Only Her

by Allie Everhart

  Lilly is loving her new life in California. She sees Jade and Garret all the time and often stays with them on the weekends. She loves playing with Abigail and racing Garret in the pool.

  She also likes spending time with Pearce and me. We play games, watch movies, go swimming, and go to the beach. Pearce has a lot more free time now that he gave his company to the organization. That happened five weeks ago, and since then, his workload has been cut in half. A new CEO has already been appointed, but Pearce is helping with the transition. He’ll be doing that for the next few months and he’ll remain on the board of directors, so he’ll still be involved with Kensington Chemical, but in a very limited way.

  When Pearce told me he gave the company away, I knew that was the deal he made so he could marry me. Knowing how much time and effort Pearce put into building that company, I felt bad that he’d given it away, but he assured me it was his decision, not theirs, and that it’s what he wanted. He’d made the company a success, but had had enough and wanted to move on and do something else. He isn’t sure what that is yet, but he’s excited about the possibilities.

  “Breakfast is served.” Pearce wheels in a cart, topped with pastries, fresh fruit, orange juice, and champagne.

  “We’re having mimosas?” I ask.

  “We can, but that’s not why I got the champagne.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  Pearce stands next to the bed, wearing blue-striped pajama pants and a fitted white t-shirt that highlights his broad shoulders and muscular chest. I’m in a beige silk chemise that I slipped on when he left the room.

  “Come here,” he says, holding his hand out to me.

  He helps me off the bed and I stand in front of him. “What are we doing?”

  He chuckles. “You ask too many questions.”

  “I was just—”

  “Rachel.” He holds both my hands and looks into my eyes. “I love you more than I can ever possibly tell you.” He pauses. “When you came into my life, you made me a better man, and I would not be the person I am today if it were not for you. You were the best thing that ever happened to me. And marrying you was the best decision I ever made. Which is why I can’t wait another second to marry you once again. If you’ll agree to it.” He reaches in his pocket and pulls something out, holding it in his fist. Then he gets down on one knee. “Rachel Kensington, will you do me the honor of marrying me again?”

  I nod. “Yes. I would love to marry you again.” My eyes are tearing up as I watch his hand open in front of me. Sitting on his palm is my ring. My original wedding ring. “Oh my God.” Tears are now pouring from my eyes. “Is that really my ring?”

  “Yes.” He puts it on my finger.

  “But how? How did you find it?”

  He stands up, his arms going around my waist. “When I went back to Connecticut a few weeks ago for work, I stopped off in Virginia on the way home. I went to Jack’s daughter’s house and told her what I was looking for and she gave it to me. She’d found it a few years ago when she was going through her parents’ things after Martha passed away. She didn’t know who it belonged to. She found it in the box that Jack used to store things from his daughters that were special to him. Cards they had made him. Drawings they had done. He put this ring in that box because you were like a daughter to him.”

  “Jack was a good man,” I say, wiping my tears.

  “Yes, he was.”

  “Thank you. For getting it back.”

  He smiles. “Thank you for saying yes.”

  I smile back. “You knew that’d be my answer.”

  He considers it. “That might be somewhat true, although I have been known to be overly confident. So much so that I have another question for you.”

  “Which is what?”

  “What are you doing this afternoon?”

  “I don’t know. Why?”

  “Would you like to get married?”

  I laugh. “That usually takes some planning. I don’t think we have time to plan a wedding between now and this afternoon.”

  “I might have already taken the initiative to plan it, assuming you’d say yes.” His lips turn up. “I admit it was a bit presumptuous, but I did warn you of my tendency to be overly confident.”

  “You’re not serious, are you?”

  “Sweetheart, you know I’ve never been fond of practical jokes.”

  “Pearce, what’s going on here?”

  “I will tell you once you agree to marry me this afternoon.”

  I laugh again. “Okay, then yes, I will marry you this afternoon. You never give me much notice, do you? The first time you gave me a day and now I only get a few hours?”

