Chapter 12
“Can I have the chicken tenders?” Joey asked.
“Sure. Jase, what do you want?”
“A cheeseburger and French Fries.”
He looked over at Elise who was on the other side of the table with Joey. “How about us?”
“I’ll have the chicken Ceaser Salad.”
“Me too.” He handed the menus to the waitress at The Downtown Grill. The place wasn’t busy because it was only five o’clock. “Thanks.”
He smiled over at Elise. She smiled back.
Her face had the legendary pregnancy glow.
Her brown eyes sparkled. He wondered if she was thinking that they would have family dinners like this with their child.
Their children. Seeing her now, her hair in a braid, wearing a simple T-shirt and capris due to the hot June night, it was then that he decided what he wanted from her. For them.
For an hour, they let the boys babble on, ate their dinners then dropped the kids off. Finn went inside briefly to say goodbye to Fiona and returned to the car.
“That was fun,” Elise said.
“Like the fun we’ll have with our own.”
“Yeah, I was thinking that, too.” He put his hand on her knee. He liked doing that because it was so normal. “Come to my house. We can sit on the deck.”
“I love the canal. Let’s go.”
On the drive over, he asked, “How are the reshoots going?”
“Faster than I expected. It’s so odd we lost the film.”
“A lot of odd things have happened. I’m still reeling about the murder of Cary Jacobs.”
“You should be. How is it doing sessions at your house?”
“Fine. I practiced there before I joined the collective. And it’s kind of fun, sharing the space with Oliver.”
“I’d like to get to know him better.”
“You will.”
“How long before you can all go back to Harmony Healing?”
“Another week.” He pulled into his driveway. “We’re here.”
They walked inside holding hands. He kissed her quickly on the lips then said, “Go sit outside. I’ll get you a seltzer.”
“You can have a drink.”
“Maybe some wine.” To celebrate.
He whistled as he poured their drinks and walked out to the deck. The water was sloshing up on the rocks and the setting sun sparkled down its expanse. A perfect evening for what he had in mind.
He sat next to her. “Let’s toast.” He clinked her glass.
“What are we celebrating?”
“This.” He slid off the chair and got down on one knee.
Her eyes widened and she clapped her hand over her mouth.
“Will you marry me, Elise Preston? Soon? Very soon?”
Moved, surprised and elated, she swallowed hard. “I will, Finn. I love you so much.”
“We’ll choose a ring together.” He kissed her again. “I love you, too.”
He sat back in the chair.
“How are we going to do this?” she asked.
“Off the cuff, I guess I’ll get a minister. We can have a quiet ceremony out here.”
“We need witnesses.”
“Fiona of course. And the boys. And Oliver. He’s my best friend.”
“Won’t a wedding make Fiona feel bad?”
“No, she’ll be happy for us. And I couldn’t get married without her there. What about you?”
“Maybe John Gorman.”
“Aw. That’s nice. Are your friends back in Hollywood?”
“I don’t have many friends. I’m close to one woman but having her come to Rockford would cause a stir.”
“By the end of the week, okay? All this mess with the collective will be over by then.”
“The end of the week is fine.”
As they stared out at the water, Elise had never felt so content. She wanted to marry Finn with all her heart.
Later, Finn stood, set their glasses down and drew her up. “Are you feeling better?”
“I am.”
“Want to go inside?”
“I do.” She stood, they held hands again and walked into THE house and to his bedroom. A big bed, covered in a brown, window-paned duvet with taupe walls and huge windows. “I love the room. I didn’t notice much before.”
“You had a migraine.” He grinned. “Can I undress you?”
“Only if I can underdress you. My fiancé.”
“Your fiancé.” A huge, boyish grin. “I like the sound of that.”
Slowly, with no rush, he eased her shirt over her head. She shivered when he kissed her breastbone and unclipped her bra. Just as slowly, he drew down her capris and the matching panties. He kissed her curls. She was already wet, but still, sensations flooded her. Then he stood.
Elise whispered, “Now, it’s my turn.”
* * *
On Wednesday, when the site was no longer a crime scene, the group agreed to meet at the collective. They gathered in the parking lot; all were solemn.
“It feels weird being back here,” Scarlet said.
“Very weird,” Juliet put in.
Daisy sighed heavily. “Will things ever be the same?”
“Never,” Heath announced. “But this is our place and we need to embrace it.”
“Wow,” Oliver commented. “That’s not like you.”
“I know. But we do. So let’s not cower out here.”
“I agree.” Finn took Juliet’s hand and she clasped her other one with Oliver. Daisy took Heath’s and Scarlet’s. “Let’s check out our offices and then meet in the common area.”
They went up to the building, gave each other encouraging looks then separated and went to their individual studios.
Oliver was surprised to see Finn follow him inside.
“Do you need something Finn?”
