by Patricia Kay
Then she picked up the guitar-shaped paperweight Adam’s agent had given him and threw it at him. Adam caught the paperweight before it hit him, and gave her a hard look. “If I were you, I’d leave now. Before I call security and have you thrown out.”
Bethany stared daggers at him for a few more seconds, then turned on her heel and stalked out, slamming the door behind her.
Adam took a long breath, then carefully set the paperweight back in its place of honor. “Good riddance,” he said softly.
Now he could get on with his life.
* * *
The twins came home suntanned, filled with things to tell her and excited about starting fifth grade the following week. Both of them liked school, which had always made Eve happy, because she’d loved school. Natalie got better grades, but Nathan was a good student, too.
“Adam’s coming back to Crandall Lake tomorrow,” Natalie told her once they’d gotten through the first greetings. “He told me to tell you.”
“Did he?” Eve kept her voice measured. “So you’ve been talking to him a lot?”
“I talk to him every day,” Nathan piped up. “I call him when I’m ready for bed. He said he likes saying good-night to me.”
Eve hated how absurdly weak she was, how the smallest thing could reduce her to a quivering, emotional mess. But the guileless way Nathan had conveyed this information, the way his eyes lit up when he talked about Adam, the way he didn’t seem to understand every word was like a knife to her heart, had undone most of the serenity she’d managed to build the past two weeks.
“You’re both calling him Adam,” she finally managed to say.
“Yeah,” Natalie said. “He said he understood it would be too hard for us to call him Dad.”
Eve nodded. Calling him Dad would have destroyed Bill. She didn’t know if Adam had considered Bill when he’d said this, but even if he hadn’t, she was grateful.
“So do you think he’s gonna move here to Crandall Lake now?” Nathan asked. He took a huge bite of the lemon pie Eve had bought earlier.
“I don’t know,” Eve said.
“Adam said we’d all talk about the future when he gets here,” Natalie said.
That night, Eve resorted to taking a sleeping pill because she knew if she didn’t, she wouldn’t sleep at all. She was wound too tight. And tomorrow she would need all her strength, and all her wits about her, because she was determined to face Adam and hear what he had to say without going to pieces.
She might lose everything else, but she still had her pride.
* * *
Adam didn’t sleep well. He was nervous in a way he hadn’t been nervous in a long time. He knew why. He wanted something badly, and he wasn’t certain he would get it. That was something else that hadn’t happened in a long time, because ever since he’d had his first number one record, when Adam wanted something, it was handed to him.
He hoped his luck hadn’t run out.
Because he wasn’t sure he could be happy again if things didn’t work out his way.
And there was no guarantee they would.
* * *
Adam called Eve at twelve thirty. “Have you had lunch yet?”
“Yes,” she said.
“Are you at home or the office?”
“I’m working at home today.”
“Are the kids there?”
“No, they’re at my mom’s house.”
“Good. Can I come over? I think we should talk before the four of us meet.”
“Okay. But give me thirty minutes.”
Eve was shaking after they’d hung up. Once again, he had sounded so impersonal. You can do this. You’re strong. You can see him without falling apart, no matter what he says or does.
She changed clothes, dressing carefully, wanting to disguise the fact she’d lost weight since last seeing him. White tapered pants, a bright coral print top and a coral headband. She used more makeup than she normally did, too, otherwise he might wonder why she was so pale. Please, God, help me get through this, she prayed. Don’t let me start crying in front of him.
Her doorbell rang exactly thirty minutes after their phone call. Her heart caught at her first sight of him standing there. He looked wonderful, as always. Today he wore his uniform of jeans and a T-shirt, but it didn’t matter what he wore. He had never looked bad to her.
“Hi,” he said.
“Hi.” He hadn’t smiled, but he didn’t seem angry. Or cold. Maybe they could eventually be friends. Maybe one day she could see him without it hurting.
“C’mon in,” she said, standing aside.
He walked past her, and she shut the door. When she turned to face him, he had a funny expression on his face. She opened her mouth to say, “Let’s go into the living room,” but before she could, he reached for her hand.
“Eve...” Even his voice sounded odd.
She swallowed.
And then he pulled her to him and kissed her. Every single nerve ending in Eve’s body responded as if they’d been touched by flame. The kiss went on and on, hungry and demanding. They both moaned, and kissed and kissed. It was a good thing he was still holding her tight when the kisses ended, because Eve’s legs wouldn’t have held her up otherwise.
“I love you, Eve,” he said. “I love you. I don’t want to live without you anymore.”
“I love you, too,” she cried brokenly. “I’ve always loved you.”
“Can you forgive me for the way I’ve treated you the past few weeks?”
