HOLDING ON (The Destiny Series Book 2)

by Karen Stivali

  Ella, Marienne’s three-year-old, was spending the night with her grandmother at the Princeton Hyatt where the wedding would be held the next day and Marienne had forgotten to pack Mr. Pickles, Ella’s favorite stuffed rabbit. Marienne was glad that Ella was already safely at the hotel. Almost everyone had opted to stay there after the rehearsal, but Marienne needed one last night at home to make sure she had taken care of everything. She hadn’t counted on snow.

  She put a kettle on the stove and plucked a jasmine tea bag from the glass holder. Gazing out the kitchen window, she thought how pretty the yard looked blanketed in white. It’s coming down awfully hard. She leaned closer, feeling the cool pane of glass against her forehead. The porch light illuminated the huge flakes. I better check the weather. I thought it said flurries.

  The teapot whistled, and Marienne poured the steaming liquid into her cup then curled onto a kitchen chair in front of her laptop. While she waited for the home page to load, she opened her email account. A smile tugged at her lips the second she saw the message from Daniel. It had been less than an hour since she’d left her handsome groom-to-be at his hotel room, and she already missed him. She right-clicked and read.

  Hope you had a safe drive home and aren’t stressing too much. Remember, the only important thing about tomorrow is that when it’s all over we’ll be husband and wife. Don’t worry about the rest.

  Thought I’d give you a little pre-wedding present. In case you don’t already know how ridiculously in love with you I am, this should act as absolute proof. Open the attachment. You’ll see…

  Yours, always-

  Daniel

  Marienne held her breath with anticipation. What’s he up to now? She clicked to open the document and could hear his British accent in her head as she noted that he’d titled it “My Favorite Bits.” A small laugh escaped her as she realized that could very well mean he’d written an ode to her breasts. Instead she found a compilation of snippets from emails and IMs they’d exchanged over the years. A virtual collage of the highlights from his sweetest messages, their sexiest flirtations, his funniest quips. Her eyes watered first from laughter then with emotion.

  She was nearly done reading when an IM window popped up on her screen.

  D: Finished yet?

  M: Shhh. Don’t bother me, I’m trying to read.

  D: Oh, so I’m a bother now, am I?

  M: Not just now.

  D: I see you’re in a feisty mood.

  M: Not feisty. READING. Now shush.

  D: *waits patiently*

  M: Okay, done. And, btw, I love you.

  D: You do, eh?

  M: Little bit.

  D: Enough to marry me?

  M: That’s the plan.

  D: Enough to let me come over?

  M: NO!

  D: Worth a shot.

  M: You’re incorrigible.

  D: I’m okay with that label. I just want to see you.

  M: Well starting tomorrow you’ll be seeing me all day, every day. For now that will have to suffice.

  D: All day every day sounds perfect. But it would be better if it started now.

  M: No.

  D: Have you always been this stubborn?

  M: Yes, I usually distract you with sex so you don’t notice.

  D: Good plan. It’s worked rather well.

  M: Yes, it has.

  D: Don’t you want to be well rested for our big day tomorrow? You know you’d sleep better if I was there with you.

  M: Nice try. Not tonight, dear.

  D: Aren’t you supposed to wait until AFTER the wedding to start using that line?

  M: I don’t intend to ever use that line with you. Except tonight.

  D: No grey area? Absolutely no room for negotiation?

  M: None. I’m not taking any chances. The groom can’t see the bride until the wedding. Final call.

  D: Okay. My superstitious side will overrule the part of me that wants to sweep you off your feet and carry you up to bed. But just for tonight. Tomorrow night there will be sweeping and carrying.

  M: I love it when you sweep and carry.

  D: Trying to sweet talk me, almost-Mrs.-Gardner?

  M: Always. Which reminds me, check the drawer on your nightstand.

  D: Which side?

  M: The side you sleep on.

  D: I cannot believe you put brownies in my drawer. When did you do that?

  M: I had the bellhop show me to your room. I told him it was an urgent matter. And I may or may not have bribed him with a brownie.

