To Love Twice

by McCoubrey, Heather

  It was on one of these days, his Mum had foregone her usual activity of playing cards with some of the other widows on board the ship. She sat beside him on the deck.

  “Penny for your thoughts, dear?”

  “Hi Mum,” Edward smiled at her. “No cards today?”

  “No, I thought I’d spend some time with my son today.”

  “Brilliant! What should we do?”

  “I thought we could start by discussing whatever has you staring out at sea day after day.”

  Edward chuckled. “Well, I’m just trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up. And how Kate and Mary fit in.”

  “Hm, I thought you were already grown up?” Charlotte said. “And I’d say Kate and Mary fit in rather perfectly. So, what really has you staring out to sea so solemnly?”

  “I just don’t know if my career is conducive to a strong relationship. And if it’s not, am I willing to do something different so that my relationship with Kate doesn’t suffer. She’s a private person, which I respect, and I don’t want to intrude on her life and steal Mary’s childhood. I’m quite a lot to take on, Mum.”

  Charlotte laughed. “That you are, my boy, that you are.” She patted his arm. “Have you asked Kate how she feels about your career and your baggage?”

  He nodded. “As long as Mary is safe and kept out of the spotlight as much as possible, she’s fine with it. She says it’s who I am and she’s not out to change me. My problem is that I’m not in control of the media and I’d die if something were to happen to Mary.”

  “What would you do instead of acting?”

  “I don’t know. I’ve thought about directing, or theater work or writing a book,” Edward said shaking his head. “I’ve no idea, really. Acting is all I know. It’s all I’m good at!”

  “You could always retire,” Charlotte said softly.

  “Retire? Me? I’m a little young to be thinking that, don’t you think?” Edward asked incredulously.

  “Well, for normal people, yes. But you’ve more money than the queen and you’ve invested it well. You really have no reason to work except to escape the boredom of everyday life. Though with a family, I doubt you’d get bored.”

  “True. But what’s my next step? Normally people try out living together for awhile. Kate and Mary live on the other side of the ocean. That’s not really conducive to trying it out.” He was frustrated by all the questions with no answers and his tone indicated that.

  “That’s a hard question, but one you should probably discuss with Kate. She’d be the one with the best answer to this, as she knows what they need.” Charlotte sat up, looked him in the eyes as she reached for his hand. “Or, you could ask her to marry you.”

  “Marry me?” Edward shook his head. “Oh, I don’t think we’re ready for that. Kate wouldn’t rush into something that permanent so quickly. She has Mary to think about.”

  “Quickly? You’ve known each other for six months. How is that quickly?”

  “Mum! Not everyone is like you and Dad. Or Meaghan and Rufus. Or even Aunt Imogen and Uncle Walter. Most people, rational, sane people, wait a year or two or five before getting married.”

  “They’re stupid. You know what you know and an extra year or two or five isn’t going to change anything,” Charlotte said exasperated. “Do you love her?”

  Edward rolled his eyes. “Yes.”

  “Does she love you?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then the solution is simple.” Charlotte narrowed her eyes and stared hard at him. “At least it should be.”

  Edward nodded and smiled at his mother. “Thanks, Mum.”

  Now he was on a plane, bound to see the two loves of his life, and still unsure of what he should do. His path wasn’t clear in his mind and that scared him as he wasn’t one to be indecisive and unsure of himself. What was clear was his determination to make Kate and Mary his priority. He’d find a niche for himself somewhere when the dust settled.

  This morning before leaving for the airport, he’d gone to his favorite jeweler’s and had his mother’s engagement ring reset to make it unique for Kate. The original diamond was square cut, and he’d had the jeweler put in an oval sapphire on either side of the diamond. The ring itself was platinum, and Edward had the jeweler buff it up to a beautiful shine. He was happy with the end result and hoped Kate would like it.

