by Donna Hill
“What did he say?” Raymond urged.
A smile like daybreak spread across her mouth. “He said Branford is a perfect match and they want to set up the procedure as soon as possible.”
Raymond swooped her up into his arms amidst her tears and laughter. He rained kisses all over her face. “Oh, God, J. It’s going to be all right. You’re going to be all right.” He squeezed her to him and buried his face in her hair.
She squeezed her eyes shut as she allowed herself to be enveloped in the love of his embrace. Now, someday in the very distant future, they would be that gray-haired couple that some eager photographer would capture and be inspired by.
Chapter 23
It took Branford a week to reschedule meetings and make arrangements to be out of D.C. The doctor assured him that the procedure wouldn’t be that painful. They would remove the marrow from the back of both of his hips. He would be given a local anesthetic and, barring any complications, could leave the hospital the same day. However, he recommended that Branford take some time off to give himself the opportunity to recover from any discomfort from the harvested site.
The one thing he was thankful for as the anesthesiologist put the mask over his face was that this was New York and not Baton Rouge or Washington where he was recognizable. Here he had a semblance of anonymity and his being in the hospital, although under an assumed name, would not turn into a media circus. Contrary to what many believed about him, he was a private person. His grandstanding only came about when politics and business were involved.
He turned his head to see his sister on the table next to him. This time he would get it right. It was the last thing he remembered before sleep overtook him.
* * *
“They’re going to keep her in isolation for two days to make sure that there is no infection and that the procedure worked,” Raymond said to Branford as they waited outside of Jacqueline’s room while she was being settled in by the nurse.
Branford nodded. He checked his watch. He’d been out of recovery for nearly an hour. The doctor said he could leave as soon as he was ready and had someone to pick him up. He was ready. The longer he stayed the more he thought about the countless days and hours he’d spent with Louisa in hospitals just like this.
“Hey, you okay? How are you feeling?”
Branford blinked him into focus. “Not bad. A little sore.” He chuckled. “Tell her…I’ll call.”
“Don’t you want to wait and talk to her yourself?”
He patted Raymond’s shoulder. “She has you. Take care of yourself and take care of my sister for me.” He turned and walked out.
Raymond’s gaze followed Branford until he was swallowed up by the comings and goings of staff, visitors and patients. One of these days he would get the hang of the whole Lawson “thing.”
“You can go in now,” the nurse said.
“Thanks.”
“You’ll need to put on a gown and a mask.”
He took a sealed package that contained a blue gown, booties for his feet and a mask. He donned his new attire and pushed through the glass door.
Jacqueline’s eyes lit up when she saw him. “Well, maybe if you can’t make it as a journalist you can do stand-ins for a doctor.” Her voice was a little raspy from the anesthetic.
“Very funny.” He pulled up a chair and sat next to the bed. He took her hand. “How are you feeling?”
“Pretty good.” She squeezed his fingers. “Where’s Bran?” She tried to peek around him.
“He left. Said he needed to get back but he would call you.”
She frowned. “Oh.” She rested her head against the pillows. She shouldn’t be surprised but for some reason she was. Branford’s behavior, his admissions and his displays of true humanity were such aberrations from the man he presented to the world that he was probably in shock. Still.
* * *
When Raymond brought Jacqueline back to her New York home she was stunned to find her home filled to near bursting with her nephew Rafe who’d brought along a statuesque model-type named Celeste, Justin, who was looking more like his older brother every day, her nieces Lee Ann, Dominique and Desiree, their husbands Preston Graham, Spence Hampton and the newest nephew in-law Trevor Jackson ensconced in her living room ready to party.
Whoops of delight swirled around her as she was engulfed in hugs and kisses and a barrage of questions that she couldn’t begin to answer.
“Oh, my goodness.” She pressed her hand to her chest and looked from one loving face to the next. “I can’t believe…” She turned to Raymond who had a sly grin on his face. “You knew!”
“Guilty,” he said, delighted at the joy that glowed from her eyes.
Her nieces swarmed around her, ushering her inside. The already stunning sitting room was filled with balloons and flowers and cards. Something delicious-smelling filled the air. Soft music played in the background.
Rafe and his sisters began handing out champagne flutes. He gave the bottle of champagne to Raymond. “Do the honors.”
Jacqueline looked around at her family, at all the love that was in the room. There was only one thing missing—her brother. Had it not been for him…none of this would be happening.
The cork in the champagne bottle popped to the delight of the group, and Raymond began filling glasses.
The doorbell rang.
“It better not be strippers,” Jacqueline said. Everyone broke out in laughter.
Raymond handed the bottle to Rafe. “I’ll get it.” He went to the door.
Moments later Branford walked in, with his arm around the shoulder of his nephew Maurice. A beautiful young woman held Maurice’s hand.
A collective gasp and then another flurry of squeals broke out when they saw their cousin Maurice. The only one who didn’t seem surprised was Rafe who watched the event unfold with a cool smile.
Maurice took the greetings in stride, doling out kisses and handshakes until he finally made his way to Jacqueline.
“Hey, Aunt J.”
Her throat was so tight she could barely say his name. “Maurice.” She stroked his cheek to make sure that all of the excitement wasn’t playing tricks on her. She grabbed him in a tight hug. “It’s so good to see you,” she said softly. “So good to see you with your uncle.”
