“Why are you here?”
“I, I, I,” she began several times, her head bowed low avoiding his questioning gaze. “I don’t know.”
“I think you do,” Raymond tilted her chin upward. “I’m glad you came.”
Hope looked up into his hazel eyes. His smile was all she needed. If she was going to make a fool of herself, it might as well be here and now. She reached up and pulled his neck towards her. She kissed him with all her might.
Madison and Kennedy returned from the car with their luggage. They sat the bags down in the foyer. They looked at Raymond and Hope standing in a solid embrace. Hope tried to step away but was firmly held in place by Raymond’s side.
“Hope, this is Madison, my cousin’s wife and Kennedy, her sister. Madison, Kennedy, this is Dr. Hope Adams,” he stated proudly. Madison and Kennedy smiled and greeted her warmly in turn.
Hope’s emotions clashed as she sighed with relief. Raymond’s cousin. Raymond’s cousin’s sister reverberated over and over again in her mind. The connection was still circling in her head when the door opened and two men and a woman walked in.
All heads turned as Tony, Dennis and Faith entered noisily and dropped their overnight bags down on the floor. Madison instantly went to Tony’s side. They kissed lovingly.
“Faith?”
“Hope?”
The sisters embrace in a loving reunion.
Dennis shook Raymond’s hand, grabbed Kennedy and kissed her brotherly. He grabbed Hope and embraced her warmly.
Raymond introduced and reintroduced everyone then excused Hope and himself. Once outside Raymond took Hope hands and walked around to the side of the house. A dim light case deep shadows across the wooden floor. He guided Hope to the porch swing.
They sat in silence.
Hope looked around. She’d never seen so much beauty in one place. “This place is incredible. Why do you ever leave?”
“Believe it or not, I have to go to work from time to time.”
“Still, it’s magnificent here.” Hope shook her head. “I’d never set foot in the city again.”
“You’d miss it.”
“No way. If I lived here, I’d never go back to Manhattan.”
“I’m delighted to hear that. Come on, I’ll show you around.” Raymond grabbed a couple of flashlights as they walked the path together.
“I had no idea you were a Nutmegger.”
Raymond nodded his head. “I moved to Connecticut several years ago. I was drawn by the proximity to New York and its quiet, country style.”
“I can see that.” She continued to look across the meadow. “I passed a sign earlier stating that there was an Underground Railroad stop near here.”
Raymond pointed in the direction of the old shacks. “It’s over there beyond those trees.”
“Is this property connected to the museum?”
“Yes.”
“You own a museum too?”
“I’m more like a distant caretaker who happens to own the property where the historical landmark is located. Are we going to dance around this all night?” he asked.
“Dance around what?” she asked.
“The reason you came all the way here to see me.”
There were a million things she could say, but she chose just one – the truth. “I can’t stop thinking about you. I try, but…” she hesitated. He nodded and smiled. It was obvious that this was exactly what he wanted to hear. “You make me feel like…”
Raymond stepped in closed. “Feel like what doctor?” he whispered. “Because I feel like every fiber of my being dissolves the moment I see you. I feel like my body is on fire the moment I touch you.” He touched her face with his finger and continued. “I feel like there’s no one else on the planet but you and me.”
Her breathing quickened as she was hypnotized by his words. She nodded. “Yeah, I know that feeling, I know because I feel the exact same way,” she said.
“Good.” He kissed her with all the repressed yearning inside of him.
Chapter Twenty-nine
Hope refused to open her eyes for fear that the magic would somehow suddenly vanish into thin air. She lay there alone in Raymond’s bed with a smile plastered on her face. She had had the most wonderful evening getting to know Raymond’s family and friends. She smiled at the absurdity of her earlier apprehension.
Although shy at first, she and Faith easily assimilated into the group of friends and were immediately accepted. With their upbringing so widely different, the four women marveled at their similarities. It was a good feeling.
Madison and Kennedy, who along with their brother J.T. were triplets, were extremely close like Hope and Faith. Together, they talked for hours.
The conversation changed many times before finally settling on Kennedy’s recent trip to central Africa. As curator of the Smithsonian’s African Arts Museum, she told the rest about her quest to secure a particular collection for an upcoming exhibit.
Barely past her first trimester, Madison talked about her mood swings that frequently sent Tony running for cover. Like any newlywed couple they’d had growing pains, but devotion and most importantly, their love had seen them through.
Hope listened with particular interest. She’d been thinking a lot recently about Raymond’s marriage proposal. She knew that they loved each other. She was just so afraid that it just wouldn’t be enough to keep them together and that somehow she’d lose herself as her mother had done.
Eventually the four stepped outside where the men had gathered. They sat out on the porch talking and staring up at the night sky.
Sitting next to Hope, Raymond pointed out the two most prominent stars that made up the celestial constellation, Orion the Hunter. Then he told the Greek myth of the great giant hunter’s love of Eos, the goddess of dawn, and his pursuit of the Pleiades. The hunter’s eventual demise was at the hands of Artemis, Apollo’s twin and goddess of the hunt.
Hope was amazed at Raymond’s breadth of knowledge. She leaned in closer to Raymond. “Is there anything you don’t know and any question you don’t know the answer to?”
