Hope for a brighter tomorrow. Wasn't that the whole reason why she was here in New Orleans? She was so tired of things weighing her down. And she wanted to reconnect with her family in the last place they'd all been together as a solid, tight-knit unit.
To see herself reflected in Remy's eyes was a wondrous thing. He believed in her. His words gave her reassurance and a dose of confidence. To know that this man was the source of her being back here in New Orleans, on the brink of a reunion with her family, was awe inspiring.
“Thanks for believing in me, Remy. You make me want to be brave in the face of everything, just so I don't ever disappoint you.”
He turned her face toward him and place a swift kiss across her lips. It took her breath away. “You could never disappoint me. I'm in awe of you. Your courage. Your grace. And your desire to face life head-on, even though you've been through things that would bring the average person to their knees. In case I failed to mention it before, those are just a few of the reasons that I've fallen madly, completely in love with you.”
His heartfelt words nestled inside her, creating a warm, satisfied feeling within her. Her arms felt tingly and she felt as if this very moment was being imprinted like a tattoo on her heart. Remy wrapped his arms around her. She snuggled against his chest as a calm vibe settled over her. The sound of his even breathing lulled her into a peaceful state of being. The last thing that floated through her mind before slumber led her away was that Remy had brought serenity to her world. She still wasn't sure what she'd ever done to deserve Remy Donahue, but now that he was in her life she knew it would devastate her to ever lose him.
*
Waking up the next morning on the balcony was a jarring experience for Remy. For a few seconds he felt disoriented. Then he felt the pressure against his chest and looked down to see Gabrielle fast asleep on his chest. Holding Gabrielle in his arms all through the night had been a powerful, soul stirring experience. They hadn't crossed any lines, although the attraction he felt for her was more powerful than anything he'd ever known or experienced.
Although he wanted to express his love for her in every way possible, for him it was real simple. He didn't want her just for one night. He wanted her for a thousand nights and beyond. Brick by brick, he was laying the foundation for their future. One day, he hoped Gabrielle would become his wife. For him, there was something sacred about that knowledge. It lived inside him as a reminder that he was working towards their future. It wasn't all about the here and now. He'd never do anything to hurt or compromise her in any way. Gabrielle reminded him of the proverb his birth father had told him when he was about seven years old. It was about a virtuous woman and her being more precious than rubies.
“She is more precious than rubies. Her husband can trust her, and she will greatly enrich his life. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.” There was so much about the proverb that reminded him of Gabrielle. Kindness. Strength. Beauty. Virtue.
There was only one thing missing. “She laughs without fear of the future.” He so wanted Gabrielle to reach a state of grace where she no longer harbored fears. Then, and only then, would the life he wanted the both of them to build together take shape.
As Gabrielle stirred in his arms he felt a strong feeling of protectiveness wash over him. Right here in his arms was his past, present and future. His everything. There wasn't anything he wouldn't do to help her grow and heal.
Please, Lord, he prayed. Bring healing and closure to the whole Turner family, so that the past is no longer something that keeps them at arm's length from one another. Show them that the future is as unlimited as the depths of their hearts.
“If I lost everything I ever had and still had my family, I'd get by with flying colors. My heart would still be whole.”
Alec Donahue
Chapter Nine
Gabrielle pushed her food around her plate with her fork. Although she loved eating omelettes for breakfast, her appetite this morning was non-existent. Remy had ordered room service up to her room so they could sit on the balcony and enjoy a leisurely breakfast outside. All she could think about was the fact that her family would soon be arriving at the hotel. For what felt like the hundredth time, she checked her watch.
“There's no need to be nervous.” Remy's voice was full of support and reassurance.
“I'm not nervous,” she said through chattering teeth.
Remy's lips twitched with laughter. “Tell that to the flower you've pretty much destroyed,” he said with a pointed look at the shredded petals and twisted stem gripped in her hand.
“I guess I am a little nervous,” she admitted, feeling guilty for annihilating the rose. She smoothed her hair back for what felt like the tenth time in the last few minutes. What a strange feeling it was to be nervous about seeing her own family.
Remy had sent a car service to the airport to pick up her mother and Tony. Their flights had been scheduled to land within half an hour of each other. She felt a burst of gratitude toward Remy for planning all the logistics down to the very last detail. Her heart was filled to overflowing.
A knock sounded on the door. She turned toward Remy with a lump in her throat.
“Go greet your family, chere.” She made it to the door in a few quick strides and wrenched it open. She let out a cry at the sight of her beautiful family. Gabrielle threw herself at them, nearly bowling them over in her enthusiasm. She wrapped her arms around Tony's neck and clung to him for dear life. Her handsome big brother with his mocha skin and light brown eyes. Her hero. Her mother joined in the hug, holding on to both of them as she sobbed. Once Gabrielle let go of them and regained some of her composure, she ushered them into the sitting room area.
Remy stepped forward, his hand extended in greeting. “Hi, Florence. I'm Remy. We talked a few times on the phone.”
Her mother stood back and studied him. “If you think a hand shake will do, Mr. Remy Donahue, after everything you've done for my family, you couldn't be more mistaken.”