He stepped back and smiled down at her. “We were wrong for a long time. But all that has changed now.”
She nodded in agreement. “I know. I know.”
He turned to the lady on his arm. “Aunt J, this is Layla.”
“Nice to meet you, Layla.”
“I’ve heard so much about you, about your whole family. I’m really happy to be here and that you’re doing well.”
“Thank you. Well, please, come in. I have no idea what all is planned but make yourselves comfortable.”
She walked over to where Branford was getting his champagne flute filled. She touched his back. He turned to face her.
“Hey, cher.”
He hadn’t called her by the endearing term since she was a little girl. Her heart swelled.
“Thank you. Thank you for everything.”
He looked embarrassed and cleared his throat. “Mmm-hmm.”
Jacqueline grinned. Some things never changed, but that was just fine. She loved her brother just the way he was. She leaned close. “Don’t worry, I’ll never tell a soul that your heart isn’t made out of stone. You secret is safe with me.” She kissed his cheek just as Raymond began tapping the side of his glass to get everyone’s attention.
By degrees, the room quieted.
Raymond looked around at the expectant faces then settled his gaze on Jacqueline.
“I want to thank each of you for being here today to toast Jacqueline’s recovery and celebrate her new lease on life. I e
specially want to thank Branford.” He tilted his glass in Branford’s direction. He swallowed and pulled in a deep breath. “Maybe only once in your life you meet someone that makes you realize that the only thing you want to do is spend the rest of your life with them.” The couples in the room stole loving glances at each other. “That’s what happened to me when I met Jacquie. I’m not gonna lie. This woman has put me through hell.” Smatterings of laughter danced in the air. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
He reached in his pocket and took out the diamond ring. Jacqueline’s face flamed. Raymond was moving toward her. “I gave this to her after carrying it around in my pocket for months.” He stepped closer. “She took it…but just like a feisty, stubborn Lawson she gave it back. So I figured maybe I did it wrong.” He lowered himself to one knee and took her left hand in his. “You’re my everything, J.”
She couldn’t breathe.
“Whatever the world has in store for us we can do it together. Me and you. You’re my other half. I’m not whole without you. Marry me, J.”
Jacqueline sniffed back her tears and sank down on her knees in front of him. She cupped his face in her hands. “Yes, yes, for real, for always.”
Raymond drew her into a kiss that made the rest of the world disappear.
The assemblage erupted into deafening cheers and applause.
Jacqueline was giddy with joyous laughter as Raymond pulled her to her feet and once again placed the diamond on her finger. “I’ll never take it off again,” she whispered.
He hooked his arm around her waist. “Remember you have witnesses this time,” he teased, gazing down into her eyes.
Everyone raised their glasses in a toast to the newly engaged couple.
Jacqueline’s nieces swirled around her to get a look at the stunning diamond and then each began swapping stories of their own romantic proposals.
The men congratulated Raymond with hearty slaps on the back and a string of “welcome to the family.”
The welcome-home-turned-engagement party lasted past midnight.
By the time everyone left to return to their hotel, Jacqueline was exhausted but still so wired that she couldn’t sleep.
“What an incredible day,” she whispered into the dimness of their bedroom.
“Yeah, it was. Happy?”
“I’m beyond happy. And to see Maurice…and Bran…”
“They all love you very much.”
“I know that now. It was selfish of me to stay away, to let my own misguided judgment keep me away.” She turned on her side to face him. “You made it all possible. Everything.”
“For you. I did it for you.”
“I love you, Raymond Jordan, and I can’t wait to be your wife.”
“I’m going to hold you to that.” He turned her onto her back and slowly made her promise him over and over again.
Epilogue
Eight Months Later—Baton Rouge, LA
Raymond and Jacqueline had been back to the West Coast several times in the past few months, tying up loose ends. They’d decided to consolidate their homes in California. Jacqueline sold her condo and of course never one to “move in with a man,” Raymond sold his place as well and they bought a place together in the valley.
Jacqueline loved the house in New York too much to give it up, so they decided to keep it as a second home.
Raymond had been on several short-term assignments overseas in the past few months, but Jacqueline opted to stay close to home and took on a few local gigs. But the travel bug was nipping at her again and she knew it wouldn’t be long before she would have her passport stamped.
So much had happened in the past few months but it was years in the making. Hearts had been healed. Impassable roads had been crossed and a future rife with endless possibilities was there for the taking. She had her brother back. She had her family back. And a man who loved her unconditionally.
“Ready?”
Traci stood behind her and adjusted her headpiece. The two sister-friends smiled at each other in the mirror.
“Ready.”
* * *
The music floated to the rafters, and the gathering rose to their feet on either side of the aisle.
The ushers opened the doors to the sanctuary and a collective ahhh mixed with the music. The form-fitting Vera Wang gown, splashed with hand-sewn jewels and seed pearls with a daring low-cut back that stopped just in time, couldn’t have been worn by anyone other than Jacqueline.
“I’ve done this a few times,” Branford said in a teasing whisper. “Just follow my lead.” He winked at her.
Jacqueline clasped Branford’s bent elbow, looked down the flower-strewn aisle to the man who held her heart, and walked with her brother at her side into what she knew would be an amazing future.
* * * * *
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ISBN: 9781459249523
Copyright © 2012 by Donna Hill
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