by Kirk, Cindy
“When her mother found out her father had been cheating on her for years,” his mother mused.
“I put it off to that, but it got so every time we argued she’d bring up Adrianna. Then she started saying Adrianna would be better for me. It hurt.” Tripp leaned forward and met his mother’s gaze. “I loved my wife. I was faithful to her, body, mind and soul.”
“I know, son.” His mother reached over and squeezed his hand. “In her heart, Gayle knew that, too.”
They sat in silence for several heartbeats.
“Losing her and the baby...” Tripp visibly shuddered. “I never want to go through that again.”
His mother’s eyes were solemn. “It hurts to lose someone you love.”
“I can’t go through that again,” Tripp repeated. “I won’t go through that again.”
“I’m afraid you don’t get that option,” his mother said softly. “None of us do. Death is a part of life.”
Tripp lifted his chin. “I won’t put myself in that position.”
His mother tilted her head. “You love me and your father.”
“Of course.”
“And Hailey.”
“Yes.” He pulled his brows together. “But what—”
“Something could happen to any of us at any time,” she said quietly. “You’re already in the position you’re determined to avoid.”
“My feelings for Adrianna are so strong already that—” He stopped. “I can’t imagine how much stronger they’ll be in five, twenty or even forty years.”
His mother placed a hand on his arm, stopping his words. “It isn’t the loss you should fear, but never loving. Finding that someone is rare. It’s a very special gift, one not to be tossed aside lightly.”
Silence sat between them for several seconds.
“If I lose Frank—” his mother paused and cleared her throat “—I’ll take the pain and be thankful for all the wonderful years he and I’ve shared.”
Tripp leaned back in his chair and dug his thumbs against his nose. “I blew it.”
“Probably.”
He jerked his head up. She sounded almost cheery.
“Don’t you understand? I’ve lost Adrianna. I’ve lost the woman I love.”
“Oh, honey, don’t be ridiculous. Adrianna loves you. She simply needs to know you love her, too.” His mother rose, stooping to pick up her handbag. “All you have to do is convince her.”
Chapter Twenty-One
The flowers started arriving shortly after Adrianna got home from work on Friday. By eight, they filled her entire living room. Deep red long-stemmed roses, flirty bunches of daisies in a rainbow of colors, exotic Asiatic lilies.
Even though they didn’t come with a card, she knew who’d sent them. She sat in her living room, breathing in the heavenly scents and wondered what Tripp was trying to do.
Impress her? Well, he’d succeeded. Curry her favor? That was harder. Because as much as she loved the fragrant bouquets, that didn’t change the fact that she wanted—needed—to occupy the top spot in his heart.
She’d tried to reach him on his cell after the first six bouquets had arrived. Either he deliberately wasn’t answering or he was too busy ordering more flowers.
When the doorbell rang, her heart didn’t even flutter. It had lurched the first dozen times she’d answered it. Each time it had either been more flowers or a child hawking candy, cookies or popcorn.
Not wanting to get up from the comfortable sofa and her cup of tea, Adrianna hesitated. When the bell rang again, she heaved a sigh. She rose and grabbed her wallet.
She pulled it open and froze.
Tripp stood on the stoop, a bottle of wine in one hand, a book in another.
“Hi.” She managed to push the word past a suddenly dry throat.
“Hi.” His blue eyes were dark and watchful. “May I come in?”
She stepped back.
“I brought a bottle of wine.” He held up the bottle of burgundy. “Your favorite. I thought we could have some and talk.”
“What’s there to talk about?” The words were out of her mouth before she could stop them.
His gaze met hers. “A lot.”
She shivered. Having him this close was pure torture. He wore jeans and boots and a blue long-sleeved Henley that turned his eyes the color of the sky. He smelled yumm— She stopped herself. “I’ll get glasses and a corkscrew.”
He was standing by the sofa when she returned from the kitchen. She placed the glasses on the table and took a seat on one end of the overstuffed couch and gestured for him to do the same.
“Thanks for the flowers.” She gestured with her hand all around her. “They’re, uh, beautiful.”
“Not as beautiful as you.”
Heat rose up her neck. What was there about this man that turned her into a blushing fool? He expertly uncorked the bottle and poured the burgundy into the glasses. He handed one to her and lifted the other. “I remember everything you said the last time we were together. As you recall, I didn’t say much.”
Adrianna brought the glass to her lips and took a sip, barely noticing the taste. “What was there to say?”
She glanced down at the book he’d brought, now sitting on the coffee table. Adrianna lifted it, then tilted her head to one side, puzzled. “Good to Great?”
“You’ve read it.”
“A long time ago,” she admitted.
“While it’s dated, a lot of the concepts still ring true.”
“I don’t really remember much about it.” Adrianna shrugged. “The last time I picked it up was years ago, in a high school business class.”
“Let me refresh your memory. The Stockdale Paradox. It’s all about retaining unwavering faith that you can and will prevail in the end, regardless of the difficulties.”
“Tripp,” she interrupted.
“We’ve had our difficulties.” He took a sip of wine. “Because of me.”
“There’s no point in reliving the past. We—”
“The Hedgehog Concept. It’s all about what lights your fire. Where do your passions lie? That one’s easy. My passion is you. I love you, Adrianna.”
She inhaled sharply, her heart fluttering in her throat. How she had yearned to hear those words from his lips. The moment was bittersweet. “Not as much as you loved Gayle.”
“I loved Gayle.” His eyes clouded with memories before he blinked them away and his gaze cleared. “But there has always been something between us.”