Tears slid down her face. “I already have. I—I know I hurt you.”
“Yes. You did. But I understand why.”
“I hope so.”
“I still want to marry you, Eve,” he said. “If you’ll have me.”
“Oh, Adam, more than anything, I want to marry you. I just don’t know how it can all work.”
He smiled then. A big, beautiful smile that made her heart leap. “We’ll figure it out. As long as you love me, we’ll figure it out.”
“I do. I do. So much.”
They kissed again. And again. And kept saying they loved each other. Finally, he reached into his pocket and took out the ring box. And this time, when he opened it, she let him put that magnificent ring on her finger. The sight of it there made her start crying again.
“Why are you crying?” he said, kissing the tears.
“Because I’m so happy. But I’m also scared.”
“Don’t be scared. Let’s go sit on the couch and talk. I promise you, we’ll work this all out.”
Two hours later, they were still talking, but now they were in the kitchen and she was making grilled-cheese sandwiches with sliced tomatoes, because she’d lied when she said she’d already had her lunch, and he’d admitted he hadn’t eaten, either. After devouring a couple of sandwiches apiece and discussing every possible scenario, they’d finally come up with the best solution they could manage.
Their plan was, as long as the twins were in school, Adam would base his day-to-day operations out of Crandall Lake. Bill and Eve’s custody agreement would stay intact for the school year, with them switching weeks. When Adam had to travel, if Eve could and wanted to, she would come with him, and the twins would stay with Bill. During the summer, though, the twins would live with Eve and Adam, going wherever they went, except for when Bill took his family on vacation. If he wanted the twins with him then, they would be.
“I think this is fair, don’t you?” Adam said.
“Yes,” Eve said. “I do.”
Adam had said he would keep both his Nashville home and his Malibu home, at least for now. They could decide later what they wanted to do with them in the future, depending on how well things were working out. He and Eve talked about building a new home in Crandall Lake, though.
“Somewhere on the outskirts, with some land,” he said.
Eve smiled. It all sounded wonderful. Too good to be true, actually. She wondered if Bill would agree. She knew he wouldn’t be happy about the summers, but Adam had said he wouldn’t press the legal stuff if Bill was reasonable about everything else.
“I won’t even object to them keeping his name. Later, when they’re old enough, if they want to take my name, I’d love for them to.” He even said he wouldn’t insist on making any kind of announcement about their parentage.
“People are bound to find out, though,” Eve said. “The twins are dying to tell people now.”
“Bill can’t blame us for that.”
But Eve wasn’t sure about that. One thing she did know. She wouldn’t be entirely happy until they’d talked to Bill and he’d agreed to their arrangement. If he agreed.
“I think your cousin Olivia is right,” Adam said when she said this aloud. “You do borrow trouble.”
At four o’clock, Eve called Bill and asked him if he could come over that evening. “Adam is back,” she said, “and has a proposition for you.”
“I have something to tell you, too,” he said.
Eve frowned. That didn’t sound good. Some of her happiness faded. What now?
But she could never have imagined what Bill was about to say. After he and Adam had warily shaken hands and the three of them were settled in the living room, Bill said, “Before we left California, my company offered me a permanent position in LA, and I want to take it.”
“What?” Eve said, shocked. She’d never expected this.
“It’s a terrific opportunity, more money and responsibility than I’d ever have if I stay here,” Bill said. “Missy’s excited about it, too. You know her sister’s in San Francisco.”
“But the twins...” Eve said.
“I know. That’s the only bad part. I thought maybe if you have them during the school year, I could have them summers and holidays.”
“Summers and holidays!” Eve said. She looked at Adam.
“I have a better idea,” Adam said. “Eve and I haven’t had a chance to tell you yet, but we’re planning to get married. We had talked about me making Crandall Lake my new base. But what if we live in California for the school year? I have a house in Malibu just sitting there empty. If we lived out there, you could see the twins on a regular schedule.”
At first Bill seemed taken aback, especially when Adam went on to explain how he wanted the twins free to travel with them summers. For a while, Eve was afraid he was going to fight them, but after thinking about Adam’s proposition for a few moments, he quit objecting. “I think it sounds like a workable plan,” he said.
Eve met Adam’s eyes. Maybe he was right. Maybe she did borrow trouble.
* * *
“Do you mean it?” squealed Nathan. “You’re getting married?”
“And we’re moving to California?” Natalie said. She was just as excited as Nathan, but in her new persona of an almost fifth grader, she obviously felt she had to act as if she wasn’t.
Eve smiled. “Yes to both questions.”
“And we’re gonna live with you out there?” Nathan said.
