by Delia Latham
Ceci sniffled.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. I guess I just hate that you’re leaving without talking to Russ. Doesn’t he deserve better than that?”
“Yes.” Autumn didn’t hesitate. “He does. But I’m not strong enough, Ceci. I can’t hold it together while he tries to ‘break it to me gently.’ And I can’t stay in Cambria, even for another few weeks, knowing Russ is somewhere in this town, yet so far out of my reach. I just…I can’t.”
“I get it. I do. It’s just sad.” Ceci snatched a tissue from the console and dabbed at her eyes.
They rounded the circular driveway in front of the lodge, and Ceci pointed the vehicle toward the long drive leading away from Paradise Pines. With every turn of the wheels, Autumn’s heartbeat jumped a notch or two…her soul sighed deeper…her breath came in shorter, more painful hitches. At last, she huffed out a frustrated sigh. Why had she suddenly developed such a demanding conscience?
“Wait. I can’t do it, Ceci. Would you mind waiting here with Miss Angie while I drive over to Russ’s place?”
Ceci swung the car back toward the lodge so fast Autumn squealed and grabbed at the security handle. “Ceci!”
Her friend grinned, clearly not feeling even a smidge of guilt about throwing Autumn halfway across the seat. But, after bringing the vehicle to a halt at the lodge doors, she sobered and locked her gaze on Autumn.
“You haven’t forgotten that Linda’s there? Never mind. I know you haven’t.” Ceci sighed. “Maybe you should ask Russ to meet you somewhere.”
“No. I’m going to take this bad ol’ bull by its ugly ol’ horns and get this thing settled, here and now. I can’t leave without looking Russ in the eye, and I have to say goodbye to Dalynn.” She blew her breath out in a huff. “They’ve already suffered through one woman walking out on them without looking back. I won’t do that to them.”
Ceci gave her a one-armed hug. “OK, sweetie. Miss Angie and I will pray for you…for all of you.”
Autumn climbed into the driver’s seat and drove away as Ceci disappeared into the lodge. She started praying as she turned onto the long drive leading out, but she didn’t have time for a lengthy prayer. Halfway to the main road, another vehicle made a sharp, fast turn onto the drive, and then whipped sideways, blocking her exit.
She braked hard and gasped for breath as her heart raced like a runaway horse. The driver bounded out of his car and headed her way. Aside from the fluidity of his movements—long, even strides bringing him ever closer to her door—he seemed to be made of unyielding rock and granite.
Autumn sent one last prayer heavenward as Russ stopped beside her window.
~*~
Russ’s jaw hurt from clenching his teeth, biting back the anger that made him long to break something, starting with the window between him and the wide-eyed woman inside Ceci’s vehicle. Instead, he grabbed the handle and jerked the door open. “Get out, Autumn.”
She climbed out of the car, white and trembling.
Russ’s heart quailed. Was she frightened of him? Oh, God, forgive me. Help me out here!
He didn’t receive a miraculous emotional makeover, but he found himself able to relax his jaw. Only then did he realize his entire body was taut as a fiddle string. He breathed in and out again, never taking his gaze off Autumn’s face.
“Russ?”
He grabbed her by both arms, making a deliberate effort to be gentle. “Where are you going? Were you really going to leave without even talking to me…without saying goodbye to Dalynn?” He shook his head. “Don’t you think the two of us have had enough of being tossed aside like yesterday’s laundry?”
“Oh, Russ…” Autumn’s voice sounded a bit quivery at first, but then she took a deep breath and hiked her chin in the air, clearly determined to overcome whatever had made her look so scared—and sound so beaten. The sorrow in her eyes clawed at his heart. “I was on my way to your place. I tried, but I couldn’t leave without saying goodbye, so I was coming over, even though Linda’s back, and—”
“And what? You thought that you and I were through, just like that?” He pulled her hard against his chest and lifted her chin so he could see her eyes. “Is that what you want?”
“No, Russ, no!” Those big, brown velvet orbs welled with tears.
Russ resisted the urge to kiss them dry.
“I didn’t want to be in the way of your family reuniting.”
