by Corman, Ana
“You know the answer to that question. There’s nothing that would make me happier. Where are you right now?”
“Fifteen minutes from your house.”
“I’ll open the garage door for you.”
Catherine pulled her Volkswagen bug into the open garage beside Olivia’s Escalade. Olivia was standing in the open doorway dressed in black polka-dotted pajama bottoms and a form-fitting black tank top. Catherine felt both thrilled and overwhelmed. There was so much she wanted to say, and she didn’t know where to start. Everything had changed, and she wasn’t sure she would be able to say why.
Olivia walked around the front of her vehicle and opened the driver’s door. Catherine stepped out and caught her in a tight embrace. She slid her hands up Catherine’s slender back and into her short chestnut hair. She breathed deeply as she inhaled her orange-blossom scent. “I’m so glad you’re here.”
Catherine looked into those tired amber eyes. “I’m so happy to be here with you.” She leaned closer and kissed Olivia with slow, tender warmth.
Her head felt light as they pulled apart. “I’ve been trying to decide the whole time driving here what to say. You are everything I need and want. I love you, Olivia.”
Competing emotions played across Olivia’s beautiful features—joy, caution, relief, fatigue. “There’s nothing I want to hear more than that.” She smiled. “But maybe not in the garage. Let’s go inside.”
They walked through the quiet house. Olivia closed her bedroom door behind them and sat on the bench at the foot of the bed. “How was your time with Alexis?”
Catherine brushed her fingers across the elegant mahogany footboard, intensely aware of the thick duvet and inviting pillows on the bed. “I let go of that part of my past tonight, Olivia. Everything changed. My feelings about family and relationship. My feelings about you.”
Catherine stood before the blazing fire nestled in the white marble fireplace. The full moon winked back at her through the narrow windows flanking each side of the fireplace. She turned as she saw Olivia’s reflection in the window, feeling an anxious fluttering in her stomach. “Spending this evening with Alexis made me realize what a favor she did for us by ending our relationship. It was never meant to last. What I want to last is what I have with you. I don’t want to lose you, Olivia. I want a life with you.”
Olivia stood and took Catherine’s hands in her own. “I’ve wanted a life with you since the first day I saw you. I love you, Catherine. I want to spend the rest of my life sharing every day and every night with you.”
“I’m here now, Olivia.”
Olivia leaned her forehead against Catherine’s. “This is certainly not how I imagined our first night together. It’s been a tough evening, for both of us. I spent some uncomfortable hours, worried that I would lose you to Alexis.”
Catherine touched Olivia’s face. “Did you really think I’d go back to her?”
“The thought did terrify my mind this evening.”
Catherine took Olivia’s hands and held them close to her heart. “I’m sorry my actions tonight frightened you. I need you to believe me when I say you’ll never lose me to Alexis or any other woman.”
“I’ve been longing to hear that with every fiber of my being. But you’re exhausted, Catherine. I don’t want our first night to be clouded by your emotional time with Alexis and Kayla.” Olivia brushed her lips against Catherine’s, softly, slowly. “I drew you a hot bubble bath so you can soak and unwind.”
“That sounds wonderful.” They walked into the bathroom. Catherine stood before the gray-marble Jacuzzi, filled to capacity with foaming bubbles. Large candles flickered around the room, filling the air with the pleasing aroma of vanilla. Two thick lush white towels perched on the edge of the tub beside a big inflatable pillow. On one corner sat a clear tray with a tall glass of ice water, and a crystal bowl of plump strawberries and shiny green grapes.
Catherine turned. “What if I hadn’t stayed?”
“I would have climbed in that tub myself, to ease my sorrow.”
Olivia moved behind Catherine and slowly lowered the zipper at the back of her lavender dress, the material parting to expose flawless olive skin. She placed the open palm of her hand against Catherine’s lower back and skimmed her hand upward. She brushed her lips against her slender neck and heard Catherine’s rapt moan of pleasure. “I’m going to leave you to your bath, my darling Irish girl.”
Catherine turned, confused. “You’re leaving? You’re not joining me?”