  He wasn’t sure if Kate was ready for him to propose, but he wanted to be prepared in case the opportunity presented itself. He’d also gotten Mary a heart shaped locket and had put a picture of the three of them inside it. It was a picture that his Mum had taken while they’d been at his house. He wasn’t just asking Kate to marry him, he was also promising to be a father to Mary and he wanted her to feel just as special and loved by him as Kate did.

  A few hours later, Jason dropped Edward in front of Kate’s apartment building and then continued on to the hotel where he’d stay unless Edward needed him. After saying goodbye to Jason, Edward picked up his luggage and headed into the lobby of Kate’s building.

  “Edward Kent?”

  Edward turned his head and pinned the man with a glacial stare. “Yes?”

  “Sir, I’m Brent from The Moon…”

  “The Moon,” Edward interrupted. “What are you doing here?”

  “Sir?” The reporter asked.

  “Why. Are. You. In. America?” Edward ground out slowly between clenched teeth. “You’re a British rag, this is not Britain.”

  “Sir, with all due respect. You’re a super star. One that’s dropped off the radar. I’m here to find out why.”

  Edward stepped up into the reporter’s face. “How long have you been here?”

  “Er, two and a half weeks,” the reporter said hesitantly. He took a small step backwards.

  “Have you been camped in this lobby the whole time?” Edward asked menacingly.

  “Sir, what is your relationship with Kate Walker?” Brent asked avoiding the question.

  “I asked you a question, Brent,” Edward said softly as he took another step closer to Brent.

  Brent took a step backwards. “Yes, sir. I have been camped here in the lobby.”

  Nodding slowly, Edward stepped into the reporter’s space again. “My relationship with Kate Walker is none of your business,” he said in a dangerously soft whisper. “You want to talk about my latest movie, or my charitable organizations, ask away. But my personal life, as far as you’re concerned, is closed.”

  Edward turned on his heel and walked to the bank of elevators, missing the calculated gleam that entered the reporter’s eyes as Edward walked away.

  Fuming, he pulled his cell phone out of his pocket as soon as the doors to the elevator closed.

  “Edward…”

  “Why is there a reporter from The Moon camped in Kate’s lobby, James?” Edward interrupted. “He’s been here for two and half weeks!”

  “Yes sir, I know.”

  “I beg your pardon?”

  “Sir, with all due respect. You were on vacation with your mother…”

  “James, I didn’t take you for an idiot.”

  “Sir?”

  “When I told you that I didn’t wish to be disturbed, that wasn’t to mean you didn’t inform me of important issues. A reporter, camped in Kate’s lobby for two and a half weeks, is an important issue,” Edward explained in a slow voice as if he was speaking to a child.

  “Yes, sir. I apologize.”

  Edward sighed. “What’s the story, James?”

  James cleared his throat. “Ah, they’re saying you had some sort of breakdown. I’ve been working with your publicist, Gretchen, to get to the bottom of it. All the rags are going crazy right now for info.”

  “Why would they think I’ve had a breakdown?”

  “I think it has something to do with me rearranging your schedule for six months. The director of Pride and Prejudice was not happy with the delay.”

  “You did tell him that I would gladly give up my spot in the
movie?”

  “I did, and he took me up on it at first. But when he broke the news to Olivia Kimball, she quit. She wanted you to be her leading man and no one else would do. Rather than have to replace the both of you, he agreed to the delay,” James explained.

  “And I suppose someone in his camp called the rags and tattled?”

  “That’s what we suspect, Edward. We’re still trying to pin down the tattler.”

  Edward thought about the best course of action. He wanted to put the rumors to rest, but he also didn’t want to drag Kate and Mary any further through the mud. “Ok, here’s what I want you to do. Forget about finding the tattler. Call The Times and give them an exclusive. Tell them I’ll call tomorrow around two o’clock. I’ll explain about my need for a break. Hopefully, that will take care of the problem and see the reporter from The Moon removed from Kate’s lobby.”

  “Yes sir.”

  “And James. I want you to work on a press black-out for the rest of my vacation. Understood?”

  “I’ll get right on it, Edward.”