  “When I know what I want, I don’t like to wait. And I wasn’t kidding when I told you I didn’t want to wait another second to marry you. The ceremony is taking place at two o’clock in Jade and Garret’s back yard, overlooking the ocean. It will be a small wedding with just our family and friends. It’s nothing extravagant, but—”

  “Pearce, it sounds perfect. It’s exactly what I want.” I hug him. “I love you. And I’m so happy to be marrying you again.”

  We have some champagne and eat breakfast in bed. Before I’m able to finish my strawberries, Pearce takes my plate from me and sets it on the table next to the bed.

  “I wasn’t done with that.”

  “And I wasn’t done with you.” His hand wraps around my waist as he puts his lips to mine. He tastes like strawberries and I sink down into the bed, pulling him over me. It’s only ten. We have plenty of time.

  The setting is beautiful. Set far back behind the house, overlooking the ocean, a trellis covered in flowers awaits. Pearce is standing in front of it, looking beyond handsome in his tuxedo. I’m in a long, flowing, silk dress in a soft champagne color, my hair loosely knotted behind my neck.

  Jade’s best friend, Harper, did my hair and makeup and also helped plan the reception. It turns out Harper is the daughter of Kiefer, the movie director I met years ago. Harper and her husband, Sean, own a party planning and catering business. Sean is a chef, so he made the wedding cake and all the food for the reception. And Harper helped Grace with all the floral arrangements, including my bouquet, which is a mix of pink and white flowers taken from Grace’s flower garden.

  I watch as Jade and Garret walk down the aisle. Jade is my maid of honor and Garret is the best man. Seeing those two go down the aisle together, I almost feel like I’m seeing them at their wedding. They, too, got married outside, right on the beach. I wasn’t able to be there, but at least today, I saw them walk down the aisle together.

  Next is Abigail, our little flower girl, toddling down the aisle and trying to toss rose petals. It’s darling. Lilly is walking next to her, trying to keep her on the path. When they reach the end, Lilly picks her up and they go to their seat, next to Grace. She’s sitting next to William who is next to Eleanor. I was shocked that Eleanor came, but she was invited, and surprisingly, she showed up.

  Logan and Shelby are also here. I’ve talked to Shelby a few times since getting back, but we haven’t been able to see each other until now. It’s so great to see Logan and Shelby again. They look as happy as ever.

  Sitting next to them is Charles, and on his other side sits a surprise guest that I never expected to see again. Celia.

  Pearce tracked her down and flew her here from Italy. I almost fainted when I saw her. Celia was like a mother to me, so it means so much to have her here at my wedding. I’ve really missed her and have thought about her a lot since I’ve been back.

  I’m trying not to cry, but it’s hard not to when I see my friends and family and all that they’ve done to put together this beautiful wedding.

  As I walk down the aisle, I set my eyes on Pearce and smile, unable to contain the joy I feel. Fifteen years I waited, wondering if I would ever see him again, and now here we are, reunited, and getting married for the second time.

  The ceremony begins and the man officiating it gives a short speech
about love and how it’s rare, so when you find it you should never let it go. It’s probably a generic speech this man gives at all weddings, but his words couldn’t be more true. Pearce and I never stopped loving each other. We were apart for a long time, but our love for each other never went away. We never let it go.

  We say our vows, and I slip Pearce’s ring on his finger, the same ring he wore when we were married. He kept it all these years. Then he slips mine on and I almost cry again seeing it. It brings back memories of when he first proposed to me in my apartment, and our wedding in Vegas, and our second wedding in that beautiful church with my parents there.

  I feel like my parents are here again today, along with my sister. I feel like they’re smiling down on us as they see Pearce and me together, reunited as husband and wife in front of all our friends and family. This is the wedding I always wanted. I wasn’t able to choose the guests at our other weddings, but today the guest list includes all the people I love, which makes this one the best wedding of all.

