Meant to Be (RightMatch.com Trilogy) (25 page)

Ellison had offered to cook, but thank God, Spence had hired a caterer.

“It was a nice morning.” Cole grinned to himself thinking about Beth in bed with him in the early hours of Christmas and how
nice
it had been.

His brothers exchanged glances.

“What?”

“You got laid, didn’t you?” This from sacrilegious Joe.

Cole pretended offense. “None of your business.”

Joey’s expression said it certainly was his business after he’d rushed down to Honey Lake to help Cole deal with emotions that were too big for anybody to handle alone.

Spence intervened. “We don’t want intimate details.”

“Speak for yourself, bro.” Joey again.

Rolling his eyes, Spence tried to change the subject. “The two girls are certainly adorable together.”

Cole had driven the Masons and Beth to the airport early this morning with Mariel and Ellie strapped into car seats. He’d come right here, where everyone was gathering. He had to be with family.

“Can you believe how Ellie—our resident serene child—screamed when you put her down for a nap because she knew Mariel was here?” Joe shook his head. “I’ve never seen anything like that. You had to put them into the same room.”

“And you didn’t even see them stand up and reach out to each other until I moved the cribs together. I swear they fell asleep holding hands.”

“Maybe our kids will be like that, Joe.” Big, tough corporate-venture-capitalist Spence sported a hoarse voice. He laughed at himself but the other two guys didn’t tease him. He was entitled to his emotion.

Joe zeroed in on Cole. “Are they there yet?”

Cole sipped his beer as his phone chimed. “She said she’d let me know. I’ll bet this is her.” He clicked into his texts.

Arrived safely. Heading to the hospital. Ava wants to know how Mariel is. I want to know how Cole is doing on this beautiful morning?

Cole typed in,
The girls screamed until I put them together in same room for nap. Cole’s fine. How could he not be?

He glanced up at his brothers. “Just arrived. They’re on the way to the hospital.”

Joe stood and laid his baby down in the bed-shaped swing. He wound up the rocking mechanism, then went back to his chair. “Seriously, Cole, how are you?”

“It was the right thing to do, to go to Ava’s. I guess Beth and I have declared a truce of sorts so I could help her get through the waiting.”

Spence held tight to Faith. Cole remembered how he did the same with Ellie, which is how the rocking her to sleep had started. “Not a good time to make decisions. But do you think there’s a chance for you two?”

“I hope so. The ball’s in her court.”

Joe rolled his eyes. “I won’t touch that one with a ten-foot pole.”

The guys joked bawdily and Cole thought how right things were in the world on this celebration of Christ’s birth. He decided not to worry about the future.

o0o

Beth sat at Rob’s beside, watching him sleep. He was still pale and exhausted from his ordeal, though his mood was good. She remembered how she used to sit with him when he was sick and thanked God that she had him back.

Because that made her weepy, she checked the messages on her phone. Texting had become a thing between her and Cole, replacing the long rambling emails they used to share. By tacit agreement, they’d decided to keep their contact short and sweet.

Is Rob settled in?
his read.

She typed back,
Yes. He’s staying with me at the house next door to the Inn. Of course, he’s a great patient.

Another:
Glad to hear it. Can’t believe he’d had no lasting injuries.

Thank God. How are you?

I, um, had another predator incident on
RightMatch
. I’m thinking of closing the site, Beth. Spence has made his money back and though Global Industries expected more than their investment return, he says to do what I think is right.

You will, Cole.

That means a lot to me.

Another text came in. She didn’t recognize the number the message was sent from, but she opened it out of curiosity.

Okay, this is probably unfair. And don’t tell Spence I did this or he’ll kill me. Dana, either. I love my brother. Please think about these, Beth.

A mistake is always forgivable, rarely excusable and always unacceptable.
Robert Fripp

Forgive, son; men are men; thy needs must err.
Euripides
.

Forgiveness is a gift you give yourself.
Suzanne Somers.

Forgiveness is a virtue of the brave.
Indira Gandhi.

