I embraced as days of wedding related stress fell away from me.
“How long do we have?” he asked as he looked down at me.
I raised a brow. “Not that kind of time.”
“No, baby,” he said with a sly grin. “I was thinking of a walk.” He held me to his side as he led me to the far side of the park, straight to the place we met over forty-five years ago. Seth stood in front of me, his eyes filled with the same priceless memories as mine.
“What was your favorite part?” I asked in a hushed tone as the sun set beneath the trees.
Seth stood silent for several moments as he looked down at me. For a second, I thought he might not have heard me until he answered.
He cupped my face and leaned in close as his breath hit my lips. “You, you were my favorite part. It was always you and it’s not over yet.”
I smiled as I thought of the years ahead of us. “I know.” He leaned in and placed a soft, slow kiss on my lips. When he pulled away, the awareness was back.
“Can you feel that?” I asked in awe.
“It’s amazing, isn’t it? You always seemed so surprised and I’ve been pointing this out for over thirty years.”
“Remember when I told you we got back together for a reason? It was right here when I said it.”
He nodded. “You said maybe we were supposed to be together for them, for Rose and Dallas.” He looked down at me, his eyes wide. “Wow.”
I nodded as the excitement raced through me. “I said maybe I gave birth to a future president or peace leader and you said—”
“Which one?” he added. “I remember that. It’s crystal clear.”
“God, Seth, we sure got our answer.”
“Both,” he mused as he still held my face. “We did that.”
“Yes, we did,” I said, amazed.
I watched Dallas and Dean as they slow danced at the reception, eyes locked and full of love. My oldest daughter had taken a similar road to love as I had. She had also inherited my heart and stubborn will. I was completely enamored as Rose and her new husband danced a few feet away from them, locked in embrace as they whispered to each other.
This night was special and everyone could feel it, but for Seth and me, it was laced by the inner workings of fate and its confirmations. We had stumbled into love, screwed it up, fell back together, and at one time grew apart, and yet we remained.
As champagne glasses were passed out and toasts were made, our secret celebration was further confirmed as our youngest daughter lifted her glass to Seth and me.
“When I was ten years old, I saw my parents kiss,” Rose said wistfully as she stood next to her husband who looked on at her with adoration. “But this kiss wasn’t just any kiss. It was filled with more love than any two people should be able to hold. It inspired me to want the same thing. So, I began to kiss everything,” Rose said with a chuckle and the room laughed. Rose stood silent for a moment and her lips began to tremble as she looked at us. I heard Seth take in an audible breath.
“I can’t tell you how beautiful it was to watch the two of you. I had no choice but to want the same for myself, and thank God I did.” She looked over at Jack, who kissed her temple as she held her glass up higher to us. “You two were my guiding light, my hope, my wish for my own future. You were the foundation of the woman I’ve become and the heart I hold. I owe everything to you.”
Silent tears fell down my cheeks as I felt Seth tremble beside me with just as much emotion.
“I am a romantic and I owe this heart to my inspiration. So please, everyone, raise your glasses to my parents, Laura and Seth. To the romantics.”
Look for Kate’s FIRST romantic comedy
Anything but Minor
Coming Summer 2016!
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MEET SETH AND LAURA IN
ROOM 212
****
PROLOGUE
I took a seat at the small table next to the window unit. I lit a cigarette and inhaled deeply, letting my eyes drift to the bed. It had been years since I’d felt smoke cloud my lungs and the rush of nicotine. The sheets were still a tangled mess. The room was untouched. I knew today was the day I should clean Room 212