He nods. “It was. Not because you were the mistake, but because you should have never been exposed to their bigotry. I ruined your Christmas, and that will never happen again.”
“But your title…”
“It would take an act of parliament to strip away my title, but they can’t force me to care about the estate. All the land, title, money… mere trinkets compared to how I feel about you.”
Hedy, the trauma therapist I’ve been seeing, insists that I can trust myself and my instincts. And everything inside me says to trust Tolly. It always has. I take a step closer, leaning my forehead against his chest.
“The only time I’ve ever felt more awful was in that truck, when the man was telling me what he would do to me. What people like him had been doing to Ant for years and years.”
A sharp breath escapes Tolly’s lungs. “My God, Gael. I’m so sorry you were made to feel that way. You will never have to be around my parents ever again. Please, please let me make it up to you. Let’s go make some tamales together with your family, then let’s go to some place warm and safe.”
I widen my eyes innocently, blinking up at him. “Are you trying to bribe me with a Caribbean vacation?”
“Darling, it’s not a vacation if I own the island.”
Rolling my eyes, I lightly punch him in the chest. “Snob.”
He wraps his long arms around me, pulling me in tight. “Yes, but I’m your snob.”
“Take me home,” I say, tilting my face up.
His soft lips hover near mine. “If I’m with you, I’m always home.”
15
TOLLY
Ihire a car to take us from the airport out to my ranch, and the balmy weather from just a few days ago has been replaced by a sharp chill. As we slip into the back seat, Gael’s hand in mine, relief floods my body. It hasn’t even been twenty-four hours since I’d last seen him, but the thought of losing him in those interim hours aged me ten years at least.
Gael is exhausted from his horrible travel day, and from the stress of thinking that I am anything like my father. We situate ourselves, and he leans against me, asleep before we leave the airport.
I use the time to finalize my plans, send a wedding present to Clara and her wife, and check on Beatrice and Heli. She sends me a selfie of the two of them. Heli is kissing her cheek, and she is looking at the camera, happier than I’ve ever seen her.
Adrian: What is this envelope I’ve received?
Me: My father partitioned the land under your house to sell it, so I bought it and put it in a trust for you and your family.
Me: The official paperwork will be filed sometime after New Year’s, but my father’s acceptance letter is in the envelope.
Adrian: Why would you do this for me?
Me: Because you’ve always loved me like family.
Me: And, as your new boss, I will be holding an annual meeting at my estate in the Caribbean.
Adrian: I’m not going to refuse that offer.
Ten minutes outside of Johnson City, the misty, miserable weather turns to flurries.
“Gael, snow.”
He blinks awake, a grin spreading across his pretty mouth.
“It hardly ever snows out here.”
“I know.”
Erik says that the snow here is useless. Often, you’ll see a few errant flakes, and then nothing sticks to the ground. This snow, however, is serious. The flurries start falling faster, and the landscape is already turning white by the time we pull up to the cabin.
