Isabella
I guess we could’ve had the party at ‘The Abbey.’ the local country club. That’s where all my neighbors have their nice affairs but I wanted something more personal so I had it catered at our home.
My back yard is filled with guests when Melanie, in a pink halter dress, walks down our steps, Gabi on her hip.
I set down my wine, jump out of my lounge chair, and wrap my arms around them. “I’m so glad you came!”
“I brought you this.” She hands me a bucket of purple mums and a bottle of deer repellent.
“Lovely, and thoughtful, too.” Laughing, I put her gifts on a table with the others.
Then, I grab Gabi and place her in the swing next to Skye where my awesome new nanny gives pushes.
“I got them, Mrs. Patten, Mrs. Quinn. Go enjoy your party.” Lillia smiles as Gabi squeals with delight and sings Winnie-the-Pooh along with my daughter.
The kids set, I hand Mel a glass of sparkling cider, grab a light beer, and ask “Want to have a look around? Wait. There’s Kit, and his wife. Let’s say hi.”
Mel drags me across the lawn and she hugs this large man with thick dark hair. “It’s good to see you.” She turns to me. “Did you guys meet?”
I smile at the tall, dark, hockey player. “I did but I never got a chance to thank you for letting us use your place. I’m so sorry about your island. Did you get it fixed up?”
“Yeah. The hardest part was getting the new plants put in.” His brows raise. “I figure I needed a few more full-sized palm trees.”
I nod and try not to grin at his dry humor. “Good point.”
His lovely wife with slightly oriental eyes nudges him. “I told him I would rather have a thirty-foot replica of the Eiffel tower, complete with steps.”
Smiling, the Olympic star shakes my hand. “I’m Sonya. I can’t imagine how awful it was for you.”
“Thanks.” I hate to rehash that day, so quickly change the subject. “C’mon, let me show you around. This is our back deck and this is the husband that comes with it. I lean over to kiss Gray who shares a beer with one of our neighbors.
“Be right back, hun, going to show off the house.”
“Not so fast.” He grabs my waist and our eyes meet with this heated desire that’s been insatiable since we almost lost each other. Suddenly, it’s just me and him, and a promise of hot sex later tonight.
Melanie clears her throat, opens the back door, and eyes the stainless-steel stove and black granite countertop. “Beautiful kitchen.”
“I had to hire a part-time chef.”
She rolls her eyes at me. “Even after all my lessons?”
“Yup.” Proudly I open the door to my home office with an adjoining door to Grayson’s. “This is where I spend almost all my time.”
“No wonder you both seem so happy.”
“Check this out.” I open the door to the downstairs bathroom with a hot tub for two and a shower with so many sprayers, I lost count.
Glancing at myself in the bathroom mirror, I run a finger through my shorter, blunt cut and smile at the new me.
Mel catches my gaze and says, “You look terrific, hun.”
“Thanks, I’m back to my pre-baby weight. Once I focused on just being happy, I started to eat right, exercised and spent time in the sun. Then, it all came together.” I don’t share how I joined a local church where we sing and say a few prayers on Sunday.
Maybe I’ll join more of the community someday, maybe not. The important thing is, I feel connected to some higher power.
Much later, I grab some food, more beer, and chat with all the girls in the group. The men have started a game of hoops on the side of the house and it sounds serious.
With so much peace and joy, my second wedding day fades into evening. Finally, I sit on Gray’s lap, a bit buzzed. Sweet jazz plays from the speakers as the caterers start to clean up.
He hugs me close and kisses me sweetly on the lips. “Happy?”
“Best day ever, except for one thing.”
He laughs, knowing me all too well. “Except for the fact there were so many people.”
“I wish we could throw a party for maybe, an hour or so, say hi to everyone, then ask them to go.” I chuckle at how silly I sound. “Maybe the beer has gone to my head.”
“Nah. I get it. You never really liked crowds.”
“No, I do, I do. I love every one of these guys, just one or two at a time.”
Mel approaches with her driver Jack, and Gabi. “I’m afraid we need to go. Are we still on for Wednesday?”
“Absolutely.” I give her a hug. “See you then.”
After everyone leaves and the baby falls asleep, me and Gray lay together in the hammock and look up at the stars.
Cicadas sing like drunken afuche players, crickets buzz, and fireflies give us a lazy light show. I hold Grayson’s hand while he rocks us, a leg hanging over the edge, toe in the grass.
With my head on his shoulder, I turn, and look into his intense, gray eyes.
“Happy?” His finger swirls a lock of hair around my ear and I honestly don’t know how to answer.
Happy seems so trite, so small, so undeserving a word. What I feel is so much more intense. It makes my eyes water and my heart pound. I’m light years beyond mere happy.
As I kiss my husband, my lover, the father of my child, and my best friend, I decide there are no words to describe how I feel.
Instead, I take his hand, lead him to our bedroom, and drop my dress on the floor along the way.
The End