She would remember that one.
“You caught me at a weak moment. It’s bad form to throw it back in my face.”
At that moment, the door opened and Craig wandered in.
“Have either of you seen my—” He patted his pockets. Boone smiled. Jill sighed.
“Your glasses are on top of your head.”
“They are?” Craig reached up, grabbed the missing eyewear, and grinned. “Son of a gun. Someday I’ll get a clue.”
Jill snorted. “Hope it’s contagious.”
Midway through sliding his glasses into place, Craig paused and squinted at her, then at Boone. “Problem?”
“No,” said Boone, even as Jill barked out a laugh.
“You mean other than Boone playing Fifty Shades of Idiocy?”
“Ah.” Craig looked between them once more, stepped back and reached for the door.
“In that case, I’ll be on my way,” he said to Jill. To Boone, he offered a mock salute. “Good luck. You’re gonna need it.”
Boone knew better than to hope that Jill would have forgotten the topic.
“I take it Kate will be attending,” she said as soon as the door closed.
He shrugged.
“Of course, I can understand why you wouldn’t want to be near her. Not after she threw your efforts in your face.”
“It’s not gonna work, Jill.”
“What? I’m just pointing out facts.”
“You’re also still paying me to work here, which I can’t do if you’re harassing me about going to some...thing I want no part of.”
“Well, as your current boss, I would remind you that you could make some valuable connections at this event. And your new boss might feel the same way.”
Mierda. He hadn’t thought of that.
“Maybe I should go in your place.” She sat up straighter, seemingly delighted. “I haven’t had a trip home in years. I could go, say that I’m representing you, do some fund-raising while I’m there...” She nodded in approval. “And I would finally get to meet Kate and Jamie. I know I’ve talked to them, but it’s not the same. We might even be seated beside each other at the presentation.”
“The invitation isn’t transferable, Jill.”
“It’s not? Darn. Well, then I guess you’ll have to suck it up and go press the flesh yourself.”
“I told you—”
“And I told you that no one in a position that requires drumming up outside funding should ever turn down an opportunity like this. Besides, this way you could impress Kate with how good you look in a suit.”
He swiveled from the monitor to stare at her in disbelief. Jill was the queen of talking in circles when she was trying to get him to do something. Half the time he thought he had agreed to one thing, only to learn he’d actually said yes to something entirely different.
Not this time.
“Jill. I know you’re trying to help. I appreciate your concern. But I’m not going, and Kate and I aren’t getting back together, and—”
“Of course you’re going.”
At least she hadn’t said anything about Kate.
“You’re far too professional to let your personal feelings interfere with such an important professional commitment. I’ll take care of your flight.”
Panic filled his chest. “No. Jill, I’m not—”
“Not going to worry about seeing Kate again. I know. And the good part is, once this is behind you, you’ll undoubtedly have seen her at her loveliest. So once you resist that, you’ll know you can resist almost anything.”
This wasn’t happening.
“She told me she doesn’t care what I do, Jill.”
It was Jill’s turn to shrug. “Was that before or after you basically said that she couldn’t possibly love you for who you are, but just for what you could do for her?”
“What the hell?”
“Or maybe it was when you implied that she and Jamie weren’t worth turning your life upside down for, but the house was.”
He ran a hand over his forehead and closed his eyes. “You’re twisting everything around. That’s not what I meant and you know it.”
“Guess what, Boone? If I’m supposed to look for the meaning behind your words, then she gets the same courtesy.” She stood and leaned over him with a fierceness he hadn’t seen since she practically ordered him to move in with her and Craig. “She loves you, Boone, and you love her. You might be too stubborn and scared and busy licking your wounds to get over it, but it’s the truth. Luckily, I think you still have a chance to make things right.”
Damn it. Did she have to say that? Words like that got him hoping again. Hope was the worst. It made you believe things could change, people could change, and then it laughed in your face when it finally ran away.
“Everything you’ve told me about Kate makes me think that she is a strong, compassionate and loving woman, Boone. Better than your sorry ass deserves, but that’s not my call. I think you stumbled across the one woman on the planet who could put up with you and understand you and be the kind of partner you need.”
“And if I’m not what she needs?”
“Oh, Boone. Don’t you get it? That’s what marriage is about. Sometimes you’re the strong one, and sometimes you’re the needy one, and sometimes you’re both holding hands in the dark trying to figure out what the hell to do next. And as long as you’re both trying and working and giving everything you can, the rest is gravy.”
He wanted to push her words aside. But he couldn’t. Not just because everything she was saying felt so right, but because it was what he had seen her and Craig living all these years.
“Go to the ceremony, Boone. Shake hands and do your job. And when it’s over, go to Kate and tell her you’re sorry and ask if she can give you another chance, even though you don’t deserve it.”
“I thought you were supposed to be on my side.”
