Chapter 4 #2
“Sure.” He didn’t have a chance to deny her, because she’d taken his hand and strolled with him towards where Rowan and Adam were sitting.
Before he sat down, he turned and shook Rory’s hand.
“It’s nice to finally meet you face-to-face,” Rory said quickly.
Then the lights dimmed and the entire room grew quiet, and he got shushed.
He sat down between Crystal and Sarah. A few moments later, Olivia rushed in looking a little frazzled.
When she spotted him sitting between Crystal and Sarah, she stopped and looked around before finding an empty seat a few chairs down from him.
He was consciously aware of her the entire time. The music started, and a teacher welcomed everyone.
He’d never been to a first-grade graduation before, so he didn’t have any expectations. If he had, this graduation would have blown it out of the water.
There was singing, dancing, puppets, and, yes, a dozen kids dressed in small blue robes with little caps walked down the aisle and graduated.
He couldn’t help it—when everyone else stood and clapped, he jumped to his feet and followed along, pride for the kids he didn’t know swelling inside him.
Maybe he was overreacting because his mother had never been proud of anything he’d done, or maybe he was finally free to show emotion. Either way, he enjoyed the moment.
When the event was over, everyone gathered around at the back of the room as they waited for the kids to gather up.
Olivia stood talking to Sarah while he chatted with Rory. It really was a small world, meeting the owner of Sinclair Financial Security Firm, which he’d hired a few years back to oversee all his financial needs after his mother’s death.
Crystal turned to him. “A few of us are having a gathering at our place after. You’re welcome to join us.”
He thought about denying the invitation, but if he was going to truly immerse himself in the town, he had to start somewhere.
“Sure. I suppose I can leave cleaning the rest of the windows until tomorrow.” He shrugged.
Crystal smiled. “It’s about time that place was enjoyed. I’m dying to see what your plans are for the place.” She wrapped her arm in his and started walking out of the gym. He wouldn’t have been able to get out of going even if he’d wanted to. Crystal was a very persuasive person.
An hour later, he stood in the dining room of her massive mansion.
He’d never stepped foot in Holley Hall before, but since his return, he’d driven past it several times.
After the first few moments in the three-story Colonial home, he understood from Rowan, Crystal’s nephew and husband to Kayla, that the place was a historical landmark.
Crystal had given him a quick tour through the main floor, with its high archways, decorative molding, and dark cherry floors.
The impressive twisted staircase led up to what he’d been told were several guest rooms. Crystal and Rory used the top floor for themselves, except for Rory’s office, which was on the second floor.
He couldn’t imagine having this much space all to himself. Then again, Crystal pointed out that there wasn’t a day of the week that they weren’t watching her grandkids.
From the way the kids hung on her and called her MeMa, he understood that all kids were hers.
“Sorry you were dragged along,” Olivia said to him as he stood in the dining area, holding a cold beer.
“I’m not.” He ran his eyes over her. “I’m enjoying myself.”
She laughed. The soft sound caused his heart to warm.
“This”—she motioned around them—“can’t be much fun for a single guy like you.” She leaned closer to him. “You do realize it’s a kids’ party.”
He wiggled his beer. “With adult beverages.”
She laughed again. “I guess there are some perks.”
He ran his eyes over her slowly, enjoying another perk of coming along. She knew instantly that he was assessing her, and she tilted her head slightly.
“Cake. Cake is a perk,” she blurted out.
He held in a laugh. “I like cake,” he said smoothly.
She took a deep breath and glanced around. “Did you meet everyone?”
He tore his eyes from her and glanced around. “Kayla.” He motioned with his beer. “Rowan, their son CJ.” He leaned closer and lowered his voice. “The bane of your daughter’s existence.” She chuckled and nodded. He glanced around. “Their daughter Willow is around here somewhere.”
“In the kitchen with Crystal,” she supplied.
“Right. Then there is Lilith and Adam, who is head chef at East Haven. Lilly, as she asks to be called, used to run the place but now plays mom to their three kids. Alex”—he motioned to a three-year-old napping on the sofa— “Brooke, who is two, and Emylia, who is three months old.” He glanced around.
“That’s JT and Emma Wilder.” He lowered his voice again.
“Famous author and movie star, not that I gushed over either of them, thanks to ironclad restraint.” She giggled again and he smiled, enjoying the sound very much.
“Their twins, Sophia and Liam.” He motioned to another man and woman, much younger than the rest and without any kids.
“Calvin Winters, the new head of East Haven, and his new wife, Bella, who happens to be Ben’s sister.
” He motioned to the two siblings, who were laughing about something one of the kids had said.
“Wow, you have a really great memory,” she said before taking a sip of her wine.
“It helped with the job.” He shrugged and watched her eyebrows lift.
“Job? What did you do in the…” He could tell that she was searching her memory. “Army?”
He nodded. “Special Operations Forces, Rangers” he said quickly. “This and that.” He shrugged.
“Wow, I guess I just assumed…” She shook her head. “Rangers. That’s like the elite team, right?”
He nodded again, not really wanting to talk about his past much. “So, I take it Simona’s father isn’t around much?”
Olivia glanced down into her wine glass. “He’s not.”
A look crossed her face, and he knew that just like his past, this area of her life was off limits. At least for now.