His lips tremble with a smile, his fingers caressing my cheek. “You saved my life.”
“And you saved mine.”
We’re locked in an affectionate gaze, and I don’t even notice Roman until his little hand reaches up and grabs a fistful of my piece of cake.
“Roman!” Beverly shouts from across the yard.
I look down and watch the young boy assert his independence, jamming the squished cake into his mouth. Adam and I burst out laughing.
“He can have it.” I lift the boy up onto my lap, and he happily goes in for more.
“Can I have some?” Adam asks, leaning closer to the toddler. He’s so good with these little boys. I’ve enjoyed watching him play with them all evening.
Roman happily grabs another handful and smashes it against Adam’s open mouth, spreading frosting and cake pieces all over his handsome face. We’re all laughing, and my heart overflows with joy as he leans across the child and plants a decadent strawberry-flavored kiss on my lips. This is the feeling I’ve prayed for my entire life. This is what I’ve yearned for.
This is love in real life.
Chapter Fifteen
Adam
From the moment we stepped on the plane until we touched down in San Francisco, I’ve been captivated watching Keri take it all in. Before I asked her to join me, she told me she’s never traveled anywhere beyond the East Coast. I’m pleased I can offer her this trip to California, even though I know it’s going to be excruciatingly difficult for me. Having her by my side will undoubtedly bring me comfort. But that’s not the only reason I invited her. She’s a part of me now. She completes me and makes me a better person. We share a surprising love and mutual support. I’m committed to her. My life has been enhanced because she’s a part of me now.
It was fun watching her agonize over packing her suitcase, every piece of clothing she owns thrown this way and that as she made difficult outfit decisions. Roxy’s wedding is formal, and because I waited until the eleventh hour to make travel arrangements,there wasn’t time for me to go to Atlanta and buy a tuxedo. Ridge was kind enough to let me borrow one of his. Keri, on the other hand, brought home several large plastic tubs from her office full of one-of-a-kind pageant dresses she thought might work for the nuptials.
Unlike everyday formal wear, Keri explained her gowns were built for performance. Her grandmother wanted her to look perfect during the pageants, so she added reinforced seams, built-in bras, and boning for support. Keri shimmied into several options from the bins and gave me a private fashion show, her excitement palpable. We quickly agreed on her dress for Roxy’s wedding: a dramatic, cerulean-blue, floor-length A-line gown with intricate hand-sewn embroidery over the bust. When she emerged wearing the dress and twirled for me, my mouth hit the floor—and so did the dress.
“I forgot my hairdryer,” she whispers urgently into my ear. I can barely hear her from the roar of the plane engines.
“I’m sure the Dirk family has an extra hairdryer you can borrow.”
“And flip-flops. Oh my gosh, if I want to watch you surf, I’m going to need flip-flops.”
I pick up her hand and kiss the top of her knuckles. “No worries. Flip-flops are a dime a dozen in California. We’ll pick some up.”
My comment seems to reassure her, and she turns to gaze out the window again. I’m sure her mind is racing througheverything she packed, and I have to suppress another chuckle. She’s adorable.
Keri made arrangements with Madison Jamison to keep an eye on her business and forwarded her real estate calls and email credentials to her. Before Madison married George, she was a hugely successful broker for a major corporation, handling land acquisitions. The woman is highly capable and assured Keri that she need not worry about a thing. Not that there’d be anything to worry about over the long weekend anyway. The summer months are supposed to be the best time to buy and sell. Unfortunately, Keri is well aware that her business has stalled, and the market is dismal with no prospects in sight. She told me this trip to California would be a great diversion, giving her time to figure out her next steps.
I made arrangements with Ridge for Molly to hang out at his property. You should have seen the look on little Roman’s face when we brought my big dog over, the toddler swooning and falling into instant doggie heaven. Molly took it all in stride, her tail wagging and her big tongue licking the child’s face as he wrapped his little arms around her neck. It’s a good thing Ridge and Beverly already have a cat. Roman learned early on how to be gentle with his furry friends through his parents’ coaching. Molly is in good hands.
We’re greeted by a private driver at the airport set up by Roxy’s fiancé, Justin Dirk. As it turns out, he comes from a prominent tech family and is a major figure in Silicon Valley. I still can’t picture my Bohemian, carefree cousin with a guy who works in a high-stress environment like that. I’m looking forward to hearing her tell the story of how they ended up together.
Driving along the coastline, I glimpse the rugged shores and deep blue Pacific. Sun glimmers like diamonds on the water. It’s a breathtaking, full-circle moment.
“Wow,” Keri utters.
I squeeze her hand and look out the window as memories assault me. I hide my struggle, clutching her hand over my heart for comfort. Once we arrive at the private beach home, we’re buzzed in through a security gate, and I can see Roxy waiting for us on the driveway.
“Adam!” she screeches as I climb out of the car. She catapults her body into mine, nearly knocking me over.
I hug her fiercely, fighting my surging emotions. For a moment, I let myself get lost in the calming coconut scent of her hair, and the rush of feeling transports me straight back to the day she asked me to walk her down the aisle. I slowly pull back and manage a smile.
“I’m here, ready for duty.”
She rolls her eyes, her happy grin a sight for my sore eyes. “Thank God,” she exclaims. She looks beyond me at Keri, who’s standing at the back end of the car watching the driver pull out our luggage. “You must be Keri,” she says.
She turns her focus to my cousin and beams. “Hi, Roxy. Yes. That’s me. I’m Keri.”
