Finding Her Family

by Syndi Powell

  April sat upright and put a hand to her short blond hair, which stuck out at all angles. “Remind me what the stylist said. Wash or don’t wash?”

  “Don’t wash.” She handed April the coffee mug. “I appreciate you having them do Ruby’s hair as well.”

  “It’s not like they have to do anything to you, so why not? The girl deserves to have some glamour in her life.” April had a sip of the hot brew and then patted the mattress. “She told me last night that she wants to wait for a love like mine and Zach’s.” Her face softened. “Isn’t that the sweetest thing?”

  Page sat next to April. “I bet we were all thinking that last night. I know I was.”

  “What about Mateo?”

  “What about him? He’s just my lawyer.”

  April waggled her eyebrows. “He’ll be there tonight. You should ask him to dance. We both know he’s got the right moves.”

  Page groaned and covered her face. “Please stop matchmaking. He’s made his feelings very clear.”

  “He was at the hospital every night when you were sick. A man who is just a lawyer doesn’t do that.” April looked at her over the rim of the mug. “You know you like him.”

  More than liked him. She was falling for him. “What I would like is for you to get dressed and out the door before we’re late for our hair appointments.” Page pushed April’s legs off the side of the bed. “Sherri’s meeting us there.”

  “Fine. I’ll drop it.” April set down her mug after taking another long sip. “For now.”

  At the salon, Sherri’s Aunt Laurie took April first, while another stylist looked after Sherri and a third helped Ruby. Page stood behind the girl and asked her, “So what kind of look do you want to have?”

  Ruby put a hand up to her hair and shrugged. “Don’t know how much they’re going to be able to do with this?”

  Page’s stylist, Ana, winked at the girl. “I have magic hands. Trust me. I’ll make you look like a princess for the night.”

  Sherri put a hand to her short hair. “I’ll take anything but spiky if you can. Seems like my hair grew back determined to stand straight up.”

  Grabbing a gossip magazine, Page had a seat in the empty chair next to where Ruby sat, a purple cape around her neck. She looked at her two friends and foster daughter as they prepared to get beautified. “I have to say that I’m glad I’m not a part of this torture.”

  April pointed a finger at her. “Don’t think you’re getting off that easy, my dear. I have something special planned for you.”

  “Like what? You’re going to paste rhinestones and glitter to my bald head?” When April only smiled, Page felt her cheeks warm. “You’re joking, right?”

  “No glitter. But Laurie’s daughter is going to come in a little later and do your makeup.”

  Page groaned. She didn’t like much more than mascara and a swipe of lip balm. The natural look was more her style. “You really don’t need to do that.”

  “She volunteered, so be nice.”

  “Aren’t I always?”

  Sherri snorted at that and it set April giggling as well. Page opened her mouth and stared at her friends. “I am nice when I want to be.”

  Ruby spoke up. “She’s always been more than nice to me.”

  “Just wait until the first time you miss curfew, kid.” April winked at Ruby. “She won’t be so nice to you then.”

  Sherri closed her eyes as her stylist brushed out her wavy dark hair. “I thought my mom was never going to stop shouting at me when I did that.”

  “I know how moms can be,” Ruby said quietly. “But Page is my friend, too.”

  Page shared a smile with the girl. “I think we’ll be just fine.”

  Quiet settled among the women as hair got moussed, curled and teased.

  Eventually, April said, “Before the day gets busier, I want to tell you each something. Page, we’ve been best friends for years. I hope you know how much your support and kindness has helped me through some of the darkest times of my life. Sherri, we’ve only known each other for a little over a year, but that doesn’t make the bond we share any less. You two women are like sisters to me. I wouldn’t want anyone else to stand up beside me on my wedding day.”

  Sherri dabbed at her eyes with the edge of her cape. “Don’t get us crying. We have a long day ahead of us.”

  April reached out her hand toward the teenager. “And Ruby, I’ve gotten to know you pretty well these past couple weeks. I’m glad that you’re a part of Page’s life and mine.”

