by Dori Lavelle
But Nick wasn’t only well received by Lynnette and Melisa; everyone clearly knew him, especially the residents and staff who had seen him in action with the press the day before.
Nick was wonderful; he took the time to talk to a few residents at length before jumping in behind the scenes in the kitchen. “I’m so sorry, Lynnette, for the chaos we brought to your front door yesterday,” he said as he took a jar of peanut butter and a bread knife from her.
Lynnette placed a hand on his back. “It was the best entertainment we’ve had in a long time. It was also the most romantic gesture.”
Nick smiled at me. “I’m glad.”
We quickly got to work. Nick smeared the slices of bread with peanut butter, and I smeared them with jam. Just like I’d done on the day we met. If we hadn’t run out of jam that day, we’d probably never have walked into each other’s lives.
Occasionally, our hands would touch while we worked, and we exchanged a glance. We were made for each other, and we both knew it.
Chris had left my life empty, and Nick had filled it again. In a way, Chris had brought us together. Wherever he was, he was watching over me; he wanted me to have the best, and for me, Nick was it. But it was kind of weird, having loved two brothers—twins, for that matter—but my heart had been drawn to Chris from the first day I’d met him. But it seemed that Nick was the man meant for me, everything I had ever wanted.
Chapter Ten
A week after Nick rescued me from the reporters and revealed the truth of Chris’s death to me, Lilliana Stalford called to let me know she’d heard of my innocence in the news. She apologized for not having heard me out, and rehired me.
Three weeks after I returned back to work as both a sales associate and Stalford jewelry model, Nick showed up at the boutique and asked Lilliana for permission to whisk me away to Hawaii for a few days.
My job at Stalford was a lifesaver, and I looked forward to going to work every morning, but a few days away from it all was just what I needed to restore the energy I’d lost while trying to piece my life back together.
The past days had been a rollercoaster as I tried to get my life back and come to terms with the truth about myself. What I had always believed was a lie, one that had almost destroyed me. Still, a part of my mind refused to accept my new reality. Funny how the mind finds it hard to let go of what it has become accustomed to, no matter how painful.
On some nights, I still woke up in a sweat from a nightmare in which I shot and killed Chris. But it was just a dream, and it no longer ruled my waking life.
For the past two weeks, we’d been at his all-glass penthouse in Honolulu, soaking up the sun and celebrating our love.
Nick and I made love in every room of his spacious house, enjoyed walks and candlelit dinners on his private beach, and took boat rides on the open sea. In just a few days, I really got to experience the perks of dating a millionaire.
Even though I was determined to live as normal a life as I could—and I said as much to Nick—I still enjoyed being pampered by him on occasion. Who doesn’t want to feel special, loved, and beautiful?
“Ready to return to everyday life?” Nick asked as his private jet came into contact with the landing strip.
“I’m ready to get back to my normal life, as long as you’re a part of it.”
Nick squeezed my hand. “Always,” he said and tucked a lock of my hair behind my ear. “In fact, how about I give you a guarantee?” He stood and pulled me up. “I want more than this. More than a few nights and mornings here and there. I want you. All of you.”
My heart leapt to my throat.
He smiled. “Our relationship started out in a rather surprising way, and we did a lot of crazy things along the way, all of which drew us closer. How about we do one last crazy thing?” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a Stalford jewelry box. He opened it, and the most breathtaking cushion-cut diamond ring winked at me. “How about we cut to the chase and do what we really want? How about you become my wife?”
I shook my head as tears squeezed through my closed eyes. “Sorry,” I said. I had expected him to say he wanted us to move in together, since we spent every free moment with each other, but this was so much better. I opened my eyes and looked up at him. “I’m just… so happy.”
He chuckled and wiped a tear from my cheek, the way he had done on the steps of Grace Chapel on the day we met. “Cry all you want. Just say yes first.”
“Absolutely, yes. Yes, I’ll be your wife, Nick.” I wrapped my arms around his neck. “I love you so much.”
He tightened his arms around me. “I love you too, beautiful.” He pulled back and kissed me.
My heart beat to the rhythm of his; all that mattered was me and him. The past was far behind us now and the future so bright. From now on, it would be just us. We might be getting married quickly, but we had gone through so much together already. When you know, you know. I knew. So what was the point in waiting?
This time, Nick hired a driver to take us back to his hotel so we could sit in the back and celebrate with champagne, kisses, and the same chocolate éclairs he’d offered me the night we made love for the first time.
In all my life, I’d never known such happiness.
“I have another surprise for you.” He tipped his glass against mine.
“Another surprise? You really are determined to spoil me, aren’t you?”
“I am, because you deserve it.”
I sipped my champagne, my heart swelling. “So, tell me. What’s the surprise?”
“You’ve got to see it to believe it.” He leaned forward and gave the driver an address.
“Where are you taking me?” I asked as we drove through the elite part of town, where Lilliana lived. “I thought we were spending the night at my place.”
“Change of plans. I know a better place for us to spend the night.”
After about twenty minutes, the driver slowed down in front of a huge house.
