KATE KNEW SHE should have said no when she was invited to the official presentation. After all, Boone was the one behind the discovery. But he was in Peru, and they were still married, and Maggie convinced her that someone from Charlie’s family needed to be in the room when the treasure was formally returned to the United States ambassador.
In the end, she decided to go. Not because of her connection to Charlie, and not because of her connection to Boone, and not because—as Allie had pointed out—no one in her right mind should turn down a chance to meet the prime minister.
No. Kate was going for herself. She had been walking around in a half-alive state since Boone left, alternating between sorrow and anger since she’d learned about the job, and enough was enough. She was going to put on a pretty dress and have her hair done and give herself the Cinderella treatment for a day. And when the day was over and Charlie’s treasure was officially back where it should have been all these years, she would move on, as well. She had a job waiting for her return and a baby she loved, and a new relationship to establish with his father. She had a future. It was time she began to focus on it.
Job one, tomorrow, would be to sign the lease on the town house she’d toured yesterday. Every day she stayed in this house was another reminder of Boone. Good memories of a place were one thing. Heartbreaking ones were a different story.
Today, though, she was Cinderella. And since she had chosen to attend, then damn it, she was going to enjoy every minute of it.
She kissed Jamie goodbye, thanked her mother once again for being on grandson duty, and folded herself into the limo that had been sent for her. There were definitely some perks to being an honored guest at a diplomatic event.
She was delivered to the governor-general’s mansion in plenty of time to be taken in hand by an aide and given last-minute instructions. She wasn’t sure why that was necessary, since her job was essentially to smile and pose for a few photos, but whatever. Even Princess Leia had to—
No. She was not going there today.
“We’re running a few minutes late, but everything should be ready soon.” The aide opened the door to a room where a handful of formally dressed men and women were milling around, talking in low voices. “There are some finger foods and drinks at the table. Feel free to help yourself.” The aide began to leave, then turned back. “Oh, and I believe your husband is already here.”
“No,” she said with what she hoped was a casual laugh. “He’s in—”
But the aide was flying down the hall. And the sudden oversize lump in her throat made the rest of her sentence impossible anyway.
Because Boone was, indeed, in the room.
She had spent the last couple of Skype calls off-camera, plopping Jamie on the floor and using her laptop to follow his movements, so she had managed to avoid seeing Boone, even digitally. It took her a second to equate the man in the three-piece suit with the man she usually saw in either jeans or nothing at all.
Her mouth went dry. He had told her he wasn’t going to be here, that he wasn’t leaving Peru until next week. So why...? What...?
He glanced away from the man he’d been talking to, pausing in midlaugh. She could tell the precise moment he became aware of her presence. He turned away from his companion, not seeming to care that the man was still talking. It wasn’t simply a glance over his shoulder or a twist from the waist. Boone pivoted completely until he was facing her. Lined up with her so precisely that if everything between them had been snatched away and unseen hands had pushed them together, they would have meshed perfectly. Head to head. Lips to lips. Heart to heart.
Kate didn’t make a conscious decision to walk toward him. It was, it seemed, like that moment all those months ago when they first saw each other. Han Solo might be more polished today, and Princess Leia was in peony pink instead of white, but whatever had pulled them together that day was still there, still alive, and, damn it, her mother was right. No matter the reason for Boone’s return, he was here. And she would be an idiot to turn her back on this second chance.
But before she could get to him, an official voice soared above the buzz and announced that it was time to begin.
She joined in the movement toward the door, unsure if the fizziness in her veins was due to the impending ceremony or Boone’s proximity. She tried to edge closer as she shuffled forward, but a solid row of business suits blocked her way. As the crowd moved slowly down a hall lined with portraits of former governors general, she tried to hold back and wait for him. But the person behind her bumped into her, and they had to spend the rest of the short walk proving they were Canadian by trying to out-apologize each other.
Meanwhile, Boone was close enough that her very toes were quivering in recognition. Her breath, already shortened by nerves, had been reduced to shallow inhalations that barely kept her oxygenated. And her mind was a jumble of anger and want and confusion and joy and indecision and excitement.
Which, she supposed, was probably the way love often felt.
They were shown into a large room that Kate recognized from school tours. She was presented to the governor-general, the American ambassador and the prime minister, then shown to her chair behind the podium.
Beside Boone.
“Hi,” she said as she took her seat. Oh, she was witty today.
“Hi. I, uh, wasn’t sure if I—”
Cameras flashed from the audience. The governor-general was approaching the podium. Kate smiled and joined in the applause marking the beginning of the ceremony. Inside, she felt as bouncy and unstable as she had the time Allie had dragged her onto a trampoline.
Speeches were made. Apologies were extended. Kate was introduced and, as she had been instructed ahead of time, invited to say a few words. When she stood, Boone gave her hand a fast squeeze.