Forgiveness is the final form of love.
Neiburhr

W
hen you forgive, you in no way change the past but you do the future.
Meltzer

She laughed aloud. Who would have thought Joey would quote philosophers and writers? But it had been long apparent that these brothers would do anything to help each other.

Leaning back, she closed her eyes and thought about the sentiments. The quotes gave her something to think about.

o0o

It was late at night, so Cole didn’t expect the text when he heard his phone chime. He almost hoped it wasn’t Beth because he was missing her so much and might say something stupid.

I’m thinking of closing the Inn and donating the property to be used as a domestic violence shelter. Now that things are returning to normal, I wanted your opinion.

He answered quickly.
Wow!!!!!!! Huh—well, you always felt you were catering to extravagance. And the work you did for the Inn was superficial.

You know me so well. I feel like I’m wasting my life here. After Rob…after everything, it’s time to move on.

A lump formed in his throat. Did she mean, move on from him, too?

Good for you. For taking action to change your life.

I need a name for the new place. Can you think of one?

A long delay.
How about St. Peter’s Shelter for Women?

Oh, Cole.

o0o

On New Year’s Eve Day, Beth initiated the next text exchange.

I miss you, Cole. What are you doing?

Mom and Dad have Ellie. I’m feeling sorry for myself. I miss you, too. Where are you?

I’m in the bathtub. Remember, the house has a Jacuzzi?

That’s just plain cruel, Beth.

Chuckle, chuckle. Wish you were here.

Do you?

Hmm. Rob went home today. He’s well enough.

Great news.

Ava says Mariel asks for Ellie all the time. I miss her, too.

Easily rectified.
We can get them together anytime. Um, what are you doing to ring in the New Year?

Having a quiet evening at home. Celebrating Rob’s health.

Are Ava and Mark coming over?

No, I think they need their privacy. I’ll be fine. Better if…

If what?

You figure it out, love.

o0o

Dressed in the exact clothes he’d worn last August, which seemed like a lifetime ago, Cole showed up at Beth’s house that night. In his hands, he held a bottle of champagne and flowers. She opened the door on the second ring.

He gasped because she wore the pretty peach top and skirt and the sexy sandals he’d ogled over five months ago. Her eyes glittered with the makeup she’d put on and because of the expression in them. “Hello, Cole. Your picture doesn’t do you justice.”

Most of the time he didn’t care about his looks. But tonight, he wanted his appearance to please her. “I was thinking the same thing about you.”

She blushed. How cute. Putting down his gifts, he opened his arms. “How about a hug? I think we know each other well enough for one.”

Hesitating only a second, she stepped into his arms. He enfolded her in them, pressed his lips against her hair and inhaled the fresh scent of her—something paradoxically innocent and alluring. “That’s better.” Holding on tight, he asked, “Still nervous?”

She nosed into his shirt. “Not so much. I’m glad you’re here.”

“I was just thinking the same thing.”

“Well, come on in.”

He stepped inside and she headed toward the back of the house.

“Wait.” He grasped her hand. “I have to tell you something first, Beth. If you decide you don’t want to see me anymore, I won’t pursue you.”

Her eyes glistened, understanding what he was saying.

“I’m not forty-two, I’m thirty-four. I have a two-year-old daughter that I adore. Her mother has supervised visitation rights, but I’m retaining full custody. And I don’t need other babies, so you wouldn’t have to worry about that.”

Her throat worked with the emotion at the confession he should have made that fateful day. In a sense, he was rewriting their history. “That’s a lot to digest.”

“Too much?”

“I don’t think so. Just so you’re honest with me.”

“I will be. For as long as I live.”

“Then come out to the kitchen.” She winked. “Due to weather, a few adjustments have to be made.”

On the counter, he found brie, cold shrimp and a salad. He gave her the flowers and while she put them in water, he opened the champagne. After he’d poured it, she said, “Come to the window. I want to look at the stars.”

Two sets of glass doors gave them a perfect view of the nighttime sky. There was a slight draft coming through them from the chill outside, so he used it as an excuse to slide his arm around her waist and pull her close. “What should we toast to?”

“Let’s wish upon a star, instead. You first.”

“I wish that the therapy I had has changed me for the better.”