  Aunt Laurie stopped what she was doing with April’s hair and passed around a box of tissues. “Good thing we didn’t do makeup first.”

  Everyone laughed and cried.

  * * *

  MATEO ADJUSTED THE tie as he looked at his reflection in the rearview mirror of his car. He wondered why he was even attending this wedding. Sure, he knew April and had met Zach a couple of times, but there had to be a bigger reason, right?

  He squinted. He knew the reason all right. Page hadn’t left his mind all week. And if he really wanted to be honest, she’d been in his thoughts ever since he’d danced with her at that party last spring. If only she was well. More confident about her prognosis.

  Sweat beaded on his brow, and he got out of the car and grabbed his suit coat from the back seat. Because the humidity in the air made everything feel thick, he trotted across the parking lot and entered the banquet hall. Inside, the coolness of the air-conditioning made him sigh with relief.

  The large room where they were holding the reception was to his left, so he walked inside the dim room lit only by candles and tiny white lights. He saw Ruby and waved to her. She walked up to him and did a twirl in her purple dress. She wore what looked like a crown in her hair, which had been tamed into curls. “What do you think?”

  What he thought was she looked huge and ready to have that baby any second. But he also knew he needed to be more sensitive than that. “You look great. How are you feeling?”

  She made a face. “I wish everyone would stop asking me that. I’m fine.” She placed a hand on her belly. “I’m not planning on having this kid anytime soon.”

  “Okay. Good.”

  She lingered with him as they walked through the banquet hall. Mateo found Dez at one of the empty tables near the front of the hall. They shook hands and patted each other on the back. Marcus mimicked Dez’s motions. Mateo looked behind Dez. “Where’s Sherri?”

  “She’s a bridesmaid. April said she wanted her whole Boob Squad standing up for her. And my warrior is eclipsing them all with how beautiful she looks. Wait ’til you see her.”

  Mateo raised an eyebrow. Boob Squad? He’d heard of stranger things, he guessed. “Sherri could wear a paper bag, and you’d brag about how good she looked.”

  Dez put a hand to his chest. “Can I help it that I’m a man in love?”

  A twinge of longing struck Mateo’s heart, but he knocked it away with a shake of his head. “You’re just lucky enough that she finally opened her eyes to you.”

  “I’m not lucky. I’m blessed, Mateo.”

  Ruby sighed beside him. Admittedly, he knew how she felt.

  Someone tapped on a glass. From the looks of it, he was April’s dad. “If everyone would come closer to the arbor, the ceremony will be starting shortly.”

  Mateo escorted Ruby toward the ceremony spot. They found a place close to the arbor that was faintly glowing from the lit candles that decorated it.

  Soft classical music started, and the side doors opened. Two men in tuxes walked out, followed by Zach and a woman who looked like his mother. When they reached the arbor, the main doors on the other side of the room opened. Breath caught in Mateo’s throat as he saw Page walk toward the arbor. She wore a soft pink dress that floated around her. The bouquet she carried in her hands was pretty, but it couldn’t compete with her
beauty.

  Ruby nudged him. “She looks good, doesn’t she?”

  “Magnificent.” He could only breathe the word since his heart had seized in his chest. Was this the same woman who only days before had been fighting for her life? The one whom he’d tried denying any feelings for?

  Behind Page, Sherri came forward followed by April, who was flanked by her parents. Zach put a hand to his chest and smiled widely. April’s parents ushered their daughter toward her eager-looking groom. Each parent kissed the bride on the cheek before taking their places with the rest of the guests in the circle around the arbor. April handed her bouquet to Page and put her hands in Zach’s. Stepping forward from the circle, a priest began the ceremony.

