by Tina Martin
Barringer wiped sweat from her forehead. “You look okay.”
Calista laughed, still catching her breath. “Do I?”
“You do.” Barringer pulled her close to his chest.
“Barry.”
“Yes, sweetheart?”
“Do you realize we have an anniversary coming up?”
He smiled, thinking about the surprise party he had planned for her. “Yes. Number six.”
“Six years.” She reminisced on all of those years, good and bad, thinking that she wouldn’t have wanted to share her life with anyone else. Only Barringer. “We should go somewhere?”
“Go somewhere?”
“Yes. When was the last time we went somewhere? I think a weekend getaway is well deserved.”
“And where would we go?” Barringer asked after he left a kiss at the nape of her neck.
“We don’t have to go far. We could rent a cabin in Nags Head.”
“Really?” he asked playfully, kissing her back.
“Yes. Really.”
“And what would we do in this cabin?”
“You’ll just have to wait and see.”
Chapter 39
Barringer stepped into his parent’s home looking at the decorations, the candles, flowers, the elegant place setting on the table and the red, pink and white balloons clinging to the ceiling. Excitement hung in the air as the family hurried to put the finishing touches on the decorations and food before Calista arrived with Junior.
After he’d looked over everything and gave his approval, Barringer took position at the window, keeping lookout for Calista’s arrival.
“Nervous?” Bryson asked Barringer.
“A little,” Barringer admitted. “She may decline my request this time.”
Bryson chuckled. “That’s not likely. If she came back after everything y’all been through, I doubt if she’ll be leaving again. Breathe easy, brother.” Bryson patted his brother on the shoulder before he walked off.
Barringer sucked in a breath. Why was he nervous all of a sudden? It wasn’t like him to be nervous about anything. And the past week with Calista was one of the best weeks they’d shared in a long time. But Calista thought she was coming to a family dinner when really, she was going to be hit with a surprise anniversary party.
“Distracting her with Junior was a good idea, huh?” Garrison asked as he tossed a ham and cheese pinwheel inside of his mouth.
“It was,” Barringer said. “Good thinking, man.”
“I knew she wouldn’t decline a chance to spend time with him.”
Barringer grinned. “You’re right about that.”
“Be right back. I have to get some more of those pinwheels,” Garrison said.
“They are good, aren’t they?” Candy said.
“Yeah. Where did you get them?” he asked. “Costco?”
“No. Kalina made those.”
“Then I hope she knows she’ll be making another batch real soon,” Garrison said, heading for the kitchen.
Candy laughed, then wrapped her arms around Barringer. “Looks like everything is all set, care bear. You ready to sweep your girl off of her feet? Again?”
“I’m ready.” Barringer peeped through the blinds again and saw Calista taking Junior from the back seat. “Everybody, get ready. She’s here.”
“Are we supposed to hide?” June asked.
“No, June,” Kalina said. “It’s not that kind of party. Calista knows we’re all here, but she doesn’t know it’s a surprise party. So let’s stand right here in front of the door, so when she opens it, she sees everybody. Then we’ll all yell, happy anniversary. Once her mouth falls open in sheer surprise, we’ll let Barringer take over.”
“Got it,” June said.
“All right, everybody. Let’s go to the foyer,” Candice said. She walked to the kitchen to take her mother by the hand. “Mom, Cali’s here.”
“Oh, well, let’s go,” Elowyn said.
And now, they were all standing anxiously waiting for Calista to open the door. Everson stood next to June, but he was so busy on his cell phone, he probably didn’t know what was going on. June nudged him and he still didn’t bother to look up at her.
Bryson stood behind Kalina with his arms around her. She placed her hands on top of where his hands met. “It’s nice we can all get together and appreciate each other again,” he said, leaving a kiss at her temple.
“It is,” Kalina responded. “You know how important family is to me.”
“I do. That’s why I can’t wait to start on our own.”
Kalina smiled and squeezed Bryson’s hand.
Candice wrapped her arms around Garrison and said, “I love you, Gary.”
Garrison smirked. He knew what she was doing. Knew this was probably difficult for him since losing Vivienne and all, but still, he made an effort to support Barringer and Calista. “Love you too, Candy.”
Theodore stood next to Elowyn. They were all smiles.
Barringer rubbed his hands together when he heard Calista talking to Junior.
The moment had finally arrived. When the doorknob turned and Calista entered with Junior, everyone yelled, “Happy anniversary!”
Calista’s eyes shot open along with her mouth. “Wh-what are you guys doing?” she asked, completely shocked, looking around at all the decorations and the family standing there.
“I’ll take this,” Garrison said, taking the car seat from her hand and removing a smiling Junior from it. He couldn’t hold him for five seconds before Elowyn was taking him away.
“Barringer, what is all of this?” Calista asked.
“Well, since it is our anniversary, I thought I’d throw a surprise party for you, with the help of the family, of course.”
