Until You Loved Me
Belle Calhoune
Seven boys adopted from the foster care system by Alec and Maggie Donahue, a loving Irish couple living in Breeze Point, Cape Cod. Now grown men, the brothers are making their way in the world in their chosen professions, each hoping to find a love to last a lifetime. Faith. Family. Honor. And an abundance of love.
Seven Brides, Seven Brothers series
Table of Contents
The Romantic
Acknowledgments:
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Epilogue
The Romantic
Remy Donahue, an internationally known painter, has come home to Breeze Point to celebrate the fortieth anniversary of his parents, Alec and Maggie Donahue. When his father suffers a stroke, Remy makes the decision to stick around Breeze Point in order to support his recovery. When Remy offers to help out at Sweet Treats, the family bakery, he meets the beautiful and soulful Gabrielle Turner, who is a new employee at the establishment. Although Remy is smitten with Gabrielle, she's not as certain about him. When Remy discovers her tragic history and her connection to his birthplace of New Orleans, he'll risk it all to win her love and heal her soul.
Gabrielle Turner can't believe her good fortune when she lands in Breeze Point, Cape Cod. An idyllic beach town, Gabi is shocked when the townsfolk welcome her into their fold with open arms. She's never felt so at peace, even though she fears it won't last. For the last nine years she's moved from place to place, her soul never feeling at ease in her surroundings. Haunted by her past, Gabrielle feels an instant connection and attraction to Remy Donahue, the son of her employers. But with a habit of picking up and running, will Gabrielle realize that everything she's ever wanted lies in Remy's arms?
For my parents, Anne and Fred Bell. For teaching me all the ways to be a great parent. And for loving me unconditionally.
Cover art by Niina Cord.
Acknowledgments:
ometimes it takes a village to create a book. A big thank you to five very special friends who helped me in different ways on this journey. Angel Moore: A second pair of eyes and a wonderful cheerleader. Leslee Barbosa, for sharing all the medical information and wisdom. Mary Munoz, for cheering me on with such joy. And Piper Huguley and Julie Hilton Steele, for your unbridled enthusiasm for Remy. You're his #1 fan. All you guys rock!!!
Prologue
The stifling heat of a muggy August night had no effect on the air of excitement pulsing through the summer carnival on the North shore town a few miles outside of Boston. The teeming crowd stood in long lines, squealed in excitement at the thrilling rides, emptied their wallets for sugary treats and filled the air with unbridled energy.
“Which one do you want, Remy?” The handsome man with the lilting accent and fine features pointed at the stuffed animals on the wall. There was a rabbit, a lion, a poodle, a parrot, a shark and an alligator. For Remy, the choice was simple.
“I want the gator,” Remy said with a wide smile that showcased his crooked front teeth. Gators reminded him of the Bayou, one of his favorite places on earth. It was home.
“A gator it is then,” his father said as he pointed at the over-sized, bile green alligator and nodded his head at the carnival worker. When his father handed him the alligator Remy pressed it against his chest and hugged it for all it was worth. Once he got back home to New Orleans he would place it on his shelf right next to all his other prized possessions.
“I'm going to call him Chompers,” Remy announced. He couldn't stop himself from smiling. He was so happy he could burst.
His father patted him on the head and laughed. “That's a good name for a gator. Let's go find your mother. She'll want to meet your new friend.”
Remy couldn't believe all the fun they'd been having tonight. The tilt a whirl, a roller coaster, go kart races and the Ferris wheel. His belly was full from cotton candy and fried dough. The fried dough was good, but not as good as the beignets at Cafe du Monde in New Orleans. So far this trip to Boston had been fun, but he was itching to get back home to his friends and the big Victorian his family called home. And they would, Mama said, as soon as Daddy finished his family business here.
“Remy Chastain! Where did you get that gator from? He's nearly as big as you.” His mother's voice rang out above the din of the carnival. He turned towards her, smiling at the sight of his beautiful mama. With her waist length dark hair, skin the color of mocha and big brown eyes, she was the prettiest woman on the face of the earth. That's what Daddy always said. And Daddy always told the truth. He was a man of principle. That's what Mommy always said. It's what he wanted to be when he grew up.
“I won it playing the water pistol game! Daddy helped me a little bit, but I still won.”
She caressed the side of Remy's cheek. “Of course you did, cher. And what a great job you did. Now give me some sugar.” She bent down and pointed to her cheek. Remy placed his lips on her cheek, making a huge smacking sound as he did so.
“Hey little man, are you ready to go back to the hotel?”
He hid a yawn behind his hand. “Just a few more rides. Please. Please.”
He watched as his parents exchanged a look. This is how it always went with them. They were a team. Any decision they made was made together. Sometimes it drove him crazy. Most times it made him smile. Daddy had told him that someday he'd find his other half too, but he wasn't so sure. Girls were icky. They couldn't even run fast or catch salamanders.
“Two more rides.” His mother held up her finger and gave him a warning look.
Filled with excitement he began jumping up and down. “Yippee. Let's go on the log ride. C'mon, Mama. Dad.”
