When the sun rose the next day, everyone in the Rose family was busy preparing for the Jan’s Roses fundraiser. Samiyah and Jonas awakened in a haze of love while Claudia and Jaden rose early to get in their morning run. On the opposite side of town, Phoebe, Eden, and Jasmine sat idle as their stylist and makeup artists ran around them in circles.
Martha Jean and Adeline were just as busy, both trying to keep their mind on the goal to steal Christopher’s heart while simultaneously thinking about Antonio and Clifford. While Adeline practiced her walk that was steadying by the day, Martha Jean fussed over her foundation, which she removed and had Calvin reapply. The buoyant makeup artist didn’t flinch as he brushed over Martha Jean’s face until she was satisfied.
At Christopher Lee Rose’s house, time seemed to move slow, and he knew why. Every year on the anniversary of his late wife’s passing, a sadness would creep over him. Thoughts of his and Janet’s earlier years would scroll through his memory, and he would find himself laughing and crying. It was something he shared alone without the worried stares and glances he was sure to receive once he’d made it to the fundraiser. Interestingly, sadness was nowhere to be found when he awakened. In its place was the need to celebrate Janet’s memory. On his knees in prayer, Christopher sent an extra word to the Lord. Christopher could rest assured that Janet was in the best possible hands there was. In his conversation with God, Christopher prayed for his family’s protection and spiritual covering, and for their understanding with the revelation he would disclose to them when they regrouped after the event. When he completed his prayers, Christopher sat idle for a moment, gaining clarity over the years of his life.
It was then that he shot a quick prayer back up in thanksgiving. He’d been blessed to watch his kids grow up, graduate from school, and get married. Now soon he would also become a grandfather, and that was the icing on the cake. Christopher smiled as he thought about everything his boys had accomplished. And he was sure, his girls got their book smarts from their mother. That thought warmed his heart, and his smile lingered. Yes, he had been truly blessed. Now, Christopher would receive the biggest blessing of all. The ability to love again. His heart soared with thoughts of Norma. She’d been the glue that held the family together throughout the years. From her advice, to her loving nature, to her spunky wit. There had been many instances where Christopher had witnessed his children grieve about the loss of their mother to Norma when he couldn’t seem to reach them. She would rub a reassuring hand over them and give them encouragement. Always sowing seeds of life, love, and prosperity through the words she spoke to them. He appreciated her adoration for his children, and Christopher had made certain when Norma’s boys were ready that their college tuition would be paid for.
There was no place Norma belonged other than their family, and Christopher was delighted to make an honest woman out of her. Rising to his feet, Christopher slipped his hands into his pockets and let out a long slow breath. His eyes swept around the traditional style room and landed on a picture of Janet on the far wall. Sitting in the hospital bed holding Phoebe, Eden, and Jasmine, Janet’s smile stretched across her face, and tears were in her eyes. Christopher strolled to the picture and picked it up to stare at it. He grinned and rubbed his thumb over the glass protection of the photo. It was time to take the pictures down. He would give them to his daughters, where they should’ve been anyway.
“Rest in Heaven, Jan,” he half whispered just as the sound of the floorboard creaked. Christopher turned to catch the fleeting back of Norma. “Don’t leave,” he said. She halted her footsteps but didn’t reenter the room.
Turning slowly to face Christopher, Norma spoke, “I was just coming by to check on you.” Her eyes moved from his handsome face to the photo in his hand at his side. “I didn’t mean to disturb—”
“You didn’t,” he interjected. “I was merely reflecting. This time of year always does that to me.” He smiled softly. “It took you long enough to come see about me though. I could’ve been in here passed out or drowning in my sorrows,” he joked.
“I would’ve come sooner… I just thought, maybe, you should have some time alone.”
Christopher sat the photo down and crossed the room to Norma.
“I’m just kidding, love. What’s wrong, you seem serious and nervous. Is it anything I can help with?”
Norma sighed. “I am nervous, Christopher.”
Christopher was relieved that she didn’t call him Mr. Rose. It bothered him more now than anything, especially since she was no longer an employee but the love of his life.
Christopher waved a hand over Norma’s shoulders and gave them a slight squeeze. “I know our revelation is a big deal, but honestly, these are the same kids you’ve help me raise. They love you. They would go completely crazy if you weren’t a part of this family.”
“Yeah, as everything but their…” Norma hesitated.
“Mother?” he finished.
Norma nodded. “I can’t replace Janet, Christopher. I’m terrified.”
“Sssssh.” Christopher pulled her into his embrace. “No one is asking you to replace Janet. They won’t expect you to, and I don’t expect you to. You… are… Norma. That’s who you’ll always be, and that’s who we want in our lives.” Christopher waited a beat before continuing. “Now if you’re trying to bail on marrying me, just tell me now so I can cry my eyes out in peace.”
Norma smirked up at him, giving Christopher a slight swat on his arms. “Oh hush, you know I would never do that.”
“Do I?”
Norma peered up at him. “Christopher Lee Rose, there is no man I would ever want to be with other than you. For a lifetime.”
Christopher covered his heart. “You’re making me emotional, woman.”
Norma laughed, and he bent down to her for a kiss.
“When will your boys be here?” Christopher asked.
“will meet us at the fundraiser. Santiago has a girlfriend who can’t get time off, and he doesn’t want to leave her, so he’s won’t make it.”
Christopher gauged her reaction. “Are you okay with that?”
Norma shrugged. “They grow up and have their own lives you know.”
Christopher nodded. He did know. When Jonas moved out of the house, he took Jaden with him. Or rather, Jaden wanted to be with his big brother. Jonas and Jaden had always been close because they were the first two around for a few years before the others came along. But after leaving, it was like his boys disappeared one after the other. The next thing Christopher knew, he was living alone.
“They say it is what it is.” He smirked and so did Norma. “Let’s have lunch. I’ll cook.”
Aghast, Norma reared her head back to look at him. “You’re cooking?” She took her eyes around the room. “Somebody call the fire marshal.”
“That’s not funny, woman.”
Norma fell over in laughter. Christopher tickled her neck, and his fingers trailed up to her ears. Norma squealed and turn to evade him. She didn’t make it a step before he covered her in his big muscular arms.
“You didn’t actually think you’d get away,” he said with his mouth to her ear.
Norma’s eyes closed, and she shuddered at the warmness of his mouth.
“I didn’t make a big effort to leave because I don’t want to.”
“Mmm,” Christopher hummed. “That’s my girl. Just so you know, you’ll never get away from me again.”
Norma turned in his arms. “You say that as if I’ve tried before.”
“What I mean is we’ve put up a front in front of the children for as long as I can take it. So are you ready to be the real us around them?”
Norma bit down on her lip. Being with Christopher this way was easy. “Honestly, honey, I’d be too embarrassed. We’re old, those children don’t want to see that.”
Christopher cocked his head to the side and squinted at her. “We’re older,” he corrected, “not dead. I’m sure they won’t mind.”
“That makes one of us.”
“Do you believe me?”
“I do,” she said.
The two words sparked an energy in Christopher that spread through his veins and cuddled in his gut.
“Mmm, I do, too, baby.”
They kissed, slow and steady. Norma was so in love. The way Christopher cared for her was like nothing she’d ever experienced. It wasn’t as if she’d had a husband before. But even the one or two long term relationships that she’d held were nothing compared to what she and Christopher shared. Norma reveled in the tingles that covered her mouth when they kissed and the heat that flooded her loins when they touched. She was sure this was where she wanted to be. Now all she had to do was convince his family of the same. And although she trusted Christopher and believed everything he said, she couldn’t help but wonder what would happen if he were wrong.