“A minute of your time.
Oliver leaned up against the wall. “Sounds serious.”
“It is.”
“Hmm.”
“Elise and I would like you to stand up with us at our wedding on Saturday.”
Oliver’s jaw dropped. “You’re getting married?”
“Yeah. Only you and Fiona and Elise’s director are invited.”
“Wow. I knew you’d been getting close, but I didn’t realize it went this far.”
“There’s more. It’s not why I asked her to marry me, but she’s nearly a month pregnant.”
“Hey, this is great.” A big smile. He playfully socked Finn’s shoulder. “You’re gonna be a dad. I’m so jealous.”
“Like I’ve been telling you, you gotta find a girl.”
“I probably will, after this.” He clapped Finn on the shoulder. “Congrats, buddy.”
Along with the others, Oliver worked all day, scrubbing the door from his practice to the common area, and helping Juliet, who was closest to the bomb. Heath pitched in on Daisy’s rooms.
Leaving his door open, Oliver went inside his studio. Juliet came to the door. He looked around. “You’d never know the police had dusted for prints in here and scoured the carpets for evidence. Even the windows were sparkling.”
“I don’t think my practice has ever been this clean.”
He smiled at her. “I read that the U.S. forensic cleaners are the best in world.” He studied her. “How are you?”
“As good as can be expected.” She looked at him.
“Do you think Heath’s right? That things will never be the same here?”
“No. You know him, the ultimate pessimist. And even if he was right, maybe we’ll appreciate all this more.”
“That’s a nice way to think about it.”
“We should all go out for a drink when we’re done here.”
“I’d like that. My boys are with their grandparents.”
She pushed away from the wall. “I’ll go tell the others.”
“See you soon.”
* * *
Elise heard them in the living room.
Finn’s deep voice. “Hey, I thought you were here for me.”
“I am, big brother. But Elise needs help with something.” Soon, Fiona entered his bedroom. “Are you nervous?”
Elise turned around. “No. I’m too happy for that.” She picked up the crown of baby’s breath, handed it to Fiona then turned to face the mirror. Her hair was loose and hung down her back. Fi stood behind her and placed the garland on her head. “You’re lovely.”
She liked the pretty white eyelet sundress. She and Finn had picked it out together, as well as his beige suit and dark brown shirt. “Thanks.”
“Did you think you’d have a big wedding, Elise? When the time came?”
“Yeah, I guess. But a big wedding is not important. Marrying that sexy brother of yours is.”
Fiona giggled even though her own life was in flux. She had insisted she and Tim get a separation, and it was TBD if she wanted to work on their marriage. “So, is there a procession out to the deck?”
“Nah. Finn and I are going to walk in together.”
Just then he came to the door. “Aw, you’re beautiful.”
Turning around, she stared over at him. She knew her face showed the same joy his did.
Fiona said, “I’ll leave you two alone.” She kissed her brother’s cheek on the way out.
Finn’s heart swelled with love. With gratitude. With total and complete devotion. “Ready to marry me, babe?”
“Babe? Huh. Yeah, lover, I’m ready.”
“Have you been sick today?”
She put her hand on her stomach. “Nope. Baby’s fine today. Maybe she knows what we’re doing.”
“She?”
Elise shrugged. “A girl can wish.”
He crossed to her. Drew her gently into his arms. Inhaled the scent of her hair, of her body lotion, of her essence. “I’ll love you forever, sweetheart.”
“I’ll love you forever, too.”
* * *
Unbeknownst to the guests at the wedding, Rosalina Ricardi collapsed onto her kitchen floor.
* * *
Take a peek at the next book, TILL THERE WAS YOU, in the Harmony Healing Collective books…
Oliver sat in the hospital room at the side of his mother’s bed, waiting for a doctor to come in. He’d only been told she’d had a stroke. More news would come when the cardiac guy arrived. Oliver called all his brothers and they said they’d be here as soon as possible.
He bent over and clasped his hands. Please dear God, don’t let her die. I’m not ready for that. He continued to pray until he heard the sweep of the door opening. He straightened and turned around.
“Hello, Mr. Ricardi. I’m Dr. Anabelle Baxter. The interventional cardiologist on call tonight.”
For a minute, he stared at her. Then he blinked. “I’m Oliver. My brothers are coming in too, but I’d like some information now if you have it.”
“I have some. I’ve ordered an MRI and we should have the results soon. Once we get them, we’ll know what kind of treatment she needs. But I should tell you that your mother exhibits symptoms of a stroke.”
“I was told that. It doesn’t sound good.”
“She might need to have the blockages formed in her arteries cleared.”
“What’s the treatment for that?”
“Surgery. The easiest to do would be to put in stents. Do you know what they are?”
“Yes, little mesh thingies that allow the passage of blood through a blocked artery or vessel.”