When he stepped outside the patio doors, he didn't have to look far to spot his mother. She was dressed in her gardening gear—grungy pants, a dingy T shirt, sneakers and a big hat to give her fair skin protection from the sun. She was wearing her hot pink gardening gloves, the ones he'd given her for Mother's Day, along with a basket full of gardening tools. This gardening area gave her such joy. It was her little slice of Heaven on Earth. He hoped it was giving her solace.
He couldn't even catch her off-guard, not even on his best day. She whirled around to greet him when he was about five feet away. She shook her gardening tool at him.
“Don't you dare give me those sad, puppy dog eyes, Remy. I've been holding up pretty well, but that could change in a heartbeat.” The beautiful eyes he'd gazed into for most of his life now radiated uncertainty and a hint of fear. Remy reached for the spade she was clutching in her hand, tossing it to the lawn so it wasn't standing between them. He wrapped his arms around her, pressing her against his chest. He wasn't sure which one of them was clinging harder to the other. His mother's body was shaking and she was letting out unintelligible noises. He rubbed her back in circular motions with his palm.
“It's okay if you want to fall to pieces. I've got you. I've got you,” he crooned. For the last nineteen years she'd comforted him over every bloody knee, every missed opportunity, every slight, every battle he'd lost to one of his brothers, and every moment when his heart had cried out for his birth parents.
She looked up at him, her eyes shimmering with tears. “I can't imagine forgetting this wonderful life we've built. Alec. All of you boys. The bakery. This house.”
He blinked away his own tears, reminding himself to stay strong. “That may never happen. Let's cross that bridge if and when we come to it. And pray we never do.”
“Oh how I love you, my son. It was a lucky day when you came to us. I can't imagine my life without you in it.”
“Right back 'atcha,” he said, his throat feeling scratchy.
“For now, I'm going to go inside my wonderful home and sit down for a cup of tea with my love. And then I'm going to whip up the best lobster mac and cheese known to mankind. I want to hear all about your New Orleans trip over dinner.”
He forced himself to smile. “Sounds like a plan. Just give me a minute. I'll be right in.”
She narrowed her eyes and looked him up and down. “What about you? Are you okay?”
“As long as you're standing tall, I'm fine,” he said with a wink. He watched her as she walked away, feeling a little hitch in his heart as his mind raced over all the possibilities. What would her life be like in a year? In five years? What was the progression of this disease going to look like?
The moment he heard the screen door shut he allowed himself to breathe. His shoulders sagged. He ran a shaky hand over his face. He turned towards her garden, admiring all the tender love and care she'd shown it over the years. The yellow roses were vibrant. And the hydrangeas were in full bloom. Showered with love. That's what she'd done. What she'd always done. Not only for her family and this garden, but to every living creature she came across.
“Remy, why don't you come inside.” The sound of Gabrielle's voice startled him. He hadn't even heard the screen door open or the sound of her approaching.
“I made some tea. It's getting cold.”
His back was turned away from her as he gazed at the garden. He didn't want to look at Gabrielle, didn't want to break down in front of her. So many emotions were crashing down all around him. He swiped at his eyes. “I just need a few minutes, Gabrielle. Go back inside.”
“Look at me.” She pulled at his arm, turning him around so that they were face to face. “I hate seeing you in so much pain, but I don't want you to hide it from me. One of the things you taught me is that hiding my pain didn't lessen it any. Lean on me, Remy. I've been leaning on you ever since you came into my life. Let me give something back to you.”
“You don't owe me anything. Everything I've ever done for you was done willingly.”
“Let me do this. I can be strong for you.” There was a pleading tone in her voice.
