Chapter 15
Chapter Fifteen
Adam
From the moment we stepped on the plane until we touched down in San Francisco, I’ve been captivated watching Keri take it all in.
Before I asked her to join me, she told me she’s never traveled anywhere beyond the East Coast. I’m pleased I can offer her this trip to California, even though I know it’s going to be excruciatingly difficult for me.
Having her by my side will undoubtedly bring me comfort.
But that’s not the only reason I invited her.
She’s a part of me now. She completes me and makes me a better person.
We share a surprising love and mutual support.
I’m committed to her. My life has been enhanced because she’s a part of me now.
It was fun watching her agonize over packing her suitcase, every piece of clothing she owns thrown this way and that as she made difficult outfit decisions.
Roxy’s wedding is formal, and because I waited until the eleventh hour to make travel arrangements, there wasn’t time for me to go to Atlanta and buy a tuxedo.
Ridge was kind enough to let me borrow one of his.
Keri, on the other hand, brought home several large plastic tubs from her office full of one-of-a-kind pageant dresses she thought might work for the nuptials.
Unlike everyday formal wear, Keri explained her gowns were built for performance.
Her grandmother wanted her to look perfect during the pageants, so she added reinforced seams, built-in bras, and boning for support.
Keri shimmied into several options from the bins and gave me a private fashion show, her excitement palpable.
We quickly agreed on her dress for Roxy’s wedding: a dramatic, cerulean-blue, floor-length A-line gown with intricate hand-sewn embroidery over the bust. When she emerged wearing the dress and twirled for me, my mouth hit the floor—and so did the dress.
“I forgot my hairdryer,” she whispers urgently into my ear. I can barely hear her from the roar of the plane engines.
“I’m sure the Dirk family has an extra hairdryer you can borrow.”
“And flip-flops. Oh my gosh, if I want to watch you surf, I’m going to need flip-flops.”
I pick up her hand and kiss the top of her knuckles. “No worries. Flip-flops are a dime a dozen in California. We’ll pick some up.”
My comment seems to reassure her, and she turns to gaze out the window again. I’m sure her mind is racing through everything she packed, and I have to suppress another chuckle. She’s adorable.
Keri made arrangements with Madison Jamison to keep an eye on her business and forwarded her real estate calls and email credentials to her.
Before Madison married George, she was a hugely successful broker for a major corporation, handling land acquisitions.
The woman is highly capable and assured Keri that she need not worry about a thing.
Not that there’d be anything to worry about over the long weekend anyway.
The summer months are supposed to be the best time to buy and sell.
Unfortunately, Keri is well aware that her business has stalled, and the market is dismal with no prospects in sight.
She told me this trip to California would be a great diversion, giving her time to figure out her next steps.
I made arrangements with Ridge for Molly to hang out at his property.
You should have seen the look on little Roman’s face when we brought my big dog over, the toddler swooning and falling into instant doggie heaven.
Molly took it all in stride, her tail wagging and her big tongue licking the child’s face as he wrapped his little arms around her neck.
It’s a good thing Ridge and Beverly already have a cat.
Roman learned early on how to be gentle with his furry friends through his parents’ coaching. Molly is in good hands.
We’re greeted by a private driver at the airport set up by Roxy’s fiancé, Justin Dirk.
As it turns out, he comes from a prominent tech family and is a major figure in Silicon Valley.
I still can’t picture my Bohemian, carefree cousin with a guy who works in a high-stress environment like that.
I’m looking forward to hearing her tell the story of how they ended up together.
Driving along the coastline, I glimpse the rugged shores and deep blue Pacific. Sun glimmers like diamonds on the water. It’s a breathtaking, full-circle moment.
“Wow,” Keri utters.
I squeeze her hand and look out the window as memories assault me. I hide my struggle, clutching her hand over my heart for comfort. Once we arrive at the private beach home, we’re buzzed in through a security gate, and I can see Roxy waiting for us on the driveway.
“Adam!” she screeches as I climb out of the car. She catapults her body into mine, nearly knocking me over.
I hug her fiercely, fighting my surging emotions. For a moment, I let myself get lost in the calming coconut scent of her hair, and the rush of feeling transports me straight back to the day she asked me to walk her down the aisle. I slowly pull back and manage a smile.
