Chapter 3
SERA
The gala is beautiful. The room is decked out in black and white. White linen tablecloths cover large round tables with seating for eight. Small floral centerpieces with holiday greenery surround large Hurricanes housing white candles. New Year's Eve party favors are randomly placed within and around the centerpiece. Perfect.
The dim lighting with the white fairy lights surround the edges of the room create a romantic ambiance. We'll be eating by mostly candlelight and I love that extra touch they added to the event.
The proceeds of tonight's events will be going to St. Jude's Children's Network. It's an amazing non-profit organization. As the keynote speaker begins, my mind drifts to Nicole, Ben's wife. Nicole was first diagnosed with leukemia as a teenager. She managed to beat it, even while in foster care, but then she relapsed. It was bad, so very bad. We didn't know if she would make it or not, but someone was looking out for her because just when they thought she wouldn't find a bone marrow donor match, they did. That bone marrow saved her life. She is, once again, in remission.
"What's on your mind, Fee?" Cage asks.
I look up at him. "It pisses me off that there isn't a cure."
He nods.
"If only they didn't have to go through what they do. If only it were as simple to cure as the common cold," I murmur, a tear slipping free.
Cage reaches up and wipes it away with his thumb. "Fee."
I shake my head and force a smile. "I'm all right. I promise. It just makes me sad to know how hard they fight and suffer. Children, Cage. It's the children that hurt my heart."
"We'll give back as best as we can. It's never enough," he tells me, "but it's all we can do."
I nod as he cups my cheek.
"Such a warm heart."
I smile softly. "It can be cold as ice at times."
"How well I know. But mostly it's warm and soft, just like you."
"I would say you're the same, but you're not soft. You're hard. Your body is strong, muscular, ripped. You're so much sexier than those fighters, Batman," I tell him with a wink.
He chuckles. "Good to know. Are you still up for dinner? We can skip if you'd like?"
I shake my head. "No. Let's go support the cause."
He presses a kiss to my forehead. "Do you know how much I love you?"
"I do. I love you, too, Cage."
Now he rests his forehead where his lips have just been. "You undo me, Fee."
"I hope I always will."
***
We sit down to dinner and I note there's only one table of us—they squeezed all ten of us onto one, thankfully. Me and Cage, Lucy and Jesse, Xander and Tera, Ben and Nicole, Kennedy, and Ethan. It's so weird not having the entire family here, but things change.
Jesse bites into his lamb and my lip curls.
"Baaaaah."
He looks up, brows furrowed.
"Baaaaah."
Now he raises one of his brows as he chews thoughtfully.