The gates yawned open and we drove along a winding driveway framed by manicured gardens on both sides.
When we drove past a pond with a fountain, my mouth dropped open.
When I first visited Lilliana’s house, I’d been enthralled, but it paled in comparison to the eggshell-colored mansion we were now approaching. “Wow. Whose house is this? It’s gorgeous.”
When the limousine stopped in front of the steps leading up to the mahogany front doors, Nick clasped my hands between his. “I’m done living in hotels. I want a home.” He kissed the tips of my fingers. “A real home with you.”
“This is ours?” Warmth surged through me and tears sprang to my eyes again.
He nodded. “I hope you like it. If you don’t, we can find another.”
“No, that’s not necessary.” I grinned at him. “This is perfect.”
I was on wobbly knees as we entered the house, and Nick showed me the six bedrooms, each with a bathroom, the indoor swimming pool, gym, and state-of-the-art kitchen.
I wouldn’t have minded living in a smaller place with him, but I felt instantly at home in the beautiful place he had chosen for us to spend our future.
The broken roads I’d traveled had led me right here. Home to him.
Chapter Eleven
“Did your mom return your call?” We’d been engaged for over six months, but despite our commitment to each other, I still hadn’t met his mother and stepfather in person.
Nick had tried on several occasions to arrange for his mom and me to meet, but she always ended up turning down her invitation at the last minute.
Meeting her was pretty much the last thing I wanted to do. My stomach cramped up at the thought of possibly having to explain to her how Chris had died. Returning to that day would be torture, but I still wanted to get it out of the way, if only so Nick and I could move on with our lives.
Nick draped an arm across my stomach and drew me closer. “Not yet.”
I sat up and gazed down at him. “It will never happen, wi
ll it?” I asked with a lump in my throat.
“It will. We have to be patient.”
“Six months is not patient enough?” I clenched my fists. “I’m going to be your wife, and my future mother-in-law can’t even bear to share a meal with me?”
“She’s still coming to terms with everything that happened.”
“But I didn’t kill Chris.” I paused. “You told her, right?”
Nick drew me to him, his uneven breaths caressing my cheek. “Of course I did. I’m the one who went to all lengths to prove your innocence.”
I tucked my head in the crook of his shoulder, calming at the smell of his cologne and soap.
Nick ran a hand over my hair. “She wants to have lunch with me tomorrow. I’ll talk to her again.”
I laid my head on his naked chest, listened to his heartbeat. “Okay.”
“I want you to come with me.”
I stiffened. “Does she know that?”
“No, but she has to accept that you’re a part of my life now. A part of my future. It’s time you met.”
“What if she hates me?” Wrong question. If someone refused repeatedly to have lunch with me, they probably already did.
“I don’t care. I don’t need her permission. I’m the one who will be spending the rest of my life with you, with or without her blessing. So, will you come?”
Could I really just show up to their lunch uninvited? My insides were trembling. But Nick was right. It was time. “Yes.”
***
Nick’s biceps contracted beneath my fingers as I clutched his arm. Reminding myself to keep breathing, I followed his lead as we crossed the road toward Delucia Restaurant, where he’d made a reservation.
I’d made an effort to look nice today. With a few tips from Silvy, my makeup artist at Stalford, I’d improved on my makeup skills and now made myself up frequently. Just enough to enhance my eyes, lips, and cheekbones. I’d opted for a long-sleeved woolen dress, a matching coat, and gloves. No designer clothing. Yes, my fiancé was a millionaire, but I wouldn’t wear designer clothes just because I wanted to spend money. I bought clothes I loved, no matter who designed them.
“You okay?” Nick asked as we neared the glamorous entrance of the restaurant.
“I will be.” My liquid insides said otherwise, but maybe if I focused on positive thoughts, they’d become reality.
“Don’t worry,” he said, halting at the entrance. “Once she meets you, everything will change. She’ll see what a beautiful person you are, both inside and out. He kissed me, then reached for my hand and wove his fingers through mine.
I spotted her immediately; Leonor was a beautiful woman, even from a distance. She wore a beige Chanel suit and her hair was tucked in an elegant knot at the nape of her neck. Her back was straight and she held her head high. Her green eyes, identical to Nick’s and Chris’s, hardened as they focused on me. Her lips parted slightly.
My chest tightened. “Maybe this isn’t such a great idea,” I whispered to Nick without moving my lips much.
“We’ll make it a good idea. Keep walking.”
“Mom,” he said and kissed her on her cheeks. “I brought Carlene along. Hope you don’t mind.”
“Would you care if I did?” Her hands trembled as she pulled her gaze from me and reached for the leather-bound menu as if I wasn’t even there.
“Carlene will have lunch with us, or we will both leave.”
Leonor’s head snapped up. “Fine. Let her stay.”
“Good afternoon, Mrs. Johnson,” I said to be polite. I extended my hand toward her and she glanced at Nick first, then shook it, dropping it almost immediately.
For the duration of the lunch, she barely glanced at me, simply directing her whole focus on Nick. She asked him how his businesses were going and gave him updates on Leonor Cosmetics, a well-known brand, which she had started.
