Read Online Reunion for the First Time by K. M. Daughters - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: K. M. Daughters
Tags: Contemporary
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the diamond necklace, she couldn’t contain her delight. “Oh, Jack. It’s beautiful.”
He stepped forward and removed the dainty jewelry from the box. “Let me.”
Steering her in front of the hall mirror he encircled her neck with the platinum chain. All she could concentrate on was his warm breath on her shoulders. His musky masculine scent scrambled her brain.
Staring in the mirror, she touched the tiny diamond butterfly at her throat with wonder. “Mari wore a necklace just like this all the time.”
His eyes met hers in the mirror. “I know. It is Mari’s necklace.” He stepped away from her.
She turned toward him with a teary smile. Her hand pressed the smooth gold filigree into her neck, stroking the tiny diamond facets under her fingers. Blinking several times so the tears wouldn’t spill, she trained her eyes on his. “Oh, thank you Jack. It’s a treasure beyond compare.”
Lizzie couldn’t define what passed between them, but the power of the moment resonated in her soul. She could hardly breathe. He opened his arms and she stepped into them as if pushed forward by invisible hands. For a few seconds they clung together, fit together.
My dream date. Mari are you here with me?
Releasing her gently Jack said, “Thank Charlie, not me. He must have figured you’d be less likely to bash his head in when you get back if he did something nice like this.”
“It’s more than nice. It’s very special.” She took a deep breath. “I don’t think I’ll ever take it off.”
He bent his arm and offered it to her.
****
By the time Jack arrived with his lady in red at the hotel that fronted the Boston Harbor, the open-air cocktail hour was winding down. He got them each drinks before the bar closed and steered her through the sea of round tables, heavy with china and crystal, to find seats next to Kay and Mick, who rose to greet them at table number one.
Jack shook Mick’s hand warmly. Next he grasped Kay’s hand and pressed it to his lips. “You are the most beautiful pregnant woman in the world.”
Kay blushed at his attention. “Mostly belly, that’s me.”
Jack surveyed the folds of sapphire silk that hung from straps of sparkling jewels. The gown draped her body beautifully and showed off her shapely arms. Her lovely face glowed in the candlelight.
“No, you are not mostly belly. You are one exquisite beauty.” He kissed her hand again, and then held the chair next to hers for Beth as Mick held Kay’s chair. “Mick, every man in this place is jealous of you tonight.” Jack sat down next to Beth.
“Charmer.” Kay squeezed Beth’s hand. “I’ve got to get up there in a few minutes, and I’m a nervous wreck.”
“Don’t worry,” Beth soothed her. “Jack’s right, you look beautiful.”
“I’ll have to take your word for it.” Kay smoothed a hand over her short blond hair. “And you look sensational, Liz.”
At eight sharp the orchestra stopped playing background music.
“There’s my cue.” Kay pushed out of her chair and walked to the front of the room. She turned on the regulator of a lavaliere microphone clipped to the strap of her gown.
“Welcome Class of 1997. I’m your reunion committee chair, Kay Lynch—back in ’97, Katherine Adams.”
Kay’s yearbook picture appeared on a huge wall screen behind her.
“As you can see,” she looked down pointedly at her pregnant shape, “things change in the ten years after graduation.”
She smiled. “We are an auspicious group. We are scientists and astronauts. We built buildings and bridges, and served our country in the military and the Peace Corps. We have become husbands and wives and fathers and mothers.”
Kay shuffled the cards in her hands. “Some of us lost loved ones on September 11, 2001. Some of us departed earth that day.”
Pictures of classmates who died in the Twin Towers rolled on the screen.
“Others died fighting battles in war or against disease.”
The collage of photos
He stepped forward and removed the dainty jewelry from the box. “Let me.”
Steering her in front of the hall mirror he encircled her neck with the platinum chain. All she could concentrate on was his warm breath on her shoulders. His musky masculine scent scrambled her brain.
Staring in the mirror, she touched the tiny diamond butterfly at her throat with wonder. “Mari wore a necklace just like this all the time.”
His eyes met hers in the mirror. “I know. It is Mari’s necklace.” He stepped away from her.
She turned toward him with a teary smile. Her hand pressed the smooth gold filigree into her neck, stroking the tiny diamond facets under her fingers. Blinking several times so the tears wouldn’t spill, she trained her eyes on his. “Oh, thank you Jack. It’s a treasure beyond compare.”
Lizzie couldn’t define what passed between them, but the power of the moment resonated in her soul. She could hardly breathe. He opened his arms and she stepped into them as if pushed forward by invisible hands. For a few seconds they clung together, fit together.
My dream date. Mari are you here with me?
Releasing her gently Jack said, “Thank Charlie, not me. He must have figured you’d be less likely to bash his head in when you get back if he did something nice like this.”
“It’s more than nice. It’s very special.” She took a deep breath. “I don’t think I’ll ever take it off.”
He bent his arm and offered it to her.
****
By the time Jack arrived with his lady in red at the hotel that fronted the Boston Harbor, the open-air cocktail hour was winding down. He got them each drinks before the bar closed and steered her through the sea of round tables, heavy with china and crystal, to find seats next to Kay and Mick, who rose to greet them at table number one.
Jack shook Mick’s hand warmly. Next he grasped Kay’s hand and pressed it to his lips. “You are the most beautiful pregnant woman in the world.”
Kay blushed at his attention. “Mostly belly, that’s me.”
Jack surveyed the folds of sapphire silk that hung from straps of sparkling jewels. The gown draped her body beautifully and showed off her shapely arms. Her lovely face glowed in the candlelight.
“No, you are not mostly belly. You are one exquisite beauty.” He kissed her hand again, and then held the chair next to hers for Beth as Mick held Kay’s chair. “Mick, every man in this place is jealous of you tonight.” Jack sat down next to Beth.
“Charmer.” Kay squeezed Beth’s hand. “I’ve got to get up there in a few minutes, and I’m a nervous wreck.”
“Don’t worry,” Beth soothed her. “Jack’s right, you look beautiful.”
“I’ll have to take your word for it.” Kay smoothed a hand over her short blond hair. “And you look sensational, Liz.”
At eight sharp the orchestra stopped playing background music.
“There’s my cue.” Kay pushed out of her chair and walked to the front of the room. She turned on the regulator of a lavaliere microphone clipped to the strap of her gown.
“Welcome Class of 1997. I’m your reunion committee chair, Kay Lynch—back in ’97, Katherine Adams.”
Kay’s yearbook picture appeared on a huge wall screen behind her.
“As you can see,” she looked down pointedly at her pregnant shape, “things change in the ten years after graduation.”
She smiled. “We are an auspicious group. We are scientists and astronauts. We built buildings and bridges, and served our country in the military and the Peace Corps. We have become husbands and wives and fathers and mothers.”
Kay shuffled the cards in her hands. “Some of us lost loved ones on September 11, 2001. Some of us departed earth that day.”
Pictures of classmates who died in the Twin Towers rolled on the screen.
“Others died fighting battles in war or against disease.”
The collage of photos
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