“Well, what can I say? I need to work on expanding my vocabulary. I should get one of those word-of-the-day calendars.”
“You’re very handsome yourself. Wait until Cy sees you in that suit.”
Patrick reached the lapels and puffed his chest. “I know. I know. It’s a curse.”
We stood together before the full-length mirror in the master bedroom of the presidential suite in Del Mar. Yes, the same suite, the same resort. I wasn’t sure how Nox was able to schedule it. Spring recess was a busy time at all the beachfront resorts around the country. It was also the first time since the semester break that I’d had the time to go away. Thankfully my grades were improving.
Patrick pressed the palm of his hand against the white satin, below the empire waist of my wedding dress. “Hey, teeny-tiny cousin, this is your favorite cousin, Pat. Just checking in. How you doing in there?”
I shook my head.
“That bump is getting bigger than teeny-tiny.”
“Thanks, Pat,” I said. “Just what every girl wants to hear before she walks down the aisle.”
He stood behind me, his chin at my shoulder. “You should see what I see.”
I shrugged.
“Oh, no.” He pointed to the bottom of the mirror. “Listen to me. Start at the floor. Look down there.”
Taking a deep breath, I did as he said.
“What do you see?” Pat asked.
“Shoes.”
Pat shook his head. “I’m getting you that calendar. Look again and let me tell you what I see: I see Louboutin white crystal-encrusted pumps peeking out from under a ballgown satin skirt that’s covered in shimmering white organza. As I look higher, the empire waist keeps my tiny cousin hidden, while the scoop neckline accentuates those glorious growing ta-tas.
“My God, Lennox won’t be able to get higher than that neckline. And above it, above them…” He wiggled his brows. “… is the beautiful pearl necklace that never seems to leave your graceful neck.”
He lifted my chin.
“And higher, now that’s the most stunning of all. I see the perfectly painted lips, permanently stuck in the most sickeningly sweet smile, cheeks that are tinted by the sun, and golden eyes that sparkle at the mere thought of the man out there on the balcony. Above it all, luscious auburn hair with highlights of gold and lowlights of mahogany that has been styled into the perfect ‘do.”
He reached for the diamond tiara on the nearby table and lowered it to my head.
“Pat, I wasn’t sure if I was going to wear that.”
As he secured the combs to keep it in place, he asked, “Then why did you buy it?”
“Because I wanted to be his princess.”
He kissed my cheek. “You always will be.”
I turned, the skirt pivoting with me. “Thank you.”
He took a step back. “And for the record, I’m only walking your pregnant ass down the aisle. I am not now giving nor never will give you away.”
“I love you.”
The door opened and Patrick jumped in front of me, his arms spread wide. “Hey, no seeing—”
“Keep your panties in place,” Chelsea said. “I’ve seen her. Hell, I dressed her. Babe, it’s time.” She winked. “And I know you can do this.”
“What would Chelsea do?” I said, reminding her of the imaginary bracelet she’d told me to wear on my first date with Nox.
“Oh, no. Hell no. Charli with an i has this thing covered.”
She came behind me in the mirror; only a small bit of her navy maid of honor dress showed behind my wide skirt as she brought her face next to mine. Our resemblance was gone. Her hair was now a lovely shade of blonde with blue tips that covered the last six inches. The soft blue curls were colored specifically to match her dress. It worked.
I reached up and hugged her face next to my shoulder. “I love you too.”
“Well, I hate to break it to you,” Chelsea said, “but if you don’t get out there soon, I think you’ll have some stiff competition.”
“Really?”
“Yes, Jane is in total love with your guy.”
“I know.” I laughed. “She’s told me at least a thousand times. She’s so excited about the baby.”
“We all are. Now…” She reached for my hand. “…are you ready for the show?”
“No, I’m ready for the real thing.”
“Then it’s time to go get him. Your mom is so nervous that I think she may take flight. You know, that thing she does with her hand by her throat.”
I shook my head. “Yes. It’s better than a wine glass.”
“Well, Mr. Demetri is holding on tight, keeping her from becoming airborne.”