“I can’t tell you how much I’d love to. But I think it will quiet your mind, to soak alone. It’s been a long night for you, Catherine.”
Olivia touched her fingertips to the loose neckline of Catherine’s embroidered dress, then leaned forward and brushed her lips against her ear. “You should find everything you need in here.”
Catherine gripped Olivia’s waist tightly and pressed herself against her. “What I need is you.”
“You’re testing my self-control, Ms. O’Grady.”
“Exactly my intention.” Catherine grazed her lips along Olivia’s jaw then took a step back, slowly slipping her arms from the sleeves of her dress and letting it slide down her body, revealing a lacy black bra and matching panties. She stepped out of the dress and carelessly draped it across Olivia’s arm.
Catherine reached for the ties at Olivia’s waist and slowly loosened the bow. She skimmed her thumbs along the smooth skin of Olivia’s slender belly. Olivia took a shuddering breath and quickly pulled her close, crushing her lips to Catherine’s with voracious need.
They pulled apart. Olivia leaned her face against Catherine’s and struggled to catch her breath. “So much for self-control. But now I am going to leave you to your bath.”
Catherine brought her hand to her mouth and touched her swollen, tingling lips. She watched Olivia move away, resisting the desire to reach out and pull her back.
Olivia turned as she reached the door. “I put a nightshirt on the vanity for you. My mom bought it for me from Victoria’s Secret for Christmas, years ago. I’m more of a boxers-and-tank-top girl. Goes to show you what my mother knows.” She grinned and left.
Exhaustion washed through Catherine as the door clicked softly shut. She turned toward the tub. She couldn’t remember when she’d last taken a truly luxurious bath. As she sunk into the bubbles, she realized that maybe Olivia did know what she needed, at least for right now.
Catherine placed the empty bowl of fruit on the saffron-yellow-speckled vanity and turned off the lights in the bathroom.
She stepped into Olivia’s bedroom, surprised to see that it was empty, the inviting duvet undisturbed.
“Olivia?” she called out softly.
She heard Olivia’s voice from down the hall. “In here.”
Catherine made her way to her favorite of Olivia’s spare rooms, the one with east-facing windows. Olivia was just finishing plumping the pillows on the queen-size bed.
“We’re sleeping in here?”
Olivia looked up. “I’m getting the bed ready for you. Aren’t you a beautiful sight in that nightshirt. Maybe my mother does know what I like, after all.”
Catherine moved forward and grazed her fingers across Olivia’s tanned chest. Olivia pulled her close. She rubbed her nose along Catherine’s cheek. “You smell so fresh and clean.”
Catherine slid her fingers along the waistband of Olivia’s pajama bottoms, just beneath the soft cottony material. She touched her lips to Olivia’s, slowly and sensuously. She heard Olivia’s groan of frustration and kissed more deeply.
Olivia pulled Catherine closer with one hand, and slipped the other hand beneath the hem of the pink nightshirt, sliding it higher until it nestled on Catherine’s naked hip.
She knew she could quickly lose herself in this kiss. She let her hand slide back down Catherine’s thigh. “My darling girl, it’s taking every ounce of my self-control not to tear this nightshirt from your beautiful body and make love to you.” She t
ook a breath. “If you still feel tomorrow that you want to spend your life with me, nothing will stop me. But tonight, just one more night, I think we should sleep in separate rooms.”
Catherine searched Olivia’s eyes, feeling both disappointed and grateful, aroused and exhausted. “Are you sure?”
Olivia nodded. “We’re physically and emotionally drained. I need to know you’ve thought this through with a clear head. I believe in us with all my heart. But I need to be certain that you believe it, too.”
Catherine slept more soundly than she ever could have imagined, with Olivia so close by. She woke at dawn, and padded softly down the hall to look in on the woman she loved. Catherine’s chest swelled with warmth at the sight of Olivia sleeping so peacefully on her side, with the duvet barely up to her waist, the form-fitting black tank top accentuating her shapely arms and firm breasts. This was a sight she wanted to see every morning of her life. But Olivia had been right. Last night had not been the right time for their first night together.