  At the end of the ceremony, the man officiating it says, “It is my pleasure to introduce Pearce and Rachel Kensington. Pearce, you may now kiss the bride.”

  He gives me a kiss, and as he does, I hear a squeal and look over and see Abigail clapping and giggling from the front row.

  “Sorry,” I hear Jade whisper, but she’s laughing and so is everyone else.

  Music starts playing from the outdoor speakers, and we walk back down the aisle with Jade and Garret behind us. Garret’s been smiling since Pearce and I arrived here today. His parents are officially back together and he couldn’t be happier.

  “Congratulations,” Garret says, hugging his dad. Then he hugs me, “Congratulations, Mom. You look beautiful.”

  “Thank you, honey.” Here come the tears again.

  Jade hugs us next, followed by everyone else.

  “I’m so happy for you,” Shelby says, teary-eyed. “We need to get together sometime. Just let us know when, and Logan and I will fly out here.”

  “I will. Thank you for coming all this way. Are you sure you can’t stay a few days?”

  “I would, but you won’t be around.” A sly grin crosses her face.

  “Where am I going?”

  “You’ll find out later.” She grabs Logan’s arm. “Come on. You promised me a dance.”

  There’s a small dance floor set up on the lawn next to the tables and chairs, and people are already dancing.

  “Rachel.” Celia hugs me. “You have such a beautiful family.” She lowers her voice. “And a very handsome husband.”

  I laugh. “Thank you. I’ve missed you, Celia.”

  “I’ve missed you too. But this is where you belong.”

  “Yes.” I glance over at Pearce, who’s talking to Garret. “It’s good to be home.”

  “Do you think you’ll ever come back to Italy?”

  “I’m sorry, but I don’t think that I can.”

  “Don’t be sorry. I understand.”

  “But you can come here. I’ll buy you a ticket whenever you’d like to visit.”

  She smiles. “We’ll see. I’m not much into traveling anymore.”

  Pearce walks up to her. “Celia, thank you for coming.”

  “Thank you for having me. Rachel is like a daughter to me and it’s good to finally see her happy.”

  Pearce’s smile drops. He doesn’t like hearing that I wasn’t happy for those fifteen years. He knows I wasn’t, but to hear someone else say it makes it more real. It’s not something I talk about. I’ve avoided telling him much about that time in my life. It’s too painful to relive it and he doesn’t need to know.

  “You two need to dance.” Celia winks at me, then walks away.

  “Shall we?” Pearce asks. I take his arm and we have our first dance.

  The reception continues until early evening and then everyone starts telling me goodbye. I still don’t know where I’m going.

  “Have fun!” Lilly says to Pearce and me.

  “Don’t worry about her.” Garret slings his arm around Lilly’s shoulder. “Jade and I will keep her out of trouble.”

  “Hey!” Lilly swats at him. “I never get into trouble.”

  “You’ll be 13 in a few weeks. That’s when the trouble starts.”

  “We’ll be back in time for her birthday,” Pearce says to Garret. “She should be good until then.”

  Garret laughs. “You guys better head out. Call us when you get there.”

  I’m so confused. “Pearce, where are we going?”

  “To Maui. I rented a house on the beach and we’re going to live there while our house is being renovated.”

  “The renovations are supposed to take a month.”

  “That’s correct.” He smiles, then leans down and gives me a kiss.

  “We’re going to Maui for a month?”

  “It’s going to be awesome.” Lilly hugs me. “Have fun, Mo—Rachel.”

  She keeps almost calling me ‘mom’ and then stops herself. I’ve told her she can call me ‘mom’ but she’s not ready to.

  We finish saying our goodbyes, then head to the airport. We’re taking a commercial flight this time, first class, of course.

  “Why didn’t you tell me about this?” I ask Pearce once we’re in the air.

  “I wanted it to be a surprise.” He holds my hand. “Plus, I knew if I told you, you’d try to cut the trip short, wanting to hurry back to the family.”

  “I’m really going to miss them.”

