Epilogue
Eleven months later
Connecticut, July
I stroll across the green lawn in the backyard, my gaze on the rippling water of Long Island Sound.
Our new home isn’t a castle, or even historical, but to me the mansion is better with French Normandy architecture done by Douglas Vanderhorn.
I describe it as a stone cottage from the Cotswold’s meets French rooflines and windows.
Blooming flowerbeds scatter throughout the yard, the vibrant colors from spring still holding into the summer.
The estate isn’t on a cliff, but it’s surrounded by ocean and on its own secluded island with a private causeway connecting us to Greenwich.
The lot is big enough to have a wooded area, but my favorite spot is the rose garden in the backyard, which now has the ashes of my mom and my twin.
Lachlan gave it to me as a second wedding present.
Neither of us counted the first ceremony as ours for several reasons.
It was a disaster.
I hated him.
He got off on irritating me and wanted to get himself off on me.
I’d just learned he wasn’t gay.
The wedding was for my mother more than it was for me.
But this time, he picked my ring—a beautiful yellow diamond surrounded by smaller black diamonds. Sun and shadows—and we planned the wedding without my mom’s help. It took place at Adelaide’s hotel, the Sea House, which is her hotel now. My boss bitch bestie.
Bitch is far from what Adelaide is. And Kingston…
boy, does that man love her—as in he’s obsessed.
Apparently, he always has loved her, only his father was a tyrant worse than anyone I know, except for maybe Angus.
He used his son for his own advantages and Adelaide’s dad got involved too.
Everyone was lying to her, including Kingston, but everything he did was to protect her.
She told me all this over a glass of wine and a weekend at her hotel after Lachlan and I moved back to America. During that weekend, Lachlan had my birth mom and brother moved to our estate. It might not be romantic to some people, but to me, it was everything.
Mom strolls over to where I stand admiring the red blooms—the most beautiful roses I’ve ever seen.
“I never hated them.” She eyes the urn-bench and tips her glass of champagne in its direction. At least she’s sober. She is more than not nowadays.
This luncheon is to celebrate my new bookstore. We had the opening at the town square yesterday. I didn’t want family drama so I kept it to the public only but invited Adelaide, of course.
Today is for everyone else, although Adelaide and Kingston are here since they stayed at the house with us last night. You never know how the menfolk will hit it off. Luckily for us, when Lachlan and Kingston met, they wasted no time discussing businesses and their plans for world domination.
Mom sniffles, and I rub her back. “It’s okay if you did.”
The day I told her I knew the truth about my birth mom and twin was shortly after Lachlan and I left Scotland. I broke the news that he no longer owned a castle and how, despite my will not to, I’d fallen in love with him.
She brushed my hair from my shoulders and tenderly said, “I don’t blame you. No woman could resist those eyes. And the way he looked at you at the wedding…” She fans herself. “I knew you were in for it.”
We were in her book club room. I didn’t come to tell her I wanted my biological family moved. I just wanted to tell her I knew about them. I let her finish her white sangria first, then I explained everything I learned, and do you know what she said…?
“I know. I sent it all to Lachlan.”
“You did?” I sat my drink down and turned to her directly. “Lachlan said he talked to Dad.”
She put her hands on her floral skirt covered lap.
“And your father came to me. He didn’t put their ashes here without my permission.
It didn’t seem right to put the person who gave you life and your dad what I couldn’t anywhere else.
Doesn’t mean it didn’t hurt.” She touched my knee.
“I did it for you. I meant to tell you all about them, but as time went on, I couldn’t find the words.
I’m sorry.” Tears filled Mom’s blue eyes.
I hugged her. We hadn’t had a moment like this maybe ever. “It’s okay. I’m sorry you spent so many years hurting because of me.”
“You?” She pulled back and gave me the happiest sad smile.
“You never hurt me. You added to our lives. Pippa got a sister. I got another daughter to love and to try not to screw up as much as I did the first one. I know I wasn’t easy, and I can be…
well, I like things the way I like them.
It’s how I was raised. It’s what I know. ”
The salty breeze flutters a few strands of my hair. The coastline here is much calmer than the cliffside in Scotland. Mom eyes the golden strands like she wants to tame them the way she would have in the past. I see her resist the urge to do just that.
“I could never hate anyone who created someone as beautiful as you.”