“Just one.”
Hope knew what he was referring to. The last time he’d asked her to marry him in the chapel, she hadn’t answered. And she still hadn’t given him an answer.
Later, everyone had decided that a midnight snack was in order, so several skillful cooks adjourned to the kitchen.
After eating, they went to the bedrooms. Raymond walked Hope to his bedroom and kissed her at the door. He decided to sleep in the one of the guest rooms. She watched as he walked down the hall and entered the last door on the left.
Hope sighed and snuggled deeper under the lightweight blanket. If she laid really still and closed her eyes tightly, she could still see the millions of stars and hear Raymond’s voice telling her about the different constellations.
She thought about the Greek mythological tale Raymond had told the night before. Eos, the goddess of dawn and the great giant hunter Orion. Forever in the stars, forever in love.
Suddenly she knew her answer, but she’d known it all along. She was just too afraid to let go and accept the gift of love. This was a new beginning for her and she intended to take full advantage of it. She sprang from the bed, showered and hurried downstairs.
It was later than she realized. Madison, Tony, and Kennedy were already gone. Dennis was giving Faith a private tour of the museum. Raymond was sitting out on the patio reading a book.
“Good morning.”
“Good afternoon.”
She smiled as he offered her brunch. She grabbed a cinnamon Danish and nibbled. He placed the book back on the table, poured her a cup of coffee, then picked up another book about allergies. Hope walked over and smiled as she glanced at the page Raymond was reading. She closed the book. “Almonds.”
“Excuse me?” Raymond said.
“Mamma Lou is allergic to almonds.”
Raymond’s mouth gaped open when he realized the implicatio
n. “Matchmaking.”
Hope nodded and began laughing at Raymond’s reaction. He was so sure that Mama Lou had nothing to do with their relationship only to find out that she was instrumental from the very beginning.
“How? When?”
Hope relayed the complete story Louise had told her about overhearing her conversation with Faith in the ladies room.
“From the very beginning?” he asked.
“Apparently,” Hope said still amused by Mama Lou’s cleverness and Raymond’s cluelessness. He shook his head. He had to give it to her, she was a master.
“So, what are the plans for today?” she asked.
Raymond outlined the events of the upcoming day and evening. The opening of the foundation’s headquarters was going to be an informal affair.
“Someone mentioned the foundation last night. Exactly what is the foundation and what does it do?”
“Its main function is to rescue at-risk children and teens, and give them the opportunity to further their education, primarily in science and medicine. It was one of my mother’s pet projects. My father already has a program like it in Baltimore in honor of her memory. It’s called Ray of Joy.”
“That’s so wonderful. What’s your program called?”
“It won’t be announced until the official opening this evening.” He looked at his watch. “So, you’d better get ready. We have to leave in three hours.”
“I don’t have anything to wear. I only brought an overnight bag.”
“We’ll stop in town and buy something then change at the apartment. But first, I want you to see something.” He stood and took her hand. Hope grabbed another cinnamon bun and a mug of coffee and was led across the meadow to the outcropping of small buildings along the edge of a grove of trees.
“The museum?”
He nodded.
She paused and looked around with the innocence of a child. “Is it okay?” She whispered.
“Hope, of course it’s okay, it’s my home.” Raymond watched as she continued walking toward the slave stations. His heart sank at the mention of my home. He wanted so badly to say our home.
As they walked through the hidden passageways and tiny rooms, Raymond described the historical details of slavery’s darkest era.
Windowless rooms, with wide plank floors were littered with cots, shackles, lashes, iron tools, maps and other relics of the Underground Railroad. A neatly placed picture and basin sat on an overturned crate beside a rocking chair and a small stool. Hope could easily imagine mother or father and child, awaiting their chance at freedom.
Thick stone walls were etched with an artist’s rendition of his escape to freedom and the family and friends he was forced to leave behind. Hope silently stood before the drawing and reached out to touch the past.
“This was merely one of many stations up and down the East Coast. No one knows exactly when the railroad began, or ended, for that matter. The Thirteenth Amendment was signed in 1865, but it took years for freedom to truly take hold in the South.”
Hope looked around as tears threatened. “The truth is so heartbreaking.”
“No, it’s heartening. We have to let our past inspire our future. And just like those brave souls traveling the Railroad all those many years ago, we have to go back and bring others out of modern-day shackles.”
Faith and Dennis joined Hope and Raymond as they walked back to the main house.
***
Hope felt like a teenager going on her first date on the arm of high school football star. Her palms were sweating, her hands were clammy, and her brow was moist. She took one last look at her reflection in the car’s side-view mirror. This is ridiculous. Why was she so nervous? She’d been to many events like this. But never with Raymond.
She looked over as he easily maneuvered his car into the parking space in front of the brightly lit building. It was magnificent. The stone front façade and huge windows were imposing.
The official opening was still forty-five minutes away. Raymond left her side to attend to last minute details. Hope toured the facility and was impressed by everything she saw.
As she arrived back at the main hall and reception area, she spotted Leanne Jackson by the front door. “Leanne? What are you doing here?”