“Reuniting? Whew!” He huffed out a breath. “You thought Linda was here to reclaim her place in our home?”
“Why else would she be here?”
He groaned and loosened the rock-hard hold he had on her. “That’s not why Linda showed up last night…and even if it had been, it couldn’t happen. Not anymore. I told you, Autumn—I don’t love her.”
“Then why—?”
“Linda’s getting ready to sign a very lucrative deal with some big production agency in Hollywood. Her struggle for fame is finally showing signs of coming to fruition.”
“I don’t understand. Why is she here, then?”
He laughed, unable to hide the edge of derision in his tone. “Our divorce has been final long enough that she didn’t have to worry about me, but Linda is afraid her daughter might someday try to stake a claim to her wealth. She wanted me to sign away any rights Dalynn might have to her potential fortune.”
Autumn gasped. “And did you?”
“I started to, and then decided that wasn’t my decision to make. I told Linda she’ll just have to take her chances and wait until Dalynn is of age. Then she can decide for herself.”
“What…?” Autumn grimaced. “What did Linda say?”
“She threw a raging fit, called me a few names I won’t repeat, and then stormed out the door and took her leave—without even looking in on Dalynn.”
Autumn closed her eyes for a moment, then opened them to reveal a sorrowful disbelief. “She didn’t even peek in the door to see what her daughter looks like, after two years away?”
“Dalynn is clearly not of any importance to her ‘mother.’” He spat out the last word, and heaved in a breath. “But that’s not why I’m here.”
Autumn bit at her lip. “Why are you here?”
“Because a little bird told me you were high-tailing it out of Cambria.” He clenched his jaw, counted to three, and relaxed it again. “Much like Linda did a couple of years ago. What’s going on, Autumn?”
She reached up to trace a finger around his lips. “Oh, Russ, I’m sorry. I—I panicked. Ceci said Linda was at your house, and I thought she’d returned to her home. To you…and Dalynn. I couldn’t stand in the way of that reunion, but I also couldn’t stay and watch it happen. I’m sorry…I just couldn’t.”
Russ’s phone rang, and he glanced at the screen, surprised to see Ceci’s name in the I.D. window. “It’s Ceci. That’s strange. Excuse me a minute.” He swiped the screen, lifted the phone to his ear and then, on second thought, put her on speaker so Autumn could hear the conversation. “Hello?”
“Look, I probably shouldn’t be doing this, but I thought you should know Autumn’s on her way over.”
“Actually, we’re both standing in the middle of the Paradise Pines access road. I kind of waylaid her.” He sent Autumn a grin that probably came across more like a grimace. “You and Autumn aren’t going anywhere.”
Ceci’s voice chilled. “That’s our decision to make. Autumn, are you OK?”
“I’m fine. Don’t worry. Russ’s gravel-voice is deceptive. He’s a gentle giant.”
“He’d better be gentle. Russ Amundsen, need I warn you about hurting my friend?”
He grinned, this time with real humor. “No, ma’am. I’m well aware that my life wouldn’t be worth two cents if I did that.”
“Good. Then we’re straight. Autumn, call if you need me.” She rang off without another word.
Autumn lifted a sheepish gaze to Russ. “Sorry about that. She can be a bit of a mama bear.”
“
That’s OK. I’ll take all the help I can get.”
“And what exactly does that mean?”
“It means I don’t intend to let you run off anywhere. I already knew how special you are, but somehow, seeing Linda last night, watching her behave like a spoiled child instead of a loving mother…I knew that I wouldn’t let the best thing that’s ever happened to me disappear from my world.”
She stepped close and snuggled into his arms. “I hope that means me.”
He laughed. “You and only you, little yapper.”
“I beg your pardon! Yapper, you say? You know, I could find a few things to call you too—”
Russ dipped his head and shut her up the best way he knew how.
21
Autumn pulled away…her head fuzzy, lips swollen and tingly. “Wow! Who’da thunk a rock man could kiss like that?”
Russ chuckled. “So I’m back to being a rock man?”
