Still, page 14
“Oh hell no. Just stand there and don’t tear a stitch or I’ll—oh shit, is that your father?”
He turned and after a moment I saw his jaw tighten, the muscles in his neck cord, and his shoulders brace. Battle stance.
“I’m going with ‘yes’,” I said softly, stepping in close to him, my hand sliding under the suit jacket, skimming along his belt before settling on his hip. “Hey Walter?”
Never, ever, had I see that particular look in his eyes. A coldness glittered there that had not, in seventeen—almost eighteen years now—ever been directed at me.
“Walter, did you growl?” I chuckled, taking his glass from him, depositing both his and mine onto the tray of the next passing waiter.
“You know, I thought—but this is bullshit. We haven’t spoken in over twenty years, and I jump when they call? When he called? What the hell was I thinking?”
He was upset and hurt and there was only one thing to do. “Let’s go.”
“What?” His head swiveled so he could see me.
“Really, come on, I’ll take you out to dinner and then we’ll go home and I’ll do you.”
His eyes thawed slowly, but I finally saw the glint in them.
“Me and the kids are all the family you’ve had for eighteen years, Walter, and we’re all you really need.”
He lunged at me, arms wrapping me up tight, face pressed down into my shoulder as he trembled.
My hands lay flat on his back as I nuzzled his throat. “I know that some of the reason you worked so hard and so tirelessly was so that your father and your family could not help but see you. Like sure, they cut you off, but you still rose up and made a name for yourself and are a force to be reckoned with. I know that.”
He squeezed tighter, and I felt his cheek rest on top of my head.
“You’ve accomplished everything you wanted, and now—”
“I have you.” He inhaled. “I’m good.”
“Me too.” I tipped my head so I could see his face. “So let’s go.”
The heavy laugh lines in the corners of his eyes crinkled as he smiled at me. “Okay.”
As we separated, he caught my hand in both of his, keeping me there.
“What?”
“Your ring,” he said huskily, sliding his fingers over the thick platinum band I was wearing. “Back where it belongs.”
“You’re such a romantic.”
“I never thought––” He took a quick settling breath, fighting not to get emotional. “––that I would get you back.”
“We’re both lucky,” I soothed.
“Yes,” he agreed, giving me a quick kiss on the mouth.
“Now c’mon,” I grumbled. “I’m starving.”
We were on our way toward the door, hand in hand, when I heard someone call Walter’s name. We stopped to see his father walking toward us, people getting out of his way as he moved at a determined clip to reach us.
I knew now what my husband would look like in another twenty years, and the picture was dashing and handsome. His father was a stunning man with his height, breadth of shoulder, and quiet, simmering virility.
“Walter.” Brennan Wainwright exhaled as he reached us, immediately grabbing hold of his son’s shoulder and, surprisingly, mine as our eyes met. “Sivan.”
“Sir,” Walter responded, tightening his grip on my hand. An introduction didn’t have to be made, since apparently his dad already knew who I was.
Brennan’s warm gaze locked on mine before his attention returned to his son. “I’m so glad you came. I’ve been keeping an eye out for you.”
Walter was quiet.
“And if you’re not staying, that’s fine, but we would certainly love to have you and your husband for dinner tomorrow or Monday.”
“Why?”
He cleared his throat. “Your mother and I have made grievous mistakes, and before any more time passes, before pride keeps us apart any longer—I—we—want a chance to fix it.”
I saw Camille Wainwright then, behind him, watching us, waving away anyone who came near her, her entire concentration centered on her son. Walter had told me both their names years ago, but we had never talked about them long or in depth, and he had no pictures or photo albums. I was hoping to see some snapshots from when my husband was a baby, if we ever got friendly.
“Walter,” Brennan said, his focus on me and then back to my husband’s face. “Please.”
“One of us has to change,” Walter said. “And it’s not going to be me.”
The tension, the flat statement, all of it was too much for me. I laughed. Walter did a slow pan to me. I gestured at his father. “He’s sorry. Aren’t you sorry?”
“I am,” Brennan entreated. “So sorry.”
“There, see?” I grinned at my husband. “Now tell your father that dinner tomorrow is great.”
“Dinner tomorrow is great,” Walter parroted, his eyes warm as he gazed at me.
“There you go, sir,” I said to Brennan. “All settled.”
“Thank you,” he said to both of us.
“Of course,” I said gently, before leaning sideways and waving at Camille. Her head came up sharply and she pointed at herself. “Yes, you,” I said and gestured for her to come to me.
Her face lit up as she hurried toward us. Letting go of my husband’s hand, I stepped sideways so she could reach her son. Walter was stunned to have his mother throw her arms around him and start to sob.
Brennan teared up as well, even as he smiled at me.
I understood. An invitation to a party had been all they could think of. If Walter showed, they would know reconciliation was possible, but they were too proud to simply drive to his house, get out, knock on the front door, and hope for the best. It was the same thing as Walter not wanting to hear “no” from me—they didn’t want one from him. His parents, at a loss as to how to even broach an apology of such magnitude, were floundering in uncertainty and regret.
So that led to the innocuous summons to a party that Walter, for all his bravado, had jumped at the chance to attend. His parents saw him come in, and their hearts must have soared. When they saw him leaving, Brennan had moved fast to make sure we didn’t make it out the door. He had tipped his hand and now….
Now.