  D: Bribing other men with your brownies? I’m shocked.

  M: No, you’re not.

  D: You’re right, I’m not. And why is it that these are so bloody good?

  M: Magic.

  D: I’d believe that. You know I’ve been smelling brownies since I walked into the room. I thought I was having some sort of pre-wedding hallucination.

  M: Sorry. Didn’t mean to make you crazy.

  D: Yes you did.

  M:

  D: I know you have lots to do, so I’ll let you go. I mainly wanted to know you’d made it home safely. I’m about to head to Ruth’s room to check on Ella.

  M: Good. Make sure she doesn’t let her stay up too late.

  D: Will do, though Ella’s rather excited about wearing her flower girl gown tomorrow.

  M: Just do your best. Tell her I’ll see her in the morning.

  D: And I’ll see you at the altar.

  M: I’ll try to be there.

  D: I love you, Marienne.

  M: Love you too, Daniel.

  Daniel stared at the computer screen until he heard the small whooshing sound that meant she’d logged off. A flutter of disappointment flickered through him as he saw the light go out next to her name. He’d rather have kept chatting with her all night. He could never get enough of her. For tonight, checking on Ella would have to suffice. He’d known Ella since she was an infant and loved her every bit as much as if she was his own child. Aside from Marienne, she was the most important person in his life. He tucked the room key into his pocket and headed off to Ruth’s room.

  The hallway was quiet. He listened at their door. Had Ella fallen asleep, the last thing he wanted was to wake her. Within seconds he heard a familiar high-pitched giggle and knocked. Ruth answered, a wide grin on her face, while Ella danced behind her in purple fleece pajamas.

  “Daniel!” Ella ran to him, arms outstretch, and leapt into his arms.

  “Hey, sweet girl.” He kissed the side of her head, breathing in her sweet freshly baked bread scent. “Why aren’t you asleep?”

  “Because you and Mommy are getting married tomorrow.” Her eyes sparkled as she beamed at him.

  “That’s right. But that’s why you need your rest. We’ve got a big day tomorrow with lots of dancing and celebrating.” He carried her to one of the beds and pulled the blankets back. “Under the covers.”

  Ella wiggled her pink-socked feet beneath the sheets and settled into the fluffy white pillows. “Will you dance with me tomorrow?”

  “Absolutely. But for now, sleep. When you wake up your mum will be here.”

  “And we can put on our pretty dresses?”

  “Yes, sweet girl.” Daniel bent and kissed her forehead.

  Ella wrapped her arms tight around his neck as she whispered in his ear. “I’m glad you’re marrying mommy.”

  “So am I, Ella.” He tucked the blankets up under her chin and tapped her nose with the tip of his finger. “Sleep well, sweet girl.”

  Daniel stood and Ruth followed him to the door. “Ella,” she said, “Grandma’s going to step into the hallway to talk to Daniel for just a second, okay? I’ll be right back.”

  “Okay.” Ella yawned, her eyes already closed.

  Daniel held the door open allowing Ruth to pass by before he joined her in the hall.

  “She’ll be asleep in a few minutes. She’s exhausted,” Daniel said.

  “I know she is, but she wasn’t about to go to sleep
until you’d come to say goodnight to her. That little girl loves you to the moon and back.”

  “The feeling is quite mutual.”

  Ruth’s eyes clouded with tears. “I used to wish I hated you.”

  Daniel’s breath caught.

  “When Frank died and left Ella without a father, all I wanted was to protect her and Marienne. I know Frank wasn’t perfect, but he was my son and they were all I had left of him. I knew you were a nice guy. Frank had never said a single bad word about you. But I didn’t want anyone getting close to Ella and Marienne. Didn’t want them hurt again. And I didn’t want to lose them.” Her voice choked up.

  “Ruth, I would never—”

  “Let me finish, please.” She took a deep breath.

  Daniel nodded.

  “You’re the best thing that could ever have happened to the two of them. I see how you are with Ella. As much as it pains me to admit this, you’re a better father to her than my son was. And I think you’ll be a better husband, too. You’re a wonderful man, Daniel. You’ll be raising my only granddaughter. And I just want you to know that I think of you as family.”