“That’s what you looked like when you got out of your car a little while ago. I was almost afraid to unlock my door.”
“Well, I was already thinking about breaking the window. Good thing you didn’t give me any reason to behave like a Neanderthal. Ceci would’ve never forgiven me.”
She laughed. “That’s true.”
“We’ll need to take her car back to the lodge, but…” Trailing his fingers over her cheek and down to her lips, he studied her face as if looking for something. “Before we do that, I think I need a response.”
She had no idea what he meant. “Response?”
He sighed. “Autumn, did you not hear me say you’re the best thing that ever happened to me? Honey, I love you with everything I am. I’ve never…never…known this kind of mad, crazy, overpowering, wonderful love before.” He grinned and touched a finger to the tip of her nose. “I love you all the way to the hard-rock bottom of my heart.”
“You…love me? Russ, I—” She broke off and reached up to toy with the straight, golden brown hair that hung just over the back of his collar. “Are you sure?”
With a groan, Russ gathered her into his arms and covered her mouth with his. By the time he pulled away, Autumn’s breath had taken a mini-vacation. She hauled in a bit of air and fixed a foggy gaze on his face.
One side of his lips lifted in a self-satisfied grin. “Believe me, sweetheart, I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life.”
“Me too,” she breathed.
“What’s that?” Russ tilted his head.
She breathed deep once more, and then again. At last, she grinned and grabbed him by both lapels. “You heard me the first time, but I’ll say it again if you’d like.”
“I would like.”
Autumn laughed. “I said, ‘me too,’ Russ. I love you too…all the way to the tips of my little puppy paws.”
“You’re sure?” Russ wasn’t laughing. “I need you to be sure, because once you’re mine, I’ll never let you go.”
“Russ.” She touched his mouth. “Look at me, my love.”
He took her hand, kissed the fingers she’d laid on his lips, and looked into her eyes.
“I love you, Russ Amundsen. I love you like I never thought I’d love anyone in this world, and I have no intention of ever going anywhere you’re not.”
He kissed her again, and then headed for his car. “Let’s get Ceci’s car back to her. Then you and I have somewhere to be.”
They made a quick return trip to the lodge, where Autumn gave Ceci her keys and a hug, and then they were on the road again.
She scooted close and tucked one arm through Russ’s. “Where are we going?”
“To get Dalynn.”
She sent him a sideways glance. “Does she know Linda was here?”
“No, and I’d like it to stay that way. She never needs to know her mother didn’t care enough to even say hello.”
“She’ll never hear it from me.”
“I talked to Dalynn before I came here this morning, and I promised I’d let her be there for the finale.”
“What finale?”
“You’ll see.”
Russ drove to his nursery, just outside the Cambria city limits. Taking Autumn’s hand, he led her to Dalynn’s playhouse—a small, brightly colored structure tucked into a circular glade surrounded with blooming plants of all colors and varieties.
“It’s like something out of a fairytale!” Autumn turned in circles, trying to take it all in at once. “Did you build it?”
“I did.” He nodded. “Dalynn seems to like it all right.”
Autumn couldn’t imagine any little girl not liking it. She just needed a friend or two to play with inside—the house had plenty of room. She made a silent vow to see that Dalynn had playmates in this little dream house…and soon. Actually, she should speak with Russ about building another one just like this at home, so Dalynn’s friends could sleep over in warm weather. Autumn would sleep in the little house with them so they’d feel safe.
Russ stuck his head inside. “Princess? We’re here.”
“Daddy!” Dalynn barreled out the door and wrapped both arms around Russ and then Autumn. “Did you ask her, Daddy? Did you ask her?”
Russ rolled his eyes. “There goes the element of surprise.”
Autumn grinned and attempted Ceci’s enviable trick with the eyebrows…one up and one down. As always, she failed abysmally. “Ask me what?”
The child bounced up and down, too excited to stand still. “Ask her Daddy. Ask Autumn to marry us!”
Russ offered a lopsided smile and a shrug. “It seems I don’t have to. Someone did it for me.”