I tried, unsuccessfully, to concentrate on my filet mignon with balsamic glaze, which I couldn’t even taste.
Then Nick halted the conversation and turned to Leonor. “Mom, you can’t pretend Carlene isn’t here. You know we have to talk about this. She’s going to be my wife, so you have to find a way to accept it.”
Leonor’s glance flickered at me and then returned to Nick. “Why choose her?”
“Because she’s the woman I love.”
“And the woman who is responsible for your brother’s death.” Her lips quivered as she spoke, and my stomach dropped through my chair.
Nick leaned forward, nearer to his mother, with a hard expression on his face. “I know this is difficult to accept. It is for me, too, but Chris committed suicide.”
Leonor pushed back her chair and stood. Her eyes stayed fixed on Nick. “Wrong.” Her voice was hard, but it cracked when she spoke. She was close to tears. “She had everything to do with it. She didn’t stop him. If you’re asking me to receive this woman into our lives, that’s not going to happen. I have a meeting to attend.” With that, she marched out of the restaurant.
“I guess we shouldn’t have surprised her like that,” I said a few minutes later, when were sitting in Nick’s car again. “You should have told her I was coming.”
Nick fastened his seatbelt, his expression stony. “She wasn’t taking any steps toward you. I had to do something drastic.”
“Looks like we made things worse.”
Nick placed his hand on my thigh. “You know what? We don’t need her approval. Let’s move into our house next week and get married the week after, just the two of us.”
I was tempted. But it wasn’t right. “That would be amazing. But we can’t do it to her. She’s still your mother, and I’m afraid it would drive a wedge between you two.”
“A wedge she already initiated.”
I inhaled. “Much as it hurts that she doesn’t want me to be a part of your life, I do understand her. She wants to keep me at a distance; every time she sees me, she’ll be reminded of Chris. I don’t want her to lose another son.”
Nick nodded but didn’t respond. When we arrived at the Lux, before he climbed out of the car, he reached for me and kissed me hard. We pulled apart, gasping. “You’re the sweetest, most loving woman, and I love you so much. Thanks for your thoughtfulness.”
“It’s because I love you. My biological parents died before I had a chance to get to know them. Your mom is still here. I want you to cherish her.”
“Thank you.” He paused. “I’ll sort this out, I promise.”
Chapter Twelve
“I’m going to China on business,” Nick told me over breakfast in bed. We’d spent the night together at the Lux.
“Oh, no, when?” Of course, his job required him to travel extensively. He’d already cancelled several business trips so we could spend more time together. We were getting married in six months, and we were in the process of moving into our new home.
“Friday.” He bit into a baguette.
“In two days.”
“I have a series of meetings planned with construction companies, and as much as I’d rather be here with you, I can’t put this trip on hold any longer. It’ll only be a week. When I return, we’ll start our new life together.”
“I can’t wait.” Hopefully Leonor wouldn’t complicate things.
***
Nick had been gone two days. I was sitting cross-legged on the floor of my apartment, labeling packing boxes with a marker pen, when the doorbell rang.
Pain sliced through my lower back when I straightened up. I guess I’d been sitting there for a while.
I opened the door to a distinguished man in a suit, who had thick, dark hair streaked with silver, piercing eyes, and a perfectly trimmed beard and moustache.
“Carlene Adams.” He extended a hand toward me. “Nice to meet you. May I come in?”
“Yes, please.” I stepped aside and closed the door once he was inside. “Sorry for the mess. I’m in the middle of packing.”
“It’s not a problem. I won’t take up much of your
time.” He gestured toward the couch. “May I?”
“Yes, of course.” I hurried to the couch and gathered clothes, bags, and shoes into my arms.
“I assume you know who I am?”
Lowering myself on the opposite end of the couch, I nodded. “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.” I’d never met Bill Johnson, Nick’s stepfather, in person before, but I’d heard a lot about him from Nick, and from the Serendipity Daily.
“I apologize that we were not introduced earlier. I was on a six-month Doctors Without Borders assignment in Ghana. But Nick has told me all about you over the phone.”
Bill Johnson was a well-known brain surgeon who made his services available to everyone, even those who didn’t have the money to pay for them. From the way Nick had talked about the man who had raised him, their bond was strong. He had a friendly aura about him, and I was instantly more comfortable around him than I’d been around his wife.
“Better late than never,” I said. “Can I offer you anything? …Well, I only have water or coffee.”
“No, thank you. I am the one who came to offer you something. I would like to apologize for what happened at Delucia last week between you and my wife.”
“I appreciate that.” I paused. “Mr. Johnson—”
“Call me Bill, please.”
“Bill.” I looked him squarely in the eye. “I love Nick and want to spend the rest of my life with him. But his mother means a lot to him, and I would do anything to be able to get along with her.”
Bill cleared his throat. “In that case, there’s something you need to understand. Losing Chris the first time, as a baby, took a great toll on my wife.”
“I can understand that.”
“When Nick told her he’d found him, I will never forget the light that went on in her eyes. As if new life had been breathed into her.”
“Then he died before she got a chance to know him,” I said under my breath.