“Come on, cousins,” Pat said to me.
I nodded to Chelsea who picked up her bouquet and handed the larger one to me.
“Let’s do this!”
Placing his hand at his waist, Pat offered me his arm. “Striking, astonishing, dazzling, and eye-catching.”
We paused before the entry, still hidden from all the people on the balcony, as Chelsea walked before us. I leaned closer to Pat and whispered, “Tell me you didn’t just Google synonyms for stunning.”
Winking, he patted my hand as the music of the harpist grew louder. It was the wedding march, very traditional and old-fashioned. It was perfect—ideal, wonderful, and picture-perfect. I didn’t need a calendar.
I closed my eyes as Pat led me through the glass door to the balcony. In front of the pool, a small arrangement of chairs, flowers, a harpist, and an altar had been assembled. We didn’t have a his side and a my side, just a grouping of chairs that held my momma, Oren, Jane, Aunt Gwen, Uncle Preston, Cy, Deloris, and Clayton.
As my gaze lifted, my breathing hitched. With the orange glow of the setting sun sending prisms of light dancing off the waves below, the other guests, the minister, Isaac, and even Chelsea disappeared. All I could see was the man in the silk suit. Holding his own hands in front of him, he shifted slightly from one foot to the other, causing his suit coat to shift, accentuating his wide shoulders and the V of his trim waist. His dark hair was gelled back and his tie matched his eyes. His chin was covered with only a hint of stubble and his smile shone like a beacon beckoning my approach.
My steps stuttered as Nox scanned me from my Louboutins all the way to the diamond tiara. Like the first time he’d seen me at the pool, his light blue eyes burned my skin, sending a rush of heat and leaving goose bumps in its wake. I was covered in satin and shimmering organza, yet under his approving gaze I was stripped bare.
My princess, he mouthed.
My Batman, I returned.
Our endearments weren’t audible, though our hearts heard every syllable. In his, I heard his deep timbre. It rolled like thunder to my soul until I searched the horizon for the clouds. There weren’t any. The sky was clear and darkening by the second, making the white twinkling lights decorating the balcony and below the pool’s surface sparkle like fireflies.
Stopping before Nox, Pat lifted my hand and placed it in Nox’s. “Take care of her or I’ll have to kick your ass.”
We all laughed.
“What?” Pat said as he sat beside Cy. “I could… if I wanted to.”
“Dearly beloved,” the minister began.
I suppose I’m supposed to remember every word, but the phrases, combined with the gentle breeze and ocean’s surf, faded away. Our marriage wasn’t about words but about us and about what together we could never be alone. With my hand in Nox’s I was filled with love and hope. I was part of a family. I loved and was loved.
Were they butterflies that fluttered in my tummy as Nox said the words I do, or was it our baby?
With tears of joy pooling on my lids, I turned to the minister as he asked, “Alexandria Charles Montague Collins, do you take this man as your lawfully wedded husband?”
This time in front of witnesses there was no hesitation. “Yes, with all my heart I do.”
OUR RECEPTION WASN’T held until a week
later at a large hall in Brooklyn, New York. It was Nox’s cousin Vincent Costello and his wife Bella who’d planned it all. They insisted, understanding our desire for a small, intimate wedding.
“Fine, fine, I get it,” Vincent had said. “You’ve had enough news coverage, but Alexandria, you must allow us to celebrate. Not just us, but all of us.” He emphasized the word all.
I’ll never forget his boisterous laugh and welcoming smile. From the first time Nox took me to their home, I was welcomed. Not just by Vincent and Bella, but also by the entirety of the Costello clan and that encompassed a lot of us.
In a way, being with this part of his family made me feel as if I were meeting his mother. After all this was her family.
How could I say no?
And now surrounded by cousins and more cousins, my small family had grown by leaps and bounds. There were so many women, all anxious to give me their marriage and mothering advice.
I wanted it, every word. I also wanted to accept the invitations to learn to cook. They told stories of family meals preceded by full-day cookathons. It was a life I’d never experienced, but one I was anxious to try, not only for me, but also for our child. He or she would only know love, so much love.