  Daniel’s heart swelled, and his throat tightened. “Thank you, Ruth. That means more to me than I can say.”

  “Good.” She cleared her throat and straightened the jacket of her velour tracksuit. “Now you should get some sleep. We don’t want the groom to look tired in all the wedding pictures.”

  He knew she was trying not to get more emotional. “Will do. You get some rest too. I’m sure Ella will be up bright and early.”

  Daniel had just reached for his hotel door when his phone vibrated in his pocket. Marienne’s home number lit up on the screen.

  He smirked as he answered. “Dial-a-Brit Phone sex line, what’s your pleasure, luv?”

  “We have to call off the wedding.”

  Daniel nearly dropped the phone. “What?”

  “The limo company just called and told me this snow storm is now officially a Nor’easter. The roads are in horrible shape. He said he doubted he’d be able to get me tomorrow morning, and all his cars are out already tonight so he can’t send one now.”

  Daniel breathed a sigh of relief as his heart rate returned to normal. For a split second, he’d thought she had changed her mind about getting married. That would have been unthinkable. Snow he could handle. “Take a deep breath.”

  “I can’t breathe at all. Daniel. What are we going to do? Darla called. She’s still stuck in Phoenix. All flights east have been cancelled. And I called the other limo service we’d considered. They’ve got all their cars out already too. It’s Valentine’s weekend. Everyone’s booked solid, and no one’s sending any new drivers out because of the weather.”

  “Close your eyes.”

  “What?”

  “You heard me.”

  She sighed, and he could practically feel her warm breath on him. “Okay, listen to me. Deep breath in.” He waited as he heard her inhale. “Now let it out slowly.”

  She exhaled in a gentle rush.

  “We will get through this. I promise. Are you all packed?”

  “No. I was too busy checking weather websites and talking to car services and friends stuck in airports.”

  “Breathe.”

  “I’m trying.”

  “I know you are. Do me a favor. I’ve just gotten back to my hotel room. Ella’s sleeping, by the way. Let me make a few calls. In the meantime, you pack and do whatever else you need to do tonight. I’ll take care of the transportation issue.”

  “But Daniel….” her voice rose, making her sound more like Ella.

  He hated hearing her so freaked out. “Trust me. I’ll call you back within the hour, and I’ll have something figured out. All I had to do tonight was finish off your brownies and wish it was tomorrow. Think of this as something to keep me occupied.”

  “Okay.”

  He hung up the phone and turned on his laptop and the weather channel. Then he started making calls.

  Marienne busied herself getting all her wedding and honeymoon gear together but couldn’t stop checking the weather every few minutes. Not a single car had come down the street in nearly an hour. Snow piled up at an alarming rate. And Daniel had yet to call back.

  Her nerves started getting the best of her. Ruth already had her car because Ella’s child seat didn’t fit as well in her own vehicle. Daniel’s car was rear wheel drive and notoriously bad in snow—she’d already skidded twice on the drive home when there’d barely been a dusting. There was no way she could make it down Route 1 in that until they’d at least plowed the roads.

  What if I really can’t get to the hotel?

  The weather update scrolled across the bottom of the TV screen. Eight to twelve inches now predicted. Oh God. What if we actually do need to cancel the wedding? Her heart beat an unsteady rhythm. She dialed Daniel’s cell phone, trying to keep from imagining worst-case scenarios. He didn’t answer. She hung up and was about to dial again when the doorbell rang. Now what?

  She trotted down the stairs and opened the front door shocked to find Daniel standing there.

  “I believe you needed a ride to the wedding?” His green eyes twinkled at her.

  She threw her arms around him with enough force he nearly slipped on the snowy porch. His silky dark hair caressed her cheek as he pulled away enough for his lips to find hers. Lost in the heat of his kiss Marienne forgot all about the snow, the weather, the wedding—everything she wanted was in her arms—Daniel.

