This Thing Called Love (18 page)

CHAPTER 21

When Olivia finally reached the makeshift stage, Brad grasped her hands and lifted her up the stairs as if she weighed as much as a ball of cotton. He wasted no time crushing her to him. “You’re here.” Emotion weighed down his voice.

Engulfed in his arms, she breathed in the scent of him, familiar and wonderful. She was home at last.

“I had to see you,” she whispered. “Nothing’s been the same since I left.”

“I went to New York to find you but you were gone. And you weren’t answering your cell.”

“I accidentally left it at my apartment.”

He caressed her face. His startling green eyes blazed with intensity. Passion. Relief. “I love you,” he said, his voice breaking. “I’ve decided to start a new restaurant in New York. Hell, I’ll open one in Siberia if that’s what it takes to have you.”

Her heart stuttered as a big, blooming chunk of hope took hold in her chest and clung. “You mean Annabelle’s not your number-one concern?” she choked out. She touched his hair, his cheek, making sure he was real. That
this
was real.

“I love Kevin’s child with my whole heart and I would give up my own life to protect her. But what I feel for you”—he took a deep breath—“what I feel for you is more than I can even express. I was afraid to say it, afraid you’d leave again and not look back. But I love you, Olivia. I can’t imagine a life without you and Annabelle.”

The precious words misted her eyes. All the joy in her heart prepared to flood out. Except there was just one last thing. “I thought you didn’t want to raise any more kids.”

Brad’s gaze, bright with emotion, drilled directly through her. Set her to trembling, but his hold on her was unrelenting. “I’d be lying if I told you it didn’t still scare me. But my sister made me realize that maybe I’ve been so afraid of screwing up that I forgot to notice what I did right. No one can predict the future, but I can guarantee one thing. Our children will be loved, Olivia. We can share all the ups and downs together.”

“No.”

He quirked a brow. “No?”

“No, I don’t want you to move to New York.” She took a deep breath and plunged in. “These past few weeks have taught me I’m not my mother. And being in New York made me recognize I’m not my job, either. So I’ve decided to do something a little different. Going through this experience has made me realize there aren’t any books out there for people who suddenly become parents, like I did, with little notice. So I was thinking I could write one. It’s going to be full of resources and advice—as soon as I learn it all myself.”

A tiny smile played at the corners of his mouth. “You’re going to write a self-help book instead of edit one.”

“And I want to live right here, in Mirror Lake, with our family and friends.”

“Won’t you miss the City?”

She shook her head. “Home is where you are, Brad. Besides, it’s close enough that I can go back and forth when I need to.”

He dropped to one knee, and this time he looked her straight in the eye. Her limbs went numb with shock. Blood heated her cheeks and her heart pounded so loud she was afraid she would miss the question. She was vaguely aware that Ryan had stopped talking, of the sudden silence of a thousand people waiting on bated breath with her.

“Marry me, Olivia.”

She nodded, tears blurring her vision. Brad stood and pulled her tight against him, planted his lips firmly over hers. She wrapped her arms around his neck and gave it back with all she had.

The crowd went wild.

He murmured something in her ear. Drew away, groped in his jacket pockets.

“What is it?” she asked.

“Dammit, it’s in my other pants pocket . . .”

She tugged on his arm to get him to look at her. “I don’t need that now.”

A huge smile spread over Brad’s handsome face as he gathered her back into his arms and looked deeply into her eyes. “I loved you a long time ago, I love you now, and I’ll love you forever.”

All she could see of his face was a huge watery blur. But she felt his strength surround her, smelled his warm cologne and sunshine scent carried on the familiar lake breeze. “I’ve always loved you, Brad. I always will.”

Cheers exploded all around them. Meg walked up and handed Annabelle to her, and Olivia kissed and hugged the tiny baby she would love as her own forever.

Ryan finally took the mike. “Brad Rushford, you’re officially disqualified from Bachelors Who Cook.”

Brad gave a
who, me?
shrug of innocence.

“You want to know why? Because you’ve just revoked your bachelorhood!”

Amid more cheers and more than a few disappointed
boos,
Brad leaned toward the mike. “I want to call a substitute.” His gaze flicked through the masses of people. “Frank Marks, get up here.”

Somehow, amidst all the commotion, Brad helped Olivia and the baby down and Alex and Tom steered the three of them to a quiet spot near the restaurant. Effie had tears in her eyes. Olivia kissed her and handed her Annabelle to hold.

Then she hugged Alex and Meg. “Thank you both for helping me.”