Within the half hour, Remy lay curled up in the back seat of the family station wagon, using his gator as a pillow. He reached for his seat belt to take it off, then stopped himself. Mama had always told him that wearing a seat belt was not only the safest way to travel, but the smartest. And he was pretty smart. He'd even gotten two A's on his last report card. As he drifted off to sleep he wished for more fun-filled days like this with nothing but excitement and laughter.
Remy woke up to the muted sound of voices. He struggled to open his eyelids. It felt as if something was pressing against them, keeping them shut. When he opened them he saw four people standing around him. He was lying on a bed in a white room with no color. Wait. What was going on? Who were these people?
Where am I? Why am I sleeping in this bed? This looks like a hospital? He clawed at the tubes sticking out of his wrist.
He felt a hand on his shoulder. “Take it easy. You're at Boston Medical. We're taking good care of you.”
He shrugged off the hand. “Where are Mama and Daddy? I want to see them.” This place was creeping him out with its machines and wires and white walls. He wanted to be outside in the fresh air....jumping, running, playing. And he wanted to be with his family, not surrounded by strangers who were staring at him with pity in their eyes.
Why would they pity him? He was Remington Chastain from New Orleans.
“I'm so sorry, son. There's been a terrible accident.” The woman looked around her at the other people dressed in white. “I'm sorry to tell you that both your parents were killed in the car accident.”
Car accident? No, it wasn't possible. They'd been at the carnival having the best time of their
lives. They were supposed to be heading back to New Orleans soon, right after Daddy talked to his uncle about the property.
He shook his head vehemently. “No. No, that's not true. You've made a mistake.”
“There's no mistake. Your Uncle Guy has already identified them.”
A high pitched wail filled the air. Over and over he heard an agonizing scream. Shock roared through him as he realized it was he who was screaming. It was his heart being ripped in half by these strangers. He felt himself being held down on the bed by strong arms until something pricked him in the shoulder. He felt himself go limp as he struggled to keep his eyes open.
Hours later when the light streaming through the blinds had disappeared and the sky was filled with pewter, he opened up his eyes. The room was dark, save for the soft glow of a lamp on his bedside table. An older woman, maybe in her fifties, sat in the chair next to his bed, her eyes trained on him.
He struggled to sit up. “Who are you?”
The woman had a kindly face and a calm way about her, but she was still a stranger.
“I'm Mrs. Worther. It's so very nice to meet you, Remy.”
“Are you one of the doctors?”
The hint of a smile played around her lips. “No, dear. I'm afraid not. I help children find families. I'd like to help you find one.”
He stuck his chin out. “I don't need any help finding a family. I already have one. Reve and Anton Chastain from Belle Rose, New Orleans.”
“And I know you must love them very much.”
Tears gathered in his eyes. It was the first time since his parents had died that anyone had said anything like that. For the most part everyone was giving him sad looks and whispering. That didn't help. Not one lick. The only thing that would help would be if he could be back with them. All together like always. The Chastain family.
“I do love them. And I always will,” he vowed.
“Love is never ending. Don't ever forget that.”
His lips trembled. “I won't.” He would love his parents forever. And he wondered why God hadn't taken him to Heaven right along with his parents. It was so hard without them.
“There's a family I know who wants to meet you. There's a mother and a father. They have two boys living with them now who they are foster parents to. They live near the beach. They have dogs. And I think they might be the nicest people I've ever known.”
His heart was still aching. He wanted his own family. His own mother and father. But they were gone. And he was alone. For the first time in his life, he was alone. His Uncle Guy said he couldn't keep him, so there was no place to go. He didn't know what to say to this lady. Couldn't she see how scared he was?
Mrs. Worther walked toward him. She reached out and squeezed his hand. “I know it's a leap of faith, but please trust me. Once you meet the Donahue's I know you'll like them. It'll give you a soft place to fall.”
Mama had always told him to say his prayers. Sometimes he did and sometimes he didn't. He figured now was a good time to pray. He pressed his eyes closed and recited a heartfelt prayer that the Donahue family would be kind and loving and that they would want a little brown boy from New Orleans to come live with them. And maybe, just maybe, it wouldn't be so bad.
“You might think girls are icky now, but wait until one wraps you around her heart. You won't know what hit you.”
Reve Chastain
Chapter One
“W-Wishing you a house full of little Donahues.” Remy clapped louder than anyone as his father gave his joyous toast to his older brother Ryder and his fiancee, Tess. The entire Donahue family, along with a multitude of friends, had gathered at Sweet Treats, the family bakery, to celebrate Tess and Ryder's engagement. Just looking in their direction was giving him a toothache. They were blissfully in love with one another. Ryder deserved every ounce of his happiness, considering everything he'd endured with the death of his first wife, Lena. Tess and Ryder's love story had shown him that love was possible even after the most heart wrenching of losses. It reminded him that love was stronger than any force known to man.
Although his heart was full for Ryder and Tess, his thoughts kept straying towards a petite beauty who he couldn't seem to stop staring at, no matter how hard he tried. Gabrielle Turner. She was a new employee at Sweet Treats, a rather mysterious young lady who seemed to hold everything close to the vest. She was here tonight as an employee, serving guests and looking fairly adorable in her uniform. Problem was, she wasn't giving him the time of day. Nothing. Not a glance. Not a smile. Not a syllable directed at him. And it was making him feel antsy and uncomfortable in his own skin. Why couldn't he get a sliver of her attention to save his life?
