Listening to his son, Cameron was in shock, devastated by his wife’s betrayal. It was only later that Kellie admitted to the affair and used his work to justify it. She was still young, she wanted to have fun, and he wasn’t available the way he used to be.
Cameron was stunned. Even with all his work responsibilities, he and Kellie spent more time together than most couples he knew. It shocked him to realize how immature and irresponsible she was. And so lacking in loyalty. They had been married close to nine years. How could he not have known that about her? Kellie’s reaction when she found out she was pregnant should have been the first clue. Instead of being happy and excited like a normal, happily married woman, his wife had bawled like a baby because it would mean an end to their fun lifestyle. And he’d loved her so much, he never saw how immature her reaction had been.
He turned to Annie and realized he hadn’t simply been thinking about the past, he’d been thinking aloud, sharing his thoughts with her. And he knew by the look in her eyes that she ached for him and for what he’d had to endure.
“And as if Matt’s revelation wasn’t devastating enough,” he continued, “Agnes, our household help at the time, let it slip that Mrs. Hart had enjoyed a very active social life apart from her husband for some time. It wasn’t just one affair, Annie. In the end, Kellie finally admitted that the man Matt saw in our bed was merely the latest. But he was a keeper, she said. My wife had conveniently forgotten she was committed elsewhere.”
“Oh, Cam! How could she betray you like that?”
“Good question. I knew she wasn’t happy with the demands of my job, but I never suspected cheating. I thought we were a normal LDS family, but with some challenges to work through. Like most families.”
“The problem wasn’t the job, was it, Cam? Her lack of commitment was the real problem.” Annie’s voice was gentle, her eyes full of empathy. She spoke from experience.
“Yeah, I finally got that. Didn’t make it any easier though.”
No, it never did.
“Matt’s revelation changed everything, of course. On the surface, things appeared normal, but our lives were in shambles. I moved into the guest room and had as little contact with Kellie as possible. She said she was no longer seeing the other man, but I didn’t believe her. I was so beyond trusting her, I didn’t see how we could go on, how we could rebuild our lives. But we had the boys to consider. And then Kellie solved the problem in her own inimitable way. I came home from work one day, and she was gone. The boys were home alone, looking bewildered. They said their mom packed two large suitcases, told them to be good until I got home, gave them each a hug and left.”
Annie remembered Matt telling her that his mother made his dad cry. She wanted to weep for them all, for Cameron, for Matt and Josh and especially for Kellie, a woman who hadn’t understood what treasures she had in her family. Holding back tears, she asked, “Do you still love her, Cam?”
“No. I haven’t loved her in a long time. There was nothing to hold on to in the end except lies and deceit. But I grieved for the loss of what we had once had.”
“I shouldn’t have asked you that. I had no right. I’m truly sorry.” She stepped away from him and onto the balcony. The light evening breeze felt good on her face, but it didn’t stop the tears. Impatiently, she brushed them away.
Cameron watched her. Except for his father, Annie was the only one who knew the sad truth about his first marriage. He silently followed her onto the balcony.
She felt his arms come around her from behind. When he pulled her gently toward him, she leaned against him and sighed. She hadn’t meant to hurt him, to bring back painful memories. She had only wanted to understand. “I didn’t mean to hurt you, Cam. I’d never want to hurt you. You should have told me to mind my own business.”
“Am I not your business, Annie?” he asked quietly. “If we are going to build a life together, we have to be honest with each other.”
“But talking about it brought back painful memories for you.”
“Strangely enough, I believe it hurt you more than it hurt me. The pain was unbearable at the time. I had no one close to turn to except my boys, and I could hardly turn to them. So, I called my father. That evening he walked into my house. He had caught the first flight from Salt Lake he could get on. He held me in his arms as I wept with grief and pain. And then, later, he gave me a father’s blessing. He stayed with us until he knew I’d be okay, but he cried for me when he left. There aren’t many men like my father, Annie.”
She turned in his arms and faced him. “There aren’t many men like you either, Cam. Sometime will you tell me about a father’s blessing?”
“I will.” His arms tightened around her. “Annie?”
“Yes?”
“The first time it didn’t hurt to say I was divorced was when we were dancing, and I told you about my boys. I remember thinking how strange it was that it didn’t hurt, because it always had.”
She looked at him but remained silent. That night had been the turning point in her life, too.
“And there was no pain when we talked about Kellie just now.” He framed her face and looked at her with unbearable tenderness. “I love you, Annie. Only you. I loved Kellie. I didn’t want our marriage to fail. But the love I feel for you is so much bigger and immeasurably richer because you know how to give love. I can only say I am very grateful to the Lord for giving me a second chance at love, and that he gave me you.”
How was she supposed to control her tear ducts when he said such unbearably sweet things to her? She wiped her cheek, then wound her arms around him. In a muffled voice she said, “My face is a mess, but I love you so much, Cam.”
He smiled tenderly. “Your face is lovely.”
“It only seems that way because it’s dark out here.”
