s still in uniform and carrying his gun.” Graham pointed to the door. “Find her at your own risk.”
“I’ll definitely keep that in mind. Later.”
Rory was busy staring at Graham with her brows furrowed in consternation. “Mummy, is Mr. Ram my daddy? That’s what Ruby said. D.J. said a daddy loves you no matter where you come from.” She lowered her head and buried it in Annabelle’s neck. Her brown eyes fluttered at Graham. “Mr. Ram, you love me, yes?”
Crashing and burning in the wind was his forever feeling for this little girl, Graham thought to himself. And her mama. Annabelle was trying not to cry and managed to give him a slight nod at his questioning look on how to proceed.
“Forever, Doc. That’s the deal; nothing less,” Graham reminded her tenderly.
“Forever multiplied by forevermore, no matter what, Mr. Carlton,” Annabelle’s voice broke on a sob of happiness as she passed Rory to Graham.
“Mr. Ram, why is Mummy crying?” Rory’s lower lip wobbled, and Graham knew that he’d better say something before he had two crying females on his hands and broke down himself.
There was movement in the door, and Graham saw his Uncle Nate, Aunt Val, Eliza, Wade, and Georgina hovering in the doorway, eager to meet Rory.
“Mummy is crying because I love you and her very much, babygirl.” Graham reached out to gently wipe away one of Annabelle’s tears then drew her into the group hug. His family. “Do you hear that, Rory? Your daddy loves the both of you very much.”
“I love you too, Daddy! What do you call a pile of cats, Daddy?”
If he broke, his sisters would never let him forget it.
“I don’t know, babygirl. What do you call it?”
“A meowtain!” She snuggled closer and patted Annabelle’s cheek. “I love you, Mummy. I love you, Daddy.”
Aaand… Graham was officially done trying to hold it together.
He had a family of his own.
And of course, Georgina recorded and sent the video to him later with the text:
Stay strong, fam.
***
“How are you feeling, Mrs. Holloway?” Wade relished saying Eliza’s new last name.
They were finally married. After Eliza walked down the aisle between her aunt and uncle, she and Wade had exchanged vows with Camille in between them before jumping a stunning handwoven broom created by Guy. Currently, they were enjoying their first dance to Natalie Cole’s “Our Love”, which was barely a sway due to Eliza’s twenty-four-hour morning sickness that showed no signs of ending anytime soon.
“Baby, I’m sorry to be such a pain on our wedding day,” Eliza answered pitifully, willing the motion sickness to stop as she lay her head on Wade’s shoulder. They were barely moving, but she was getting that awful watery taste in her mouth again.
Wade held her closer and signaled to the dee-jay. As soon as the announcement was made for everyone to join the newly married couple on the dance floor, Wade scooped Eliza into his arms and led her to a quiet, secluded corner. He sat down on a chair and turned her so they could watch while everyone enjoyed the reception.
“Oh, God, you planned this, didn’t you? Now, I’m really mortified.”
“I did have a feeling something like this might happen, so I asked Noelle if she could arrange this seating.”
“Well, at least you know I’m good for the main event later.”
They shared an intimate laugh at that truth. The only time Eliza wasn’t sick was when they were making love.
Eliza grabbed his hand and held it next to hers so they could admire their most valued pieces of jewelry. “Damn, they look good together.”
Wade was humbled by the sight of their matching rings. Not that long ago, having Eliza in his life again was an unattainable fantasy he could only torture himself with, thinking all was lost between them. Those days were a thing of the past. He’d managed not only to get the girl of his dreams but also a daughter he loved beyond measure. “I love you, Eliza. Thank you for saying yes.”
“I love you too, Wade.” Eliza kissed his cheek. “You know I didn’t have a choice. My heart’s known from the beginning that you and I were meant to be.”
“I’ve been thinking that I should offer Graham the house once we finish renovating our new home. What do you say?”
“We know firsthand that it’s a good home to raise a family in, but with Annabelle working for Max and Graham based out of the inn, they might not want to live in town. See what they say. Rory’s adorable, isn’t she? I thought I wanted a boy, but seeing her makes me want another little girl.”
Wade covered her baby bump with his hands and smiled when he felt the baby’s resounding kick. “I don’t care as long as mama and baby are healthy.”
“Just looking at Graham and Annabelle makes my heart melt. He had me convinced that he had to sample every available female on the planet before making an informed choice.”
“Mmmm,” was Wade’s preoccupied reply. He was too busy unzipping the back of Eliza’s dress to lick her spine to answer.
She shuddered under his velvety caress. “Hey, Mr. Holloway?”
“Yeah, Mrs. Holloway?” Wade answered throatily.
“Would it be alright if we skipped this and got to the main event early? I’m feeling an insatiable need to make love with you.”
