Derek’s will had requested that he be cremated, which had been done while Kade was still in the hospital. The cause of death had been a massive heart attack, but in a note that had eased my mind, the report said that the attack had begun even before Derek had taken the podium. That he had dropped at the particular moment he did was just pure chance.
Still, I could feel hundreds of eyes on me and Kade as we stood next to each other in our black suits, our eyes hidden behind sunglasses. Mom wore black as well, with a veil over her face instead of sunglasses, next to me. When I reached over at one point at the graveside to hold her hand, she took it, squeezing tightly as the minister continued on.
When the service was over, we went to the ocean, putting Derek’s ashes into a small radio-controlled boat. Layla passed the controls to Kade, who sent the boat out into the ocean. With a full charge of its battery and specially designed system that would keep the craft going in a straight line after it lost contact with the radio controller, it would be three to four miles out into the Pacific before it sank.
“Thank you for coming,” Mom said as we walked away. I struggled in the loose sand with my high heels, but sandals would have been inappropriate for the occasion. “So how long are you staying?”
“We’re going back to Portland tomorrow,” Kade said. “Layla, thank you for having us.”
“It was the right thing to do. He’s your father, and you two were always close,” Mom said. “I was wrong, and I’m glad you forgave me for that.”
“Thank you for forgiving our deception, and for accepting Kade and me,” I said, giving Mom’s hand another squeeze. “Are you going to be okay?”
Mom nodded. “I guess. I don’t think I’ll be keeping the Laguna house though. It’s just too big and has too many memories. I still can’t go into my bedroom without crying. I’ve been sleeping in the living room on the couch most of the time.”
“So what are you going to do?” Kade asked. “Stay in California?”
Mom shrugged. “Maybe. I still have a lot of friends around here, and I’m too damn young to retire to Florida or Arizona.”
“What about coming up to Portland?” I asked. “You’d have family, and it’d be nice to get to spoil my little sibling.”
Mom smiled, then shook her head. “No, Oregon isn’t for me either. But I do promise Alix, I’ll visit, and I hope you two will do the same.”
Chapter 31
Kade
“Hey Kade? It’s time.”
I looked up from between my knees, where my hands had been dangling. Vince was standing in the doorway, his tuxedo fitting him well. I checked my cuffs one last time and stood up, taking a deep breath. “I have no idea why I’m so damn nervous.”
“I do,” Vince replied, with a smile. “Let’s face it, you’re worried about fucking it up.”
I laughed and shrugged. “Maybe,” I said, looking as Vince shifted and reached down, adjusting himself. “Vince, are you really wearing that thing today?”
“Rita didn’t tell me to take it off,” Vince explained simply with a small grin. “And despite you paying my paychecks, she outranks you in certain areas.”
“I should have said something to her. She’s just that kind of woman,” I said, then laughed. “Which is probably why you love her. So did you ask her?”
“At the reception,” Vince said. “I’ve just got to make sure I give you the right ring for your part. Right pocket Kade, left pocket Rita.”
“Good man,” I said. “So you’ll be able to handle the office while we’re gone?”
“Of course,” Vince said. “Rita is amazing, even better than Monica was. She even keeps the new secretary in line with barely a glance.”
I laughed and shook my head. “I need to ask Rita, because we both know she’s going to be the boss for the next three weeks. Just promise me one thing. No whips in the office.”
“Don’t worry, boss. Rita will obey your orders, you know that.”
We left the small waiting room in the back of the church and headed toward the front. Just as we reached the double doors to the sanctuary, Rita came running around the corner in her bridesmaid dress. “Kade!”
“Slow down, Rita,” I said, catching her before she could slip and fall. “What’s wrong?”
Rita’s grin reassured me as she shook her head. “Nothing. Just . . . Alix asked me to give this to you.”
The envelope was on the church’s stationery, and I wondered what it was. “This couldn’t wait until afterwards?”
“No, sir. She said that I had to deliver it to you before you went into the sanctuary.”
I nodded and gave Rita a quick squeeze and kiss on the top of her head before glancing at Vince. He shrugged and I unfolded the flap, looking at the single sheet inside. “You read this, Rita?”
She shook her head. “No, I was there when she wrote it.”
“So this isn’t a surprise to you.”
She shook her head again and grinned. “Go on, Kade, open it. I promise, you’ll like it.”
I couldn’t wait any longer, so I took out the single sheet of paper and unfolded it. In Alix’s clear, graceful hand was a short note.
My dearest Kade, my Lord and soon to be husband,