Calista placed her right hand on her chest. “Everything is so beautiful.” Her eyes swelled with tears. “Kalina, Candy, and June…where was my warning that this was coming?”
The women laughed. “Not this time, sis,” June said.
“Besides, Barry wanted it to be a surprise,” Candice said, looking at Barringer.
Calista looked at him, too.
Everyone looked at him.
Barringer took Calista by the hands. “I did want it to be a surprise because you deserve it. And, I just want to say thank you for putting up with me all these years. I know I’ve been a pain to deal with at times and I’m sorry, I’m truly sorry my actions drove you away, but I’ll never allow that to happen again. I love you, Calista.”
Tears rolled down her face when she said, “I love you too, Barry.” She wrapped her arms around him briefly before he dropped to one knee.
The family erupted in cheers and applause.
“Then you would do it all over again?” Barringer asked, staring up at Calista.
“I would.”
He removed a ring from his pocket, a three-stone diamond ring that sparkled beneath the lights and said, “Calista Blackstone, will you stay married to me?”
Calista smiled and said, “Yes, Barringer Blackstone. I will stay married to you.”
Barringer placed the ring on her finger until it met the ring she already had there. He stood up, wrapped his arms around her before lowering his mouth to leave a kiss on her lips.
“This is truly wonderful,” Elowyn said.
“Amazing,” Candice added, awestruck as she observed real love. She couldn’t wait to fall in love to experience all of it – the ups and downs – good and bad times.
“That’s so sweet,” June said, pinching tears from her eyes.
Kalina stole Calista away from Barringer, admiring her new ring.
Theodore walked over to Barringer and said, “Well done, son.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
“I’ve learned, over the years, that when a woman is worth it, you have to do what you have to do to make it work and keep her happy. A tall order, but hey, it can be done.”
Barringer nodded. “You and Mom are living proof of that.”
“Ye
p,” Theodore said, exhaling deeply while glancing over at Elowyn.
Barringer looked over at Calista as she laughed with the women while they took turns admiring her ring. And, as if feeling his stares, Calista looked up and caught his gaze, holding it for a long time.
He smiled at her.
He knew they had a long way to go to repair their marriage. He was ready to travel that road because, like his father said, when a woman is worth it, you made it work. Calista was definitely worth it, and he would spend the rest of his life making her happy.
* * * * * *
Missed Kalina and Bryson’s story? Get EVENINGS WITH BRYSON today!
EVENINGS WITH BRYSON (A Blackstone Family Novel)
What happens when a woman who doesn’t believe in love meets a man who’s given up on love?
Kalina Cooper has been hiding her loneliness by drowning herself in work at her home office and continuing on until the late evenings at her Aunt Edith’s café. Her ‘happily ever after’ doesn’t involve a husband. Having seen her father walk out on her mother when she was a teenager, she doesn’t believe in love.
After a bad divorce from a cheating woman, Bryson Blackstone vows to never marry again. But he never expected to cross paths with a woman like Kalina Cooper. She’s different. She’s special. From what he has learned about her, he knows she doesn’t believe in love, but he doesn’t know why. Now he plans to weasel his way into her life to find out, because Kalina Cooper is just the woman he’d consider if he was crazy enough to fall in love again.
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Top 100 Bestselling Author
TINA MARTIN
invites you to discover The Champion Brothers Series!
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Widower, Dante Champion, has his eyes and heart set on Emily Mitchell, but he’s not interested. She’s falling for a man she met online. When she discovers her mystery, online man is none other than Dante Champion, will a weekend at Pleasure Island change her mind about him?
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Bad boy, motorcycle-riding, alpha male, Desmond Champion, is the youngest of the Champion brothers. He’s had his mind on Sherita Wilkins more times than he’d ever admit. A business deal brings them together, but it may be Desmond’s selfish ways that drives them apart.
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Enjoy Tina Martin books? Check out other books by the author below.
Mine By Default Mini-Series:
Been In Love With You, Book 1
When Hearts Cry, Book 2
You Belong To Me, Book 3
When I Call You Mine, Book 4
Who Do You Love?, Book 5
The Accidental Series:
Accidental Deception, Book 1
Accidental Heartbreak, Book 2
Accidental Lovers, Book 3
What Donovan Wants, Book 4
Dying To Love Her Series:
Dying To Love Her
Dying To Love Her 2
Dying To Love Her 3
The Alexander Series:
The Millionaire’s Arranged Marriage, Book 1
Watch Me Take Your Girl, Book 2
Her Premarital Ex, Book 3
The Object of His Obsession, Book 4
Dilvan’s Redemption, Book 5
His Charity Challenge, Book 6
Non-Series Titles:
Secrets On Lake Drive
Can’t Just Be His Friend
All Falls Down
Just Like New to the Next Man
Falling Again
Vacation Interrupted
The Crush
For more information about the author and upcoming releases, visit her website at www.tinamartin.net.
