Chapter 30 Emily
I wake up to the sound of the shower running and it hits me, excitement coursing through me. Launch day.
A thrill shivers through me as I sit up, stretching out the sleep and letting reality sink in. Today’s the day. Today, the Army Base Riviera finally reopens its doors again.
Andrew comes out of the bathroom in a cloud of steam, towel around his waist, hair damp, and an easy grin on his face.
Heat uncurls in my abdomen. This man will be the death of me. All I can think about when we’re together is having those muscular arms on me. I can’t get enough of him.
“Morning, sleepyhead,” he says, and I smile back.
He comes to the bed and plants a kiss on my lips.
“Good morning,” I say back and swing my legs to the edge of the bed.
Andrew and I have taken to sleeping naked, figuring there’s no point in wearing our night clothes when we make love at least twice every night.
“Did you sleep well,” he asks, staring down at me.
“Sort of,” I say, threading my fingers through my unruly hair. “All I could think about was today. I’m so excited, I feel like I’m going to be sick.”
Andrew laughs. “No, you won’t. You’ll be fabulous and beautiful and in charge. I love you, Emily Bennett.”
“I love you too,” I say, wondering how he can be so cool today, the biggest day of our lives.
He takes my hand and pulls me to my feet, then gently propels me towards the bathroom. “Shower time.” He swats my behind as I pad towards the bathroom.
I laugh, glancing over my shoulder at him, feeling the warmth of his touch linger. “So bossy this morning,” I tease, shutting the door behind me .
The hot water soothes the nerves in my stomach, the excitement of the day coming alive with every passing second.
I wear the dress Lisa and I bought specifically for this day. It’s a deep emerald green, off the shoulder dress, that matches the color scheme of the Army Base Riviera.
I style my hair to fall in soft waves around my shoulders, then I finish off with my makeup.
The trouble I took is worth it, judging by Andrew’s reaction. His eyes widen and rake over me appreciatively, then he whistles.
“You are beautiful,” he says.
“Thank you,” I say, pleasure spreading through me. “Not too bad yourself.”
He’s dressed in a perfectly fitting tailored suit that makes him look every inch the successful business man that I’ve fallen in love with.
He laughs, holding out his arm as we leave for the hotel, fingers intertwined as we settle into the car.
The drive is quiet, both of us lost in the excitement buzzing between us. When we pull up to the Army Base Riviera, the energy outside the hotel is electric.
Banners line the walkway, and floral arrangements in rich greens and whites adorn the entrance.
I clasp my hands together. “It looks perfect.” I can’t help but wish that my father was awake to see this. His beloved Army Base Riviera returned to its former glory.
“Not as perfect as you are,” Andrew says.
A twinge of guilt goes through me. “No one’s perfect Andrew,” I say. “We all have our faults.”
Before he can say anything, the driver opens my door. Gathering my dress, I step out to camera flashes.
The press moves in around us, cameras flashing as they take pictures of Andrew and me together, the crowd shifting as questions come our way .
We field each one, sharing stories about the renovation process, the history of the Riviera, and what inspired the modern, understated elegance we chose.
Andrew keeps his hand on my back, and every so often, he runs his fingers along my spine.
Finally, we’re able to get away and make our way into the lobby.
Andrew’s family is among the first to greet us. His father, who’s usually reserved, extends a hand and shakes mine firmly, his face breaking into a rare smile. “You both did a fantastic job,” he says.
Barbara beams, pulling me into a hug. “You should be so proud,” she whispers, a hint of emotion in her voice.
Waiters glide between groups with trays of champagne and hors d’oeuvres, pausing now and then as guests reach for glasses and tiny plates.
I spot Lisa and wave her over; she’s dressed in a sleek red dress, her usual spark lighting up her face as she pulls me aside.
“This place is stunning, Emily,” she says, surveying the bustling lobby. “You and Andrew really brought it to life.”
“Thank you,” I say, smiling. “It’s surreal seeing everyone here.”
As we talk, I feel a tug at my heart, the words I’ve been holding onto for weeks rising to the surface. “I’ve been thinking about telling Andrew the truth about my dad,” I say, lowering my voice. “But it scares me, Lisa.”
Lisa nods, her gaze softening. “He loves you, Emily. He’ll understand. And you’ll feel lighter once it’s out there.”
I inhale deeply. Now that the renovations are out of the way, there’s nothing holding me back from telling Andrew. It doesn’t feel right between us with this huge thing hanging over my head.
