CHAPTER 20
I slipped on a comfy pair of sweats and headed down the stairs. The little bed and breakfast was cozy and warm with a maritime theme. Paintings of ocean scenes and ships decorated the walls, with soft yellow and navy blue accents. I could hear laughter coming from the kitchen so I made my way there.
Avery and Robbie sat drinking tea out of doll-sized tea-cups at the cozy wooden table. Grace wasn't in the kitchen, but I figured she must be nearby. I leaned against the doorway, watching Robbie play at tea with Avery.
"Would you like some sugar, sir?" Avery asked him, batting her eyelashes as she poured more imaginary tea into his cup.
"Why yes, good miss. I'd love some more," he answered her solemnly. His arm was nestled against his chest in a dark blue sling. Sandy hair brushed the tops of his eyebrows; his green eyes were bright despite his pale skin. My heart ached with happiness to see him sitting there alive and well. I had been terrified that I might lose him.
"Hi, Aunt Sam!" Avery shouted as she set the teapot down. I smiled and pushed off the door-frame, stepping into the room.
"Sam..." Robbie's lips curved into a smile, and he stood reaching his good arm out toward me. I merged into him, feeling his arm wrap around me and pull me to him. His lips were warm and soft, and the stubble on his chin tickled my cheek as he kissed me. I dove into the kiss, my fear of losing him melting away. I had needed that kiss. I had needed it in order to know he was still with me.
"Eww... gross..." Avery made a face, sticking out her tongue and acting like she was going to puke. Robbie laughed, releasing me from the kiss but not his grasp. I loved being pressed up against him, feeling his body strong and solid beneath mine. I kissed him one more time, making a loud lip-smacking noise just to make Avery mad. She rolled her eyes and tried to ignore us by playing with her teacups.
"Are you okay?" I whispered, my arms still wrapped around Robbie's neck. Now that I had him with me, I didn't want to let him go. I put my head on his shoulder, breathing in the scent of him and letting it fill me. It was masculine and clean, with just a hint of salt. "I was so afraid I wasn't going to make it in time."
Robbie nuzzled my cheek, a smile playing across his face. "You made it just fine. And you did it all by yourself."
"Not all. You did the first half with me," I said, cuddling further into his shoulder. He felt so strong and safe beneath me.
"Then I'll just take the bottom half of the trophy tonight," he answered. I lifted my head to look at him. A self-deprecating smile was on his face, but something about it just seemed off. A distance appeared in his eyes. "I guess you can sail single-handed now..."
I gave him a gentle shove on his good shoulder. "No way!"
"You did it yesterday and got first place in one of the most difficult competitions in the world," he said. I shook my head.
"No, I didn't. You were still there."
His green eyes were dark and distant. Storm clouds still lingered there. "Useless and broken in the hold doesn't count as being there." He dropped his arm from my waist and turned away from me.
"Robbie..." I put my hand on his shoulder, pulling him back to face me.
"It's not important." he smiled. "You won. You beat Grant, and that's what matters, right?"
"If you say so," I said, feeling a frown crinkle my forehead. He kissed me softly, and I tried to relax. I decided to change the subject. "Where are you staying? I didn't see your stuff upstairs."
"I have a different room. I didn't want to wake you when I got back from the hospital. It's just down the hall, though yours is bigger. Really, though, I got us the whole inn, so you can have any room you want." He gave me a smile, but it didn’t touch his eyes. I wondered if his arm was hurting him.
"It's beautiful. I want to thank you for bringing Avery and Grace. I can't tell you how wonderful it was to wake up and have Grace there." I leaned against him, feeling his arm wrap around me again. "When we were out in the storm, I was sure I was never going to see her again."
"What about me?" Avery chirped up, wiggling between Robbie and me. I laughed and dropped down to my knees to look her in the eye.
"You? Well, I was hoping I wouldn't have to see you..."
She stuck out her tongue at me, but she still let me hug her. She knew I was only playing.
When I released her, she tugged on Robbie's shirt to get his attention. "Uncle Robbie, can I help you get pretty for the ball tonight?"