“Alex,” Eva, Nox’s cousin who was the doctor, asked, “How are you feeling?”
“Good…” As I spoke I glanced over at my mom. She and Vincent seemed to be in an in-depth conversation. It amazed me how the family had welcomed her as well as me, and not only as my mother, but also as Oren’s significant other.
Nox was speaking with his cousin Luca, laughing and jabbing playfully at one another. And then I spotted Oren. If I didn’t know better, I’d have thought he looked concerned as he watched my mother with Vincent from afar. What did he possibly think Vincent would say to my mother?
“Princess.”
I turned to the deep voice of my husband. “Yes?”
Nox reached for my hand and pulled me close. “Our first dance is coming up, but I was wondering…” His lips quirked upward and his blue eyes shone.
I looked around the room full of people. “What were you wondering?”
“There’s a gas station down the street. I thought maybe you and I could go there before our dance, because, Mrs. Demetri, I’m dying here, not being able to touch you like I want to. You’re the most stunning bride I’ve ever seen and as much as I appreciate all that my family’s done for us, right now I want to get you alone.”
My cheeks warmed and pulse increased at the memory of Nox and I at a gas station along Highway 101. “Get me alone?” I wrapped my arms around his neck as our bodies came together. “And, pray tell, what would happen if we were alone?”
His warm breath skirted my neck, leaving goose bumps in its wake as he leaned down and whispered, “Trust me, another standing ovation.”
SINCE THE NIGHT we brought Adelaide to New York I’d gone without alcohol. I’d taken the whiskey to my lips the one night I’d met with Vincent, but I never drank. That said, throughout those months, I’d never craved it as much as I did at this reception. Watching Vincent speak to Adelaide was about to do me in. Maybe I should find Eva and ask her about a tranquilizer. Hell, being part of this family, she surely carried a bottle in her handbag.
It wasn’t that the reception wasn’t going well, or even the inclusion of the Montagues with the Costellos. Angelina’s family had embraced Alex and Lennox in a way I’d never envisioned. It was Adelaide who concerned me. I couldn’t imagine her mix of emotions.
“Oren,” she said, her sweet voice pulling me from my thoughts. In my worry, I hadn’t even noticed that their conversation had ended. “Are you all right?” she asked, reaching for my hand.
“I am.” I eyed her up and down. “Are you?”
“I’m simply overwhelmed by Angelina’s family. The way they’ve welcomed not only Alexandria but me as well.” She shook her head and took a sip of some pink punch. I wasn’t sure what it was, but it was the same thing the children were drinking. “They’re lovely people.”
Taking her hand, I led her to a back hallway.
Her eyebrows danced. “Oren Demetri, are you planning to make out with me at our children’s reception?”
“No, well… not here.” I added the last part with a grin.
She looked about at the empty, secluded space. “What is this about?”
“I should have told you. I’m sorry. You should know that Vincent—”
She touched two fingers to my lips. “I know who Vincent is. You told me his name many years ago.”
“You know?” I couldn’t believe my own ears. “And yet you’re here talking to him?”
“He threw our children a wonderful party. Why wouldn’t I talk to him?”
“Adelaide.”
She lowered her voice. “Stop, Oren. Never again.” She looked around the hallway to make sure that we were alone. “You and Vincent aren’t the only ones to blame for what happened.” Before I could speak, she went on. “I’m not the victim I played so well. I knew full well what I was doing when I told my father that Russell was leaving me, that he was planning not only to divorce me but also to take Alexandria with him. I knew, and I chose his fate over allowing him a safe escape and me suffering the consequences of divorce and disgrace.” Her blue eyes widened as she spoke, her words slow and message filled with determination. “I knew. That makes me equally culpable. I played a part. My father was the one who initiated the request. There is no one responsible party.”
“You know how it works?”
She shrugged. “I understand a little. You see, a long time ago, I dated this man. I think it’s still called dating when you do what we did. Anyway, this man fascinated me. He told me stories. Some were dark, but all were sugarcoated with enough sweetness to make them palatable.