We would see what we would see.
I watched Walter hug Camille so tight that she started laughing through her tears. She finally stepped back to gaze up at him. “I’ve followed your career,” she confessed. “I’ve been on your company website so many times, Walter, I don’t think I could count them.”
He listened.
“I snuck a peek at your kids on Facebook and they’re gorgeous, and”—she turned to me—“you and your husband look wonderful together.”
I reached toward her and she grabbed my hand.
“Thank you so much for taking such good care of my son.”
“It’s been my pleasure.”
She took a deep breath, let me go, and nestled back against Walter.
Someone coughed behind me. “Hey.”
They were, I found out, Walter’s brothers James and Edward. They both resembled him, but interestingly, both seemed older than Walter even though they were younger.
They shook hands first with him, then with me, and we were introduced to James’s wife, Miranda, (second wife, she made clear for some reason), and Edward’s fiancée, April. They seemed thrilled to meet me and Walter.
“So tomorrow is regular Sunday dinner,” James said, glancing around. “Are you and Sivan coming?”
Everyone was quiet.
“Yes,” Walter answered, glancing at his father.
“Yes.” Brennan cleared his throat. “Would you and Sivan stay?”
“No,” Walter declined. “I forgot that we have to be somewhere, but we’ll be there tomorrow for sure.”
“And Christmas,” his mother pressed. “We would love to meet your children.”
“How many kids do you have?” Edward inquired.
“Two, Chloe and Declan. They’re twenty-one and nineteen.”
“I have pictures,” I said.
Everyone crowded around me as I pulled out my phone and brought up pictures of Chloe in her robotics lab at school, Declan in his football uniform, Chloe at Walter’s Christmas party last year in a gorgeous emerald green gown, Declan in a tux, Chloe kissing Jeff, Declan asleep on my knee.
“Your kids are beautiful, Walter,” James assured his brother.
“They’re both actually coming home this year,” Walter explained. “We can bring them for Christmas.”
On the phone earlier that day, Chloe said she wouldn’t miss our reunion for the world. She had apologized to Jeff’s parents and explained that she had to be with us this year. It would be her and Jeff’s first Christmas apart, but they would reconvene for New Year’s. I had begged his forgiveness on the phone, but because he was Jeff, he understood. He was more happy for us than sad at being separated from his girl.
“Thank you,” Camille said, and when she closed on me, I opened my arms for her. Her sigh was deep when she was holding me.
As we left the ballroom twenty minutes later, I turned to Walter. “We could have stayed.”
“No,” he said hoarsely. “We have somewhere to be.”
“Where’s that?”
“Home.”
“Walter, we can be home anytime.”
“No. I realized something.”
“What’s that?”
He stopped walking and faced me. “That yes, I’ve worked hard for a lot of reasons, some selfish, some not, but more than anything, I’ve built my whole life around you. Every success, every little bit of happiness is attached to you.”
I translated. “I love you too, Walter. I’m the exact same way. There’s no part of my life that isn’t connected to yours. That’s why I’m not going anywhere.”
“Ever.”
“Ever,” I agreed, wrapping my arms around his neck, easing him down to me. “One for the ride home.”
“For home,” he said, and kissed me.
About the Author
MARY CALMES lives in Lexington, Kentucky, with her husband and two children and loves all the seasons except summer. She graduated from the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California, with a bachelor’s degree in English literature. Due to the fact that it is English lit and not English grammar, do not ask her to point out a clause for you, as it will so not happen. She loves writing, becoming immersed in the process, and falling into the work. She can even tell you what her characters smell like. She loves buying books and going to conventions to meet her fans.
Romance from MARY CALMES
http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com
Romance from MARY CALMES
http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com
Romance from MARY CALMES
http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com
Romance from MARY CALMES
http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com
Romance from MARY CALMES
http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com
By MARY CALMES
NOVELS
CHANGE OF HEART SERIES
Change of Heart • Honored Vow • Trusted Bond
Crucible of Fate
A Matter of Time Vol. 1 & 2
Bulletproof
But For You
Acrobat
The Guardian
Mine
Three Fates (anthology)
Timing
Warders Vol. 1 & 2
NOVELLAS
After the Sunset
Again
Any Closer
Frog
Romanus
The Servant
Steamroller
Still
What Can Be
THE WARDER SERIES
His Hearth • Tooth & Nail • Heart in Hand
Sinnerman • Nexus • Cherish Your Name
Published by DREAMSPINNER PRESS
http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com
Copyright
Still ©Copyright Mary Calmes, 2013
Published by
Dreamspinner Press
5032 Capital Circle SW
Ste 2, PMB# 279
Tallahassee, FL 32305-7886
USA
http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the authors’ imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Cover Art by Reese Dante
http://www.reesedante.com
This book is licensed to the original purchaser only. Duplication or distribution via any means is illegal and a violation of International Copyright Law, subject to criminal prosecution and upon conviction, fines, and/or imprisonment. This eBook cannot be legally loaned or given to others. No part of this eBook can be shared or reproduced without the express permission of the Publisher. To request permission and all other inquiries, contact Dreamspinner Press at: 5032 Capital Circle SW Ste 2, PMB# 279, Tallahassee, FL 32305-7886, USA.
http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/
Digital ISBN: 978-1-62380-695-8
Printed in the United States of America
First Edition
May 2013
Mary Calmes, Still