“May the Force be with you.”
Which meant that she was smiling as she stepped up to the microphone.
She kept her remarks brief as she’d been told, touching on family lore, on the village legend, on the moment when they realized that Charlie had indeed found something worthy of safe passage. Then she reminded all those in attendance of what had truly been at stake that long-ago night.
“My great-grandfather knew he had found something major. But I think it’s telling that he didn’t try to sell it, or to use it for anything other than the promise of freedom for himself and my great-grandmother Daisy. Charlie knew that no silver, no jewels—” she paused, considered, and added softly “—and no home, were worth more than the chance to live his life with the woman he loved. Although he lost his life that night, I think he would have some measure of peace in knowing that Daisy and their unborn child were safe. And so, on behalf of Charles Hebert and his descendants, I am honored to return these items to their rightful owner, and ask your forgiveness for the delay in doing so.”
Polite laughter. Applause. A few smiles for the camera and then she was heading back to her chair, back to Boone, his face alight with pride and his hands clapping furiously. She took her seat and fought to keep from sagging with relief.
And then, as the ceremony continued, she turned her attention to the next talk she needed to give. The one that had to do with the rest of her life.
* * *
BOONE BARELY HEARD a word that was said during the ceremony. He was too aware of Kate at his side, too caught up in wondering if he should have told her he might be there, too busy weighing what words might convince her to give him the second chance he didn’t deserve.
He did, however, hang on every word of her speech. Especially the ones about family and togetherness and love.
She had said that she loved him. Was it too much to hope that he hadn’t killed that love?
It wasn’t until the ceremony was complete and the last photos had been taken that he had a chance to talk to her.
“I’m sorry I didn’t warn you,” he said as they were led into the room where Charlie’s treasure lay on display. “I changed my flights to be here, but it was fifty-fifty as to whether I’d make it or not.”
“Do you mean you came straight from the airport?”
She sounded more curious than pissed. That had to be a good sign.
“Yep.”
“From Peru?”
“From Peru.”
“Huh.”
She said nothing more, walking in silence until they entered the room where they were immediately grabbed for more photos. Boone let his eyes linger on the silver and jewelry and thought of the long road the “treasure” had traveled to this moment. Soon it would be back where it belonged.
He hoped he would be, too.
Charlie, it took me a while, but I finally figured out that your great-granddaughter is the best treasure I could ever find. Could you help a brother out, here?
There was no further chance to talk until the festivities were completed and they were being shown to the waiting limos.
“Ms. Hebert.” Another aide with a clipboard said something into a walkie-talkie, then glanced toward Boone. “And Mr. Boone, will you be—”
“He’s coming with me.” Kate was using her day care director voice, the one that left no room for questions. Boone felt ridiculously reassured until he realized that Kate had said only that he would be traveling with her.
She hadn’t used the word home.
He tried to talk once they were on the road, but she raised a hand and tipped her head toward the driver.
“I know there’s a privacy shield,” she said softly. “But I would rather not attempt this conversation until we’re at the house.”
Mierda. That didn’t sound promising, either.
But then she smiled, small but true, and added, “Be prepared. My mother is on Jamie duty.”
“I figured.” After a second, he added, “Thanks for the warning.”
Her grin this time was a little wider. “Trust me, it was my pleasure.”
When had she developed a sadistic streak?
Maybe around the time you implied that she and Jamie weren’t enough for you, said Jill’s voice in his head.
He swallowed hard and stared out the window at the fields flying past.
As they entered Comeback Cove, Kate—who had also spent the ride watching the scenery—suddenly leaned forward to tap on the glass and ask the driver if he would make a small detour. She offered directions, closed the shield once more and sat back.
“You’ll see,” she said to Boone before he had a chance to ask.
Two minutes and three turns later, the car slowed in front of a row of neat brown-and-brick town houses.
“See that one on the end?” Kate pointed to the one in question, the one with a for-rent sign. “Jamie and I looked at it yesterday. I’m signing the lease tomorrow.”
For a fraction of a second, he thought, Wait, if she hadn’t signed yet they could still...
But then he stopped himself. The town house looked new and shiny, with plenty of uncracked windows. There was no porch but there was a fenced-in yard. It had no turret and no history, but it had window boxes and railings and space to build a future.
History was important, but it couldn’t be changed. Understood, yes. Expanded upon, definitely. Reinterpreted? For sure.
The future, though. That was wide-open. So he made himself take his time before saying, “It looks nice. Definitely easier to maintain.”
“That’s one of the reasons I chose it,” she said. “I want to spend my free time playing with Jamie, not wrestling with toilets.”
Was that her way of telling him she wouldn’t need him to hang around and fix things?
