CHAPTER 14
“I can’t believe my baby is married. Let me see your ring.”
Kristin cringed as she and Julian entered her parents’ house. Her mom was standing right beside her dad, upright with her hands on her walker.
Julian nodded at her father. “Hello, Dale. Good to see you again.” The two men shook hands before Julian swooped in and kissed Kristin’s mother on the cheek. “Cindy, you’re looking as beautiful as ever. I still say I know where Kristin got her looks.”
As they all made their way into the living room, Kristin felt nausea rising up to greet her. She loved her parents, and she’d never lied to them, because there had never been a reason for her to make up falsehoods. She’d spent her youth with her mom, and she’d never gotten into trouble.
She listened as Julian smoothly told her mother that he had wanted to wait and let Kristin pick out the ring of her dreams.
She’d spent a tense night in Julian’s guest room, the same one she’d used to watch him over the weekend. Surprisingly, he’d kissed her tenderly and let her go to bed, but she’d slept very little.
Taking her place next to her mom on the sofa, Kristin put an arm around Cindy’s fragile shoulders, noticing that she wasn’t tremoring quite as badly today, and she seemed fairly steady with her walker. “I feel guilty for leaving,” she told her mom earnestly while Julian and her father spoke boisterously across the room.
Her mother squinted up at her in surprise. “Whatever for? I’m not dying. I just can’t walk straight.”
“I’ve never left you and Dad for very long—”
“No, and it’s past time you did, baby girl,” Cindy Moore told her daughter firmly. “You’ve given up enough of your life for us. Now that you’ve found Julian, he should be your priority.”
“He’s aggravating sometimes,” Kristin blurted out without thinking.
Her mom chuckled softly. “They all are, honey. Some are just worse than others. Your father fusses over me like I’m a child. He forgets my brain is still working. I just can’t always express myself right.”
Occasionally, her mother’s speech was slurred, especially when she was tired. Eyeing her parent carefully, Kristin could see the twinkle in the woman’s eyes. “Because he loves you,” she answered softly.
“I know he does,” Cindy replied. “I love him right back. But it doesn’t mean we don’t argue.”
Kristin swallowed hard as she looked over at her father, a big redheaded man who’d stood by his wife all of these years. Her father could be stubborn and proud, but he looked far less stressed out now that he had competent people running Shamrock’s. “He looks good.”
“Thanks to that young man of yours,” Cindy crowed. “You chose well, sweetie. He’s a keeper. I’m glad you saw that and married him right away. The way that he’s helped your dad is almost a miracle for us.”
Tears sprang to Kristin’s eyes. After all she’d done, it had never been enough to save her mom and dad from living a difficult life. But Julian had swept in and saved the day with an infusion of money and talent that had made Shamrock’s the hottest place in town. “I wish I could have done more myself,” Kristin murmured regretfully.
“Honey, you did. You kept the business running. Do you think your dad and I don’t know what you sacrificed for us? And what you’ve always given up for me,” Cindy said tearfully. “That’s why we’re so happy that you found Julian.”
Kristin wanted to weep, but she kept her sorrow buried as she spoke. “I gave up those things willingly, Mom. I love you. You and Dad are my entire life.”
Her heart ached. Obviously both of her parents had felt guilty for squashing her childhood and her adult life. That’s not what Kristin wanted, but it felt nice for them to acknowledge that she’d loved them enough to give up whatever was needed for her family.
“You’re a good girl. You always were. You’re special, honey.” She nodded jerkily toward Julian. “Now it’s your turn. With a man like that, I think you need a little alone time.”
“I’ve always wanted to go to Hawaii,” Kristin answered, trying to sound excited.
“I know. I think your dad put in his opinion about where you should honeymoon.”
“So this wasn’t a coincidence,” Kristin said carefully.
“I doubt that,” Cindy said with a happy smile.
Julian planned this trip? He wanted to please me by picking a destination I wanted?
No. It had to be a coincidence. “He has a place there,” Kristin informed her parent.
