by Rhonda James
"No." I shook my head. "You just caught me off guard I guess. It's fine. I'm looking forward to finally meeting them." I turned and smiled. He placed a soft kiss on my lips.
"Great, because I can't wait for them to meet you. They've heard so much about you already." He gave my waist a squeeze and stepped away. I went back to finishing the brownies.
I cleaned up my mess and tried not to let this change in plans play with my emotions. They were important to him, therefore they should be important to me. He was my world now, and I needed to embrace everything his world brought. These feelings of jealousy were new to me. I couldn't recall ever being subjected to jealousy during my relationship with Devon. I hadn't needed to be jealous, all of his time was spent with me. Whether it had been cooking, or just hanging out, we were always together. Now, things were different. I was older, and this relationship was a full-fledged adult relationship, complete with family, friends, and previous emotional baggage.
I plated my desserts, and placed the salads on the counter, before quickly moving into the bedroom to change. Sebastian entered the dressing room just as I had slipped a sundress over my head. He leaned against the doorframe and watched me slip on my flats. I ran my fingers through my hair, working it into a quick braid, before tying it off. He came up behind me and smoothed his hands down my arms.
"You're gorgeous. Do you know that? Do I tell you that often enough?" He asked, softly. His eyes met mine in the full-length mirror. I gave my head a light shake, worrying my bottom lip between my teeth. There was no denying it, I felt uneasy. His gaze penetrated right through me, seeing everything. "Do you have any idea how much I love you. How much you mean to me? How badly I always want you, even right this minute? There is no other woman for me, Brooke. You're it." He placed a warm kiss on the tender flesh between my neck and shoulder, as his hand smoothed down the front of my dress and stopped on my bare thigh. His eyes blazed with desire as our gaze remained locked in the mirror. "I need for you to believe that. It will always be you. Only you." His eyes softened and a smile formed on my lips.
"Thank you," I whispered, more to myself than anyone else. His lips found mine and the warm glide of his tongue against mine eased any remaining fears I may have held. He pulled me tight against him and moaned softly as my hands found their way around the seat of his jeans. He'd heard me. I loved him more in that moment than words could even convey. He had sensed that I was feeling threatened and wanted to make sure that I never doubted our love again. He lifted me and my legs instinctively wrapped around his waist. He back stepped into the bedroom as his lips continued their exploration of my skin. In the end he'd left no room for doubt that I was his and he was mine.
It was exactly what I needed.
Two hours later, the women were in Tracy's kitchen while the men were on the patio, manning the grill. Tracy went all out when she held these weekly gatherings. Coolers of ice overflowed with a variety of beverages. Snacks of every sort were scattered among the tables so that anyone passing by could grab a handful of salty tidbits. Wonderful smells wafted through the screened door, indicating that the meat had been placed over the coals. We were laughing and having a great time. Rachel and Savannah had arrived earlier, and Sebastian had taken great care to make sure they felt comfortable and had been introduced to everyone. Savannah decided right away that she liked me. She said that since Sebastian loved me, she loved me as well. It took Rachel a few moments longer to settle in. Maybe she was uncomfortable, knowing that I had seen the photos of her kissing my fiancé. But, once she realized that we all welcomed her openly, without judgment, she finally relaxed and joined the conversation.
"You're going to love being married." Natalie informed me, rather loudly. She'd already polished off two glasses of wine and had just finished pouring a third.
"I can hardly wait. I can't believe it's less than two months away." I sighed, happily. We’d finally decided that we would be married at the end of July. The ceremony would take place on the beach just behind our house. That was were we had spent a lot of our time together during that first week, and the memories of that time meant a great deal to me. I felt that it was only right that we should make our promise of forever in the exact same location.
"Have you ever been married Rachel?" Natalie asked, her voice sounding a bit slurred. The wine was clearly going to her head. Tracy moved the wine bottle discreetly aside and smiled politely at Rachel, awaiting her response.
