A Day in a Life

Chapter Thirty-Six

Sydni

“ T HE MOUNTAIN AIR looks good on you,” Elijah comments.

This was my dream. From the first moment I laid eyes on him, I wanted to be stuck in a mountain cabin with him. Here I am. He does look like he just walked off the pages of an L.L.Bean catalog. He’s my rock, the thing I’m holding on to with tightly gripped fists.

“I’m feeling so much better.”

We’ve only been here four days. Elijah reserved the cabin for two weeks. Two weeks with just the two of us. Alone.

We have separate bedrooms. He’s still behaving like the perfect gentleman.

Although I have been sleeping twelve-hour nights. I know I’m still recovering. He respects that.

I’ve spent a lot of time sitting at a quaint window seat, staring at the incredible scenery—the endless ocean of pine trees—thinking through my life. I still can’t come to terms with the way my mother and Hannah treated me. I don’t think I ever will. They acted as though I was some sort of emotionless object they were free to use to get their own way.

Elijah has been giving me space to grieve. I need it. Yet he’s there when I need someone at my side too.

“Hey, Syd.” Elijah joins me. I bring my knees up toward my chest, so he can sit on half of the window seat. It’s a tight fit, but I like the feel of him pressed against me. He’s holding two mugs of steaming herb tea. He hands one to me. “Doing okay?”

“Yeah, I’m okay.” Okay is the best I can be right now.

“Can I remind you of something? Something important?”

“Sure.” My fingers wrap around my mug, craving warmth. It’s chilly in the mountains. But nothing compares to the warmth Elijah brings me.

“Mothers and Sisters don’t normally behave the way your mother and sister behaved. You know that, right?”

I take a deep breath, staring into my tea. “I do. It doesn’t make it easier, but I know I was caught in the middle between two…” Sociopaths? “Very selfish people. Glad I had my dad. The thing is, I learned at a young age to love myself. I knew I wouldn’t receive love from them. I had to find it elsewhere. I found it inside of myself. If I didn’t feel love for myself, I figured no one else would either.”

Elijah’s eyebrows rise as he contemplates my words. “Big thoughts for a young girl. You impress me. Have since the moment I met you. Even before I met you in person.”

“It’s just survival. I did what I had to do.”

“Perhaps. But not everyone survives what you did and comes out all right on the other end.”

I nod, not knowing what to say. Am I all right? Elijah makes me feel like I’m fine, not abnormal in any way, just because my sister and husband tried to kill me.

“One more reminder. You know how many people love you, right? And I’m one of them.”

My smile turns soft. “Love is my cure. I’m okay because I have you.” It’s true. Love is the only thing holding me together. Love for myself, love from Elijah, from my father, from Penny, and from Emma. They remind me there’s good in the world. I can’t forget Sissy, Randall, and Brook either.

Elijah stays with me as we nurse our mugs of herb tea. He wraps his arms around my raised knees, leaning intimately against me. Sitting in silence with Elijah is comfortable, easy.

After a long while, he says, “How about a walk?” Though our position is lazy, his tone is upbeat.

“Okay.” I need to leave this window seat. It’s time to pick myself up and move on with life. I think Elijah senses it’s time as well.

We hold hands as we hike the stunning terrain, moving slowly so Elijah doesn’t twist an ankle or something equally disastrous.

The mountain air revitalizes me, bringing me back to reality.

I’m safe. I’m free. I’m alive. Elijah is at my side. What more do I need?

As if reading my mind, Elijah says, “I know the past will always cause you pain. But you also have an amazing future to look forward to.”

“You’re right. I’m sorry I’ve been such a downer.”

“Hey, no apologies. You’re allowed to mourn. That’s why we’re here.”

After hiking for about an hour, each lost in our own thoughts, we retreat to the cabin.

My thoughts are finally turning to Elijah, and only Elijah. We’re alone. I’m not married anymore. Why haven’t we shared our first kiss?

Don’t answer that, I tell myself. I know the answer. I haven’t exactly been Miss Personality.