Confusion flickered across his face and he went to one knee so he would be at her level. "What do you mean, 'pretty?'" he asked.
Avery swished her princess dress as she answered seriously, "Like how the Clock and the Candle help the Beast. Mommy can make Sam pretty, and I can make you pretty!"
Robbie chuckled and gave her a hug. The way the two of them interacted made me smile, and I loved that she already referred to him as "Uncle." Robbie let her go and pushed her hair back behind her ears.
"Thank you for the offer, Avery, but I already have help for this evening." He rose to his feet, one hand still on Avery's small shoulder. "I actually should be going. I have some things I need to do in town before tonight."
"I understand. Are we just meeting up at The Gala then?" I asked.
Robbie nodded. "I'm not sure how long one of my errands is going to take, so I may be a little late. Don't worry, though. I'll make the awards."
He kissed my cheek softly. I wished he didn't have to go. As much as I was looking forward to receiving the trophy, spending the night curled up on the couch with Robbie sounded like a pretty amazing evening as well.
"Bye, my princesses," he called out as he walked out the front door. Avery grinned from ear to ear at being called a princess. I knew he had her completely charmed. Once the door closed, she turned to me, the smile still plastered on her face.
"Well, if I can't be the Candle, then I'll be the Wardrobe. Let's get you pretty for Uncle Robbie!" Avery giggled and grabbed my hand, pulling me up the stairs and back to my room to get ready.
***
Avery clapped as I came down the stairs. I blushed, and she scrambled over, stopping just short of running into me. She put one small finger on my dress, smiling as she touched the fabric.
"You look like a real princess, Aunt Sam," she said. I bent at the knee, the dress flaring out as I knelt to kiss her cheek. She giggled.
I caught my reflection in a mirror down the hall and actually felt like a princess. The straps and bodice of the gown were worked with green crystals in an ivy pattern that caught the light and sparkled every time I moved. Satin, hunter green fabric flared from my hips to the floor, cascading down like a cloth waterfall. The dress to fit me like a glove, and I wondered just how Robbie had managed to get it so perfectly tailored without me actually having gone to a seamstress. I smiled at my reflection, feeling very pretty.
"You need a tiara," Avery decided as she looked me over. She ran to her room and came scurrying back with one in her hands. I hesitated for a moment, afraid that putting the plastic crown in my hair would mess it up, but seeing the look of excitement on her face, I grinned. It was just hair.
Avery very carefully put the crown on top of my head, and made sure the curls stayed in place. She had "helped" the makeup artist and hairstylist that Robbie had sent over to get me ready. Avery had watched with wide eyes as the hairstylist twisted my hair into an array of cascading curls. When the stylist had finished with mine, she had even given Avery several curls of her own. Avery had then put on her favorite princess dress to match mine.
"Okay, you two stand against the fireplace," Grace told us as she pulled out her camera. Avery and I obediently stood and smiled, posing for the camera. "Perfect. My princesses."
A set of headlights flashed against the windows of the inn, and I peeked out to see the limousine pulling into the driveway. "Time for me to go," I told Grace.
"Mommy, I wanna go." Avery looked up at her mother hopefully. "Look, I'm already in a dress and my hair is all done!"
"It is already past your bedtime, young lady." Grace didn't even glance at Avery as she helped me place a black shawl over my shoulders. Avery pouted, her little lips curling into a deep frown.
"But... I'm not...tired!" Avery yawned. "I wanna go to the princess party."
Grace straightened my shawl and then went to her knees, pulling Avery into her lap. "Sam is Cinderella tonight. We are the fairy godmother. We don't go to the party, but we are very important to the story. You can sleep in your princess costume tonight if you want, though."
Avery pouted for a moment, mulling over the benefits of being the fairy godmother. "Do I get a magic wand?"
Grace nodded. "Yup. And we can sing that silly song all night."
"Okay." Avery turned her small, serious face up toward me. "Be back by midnight, Aunt Sam, or you'll turn into a pumpkin."
I smiled at her and kissed both of my "fairy godmothers" before heading out into the night. As I stepped into the limo, I could see them both waving at me through the window, haloed in a magical golden light.