Autumn knelt and pulled the little girl into her arms. “The answer is yes,” she whispered, and placed a kiss on Dalynn’s cheek. “I would love to marry you and your daddy.”
In an instant, Russ was beside them on the ground, his arms around both of his girls.
“You will? You’ll marry us?”
“Just try and stop me.” Autumn couldn’t seem to curb the laughter that gurgled up from somewhere deep inside.
“Not a chance.” Russ dropped a kiss on her lips, and then another on Dalynn’s. “God sent me an angel of my own. My job is to make sure she never wants to renege on the deal and return to Heaven without me.”
Dalynn burst into a fit of giggles and took off, running in circles around the playhouse and the couple on the ground.
Autumn snuggled against Russ’s broad chest. “I’m not going anywhere, my love.” She looked up and straight into his eyes. No steel or flint or stone in them now. Just soft, gray eyes full of so much emotion it almost took her breath away. “I’ve waited my whole life to find out love is real. When I finally fell, I fell deep…and forever.”
“I like the sound of that.” Russ ran a hand through her hair and watched the long strands fall through his fingers. “I love you, Autumn. I promise to treat you like the angel you are.”
“I promise to help you forget all the pain you’ve endured and teach you to trust again.”
Dalynn wedged herself between the two of them, out of breath from running circles around the playhouse. “I promise to eat all my sunburned frenchie fries and high tide burger. Can we go now? Can we?”
Russ laughed and tugged on one of his daughter’s pigtails. “Taking my fiancée to Boardwalk Burgers for our first meal as a real couple isn’t exactly what I had in mind, but…” He hiked one eyebrow at Autumn. “What do you think?”
She hopped up, reached for his hand and pulled him up with her. “I say a high tide burger with moon sauce is the perfect engagement luncheon.”
A couple of hours later, as they returned to the lodge, Russ steered his car around the driveway and cut the engine. They exited the vehicle without a word, gazing in awe at the view. Even Dalynn said nothing, but stood staring at the sky.
The afternoon sun shone through a gap in the billowing cluster of white clouds overhead. The resulting swath of glorious sunbeams twinkled like stardust in the air and painted a stunning aura of light around the buildin
g and surrounding grounds.
Autumn and Russ moved into each other’s arms without a word. She couldn’t speak, and he didn’t, so she assumed he shared her awe. Of all the days and times for God to spread out such a stunning display of His works…
A loud flutter of wings behind them broke the silence, and they turned around.
Mr. Blue fluttered beside the windshield, peering at them with a charm dangling from his beak.
Autumn laughed. “It’s my friend!” She walked around the side of the car and close to where the bird hovered, his steady black gaze fixed on her.
Russ picked up a wide-eyed Dalynn and joined Autumn.
“We already said goodbye, little friend.” She spoke in a low, even tone. Mr. Blue seemed unflappable, but with Russ and Dalynn here, he might be less bold than usual. “What’ve you got there?”
The jay dropped the charm on the hood. When Autumn didn’t pick it up immediately, he nudged it closer to her. “Jay! Jay!”
“I think he wants you to read it,” Russ volunteered.
“Ya think?” She grinned and took the charm between her fingers. “It’s the last charm,” she said. “Miss Angie said there should be one more, after the one he delivered this morning.”
“What does it say?”
She lifted the small, silver square closer to her face. “Well, this side has a heart on it.”
Russ rolled his eyes. “Funny. What’s on the other side?”
Autumn turned the little piece over and gasped.
“What does it say, Autumn?” Even Dalynn spoke in a hushed, awed tone. “Read it!”
“It says—” Her voice caught. She cleared her throat and tried again. “It says, ‘Love never fails.’”
Russ slipped an arm around her waist. “Love doesn’t fail, sweetheart. Not true love…not ever.”
Queedlee! Queedlee! Mr. Blue lifted off the hood and into the air, where he hovered for ten seconds…twenty…half a minute. Then he was gone, perhaps off to a love of his own.
Russ pulled Autumn further into the circle of his arms. She loved being there, part of a family unit with him and Dalynn. She leaned in to his kiss, loving the touch of his lips, the brush of his unshaven cheek against hers.