"I was, once. Savannah's father and I were high school sweethearts before we were married." Her gaze drifted to the window to where Savannah sat on the patio with Sebastian and Travis doting over her. "Matthew was a Marine. He was deployed overseas when Savannah was only two years old. His Humvee was hit by an IED and he never made it home." The sadness in her voice tore into me like a knife. I felt horrible for my earlier jealousy. This woman had lost the love of her life. The thought of losing Sebastian like that sent a shiver down my spine. The sheer idea of marrying him, having a child together, and then losing him tragically was beyond comprehension. Then I remembered that we had shared the common bond of losing a loved one. That bond was just one of the things that had brought us closer together.
Then, reality sank in. They now shared the same bond. Suddenly, I had to ask her a question.
"Does Sebastian know about this?" I swallowed, hard.
"Oh yes, I've shared my entire sob story with him. He was wonderful though. He really is a great guy. You're very lucky to have him, Brooke." The hairs on my arms bristled at her words.
"Just how is our Sebastian such a great guy?" Natalie asked, clearly not too tipsy to pick up on the change in my demeanor.
"Yes, please share with us dear. I just love hearing people rave about my boys." Tracy encouraged. Meanwhile, I remained rooted to the floor, silently praying that she wouldn't say anything at all.
"Well, for starters, he is always there when Savannah calls him. They connected from the very first time they met on that plane. She just adores him, and he never seems to be too busy to stop what he's doing to talk with her."
"How wonderful. He’s always been great with Olivia." Tracy smiled. "Go on."
"He's been there for me, when I've needed a friend." Rachel looked over at me as she said this. I simply smiled my nicest smile, trying not to slowly die inside as I listened to another woman gush about the wonderful qualities of the man I was going to marry. "But, I guess the most amazing thing he's done was when he offered to hire a live-in nursing assistant to help with Savannah. Working full-time and caring for her when she's not in school can be challenging for a single mom. I rarely get time to myself. Even though I prefer to spend most of my free time with Savannah, I must admit that it's nice to have the option to go out shopping or grab dinner with a friend."
"May I ask what condition it is that Savannah has?" Natalie asked, softly. By now the mother in her had clearly kicked in.
"She has Osteogenesis Imperfecta, Type 1. Which basically means that her bones are brittle and predisposed to fracture. She has a mild curvature of the spine, which is indicative of Scoliosis, but so far she has tested normal. She’s had to wear braces on her legs for the past four years to help prevent accidental falls. She may lose mobility, eventually, but for now she is a happy little girl."
"I'm so sorry." We all blurted in unison.
"Thank you. But you don't need to be sorry. Savannah is my angel and, as I've told her many times before, her fragility makes her that much more special. As she goes through life she will need to slow down, and make wise choices. And when she finds a husband he will need to treat her with a gentle hand and a loving heart, as any woman should be treated."
I listened to her speak, watched her face as she stared at the little girl that currently stood before the love of my life, talking with animated hands and making him laugh, and my heart spilled over with compassion. I forgot all about the jealousy and doubt that had been burning inside of me and threw myself at her, wrapping my arms around her middle and showing h
er my best rendition of the Miles Family bone-crushing hug.
"I think you're both very special." I whispered. I looked out the window, my gaze meeting Sebastian's, and he smiled when he saw me hugging Rachel. My heart warmed with the knowledge that he was such a loving and caring soul. Even though I had been on the receiving end of his compassion on more than one occasion, it was a nice reminder to hear how he had shared that same care to another human being, especially after what we had just come through.
