He kissed her again, then said, “Time for bed.”
His father obviously had the same idea as he held out a hand to help Rosa’s mother to her feet. “I’m going to show Isobel to the guest room.”
Isobel smiled at William and said something to him in a low voice before moving toward Drake and Rosa. “Thank you, Drake.” Her words were thick with emotion. “Thank you for being there for my daughter when I wasn’t.”
Drake was still wading through his impressions about Rosa’s mother, and despite the fact that she was saying all the right things now, he wanted to get to know her better before he made up his mind. Tonight, however, one thing was perfectly clear: Isobel Bouchard loved her daughter.
Love, he knew, didn’t mean you always made the right choices. Fortunately, it did go a long way toward making forgiveness—and new beginnings—possible.
“I’m glad you’re here so that you can both have a chance to talk some things through.”
Rosa’s mother clearly understood that he would protect her daughter against any and all threats, even her. Just as he was taking the measure of her, he could see that she was doing the same with him.
“Whatever happens in the future,” she told Drake as she pressed a kiss to Rosa’s forehead, “I will be forever in your debt.”
Rosa’s eyes were nearly closed by the time they made it up the stairs and down the hall to their bedroom. “Did you ask your father about why he bought your paintings?”
“We talked and it was good.” He watched her barely smother another yawn. “Looks like you and your mom worked through some things too.”
“We did.” She yawned again. “I want to tell you everything, want to hear more about what your dad said.”
He wanted to hear the same from her, but sleep was more important right now. “Lie with me awhile first.” He quickly stripped her clothes away, then laid her beneath the thick covers on the bed. Moments later, his own clothes were off, and he was sliding in beside her, pulling her into his arms.
By the time she curled up against him, her breathing was soft and even. Though Drake badly needed sleep as well, he needed this more. Needed to have Rosa warm and safe in his arms. Needed to feel her heart beating against his. Needed to breathe in her sweet scent.
And most of all, he needed to take a quiet moment in the dark to appreciate being the luckiest guy in the world.
Chapter Thirty-Two
“Cal, I’d like you to meet my girlfriend, Rosa. Rosa, the mayor and I go way back.”
It was the first time Drake had used the word girlfriend. He liked the sound of it. Was going to like it even more when it was fiancée. Better still when it was wife.
He knew he was racing ahead. And he didn’t give a damn. At long last, he understood what his cousins in San Francisco and Seattle felt for the people they’d fallen in love with. Forever wasn’t just something you saw in a movie or read about in a book. It was so much more than a few pretty sentences in a Valentine’s Day card.
Forever was sweet and raw, messy and beautiful, scary and strong.
Forever was Rosa.
“It’s great to meet you,” Calvin said. “I’m glad you thought of us for your TV special. Any other way we can help, just let us know. Denise and Olive from Lakeside Stitch and Knit are already ready to get out on the front lines to defend you to the end.”
“Their kindness—everyone’s kindness—has meant so much to me.” Drake drew Rosa close as her emotions rose to the surface. “Thank you so much for letting us film in your building, Calvin. But I just want you to know that if at any point you feel uncomfortable with having a reality TV crew and cast here, we can figure out something else.”
“Are you kidding? I’m the hero of the century right now.” He winked at the pretty girl who was peeking in his office door. “You wouldn’t mind signing an autograph for my sister, would you?”
“I’d love to.” Rosa immediately walked over to the door and held out her hand as if she were meeting a peer instead of a child. “You must be Jordan.” Drake had told Rosa that Calvin was raising his ten-year-old sister all by himself, after his parents had both passed away one after the other within a month of Jordan’s birth.
Jordan’s eyes were huge as she nodded, so star struck by Rosa that she was speechless for a rare moment in time. Going out of her way to put Calvin’s sister at ease, Rosa said, “I love your bracelets.” Drake finally noticed the half-dozen woven bracelets in a rainbow of colors on Jordan’s wrists. “Did you make them?” When the girl nodded again, Rosa said, “Maybe you can show me how sometime?”
“They’re really easy. There’s a kit you can use, but I figured out how to make them on my own.”
“Cool.”