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 Please don t take him, I forced a tear. She smiled again. Bitch.  I need to use the restroom. I think
I m going to be sick. I got up and quickly walked to the bathroom at the back of the little tearoom. I
ducked inside and locked the door. I opened my purse and pushed rewind on the Dictaphone. I only
rewound it for a second and then I pushed play. Cassandra s voice floated out. She clearly stated that
she d slept with the teenaged gardener and that he was  the best she d ever had. I smiled. That
should do the trick. I splashed some water up on my face and went back out. Cassandra was gone.
Liz came over and said,  She ran out of here like her ass was on fire.
I laughed.  She thinks she s going to see Alex. I took out my phone and called the hospital. I spoke to
the charge nurse and told her Cassandra was likely going to be coming by and trying to see Alex. I
told her there was a restraining order in place. She assured me that she would not be let in and
security would be called. I hung up with a smile.  Can you take me one more place? I asked Liz.
 Of course. Where to?
 Wilshire Boulevard. I had Liz drive me to Alex s attorney s office. I asked to see Noel and when
the receptionist let me in, I sat the Dictaphone down on his desk and pressed  play. His face went
from confused to ecstatic when he heard Cassandra s voice and words.
 How did you get this?
I shrugged.  Her ego couldn t help itself, I guess. I think she might be in for a rude awakening in a few
minutes though& she s on her way to the hospital and they re going to be expecting her.
He grinned.  You re amazing.
I raised an eyebrow and said,  Is that an apology for all the things you said about me when Alex
found out I was pregnant?
 Um& yeah, sure. You do know that I was just doing my job. I get protective of Alex. He hates the
legal stuff and I m always afraid he ll get taken advantage of.
I smiled.  I know you were just doing your job, protecting him. I wouldn t have it any other way,
actually. I agree with you that he trusts easily, but it s part of what makes him so special. He needs
someone like you to keep an eye out for predators. Keep it up, okay? And please, don t let Cassie
take anything that s important to him.
Noel looked at me with his intense blue gaze and said,  I think that Alexander has seriously re-
evaluated his priorities. Nothing much seems to be important to him, other than you and Michael. He
actually called from his hospital bed yesterday and told me to give her whatever she wants and get
her out of your lives.
 I don t think that will be necessary. I think that we will be able to at least protect his assets for his
son.
He stood up and shook my hand.  You can bet I will. Michael is as important to me as Alex is& and
do you want to know what else?
 Sure.
 You are too, Victoria. I m sorry we got off to a rough start.
 Me too, I told him with a smile. Alex has good people in his corner.  Thank you.
He picked up the Dictaphone and held it up.  No, thank you! This is exactly what we needed.
That was the last stop in what I felt was a productive afternoon. I had nothing but high hopes for the
future from this point on. I feel strongly that we had already experienced the rough patches. From here
on out, it should all be smooth sailing.
Liz took me back home with a big smile on my face. I was happily anticipating Alex s return from the
hospital in the morning.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
The coastline sparkled brilliantly in the morning sun. The small private area of beach was surrounded
by chalky white cliffs that looked like a big ribbon, jagged and folded along the shore line and then
disappearing off into the distance. Beaches of rocks stretched out on one side of the cliffs and on the
other side was an area of nothing but pure white sand. The waves crashed against the rocks and sand,
foaming up and then being sucked back in and underneath the aquamarine expanse of the Pacific
Ocean. Off in the distance standing like a sentry against the blue sky was a tall white lighthouse. The
seagulls squawked and called to each other and besides the waves that was the only sound until the
harp began to softly play. The people in the starch white chairs with pretty pink bows tied on them,
stood up and turned to look at the bride. I stepped out of the temporary tent that had been set up for me
to get ready in and squinted into the sun. After my eyes adjusted, I could see that everyone was
looking at me. I usually don t like to be the center of this much attention but today, I was reveling in it.
This is my day& mine and the two most beautiful men in the world who were standing at the altar
waiting for me, waiting for our family to finally be joined together as one.
Liz was there as my matron of honor. She was wearing a light pink lace dress and she had been very
excited about not having to wear shoes. And yes, I said matron. She and Gregory had sneaked off to
Las Vegas a few months ago and tied the knot. I ve never seen her so happy, and now Cook has a
partner as interested in helping out the homeless as he is. Liz was using her talents with people,
teaching classes and giving talks about day to day activities that are difficult for people who live on
the street. She s another reason why I feel so lucky. I couldn t have special ordered a better friend.
James was Alex s best man. He cried when his son asked him. He looked so proud now at his son s
side and with his grandson in his arms. We ve all come so far and I like to think we have baby
Michael to thank for most of it.
Alex s mother was on the right and mine on the left in the first row near the altar. They were so
different and yet here they were, about to become family. Alex didn t even balk when I said I felt like
I had to invite my mother. I would have felt so incredibly guilty if I hadn t. I needn t have worried
about him though.
 Of course you do, she s family. I m so darn lucky. I don t know what I ever did to deserve him, but
I will never take him for granted. I m going to do anything and everything for the rest of my life to
make him happy.
I feel so pretty in my wedding dress& another thing mother was disappointed about. She thought I
should have picked out one with a huge train and pearls and lots of lace. What I wanted was simple&
like me. I don t think that being married to a man with a lot of money changes who I am. This dress is
me and I love it. It s a cream-colored antique lace gown and as I began my ascent up the aisle, it
fluttered out behind me. I wore a hand-crafted wreath of white flowers in my loose hair and I carried
a bouquet made out of white orchids. I was barefoot and so was Alex. I saw my mother glance down
distastefully at my feet as I passed her. I smiled. She shook her head.
Alex wanted to be casual too. He wore an off-white linen suit, and he wore it well. He was smiling at
me and the look in his eyes told me that he felt the same way about me as I did about him. I looked
then at our little man who just turned one last week. He was chattering in his grandfather s arms and
reaching out his arms and legs, wanting to go jump in the ocean no doubt. I blew him a kiss and he
squealed. My heart is so full.
I reached the altar that was decorated with precious shells and orchids. A sweet, delicate scent
wafted from them and added to the ambiance of the day. Alex reached out and took my hand. He
squeezed it and I shuddered and thought about how close I d come to losing him last year and how [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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