“Why Gabrielle?” He needed to know why she wanted to be there for him. Was it obligation? A deep friendship? So far he'd been the one to lay his heart on the line. He didn't want her to feel that she owed it to him because of New Orleans. Or him finding a place for her here at his parents' house. Whether or not she ever fell in love with him, he'd do all those things all over again in a heartbeat
“Why? You want to know why? Because I love you. I've loved you for a long time. And I've been waiting for the right moment to tell you how I feel.” She let out a shaky laugh. “This isn't exactly the perfect moment, is it? Your head is still spinning from the news about your mother. But what you've taught me, my darling, wonderful Remy, is that tomorrows aren't promised. I need to tell you what's lying on my heart. I don't want to wait a minute longer.”
She loved him! He could hear it ringing out in her voice and glistening in her beautiful eyes.
Feeling as if he was about to burst with happiness, he let out a shout of triumph.
Giggling, Gabrielle placed her hands over his mouth and shushed him. “Do you want your parents to come running out here to see what's wrong?”
He reached for her, pulling her towards him so that his arms were looped around her waist.
“The way I feel right now, I wouldn't even mind the intrusion.” He gazed up at the roof. “I almost feel like jumping up there and shouting it from the rooftop. Gabrielle Turner loves me.”
Remy swooped down and placed a searing, triumphant kiss on her lips. “I'm not complaining about your timing, chere. You turned a dark day into a blessed one. You really love me?” His voice was hopeful, yet filled with questions. He was seeking reassurance. In a perfect world, he'd like to hear her say it over and over again until it was engrained on his heart.
“Yes, Remy Chastain Donahue. I love and adore you. I'm devoted to you. And I want nothing more than to support you and Maggie and your whole family during this difficult time. I want to shelter you from the storms of life that may swirl around you. As you've always done for me.” She caressed the side of his face, her fingers as smooth as velvet.
“Having you by my side is the best gift I could ever receive. There may be tough times on the horizon, but with your love and my family's unbreakable bond, I can weather anything in my path. I love you, Gabrielle. More than you'll ever know.”
“I love you too, Remy. And I do know how much you love me. You've shown me in the most poignant, magnificent ways. How could I ever doubt it?”
“If you do, I'll remind you in a hundred different ways.” He leaned down and placed a kiss on her lips. His lips slid over hers with a depth of feeling and emotion he'd never dreamed possible. Gabrielle kissed him back with equal passion and conviction. Finally, after everything they'd endured together, Gabrielle was free. Free of the past. Free of her guilt. Free to love him with every ounce of her being. The feeling of triumph that slid through him couldn't be contained. He let out another shout of celebration as he gathered Gabrielle up in his arms and swung her around his parents' backyard. Even though he could see his parents peeking out through the back window with smiles on their faces, he still celebrated with abandon.
This was what he'd been placed on this earth to do. To love and be loved. He vowed to never forget it and to never stop loving this woman.
EPILOGUE
Remy took Gabrielle's hand and led her down the beach trail with the use of his flashlight. Although a big, luminescent moon sat in the sky tonight, he wasn't taking any chances on Gabrielle falling down in the dark. As soon as he saw the first flicker of light, he stopped in his tracks. He turned towards the woman he loved, watching her closely as her eyes widened with surprise. He drew her a little closer so that she could see what lay in the distance.
There was a path laid out before them, lit up by flickering candles stretched out, two by two, in a straight line
. Grabbing her hand, he walked her down the lit path, only stopping when he'd reached the end. A big red heart, crafted from rose petals, sat in the sand.
“What is all this? It's breathtaking.” Gabrielle was looking all around, her eyes full of wonder.
“It's for you, Gabrielle.”
By the time she turned towards him he was already on bended knee. He looked up at her, his heart bursting with everything he wanted to say to her. He'd loved this woman from the very first moment he'd clapped eyes on her. His heart had told him from the beginning that she was the one. His one and only. His forever. Now, he just needed to put that into words.
“Gabrielle, from the moment I laid eyes on you I knew my life was forever altered. I've loved you from that very first day. I want to be your husband—your lover, your partner and best friend—for the rest of my life. For all eternity. I'm going to show you that love is the greatest healer of all.”
Tears streamed down Gabrielle's face and her hands were covering her mouth. Her shoulders and hands were shaking with emotion.
