Rohan pulled over next to the curb outside Samantha’s apartment building and swallowed the bundle of nerves that threatened to block his throat. Wishing he’d bought a bottle of water to ease the dryness in his mouth, he felt around in the pocket of his jeans. His fingers closed around the jewelers’s box and relief surged through him. It was still there. The thought was immediately followed by another rush of nerves.
Samantha’s mom had undergone her transplant a month ago and from all reports, she was doing fine. Tonight, Sam had invited her family around to celebrate the milestone. While Rohan had met Enid in the hospital, he had yet to be introduced to the remaining two siblings who made up the Wolfe family. The thought of meeting the sisters of Alistair Wolfe only added to his nerves. While Samantha had shown remarkable understanding and had accepted Rohan was only doing his job, he had yet to see if the remaining Wolfe children would be as forgiving.
Knowing he couldn’t put it off any longer, he grabbed the six-pack of beer on the seat and collected the bottle of wine. Samantha had told him her mom adored a glass of Merlot at night and although she now limited herself to one or two glasses a week, it was a habit she still indulged.
With the wine in one hand and the six-pack in the other, he made his way into the building’s foyer and up the short flight of stairs. With the back of his knuckles, he knocked on Samantha’s door. It was opened almost immediately and she stood before him, gorgeous in crimson silk. It floated around her body like a living thing and set off her olive skin. Her black hair was loose and curled around her lovely face.
“Rohan!” she exclaimed with a smile and threw her arms around his neck. He stood a little awkwardly with the alcohol in his hands and tried to maintain his balance.
“I’m sorry.” She laughed and pulled away. “I almost bowled you over!”
“Oh, you bowled me over, all right. You bowled me over the moment I saw you again.” He grinned and set the bottles on the floor and swept her into his arms. Unmindful of smudging her ruby-red lipstick, he kissed her thoroughly before setting her aside.
“That’s a lovely way to say hello.” She laughed a little breathlessly. “Come in and meet the rest of my family.”
Rohan collected the bottles off the floor and then Samantha took him by the arm. Depositing the beer on a nearby counter, he followed her into the living room. He’d expected a crowd, but there were only two other couples, along with Hannah Langdon and Enid. Sam’s mother sat alone, a little ways apart from the others in pride of place in a large armchair.
”Sam, can you help me with something in the kitchen?”
The question had come from one of the women who looked so much like Sam she had to be her sister. Sam flashed him a quick smile of apology and turned away. Rohan moved toward Enid and she smiled and waved him over when she saw him.
“Rohan! How lovely to see you again!” she cried, reaching out to him.
Rohan stepped forward and took her hand and then leaned in close to press a kiss against her cheek. “You’re looking great, Enid. It’s fantastic to see you.”
She nodded and squeezed his hand. “I feel like a new woman. I never imagined a donor kidney could make me feel so good. The doctors are pleased with my progress. So far, there haven’t been any signs of rejection.”
“That’s great news!” Rohan replied, genuinely relieved. Samantha’s mother and her family had been through enough over the past little while, and it wasn’t over yet, not by a long shot.
Alistair’s trial had yet to begin and with it, more hardship for them would follow. Rohan could only imagine the media circus the trial would cause. Not to mention the devastation if a guilty verdict were handed down. The Wolfe family would need all the support they could get over the coming months.
“You’ve had a hard time of it lately,” Enid said softly, as if reading his mind. “Almost as hard as me. I know you’re feeling bad about the arrest, but I don’t want you to feel that way. Alistair made his own choices; you did what you had to do.”
Rohan sucked in a breath and then eased it out on a sigh. He nodded, acknowledging her generosity of spirit. She patted his hand in comfort and he was grateful for it. Silence fell between them. After a while, she broke it.
“I haven’t had a chance to thank you,” Enid said softly, her gaze intent on his.
Once again, Rohan tensed and then a moment later, let it go. What did it matter if Enid suspected she carried his father’s kidney? Rohan knew the truth.
Samantha had come and told him about her mother receiving the call long before his dad’s organs had been recovered. He couldn’t possibly be the donor. He’d heard from police sources that there had also been two motor vehicle fatalities the night Enid had received her transplant. One was a twenty-three-year-old triathlete; the other, a thirty-six-year-old father of two. It wasn’t possible to find out the truth about the donor and he didn’t want to and if it made Enid feel better that there was a possibility she might have received the gift of life from his dad, who was he to argue?
As if able to read his thoughts, Enid squeezed his hand again. “I’m so sorry for the loss of your father. Nothing can replace our loved ones who have gone on ahead of us, but I promise you this. As long as you continue to love my daughter, with all your heart and soul, you’ll be a son to me.”
Tears appeared in Enid’s eyes and Rohan felt them, too. He swallowed a lump and tried to speak around the emotion that clogged his throat. It had been a month since his dad had passed, but he still missed him every day. He thought briefly of the other two people who had died that day and said a silent prayer for their families.
“You’re a remarkable woman, Enid Wolfe. I’m so very proud to know you.”
“You’re a special man, Rohan Coleridge, from a very special family. Take care of my daughter. Love her with all your heart. Protect her and keep her safe from harm, even in times of doubt. She loves you with everything that she is and she deserves to have you in her life. Make her happy, make her sad. Show her how to live.”
Rohan nodded and for a moment he was beyond words. “I will.”
The rest of the party sped by in a blur. Rohan was introduced to Samantha’s sisters. Though the girls were polite, he couldn’t fail to note their reserve and he understood it. He could only hope over time, they’d come to forgive him for his part in their brother’s downfall. The girls’ boyfriends were also dutifully introduced, but Rohan paid them little heed. As the night wore on, his hand returned to his pocket over and over again.
He’d bought the ring a fortnight earlier and had been trying to find the right time. But was there any such thing as the right time to ask the love of your life to marry you? He was beginning to wonder. He wandered out onto the balcony to clear his head. A few moments later, he heard the sound of the sliding door opening behind him.
“There you are!” Samantha laughed, appearing by his side. She linked her arm with his. “I’ve been looking for you everywhere!”
Rohan smiled and pulled her close. “I thought I’d step outside and catch a breath of air. It’s a beautiful night.”
Samantha nodded. She leaned over the balcony and breathed in deeply of the fresh spring air. “You’re right. It is beautiful. I love this time of year.”
Lights from the surrounding houses and apartment buildings twinkled gently in the night. A soft breeze brought with it the smell of frangipani or something equally sweet and pungent. Once again, Rohan felt in his pocket and his heart picked up its pace. Feeling his way, he opened the box and took hold of the ring. Now was as good a time as any. In fact, now was perfect.
Taking her hands in his, he took a deep breath and then dropped to one knee. Samantha stared at him in surprise, her eyes going wide.
“I love you more each day and I yearn to make you mine. Samantha Wolfe, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
The words fell out in a rush, not at all in the way he’d planned. For half a second, she looked almost stunned and then her face broke into a wide smile. She laughed and hollered and cried out with joy.
“Is that a yes?” he asked, waiting for her to say the word.
“Yes! Yes! Yes!” she cried and tears ran down her cheeks.
Rohan came to his feet and took her left hand and slipped the one-carat diamond ring onto her finger. She gasped and cried and stared at it, turning it every which way in the light. At last, she threw her arms around him and kissed him like forever was in her sights.
Together, they looked up at the starry sky. Rohan’s heart filled with love and hope for their future.