“What a horrible ordeal. Thank God you’re alive. I’ve been watching every flight that’s come in. Here.” He held out his cell phone. “Call your mom and let her know you’re alive and safe with me.”
She stared at it for a minute, but didn’t take it. “I’d rather call her when I get back to the hotel. I still don’t understand why you came.”
Max cocked his head. “I think you do. I think you know I’ve been in love with your mother since the day I met her. Why else would I have remained single all these years? I want to marry her, but she doesn’t know that yet.”
Samantha averted her eyes.
“Whatever affects her, affects me. Since she loves you more than life itself, I knew that losing you would kill her. That’s why I’m here. To fly you home. Your mom needs you right now.”
He could see Samantha was having a real struggle within herself. “Sammi? Has she e-mailed you about what’s been going on at the vineyard since you left for Vietnam?”
“She’s written some,” the girl replied reluctantly, “but only to tell me she moved to Napa and was opening a gallery.”
Evidently Samantha hadn’t given her mother a chance to explain anything. “Then she didn’t tell you about Jim.”
Her eyes lifted to his. “What about him?”
“I fired him.”
“Good. Why didn’t Steve do it?”
“Because I’ve been running the vineyard while he’s been in an alcohol treatment center, getting his life back together.”
After a long silence Max heard her whisper she was glad. “Did you know Jim had the hots for your mother?” Sammi added. “Steve never seemed to notice how he looked at Helen.”
“No.” But with that bit of information Max was able to fit the last piece into the puzzle.
“Jim was a creep, but you haven’t been around lately to notice.”
“That’s true, but there were reasons.” For the next little while Max related everything that had happened up to and including the incident in the shed that day. A stillness surrounded Samantha when he’d finished.
“Did you hear what I just told you?” he asked her.
“Yes, and I’m really glad for all of you that everything has worked out so well. If Mother wants to marry you, then you both have my blessing, but in the meantime you don’t have to wait around here for me. As soon as I can say goodbye to the guys, I’m getting on the next flight to Alaska.”
“In that case let me fly you there in my plane.”
“No, thank you. This is something I want to do myself.”
The old saying that butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth applied here. “I hope for your sake and your mother’s that one day you’ll soften toward her and forgive her. None of us is perfect.”
“That’s true. If I were more perfect, I’d probably be able to.”
Max pulled five one-hundred-dollar bills from his wallet and stuffed them in her shirt pocket. “Pretend that’s a gift from your father. I’m sure he’s thrilled that you want to meet his family. Just remember that when you were a little golden cherub, I fell in love with you as well as your mother. God bless you in your quest, Samantha.”
He kissed her cheek before walking away. After he boarded his plane, he phoned Andrea. All he got was her voice mail.
Brad Warshaw wouldn’t have left her alone after the funeral, but that didn’t matter. Max’s message was guaranteed to grab her attention.
ANDREA WAS OUT OF THE shower and drying her hair when she heard the sound on her phone. Someone had called and left a voice mail. She hurried over to the dresser to reach for it and clicked on.
“Andrea? I’ve just been with Samantha and am on my way home from the Maldives. You may already have heard from her. When she tells you about her adventure, you’ll understand why she couldn’t make it home for the service. I offered to bring her home on my plane, but she has other plans. Before I left her, she promised to call you as soon as she returned to the hotel. As for you and me, we have to talk. Don’t go to work in the morning. After I land in San Francisco, I’ll drive to Napa, and should be at your apartment by ten.”
While Andrea reeled with joy because her daughter was all right and Max was on his way home to see her, her phone rang. This had to be Sammi!
She clicked on. “Hello?”
“Hi, Mom.” That subdued voice…
“Oh, Sammi!” she cried. “Oh, honey—I’m so happy to hear from you and know you’re all right. I just received a voice mail from Max. He said he found you in Male.”
“Yup. He was there when I got off the helicopter. I heard Aunty Ed died. I’m sorry I couldn’t be there. Was she in pain?” Her voice trembled.
“The doctor assured me she died of the pneumonia in her sleep, with no struggle.”
“That’s good.”
“Yes. It was a lovely graveside service. The flowers were gorgeous. She would have been pleased.”
“I’m sure she’s happy now.” After a hesitation Sammi said, “Max told me Steve and Helen are getting married again.”
“That’s right. It’s wonderful.”
“I’m glad he fired Jim.”
“So am I. I’ve missed talking to you about everything, but first I want to know what happened to you.”
“Two days ago the small motorboat the guys and I were in capsized, and we were stranded on one of the islands. We had to wait it out till help came.”
“Thank heaven it did!”
“Yeah. We lost all our equipment and phones in the tidal wave. Luckily, the magazine will reimburse us. I’m staying at the hotel until I arrange my flight to Alaska. It’s already been paid for.”
There was no persuading Sammi to come home first. “I’ll wire you some money to help get you through. How much do you need?”
“Max gave me five hundred dollars. I’ll be fine. Tell him I’ll pay him back with my next paycheck.”
Andrea’s eyes closed tightly. She loved him so much. “I’ll tell him. Honey?”