Alex, the softie that she was, was full-out bawling. As she dabbed at her eyes with a Kleenex, she pointed at the stage. “Oh my gosh, your father’s up there. He’s about to be auctioned off.”

Later that night, Brad and Olivia gathered at Alex and Tom’s house with the rest of the family to watch the 11:00 p.m. news coverage of the event.

Samantha walked in just before eleven, looking flustered, and made her way to Olivia and Annabelle on the couch. “My cell battery died so I was checking my e-mail on Trish and Kevin’s computer, and when the e-mail came up, it was still logged in to Trish’s account. I hope you don’t mind, but I copied these for you. It’s from a couple weeks before the accident.”

She handed Olivia a page of cut-and-pasted e-mails. The first heading said
RE: The Will
. Her sister’s own words blurred in front of her. Olivia’s hands shook as she stared blankly at the paper.

Brad, who was sitting next to her, wrapped a strong arm around her and the baby. He gave a small nod. As she searched his soft green eyes, she somehow found the courage to read.

I want us to name Olivia as Annabelle’s guardian. Tom and Alex are busy with all their own kids, Samantha’s too young, and Brad’s already raised the whole bunch of you.

Kevin’s reply was next.

You sure she’ll go for that? She doesn’t exactly have time for a kid.

Olivia looked up. She couldn’t go on. Seeing the words in print was too much.

“Keep reading,” Brad urged in a soft voice.

“I . . . can’t.” Olivia silently pleaded for his strength.

Brad gently extracted the pages from her hands. “Trish wrote,
‘You don’t know my sister like I do. She protected me from bullies, taught me about my period, and chased away Robbie Perkins when he started stalking me in high school. She gave me the sex talk when my dad was too embarrassed, and she told me to go straight through and get my master’s in library science because I’d have better opportunities and better pay, even if I planned to stay in Mirror Lake. I want Annabelle to grow up strong and determined and fearless, like my sister
.
’
”

Olivia closed her eyes, shook her head slowly. Unbelievable. Trish’s parting gift to her. She’d known all along what Olivia had to learn on her own.

Everyone was sniffling. Meg was sobbing outright. Samantha and Alex hugged. Even Tom pinched his nose and Ben shifted his gaze uncomfortably downward.

Brad gathered Olivia into his big arms, kissed her head and Annabelle’s sleepy one. “She wanted you to be the one all along.” His eyes shone with love and Olivia knew at that moment that she was exactly where she was meant to be. “Took me a little longer to be as convinced,” he said with a wry grin.

“You came around eventually,” Olivia said. “’Course, I could convince you about my loving side a little later if you’re unsure.”

“Sweetheart, you can demonstrate that any time you want.”

“Told you so,” Effie said, wiping her own tears. “But it’s eleven o’clock and time to stop all the bawling. The news is on.” She clicked on the remote.

The male anchor announced the big local story of the day. Suddenly, the camera cut to tape of Erika at the lakefront interviewing people in the crowd.

“That’s your father,” Alex exclaimed.

“How does it feel to be the bachelor who went for the highest price, Frank?” Erika asked, then pushed the mike in front of Olivia’s dad’s face.

Olivia looked at Brad, pure shock jolting her. “The highest price? My
dad
?”

“Your dad?” Brad echoed in disbelief.

Ben chuckled quietly. “Told you those were some lasagna rolls.”

The camera panned to a woman next to Frank. Jeannie Marshall grinned widely and linked arms with his. Frank shot her an adoring look and patted her hand.

“Jeannie’s been sweet on your dad for quite a while,” Brad said. “It’s about time those two got together.”

Jeannie Marshall and her
dad
? Well, why not. He probably would enjoy a little house on the lake with a nice screened porch if he could share it with her.

Olivia’s father spoke into the microphone. “I couldn’t be more thrilled . . . to make this event a real success for Mirror Lake Community Hospital, that is.”

“That sounds humble, like my dad,” Olivia said.

“Oh, hell,” Frank continued, “I’m pretty darn thrilled about you picking me, too, Jeannie.” Then he puckered up and kissed her, right on national TV.

“Oh my God,” Olivia said.

“Well, who knew Frank had it in him,” Tom said.

“Oh, he had it in him,” Brad said. “He just needed a good woman to bring it out.” He flashed Olivia that killer smile that never failed to send her stomach pitching. Then he kissed her good and hard in front of the whole family.

EPILOGUE

On a fine midsummer day, Olivia stood in line at the grocery story checking off her list. And blowing air kisses to Annabelle, who beamed radiant smiles at everyone in line from her perch in her baby carrier snuggled against Brad’s chest.