At her protest, he waved a hand. “No, hear me out. You remember that time when I helped you carry those branches out to the street? You were fifteen.”
“Fourteen.” Even though Adrianna’s heart had stopped beating, she still somehow managed to speak.
“It was like you’d touched my soul.” He gave a nervous laugh and took a big sip of wine. “I felt a connection to you. I thought you were extremely beautiful. Inside and out.”
“I was an ugly duckling.”
“Not to me.” His voice softened and deepened and when he reached for her hand she didn’t pull away. “When Collins talks about The Flywheel in his book, he says in building greatness, there is no single defining action, no miracle moment.”
“You’re saying that was when our eyes met?” she managed to stammer.
“That was when the attraction sparked. That wasn’t our time. This is our time. Or it was, until I got scared and blew it.” He expelled a harsh breath, raking his hand through his hair.
“I was frightened you’d never love me as much as Gayle,” she admitted. “Never care for me in that same way.”
Placing his glass on the coffee table, he reached over and gently cupped her face. “I was scared of losing you. I already cared so deeply. What if you died? How could I bear it?”
“You’re not scared anymore?” The words came out in a whisper as Adrianna leaned against his hand.
“I’m terrified.” He flashed a quick grin. “But more terrified of not being with you and not s
haring a life with you.”
Her heart melted to lie in a puddle at her feet. She didn’t want to bring up Gayle again, didn’t want her to share this moment, but she had to know. “You told your sister Gayle was your soul mate.”
He frowned. “I did not.”
“You did.” She put her own glass down and faced him head-on. “I was standing outside your office and overheard the two of you talking.”
His brows furrowed in puzzlement.
“Hailey had been at the hospital for a second interview and—”
“I remember now. When I asked Hailey if she believed in soul mates—” his eyes were clear and very blue “—I was thinking about you, not Gayle.”
“Oh.” Adrianna blinked before a flood of warmth infused her entire body.
He leaned forward and kissed her. “I love you, Adrianna. So much.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck and rested her forehead against his. “I love you, too.”
“I have unwavering faith we’ll be together forever.”
She sat back and smiled. “Another Good to Great principle?”
“Stockdale Paradox.”
She laughed, giddy with relief and love. “Shut up and kiss me, Tripp Randall. Make it great.”
And he did.
Epilogue
“There’s some kind of mix-up,” Adrianna said to Kate Dennes, a local pediatrician and coordinator of this year’s Fall Fashion Festival. “I wasn’t supposed to wear the wedding dress.”
Sponsored by the hospital auxiliary to raise money for new high-tech orthopedic equipment, the black-tie event held at the Spring Gulch Country Club was one of the must-attend social events in Jackson Hole. Some came to see the fashions. Most came because, instead of professional models, the latest fall fashions were showcased by members of the medical community.
Kate lifted her hands, palms up. “The length is too long for Mary Karen, but perfect for someone of your height and stature. It’s a necessary change.”
There was no way Adrianna could argue with that logic. As she stepped into the strapless dress, Adrianna had to agree Kate had made a wise choice. This gown wouldn’t have suited anyone as petite and busty as Mary Karen. The sheath, made of chiffon and charmeuse, hugged her body like a silk glove. It was simple, elegant and unforgiving. Adrianna loved it on sight.
The backstage hairdresser had pulled Adrianna’s dark strands into a low chignon set off by intricate fishtail twists and sweeping layers.
“Adrianna,” Kate called out just as she slipped on the silver shoes, “you’re up.”
The gasps from the crowd as she strode out on the stage pleased her almost as much as seeing Tripp’s parents and sister beaming at her from the front row. She knew their joy wasn’t so much from seeing her as it was from Frank’s recent medical report. The new chemotherapy regimen had worked its magic and his cancer was in remission.
She heard Tripp announce her name and relay basic information about the dress to the crowd. Without looking at her, he absently motioned for her to start down the runway. As the emcee of the event, his job was to keep the show moving.
That was why she was surprised when he moved, quick and sleek as a panther in his black tux, from his position to catch her hand when she passed by him.
She smiled and cast him a questioning glance.
When he simply dropped to one knee and pulled a velvet box from his pocket, her heart stopped beating.
“Adrianna,” he began, his voice shaking slightly, but clearly audible because of the microphone on his lapel, “I believe God brought me back to Jackson Hole because I was meant to be with you. Your caring and compassion make me strive to be a better person. You bring light into my world and incredible joy. I can’t imagine my life without you in it. I love you desperately and I’m hoping you feel the same and want to spend the rest of your life with me. Will you marry me?”
The large ballroom was so quiet you could have heard a pin drop. Then Hailey burst out, “Say yes.”
“Yes,” Adrianna said softly as joy sluiced through her. “Oh, yes.”
Then the ring was on her hand, and when he got back up and swung her around, they were both laughing.
When his lips closed over hers, the room erupted in applause and catcalls.
“Good?” Tripp murmured when they came up for air.
“Great.” She hugged him tight. “Definitely great.”
* * *
If you’ve enjoyed this story, check out the other books in my Jackson Hole Series
* * *
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About the Author
When Cindy Kirk was sixteen she wrote in her diary: “I don’t know what I would do if I couldn’t be a writer.” After her daughter went to college, she returned to her passion and jumped straight into composing book-length fiction. She loves reading and writing romance novels because she believes in the undeniable power of love and in the promise of the happily ever after. Kirk creates characters who grow and learn from their mistakes while achieving happy endings in the process.
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