She says this sappy stuff all the time now too. We stare at each other teary-eyed.
Once a week, we meet for lunch. I’m going to talk her into moving our dates to the bookstore from now on.
She’ll like that. She helped me choose color schemes and lighting for the place along with the designer I hired but hadn’t seen the finished result until last week when I gave the family a private showing.
“We need to switch to waterproof mascara.” I use the napkin I have with my champagne and blot under her eyes.
She takes it and smiles. “I’ll just go clean up.”
I set my flute on a nearby table and watch as she walks toward the house before turning my attention back to the roses blowing in the breeze.
“I hope you like it here,” I say to Elora and Everett.
“I think they already do,” comes a deep English accented voice from behind me.
I glance over my shoulder and beam up at my gorgeous husband—by choice, this time.
“Worried I’ll run off again?” I tease as he stops at my side and slides his arm around my waist, tugging me close.
“Not in the slightest.”
I tsk and roll my eyes.
“You’re addicted to me and my cock. I made sure of it.”
He sure did. I don’t even try to deny it.
“I like you among these roses. The red suits your golden coloring.”
My cheeks heat. Will I ever not feel like a silly girl when he compliments me like this, especially about something I thought made me less than for most of my life? That and my breasts.
Lachlan’s hand slides up to just under my boob as he pulls me even closer and bends to kiss my lips.
“You taste like heaven.” It’s the strawberry mimosa, but I’m fine with taking the credit. “It gives me ideas for tonight and what I’m going to do to you.” He murmurs across my lips and squeezes my underboob.
I squeal.
“God,” Pippa sighs. “You should be embarrassed of yourselves, acting like teenagers in front of your guests.”
Lachlan smirks at me then turns to face my sister. I do the same, as he plays with the strands of my long hair.
“What can we do for you Pippa?” Lachlan’s tone holds as much interest as it would if he were choosing formal dinnerware.
“Huntington wants to see his grandma before we leave.” Meaning Pippa wants to see Mom before she leaves.
“She went in to freshen up. I’m sure she’ll be back in a minute.”
In the past, I would have worried Mom was losing herself in a bottle of wine.
Pippa eyes Lachlan as if he’s a rake from a historical romance. I know it’s because she’s jealous. She wanted him, and I got him. I feel a bit bad that her husband is a monster. If he were kinder and more attentive, maybe Pippa would be less of a bitch.
“Huntington sleeps better in his crib.” She excuses her reason for leaving. “It’s been a long afternoon for him.”
“I completely understand,” I say with a warm smile. “Thanks for coming and for bringing him.” She doesn’t take him to a lot of places yet. This is an honor in a way.
Her gaze lands on Lachlan’s hands and how they’re now wrapped around my waist from behind. He can’t be near me and not touch me—although part of me believes it’s territorial. This is mine neanderthal behavior.
She turns to leave, and I say, “Don’t forget Huntington’s party favor.”
I had a table of them set up for the celebration.
Everyone gets to fill a book tote with romance books of their choice.
I have a few from every genre, as well as bookmarks, coffee mugs, teacups, blankets, kindles, and miniature desserts.
I did the same for the soft opening, which was specifically for book club members and giveaway winners.
I have so many event ideas for the store: readings, signings, audio books in the afternoon, book boyfriend date night, Make Me Laugh Monday, Tie Me To the Bookshelf Tuesday, What are you in the Mood for Wednesday, Thrill Me Thursday, Fantasy Friday, Stockings and Bodices Saturday, Small Town Sunday. The list goes on.
She makes a face like one of my romance party favors is the last thing she wants for her son.
“His is age appropriate.” I explained this on the phone when she called to complain that the weather said possible showers and if it rained at the time of the party she wouldn’t come.
“It has baby toys, a stuffed animal, and the latest children’s books.
I read a couple. They’re really cute. I could come read them to him sometime, if you don’t mind.
You can never start too early,” I add with a shrug.
It’d be good practice for me, and my little nephew is the sweetest baby with so much pudge I want to eat him up.
Despite being a tyrant, Pippa is a good mom. She has the nanny for help, but she devotes a lot of her time to Huntington, trying to make up for the lack of his father’s presence. Hunt’s either working or “working”, as in doing his mistress.
Pippa’s features soften and she almost looks gentle, standing in her pale blue dress, her figure thinner than it was before she was pregnant.