  Edward hung up and let out a deep breath. His next call was to Jason. After explaining about the reporter, Jason promised to take care of it. He prayed the idiot reporter downstairs hadn’t ruined his fragile relationship with Kate. Two and half weeks? He couldn’t believe someone hadn’t called him about it.

  Taking another cleansing breath, Edward knocked on Kate’s door.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  At the knock on the door, Kate glanced up warily. She’d sent Mary to Georgie’s for the weekend, hoping that with Edward scheduled to arrive back in London from his cruise, the media would go away.

  She’d been upset at the intrusion to her life, not expecting it here in America, where Edward wasn’t as popular. But, if an A-List actor goes ‘missing’, she supposed it was going to make news everywhere.

  The reporter had been camped down in the lobby for the better part of two weeks. He stopped Kate each time she went through the lobby, asking for information that she didn’t have. It wasn’t her place to give away Edward’s secrets, not that she would anyway. Everyone was entitled to some privacy in their life, including those that choose to be a public figure. Her opinion was that the media didn’t need to know everything that went on in a person’s life.

  The past few days, Kate had taken the elevator down to the parking garage and out the back way. She’d avoided the lobby altogether. The guy gave her the creeps and she didn’t want him following her to the apartment.

  She walked slowly over to the door, making as little noise as she could. Peering through the peephole, she gave a startled gasp when she realized who it was she was seeing. She threw open the door and flung herself into Edward’s arms. “You’re here!” She sighed into his neck.

  “Hey!” Edward stumbled a little, dropped his bag and held her close. “You okay?”

  “Yes, now that you’re here. I’ve missed you!”

  Suddenly remembering where she was and who was downstairs, she quickly stepped away from him. Glancing down the hallway, she pulled on his arm. “Let’s get inside, quick.”

  Shutting the door behind Edward, Kate let out a sigh of relief.

  “Has he been bothering you?” Edward asked her.

  “He did, but a few days ago I started avoiding him. And I sent Mary to Georgie’s for the weekend. I was hoping the guy would go away since you were getting back.”

  “I’ve got Jason on it now.” He ran his hands through his hair in frustration. “I’m so sorry, Kate.”

  Kate put her arms around him in comfort. “It’s okay. We’re okay,” Kate soothed. “I wasn’t expecting it to happen here,” Kate said softly.

  “Yeah, I know. Me either.”

  Shaking off the stress of the reporter’s presence, Kate grinned at Edward. “What are you doing here?”

  Returning the grin, Edward kissed her lips. “I missed you.”

  “I’m so glad you’re here. Mary is going to freak!”

  “Are you really?” Edward asked. “Glad I’m here, I mean?”

  “Oh Edward, I am. Truly. The intrusion was tolerable and required me to change my comings and goings. It wasn’t something I can’t live with.”

  “But you had to send Mary away, that can’t have been easy for you.”

  “Well, it wasn’t and I didn’t have to send her away. I chose to because I thought she’d have more fun over there this weekend, than being cooped up here in the apartment. Besides, she hasn’t spent a lot of time with them since we got back. I’ve been working a lot and Georgie really wanted some quality time. I even thought about joining them tomorrow, for a change of pace. But, you’re here now and that really does make my heart happy.”

  They snuggled on the couch for awhile, catching each other up on their lives over the past six weeks. When Edward’s stomach growled, Kate glanced up at him. “Hungry?”

  “Starved. I think I had breakfast, at least that’s the last meal I remember.”

  Kate jumped up. “Why didn’t you say anything? Let’s go get some dinner, then!”

  Edward grabbed her hand and led her to the bedroom. “Let’s get gussied up and go somewhere fancy,” he suggested.

  “Edward, I don’t need fancy.”

  Placing his hands on either side of her face, he gently brushed a kiss across her lips. “I know.” He kissed her again. “But I love you, and I want to take you out. Please?” He kissed her again.

  Kate sighed against his mouth. “Alright, Edward.”

  Smiling, Edward reached for her hand and continued to the bedroom. They got dressed quickly and while Kate was putting the final touches on her makeup, Edward called down for a limo.