“There’s nothing I’d like more.”
***
Later that night, Annabelle listened from the doorway as Graham read Rory her fourth storybook of the night and finally decided to intervene. “Alright, love, it’s time for bed. It’s way past your bedtime, and I see you managed to get in a couple of more stories.”
“But Daddy doesn’t mind, Mummy,” Rory said stubbornly. “We like story time! Right, Daddy?”
; Graham turned sad, pitiful eyes toward Annabelle, pleading, “We just got her back, Doc.”
How could she resist those faces? Ugh, she was going to be in trouble if it remained two against one and she didn’t restore the balance of power. With a provocative smile, Annabelle agreed, “As long as Daddy understands he has to read Mummy a story too.”
“You’re killin’ me, Doc,” Graham called after her, enjoying the sight of her in that long raspberry silk nightgown.
Much later in bed when Annabelle was drifting off to sleep, Graham said, “I was hoping you would catch the bouquet tonight.”
“I’m sorry, but Rory was tired and didn’t want anyone but me to hold her.”
“Baby, you don’t have to explain or apologize for being a mother,” Graham reminded her. “Besides, I was there. I was just expressing my thoughts because if you had, I would have given you this.”
Annabelle’s heart was galloping at the sight of the four-carat cushion cut diamond with a pave band. Under the moonlight, it sparkled brilliantly and held Annabelle transfixed.
In his deep baritone Graham explained himself. “I would have said you’re my best friend, my lover, and Day1, ride or die. That I didn’t know what love was until I saw you and maybe mentioned something about just going through the motions and not even realizing it until you and our precious little girl flipped my world upside down in the best ways possible. That being with you has been the best adventure of my life, and I want to turn it into five lifetimes if possible. Then I would have ended my speech with Annabelle Gaines, forever love of my life, would you do me the honor of becoming my official better half?”
Furiously, Annabelle wiped the tears from her eyes as she sat up in bed, pulling the sheet around her to kneel by his side and gaze into his eyes.
“Don’t cry, baby,” Graham cleared his throat noisily. “Doc, if you say yes and take another chance on me, I’ll spend the rest of my life making sure you never regret your choice. We don’t need to set a date now, so don’t feel pressured. I just wanted you to know that I’m not going anywhere, Annabelle, and will cross every bridge we get to by your side or build them if I have to.”
“I say yes to you, Graham Carlton!” Annabelle threw herself into his arms and sobbed. “I’d be honored to be your wife. You’re my knight in shining armor, holding me down and lifting me up at the same time. Thank you for loving not only me, but Rory and Edith as well. Thank you for showing me what a real man looks like. Thank you for showing me what true love looks like. That it’s patient and kind and—”
Graham’s kiss silenced her words and she clung to him, feeling him slip the ring on her finger and being at peace with her choice. This time, there was no sense of panic and dread boiling in the pit of her stomach, only the sense of aptness that she’d been blessed with the right man. Graham lifted his head, but Annabelle couldn’t see his face through her tears.
“Thank you for taking a chance on me as well, Graham.”
“C’mon, Doc,” Graham laughed tenderly. “You should know by now that I never had a choice in the matter.”
Epilogue
Six Months Later
Graham was sitting alone at the Comfort Table Café, looking over the architectural plans Eliza proposed for his and Annabelle’s new home while waiting for Annabelle and Rory to finish up dance class. The lunch crowd was gone, leaving the café completely empty as the staff transitioned and prepared for the dinner crowd.
“How’s it going, nephew? Val and I were taking Camille to Movie Night in the square. Can we take our other grandbaby with us?”
Graham smiled as Nate sat down across from him with an eager expression. Val and Nate loved nothing more than spoiling their grandbabies every chance they got. “Let me see what Mama Bear has planned. I can’t imagine her objecting, seeing as how Rory loves spending time with the three of you.”
“I’m definitely her favorite,” Nate declared. “Max may have the farm animals, and Wade the flashy sirens and shiny badge, but I’ve got cookies and hot chocolate with homemade whipped cream for my baby. That’s a winning hand and you know it! Put me down for next Sunday too.”
Life was good. Rory was excited to live in Baymoor, and she’d become fast friends with Kenya’s daughter and they attended preschool together. Everyone vied for ‘Rory time’, and his kid stayed busy with playdates from Chandra and Raymond, his sisters and their families to Forenzo and his steady boyfriend, Leo Tolan, the owner of the Rockin Rooster. The Cashmere Inn was doing very well, and they’d just added horseback riding and canoeing to their list of activities they’d partnered with Cinnamon Farms. Graham had restructured his business, preferring to work from home instead of flitting around the world in a heartbeat’s notice.
“You got it, Unc.” A movement over Nate’s shoulder caught his attention, and his uncle turned to look too. Casually, Graham asked, “How’s she doing? It’s been almost a year since she started.”