Tonight, she felt certain, would be the right time, though she wasn’t sure where the right place would be, to seal their future. She recognized that the differences between Olivia and herself couldn’t simply be washed away by the wave of her love. Their pasts couldn’t be washed away. Olivia might never feel comfortable joining her in a chapel, and there might be evenings when Catherine simply couldn’t bear another story about cancer. But she firmly believed that those challenges, if faced with honesty, wouldn’t undermine their partnership. They would only make it stronger.
She watched Olivia sleeping for several long minutes as a plan formed in her mind. Finally she returned to the guest room and snuggled back under the covers.
Thirty-Three
ZOË RUBBED HER ROUNDED TUMMY as Echo moved around the kitchen. The smell of brewing coffee was heavenly, but for now she would have to be satisfied with only the aroma. “Your daughter is tumbling around in here looking for some breakfast. My peanut butter and celery last night didn’t sustain us.”
Echo squished her face in disgust. “No wonder you woke up with heartburn this morning.”
“I guess that means you don’t want to hear what I’m craving for breakfast.”
Echo sighed and draped an arm around Zoë’s shoulder. “Let’s hear it.”
“A barbecued bratwurst smothered in sauerkraut and grilled onions.”
Echo groaned. “That should give you and my daughter days’ worth of heartburn. How about you start with some Raisin Bran and a bowl of strawberries and bananas?”
Zoë pouted effectively. “It’s not the same, but at this point anything will do.”
Echo brought Zoë’s hand to her lips and kissed her knuckles. “I’ll barbecue you a brat for dinner. Is that a reasonable compromise?”
Zoë’s smile was infectious. “Your daughter and I’ll love you forever for that.”
“My daughter is going to come out screaming for a jumbo bottle of Turns.”
They looked up as Olivia walked into the kitchen, buttoning the cuff on her pink blouse. Echo and Zoë spontaneously burst into applause.
Zoë stood and gave Olivia a sideways hug, the best she could manage with Chloe doing her somersaults. “I heard two sets of footsteps climbing our stairs not long after I left you last night. Sounds like Catherine chose the right girlfriend’s arms to walk into.”
“I’m thrilled by her choice. But don’t break out the applause yet. She slept in the guest room last night.”
Zoë looked distressed. “Did something go wrong? I felt so sure that she’d decided you were the one she wanted to be with.”
Olivia smiled. “She did. It was just what I’ve been longing to hear. But she’d had such an emotional night with Kayla and Alexis, I wanted to be sure it wasn’t just the emotion talking. I was the one who decided we should sleep apart.”
Echo poured milk into Zoë’s cereal bowl. “Are you regretting that decision this morning?”
“Of course. And not at all. Catherine and I have a lifetime ahead of us, if she truly feels today the way she said she felt last night.”
Zoë reached for the bowl of fresh strawberries. “I’m amazed by your self-control, Olivia.”
“It wasn’t easy, trust me.”
“I’m sure it wasn’t. But somehow I think you’ll be rewarded for your kindness. Is Catherine coming down to join us for breakfast?”
“She’s sound asleep. But I’m hoping she’ll be joining us for lots of breakfasts in the future.”
Zoë turned to Olivia with shining eyes. “Catherine’s one lucky girl. We’re so happy for you.”
“Nothing’s for sure, Zoë. But I feel more hopeful than I have in a long time.”
Thirty-Four
OLIVIA WALKED PAST THE PACKED PATIO of Cocoa Cream, feeling less at ease than she had this morning. She touched her jacket pocket, feeling the box inside. Nothing’s for sure. Had she made the wrong decision last night, pushing Catherine gently away? Would it have made more sense to sweep her into her arms, as she’d wanted to do so desperately?
Catherine had sent her a text message in the middle of the day, asking her to come by the bookstore when she was finished working. Olivia had sent a message back, not wanting to be the one to initiate a real-time conversation. Was Catherine having second thoughts?
