Epilogue
EPILOGUE
“Don’t be nervous,” Aria whispered, as Matthew adjusted his tie for the third time in as many minutes.
“I’m not,” he lied. “Why would I be?” Just because he was about to meet her parents. The parents from whom he’d taken the thing they loved most in the world.
Not to mention that he’d stolen the diadem.
The Manhattan restaurant was small and quiet, and Aria had assured him that it was a favorite in their family. It wasn’t too fancy, but it wasn’t casual, either. It was the kind of place for family celebrations. Birthdays, anniversaries, prom night.
For meeting the parents .
Beside him, she squeezed his hand as they moved through the small, dim space to the table in the rear where Gregory and Elaine Parker were pushing back their chairs and standing, both smiling and eager to see their little girl—and to meet the man who had claimed her.
“So you’re Matthew,” her father said, extending a hand. He was tall, his hair mostly gray, his eyes both direct and welcoming. “Aria’s told us so much about you.”
He felt a quick kick of fear, but then he saw the humor in her face and knew that she hadn’t told her parents everything. “All good, I hope.”
“Let’s just say I’ve not seen her so smitten since that horse she fell in love with the summer she went away to camp.”
Matthew laughed at the twinkle in Gregory’s eyes, and knew that no matter what else happened tonight, he liked the man. “That’s going to be tough competition,” he said. “I hope I can rise to the challenge.”
Her mother laughed. “Don’t tease him, Greg. It’s been a lifetime, and you still tell the story about how intimidated you were when you met my parents.”
Gregory shrugged. “Tradition. What can I say?”
Her mother extended her hand, and he took it, gently kissing her fingers with a courtly air. He saw so much of Aria in her, that he would have recognized her as Aria’s mother even without the introduction.
“I’m Elaine,” she said. “But call me Ellie.”
“It’s wonderful to meet you,” he said, meaning it. Not only were her parents not remotely intimidated by him, as were so many folks who worshiped either money or celebrity, but they were utterly charming.
And that wasn’t just a first impression, he realized, as the meal went on, with the four of them laughing and talking in an easy flow of conversation.
“It must be fascinating working in Hollywood,” Ellie said at one point. “Was that always a dream of yours?”
He almost thanked her for asking the question. It was a natural segue to where he needed this night to go.
“I grew up poor, but I wanted to make something of myself. I didn’t know how at first, but I’d always entertained myself by making up stories. And whenever I needed to escape, I’d sneak into a movie theater.”
“Sneak?” Greg asked.
He shrugged. “Like I said, I grew up poor.”
Ellie nodded. “You’ve done very well for yourself.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he said, as Aria squeezed his hand under the table. “I owe a lot of that to those days in a theater. I became fascinated, especially with older movies. The Golden Age.” He shrugged. “I started collecting memorabilia. Especially related to actors I particularly loved.”
He lifted a hand, signaling a waiter before continuing. “Vivien Lorainne is at the top of my list.”
Ellie reached out and took her husband’s hand. “We actually have a family connection to her. Did Aria tell you?”
“The diadem,” he said. “Her great-grandfather?”
Greg nodded. “My grandfather, yes. He created it. And before she was murdered, Vivien gave it to him. It was … special to our family.”
“I know,” he said. “Ari told me the story.”
With perfect timing, the waiter brought over the silver-wrapped box that Matthew had entrusted him with earlier. He indicated Greg, and the waiter handed him the box, then slipped away.
“I don’t—what is this?”
“A small present,” Matthew said, holding tight to Aria’s hand.
“What are you—” she began with a whisper, but he cut her off with a small shake of his head.
Greg untied the bow, then lifted the lid off the box. His hand flew to his mouth and Ellie leaned over, peered in, and then gaped at Matthew.
“This can’t be—” Ellie’s voice faltered as she looked from the diadem to Matthew, then back again. “Where did—how did you find this?”
“I acquired it years ago. After I met Aria, I learned its history. And I knew that it had to be returned to its family.”
Aria’s hand brushed his beneath the table. He turned slightly, meeting her eyes, then melted a bit at the love he saw shining there.
“Matthew, we couldn’t,” Greg said. “It’s wonderful knowing that it wasn’t stripped of its stones and sold piecemeal, but it must have cost you a fortune. We can’t possibly accept it.”
“I thought you might say that, sir. Which is why I have another proposal.”
Greg’s brow furrowed. “I’m not sure I’m following.”
“What if you were to keep it, but to give me one of the diamonds?”
“Give you—” Greg shook his head, looking perplexed. But beside him, Elaine’s eyes shone, and Matthew could see the smile tugging at her mouth.
“One of the diamonds?” Aria said. “Matthew, what are you?—”
“It’s just that I need one,” he said, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a second box, this one black and velvet. He turned to Aria, then opened the box, revealing a white gold ring with an empty setting. “An engagement ring needs a diamond.”
Aria stared at him, her eyes wide, and in that moment, her parents and the restaurant disappeared. It was just them. Then she broke into a radiant smile, her laughter bubbling up like champagne. “Yes,” she whispered. “Oh, yes.”
Across the table, Greg laughed. “Well, hell, yes, son. You’ll have that diamond.”
His heart swelled as Aria kissed him, her lips soft and sure. When they pulled apart, her eyes sparkled with love. And with the promise of a future. He drew her close, his hand closing around hers as she rested her head on his shoulder.
For the first time in days—hell, maybe years—he felt completely at peace. And no matter what challenges lay ahead, he knew they’d face them together.