The glare she delivered over the top of her glasses told him exactly what a fool he’d been to say that. Funny. All those years he’d known that the useless things in his head came from his mother, he’d thought he was pushing them back himself. How had he not figured out that Jill was in there, too, fighting for him the way she always had?
“Fine,” he said. “I’ll do it. But not because you think I should.”
“I know,” she said, and he was pretty sure she did.
CHAPTER TWENTY
KATE KNEW SHE should have said no when she was invited to the official presentation. After all, Boone was the one behind the discovery. But he was in Peru, and they were still married, and Maggie convinced her that someone from Charlie’s family needed to be in the room when the treasure was formally returned to the United States ambassador.
In the end, she decided to go. Not because of her connection to Charlie, and not because of her connection to Boone, and not because—as Allie had pointed out—no one in her right mind should turn down a chance to meet the prime minister.
No. Kate was going for herself. She had been walking around in a half-alive state since Boone left, alternating between sorrow and anger since she’d learned about the job, and enough was enough. She was going to put on a pretty dress and have her hair done and give herself the Cinderella treatment for a day. And when the day was over and Charlie’s treasure was officially back where it should have been all these years, she would move on, as well. She had a job waiting for her return and a baby she loved, and a new relationship to establish with his father. She had a future. It was time she began to focus on it.
Job one, tomorrow, would be to sign the lease on the town house she’d toured yesterday. Every day she stayed in this house was another reminder of Boone. Good memories of a place were one thing. Heartbreaking ones were a different story.
Today, though, she was Cinderella. And since she had chosen to attend, then d
amn it, she was going to enjoy every minute of it.
She kissed Jamie goodbye, thanked her mother once again for being on grandson duty, and folded herself into the limo that had been sent for her. There were definitely some perks to being an honored guest at a diplomatic event.
She was delivered to the governor-general’s mansion in plenty of time to be taken in hand by an aide and given last-minute instructions. She wasn’t sure why that was necessary, since her job was essentially to smile and pose for a few photos, but whatever. Even Princess Leia had to—
No. She was not going there today.
“We’re running a few minutes late, but everything should be ready soon.” The aide opened the door to a room where a handful of formally dressed men and women were milling around, talking in low voices. “There are some finger foods and drinks at the table. Feel free to help yourself.” The aide began to leave, then turned back. “Oh, and I believe your husband is already here.”
“No,” she said with what she hoped was a casual laugh. “He’s in—”
But the aide was flying down the hall. And the sudden oversize lump in her throat made the rest of her sentence impossible anyway.
Because Boone was, indeed, in the room.
She had spent the last couple of Skype calls off-camera, plopping Jamie on the floor and using her laptop to follow his movements, so she had managed to avoid seeing Boone, even digitally. It took her a second to equate the man in the three-piece suit with the man she usually saw in either jeans or nothing at all.
Her mouth went dry. He had told her he wasn’t going to be here, that he wasn’t leaving Peru until next week. So why...? What...?
He glanced away from the man he’d been talking to, pausing in midlaugh. She could tell the precise moment he became aware of her presence. He turned away from his companion, not seeming to care that the man was still talking. It wasn’t simply a glance over his shoulder or a twist from the waist. Boone pivoted completely until he was facing her. Lined up with her so precisely that if everything between them had been snatched away and unseen hands had pushed them together, they would have meshed perfectly. Head to head. Lips to lips. Heart to heart.
Kate didn’t make a conscious decision to walk toward him. It was, it seemed, like that moment all those months ago when they first saw each other. Han Solo might be more polished today, and Princess Leia was in peony pink instead of white, but whatever had pulled them together that day was still there, still alive, and, damn it, her mother was right. No matter the reason for Boone’s return, he was here. And she would be an idiot to turn her back on this second chance.
But before she could get to him, an official voice soared above the buzz and announced that it was time to begin.
She joined in the movement toward the door, unsure if the fizziness in her veins was due to the impending ceremony or Boone’s proximity. She tried to edge closer as she shuffled forward, but a solid row of business suits blocked her way. As the crowd moved slowly down a hall lined with portraits of former governors general, she tried to hold back and wait for him. But the person behind her bumped into her, and they had to spend the rest of the short walk proving they were Canadian by trying to out-apologize each other.
Meanwhile, Boone was close enough that her very toes were quivering in recognition. Her breath, already shortened by nerves, had been reduced to shallow inhalations that barely kept her oxygenated. And her mind was a jumble of anger and want and confusion and joy and indecision and excitement.
Which, she supposed, was probably the way love often felt.
They were shown into a large room that Kate recognized from school tours. She was presented to the governor-general, the American ambassador and the prime minister, then shown to her chair behind the podium.
Beside Boone.
“Hi,” she said as she took her seat. Oh, she was witty today.