“I can’t talk any longer, Mom. Other people need to use the hotel phone. We’re lined up here. I’ll e-mail you when I get to Alaska. Bye for now.”
More bittersweet tears trickled out of Andrea’s eyes. Her daughter was safe, but she wouldn’t be coming home.
Andrea replayed Max’s message several times simply to hear the sound of his voice again. When he hadn’t shown up at the cemetery the other day, she’d hardly been able to bear it. Naturally, Brad had picked up on that. Later that night, after he’d brought her home from the dinner Nancy had given, he’d confronted her.
“You’re in love with Max, aren’t you.” It wasn’t a question.
She couldn’t lie to him. “Yes, but we’ve never had a normal relationship.”
“Well, something’s going on. When the two of you are together, it’s like no one else exists for you.”
No one else does.
“I’m so sorry, Brad.”
“Don’t be. It’s life, but since I can’t fight it, I’m going to do the smart thing and move on. Rest assured our professional relationship will remain intact.”
She bowed her head. “You’re a wonderful man,” she whispered.
“But he’s the lucky one,” he’d whispered back, giving her arm a squeeze before he left.
Andrea let out a tormented sigh. She’d been alone in this claustrophobic apartment all night, waiting in agony for Max, not knowing what to expect when he did arrive.
She’d already changed clothes three times before deciding on a plum-colored blouson top and white skirt, something in between dressy and casual. After putting on lipstick and a little blusher to cover up her washed-out look, she glanced at her watch again. It was almost ten-thirty. A delayed flight might mean hours more waiting.
At quarter to eleven her cell phone rang. She grabbed it and saw that it was Max. “H-hello?”
“Andrea—sorry I’m late. To save time, meet me down in the parking lot.” What did he mean, ‘save time’? “My limo should be th
ere any minute.” He hung up before she could reply.
His urgent tone had her hurrying into the kitchen for her purse, then rushing out of the apartment. As she descended the last flight of steps she saw a black limo turn in to the parking area and come to a stop.
The rear door opened. Max’s dark head appeared. “Come and get in, Andrea.” His compelling voice had her scrambling inside. He closed the door.
“What’s going on?”
While he smoothed a strand of hair away from her cheek, his black eyes burned with heat, creating a different kind of tension inside her.
“We have to get to the Napa Valley airport as soon as possible.”
“Why?”
“Because we’re on our way to a wedding in Reno that’s going to be taking place at the civil registry in about two hours.”
Her thoughts reeled. “Whose wedding?”
Max slid her onto his lap so she was half lying in his arms. “Ours.” His mouth muffled the cry that escaped her throat. “I told Samantha I was going to marry you and she gave us her blessing.”
“She did?”
“She knows I’ve loved you with a terrible hunger for so many years, I can’t wait another second to make you my wife.”
Maybe she was dreaming. Maybe not. The kiss he was giving her was a husband’s kiss, hot with desire. “Will you marry me, darling?” The hint of vulnerability was still there in his eyes and voice. It took her back to those early years when she’d continually turned him down.
Andrea caught his face between her hands. “Yes! It’s what I’ve wanted for more years than I care to remember. I’m so in love with you. I need to be able to love you day and night for the rest of our lives or there’s no point to this existence.” She clutched him tighter.
After telling the limo driver to head for the airport, Max focused solely on Andrea. Time ceased to exist while they exchanged one fiery kiss after another, trying to catch up on the years they’d lost. Andrea never wanted this ecstasy to stop.
He eventually buried his face in her hair. “You have no idea the fantasies I’ve had about you.”
“I think I do. One of mine has been to have your baby.”
His breath caught. “At your age there are too many risks. I wouldn’t ask that of you. I couldn’t bear to lose you now.”
“Max, I know several women who’ve had babies past forty and everything went fine. The truth is, I want to have another child, your child. There’s no reason we shouldn’t try. You’ll make the best father. Can’t you see a new little de Roussillac running around the vineyard?”
“You really mean it?” he cried with joy in his voice. Andrea didn’t think she’d ever heard him sound like that before.
“I’m marrying you in a little while, aren’t I? How much more proof do you need?”
His eyes burned like fire as he gazed at her. “If we’re going to try for a family, then it’s settled, I’m retiring from the bank. Papa needs me to help him run the vineyard.”
Andrea threw her arms around Max’s neck, too overcome with happiness to talk.
“We’ll gut the cottage and remodel it with bigger rooms and a sunny loft you can use for your workspace.” He gently bit her earlobe. “One of my fantasies was to live there with you and make love to you all day long while we listened to Tosca.”
“I didn’t know you liked opera.”
“You know something?” he murmured against her lips. “As well as we think we know each other, there’s still so much to discover, we’ll need a lifetime of loving to learn it all.”
“Sir,” said a voice over the speaker. “We’ve arrived at the airport.”
Max crushed Andrea against him. “This is it. Are you ready?”
“I’ve been ready since the first time you walked into the tasting room with Steve. I remember thinking that if I could get that gorgeous, intelligent, fabulous man to love me, I’d be the luckiest woman on earth.”