The rest of the afternoon wasn't nearly as dramatic. After dinner we all sat around listening as Sebastian and Dek strummed their guitars and sang. Savannah sat on one knee while Olivia took up residence on the other. He looked happy, surrounded by their squeals of delight as he sang for them. I watched helplessly as Rachel stared up at him with a look on her face that tore my heart apart. For the first time in our relationship, I worried that someone else may steal him away from me. I was going to have to confront him about it, but I didn't know how to go about it without coming across as a jealous brat. After all, she was a young widow and they were just friends. But what if that friendship turned into something more? I wasn't about to stand around and watch the man that I loved fall into the arms of another woman. No matter how lonely that woman was.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Sebastian~
"You've been awfully quiet tonight. Everything okay?" I lifted a hand off the steering wheel and wrapped my fingers around hers. We were in the car, heading home after a long afternoon. Dinner at Mom's seemed to go smoothly. At one point I had even caught Brooke hugging Rachel. I'll admit, I had been nervous about them meeting, but it was important for me to include them today. Rachel and Savannah didn't have family in the area. Her parents lived in Michigan, that was who they had been visiting that afternoon when we had first met on the plane. We had been talking on the phone for the past few months. She had shared with me the story of how the love of her life had been taken from them. Their loss tore at my heart. I couldn't imagine being a single parent. She was so strong, and unbelievably independent. When I thought about how Savannah's father must have felt, being away from her to serve his country, my gut had told me what needed to be done. They needed someone to help look after them in his absence. I often found myself thinking how much he must have missed them, being so far away. I knew what that had felt like. It had sucked, there was no denying it. Being apart from Brooke had made my heart ache inside. She'd cried during one of our conversations, after sharing a memory she had of Matthew. Before he left for Afghanistan he'd told her that when he returned he would spend the rest of his life seeing to it that she was happy and taken care of. When Rachel had told me about how hard it was for her to find some time to herself, I immediately knew that hiring a live-in caregiver was an easy way to help out. It seemed like the least I could do to help honor her deceased husband's wishes.
I'm not sure why I hadn't mentioned it to Brooke.
"Yeah, I'm okay. It's just been a long day." She replied, giving my hand a light squeeze before turning back to stare out the window.
"Okay." I conceded.
Later that night we were lying in bed, but the atmosphere of the room was much cooler than it had been earlier that afternoon. Brooke was on her side, and I stared at her back, watching the rise and fall of her shoulder. I knew she wasn't sleeping. We'd been here for nearly an hour, in complete silence, before she finally spoke.
"Why didn't you tell me about Savannah's father?"
That wasn't the question I had been expecting.
"Um. Well, I um. I never really gave it a whole lot of thought. She first told me about it after you left me." I reached out a hand, letting it hover just above her. I was afraid to touch her. I wasn't sure how she would react, or if she even wanted me to touch her.
"They've suffered a tragic loss, and they're in your life. I think it's a pretty significant piece of information." Her voice came out as barely a whisper, and I could tell that she was now crying. Her back was still to me, so I couldn't see her face, but that didn't stop my hand from settling on the curve of her hip.
"I agree, but I don't see how that detail affects what we have." I replied, inching closer.
She twisted to face me. There were tears on her cheeks. "Don't you get it? She lost the love of her life. She shares a common bond with you, just like I did. What happens when one day she calls and tells you that she needs you? If that day ever comes, will you choose her over me? Because I'm afraid that maybe one day you might think she needs you more than I do." Sobs overtook her, making her body tremble. Instinctively, I drew her in, her face mashed against my chest. I felt hot tears spill across my skin. I just held her tight and spoke soothing words in her ear.
"Honey, that day will never come. You will always be my first choice. Nothing comes before you. We're getting married. I don't have those kind of feelings for Rachel. She is a smart and beautiful woman, but she doesn't do anything for me." I ran my hand over her back, attempting to calm her.
"If she's so beautiful why doesn't she do anything for you?" She sniffed, pitifully.
"Because she's not you. No one will ever make me feel the way you do." She lifted her eyes to meet mine. I took her chin between my thumb and forefinger and made sure that my words left no room for doubt. "No one."