“It seems to have, Cole. It really does.”

“Thanks for that. Now, it’s your turn.”

“I wish for the Inn to flourish as a new shelter.”

“I wish somebody would make a law against dating sites.”

“I wish…” She hesitated here.

“Sweetheart?”

She faced him fully. “I wish we could start over.”

“Isn’t that what we’re doing?”

She tugged at his lapels. “I hope so. We made so many mistakes.”

“Let’s put them in their rightful place. Not forget about them but not dwell on them, either. Let’s keep our wishes positive and about the future.”

“Okay. But first, I want to do one last thing.” She set aside both their glasses and reached into the neck of the shirt she wore. He’d noticed she no longer kept Peter’s locket nestled there. This time, she pulled out a ring. Cole’s ring. She took it off the chain and handed it to him. Gravely, because the moment was almost religious to him, he slipped the band on her finger.

“For us. We belong together.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t come around sooner.”

He grinned. “Well, doll, we have a lifetime to make the best of everything.”

“To a lifetime, then.” She retrieved their champagne glasses and clinked hers to his. “We should do this every year. Renew how we feel about each other. Renew promises.”

“How about every New Year’s Eve?”

“It’s a date. Now, kiss me, wife.”

“You’re on, husband.” She lifted her face. “You’re definitely on!” 

Epilogue for the RightMatch Trilogy

The sons of Ellison Wickham Moretti Matheson sat in lined-up beach chairs, sand squishing under their bare feet, sun beating down on their capped heads, staring out at the Caribbean Sea. The beach was secluded from the other hotspots of the Sandals Resort at Ocho Rios, Jamaica.

Spence picked up the binoculars on a small table in front of them. He’d vowed to be sane about her, but when he saw his wife of almost three years standing in the boat the girls had rented and waving, he swore. “Damn it, she needs to stay seated. I
told
her that when the three of them wanted to take the freaking boat out.”

Joe and Cole chuckled. “She looks dynamite in that bikini,” Joe said, winking at Cole.

“Don’t start. Beth made her and Dana buy them at the gift shop. Your wives look great in them, but Annie’s falling out of hers. Jesus, she just stopped breastfeeding Faith a few weeks ago so she could go back to school in January.”

“Bite your tongue,” Cole said with mock sternness.
“No
baby talk. We flew thousands of miles to get away from them.”

Spence rolled his eyes at Joe. They both knew Cole had called Ava and Mark to check on Ellie several times since they’d arrived on the island three days ago.

Adjusting the lens, he got a closer look at Annie. His heart did a little flip-flop as she raised her face to the sun, inviting its rays. Deadly rays. “And damn it, she needs more sunscreen.”

“Amazing Annie survived for forty years without him, huh, Cole?”

“Don’t look at me, I got it bad and it’s only our first anniversary.”

Joe kicked out his legs in front of him and leaned back in the chair. “I can’t believe you invited us along for the celebration.”

“It seemed right,” Cole said. “We’ve all got anniversaries to celebrate.”

Spence’s throat clogged. He’d never be more grateful for anything else than when Annie came into his life and turned his world upside down. He couldn’t believe the changes she’d brought about in him. He would be working only three days a week for a while, starting in January, to stay home with Faith. The days when they both worked, his mom and Rick would watch her. He was also taking great interest in St. Peter’s Shelter, which he’d helped raise money for. Annie had begun to volunteer there, too, and sometimes he went with her to spend time in the playroom with kids who weren’t as lucky as his.

As he watched Annie finally sit and stretch out in the boat, Spence gave thanks for everything in his world that was so much better than before she came into his life.

Joe said, “My turn. Gimme the binoculars.”

Spence handed them over, Joe lifted them to his eyes and, for a minute, couldn’t speak around the lump in his throat. He couldn’t believe the woman perched out there in one of the padded seats was all his. Dana had given him a new baby and a whole new future, which he relished every single day. As if she knew he was watching her, she raised her hand and waved—with something. His throat constricted even more. She’d worn a sarong out on the boat, but apparently she’d slipped it off. Not only had she bought and worn a bikini, but she was less self-conscious about showing her legs these days.