26. Roxie
The next day, we sailed back to the marina. Even though I felt a pang of sadness that this part of our holiday was over, I was thrilled about the next seven days we”d spend together in Tuscany.
“Drop the sail, honey!” Henry called out.
I spun the chrome handle, and the giant white curtain fell like a heavy blanket. The boat responded instantly, slowing down. Henry guided the yacht into the marina entrance, and we motored toward our designated berth. I had thought our yacht was big until I saw the other yachts moored here. There was some serious money floating in this marina.
As we eased into our berth, I noticed a large white marquee set up on the nearby beach, with little lanterns hanging around its structure. White curtains scalloped around the outside, giving small openings that allowed me to glimpse the people mingling inside. I pointed that way. “Looks like a wedding.”
“Oh yeah,” Henry said. “We should have a look.”
I loved how spontaneous Henry was. My ex-fiancé had never done anything impulsive. Every outing had been planned well in advance; even our meals were decided upon a week ahead of time.
Henry, though, had already taken me to many restaurants and cafes just because we liked the look of them. It was another aspect I adored about him.
After we tied up the yacht and handed it over to the marina staff, Henry organized for our luggage to be taken to our hotel. Then, holding hands, we strolled from the marina and walked along the beach toward the marquee. A band was playing, people were laughing, and it sounded like a party was going on.
I was about sixty feet away when I caught sight of someone that made my jaw drop. I stared, open-mouthed, and my heart began to race. “Is that?—”
“I think it is.”
The way he said it had me turning to him, and Henry’s glorious grin was enormous. “What are you up to?”
He winked at me. “You’ll see.”
It took another ten paces to confirm it was indeed my sister that I saw.
As if on cue, Priscilla turned and waved. “There they are.” She stepped from the marquee, clapping. Todd was close behind.
“Henry,” I squeezed his hand. “Did you arrange this?”
“Yeah.”
My heart leaped to my throat, and I leaned over to kiss his cheek. “I can’t believe you organized this.”
“It was fun.”
Priscilla raced forward and wrapped her arms around me. “Hey, sis, isn’t he wonderful?”
Priscilla was referring to Henry. Her opinion of Henry had done a complete about-face in the last ten weeks. Henry had been the one who convinced me to forgive my sister, and he’d also been insistent on getting to know Priscilla and her family. Within a few meetings, Priscilla was drooling over him and professing that Henry was the perfect man for me.
She never apologized for sending him away, though; in fact, she’d said it was the best thing she could’ve done as it had given us time to really think about our relationship with level heads.
Priscilla and Henry greeted each other with a kiss on the cheek, and Henry and Todd shared a vigorous handshake.
“I’d like you to meet someone.” Priscilla clutched my hand and dragged me away from Henry and Todd. She ducked under the marquee curtain and led me to a table at the far side of the room. I had a funny feeling that Priscilla had made the person sit so far away on purpose.
When the woman turned, I gasped. It was Lauren. My long-lost half-sister. She was so similar to me it was like looking in the mirror. Lauren jumped up and came to me with open arms. As I hugged Lauren, I felt like another missing puzzle piece in my life had just slotted into place.
We eased back from each other, and I looked into her honey-colored eyes. “It’s so lovely to meet you, Lauren.”
“I’m Katrina now. Katie.” She sighed. “I always knew something was missing.”
I knew exactly what she meant. “Yeah, me too.” All my life, I’d felt something was amiss. It was hard to explain, but I’d always felt like I was detached from my family in some way.
“So,” Priscilla rubbed her hands together. “Are you ready for more news?”
“Doesn’t Roxie know!” Katie frowned.
“What news?” I watched with amusement as my two sisters seemed to share a moment.
“You can tell her,” Priscilla said.
I blinked at Priscilla. She never gave up an opportunity to tell a juicy tidbit. And by the excited look on Priscilla’s face, it was juicy.
“You might want to take a seat.” Katie indicated to the nearby table, and the three of us sat facing each other.
Katie fiddled with a wedding ring on her finger. “Priscilla informed me of the discussion you had with your parents on New Year’s Day.”
“And?” I frowned.
“And it seems that your mother chose to censor one very important detail.”
I bounced my eyes from Priscilla to Katie. “What?”
Katie placed her hand over mine as if she were preparing me for the worst. “You and I are fraternal twins.”
My jaw dropped. “Twins?” I blinked and blinked some more. It was true that we looked almost identical, but. . . I clasped my hand over my mouth, then slowly lowered it. “So, your father is. . .” I couldn’t say his name.
“Father Wilkins.” Katie finished my sentence for me. “I only just found that out, too. I thought my adoptive parents were my real parents until a couple of weeks ago.”
“Hang on! You mean Mother chose to break up her twins! She actually chose which one of us she’d give away?”
“That’s correct.” Priscilla’s voice had hit a whole new level. “I went back to Mom after I found out Katie’s birthdate. I don’t know how she thought that would remain secret after we found out we had another sister. Dad was in on it, too.” She rolled her eyes. “Actually, both your dads.”
A question rolled through my brain that I knew would haunt me forever. “Why did she pick me?” Her decision had impacted both of our lives. I tried to imagine a mother choosing between which twin would stay and which twin she’d most likely never see again.
