His brother nodded, and was able to swallow a couple of the pills and a tiny bit of water. He then drifted off to sleep, leaving Adam alone to build a fire.
And think.
About Fay, about the baby and how he had to get back to them.
No more pressure, no more proposals. All he wanted was to spend the rest of his life with Fay and if she needed more time before she was ready to take things between them any further, then he’d give her all the time she needed.
That’s what people in love did. What was best for the other person, even if it wasn’t what they wanted for themselves.
He loved her.
It was as simple as that and if Fay needed—
Staring into the fire, Adam rewound everything he’d said to Fay on Saturday night. Did he really say all those things to her and not once tell her that he loved her?
“Get us home.” Adam offered up a fervent prayer to whoever might be listening. “Get us safely home and I promise that Fay will never again doubt how much I love her and how important she and the baby are to me.”
* * *
Fay had agreed that if Adam and Devlin weren’t found after forty-eight hours, she’d return to Destiny. It’d been an easy promise to make as she’d been so sure…
“Both of my sons are strong men.” Alastair leaned into the window of his wife’s car. “Adam didn’t spend twenty years in the Air Force without learning a thing or two about survival. They are going to be found. Soon.”
Fay nodded as she secured the seat belt over her hips. The command post for the search and rescue resembled a small tent city, but she and Elise had taken a room at a small motel in nearby Chapman Falls.
Not that she’d gotten much sleep in the cramped quarters over the last two nights, and she was feeling the effects. She needed to take care of their child and that meant returning home.
“You’ll call me every hour with an update?” She held tight to Alistair’s hand. “Promise?”
“I promise, but I’m going to call Elise because you’re supposed to head straight to bed,” Al said.
Fay nodded. The family had enough to worry about here as the search for Adam and Devlin continued, they didn’t need to add her to their list. “I promise. Straight to bed after a house call from my doctor.”
She had called Liz on the way to the command post and they’d spoken often over the last few days. Fay had heard the relief in her friend’s voice each time she assured her she was feeling fine, but was glad when Liz had said she’d stop by and check on her once Fay got back to town.
“Okay, let’s go.”
By nightfall, Fay was back home and trying to rest as she waited for word. Both she and the baby were fine, although Liz had an emergency delivery and had to head back to Laramie.
Fay wanted to be back in her bed, and knew Elise felt the same way. She promised she would be fine and would call if there were any issues.
Everyone in town knew about the search for Adam and Devlin, with many of the same men who’d been here just last weekend to work on the barn volunteering to take part.
“He’s going to come home to us,” Fay said as she stroked Shadow’s soft fur. “To all of us.”
The dog had been overjoyed to see her after spending a couple of days with Nolan’s children, but Fay could tell the animal missed Adam. The two of them crawled beneath the covers on his king-size bed and she checked in with Elise.
Still no word.
Rolling to her side, Fay spotted the velvet box still sitting on the bedside table. She reached for it, cradling it in her palm for a long moment before she opened it.
The beauty of the ring took her breath away. Again. She couldn’t believe Adam had gotten such an amazing gift for her. Lifting it gently from the satin tufting, she held it up, marveling at how it sparkled in the light. She then slowly slid it onto the third finger of her left hand. A little loose, but it would fit perfectly by the time she was ready to give birth next year.
Lying back against the pillows, she stared at the ring until her eyes grew heavy. She couldn’t wait to show Adam how much she wanted to wear his ring, how she wanted another chance to answer his question. There were issues they needed to deal with, specifically financial assistance for Mavis, but they would find a way. If they just got the chance…
“I knew that ring was meant for you the moment I saw it.”
Fay gasped, her eyes flying open at the sound of Adam’s voice, and there he was, sitting right next to her on the bed. She flew into his arms, tears welling in her eyes the moment she felt his strong embrace.
“Oh! You’re home! You’re safe!” She pressed her hands to his shoulders, his back, testing to see if he was really real. “I’m not dreaming. Please tell me I’m not dreaming!”
“Shh, sweetheart, yes, it’s me.”
Adam held her close, but she pulled back. She had to see his face, to touch, to make sure. Fay trailed her fingers through his hair and over his jaw, staring into the dark brown eyes she’d come to love in just a few weeks.
It was then she realized bright sunlight streamed through the windows.
“What time is it? When did you get here?” The questions fell from her lips. “How did they find you? Is Dev with you? Are you both okay?”
Adam grinned. “It’s Thursday afternoon, just now, skilled searchers who knew what they were doing and yes, other than needing a long, hot shower and some food, I’m just fine.”
Fay quickly processed his answers, realized he’d left out the one about his brother. “Devlin? Please tell me he’s okay.”
The smile faded from Adam’s face. “He was banged up pretty bad in the crash. They med-flighted him straight to the hospital in Cheyenne. He broke both his arms and his leg. They needed to get him into surgery right away.”
“Oh, Adam!”
“The EMTs who checked him out said they thought he’ll be fine…over time. Dev’s young and he’s got that stubborn Irish steak in him.” His smile returned. “Runs in the family, I think.”