  Mateo recalled the man’s usual words about love and cherishing for the couple’s benefit, but all he had room in his head for was the vision of Page. He kept his eyes on her even as she watched the bride and groom. She sniffled at one point and grinned when Sherri nudged her despite the tears in her own eyes. When the priest mentioned couples in the crowd to repeat the vows along with the bride and groom, Page’s attention landed on him and he couldn’t look away or pretend that he’d been doing anything but staring at her.

  After the priest solemnized the union, Zach and April shared a kiss. Mateo wondered what it would be like to kiss Page. Ruby sniffed beside him, and he handed her his handkerchief. But he still couldn’t keep his eyes off Page.

  The lights in the hall brightened as the priest announced the new Mr. and Mrs. Harrison and everyone clapped. A DJ started music playing, and the guests found their assigned seats at the tables. Ruby handed the handkerchief back to Mateo. “Thanks. I didn’t think people really cried at weddings. I thought that was just in the movies or on TV.”

  He tucked the handkerchief back in his coat pocket. “They’re tears of joy.”

  “That’s what April called them earlier, but I didn’t quite understand it, until now. I’m crying because it made me so happy.”

  They found their table and he took a seat between Ruby and Dez. “She looked great up there, didn’t she?” he said.

  Dez grinned at him. “I told you my wife was earlier.”

  “I meant Page.”

  Dez turned his head to look at him. “Changing your mind about her?”

  “I can think she’s beautiful without wanting to date her.”

  Dez laughed and smacked him on the back. “You keep believing that and we’ll see where you two are in a month.”

  * * *

  PAGE FINISHED THE obligatory maid-of-honor dance with the best man, and gave her apologies to Dalvin. She needed to sit. The physical and emotional toll of the day had already caught up with her, and she needed not only to sit, but to also get some fresh air. She took the stairs slowly up to a second-floor balcony that overlooked the busy avenue the hall was located on. She leaned on the railing and watched as cars passed below her, and part of her wondered where they were going in such a hurry at the end of a beautiful summer night.

  The door behind her opened, and she turned to find Mateo stepping outside to join her. “Needed some air?”

  She gave a nod. “It was getting a little close in there.”

  “Are you okay? You look flushed.”

  She breathed shallowly, but nodded and put a hand up to keep him at a distance. “I just need to rest.”

  He left the balcony momentarily and brought out a folding chair and set it up behind her. She lowered herself into it. “Thank you. I haven’t been taking it as easy today as I probably should.”

  He put a hand to her forehead and then her cheek. “You’re warm, but that’s probably from dancing and being inside.”

  “You don’t have to take care of me.”

  “Funny. Because I figured someone needed to.”

  “I’m an adult, fully able to take care of myself. I don’t need you or anyone else.”

  “Really? I’m not sure you’ve been doing such a great job of it lately.”

  She could feel her temper rising, the flush spreading out from her chest, down her arms to her fingertips. Her anger gave her the energy to stand and stare into his eyes. “What do you want?”

  “Nothing.”

  She narrowed her eyes at him. “If you didn’t want anything, then why did you follow me out here?”

  When he started to protest, she cocked her head to the side. Finally, he shrugged. “Okay, so I did have a reason for coming out here.” He paused, but then said, “There’s no easy way to say this, but I found Ruby’s dad.”

  It felt as if the bottom of her stomach had fallen into the strappy sandals she wore. “You’re sure it’s him?”

  He nodded.

  She had to sit down again. “Oh.”

  “I haven’t approached him yet, obviously. I figured I’d set up a meeting with all of us. You. Ruby. Her father. And myself.” He leaned against the railing. “We’ll make it some place that’s neutral. Like a coffee shop or park or something.”

  She put a hand on her chest where an ache had formed at the idea of losing Ruby. “Right. Neutral. I can’t believe you found him so soon.”

  “It’s actually been a while.”

  “I know, but I thought I’d have more time with her.” She looked up at him and hated that her eyes burned with tears.

  He crouched down beside her. “She really got to you, huh?”

  Page chuckled and wiped at her eyes. “Oh, like she didn’t get to you?”