“I’m here, ready for duty.”
She rolls her eyes, her happy grin a sight for my sore eyes. “Thank God,” she exclaims. She looks beyond me at Keri, who’s standing at the back end of the car watching the driver pull out our luggage. “You must be Keri,” she says.
She turns her focus to my cousin and beams. “Hi, Roxy. Yes. That’s me. I’m Keri.”
She takes a step forward and shoves her hand out for a formal shake. Roxy takes it a step further, lunging and pulling her into a bear hug. It’s just like her to be overly affectionate. I can hear her say, “Thank you for getting him on that plane. You’re my new best friend.”
Roxy is amped up and gives us a tour of the expansive Dirk family beach house.
We drop our bags in our luxurious second-floor suite and gather on the veranda with a private ocean view.
Snacks and a bottle of bubbly are waiting for us, and Roxy pours the pink liquid into flutes and passes them around.
Keri and I sit on a loveseat across from my cousin.
I watch her tuck her bare feet under her colorful maxi dress, sigh happily, and raise her glass.
“Cheers to my favorite cousin in the world.”
“Ha! I’m your only cousin,” I reply, taking a sip.
“And cheers to you, Keri. It’s so nice to finally meet you.”
“It’s very nice to meet you too.”
“Ooh!” Roxy squeals. “I just love your Southern accent. Have you always lived in Georgia?”
Keri averts her eyes, as if embarrassed. “Except for four years in college at Georgia Southern in Statesboro, Georgia, I’ve lived in Heartsboro my entire life.”
“Heartsboro. It even sounds idyllic. I can’t even imagine living in one place my entire life. What a dream.”
“It’s wonderful, Roxy,” I add. “I hope you and Justin will come and visit us someday soon.”
“Definitely!”
I set my champagne on a side table. “Speaking of Justin, when do we get to meet your better half?”
“He should be here any minute. As usual, he’s running late. He got stuck in a last-minute meeting he had to attend before he took off for the next month.”
“A month?” I ask.
“Yes. We’re heading to Bali for an extended honeymoon, thanks to his generous parents. We leave right after the reception. I can’t wait for you to meet them too.”
Sipping champagne in the sprawling Dirk beach house while hearing about Roxy’s honeymoon feels surreal.
My sweet cousin used to be like me: simple and unrefined.
A creative soul shunning convention for art and freedom.
She valued experience over things. Now, she sits like royalty against the ocean backdrop awaiting her king, and I’m left confused.
“How’s your pottery and jewelry business going?” I ask.
Her smile falters, and she gives me the side-eye. “Adam, I gave that up a while ago. I haven’t had any time. I’ve been solely focused on the wedding and our new house.”
“New house? How exciting,” Keri exclaims.
I’m floored. “When did this happen? Where is the house located?”
Roxy waves me off and reaches for an almond in a crystal dish.
“We bought a house in San Francisco. Justin loathed the interior, so we gutted everything, and now we’re deep into a full renovation.
It’ll be stunning when it’s done. Mrs. Dirk’s interior designer is amazing.
Unfortunately, we can’t move in until after our honeymoon. That’s why we’ve been staying here.”
“Not a bad place to stay,” Keri offers. “The view is magical. You’re a very blessed woman.”
Roxy’s expression warms as she nods. “I am.” She shifts her focus to me. “And having my amazing cousin here to walk me down the aisle is the cherry on top.”
“Roxanne?” All three of us turn our heads to see Justin waltz in through the kitchen. I watch Roxy immediately rise from the sofa and lunge at her fiancé, kissing him boldly on the mouth.
“Roxanne, we have company. Please…”
“But I missed you,” she squeaks, looking up at him with her big puppy-dog eyes while she practically hangs from his broad shoulders.
He acquiesces and kisses her on the mouth. I can hear Roxie moan with pleasure.
“Hey, there. I’m Justin Dirk,” he says, turning his attention toward Keri and me.
I stand and shake his hand aggressively. “Hey, Justin. I’m Adam, and this is my girlfriend, Keri Clayton.”
Keri stands and politely shakes his hand. “How do you do?”
Roxy giggles. “Don’t you just love her accent, Justin? It’s like something out of a movie.”