“If that’s true, I think I’m a Murphy, too.”
“There’s nothing I want more than for you to have my name, to be my wife.” Adam’s tone grew serious as he drew her hands away from his neck, holding them tightly in his own. “All I could think about while I was stuck out in the wilderness was how stupid I was to push you, how you needed to find your own way to whatever it is we’re building here. You need time, Fay, and I’m willing to give you all the time in the world.”
“Adam, I—”
“I love you.” He rushed over her words. “I think I have, in my own way, for a long time. These last few weeks…my feelings for you, for the baby, have only grown stronger and more certain. My only mistake was not telling you exactly how I felt the moment I realized what it was, but now that I do I plan to tell you often—”
“Wait!” Fay laughed and pulled one hand free, gently laying it across his lips, stopping his speech. “I love you, too, and I don’t need any more time to know the most important thing to me is you, us and this baby. I want to be your wife, I want us to be a family.”
She gently brushed her fingers over his bottom lip, loving how his eyes darkened at her touch. “So, if you’ll do me the honor of becoming my husband…”
“Are you asking me to marry you?”
Fay smiled. “Yes, I’m asking you to marry me.”
Placing one hand gently over her belly, Adam reached for her left hand, his thumb brushing across the ring. “My answer is yes. Just in case you were wondering, it’s definitely yes!”
* * * * *
The Anniversary Party
Dear Reader,
I am a big believer in celebrating milestones, and for Special Edition, this is a big one! Thirty y
ears…it hardly seems possible, and yet April 1982 was indeed, yep, thirty years ago! When I walked into the Harlequin offices (only twenty years ago, but still), the first books I worked on were Special Edition. I loved the line instantly—for its breadth and its depth, and for its fabulous array of authors, some of whom I’ve been privileged to work with for twenty years, and some of whom are newer, but no less treasured, friends.
When it came time to plan our thirtieth anniversary celebration, we wanted to give our readers something from the heart—not to mention something from our very beloved April 2012 lineup. So many thanks to RaeAnne Thayne, Christine Rimmer, Susan Crosby, Christyne Butler, Gina Wilkins and Cindy Kirk for their contributions to The Anniversary Party. The Morgans, Diana and Frank, are celebrating their thirtieth anniversary along with us. Like us, they’ve had a great thirty years, and they’re looking forward to many more. Like us, though there may be some obstacles along the way, they’re getting their happily ever after.
Which is what we wish you, Dear Reader. Thanks for coming along for the first thirty years of Special Edition—we hope you’ll be with us for many more!
We hope you enjoy The Anniversary Party.
Here’s to the next thirty!
All the best,
Gail Chasan
Senior Editor, Special Edition
Contents
Chapter One by RaeAnne Thayne
Chapter Two by Christine Rimmer
Chapter Three by Susan Crosby
Chapter Four by Christyne Butler
Chapter Five by Gina Wilkins
Chapter Six by Cindy Kirk
Chapter One
by RaeAnne Thayne
With the basket of crusty bread sticks she had baked that afternoon in one arm and a mixed salad—insalata mista, as the Italians would say—in the other, Melissa Morgan walked into her sister’s house and her jaw dropped.
“Oh, my word, Ab! This looks incredible! When did you start decorating? A month ago?”
Predictably, Abby looked a little wild-eyed. Her sister was one of those type A personalities who always sought perfection, whether that was excelling in her college studies, where she’d emerged with a summa cum laude, or decorating for their parents’ surprise thirtieth anniversary celebration.
Abby didn’t answer for a moment. She was busy arranging a plant in the basket of a rusty bicycle resting against one wall so the greenery spilled over the top, almost to the front tire. Melissa had no idea how she’d managed it but somehow Abby had hung wooden lattice from her ceiling to form a faux pergola over her dining table. Grapevines, fairy lights and more greenery had been woven through the lattice and, at various intervals, candles hung in colored jars like something out of a Tuscan vineyard.
Adorning the walls were framed posters of Venice and the beautiful and calming Lake Como.
“It feels like a month,” Abby finally answered, “but actually, I only started last week. Greg helped me hang the lattice. I couldn’t have done it without him.”
The affection in her sister’s voice caused a funny little twinge inside Melissa. Abby and her husband had one of those perfect relationships. They clearly adored each other, no matter what.
She wished she could say the same thing about Josh. After a year of dating, shouldn’t she have a little more confidence in their relationship? If someone had asked her a month ago if she thought her boyfriend loved her, she would have been able to answer with complete assurance in the affirmative, but for the past few weeks something had changed. He’d been acting so oddly—dodging phone calls, canceling plans, avoiding her questions.
He seemed to be slipping away more every day. As melodramatic as it sounded, she didn’t know how she would survive if he decided to break things off.
Breathe, she reminded herself. She didn’t want to ruin the anniversary dinner by worrying about Josh. For now, she really needed to focus on her wonderful parents and how very much they deserved this celebration she and Abby had been planning for a long time.
