CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
Paige couldn’t sleep. It wasn’t all that surprising. Tomorrow was her wedding day, after all. They would set off for Paris the day after then make their home in London, although now that the West End play was done they’d be jetting off to Los Angeles so Nate could work on a new movie. Carrie would be staying at their London home while they were gone. She would be searching for her own flat nearby so they could continue working together.
Throwing back the covers, she slid her slippers on before heading downstairs. Maybe some hot chocolate would help her sleep. Warm milk and all that. Jason was a heavy sleeper so he was probably snoring in his room with his earbuds still in. Carrie, who had been acting strangely since the party tonight, had gone home to sleep despite her protests. She’d volunteered to stay in the guest room but Paige had been adamant. She’d be fine. One last night as a single woman.
Opening the refrigerator, Paige grimaced at the crammed shelves. Since people were in and out of the house all weekend, she and Carrie had cooked and baked up a storm in case anyone got hungry. It meant that everything had been re-arranged and the milk was now in the old fridge that was located in the laundry room.
Flipping on the light in the utility room, she was blinded for a moment and had to squint until her eyes adjusted to the brightness. Her gaze landed on the doorframe and it felt like a fist squeezed her heart until she had to gasp for breath. Reaching out, her fingers lightly traced the pencil markings on the wood.
Jason – 8 years old.
Jason – 9 years old.
Jason – 10 years old.
A sob caught in her throat as she remembered each birthday as if it were only yesterday. Every birthday morning after moving into this house, she’d hustled Jason right to this spot and measured his height. With the pencil she’d marked how much he’d grown and labeled it. Why had she stopped doing it? Was it when he’d towered over her?
Allowing her fingers to caress the marks one more time, she smiled. She had a whole new future ahead of her and it was fantastic. What she’d had here would never be forgotten but nothing she did would bring it back. The only constant in life was change—or something like that. She had so much to look forward to. They weren’t planning to sell this house. If she wanted a walk down memory lane she could come here anytime. Nate had promised they would visit as often as possible.
Snapping off the light, she closed the door to the laundry room and stood in the center of her kitchen. Hot chocolate didn’t sound as appealing as it had. She knew now why she hadn’t been sleeping and it wasn’t bridal nerves. It was excitement. She didn’t want to miss a minute of her future.
Was Nate sleeping? He’d swore he wouldn’t if she wasn’t beside him but then he was a trifle dramatic on occasion. Maybe he and Max were drinking and laughing, talking about fun times. The past. What was it about milestones that made one ponder their life and choices?
Nate had been right. Sleeping apart was stupid. There was only one thing she wanted. Him.
Decision made, she turned and headed back, past the washer and dryer and into the small mud room where she shoved her feet inside her tennis shoes and wrapped a light jacket over her pajamas. Her purse and keys were also hung up on a hook so it only took mere moments before she was in the driver’s seat of her car and backing out of the driveway.
She pressed the accelerator and the car exited the garage but didn’t get far. Bright headlights appeared in her rearview mirror and she slammed on her brakes just in time.
Shit and fuck. She’d almost backed into something.
Her gaze flew to the rearview mirror and all she could see was the chrome grill of a pickup truck but it looked suspiciously like the one Nate had driven to the hotel earlier.
Her door flew open and she was practically lifted out of the seat. “I almost killed you. Are you okay?”
Nate. She’d know that voice – albeit panicked – that scent, his touch anywhere even if her eyes were closed. His hands were running up and down her arms and legs, checking for injury but the hilarity of the situation was the only thing that had smacked Paige in the face. She began to laugh, softly at first but eventually holding her stomach as he braced her against the side of her sedan, a disapproving look on his face.
“Care to tell me what’s so funny? I thought I’d almost killed or injured my bride-to-be. Where were you going at this time of night?”
She wiped at a tear that was rolling down her cheek. Didn’t he see?
“I’m laughing because it’s funny,” she explained, trying to straighten up. He was glowering down at her as if she’d farted in front of the Queen. “Because I was coming to see you, and I’m guessing you were coming to see me. We couldn’t stay away from each other even one night. I love you so damn much and I just couldn’t wait for our married life to start. I didn’t want to wait until tomorrow so I was coming to see you tonight.”
A smile slowly spread across his so-handsome face. “I feel the same way. I love you more than I ever thought possible. Let’s start our lives together. If I could marry you right now, at this moment, I would.”
She grabbed his hands, rough from his workouts and the gardening he’d done since they had arrived in Florida. “We can. I promise to love you, and cherish you, and maybe now and then obey you if I think you’re right. I promise to learn to make a proper pot of British tea but I’ll never eat Scotch eggs. I promise to love you more every day and I promise to remember that nothing is more important than our family. I promise to listen and I promise to talk even when I don’t want to. I promise to be your partner, your friend, and your lover. As long as we both shall live.”
Tears shown in his blue eyes but they were happy ones, just as hers were. His fingers tightened on hers and he lifted them to his lips, pressing reverent kisses to the knuckles.
“I promise to worship and adore you, my love. I promise to love you for all of eternity, in life and in death. I promise to run baths for you and rub your shoulders after a long day. I promise to play games in the bedroom with you and only you. I promise to never forget what it felt like to lose you. That is my solemn vow.”
“I now pronounce us gorgeous husband and slightly crazy wife,” Paige giggled. “You better kiss your bride.”
The kiss felt like more. More love, more hope, more passion, and more tenderness. It was a long time before he lifted his head.
“Darling, I love more than words can express. But I think we need to pull the cars into the garage and go to bed. We have a big day tomorrow.”
Shrugging, she nestled closer, placing her cheek on his chest where she could hear and feel the heavy thud of his heart underneath her ear. “We can but tonight is really our wedding night. I feel married to you already.”
The vows tomorrow were a formality. They’d made the commitment.
Nuzzling the top of her head, he pressed a kiss to her temple. “Me too, love.” He pulled back and frowned. “Are you in your pajamas? You were coming to the hotel in your jammies?”
“I couldn’t wait.” She glanced back where the two vehicles had nearly collided in the driveway. “You couldn’t either.”
He shook his head. “I needed you and I was willing to risk your wrath. I thought you’d take pity on me and let me stay since it was so late.”
“Staying apart was silly. You were right.”
He rolled his eyes and gave her a gentle nudge toward the door to the house. “Write this day down. Paige admitted I was right. Film at eleven. Now go inside while I pull the cars into the garage.”
Her first instinct was to protest, insist on helping him, but he had such an expression of adoration on his face. He wanted to do this, he needed to care for her. It was a little thing, letting him pull the car into the garage. She was learning.