“I probably farted.” Katie’s grin was cheeky.
I blinked at her, and when Katie burst out laughing, I knew I was going to enjoy getting to know my twin sister. I had a thousand questions, yet I had no idea where to start.
“Okay, you ladies.” Henry approached us. “Roxie has someone else to meet.”
I spun to him. “Oh God, please don’t tell me I have more siblings?”
He chuckled, and my sisters laughed with him. “No, I want to introduce you to my son.” He helped me to stand.
“No, Henry, I’m not ready.” I ran my spare hand through my hair as he led me away from the table.
“You look beautiful.” He squeezed my hand. “Don’t worry, he’s going to love you.”
“But what if he doesn’t?”
“He will.”
I pulled his hand, halting our charge across the marquee. “But what if he doesn’t?”
He reached up and cupped my cheek. “Then we’ll deal with it, just like we did with Priscilla.”
I squeezed my eyes shut, inhaled a deep breath, then snapped them open again. “Okay, I’m ready.”
“Great.” He led me to a table, and a young man stood to greet us. Tom was a young doppelganger of Henry. He was suave, seemed confident, and had the same stunning blue eyes. It was easy to imagine that Henry would have looked just like him thirty years ago.
“Tom, this is Roxie.”
“I’m so pleased to meet you, Tom.”
Tom wrapped his arms around me, and it was so unexpected, I giggled. “It’s lovely to finally meet you, too.”
“Thank you for making Dad so happy,” he whispered in my ear. Then he pulled back. “I’m happy too. If I had to listen to another international phone call where Dad babbled on about you, I’d go nuts.”
I positively glowed from his comment, and from there, our conversation flowed beautifully. I learned that Tom was engaged, that he was in his final year of study, and that he planned to come home when he graduated.
During the next hour, more people arrived, including Henry’s daughter, her fiancé, and her child. I picked up Olivia and gave her a huge squeeze. In the last few months, I’d gotten to know Henry’s granddaughter, and I already loved her to bits.
My best friend, Katrina, greeted me with an excited squeal; Henry’s friend, Nicholas, wrapped me in a bear hug. I met many more of Henry’s friends, including several I’d already been introduced to in the previous couple of months.
Waiters mingled with giant trays brimming with a variety of food, and just like Nicholas’ party, the cocktails flowed. As the marquee filled up, the music got louder, and people began kicking off their shoes and dancing.
“May I have this dance?” Henry held his hand toward me.
“I’d love to.” I hadn’t danced with a man in decades. My heart thundered out a crazy beat as he led me to the middle of the crowd.
He spun me once beneath his arm, then Henry lowered down onto one knee and reached for my hand.
The music stopped, and everybody in the marquee gathered around.
My chin trembled, tears stung my eyes, and as I tugged my bottom lip into my mouth, I looked down at the most handsome man in the world.
“Roxie, with all our friends and family as my witness, I would like to pledge my love for you. You are a breath of fresh air. You make me feel so alive. You saved me. Roxie, I have my next question. Are you ready?”
I giggled. With a lump the size of a plum in my throat, I glanced around at my family and friends, then looked into Henry’s stunning blue eyes. “Yes.”
Henry produced a ring box from his pocket and popped it open. “Would you do me the honor of marrying me?”
I fell to my knees and wrapped my arms around him. “Yes! Yes, yes, yes!”
He guided the ring onto my finger, and it was the most exquisite piece of jewelry I’d ever seen. Then, in front of everyone in the world who was special to me, I kissed the man of my dreams.
The crowd erupted in cheers, their voices blending into a symphony of joy that filled the marquee. I felt like my heart was going to burst with happiness. I glanced at the ring. The beautiful solitaire diamond, set in a delicate band, sparkled in the light.
Henry lifted me up and we stood, surrounded by our loved ones. “I can’t believe this is happening,” I whispered, looking at his through my tear-filled eyes.
“Believe it, sweetheart,” Henry’s voice filled with emotion. “You make me the happiest man alive.”
The band started playing again, a soft, romantic melody that matched the mood perfectly. Henry took my hand and led me to the center of the dance floor. He held me close, and our bodies swayed gently to the music. I rested my head on his shoulder, feeling the steady beat of his heart against my cheek.
“I never imagined my life could be this perfect,” I murmured.
“Neither did I.” Henry kissed the top of my head. “But with you, everything is perfect.”
As we danced, I glanced around the room, taking in the sights of all our families and friends together. Priscilla was beaming with Todd’s arm around her, and their kids were dancing nearby. Katie, my newly discovered twin, was talking with my best friend, Katrina, as if they’d known each other forever. Henry’s son, Tom, was laughing with Nicholas while Henry’s daughter and her fiancé played with little Olivia.
It was a perfect moment, and I felt a profound sense of contentment.
All the struggles and all the pain from my past seemed to fade away, and I was filled to the brim with love and happiness.
My love story with Henry was just beginning, and I couldn’t wait to see where it would lead. I had a lifetime of happiness and love to catch up on, and with the man who captured my heart at my side, the wonderful possibilities were endless.
THE END