Heart's Reward (16 page)

M
elanie returned home feeling lighter and totally positive. She couldn't wait to talk to Claude, hear his voice. She practically skipped through the house as she teased Evan about dinner, begging for just a small sample, to which he resoundingly said no.

Undaunted she went to visit her brother, who informed her that he'd gone for a long walk up and down and up and down the hall. “That nurse is a real tyrant,” he'd joked.

Veronica and Jessica were gone for the day but had left her some notes on prospective clients. She was reading them over when she heard the doorbell
ring. She frowned. She wasn't expecting anyone and it was too late for any deliveries.

She walked out of her room and went to the top of the stairs just as Evan opened the door. Her heart jumped when Claude looked up at her with a smile that almost resembled relief mixed with the same joy that rushed through her veins. She hurried down the stairs and ran over to him and into his arms.

He covered her face in kisses until their lips met and held and explored. Finally he released her. Her gaze danced over his face following the trail of her hand.

“What are you doing here? I had no idea…”

“I took the last flight out and I have to leave at the crack of dawn to get back in the morning. But I had to see you.”

“You're letting out all the cold air, you two,” Alan said from the top of the stairs.

They both looked up and laughed like school-children. Melanie pulled Claude inside and shut the door.

“Let me go and chat with Alan and then I can spend all my time with you.”

“Go, go. I'll be here.”

He kissed her softly, then turned to go upstairs. Moments later she heard the rich hearty laughter of the two most important men in her life. She hummed
on her way to the kitchen, and this time she wasn't taking Evan's no for an answer.

She'd arranged a cozy little setting just off the back porch in the enclosed sitting room. Beyond the tempered glass window the outline of the rocky bluffs and the deep-blue horizon made the perfect picture. She lit candles for the centerpiece, and Evan had prepared the rolling cart with their dinner.

Melanie poured Claude a glass of wine, then sat next to him on the brocade sofa. She raised her glass. “To many nights like this.”

He tapped his glass to hers. “To us and many nights like this.”

She took a sip and studied him over the rim of her glass. “So tell me, what made you fly out here on the spur of the moment?”

“You. I couldn't stop thinking about you. About us. Last night when we talked I felt that something was wrong. I couldn't pin it down and it was driving me crazy. I knew I had to see you and look you in the eye and have you tell me.”

“Oh, Claude, everything is fine. Better than fine.” She swallowed. “But you were right.” She tucked her feet under her and took his hand. Slowly she told him what had happened, her fears, her elation, her disappointment and her acceptance. “It was silly of me not to be more cautious. It's just that's it's been a
while for me,” she confessed, “and birth control isn't something that I think about.”

“I'm just as responsible as you are. I should have known better but the moment…you…I wasn't thinking clearly.” He paused. “It would have been all right, you know.”

Her gaze jerked to connect with his. “What?”

“It would have been all right. I wouldn't have run.” He ran his finger along her cheek. “That's what I really came here to tell you, what I should have told you when we were together.”

Her brows drew together. “What is it?”

“I love you, Mel. I love you so much that it aches inside. I want to be with you. I want us to make this work somehow.”

Her soul felt like it opened up and the sun came pouring in. Her eyes burned as tears of joy filled them. She threw herself into his arms. “That's what I wanted to tell you!” she cried an instant before her lips met his in a fiery kiss of passion and promise.

 

They lay together under the full moon that shone in through Melanie's bedroom window, cuddled in each other's arms.

“What time is your flight?” Melanie asked as she listened to the calming beat of his heart.

“Six. I need to be at the airport by five. I have a car coming to pick me up at four.”

Melanie turned onto her side and looked down at him. “That only gives us an hour.” She reached into her nightstand and pulled out several condoms. She slinked along his body, placing hot kisses on his flesh, using her tongue to tease and titillate. Claude moaned in pleasure as she took her time awakening every nerve ending in his body until he was practically begging her to stop.

She draped her legs on either side of his body and raised up on her knees, placing his relief only teasing inches away. A look of lust darkened her eyes. “Strawberry or cherry?”

 

He barely made it on time to meet the car as they tiptoed down the stairs, giggling and whispering along the way.

“I'll call you as soon as I get a free minute. My day is packed,” he said as he held her for those last few minutes in the doorway.

“I love you,” she whispered.

His mouth curved into a soft smile. He leaned down and kissed her as slowly as time would allow.

“I love you, too.” He turned to leave and in moments, the SUV was gone.

Trancelike, Melanie closed the door and returned to bed. Burrowing under the sheets, she inhaled the scent of him and her early-morning dreams were filled with images of what they'd shared and all that they longed for.

 

With the big Labor Day weekend less than a week away, Melanie realized in a panic that she had done little or no shopping. With all that had gone on in her life she'd totally put her holiday shopping on the back burner. It was a TPS tradition to share gifts of thanks for all the hard work they'd done throughout the year. She and Cynthia had agreed to meet and get as much done as their feet and time allowed.

Living by the water could be bitterly cold during winter, but Melanie loved Sag Harbor at this time of year. The former whaling town reminded her of the Hallmark picture postcards, perfect in every detail.

She and Cynthia met at noon in the center of town, both with a list in hand. After several hours they were loaded down with bags and boxes. But Melanie still hadn't found the perfect gift for Claude.

“I have no idea what to get him,” she complained, wanting to include him in the family gathering.

“Socks,” Cynthia joked as she put her purchases in the trunk of Melanie's car.

“Very funny.”

“You still have a few more days. You'll think of something. Come on. I'm beat and starving.”

Mildly disappointed, Melanie climbed in the car and pulled off.