Her mouth crashed into mine, seeking assurance, and I gave it. Her fingers wove through my hair, tugging slightly as she fought to get closer. We were already pressed together, there wasn't any space left to cross, but that didn't stop her limbs from claiming me. Our legs were tangled, arms wrapped tightly around one another's shoulders, lips pushing and pulling as our tongues tickled and caressed. Soon, her body came to rest on top of me. Her legs settled in the space between mine. Her small torso stretched out over the hard lines of my abdominal muscles. She nestled her cheek above my heart. I crossed my arms, allowing my hands to come to rest in the small curve of her lower back.
"Your heart's beating fast. I can hear every thump." She used the tip of her finger to trace the edge of my left pectoral. This action sent a shiver through my body.
"It's beating for you. It's racing because of what you do to me. Just being near you like this. It's incredible. I want to spend the rest of my life holding you like this." I lifted my head and strained to kiss her forehead.
"I never want to be apart from you again. Everything I need is right here in my arms." A few minutes later, we both fell asleep, our hearts beating together in unison.
"Brooke, sweetie, I've found a florist that can get us all of the pink and white calla lilies you desire!" Mom exclaimed, happily. She and Dad were here to discuss wedding plans. Brooke had been meeting with Mom and Natalie fairly regularly, sometimes Jade would even join them via Skype. The wedding was only a month away. I couldn't believe how quickly the time had gone by.
"That's wonderful news. I'm thinking we'll need at least two hundred. I need a large bouquet and then I would like them to adorn each reception table." I watched as she mentally ticked off all the fine details. She was in her element. The reception was being catered by Max and his crew at Lardon's. Even though Brooke hadn't returned to work, they kept in touch on a regular basis. Her plan was to get married, go on our two week honeymoon, and then return to the kitchen.
"Oh, they will compliment the rest of the décor perfectly." Mom gushed. "Why, just yesterday I was out shopping and I came across…" The two of them continued to discuss décor while I admired the way Brooke looked as she was hard at work. I saw her hand extend before her, pointing in the direction of the beach, and I was suddenly hit with the realization that I needed to buy a ring. Even though we only had a month to go, I wanted to do this the right way. I wanted to see it proudly displayed on her left hand.
But mostly, I wanted the world to know that she was mine.
"Dad," I called out. He appeared in the kitchen. "Do you feel like taking a trip into town with me?"
"Sure. Where are we headed?" He asked, following me to the car.
"Th
e jewelry store." I declared.
"Wait, son. I have a better idea."
"Where am I going?" I turned to him and asked. We were in the car, heading down the driveway.
"Manhattan Beach, there's something I want to show you."
Thirty minutes later, we were in my parent's bedroom, a place that had served as a safe haven for me when I'd been a small boy. I used to have really bad nightmares and I would always make my way to their room and pad over to my mom's side of the bed. She never got angry. Never once did either of them complain about losing sleep. She would just pat the center of the bed and I would climb up and settle in the comfort and security I felt lying between them on that king-sized mattress. This room still held those same feelings of safety for me.
I watched as Dad entered his closet, heard him rummage around, then saw as he came back into the room carrying a small grey lockbox. A large grin filled his face.
"What's in the box?" I asked, curiously. I recalled seeing that box as a child. It always sat perched atop the highest shelf in his closet, almost as if it contained his most prized possessions. I'd never touched it back then, and I was still a bit apprehensive now.
"Important papers, valuables I've had since I was a child, and a few other items that are irreplaceable." He slipped a hand in and pulled out a small black box. I had an idea of what it held, but I knew that it was something I had never laid eyes on. He handed it to me. I accepted it tentatively. "Go on, open it."
The small box creaked ever so slightly as I pried it open and came face to face with the most exquisite diamond ring I had ever seen. The setting was just a solitary diamond cut, but the band itself was remarkable. It was made of silver, and slightly larger than your typical delicate setting. A beautiful pattern had been etched into the band and at first glance it appeared to be covered in smaller diamonds.