Elijah stokes the fire, then joins me on the couch, placing his arm around me until I feel like I’m wrapped in a safe cocoon. I cuddle up to his chest. If there was ever a perfect moment, it’s now. I look up at him, craning my neck, offering my lips on a silver platter.

He gives me a sweet forehead kiss, running his lips over my skin in a way that makes me shiver.

“Are you cold?” he says, ever the man who tends to every single one of my needs. I want for nothing. I think I’ve gained five pounds since I’ve been here with the way he feeds me.

I get to my feet. “I’ll grab an extra blanket.”

“I would’ve gotten that for you.”

“I know. You’d lasso the moon if I asked for it.” I pause, running my hands through my hair. “I’m sorry. That sounded sarcastic. I didn’t mean it that way. Not at all. You’ve been wonderful.”

“What did you mean?”

I turn to face him. “What I really wanted to say was, Elijah, I’m not a married woman anymore.”

He stands. “I’m well aware.”

I swallow. Hard. “Don’t you want to kiss me?”

“More than anything I’ve ever wanted in my entire life.” Flames are reflected in his eyes, making them look like they’re on fire.

“What’s stopping you?” I ask.

“I was waiting for the right time.”

“Is this it?” Please let this be the moment.

“You tell me.”

Disappointed, I drop my head. He’s so good. I couldn’t have found a better man. But I want him to let go of his iron control and kiss me until I can’t breathe. I want him to go for it, to unleash his passion on me. I want him to want me.

I’m not being fair to him. He’s been taking such good care of me. He’s showing he loves me every day. What more do I want?

“I’ll get the blanket,” I say in my whisper-voice.

But as I turn toward my bedroom, I hear footsteps behind me. I turn back just in time for Elijah to toss his cane to the floor, grab me in his arms, and walk me backward until I hit the wall. He takes my hands and holds them in his, pinning them just above my head. As he stares into my eyes, he laces our fingers together softly. It’s the calm before the storm. Then his lips descend on mine in a searing kiss that’s so demanding I get my wish. I can’t breathe.

Our mouths open to each other, becoming one. His body is pressed against mine as he kisses me hard and fast, then soft and slow. Then he starts over, first kissing me like he has no control whatsoever, then kissing me so slowly, it’s like he’s tormenting me, making me want more. As far as first kisses go, I couldn’t have imagined this one. I never would’ve guessed the depth of passion inside of him. I know this moment has been building for quite some time. We’ve both wanted it for so long.

It’s as though we’re making up for lost time. He seems to have no intention of ending the kiss anytime soon. Neither do I. I reciprocate his kiss moment by moment, giving as much as he’s offering. I gasp, breathing in his sweet breath as he breathes in mine, as though we’re one.

“I love you, Syd. I love you,” he says, then his lips are back on mine with renewed determination.

I accept each and every degree of passion he has to offer, and return them with my own pressing need to love him.

When he finally pauses, his lips hovering over mine, our breathing heavy, I return the words he said to me. “I love you, Elijah Garrett.”

It lights a fire under him. The ebb and flow of his kisses begins again, with highs and lows, taking me to new heights and new depths. I never knew love could be like this. So filled with ache and hunger. So filled with purpose and resolve.

Elijah leaves me with no doubt about how he feels toward me. His kiss speaks for him, saying everything I need to know and more. So much more.

Slowly, he releases my hands and our arms wrap around each other so tightly I don’t know where he begins and I end.

AT brEAKFAST, ELIJAH has a wicked smile on his face.

“Do you have plans for me today?” I tease.

“You know I do. You were warned that once I started kissing you I wasn’t going to stop.”

I giggle. Me, Sydni Greer, giggles. Unheard of. After last night, I can’t wait to kiss him again. I want a repeat performance. It’s all I’ve been able to think about.

He serves me his omelet special with hash browns and toast. “Are you trying to fatten me up?”

“Nope. Just want you to get your health back.”

“It’s back. With a vengeance.”

Even though I complain about the amount of food, I eat every scrap. “Must be the elevation,” I say sheepishly.