Remy was swept up in an exuberant, joyous embrace. Tony looked on with a huge smile on his face. When her mother finally let go of Remy, her brother shook his hand and said, “Great to meet you, Remy. I'm a big fan of your work. I went to your exhibit last year at the Getty Museum. It was an incredible showing.”
Remy grinned. “Thanks, Tony. Los Angeles is one of my favorite places to show my work. Everyone is so laid back and enthused about my pieces.”
“We're very appreciative of your generosity,” her mother said. “Flying us here, making our hotel accommodations, sending a car service to pick us up—you've made us feel like royalty.”
“I was happy to do it.” His gaze shifted in Gabrielle's direction and their eyes held and locked. “I'd do just about anything for your daughter.”
For once Gabrielle didn't look away from the intensity in Remy's eyes. She basked in the compliment, delighted by the way it made her feel when he looked at her. Suddenly, she felt as if she had wings and could soar as high as she wanted. No limits. That's the way he made her feel.
Florence smiled and nodded at Remy approvingly. “I can see that. My Gabi is very lucky to have you in her life.”
“I'm the lucky one,” Remy said, glancing at his watch.
Her mother shot her a knowing look. Tony called to his mother and pointed towards the balcony. They both stepped outside, their voices raised as they pointed out familiar sites on Bourbon Street.
Gabrielle turned towards Remy. “Are you okay? You keep looking at your watch. If you have to be somewhere, I understand. I can take them for a bite to eat and we can meet up with you later.”
“No, everything's fine. I'm just waiting on a delivery. It was supposed to be here by now.” He grinned down at her. “I don't know if you realize this, but I'm something of a perfectionist. I like everything to be lined up just right.”
Gabrielle laughed and rolled her eyes. “I think you've outdone yourself today.”
Another knock sounded on the
door. “That might be your delivery,” she said with a grin, heading towards the door before Remy could beat her to it. She desperately wanted everything to go smoothly for Remy and his art show. Even though he tried to minimize its importance, she'd seen an article about him in the New Orleans Times-Picayune and in USA Today. He had a few television interviews set up for tomorrow. Try as he might to deny it, Remy was a big, huge deal.
And he'd done so much for her. She dreamed of someday being able to repay all his many kindnesses, even though she had no idea where to start. What could you ever do for a man who seemed to have the world at his fingertips?
As soon as she opened the door, her knees almost buckled.
“Hello, baby girl.” The deep baritone voice sent shivers straight through her. All the air escaped her lungs. The mahogany colored skin. The shaved scalp. The broad shoulders and larger than life presence. The big arms that she'd always clung to when she was afraid.
“Daddy!” The words burst from her like a volcano.
“Princess.” The smell of cedar and sandalwood rose to her nostrils. His strength engulfed her. Memories, sweet and satisfying, swept over her. Still and all, she was Daddy's girl. That feeling never quite went away. He picked her up in his arms and twirled her around and around.
“Put me down, Daddy. I'm getting dizzy,” she said in a breathless voice.
He gently let her down on the carpet. “Sorry, princess. I remember the days you would beg me to spin you around till I was the one who was dizzy.” He let out a deep chuckle that echoed in the room.
It was okay. He could spin he around all day if he wanted to do so. He was here. They were all here together. Just when she thought her joy couldn't be more effusive, her father had knocked on the door and served as the last puzzle piece in the puzzle.
“I-I thought you weren't coming,” she said, still trying to make sense of this out of this world surprise.
“I wasn't.” He winced. “I didn't think I could, Gabi. I haven't been back here since we buried Mama, Papa and Bo. Haven't wanted to deal with all those feelings. The guilt. The regret.”
“I'm so grateful you came. I know how hard it is...for all of us, but especially for you.”
She pulled him by the hand until she was standing in the sitting room with her whole family surrounding her. Remy stood a few feet away, watching from a discreet distance. For a moment they all just stood there and looked at each other.
Her mother's face crumpled and she cried out, “Jean. It's been so long.” Her parents met halfway and wrapped their arms around each other. Tony grabbed her hand and they stood together watching the love they'd grown up with—the one they'd always taken for granted—on full display.
It had been five years since the divorce. Six years since they'd seen one another. Although she herself had visited her father in New York City a year ago, their visits were infrequent at best. This day—this miraculous day of being reunited with her family—would hopefully be full of healing, along with vows to never again let the bonds between them become so severed. More than anything, they needed to be a family. Being in the midst of the Donahue clan had taught her so much about cleaving to one another in times of strife and hardship. Donahue strong! She wanted to make it the Turner family motto. Strength despite adversity.
The ties that bound her family together had frayed over the years. But, in the here and now, everything just melted away as if no time had passed. Tony was still a master of corny jokes that had Gabrielle laughing till her belly ached. Her mother still fussed over her father, telling him he'd lost too much weight. And her father couldn't stop telling both her and her mother how they'd grown even more beautiful since he'd last seen them. And Remy. He was being warm and attentive, but staying in the background just enough so that her family could reconnect as a unit.