Later that evening after wrapping all of her gifts and stacking them in the designated spot under the
living room window facing the ocean, she still hadn't figured out what to get for Claude. She wanted it to be special, a reflection of her feelings for him. But what? When they talked that evening late into the night, she was tempted to just come out and ask him, but whatever she decided on she wanted it to be a surprise.

He was telling her about the long hours he'd spent that day and how difficult the months ahead were going to be after the Senate came back from recess.

“I don't know how often I'm going to be able to get away,” he finally said. “Maybe every other weekend. At least until we get some of these bills passed.”

As she listened, the possibility of seeing less of him seemed inevitable. An idea began to form in her mind. She had the perfect gift.

 

On the day before Labor Day, or J'Ouvert, the house was filled with family, and the smell of mouthwatering aromas wafted from the kitchen. Music played softly in the background. Everything would be perfect as soon as Claude arrived.

Melanie tried to conceal her anxiety as time ticked by. His plane should have landed more than an hour earlier and she hadn't heard a word from him.

“Looking out of the window isn't going to get him here any sooner,” Alan said, coming up behind her.

His recovery had been no less than miraculous. In
the weeks that he'd been home he seemed to really improve. The weight that he'd lost was coming back and his strength was returning. He'd started taking morning walks and had begun exercising again. Every night, Melanie sent up her thanks for healing her brother.

He put his arm around her waist, then leaned down and kissed the top of her head. “He'll be here, relax.” He brought her back into the living room where the family was playing a mean game of Scrabble.

Evan came out shortly and announced that dinner was ready. They all filed into the dining room but not before Melanie took one last look out of the window. She saw his Suburban pulling into the driveway, and she nearly screamed with relief and joy. She pulled the door open and ran out to meet him.

The moment he saw her running toward him he knew that the decision he'd made was the right one. He caught her up in his arms and kissed her soundly.

“Now that's the kind of welcome a man can get used to.”

“Then get used to it,” she said, kissing him again.

“Let's get you inside. Everyone is waiting.” He took his two shopping bags of gifts from the passenger seat as they walked together to the house.

 

Dinner was a loud, laughter-filled affair, typical of Harte gatherings. Stories were shared, lies were
told and their unwavering love for each other was renewed.

After they were full and dessert was served, they all tumbled into the living room for more talk and frivolity.

Claude felt totally at home. He'd never experienced this kind of family love. His growing-up years were worlds apart from this. This is what he'd been missing and searching for, waiting for the right time. A home. With people to love and who loved you back. He pulled Melanie close and was happier than ever that he'd found her.

“Okay, I can't wait a minute longer,” Jessica announced. “I want to open presents!”

“You don't have to tell me twice,” Vincent said, diving toward the stack of gift-wrapped boxes like a five year old.

That was the signal. Everyone joined in, finding a space on the floor, shouting out names on boxes and passing them along to the recipient.

Melanie laughed in delight. This is what it was all about, family and being together with the ones you love.

Claude's heart was racing out of control when Melanie turned to him with a slender white box in her hand topped with a bright red bow.

“For all your hard work,” she whispered with a double meaning and held the box out toward him.

He swallowed and picked up the plain white bag near his feet. He took out a box that looked like it could fit a Sunday go-to-meeting hat. He handed it to her.

“Open it.”

“Let's open ours together,” she said, eager to see the look on his face.

He untied the ribbon and she untied hers. Inside, her box was filled with pink tissue paper. She looked up at him curiously.

“Keep looking,” he said.

She pulled the tissue away, and tucked deep inside was another box of white velvet. Her fingers shook as she lifted it from its cushion. Her insides were trembling so badly she could barely get the box open and when she did all the air rushed out of her lungs.

An exquisite diamond sparkled back at her picking up the light from the candles, making it glow even more.

“Oh…Claude…”

The room had gone silent as Claude lifted the ring from its temporary home. He held it out to her.

“I love you, Melanie Harte. More than I can ever explain. And if I know nothing else, I know that I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you marry me?”

She blinked several times. She looked at the ring,
at Claude and then at her family, who seemed to hold their collective breath. She turned to Claude.

“Yes, yes, yes, I'll marry you.”'

A whoop of joy shot through the room as her family screamed and hollered.

Claude slid the ring on Melanie's finger and pulled her into his arms. “I love you,” he whispered.

She sat back and with tears in her eyes she looked at the diamond on her finger.

“That's what took me so long. The jeweler had to do a last fitting. I thought I was going to lose it while I waited. Are you happy?”

“I can't tell you how happy I am.”

With that they were swarmed with kisses and hugs and well wishes.

“I say this deserves a toast,” Alan said and began pouring drinks for everyone.

They all held up their glasses. “To my new brother and my amazing sister.”

They all toasted the newly engaged couple.

“Open your gift,” Melanie said, putting down her drink.

Claude pulled the top off of the box and inside were two plane tickets to Paris. His eyes widened in surprise. “Paris.”

“The City of Lights. You said how hard you were working and that this week's break would be the
last one for a while. I wanted to make it special. Our plane leaves tomorrow.”

He cupped the back of his hand behind her head and pulled her toward him. “It will be the perfect place to
experience
our engagement.”

 

After piling up plates to go, hugs, kisses and well wishes, one by one the family said their goodbyes and headed to their respective homes.

“If you two handsome men will excuse me, I'm going to send Evan home and straighten up the kitchen.” She started to get up and Claude pulled her down into his lap, setting off Melanie's giggles.

“What if I don't want you to go?” he said deep into her ear that sent a shiver from the bottom of her stomach right up the center of her body. He nuzzled her neck.

With great reluctance Melanie tore herself away from the cocoon of Claude's arms and went to the kitchen. She blew him a kiss.