“It seems that way because it’s true. You are a truly lovely woman, Annie, in every way.” When she remained silent, he added, “Why do you think the boys love you so much?”
“I have no idea?”
“And Nora?”
“Nora?” she said, baffled.
“She told Matt and Josh that in her opinion you’ll make a very good mother.”
More baffled than ever, she said, “Cam, I spent two weeks with them several years ago.”
“And left a lasting impression. Nora never forgot you.”
When Annie remained quiet, Cam’s arms tightened, and he pulled her firmly against his heart. Annie reveled in the closeness and felt her heart overflow with love. What she had once felt for Asle paled in comparison. After a while, she said, “Cam, I think I should try going to church with you and the boys. If we are going to be a family we should be on the same page about important things and church is important to all of you.”
Cameron closed his eyes, cradled her in his embrace, and raised his head heavenward in silent gratitude.
After a while, he said, “It is a good thing you didn’t marry Asle.”
No news there, so all she said was, “Oh?”
“It would never have worked, even if he hadn’t been a cheater.”
“Oh?” repeated Annie. This time a slight smile appeared.
“How could it have, when it is so obvious you are made for me?”
A smile broke out across her face. She didn’t know if Cameron noticed, but she did. This evening they had both jumped a major hurdle. They could talk about the past, even joke about it, without pain.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Juul’s Haven - Early December
Matt stood in front of the mirror and looked at himself critically as he straightened his bow tie. At fourteen, he already looked like a young gentleman. Across the room, Josh muttered under his breath, “I can’t believe we have to dress like this.”
“You look very sharp, both of you. Your grandmother will be proud of you, and Annie will love showing you off
.”
Josh looked at his father. He, too, was wearing a tux. “I hope she is not going to make a habit of this,” he said, still grumbling good-naturedly.
“Since I don’t plan on getting married again, I doubt it,” said Cameron dryly. “You won’t have to don a tux until your own or your brother’s wedding reception unless you want to.”
“Maybe I’ll elope and skip the whole thing when it’s my turn.”
Cameron chuckled. “Well son, that’s certainly an option, one I hope you won’t choose.” Shaking his head, he looked at his boys. They had both shot up several inches since last summer and looked older than their fourteen years. Though they looked similar, they were not identical. Matt had light brown hair and brown eyes, Josh the blue of his grandmother’s and dark blonde hair, similar to Annie’s. Because Annie’s eyes were also blue, Josh had started claiming that Matt looked like their dad and he looked like their mom. But Josh’s features were a younger version of his father’s, as were his brother’s. They were a good-looking duo in their tuxedos, Cameron thought, and good boys. He was very proud of them. “Ready to go down?’”
“I guess so. Coming, Matt?”
“Of course.” With a smile for his father, Matt said, “You look pretty sharp yourself, Dad. Are you ready for all this?”
Cameron put an affectionate arm around each boy. “I am. Looking forward to it.”
“Me, too. I’m going to ask Nora to dance later.”
“Good for you. It was pretty decent of Jake and Allison to come all this way to help us celebrate.”
“Yeah, they are neat people,” Matt agreed.
At the bottom of the stairs, Annie waited for them. Cameron caught his breath. She looked radiantly happy and so lovely. Her cream-colored dress was a simple, classic design that looked as though it had been created especially for her. He knew she and Lauren had spent a few days in London last month, visiting bridal boutiques. They had succeeded in finding exactly the dress Annie had in mind. Before he had a chance to speak, Matt said sincerely, “You look beautiful, Annie. It’s a good thing you and Dad are already married, or some other man might want to snag you.”
Cameron stepped in front of his new bride, took her hands, and kissed her. “I couldn’t agree more,” he smiled against her lips. “You take my breath away.”
She kissed him back then whistled softly at the handsome young men flanking their father. “Wow,” she teased, “you’ll stop traffic this evening. I can hardly believe all of you belong to me. How lucky can one girl get?”
The boys grinned, then Josh said, “Cut it out, Annie, you’re embarrassing us.”
She hugged both boys and then pulled Cameron with her across the room. She had noticed the arrival of her father and stepmother and wanted to greet them.
They were married earlier in the day. Annie had decided against a church wedding. Instead, she and Cameron chose a civil ceremony with their families present. This evening, thanks to the generosity of Jonas and Lauren, a reception would take place at Juul’s Haven.
The celebration wasn’t scheduled to start for another hour, but the photographer was in place and waited patiently while family members greeted one another.
Annie’s parents had not been to Juul’s Haven before and looked around admiringly. “What a lovely place for a wedding celebration,” said Sissel, Annie’s stepmother. “So much more personal than a hotel.”
“And you look radiant Annie, absolutely beautiful,” said Arne, Annie’s father, and gave her a gentle hug. He turned to his new son-in-law. “I haven’t quite adjusted to the fact that you are taking her so far away from us, but she is very happy in her love for you.” He took both their hands. “I hope you don’t mind a little advice, given in love.”