But then they were turning the corner to her place, and his worries were pushed aside by anticipation when he spotted Maggie on the front step with Jamie in her arms. One look at his son and Boone knew that even if he didn’t end up living in that neat little town house, he was still staying here in Comeback Cove. He wanted Jamie to have everything he never had. He wanted his son to grow up with the only things that mattered. A warm and loving home. Two of them, if that was how it worked out. And parents who loved him.
Boone was pretty sure he heard Maggie say something totally inappropriate when he climbed out of the limo, but it barely registered next to the dawning delight in Jamie’s face. Half a dozen steps later, that face was pressed close to Boone’s shoulder.
God, how had he ever been fool enough to think he could stay away?
“I’m back, buddy,” he whispered against Jamie’s ear. “And I’m gonna do whatever it takes to be the kind of dad you deserve.”
Jamie’s answer was to raise his head, scan the area and lunge for Kate walking toward them.
“Sorry to interrupt, but Mom said he took the bare minimum of his bottle, so...”
“Got it.” He handed Jamie over and returned to the limo to get his things. When he turned around, Kate was inside and Maggie was in his face.
“If you break her heart again, I’m going to rip your spleen out through your belly button.”
“Good to see you, too, Maggie,” he said automatically. Then her words registered.
If you break her heart again...
Meaning that he had broken it once already. Not something he was proud of, for sure. But since a heart could be broken only when love was involved...
He hadn’t dared believe Kate when she told him she loved him. But if Maggie was saying it, even directly, maybe it was true. Maybe he still had a chance at putting those ripped pieces back together.
He set his bags on the ground, took Maggie by the shoulders and kissed her forehead.
He was pretty sure she was still sputtering when he let himself into the house.
He didn’t need to ask where Kate had gone. He followed the sound of her laughter and the squeak of the rocking chair until he found her in the office. She’d pulled off the pretty pink dress and wrapped herself in that white robe again, and when he realized what she was wearing he kind of lost the ability to speak for a minute.
“Hey.” She extended her free hand, waved him closer. He pulled the old wingback chair to her side and stroked Jamie’s arm.
“He looks so much more grown up,” he said. “I know that doesn’t sound possible since I see him every week, but there’s something about seeing him in person that—”
“Boone, I’m sorry.”
Wait. She was sorry?
“Uh, I think I’m the one who’s supposed to be groveling here.”
“Oh, don’t worry. You’ll get your chance. But when you told me about the job, I—look, I had a right to be pissed. I’m not apologizing for that. But I didn’t give you much of a chance to explain or anything. And then I basically stopped talking to you, and I shouldn’t have. And then Mom told me I was being an idiot to not give you a chance, and—”
“Hold on. Your mother said you should give me a second chance?” If he’d known that, he would have thrown a real hug in with that taunting kiss.
“She did, and she was right. I mean, I was hurt and angry, and I still think I had a right to feel that way.”
He thought of how badly he’d blown that entire situation. “You did. Absolutely.”
“But the thing is, I was so busy licking my wounds I lost sight of the important part. That you would be back here. And even though I got lost in the details, you still gave up the only home you’ve known for Jamie. And I... Before we say anything else, I want you to know, I am grateful. And humbled. And amazed that you found a way to keep doing important work while being a regular part of Jamie’s life.”
“It wasn’t just for Jamie, Kate.” Did he dare touch her? Even a brush of his fingers against her cheek? “And you’re giving me too much credit. Peru was home, yeah, but only because it was the first place where I was with people who actually cared about me. ’Cause it turns out that home is kind of portable. You always find it with people you love.” He cupped her cheek, almost as soft as Jamie’s arm. “So wherever you and Jamie are, that’s my home.”
She closed her eyes and breathed in, long and deep and ragged.
“I thought, maybe,” she whispered. “I mean, I hoped, but I didn’t—”
“I love you, Kate. Nothing is right without you.” He scooched to the edge of the chair. “And does that offer to stay married still stand? Is it too late to accept? Because there’s nothing I want more than to move into that town house and build a life with you, and Jamie.”
“I—damn it, Boone. You made me cry and I’m dripping on Jamie and—”
He swiveled, grabbed a tissue from the box by the computer, and dabbed at her tears until she started laughing.
“This has to be the most ridiculous reunion ever,” she said. “I mean, I’m crying, and you’re all the way over there, and I have a baby on my boob, and I need to switch sides, and—”
He leaned forward, taking care to avoid Jamie, and kissed her. Slowly. Reverently. The way he intended to kiss her for the rest of his life.
“Better?” he asked when it finally ended.
“A little.” She peeked up at him through her lashes. “But not totally. You might need to keep—”
But Jamie had obviously had enough of being in the middle of a parent sandwich. He chose that moment to deliver a remarkably strong kick to Boone’s ribs.
“Whoa!”
Kate laughed and cupped his cheek. “Now you know how it feels to be pregnant.”
No.
Now he knew how it felt to be a family.
* * * * *
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