Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 87513 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 438(@200wpm)___ 350(@250wpm)___ 292(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87513 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 438(@200wpm)___ 350(@250wpm)___ 292(@300wpm)
As she walked backward to the end of the diving board, pulling Troy with her, he whispered, “Trust me.”
Standing side by side on the diving board hanging out over the water, all the creepy ocean things swirling below them, she said softly, “I do trust you.”
Then, hand in hand, they jumped together. Both of them in tune and calling out at the same moment, “I love you.”
Their love, like the ocean, would last forever.
Epilogue
The well-wishers threw birdseed at Cal and Lyssa as they were leaving for their honeymoon in London, which would always be a special place for them. Susan would take charge of baby Owen while they were gone. The Mavericks with young children were also heading out. Francine, Charlie’s mother, had exhausted herself dancing around her walker. Jeremy, after spending the afternoon playing with the kids, lay splayed on the grass.
And yet the partying went on as the sun set and darkness fell and the bistro lights lit the dance floor. Holding Michaela’s hand, Troy led her out to Flo, who was dancing in Walter’s arms as if it was the only place she ever wanted to be.
Troy tapped Walter’s shoulder. “May I cut in?”
Walter smiled, and Troy had never before seen such softness about the man. The softness of love. “Of course,” Walter said as he relinquished Flo to Troy.
Michaela took her mother’s place in Walter’s arms. And dancing away with Flo, Troy said, “You should know I’m in love with your daughter.”
Flo gave him a lovely, breezy laugh. “Dear, don’t you remember our little matchmaking team? We already knew. Probably even before you did.”
He laughed with her. “I remember that day in my office. Why do you think I took Michaela on that hike?”
Flo hugged him tightly. Then she stepped back into a proper ballroom hold. “I knew the moment I saw you two together in the gallery that you were the perfect man for her. You looked at her as if she was a goddess.”
“She is a goddess. My goddess.”
Flo kissed his cheek. “I’ve waited so long for you to come into her life.”
He said honestly, “So have I.” Then he said with a grin, “Now, about you and Walter…”
Walter Braedon was an excellent dancer. As he whirled Michaela around the dance floor, his eyes flitted to her mother again and again.
Michaela said formally, “Mr. Braedon, I have to ask you about your intentions toward my mother.”
For a moment, she thought he’d crack a smile. But instead, he spoke with the same gravity. “My intentions are highly honorable. Your mother is a gorgeous, brilliant, incredible woman. I feel honored that she has walked into my life.” He smiled, a stunning smile that seemed to take up his entire face. “I’m in love with her. It might seem fast to you, and I’m sure that gives you doubts, but she is the most special of women. I loved Noble’s mother, and now Flo has brought joy into my life that I never thought I’d know again. I promise you that I will make her happy.”
Michaela felt a tear leak from her eye. “She feels the same?”
He looked once again at her mother whirling around the floor in Troy’s arms. They were both laughing. “I hope with all my heart that she does.”
“That’s all I wanted to know.” Then, spontaneously, she threw her arms around him and whispered, “Thank you.”
She and her mother had found love at almost the same time. There was something so meaningful about that.
“And now, I’ll give you back to Mom. And you can give me back to Troy.”
In Troy’s arms once more, she whispered, “I’m dreaming of the wedding dresses my mother and I will make.”
He laughed. “Are you asking me to marry you?”
She answered him with a kiss.
Michaela was fixing her lipstick when Flo entered the ladies’ lounge.
Despite being a beachside restroom, the elegant appointments shone brightly, with gold faucets, gleaming marble countertops, a terrazzo tile floor, and a cheval mirror in the corner where ladies could inspect their outfits. But then, this was a Regent Resort, and Flo expected no less from Walter.
Michaela turned, leaning back against the counter, her skin aglow, her smile gleaming in plum-colored lipstick. “Mom.”
Flo had followed Michaela to the lounge. At all the galas and cocktail parties and gallery openings, wasn’t that where ladies convened to gossip? And her timing was perfect, as it seemed the lounge was empty.
Taking her daughter’s hands in hers, Flo held their arms wide. “You are so beautiful.”
Heat crept into Michaela’s face, even if it was her mother saying so. “So are you.”
Flo went right to her daughter’s heart. “Are those stars shining in your eyes?”
Despite the blush, her beautiful daughter admitted, “Yes, there happen to be a lot of stars shining in my eyes today.”
Flo drew her in for a hug and said against her hair, “I’m so happy for you. Troy Harrington is such a good man.”