“I can't believe what you pulled off today.” Gabrielle came up beside Remy and slid her arm around his waist. The gratitude she felt towards him threatened to drown her. Never in her life had she met anyone as giving or gracious as this stunning man. The gift he'd extended to her family was something she could never repay.
“I did it for you. And I'd do it a thousand times over again just to see you smile like this.”
Remy reached for her hand and gripped it tightly. She squeezed his hand, hoping the slight gesture conveyed a little bit of what she was feeling. Truthfully, she couldn't remember a time when she'd felt more whole. And what she felt for Remy—pure, spectacular love—was threatening to burst from inside her chest.
*
It was amazing to watch the Turner family reconnect and try to repair their strained relationships. There was so much love flowing between them. It radiated in all their interactions. With just a wink or a smile or a tightly held hand, it was on fully display. He felt fortunate to be able to bear witness to their coming together as a family unit. To hear them laugh and tell stories. To see them get emotional and hold each in their arms. To know that they'd all vowed to work towards healing made his spirits soar.
Gabrielle had never looked happier. Her healing had already begun. And it would continue to evolve during the remainder of the trip. The next few days were spent getting reacquainted with the city. Although many things hadn't changed in the last decade, time hadn't stood still over the ensuing years. The day before his art show, they made the decision to visit their old house. It had been destroyed in the storm, and rather than rebuild, they'd sold the property to a developer. Although they'd heard rumors that a new house had been built, no further information had been forthcoming.
When they pulled up in front of the three story, brick home, Gabrielle and Tony hopped out of the car first. Remy stood at a distance, wanting to give them this moment as a foursome.
Gabrielle beckoned him over, her face brimming with excitement.
When he joined her, she pointed towards the side of the house. “Look at those kids. Reminds me of when Tony and I were kids.”
In the side yard there were two children playing, a boy and a girl. They were the same size and looked like twins. They couldn't have been more than six years old.
Jean folded his arms across his chest and rocked back on the heels of his shoes. “They've really transformed this place.”
“It's fitting that a family lives here with their children,” Gabrielle said. Her beautiful smile reached inside his heart and tugged at it. “We were so happy here.” She turned towards her family. “Weren't we?”
Florence swiped away tears. “Yes, we were, Gabi. We were truly blessed.”
“Some might say we still are,” Tony said, waving to the kids and their parents, who'd come outside to join them.
“Yes, son,” Jean said with a nod of his head. “We are truly blessed.”
Remy knew what this meant for the Turners. Seeing the transformation of their once demolished house served as a reminder of the cyclical nature of life. Despite hardships and tragedy and storms, life went on. People lived and loved. Got married. Had children. The world continued to spin on its axis. Seeing this lovely family living in this newly constructed house made them feel hopeful. He could see it on their faces and in the way they interacted with one another. Step by step, the Turners were confronting the past with bravery and dignity. And from the looks of it, they were succeeding with flying colors.
*
After visiting the site of their former home, Gabrielle took a walk in the French Quarter with her father. As they strolled along, the conversation flowed easily between them. There was no awkwardness or bitterness. All she felt in this moment was love and forgiveness. She forgave her father for not keeping their family together. For so long she'd blamed him for a wealth of circumstances not of his own making. He wasn't to blame for everything.
“I'm sorry, baby girl, for being MIA on many occasions.”
“For a long time I resented you. Unfairly, I might add. We've all played a role in the strands of our family coming undone,” Gabrielle admitted.
“All this time I've b
een mourning what I'd lost in the storm,” her father confessed. “I should have been celebrating what I still had. You kids. Your mother. But I was so wrapped up in feeling responsible for what happened. It was my job as the oldest son to watch out for my parents. My whole life I'd protected Bo, my little brother.” He shook his head mournfully. “That time I didn't do my job.”
She reached out and grasped her father's arm, forcing him to stop walking. “He always said you were his hero. Maybe that time he wanted to be your hero.”
He turned toward her, a look of understanding flaring in his eyes. “Oh, Gabi. I never thought of it like that. Not once.” He shuddered. “That would have been just like Bo, wouldn't it? I've got to let this go...not just for me, but for all of us. I can't carry this around on my shoulders anymore. Being back here...it feels so much better than I ever imagined. I've missed it.”
“Me too. And I've missed being together as a family.” He pulled her against his side and she nestled into him. “Nobody ever knows you the way your family does.”
Jean narrowed his eyes. “Remy seems to know you very well. If I'm not mistaken, that man loves you.”
She bowed her head. “Yes, he does.”
Her father reached out and tipped her chin up so that he could look in her eyes. “And you, my little bird. Do you love him as well?”
“Yes, I do. I love him more than I thought I could ever love a person. He makes it incredibly easy to love him. He's wonderful in every way imaginable.”
“Have you told him how you feel?”
She shook her head. “No. Even though he's told me several times that he loves me. I-I've been holding back,” she said. “I'm not sure why.”
“Don't withhold your love, Gabi. It's something to be shared, something to rejoice about. Something tells me Remy is waiting to hear those words. When the time's right, seize the moment. Share the love.” With a wide, toothy grin her father said, “I might just be taking my own advice very soon, chere.”
Until You Loved Me (Seven Brides, Seven Brothers Book 3) Page 13