“Hi. I, uh, wasn’t sure if I—”
Cameras flashed from the audience. The governor-general was approaching the podium. Kate smiled and joined in the applause marking the beginning of the ceremony. Inside, she felt as bouncy and unstable as she had the time Allie had dragged her onto a trampoline.
Speeches were made. Apologies were extended. Kate was introduced and, as she had been instructed ahead of time, invited to say a few words. When she stood, Boone gave her hand a fast squeeze.
“May the Force be with you.”
Which meant that she was smiling as she stepped up to the microphone.
She kept her remarks brief as she’d been told, touching on family lore, on the village legend, on the moment when they realized that Charlie had indeed found something worthy of safe passage. Then she reminded all those in attendance of what had truly been at stake that long-ago night.
“My great-grandfather knew he had found something major. But I think it’s telling that he didn’t try to sell it, or to use it for anything other than the promise of freedom for himself and my great-grandmother Daisy. Charlie knew that no silver, no jewels—” she paused, considered, and added softly “—and no home, were worth more than the chance to live his life with the woman he loved. Although he lost his life that night, I think he would have some measure of peace in knowing that Daisy and their unborn child were safe. And so, on behalf of Charles Hebert and his descendants, I am honored to return these items to their rightful owner, and ask your forgiveness for the delay in doing so.”
Polite laughter. Applause. A few smiles for the camera and then she was heading back to her chair, back to Boone, his face alight with pride and his hands clapping furiously. She took her seat and fought to keep from sagging with relief.
And then, as the ceremony continued, she turned her attention to the next talk she needed to give. The one that had to do with the rest of her life.
* * *
BOONE BARELY HEARD a word that was said during the ceremony. He was too aware of Kate at his side, too caught up in wondering if he should have told her he might be there, too busy weighing what words might convince her to give him the second chance he didn’t deserve.
He did, however, hang on every word of her speech. Especially the ones about family and togetherness and love.
She had said that she loved him. Was it too much to hope that he hadn’t killed that love?
It wasn’t until the ceremony was complete and the last photos had been taken that he had a chance to talk to her.
“I’m sorry I didn’t warn you,” he said as they were led into the room where Charlie’s treasure lay on display. “I changed my flights to be here, but it was fifty-fifty as to whether I’d make it or not.”
“Do you mean you came straight from the airport?”
She sounded more curious than pissed. That had to be a good sign.
“Yep.”
“From Peru?”
“From Peru.”
“Huh.”
She said nothing more, walking in silence until they entered the room where they were immediately grabbed for more photos. Boone let his eyes linger on the silver and jewelry and thought of the long road the “treasure” had traveled to this moment. Soon it would be back where it belonged.
He hoped he would be, too.
Charlie, it took me a while, but I finally figured out that your great-granddaughter is the best treasure I could ever find. Could you help a brother out, here?
There was no further chance to talk until the festivities were completed and they were being shown to the waiting limos.
“Ms. Hebert.” Another aide with a clipboard said something into a walkie-talkie, then glanced toward Boone. “And Mr. Boone, will you be—”
“He’s coming with me.” Kate was using her day care director voice, the one that left no room for questions. Boone felt ridiculously reassured until he realized that Kate had said only that he would be traveling with her.
She hadn’t used the wo
rd home.
He tried to talk once they were on the road, but she raised a hand and tipped her head toward the driver.
“I know there’s a privacy shield,” she said softly. “But I would rather not attempt this conversation until we’re at the house.”
Mierda. That didn’t sound promising, either.
But then she smiled, small but true, and added, “Be prepared. My mother is on Jamie duty.”
“I figured.” After a second, he added, “Thanks for the warning.”
Her grin this time was a little wider. “Trust me, it was my pleasure.”
When had she developed a sadistic streak?
Maybe around the time you implied that she and Jamie weren’t enough for you, said Jill’s voice in his head.
He swallowed hard and stared out the window at the fields flying past.
As they entered Comeback Cove, Kate—who had also spent the ride watching the scenery—suddenly leaned forward to tap on the glass and ask the driver if he would make a small detour. She offered directions, closed the shield once more and sat back.
“You’ll see,” she said to Boone before he had a chance to ask.
Two minutes and three turns later, the car slowed in front of a row of neat brown-and-brick town houses.
“See that one on the end?” Kate pointed to the one in question, the one with a for-rent sign. “Jamie and I looked at it yesterday. I’m signing the lease tomorrow.”
For a fraction of a second, he thought, Wait, if she hadn’t signed yet they could still...
But then he stopped himself. The town house looked new and shiny, with plenty of uncracked windows. There was no porch but there was a fenced-in yard. It had no turret and no history, but it had window boxes and railings and space to build a future.
History was important, but it couldn’t be changed. Understood, yes. Expanded upon, definitely. Reinterpreted? For sure.
The future, though. That was wide-open. So he made himself take his time before saying, “It looks nice. Definitely easier to maintain.”
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