“Such a beautiful baby,” an elderly lady behind them said, clasping her hands together in exclamation.

“And so well behaved,” her husband added.

“She’s the best.” Olivia turned and smiled at Brad.

Brad grinned broadly and winked. “She hardly ever cries.”

“You two lovebirds are next,” Gertie said a little too loudly from behind the cash register. Olivia wheeled the cart forward while Brad unloaded the groceries.

Gertie slid crabmeat, garlic, olive oil, and panko breadcrumbs through the scanner. She pulled up the rhinestone-jaded reading glasses from the chain around her neck and squinted at a small box. “
Quin-oh-ah
. What has the world come to? Eating food I can’t even pronounce.”

“Don’t worry, Gertie,” Olivia said. “I can’t cook it either.”

“Leave that to me. But I see you’ve planned dessert.” Brad extracted a roll of refrigerated cookie dough hidden under fresh asparagus stalks and waved it in the air.

Olivia snagged her dough back from Brad. “So my cooking skills need a little work.”

“That’s okay.” He leaned close to her ear. “You have other talents that make up for it.”

“My goodness, look how this little lady has grown.” Gertie tickled Annabelle’s tiny foot while the baby sucked on a rattle and quietly assessed Gertie. “You’re not sharing space with the groceries today, are you, little girl?” Annabelle kicked and grinned, dropping the rattle, clearly relieved not to have a two-liter of diet cola wedged next to her elbows.

“So when’s the wedding?” Gertie asked.

Olivia bent to retrieve the toy. “We’ve got the church secured for Labor Day weekend. Now we just need a place for the reception. Got any ideas?”

“How about the yard of that old Victorian?” Mike Rossi stood in line a few people behind them, holding a take-out salad and a packet of dressing.

Brad stiffened and sent Mike a warning shake of his head.

What was going on?

Mike rambled on, clearly nonplussed by Brad’s ominous looks. “By the way, I had the roof inspected. And it’s going to cost you to replace it with authentic slate. Not to mention the gutters are plugged and half of them aren’t even connected anymore.”

Olivia froze, head of lettuce in hand. “You had the roof inspected? And the gutters?”

“That house sold,” Brad said quickly.

“It sold.” Olivia couldn’t believe it. “But why did you . . .”

Brad’s eyes gleamed with mischief, and the corner of his mouth turned up in a wicked grin. “Yeah, some couple with a baby bought it.”

“Oh.” She couldn’t help the tiny swell of disappointment that surfaced. But it was, after all, only a house, so she shrugged. “At least a young family got it.”

“We can move in right after we’re married. If Mike gets all that work done on time, right, Mike?”

Olivia dropped the lettuce into the cart. “You
bought
it? For us?”

He was never one to blush, but ruddy color infused his cheeks. “Yeah, I did.”

She squeezed past the cart and threw her arms around him, showering kisses all over his face. “I love that house almost as much as I love you two.”

“It needs a lot of work.”

She kissed Annabelle on the forehead, relished her sweet baby scent. “Did you hear that, Annabelle? You’re going to have a great big yard where you can chase your dog.”

“Not to mention all her other brothers and sisters,” Brad said.

Olivia beamed. “Maybe a nice fat cat, too.”

Brad turned around in the line. “Mike, did you not remember I asked for your confidence?”

“You are confident in me, Brad. I’m the best damn restoration specialist in town. I can’t help it you bought a giant squatting white elephant.” He rubbed his hand on his neck. “It will be beautiful one day . . . but it’ll cost you.”

“Okay, folks, thanks for all the PDA but it’s time to get the line moving.” Gertie held out a small box. “Don’t forget your tea candles. Somehow, I think they’re going to come to good use with that romantic dinner.”

“Who needs dinner?” Brad said in a low voice, holding Olivia close as he pushed out the cart.

“I have a great idea for dessert,” Olivia whispered. “And I’m not talking about fresh-baked cookies.”

She followed as Brad steered the cart out toward the door. What a couple of weeks it had been, and it had taught her a lot of lessons. How life could turn on a dime and shake up your whole world in ways you never imagined. How you could go home again even if you thought you couldn’t. How a tragedy could make you discover the love of your life again in the least likely place.

Her heart full of gratefulness, Olivia reached up on tiptoe to graze Brad’s lips.

They were warm and sweet and held the promise of many more kisses as they walked together through the years of their lives.

“Let’s take our little girl out of here,” Brad said, wrapping an arm around Olivia’s shoulders. Then the family headed together toward home.