  “Ready,” Kate twirled as she walked into the living room. “How do I look?”

  “Stunning,” Edward smiled appreciatively. “Absolutely stunning.”

  Grinning, Kate picked up her purse. “So, where are we going?”

  “It’s a surprise,” Edward said mysteriously. Winking at her, he opened the front door and motioned her forward. “You take my breath away,” Edward whispered against her ear as she walked by him.

  Shivers raced down Kate’s spine. She stopped short and leaned into Edward. She raised her lips and sank into a kiss that made her heart race with excitement. “Are you sure you want to go out?” Kate asked with a smirk.

  “Ah, you tempt me,” Edward said against her lips. “But I have something special planned. Come on, let’s go.”

  They snuck out the back of the building in case the reporter had made his way back to the lobby. Settling themselves into the limo, Kate snuggled up to Edward. He wrapped his arm around her and kissed her softly against her temple.

  “So,” Kate whispered. “What is this something special you have planned?” She felt Edward smile against her skin.

  “It’s a surprise, my love.”

  It was dark outside and the street lights were twinkling. The weather had turned brisk the past few days and Kate could imagine snow gently falling along the streets. She loved the snow and thought it would make this evening perfect.

  She was definitely surprised when they pulled up in front of her favorite Italian restaurant, Emilio’s. She hadn’t been paying attention and while Emilio’s was only a couple of blocks from her apartment, it seems the driver had taken them on a long cut to get here. She smiled to herself, it was thoughtful of Edward to do that. She hadn’t exactly been shy in her appreciation of the limo he’d gotten her and Mary in London.

  The driver came around and opened their door. Edward exited the limo and reached in to help Kate out. She smoothed her dress and clasped Edward’s hand.

  The familiar aromas of Emilio’s wrapped themselves around Kate as they walked inside. She breathed deeply and wasn’t surprised when her mouth immediately watered.

  “Kate! So happy to see you!” Nan said as she kissed Kate’s cheek.

  “Hello Nan! You remember Edward?”

  “Of course, Edward!” Nan kissed his cheek a
s well and then gestured into the restaurant. “I have your table ready,” she said as she picked up their menus. Nan led them to their table and then quickly withdrew.

  Kate gasped quietly as she took in the scene. A dozen red roses sat in the center of the table. A bottle of champagne was chilling by the table. Two white candles were flickering next to the roses.

  Heart melting, she gazed up at Edward and smiled hugely. “This is so lovely, Edward.” She rose up on tiptoes and brushed a kiss against his mouth. “Thank you,” she whispered.

  “You are most welcome,” Edward said as they both sat down.

  Kate leaned forward and smelled the flowers. “So beautiful,” Kate remarked.

  Gazing intently at her, Edward smiled. “I was just thinking the same thing, but not about the flowers. You put them to shame.”

  Kate reached for his hand and linked her fingers with his. “I feel like I should pinch myself.”

  “No need, love. I promise you this is real.”

  Nan returned and poured their champagne. Kate picked up her glass. “To real life,” she said.

  “And forever,” Edward finished.

  Raising her glass to her lips, she closed her eyes as the champagne slid down her throat. It was cool, crisp and slightly fruity. Taking another sip, she slowly opened her eyes to find Edward kneeling next to her. He held a small black box with a beautiful diamond and sapphire ring nestled inside.

  “Kate, you are my love and the only woman I want to spend the rest of my life with. I want to watch Mary grow up into a wonderful woman, I want to sleep beside you every night and I want to grow old with you. Will you make me the happiest man in the world and marry me?”

  Kate felt tears sliding down her cheeks at the same time her face lit up in a smile. Nodding her head and reaching for Edward, she crushed him into a tight hug. “Yes, yes, yes! I love you, Edward.” She said against his ear.

  Still holding the ring, Edward wrapped his other arm around her to return the hug. “I love you, Kate.” Edward pulled back a little and slid the ring on Kate’s finger.

  “Oh Edward, it’s so beautiful! Thank you!”