“You and Greg have really outdone yourself. I love all the little details. The old wine bottles, the flowers. Just beautiful. I know Mom and Dad will be thrilled with your hard work.” She paused. “I can only see one little problem.”
Abby looked vaguely panicked. “What? What’s missing?”
Melissa shook her head ruefully. “Nothing. That’s the problem. I was supposed to be helping you. That’s why I’m here early, right? Have you left anything for me to do?”
“Are you kidding? I’ve still got a million things to do. The chicken cacciatore is just about ready to go into the oven. Why don’t you help me set the table?”
“Sure,” she said, following her sister into the kitchen.
“You talked to Louise, right?” Abby asked.
“Yes. She had everything ready when I stopped at her office on my way over here. I’ve got a huge gift basket in the car. You should see it. She really went all out. Biscotti, gourmet cappuccino mix, even a bottle of prosecco.”
“What about the tickets and the itinerary?” Abby had that panicked look again.
“Relax, Abs. It’s all there. She’s been amazing. I think she just might be as scarily organized as you are.”
Abby made a face. “Did you have a chance to go over the details?”
“She printed everything out and included a copy for us, as well as Mom and Dad. In addition to the plane tickets and the hotel information and the other goodies, she sent over pamphlets, maps, even an Italian-English dictionary and a couple of guidebooks.”
“Perfect! They’re going to be so surprised.”
“Surprised and happy, I hope,” Melissa answered, loading her arms with the deep red chargers and honey-gold plates her sister indicated, which perfectly matched the theme for the evening.
“How could they be anything else? They finally have the chance to enjoy the perfect honeymoon they missed out on the first time.” Abby smiled, looking more than a little starry-eyed. Despite being married for several years, her sister was a true romantic.
“This has to be better than the original,” she said. “The bar was set pretty low thirty years ago, judging by all the stories they’ve told us over the years. Missed trains, lousy hotels, disappearing luggage.”
“Don’t forget the pickpocket that stole their cash and passports.”
Melissa had to smile. Though their parents’ stories always made their honeymoon thirty years ago sound dismal, Frank and Diane always laughed when they shared them, as if they had viewed the whole thing as a huge adventure.
She wanted that. She wanted to share that kind of joy and laughter and tears with Josh. The adventure that was life.
Her smile faded, replaced by that ache of sadness that always seemed so close these days. Oh, Josh. She reached into the silverware drawer, avoiding her sister’s gaze.
“Okay. What’s wrong?” Abby asked anyway.
She forced a smile. “Nothing. I’m just a little tired, that’s all.”
“Late night with Josh?” her sister teased.
Before she could stop them, tears welled up and spilled over. She blinked them back but not before her sharp-eyed sister caught them.
“What did I say?” Abby asked with a stunned look.
“Nothing. I just…I didn’t have a late night with Josh. Not last night, not last week, not for the last two weeks. He’s avoiding my calls and canceled our last two dates. Even when we’re together, it’s like he’s not there. I know he’s busy at work but…I think he’s planning to break up with me.”
Abby’s jaw sagged and Melissa saw shock and something else, something furtive, shift across Abby’s expression.
“That
can’t be true. It just…can’t be.”
She wanted to believe that, too. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything. Forget it. You’ve worked so hard to make this night perfect and I don’t want to ruin it.”
Abby shook her head. “You need to put that wacky idea out of your head right now. Josh is crazy about you. It’s clear to anybody who has ever seen the two of you together for five seconds. He couldn’t possibly be thinking of breaking things off.”
“I’m sure you’re right,” she lied. Too much evidence pointed otherwise. Worst of all was the casual kiss good-night the past few times she’d seen him, instead of one of their deep, emotional, soul-sharing kisses that made her toes curl.
“I’m serious, Missy. Trust me on this. I’m absolutely positive he’s not planning to break up with you. Not Josh. He loves you. In fact…”
She stopped, biting her lip, and furiously turned back to the chicken.
“In fact what?”
Abby’s features were evasive. “In fact, would he be out right now with Greg buying the wine and champagne for tonight if he didn’t want to have anything to do with the Morgan family?”
Out of the corner of her gaze, Melissa saw that amazingly decorated dining room again, the magical setting her sister had worked so hard to create for their parents who loved each other dearly. She refused to ruin this night for Abby and the rest of her family. For now, she would focus on the celebration and forget the tiny cracks in her heart.
She pasted on a smile and grabbed the napkins, with their rings formed out of entwined grapevine hearts. “You’re right. I’m being silly. I’m sure everything will be just fine. Anyway, tonight is for Mom and Dad. That’s the important thing.”
Abby gave her a searching look and Melissa couldn’t help thinking that even with the worry lines on her forehead, Abby seemed to glow tonight.
“It is about them, isn’t it?” Abby murmured. Though Melissa’s arms were full, her sister reached around the plates and cutlery to give her a hug. “Trust me, baby sister. Everything will be just fine.”
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