Remy Chastain Donahue didn't usually have to work so hard to keep his cool. Especially around women! He was known for his laid back vibe and artistic sensibilities. His family touted him as a romantic because of his penchant for over the top gestures and the finesse he demonstrated when he dated women. He'd always been as cool as the ocean in winter. Until now. All of that had flown out the window the moment he fell head over heels in love.
He'd known this day was coming. It felt like for most of his life he'd heard about it, dreamed about it, depicted it in his paintings and tried, without success, to wrap his head around it. Finding the one. That one special woman who would turn your world upside down the moment she walked into your life. For so long, his soul had been crying out for it. His artistic temperament wanted a muse to inspire him and a woman to pledge his undying love to. He wanted a forever type of love. And as crazy as it might sound if he told anyone, he'd fallen in love at first sight. Now, for the first time in his life, his heart was no longer his own. It belonged to a woman who didn't seem to know he was alive and living on the planet Earth.
He scratched his chin as waves of doubt washed over him. For once in his life he was a non- factor. It left him feeling shaken and a bit out of sorts.
“What's wrong with you? You look a little green around the gills.” His brother Nick was peering at him as if he was an alien visitor from out of space. He gave him a light tap on the cheek. “Snap out of it.”
“Nothing's wrong,” he said, not really trusting himself to speak. “I'm fine. Just having a moment of reflection.” He gave Nick a retaliatory tap on his cheek.
“I know how you feel,” Nick huffed. “It's a little overwhelming, huh? First Blue, then Ryder.” Nick shook his head, his brows furrowed in confusion. “We bachelors need to stick together.”
“Ain't that the truth?” Wyatt hobbled over to them on his crutches. “The Donahue boys are dropping like flies.”
There were seven Donahue brothers, all of them adopted from the foster care system by Maggie and Alec Donahue of Breeze Point, Cape Cod. Blue. Ryder. Mac. Nick. Brandon. Wyatt. And himself. As thick as thieves, the brothers were chafing a bit at the fact that Blue had recently gotten married, with Ryder now on deck to become the second bridegroom in a few months.
“We might as well start having separate nights out. One for those of us who are single and another one for those who are tied down,” Nick grumbled.
Wyatt let out a hoot. “You are so lucky Tess and Sarah didn't hear you say that. You basically called them a ball and chain.”
Remy rolled his eyes. “We're not twelve. It's not like when we were kids and we made signs to keep girls out of our club house. Both Sarah and Tess are now part of the Donahue clan. We've always been tight and that's not going to change.”
Wyatt snorted. “Huh. That's what you think. Wait till the babies start coming and they end up bailing on our boys' night out. They'll be home changing diapers and popping bottles in their babies' mouths.”
“Speaking of which, we should put something on the calendar for next week,” Nick suggested.
A night out with his brothers usually included some light-hearted fun, such as dinner, bowling, the occasional action flick or a beer at Sully's tavern. Basically, it was a chance to connect with his brothers and catch up on the recent goings
on in each other's lives. Now that they were all living in Breeze Point they'd made it a weekly habit. Even though he loved his brothers dearly, he was much more interested in a night out with Gabrielle than a boys' night out with his brothers.
Not one of 'em had a clue about his feelings for Gabrielle. He'd been keeping it all inside him, knowing his six brothers would laugh him out of town if he told them what was laying on his heart. They'd call him all kinds of a romantic fool. Gabrielle Turner had appeared in his life like a rainbow after a rough patch of weather. Almost losing his father to a stroke had thrown his family into a world of chaos. Fear had clamped on to him so tightly in the days and weeks after his father's stroke and hospitalization. Most days, he couldn't even seem to breathe normally. Right in the midst of it he'd met Gabrielle.
It had all started when he'd volunteered to help out at Sweet Treats, knowing his father was incapacitated and his mother was busy being his number one caretaker and worry wart. He'd walked into the family bakery shop and spotted Gabrielle at the counter servicing a customer. If it was possible for one's heart to stop beating, then he would bet good money his own heart had stalled for a few beats.
She'd left him breathless. Beautiful skin the color of mocha, light brown hair with auburn highlights, eyes the color of his favorite caramel candies. She was petite in stature, but her figure was curvy in all the right places. When he got closer he noticed the slight freckles scattered across her face. She had the sweetest smile known to man. Her face practically lit up when she smiled, while his knees almost gave way under the weight of it.
That had been weeks ago, and although he would like to say he'd made some headway with the woman who now owned him, heart and soul, he kept hitting a brick wall as far as Gabrielle was concerned. He'd smiled at her, flirted with her, tried to talk to her, complimented her. None of it had worked. Not even a little bit. It crushed him to realize she didn't seem to like him very much. Considering he'd never dealt with that problem, it felt like a little kick in the gut.
Until You Loved Me (Seven Brides, Seven Brothers Book 3) Page 1