  “You’ll see them when we get back. For now, I don’t want to share you. I went without you for years. I don’t think it’s too much to ask for one month alone with you.”

  I kiss him. “And what are we doing for a month?”

  “Making up for lost time.”

  So we do. It’s our second honeymoon. And even better than the first.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

  Four Months Later

  RACHEL

  “Mom, do you want to do the lights?” Garret asks.

  “No, you go ahead. Jade said you’re an expert at it.”

  “I’m not exactly an expert.” He starts unwinding the lights from the holder. “I just do it like you taught me.”

  “And it always turns out great,” Jade says, handing Garret some extension cords. Jade has a big round belly in front, but the rest of her doesn’t look pregnant. “He strings the lights in and out of the branches instead of just around the outside.”

  “I learned that tip from your grandmother,” I say to Garret as I pick up another box of lights and undo the packaging. “She was an expert at decorating for Christmas.”

  Pearce comes up behind me, his arms around my waist. “You should’ve seen your grandparents’ house in Indiana. They had every kind of Christmas decoration imaginable.”

  “I wish I could’ve met them,” Garret says.

  “Me too,” I say softly. I’m sure my parents would still be alive if Holton hadn’t killed them.

  Pearce leans down and kisses my cheek. “I’ll get the ornaments.”

  He’s trying to cheer me up. He knows how hard this time of year is for me. Earlier this week was the anniversary of my parents’ deaths and I still have a hard time accepting that they’re gone. But we’re honoring their memory by continuing their tradition of putting up the tree the day after Thanksgiving. Everyone’s at our house this morning, and then this afternoon, we’ll all go to Jade and Garret’s house and decorate their tree.

  “Can I unwrap them?” Lilly asks, as Pearce brings out the box of ornaments. He saved them all these years, hiding them away so Katherine wouldn’t throw them out. The box hasn’t been opened since I left.

  “Sure,” I tell Lilly, sitting next to her on the couch. Abigail toddles over and I pick her up and set her on my lap.

  Pearce hands Lilly the box, then sits beside me, his arm resting behind me on the couch.

  “Papa.” Abi climbs off my lap and over to Pearce. She likes being with me, but she knew Grandpa f
irst so he’ll always be her favorite.

  “Are you ready to be a big sister?” he asks her.

  “Book.” She points to the books we keep in a basket on the floor next to the couch. Pearce reads to her all the time.

  “Maybe later.” He kisses her head as she snuggles into his side. “Let’s watch your dad do the tree.”

  Garret laughs. “She never answered your question. I don’t think she’s thrilled about the baby.”

  “She just doesn’t understand,” Jade says, leaning back and grabbing the sides of the chair as she sits down. “She’ll be happy when she sees the baby.”

  Garret attaches another string of lights to the one he’s holding. “As long as she doesn’t treat it like one of her dolls.”

  Abi isn’t very gentle with her dolls. She’s always dragging them around by their hair.

  “We’ll have to work on that,” Jade says. “We’ll start practicing this weekend, okay, Abi?”

  She’s not listening. She’s focused on the ornaments Lilly is unwrapping. She reaches across me, trying to grab one.

  I take her hand and kiss her tiny fingers. “No, sweetie. You can’t have that. You could choke on it.”

  Pearce picks her doll off the floor and hands it to her, redirecting her attention. “Here. You can practice being a sister.”

  She grabs the doll’s long blond hair and swings her around before setting her on Pearce’s lap.

  “You better hope that baby’s born bald,” Pearce says to Jade.

  We all laugh.

  “Why are all of these sports?” Lilly asks, holding up a football ornament.

  “Because they’re mine,” Garret answers.

  “Every year I’d take Garret to pick out an ornament,” I explain, “and he always picked ones that were sports-themed. He loved sports.”

  “Still do,” he says. “Which is why I own a sporting goods company. Dad, we need to go over some of the numbers today. I printed out the spreadsheets. They’re at the house.”