“I wanted to know more. My knowledge is from books, TV shows, and movies. In my head the theme song from the Sopranos will be the kids’ first dance.”
I laughed, shaking my head. “And you’re here. With me. With all of us.”
“Again, Oren, why wouldn’t I be?” She brushed my lips with hers. “I love you. You’ve said you love me. You’re divorced. I’m widowed. Isn’t it wonderful how life works out?”
In the distance music filled the hall.
Adelaide reached for my hand. “Okay, so it isn’t Woke Up This Morning or even Speak Softly Love.” She gave me a soft kiss. “Sir, may I have a dance?”
The lights had been dimmed with only a spot on the newly married couple. Lennox and Alexandria had everyone’s attention as the whole room watched. Alex’s dress shimmered as she waltzed in Lennox’s arms. It wasn’t their attire that held everyone’s interest, but the expressions on their faces. The way they stared into one another’s eyes.
In a room full of people, old and young, happy and sad, Alex and Lennox were alone. No one else mattered as they moved to their own private melody.
“What do you wish for them,” I asked. “If you could wish anything.”
Adelaide smiled as her eyes stayed glued to our children. “That in their young lives they’ve already experienced all the pain they will. That now and forever they only know joy.” She turned to me. “And you? What would you wish?”
I scanned the crowd, my gaze meeting Vincent’s. He nodded.
Had he told us the truth? Had he orchestrated Alton’s demise and then selflessly refused Lennox’s debt?
I wasn’t sure I’d ever know. I smiled and returned the nod, my gratitude, and my respect.
“Amore mio,” I said, whispering toward Adelaide, “I pray that together they know the joy of fidelity, the joy that only comes with fealty, loyalty, and support.”
Adelaide lifted her glass of pink punch. “To fidelity.”
But I couldn’t end it… not yet.
Please turn the page for a glimpse into the future—
for the epilogue to the Infidelity series.
STANDING NEAR THE window, I watched as the snow continued to fall. The li
ght from the pool house’s windows illuminated large, fluffy flakes dropping steadily through the dark night sky. It had been snowing for hours. Each frozen crystal added to the growing sparkly blanket of white. Inside, the fireplace snapped and crackled as voices murmured and laughed, keeping the cold at bay.
“What are you thinking about?”
The deep voice questioned me while at the same time strong arms encircled my once-again enlarged waist. Nox’s hands splayed over our growing baby, our second little miracle. I leaned my head back against his wide chest and took in our faint reflection. From the top of his dark hair I started to scan, and inch-by-inch my gaze lowered. As I always did, I hesitated as my gaze met his mesmerizing blue eyes. He could speak volumes with them and never say a word.
Down I moved to his sensual lips and chiseled chin. It was resting atop my head, covered with just the right amount of stubble. We fit together perfectly. Nearly four years married and I doubted I’d ever tire of the way he held me or looked at me. Even from across the room, he made me feel as if no one else mattered, no one else existed.
Through all we’d experienced, his love and concern never wavered nor had his desire—make that our desire. In his arms, I was alive. With only his eyes he could set my skin ablaze. With his touch he could accelerate my heartbeat or calm a wild sea inside me.
The first time we’d created life while death had been all around us. This time, the life inside me was a planned joy, an anticipated addition to our family. Nox’s hard limit was gone.
“I was thinking,” I said, “about something Silvia told me a long time ago.”
I spun in his arms, craning my neck upward and relishing his light-blue gaze. Even surrounded by family and friends, Nox had a way of cutting through all the noise to see me, deep inside me.
“If it’s making you sad, stop.”
Despite the moisture in my eyes, my lips turned upward. “It doesn’t make me sad, not really.”
“You, Mrs. Demetri, have never been good at lying.”
“I’m not lying. I’m not sad. I’m reminiscing. The first time I was ever here in our house, Silvia told me about your mom. She said how much she’d loved this house and how she’d always wanted it filled with family.”