“Dr. Adams!” Leanne ran over to Hope and threw her arms around her. “I hoped I’d see you tonight. Thank you, thank you, thank you.”
Hope beamed at seeing Leanne so happy and relaxed. It was like seeing a brand new woman. “How are your sessions with Charlene?”
“She’s great. I can’t tell you how incredible it was to meet someone like her. She told me that she actually went to jail for killing her husband after years of abuse.”
Hope nodded. “Her sentence was eventually reversed on appeal and she was released. But you’re right, Charlene’s a remarkable woman.”
“She really is. She told me that every day I have a choice to make with my life and that I’m in control. She’s so dedicated and positive. I don’t know if I’ll ever be as strong as she is.”
“You’d be surprised how strong you can be when it really counts.” Hope spoke from experience.
“Sometimes I’m still afraid. But I call one of my new friends and I feel so much better. Sometimes they even call me for help. Can you believe it? Someone needs me?” A tear of joy trickled down her face. “Thank you so much.”
“I didn’t do anything,” Hope said, “you were the brave one. You took control of your life and refused to be a victim.”
“One day at a time.” She reached out and grabbed Hope in a warm hug. The pride in struggling to get her life back was a fight she was determined to win.
“So, what are you doing here?” Hope asked again.
“I work here.”
“Here?”
“Yes, Dr. Gates hired me right after Lamont was arrested. The building was just completed and he hired me. I’ve been helping get things set-up.” She looked around excitedly. “Isn’t this place marvelous? I don’t know what I would have done without him vouching for me in court. He told the judge that I was one of his assistants to help speed up the restraining order process.
“Maxine gave the court-documented proof of my husband’s abuse and helped me file for divorce. She even found an apartment for me in one of her buildings. I don’t know what I would have done if it weren’t for you, Maxine and Dr. Gates. He paid my rent for the first six months or until I get back on my feet. He saved my life. You are so blessed to have a man like that in your life. Maybe someday I’ll find someone just like him.”
“Yeah, he is truly wonderful.”
“I have to go. I’m a working woman now. Thank you again.” She hugged Hope once more then hurried off through the front doors.
Raymond walked up as Hope was still processing the new Leanne. “Hey, there you are,” he came up behind her smiling and stole a kiss. He looked at his watch. “We’re ready to get started. Are you ready to be the evening’s hostess?”
“Yes.”
“Good, let’s go.” He started to walk away but realized that Hope hadn’t moved. He turned back to her.
She smiled and repeated. “Yes, Dr. Raymond Gates. I love you and I would be honored to be Mrs. Raymond Gates, Jr.”
Raymond whooped loudly and grabbed Hope up and spun her around. After several spins he set her down and pulled out a velvet box from his inside pocket. He placed the ring on her finger and kissed her tenderly.
***
The gates to enter opened and the crowd stood at the front door awaiting the unveiling. Raymond made a short speech and pulled the cord loosening the drape to reveal the name for the first time, Ray of Hope.
Applause rang out as Raymond nodded to his father, uncle and grandmother standing in the audience. It was a proud moment, but not as wonderful as the moment Hope agreed to be his wife.
In no time the celebration was in full swing as word traveled that Hope and Raymond were engaged to be married. Faith, Dennis, Madison, Tony and Kennedy
were all delighted and congratulated the couple as soon as they heard. J.T., Madison and Kennedy triplet brother, arrived late, and upon hearing the joyous news passed Dennis a hundred dollar bill to settle their wager.
Hope, true to her name, was the perfect Ray of Hope foundation hostess.
Raymond walked up to Louise and Otis. She reached up and kissed his cheek lovingly. “I’m so proud of you and your mother would have been overjoyed.”
Raymond smiled and looked around the massive facility. It had been a lot of work and a long time coming but it was well worth it.
“Good job Raymond,” Colonel Wheeler said proudly. “Great party.”
“Thanks. I’m glad you could make it. By the way Mamma Lou, I’d skip the marzipan if I were you.” Louise burst into laughter. “Hope told you that I’m allergic to almonds I see.”
“What? You’re what?” Colonel Wheeler exclaimed, his mouth agape. “Louise Gates, you had me buy you all those candy bars filled with almonds while you were in the hospital.”
“Oops.”
Epilogue
Crescent Island, Virginia
Three months later Raymond took Hope’s hand and led her back to the main house. When they reached the pool she turned and looked back at the view of the bay. It was breathtaking. The still water, the peace and quiet of nature and the love of her life at her side. She was too happy for words.
“Hey,” Raymond said, looking at her with concern. “Are you okay?”
She turned to him. Emotion filled her heart. She never dreamed she could be this happy. “I’m just overwhelmed. Everything is so perfect. It’s so wonderful to be back again.”
“Again?”
“Yes, I came a few days after the attack in the parking garage. Mamma Lou and I got to spend some quality time together. She’s so special. You’re so blessed to have her in your life.”
Raymond raised Hope’s left hand and kissed the sparkling diamond and band of gold. “In our lives,” he corrected. “Now I have two very special women in my life.”
One Sure Thing (Mamma Lou Matchmaker Series) Page 25