They had met for the first time at the family dinner last night, and Cameron had liked Annie’s father immediately. “We’d welcome it,” he said now as he looked at Annie.
Arne, still holding their hands, said in an emotional voice, “When two people love each other, life brings great joy. But it can also bring unexpected challenges. Remember, during those difficult times, to treat each other kindly and always with respect, so there are no regrets. No matter what may come, remember this day and how much you loved each other. Never forget.” He lifted a hand and caressed Annie’s face. In that simple gesture, Cameron saw the tender love Arne had for his daughter. “You have found a good man, Annie. Don’t disappoint him.”
“I’ll remember,” she said, touched by her father’s sweet words. He had always been there for her and William and his troubled first wife. He had always loved them, always taken care of them. “I love you, Pappa.”
“And I love you.” He cleared his throat and said, “I think we have kept the photographer waiting long enough.” He looked around. “I don’t see William yet.”
“He’ll be along, don’t worry.” She scanned the large, beautifully decorated hall. “Ah, he’s here. And flirting with Lauren.”
“Can’t blame him for that,” chuckled Arne softly. “Your sister is a lovely woman, Cameron.” They watched as Jonas approached the two of them, touched William’s shoulder in greeting, then put an arm around his wife’s waist. Lauren looked at him with shining eyes, then said something that made both men smile.
“Yes, Nick and I are surprised at how well she turned out considering we spoiled her rotten as a child and teased her unmercifully as a teenager,” said Cameron as they went to join the rest of the family.
The pictures will be superb, Annie thought as she looked around. She had been overwhelmed by how beautiful the hall, and the living and dining rooms looked when she arrived this evening. Before changing into their formal wear, she and Cameron had walked through the downstairs rooms, admiring all that had been done to make their wedding celebration special.
Lauren and Jonas were an amazing couple, wonderful friends in addition to being family. She would miss them, the time spent with them, and her friendship with Lauren. Annie admired her and had learned so much from her this past year, but now she had a new life to build and was determined to adjust to life in America as well as Lauren had adjusted to life here. With Cameron and the boys to guide her, she couldn’t fail. She reached for Cameron’s hand. From this day forward, he would be her anchor, her love, her life.
Lilly came down the stairs after checking on Camilla. Despite the noise filtering up from below, the baby was still sleeping peacefully and had missed the party completely. The evening was winding down, but a few couples were still dancing. The trio of musicians was also winding down. The piano player let his fingers dance lazily up and down the keyboard as the band played a slow, romantic number.
Lilly slowed her steps as she came to the curve in the staircase, then stopped as memories came flooding back. How many times hadn’t she watched couples dancing in that very hall? How often hadn’t she sat in the curve of this staircase admiring the pretty ladies in their ball gowns and the handsome, tuxedo-clad men dressed just as her husband, sons, and grandsons were dressed tonight? She felt her eyes burn at the memory. When she left this house at sixteen, heart-sore and resentful, she never expected to see it again. Yet, once again they had gathered in this beloved house, a house that, beyond all hope, had found its way back into the family.
Full circle, she thought.
Against her will, the tears came.
Wiping her eyes delicately, she walked down the last few steps and crossed the hall to her husband.
“Camilla still sleeping?” Jonathan asked.
“Like a baby. Dance with me, Jonathan? I watched a lot of parties from the curve of that staircase in the old days, but I never got to dance.”
Her voice betrayed her, causing Jonathan to look at her more closely. Her eyes were swimming. He lifted his hand and stroked her face gently. “You all right?” After all these years, she was still, always would be, the only woman he’d ever loved.
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At her silent nod, he took her hand and led her onto the floor, that marvelous floor, made for dancing. As he took her in his arms, he whispered, “I’ll dance with you, sweetheart. I’ll dance with you forever.”
Epilogue
Juul’s Haven – Early December, three years later
The kitchen at Juul’s Haven was warm and comfortable with a cozy fire burning in the old fireplace. Snowflakes were falling outside, the first of the season, but inside the smells of baking and cooking permeated the house. An aromatic stew was simmering on the stove, and the last batch of cookies was just about ready to come out of the oven. Lauren paused and looked at the tiny bundle in the baby carrier a few feet away. He was angelic while sleeping, but he had the lungs of an operatic tenor when he put his mind to it.
Camilla sat quietly by his side, holding his hand and keeping watch. She was Mamma’s little angel, bright and sweet and helpful, and with a surprisingly good bi-lingual vocabulary for a three-year-old. She looked at her mother with concern in her eyes. “He’s still sleeping, Mamma. Should I wake him?”
“Not till Pappa comes home, sweetheart. We want him to be happy this evening.”
“I love our baby, Mamma. I love him even when he cries.”
“So do I. Crying is his way of speaking. Someday he’ll be able to talk to you with words.” Lauren carefully slid the cookie tray out of the oven and set it on the counter. “Would you like a cookie to tide you over until dinner, Camilla? They are nice and warm.”
Because of Lauren: A Love Story Page 41