“Yes. But you’ll see your dad on weekends. And anytime during the week that you want to. And you’ll stay with him when Adam and I have to travel.”
“But what if our school is far away from where he lives?” This came from Natalie, who was always more practical.
“We’ll figure all that out later,” Adam said. “Maybe you’ll go to a private school halfway between our houses.”
“For now,” Eve said, “let’s just all be happy and...plan the wedding!”
This brought a delighted laugh from Natalie. She loved fairy tales and she especially loved weddings. “Can I be a bridesmaid?” she asked, gray eyes shining.
“A junior bridesmaid,” Eve said, hugging her.
“When will the wedding be?”
“As soon as possible,” Adam said, looking at Eve.
“Can I have at least a month to get everything ready?” she said, laughing.
“That long?” he said, looking to the twins for support.
“Yeah, Mom, that’s too long,” they both said.
Eve couldn’t stop smiling. She was so happy. She couldn’t believe how happy she was. God was good.
Two weeks later...
From the Facebook page of Adam Crenshaw
Posted by Amy Trenton, publicist for Version II
Here’s a picture of Adam and his beautiful bride, the former Eve Kelly, flanked by their twins, Nathan and Natalie. Adam and Eve were married yesterday at City Hall in Crandall Lake, Texas, where they both grew up. Adam says they’ll have their marriage blessed in church at a later date, “but we didn’t want to wait any longer to begin making our home together.” The new Mrs. Crenshaw said she would keep everyone informed of their future plans and was looking forward to sharing Adam’s life.
For the fashionistas among you, Eve’s and Natalie’s dresses, as well the dress of Eve’s witness, her cousin Olivia Britton, are Vera Wang originals. Adam’s tux was designed by Armani, as were those of his two brothers, Austin and Aaron.
Five hundred guests attended last night’s reception honoring the new Mr. and Mrs. Crenshaw—see more photos below—which was held in the ballroom of the Crandall Lake Inn. After a short wedding trip to Paris, the newlyweds will make their home in Southern California and Nashville, with frequent visits to Crandall Lake in between.
Let’s all wish the happy couple a long and beautiful life together!
* * * * *
Keep reading for an excerpt from AN OFFICER AND HER GENTLEMAN by Amy Woods.
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ANNA CERMAK’S PIEROGIES
For the dough:
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 eggs
½ teaspoon salt
Approximately 1 cup cold water
For the filling:
mashed potatoes
butter
salt
Mix all dough ingredients with enough water to make a medium-soft dough. Knead well, roll out until thin. Cut into squares to make approximately sixty. Place on each square a rounded teaspoon of the potato filling. Fold in half to make a triangle. Pinch edges well so filling won’t escape. Drop in salted boiling water and cook until all pierogies rise to the top of the water. Then cook five minutes longer. When done, pour a small amount of cold water over the pierogies in a colander and drain.
Cooled pierogies can be frozen and used later or served immediately.
To serve
Slice several onions thinly, and cook in butter on medium heat in a skillet until caramelized and golden. Melt more butter when onions are done. Pour onions and melted butter over pierogies and serve.
ANNA CERMAK’S STUFFED CABBAGE ROLLS (HALUPKI)
1 large head of cabbage
1 lb. ground beef
1 cup cooked rice
1/4 cup finely chopped oni
on
1 egg, beaten
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1 can condensed tomato soup
1 can sauerkraut
sugar
1 14-oz. can tomato sauce
Fill a large pot with salted water and bring to boil. Remove large outer leaves from the head of cabbage, thin the hard core and, using tongs, put the cabbage leaves, a few at a time, into the boiling water. Let cook until softened. Remove with tongs, let dry on waxed paper. Do this until you have at least eight to ten cooked leaves.
Combine beef, rice, onion, egg, salt and pepper with two tablespoons of the soup. Divide meat mixture among leaves and make rolls, then place rolls in roasting pan that has a thin layer of the soup spread over the bottom. Pour remaining soup over the rolls, top with sauerkraut and sprinkle a bit of sugar over the top (to cut the acidity and sourness of the kraut). Cover with foil and cook in a 325-degree oven for 1 ½ hours. Add tomato sauce, re-cover and cook another hour. Makes approximately eight rolls.
Note from the Author
These recipes, combined with recipes from my aunt, Stella Sfara, and my good friend Christine Wenger, came from the kitchen of my own mother, Ann Duritza Sfara. I can personally vouch that they are delicious and loved by everyone in my family. Bon appetit!
To whet your appetite, coming in the next book of the Crandall Lake Chronicles series, Olivia’s story, will be my mom’s recipe for wonderful kolache, as well as one for her cabbage and noodles.
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