  He rubbed his nose against hers, placing a final gentle kiss on her lips. “I take it you’re happy to see me.”

  “Quite.”

  “Good.” His grin further warmed her. It was snowing hard enough they both had a light dusting covering them already. “I hope you took my advice and got yourself packed. We’ve got to go before the roads get worse.”

  Marienne took his hand and tugged him into the house, brushing the snow off his coat. “What are you even doing here? And where on earth did you get that SUV?”

  “I’m here to make sure my bride is at our wedding tomorrow. The four-wheel drive vehicle is on loan from one of my NYU colleagues. He and his wife own a little ski place in Massachusetts, and they’re heading up there after the wedding tomorrow but I knew they were already at the hotel so I asked to borrow it.”

  “You’re my knight in shining armor.”

  “I’m your knight in shining Jeep. Or I will be after you get your stuff together.”

  “I like it when you’re a little bossy like this. It’s kinda sexy.”

  Daniel pulled her into another kiss, his hand running beneath her sweater, his tongue once again making her forget everything else on her mind. “Alternatively we could take our chances and wait the storm out here. In bed.”

  Marienne pulled away. “Wait, what time is it?”

  “I was wondering when you were going to ask that.”

  She craned her neck to look at the clock in the family room. “Oh my God, it’s 10:40. Daniel. You can’t see me after midnight.”

  Daniel sighed, not releasing his grip on her. “I know. That’s why we need to get going. Otherwise I’ll have to drive the last bit with my eyes closed, and that’s probably not advisable.”

  He looked too irresistible. “I think I may need one more kiss,” she said.

  “Well we’d better not take any chances.” He dipped his head to hers once more and she breathed him in, luxuriating in the feel of his lips.

  “Okay, now I’m ready.”

  Marienne managed to get all her things together in record time and insisted on carrying the wedding dress to the car herself so that Daniel couldn’t possibly see anything. In spite of her rushing, they were not yet at the hotel and it was ten minutes until midnight. The slushy drifts on the highway had drivers moving at a crawl, and Marienne was not handling the tension well.

  “We’re not going to make it in time.”

  He was tempted to tell her it wouldn’t be the end of the worl
d if he saw her past midnight, but he knew it was a matter of principal. Truth be told, he didn’t wish to tempt fate any more than she did. He wanted nothing but good luck to start them on their journey as husband and wife.

  “We’re almost there,” he said, thankful that traffic had thinned and he was able to move at a better pace.

  “I can always hide in the back seat.”

  Daniel laughed. “Yes, you can burrow under that enormous dress bag, and I’ll have the bellhop wheel you and your gown into the building while I shield my eyes.”

  “There’s the hotel.”

  “Yes, I know.” He glanced at the clock. 11:55. Five minutes to spare. He pulled under the porte-cochere, and Marienne jumped out of the car the moment he stopped. Daniel made it around to her door while she was still fumbling with her purse and overnight bag.

  “Wait,” she said, eyes frantic, “where am I staying?”

  “You’re in room 311. That’s the room booked in Darla’s name.”

  “You’re brilliant.”

  “That’s why you’re marrying me.”

  “No, it’s mostly because of your accent.”

  God, I love her.

  Marianne’s gaze darted to the clock. “It’s 11:58. I have to go.”

  He curled his arm around her waist and pulled her toward him. “I want one last kiss as a single man.”

  Her mouth was so warm and soft beneath his he never wanted to let her go, but he forced himself, finishing with a final brush of his lips.

  “See you tomorrow,” she called as she scooted through the door and disappeared into the lobby.

  Daniel motioned the bellhop closer. “Can you see that this suitcase and wedding gown get up to room 311 with my future wife?”

  “Certainly, sir,” he said. “Would you like me to have someone park your vehicle for you?”

  “No, I’ll do that to buy her some time to get up to her room. I’m not supposed to lay eyes on her now that it’s past midnight.”

  The bellhop chuckled. “Understood. I’ll personally make sure all of this gets to her.”

  Daniel tucked a ten-dollar bill into his hand. “Much appreciated.”