  He put his arm on her knee, then removed his hand. “Sorry.”

  “It’s okay, Mateo. You can touch me. I won’t break.”

  “You won’t break, but I might.” He looked into her eyes, and she could see a war going on behind them.

  She decided to end the war for him and leaned forward to press her lips against his. At first, she could feel the hesitation in him. But then he put his hands up to her face and deepened the kiss. She let her eyes close and reveled in the taste of him. It was like sugar. Sweet and probably bad for her, but she was enjoying it while she could.

  Then he backed away, and she almost fell out of the chair trying to keep her connection with him. She opened her eyes and found him looking out at the traffic. “Sorry,” he mumbled.

  “I’m not.”

  He turned to face her. “It’s not fair of me to kiss you when I know that I can’t be with you. Blame it on the wedding and all the romance in the air, but I just can’t do this.”

  “Why not?”

  “You know why.” He took a few steps farther from her, then turned back. “I’ll contact you to let you know when we’ll be meeting with Ruby’s father.”

  She nodded and the next thing she knew she was alone on the balcony. Tilting her head back, she closed her eyes and let the loneliness that had started to build engulf her. She would lose Ruby...and Mateo. Probably had known it the whole time, but for a while, she’d let herself believe that it would all come true for her. That she would win just this once.

  She opened her eyes and let her gaze fall to the cars passing below. If only she could get in one of them and drive far, far away.

  CHAPTER NINE

  PAGE WAS GOOD at using distractions to get over her pain. She had done it after her cancer diagnoses, and she could do it again after the disastrous kiss with Mateo. The disaster hadn’t been the kiss itself. That had been perfection. His words and disappearance after had been the big fail.

  She’d returned to the ballroom and asked a friend to drive her and Ruby home. Then she’d kissed April’s cheek and wished her well before leaving. She’d spent the next few days letting Ruby take care of her and pretending that everything was okay, when the truth was that her heart hurt. She’d hoped that spending time with Mateo had changed his mind about her. Obviously, it hadn’t meant anything.

  Unfortunately, she couldn’t use work to distract her since her
oncologist wouldn’t let her return to a shift for some time yet. Dr. Frazier worried about her white-blood-cell count. Because of the chemo and the infection, her immunity was low. She could catch any germ that she’d come in contact with, and something minor could be fatal. She had to accept the realities of her situation.

  She scrolled through the news on her laptop, but couldn’t concentrate on anything in particular. Ruby had complained of being tired, so she was in her room napping. At least Ruby’s activity kept her interested in what was going on. She knew she should tell her about Mateo finding her father, but he hadn’t called to set up a time for them to meet yet. And Page wanted to keep Ruby with her for just a little longer. Selfish, she realized, but the teen had been a blessing.

  Someone knocked on her front door, and by the time she reached it, the person on the other side of it was knocking continuously. “All right, all right. Who died?” She opened the door and was faced with her ex, Chad. She narrowed her eyes. “What do you want?”

  He looked as if he hadn’t slept in a week—his face was haggard, his clothes disheveled. His normal smug grin had been replaced with something that looked like panic. “I’m so glad you’re home.”

  He didn’t seek her out on a normal basis, so this visit was definitely unusual. “What’s wrong?”

  Chad grasped her arm. “You need to come with me. Nikki is in trouble.” He pointed at his car in the driveway. “She’s there. In the car. Please. Just look at her.”

  “Is she in labor?” It was way too soon. Doing the math quickly, Page guessed Nikki was only five months or so along.

  He tugged her outside. “No, but there’s something wrong.”

  She shook off his hand. “I’m a labor-and-delivery nurse, not an obstetrician.”

  “Please, Page. There’s no one I’d trust more.”

  She noticed the fear shining in his eyes. “I can call Dr. Achatz if you want, but there’s nothing I can do.”

  “She insists that she’s fine, but I know there’s something wrong. Please come with me.”

  The tone of his voice, pleading and fearful, convinced her to go with him.