“You’re right. I’ll tell him. I just hope it doesn’t change things between us.”
Before I can say more, my mother approaches, smiling brightly, her face glowing with pride. She pulls me into a hug, and for a moment, it feels like nothing else matters .
“Your father would be so proud of you,” she whispers. “I know it.”
“Thanks, Mom,” I say, my voice thick with emotion. I regret that I haven’t been able to visit as often with all the final preparations, and I apologize to her softly.
“Don’t worry, sweetheart,” she reassures me. “He’d understand, and he’d be thrilled with what you’ve done here.”
Soon after, the ceremony begins, and Andrew steps up to the podium, his voice calm as he thanks everyone who helped bring the Riviera back to life.
I join him, my voice carrying the gratitude I feel for everyone in the room.
When I’m done with my short speech, the crowd erupts into applause, and a soft chime of champagne flutes fills the air as servers pass them out, one by one.
Andrew turns to me, lifting his glass, his eyes sparkling with pride and something deeper, something that fills me with warmth.
“To the new Army Base Riviera,” he says, his voice carrying over the crowd, and everyone raises their glasses with a collective cheer.
“To the Army Base Riviera,” I echo, clinking my glass with his.
Once the toast is finished and the clinking of glasses fills the room, the manager of the hotel, Simon, steps forward, his warm smile signaling the start of the much-anticipated tour.
“Ladies and gentlemen, if you’d like to follow me, we’ll take a look around the new and improved Army Base Riviera,” Simon announces, his voice carrying a mixture of pride and excitement.
His professionalism shines through as he expertly guides the crowd, gesturing toward various design features and amenities, weaving stories about the history of the hotel along the way.
As the tour wraps up, we head back to the main ballroom, where the soft strains of jazz music begin to fill the air.
As the night goes on, laughter and music fill the room. Guests begin to dance, twirling to the soft, romantic tunes .
The ambiance is exactly what we wanted: a warm, lively gathering that showcases the essence of the Riviera, brought to life by everyone who believed in our vision.
“A dance, my beautiful wife?” Andrew says, bowing low.
Lisa and I giggle.
“I thought you would never ask,” I say, placing my hand in his. He leads me to the dance floor and holds me so close the world fades and it’s just the two of us.
“Did I tell you that you’re the most beautiful woman here tonight?” Andrew whispers in my ear.
I look up and meet his gaze. “I want to be the most beautiful woman to you.” Flirting with Andrew comes naturally. It doesn’t feel forced. At all.
Andrew grins, pulling me a little closer, his hand resting at the small of my back. “You already are,” he says.
Just then, a gentle tap on my shoulder pulls me back to reality. I turn to find my mother standing there, trying to mask her tension behind a strained smile. My stomach drops. I know that look.
“Mom?” I ask, unable to hide the fear in my voice.
She smiles, but I know instinctively know that it’s for Andrew’s sake. “Could I have a word?”
Andrew gives me a supportive nod, loosening his hold as I follow her off the dance floor, away from the crowd’s laughter and music. We step into a quiet corner of the room, where my mother’s face loses its practiced composure.
She takes my hands, her fingers trembling slightly. “I just received a call from the nurse. Your father has had a stroke.”
Fear lodges itself in my chest. “No,” I cry out, tears already gathering in my eyes. The doctors made it clear what the risks for a second major stroke were.
“They’ve put him in an ambulance, and he’s on his way to the hospital now,” my mother continues.
I tighten the hold on her hands. “We must go immediately. ”
“No,” Mom says in a sharp voice. She shakes her head. “You can’t leave. Everyone will know that something is terribly wrong.”
“I can’t stay here,” I say in a loud voice. “What if he…” my voice trails off and a sob rips out of me. The thought is unimaginable.
I can’t lose my father!
“Emily, hold yourself together,” my mother says, her tone jolting me out of the maze of fear and grief surrounding me. “You need to be here tonight. Let me go and be with him.” Her voice softens, the gentleness of her tone almost undoing me. “Come when you can, sweetheart. I’ll be with him, and I’ll call you with any updates.”
I bite my lip, fighting the tears threatening to spill. She’s right, but every instinct in me pulls toward being at my father’s side.
I need to be strong. I need to hold it together.
I nod. “Okay. Go to him and let me know as soon as you can how he is.”
“I promise.”