Nate was surprised that Graham expressed an interest. While he and his sister would never be as close as they’d once been, they’d found a way to co-exist. She was a hard worker and kept to herself. “Ingrid is doing well. She moved into Sumner’s Boarding House a month ago. All of her drug tests have come back negative, and Val told me that she’s thinking about enrolling in some community college classes this fall.”
“It’s never too late for a fresh start, right? Look at Edith. She bought a loft, is busy overseeing the park project, and volunteers with the Sullivans’ Take A Stand Foundation.” Graham grunted. “I also heard she has an admirer up in Whiskey Row that sends her flowers weekly.”
Graham didn’t bother telling his uncle that he knew all of Ingrid’s business because he was still keeping tabs on her.
The door opened and Eliza waddled in, followed by Camille, Wade, and Max. Graham observed Ingrid covertly watching his niece with longing and pride. Camille gave her an inquisitive look before turning back to her father as they headed Graham’s way. While hugs and greetings were exchanged, Val and Annabelle entered, followed by Samantha, holding Rory, Edith, and Thomas, who was begging for his wife to let him hold her. Annabelle smiled and waved to Ingrid, who shyly returned her open friendly gesture.
That was his woman, moving to her own beat, and it was a beautiful thing to see, Graham thought with pride. Since getting engaged, Annabelle was in therapy with Dr. Klaus. Edith, now going by Edie, a shorter, hipper version of her name, also agreed to therapy as well. Davis’s death and his actions leading up to it, were still a painful subject for her, but she bore Thomas and Samantha no ill-will.
As expected, there were good days when his baby felt like she’d conquered the world, and bad ones where Annabelle confessed to feeling overwhelmed by the entire process and struggled to go to the next appointment. Their eyes met and they shared a not-so-secret smile. She motioned that she’d be right back, and Graham nodded as she blew him a kiss and disappeared down the hallway to the bathroom he assumed, while Val and his future-in-laws joined the crowded table.
“DADDDDY!!!” Rory pushed at Samantha to let her down, and as soon as her feet touched the floor, she ran around the table and into Graham’s arms for her customary hug and kiss. “I got a new joke to tell you about later, okay? Don’t forget so I can tell you.”
“I won’t, babygirl. How was school today? Did you eat all of your lunch?”
Instead of answering him, Rory was distracted by Camille and jumped out of Graham’s arms to go see her cousin.
“Still feel like the first time you ever saw her, nephew?” Nate was only half-teasing as he’d caught the silent exchange between Graham and Annabelle.
“Yeah,” Graham admitted with a bashful grin. “Does that ever end?”
Nate caught Val around the waist when she reached the table, and she sat down on his lap and looped her arms around his neck. Before he got lost in his wife’s green eyes, per usual, Nate answered Graham, “Son, I’m decades in and can tell you that the feeling only intensifies. Never stop loving eac
h other and all up on each other. Loving your woman right is the best investment you can make in the both of you and vice versa.”
“Preeeach,” Max encouraged from the end of the table as the café went dim and balloons floated out of the back room to the top of the ceiling. There were at least a hundred, and Rory oohed and aahed, clapping as they continued to flow into the room.
“Happy Birthday to youuuu,” Annabelle sang as she appeared, holding a birthday cake with sparklers on top, followed by the staff (Ingrid was noticeably absent), and everyone at the table who joined in to sing to Graham.
Annabelle loved that she’d managed to surprise Graham, who was torn between being embarrassed and excited as a little kid. He did so much for her and Rory that Annabelle sometimes lay awake at night just to stare at him and reassure herself that she wasn’t dreaming. Graham was really just that perfect.
It was Dr. Klaus who urged Annabelle to talk to her parents, but it was Graham who convinced her to actually do it. Thomas and Samantha accepted her grudging invitations gratefully, happy to have a second chance with her and a first chance to know their granddaughter. Annabelle could feel herself thawing slightly toward them.
They had so much going on between renovating Wade’s old house, now their new home, work, Rory, therapy, and Graham adopting Rory that they hadn’t even gotten around to talking about the wedding!
“Just don’t take the ring off, Doc. We’ll get there.”
That was Graham all said when she freaked out about it. Well, today, he was receiving not one but two surprises from her.
Annabelle set the cake in front of him and cooed, “Happy Birthday, Mr. Carlton. Make a wish!”
Graham looked at the cake and was puzzled by the incorrect date. Then realizing what she’d done, he threw his head back and laughed. Graham swung his legs over the bench and rose to his feet, coming around the table to Annabelle, who met him halfway as he lifted her up and kissed her soundlessly, ignoring the whooping and the questions in the background.
“What’s that? That’s not his birthdate!”