For the first time in a long time, her mom chuckled. “He has a place in a lot of locations, from what I understand. He has investments all over the world.”
Not knowing what to say to that, she answered, “Well then, I’m glad he picked Maui.”
“Go and have a wonderful time. I want lots of pictures. I’m glad you’re happy now, but I just wish I hadn’t missed the wedding,” Cindy commented wistfully.
“We can have a big reception when we come back, Cindy,” Julian suggested as he moved across the room with her father.
Kristin watched as her mother beamed at Julian happily. “A wonderful idea. It doesn’t sound like your brothers and your cousins got to attend the wedding, either.”
“They didn’t,” Julian confirmed.
“Then a reception is definitely in order,” Dale stated robustly.
“It’s settled, then. Right, darling?” Julian sat on the arm of the sofa and put his hand on Kristin’s shoulder as he made the affectionate remark.
“Of course, my love,” she answered through a clenched jaw.
Dale Moore slapped Julian on the back. “We can get the ball rolling on that. Cindy and I are retired together now. It will give us something to plan.”
“Thanks, Dale,” Julian said, sounding grateful.
“I so wish you’d call us Mom and Dad like Kristin does,” Cindy told Julian sincerely.
Kristin watched a myriad of emotions pass over her husband’s expression. Her mom’s comment had been innocent enough, but maybe he wasn’t ready to use those titles, out of respect for his murdered parents.
Before she could speak up, Julian did. “I’d be honored. I lost both of my parents a few years ago now.”
“Oh, Julian. I’m so sorry. What happened?” Cindy’s stunned expression was proof that Kristin’s parents didn’t know about Julian’s tragedy.
“They were both murdered in a home invasion,” he said flatly.
Kristin could see the horrified expression on her mom’s face as she spoke. “I’m so sorry. We can’t be your parents, but we’d like to be a second pair of parent figures to you.”
His lips formed a slow smile. “Thank you. You’ve raised a smart, beautiful, giving, and loving daughter. For that alone, I’d be proud to call you my honorary mom and dad.”
It was an awkward but deeply touching moment for Kristin. She had a feeling it was an action that was pivotal for Julian, and she was gratified that he handled it with grace, for her parents’ sake.
Hugging her mom tightly, she whispered in her ear, “I love you. But I’ll call while I’m gone.”
Her mother blew her off. “Don’t bother. I think Julian will keep you busy. If anything comes up, we’ll call you.”
It seemed strange to finally see her parents looking healthier, stronger. Stress had taken its toll on both of them, but they looked better.
She stood and hugged her dad as she whispered, “Are you going to be okay?”
“Fine, fine. Go on and have a good time. You’re a married woman now, and you don’t need to keep putting off living your life because of us anymore,” he boomed loudly enough for everyone in the room to hear.
“I don’t regret it.” She didn’t try to deny that she’d been living a half life. Maybe things hadn’t exactly worked out as planned, but she’d take a vacation to Hawaii as a new start.
Her parents didn’t need her anymore.
Somehow, that felt strangely bittersweet.
She and Julian finished their good-byes and left her happy mother and father behind them.
He held open the door of his brand-new black Mercedes SUV. Not the flashy car she’d imagined that Julian would drive, but practical for Maine winters.
“You like them,” she accused as she fastened her seat belt.
“Never said I didn’t. As a matter of fact, I already said as much.”
She was silent as he closed the door and situated himself in the driver’s seat.
Opening the console between them, he took out a bottle, shook it, and handed her two pills. “Take them,” he directed as he also handed her a mini bottled water.
She looked down at her palm as he dropped them. “What is this?”
“For motion sickness. I brought them along. You’ll have a nice high-protein meal ready for you when you get on the jet.”
Tears sprang to her eyes as she looked at the pills, touched that he actually was looking out for her. Something about the way he did little things, remembered details, was dangerous to her psyche, and disarming.
She popped the tablets into her mouth, opened the water, and swallowed them down without saying another word as he drove them to the airport.