“Chere, I can't imagine my future unfolding without you there by my side.” He reached into his jacket pocket and brought forth a white satin box. He propped it open to reveal a round cut diamond surrounded by smaller, sparkling gems. “Would you do me the incredible honor of becoming my wife, my other half, my forever?”
“Remy, I don't know what I've done to deserve you.” She fell to her knees in the sand, tears sliding down her face as she faced him. She reached up and pressed a kiss on his lips as her hands rested on his shoulders. When she pulled away from him, he had his answer shining forth in her brilliant eyes. Yet still, he needed to hear it from her lips. One single word would send him into orbit.
“You've already shown me that love is all around me. I love you, Remy Chastain Donahue. And I'm very thankful that you came into my life and saved me from a lifetime of hiding in the shadows. You pushed me to step out of my comfort zone. You surrounded me with unconditional love and acceptance and belief. I can't imagine a more blessed future than one with you by my side. And I want you to know that until you loved me I doubted whether I would find love. True, enduring love.”
“Is that a yes?” he asked.
“A thousand times, yes,” Gabrielle said, her voice resounding with conviction.
Remy took the sparkling engagement ring out of the box. He reached for Gabrielle's hand and slid it over her long, graceful finger.
“It's gorgeous,” Gabrielle said with a sigh, admiring the flawless stone he'd picked out in New Orleans.
“Not half as gorgeous as you are, my sweet, adorable fiancee,” Remy said. He threw his head back and let out a wild shout of celebration. When he looked back at Gabrielle she was blinking away more tears. “Chere, please don't cry,” he begged. “You've shed enough tears to last a lifetime.”
She shook her head, a fierce expression on her face. “These are tears of joy and gratitude, not sorrow. Just a sign of how happy you've made me.”
“As long as you're happy, darlin'. 'Cause I feel like dancing on the moon.”
He leaned toward her, placing a searing kiss on her lips, one that hinted of the glorious future that awaited them. He couldn't believe both their lives had changed so much in a mere matter of weeks. Gabrielle placed her hands on either side of Remy's face and kissed him back with all the pent up longing she'd been holding inside her for all these weeks and days. As the kiss ended he rained kisses down on her forehead, then trailing down to her cheeks and the spot right behind her ear.
“You're my serenity after the storm.” She reached out and traced his lips with the tip of her finger. “My soft place to fall.”
“You're my everything. And the only place I ever want you to fall, chere, is right here in my arms.”
LOVE ME TENDER
NICK and LAYLA
FALL 2014
Nick Donahue jammed his hands into his pants pocket. All evening he'd been out of sorts. His brothers were dropping like flies. Blue had married Sarah in June, while Ryder had gotten engaged to Tess a few weeks later. Then, out of the blue, Remy had fallen head over heels in love with Gabrielle, a new hire at Sweet Treats Bakery, the business his family owned. Like the true romantic he was, Remy had proposed to his lady love in the most heartwarming way possible. Even though he was happy for them, it felt like his band of brothers was dissolving. It was quickly dwindling down to the remaining four of them who were bachelors. Himself. Wyatt. Brandon. And Mac.
He'd never particularly wanted to settle down. The idea of a wife and kids didn't appeal to him all that much. Everything he'd ever needed had always been satisfied by the Donahue clan, his large and loving adoptive family and his acclaimed restaurant, The Cove. Owning his own restaurant was a dream come true. Ever since childhood he'd fantasized about owning a restaurant where people could come and enjoy an evening of fine dining in a beautiful setting. His road hadn't been easy. As a dyslexic, he'd had to work longer and harder. But he'd done it. He'd fought tooth and nail to get the financing, and then he'd worked his tail off to make The Cove a thriving, popular restaurant.
He hated this unsettled feeling nestled inside him. It felt like everyone was deserting him.
That particular feeling played with every insecurity he'd ever had. Abandonment. Loss. Emptiness.
Until You Loved Me (Seven Brides, Seven Brothers Book 3) Page 15