A deep groan came out of him. “When I think of the time we’ve wasted…”
“We can’t afford to look back. All that matters is that we’re finally together, where we belong. I love you, Max de Roussillac. I love you.”
JULY HAD COME TO THE vineyard. Max figured it was at least seventy degrees this morning. Perfect weather, but then every day—every night—was perfect since he’d married Andrea. There were moments when he was afraid he might die from too much happiness.
“Have you heard anything I’ve said?” his father teased.
Max grinned at him. They’d been out inspecting a section of the vineyard that needed to be replanted. “I have, and with all our work, it’s my opinion we’ll see a much higher crop yield next year.”
“I was asking you how soon you plan to take Andrea on that overdue honeymoon to Alsace.” His father winked.
“We’re not in any hurry,” he murmured. For the last three weeks their lives had been a continuous honeymoon. He hadn’t been able to sell his penthouse fast enough and leave the emptiness of his former world behind. Everything he’d ever wanted was right here with the woman who made him feel immortal.
“What have you heard from Sammi?”
“Just that she and the other photographers picked up more equipment and have been filming the aftermath of the tsunami for their magazine.”
The only cloud on his horizon was his wife’s heartache over her daughter, who continued to remain out of reach physically and emotionally. That was the one area no one but God could rectify.
“If I know my little Sammi, one of these days she’ll come around. Andrea just has to give it more time. Luckily, she has you now.”
“She does, and I promised I’d be home for lunch.”
“Your mother has mine waiting, too. Let’s go.”
They walked between the rows of vines. When they reached the road and came within view of the cottage, Max patted his father’s shoulder before heading inside. The second he found Andrea, he swept her into his arms and carried her through the partially renovated house to their bedroom.
He stared into her eyes. “Do you have any idea how beautiful you are?”
“I was just going to tell you the same thing. I love you so much it hurts.”
“Then let me take away your pain.”
He lowered her to the covers and followed her down. Though it had only been a few hours since the sun had come up over the vineyard and he’d made love to her, he couldn’t wait any longer to kiss her senseless again. His wife was always waiting for him, giving him so much more than he’d ever thought possible.
It was midafternoon when he rolled her on top of him, temporarily sated. “After we eat, was there anything special you wanted to do with the rest of this day, you gorgeous creature?”
A mysterious smile lit up her face. “As a matter of fact, there is something.”
He kissed her luscious mouth. “Don’t keep me in suspense.”
“You know the little shop over at Kent Place that sells unfinished handmade reproductions of nineteenth-century furniture?”
“Yes?”
“Well, there’s this adorable hutch and crib I’d like you to look at. I thought I’d paint them an antique blue and add some nursery rhyme figures.”
“Sure, and after that we’ll—” But he didn’t finish the sentence. In the next breath his hands stilled on her back. “Andrea?”
“I have no idea if we’re going to have a baby or not. It’s too early to tell, but I thought it wouldn’t hurt to plan ahead just in case.”
His heart was too full to talk. All he could do was kiss her again.
The next morning the baby furniture arrived at the cottage. The deliverymen carried everything into the studio. Andrea couldn’t wait to get to work painting them. Hopefully, one day soon she would discover she was pregnant. A baby brought so much joy. She wanted Max to have the full experience. She wanted him to be totally happy because he’d literally become her life.
Speaking of her husband, he’d be arriving from the vineyard for lun
ch in a minute. She’d better get it ready, but first she checked her e-mails and saw one from Sammi.
Hey, Mom—
I’m finally here in Ketchikan. Ever since I found Dad’s journal, I’ve been trying to imagine how I would feel once I entered the world he grew up in.
I know this sounds weird, but for the first time in my life I feel I’m at home. That probably sounds crazy. Never mind—it must be all the sleep deprivation and climate changes. That unexpected photo shoot in the Maldives may win our team a cover.
Since there are no flights that I can afford out to Prince of Wales Island, I’ll have to wait to take a ferry ride tomorrow. I’m staying the night at the Grizzly Inn. I hate having to wait another day to see if I have grandparents who are alive. I still can’t believe I’m saying that! Grandparents—like a normal person…
Well, you know how to reach me.
While Andrea was pondering this latest message, she heard sounds from the front of the house, then felt Max’s arms go around her. Over her shoulder he read the e-mail, then kissed her neck. “Are you all right?”
“I am now that you’re here.”
He pressed his face in her silky hair. “Don’t be afraid. After the miracle that has happened to us, I know the day will come when Samantha’s heart is softened and you get her back. In the meantime, I hope we’re granted a long, long life together, Andrea, because we’ve only just begun to live.”
“Hold me, darling,” she cried softly. “Never let me go.”
“You can say that to me after the way I’ve hung around you all these years?”
Her breathing had grown shallow. “You know what I mean.”
“I’m not sure that I do,” he teased. “Maybe you’d better show me.”
A DAUGHTER’S DISCOVERY
Dominique Burton
For my mother, who always believed in me;
to Dave for all of your help;
A Mother's Wedding Day Page 8