Olivia wove her way through the crowded tables of the cafe and headed through the bookstore, glancing cautiously down the aisles in search of Catherine. She met Dana emerging from of the Fiction and Literature sections.
Dana set the stack of paperback books down on the nearest table and stepped into Olivia’s arms. “Well, hello there.”
“Hello, Dana.”
Dana held Olivia’s hands. “You look lovely, as always.”
Olivia felt tears sting unexpectedly at her eyes. She cherished the warmth that had grown between her and Dana in the past few weeks, and wondered what would happen if she and Catherine went their separate ways. She adored her dads, but her mother hadn’t been a mom to her in decades, and Dana enriched her life in ways she’d never anticipated. She even felt the presence of Aidan and admired the true bond he and Dana had shared. She realized she’d fallen in love not just with a woman, but with a family.
“You’re probably looking for Catherine.”
“I am. I was instructed to make my way to Cocoa Cream.”
“Why don’t you go on back to her office. The door’s unlocked.”
Olivia squeezed Dana’s hand and headed alone for the office. Catherine’s orange-blossom scent lightly floated on the air, though no one was in the room. She left the door open and walked toward the small sitting area. She slipped into the nearest chair and stared down at the puzzle on the old chest. Lying on the center of the puzzle were two roses—one red, one white—on top of the velvet pouch Olivia had given Catherine with the first pieces of the puzzle. A card with Olivia’s name scrolled across it in calligraphy lay beneath the roses and velvet pouch.
Olivia picked up the red rose and smelled its subtle fragrance. She picked up the card and noticed that the final piece, the Celtic knot, was still missing from the puzzle. Her heart lurched slightly. She slipped her finger beneath the flap of the card and tore it open. Inside was a card with a picture of two women walking along a beach arm in arm. Relief and happiness washed through her as she unfolded the letter inside.
My sweet Olivia,
Our beautiful puzzle is nearly complete. I left the final piece for you to add, so we could complete it together. I love the mystic fairies floating toward each other. The one holding the Celtic four-pointed-knot pendant is you. I’m the one reaching to receive it.
You were right: I needed to deal with my past before I could embrace my future. You wanted to be sure that I still feel today what I felt last night—that I want to spend my life with you. And I do, with all my heart.
The Celtic knot symbolizes so much to me. It symbolizes eternity—the eternity I want to share with you. It symbolizes eternal beauty, and the beaut
y I see in you. You’re strong-spirited with a beautiful soul. You, my darling girl, are full of integrity, faithful, loving, honest, and trustworthy. I’m filled with excitement at the thought of our future together. I’m drawn to you emotionally, intellectually, physically, and spiritually. I look at you, I listen to you, I see your smile, your eyes, your impish playfulness, and I know I’m where I belong, next to you.
Seventeen days ago, you gave me a single pink rose, and told me it signified friendship. Today I’m giving you two roses, one red and one white, signifying both the passion and the purity of our love. They also symbolize our distinct personalities, and the beauty we can create together.
At times in these past few weeks you’ve pushed me beyond my comfort zone. Today, I want to push you a little beyond yours, as a way for both of us to leave our pasts behind and move into our future.
Our puzzle is complete. Now it’s time for me to show you how completely I love you. Two weeks ago you handed me the velvet pouch to guide us on this journey. It will now guide you to me.
Love always,
Your Catherine
Olivia reached for the velvet pouch and loosened the strings, then slipped her fingers inside and pulled out the final piece of the puzzle. Carefully, tenderly, she snapped it into place and smiled. Opening the pouch wider, she pulled out a business card for the Hotel del Coronado. She turned it over and read, A message awaits you at the front desk. I love you.
Remembering her experience at the Coronado two years ago, a touch of confusion intruded into Olivia’s happiness.
“I’ve never seen Catherine so full of nervous excitement as she was today.”
Olivia looked up to see Dana standing in the doorway. “You knew she was planning something?”
“I’ve been sworn to secrecy.”
Olivia smiled. She slid the business card into her pocket and grabbed the roses and card. “I better run, so I can learn for myself how the plan falls into place.”