Once we’re done eating, Elijah clears the table, then places a folder on the surface. He turns serious on me. “Syd, there are a couple of things I need to talk to you about. I didn’t want to overload your emotions, but I think you’re ready. No more secrets, remember?”

“No more secrets,” I repeat, dreading bad news. No more secrets usually means bad news is coming my way.

“Remember in the hospital when I told you Sissy had called?”

“Yeah. She found my paintings in the art studio and asked if she could put them in a local gallery for me.” I figured I had nothing to lose.

“Yep. And she did.”

“And?” I prompt.

“They sold out in three days.”

I freeze. “Everything?”

“Every single painting. And they want more.” Elijah takes a piece of paper out of the folder. “Here’s your check.”

I take it with trembling hands. It’s for seventy-five thousand dollars. I hold onto the table as a head rush overcomes me. “Oh my gosh.”

“That’s not all.”

“There’s more?”

“Yeah. Emma’s children placed her in a rest home. She’s angry as heck about it, but she’s excited to see you. Her children, however, want nothing to do with her house or land. She’s deeded it over to you.” Elijah hands me another paper from his magical folder.

I stare at it, picturing brown-eyed children frolicking on the shore of the river. Behind me is the most beautiful two-story Victorian home I’ve ever seen. Elijah is standing on the porch. My imagination can be vivid sometimes. “Can we rebuild? A huge, gorgeous home? Start our new life there? Me and you? And have lots of babies?”

“With brown eyes?” he says, smiling his sexy smile.

“Yes. How many?” I ask, my heart overflowing.

“As many as you want.” He pauses. “Wait, did you sorta kinda just propose to me?”

“I guess I did. Is that okay?”

“It’s better that way.”

“What do you mean?” My heart sinks an inch or two.

“I’d rather not appear to be a gold-digger.”

“Gold-digger? Seventy-five grand will build the foundation of our new home. That’s about it. I’m hardly wealthy.”

Elijah gets to his feet, then kneels in front of me as I sit in the dining chair. “My answer is yes, by the way.”

My heart is no longer sinking. It’s soaring. I lower my head and kiss him, long and slow. My hands hold his cheeks, then delve into his thick hair.

He pulls a small box out of his pocket. “I do have a ring.”

My hand covers my mouth. “What? Really?” I say, my words muffled. “You’ve been busy.”

“Marry me, Sydni? I don’t want to wait. You deserve happiness in your life. I’d like to be the one to make you happy.”

“Yes, yes, yes.” I can hardly talk through my tears.

I lean down and kiss him again, my tears making it a salty kiss, yet filled with promises for a bright future.

He places the ring on my finger. Sunshine streaming in through the window catches the diamond and creates a symphony of light and shadows on the walls of the cabin. I memorize it, knowing I’ll paint it one day soon.

I’ve found the light I was seeking.

He takes my face in his hands and kisses me again. He’s right. We’re going to spend our life kissing. And making babies.

“Wait,” I say, my lips on his. “One more thing. Can we break Emma out of the nursing home? Take her home to live with us?”

“You bet. Me and you—Bonnie and Clyde.” Elijah points two fingers to himself, then to me, back and forth. “I was thinking the same thing. We’ll hire a private nurse if we need to.”

“She means a lot to me.” I love that Elijah loves her too.

“She’s a special lady.” Elijah pauses, looking at me with intense eyes. “Now for some official business.”

“Official?”

“Yes, ma’am. As a representative of Risk Policy Collective, I would like to inform you,” he clears his throat with great exaggeration, “with our deepest apologies for the loss of your loved one, that…” A tender expression encompasses his handsome face.

“What? What is it?”

“Syd, Cole never removed you as beneficiary of his life insurance policy. Once you file, you will receive a check for eight hundred thousand dollars.”

I gasp so loudly it fills every corner of the room.

Irony dawns as we stare at each other, mockery mingling with cynicism.

We can’t help ourselves. Tiny smiles form on each of our faces. Poetic justice has made an appearance in our lives.