“I look forward to many more years of this with you.”
“You better,” she laughs.
“Keep the mask.”
“As if I'd ever get rid of it.”
Coupled together, holding onto one another tightly, Alexis and I relax and enjoy the sensations coursing through our bodies. We enjoy the closeness and connection we share.
And best of all, we love and enjoy each other – and will for a long, long time.
Thirty-Three
Alexis
Six Months Later
“This is all so amazing,” I say. “I just hate that you went to all of this trouble –”
Regina Clyburne, the matriarch of the Clyburne family, waves me off. She turns and gives me a wide, warm smile.
“It was no trouble for me, dear,” she says. “This is why I hire party planners.”
I laugh and shake my head. A waiter strolls by and Regina grabs two glasses of champagne, handing me one. We clink our glasses together and take a sip. In the months since Duncan proposed, I've spent a lot of time with Regina – she insists on seeing Aurora often, which I think is sweet. In that time, I've grown to really like her. I enjoy her company. Regina is one of the kindest, most genuine, and most compassionate people I've ever met.
Given how things turned out with Henry, I honestly didn't know what to expect of her, but she's been nothing but kind to me. She's treated me not just like a daughter-in-law, but like a real part of the family. It's been one of the most unexpected, but most amazing things about this whole journey – not only that I have a family of my own now, but that I've been accepted as a member of another family. Just thinking about it gets me all emotional. Regina has been kinder to me than my own mother ever was. And for that, I love and appreciate her.
“Still,” I say. “This is amazing. Very extravagant.”
She shrugs. “It's not every day that my youngest son gets married. At least, I hope it's not,” she says and laughs.
I smile and look out over the party on the rear grounds of the house. Regina had been in on Duncan's proposal that night at the restaurant and had already been making plans for this incredible engagement party. It's something I didn't expect, and I'm entirely blown away. We're all in our finest attire – Regina insisted this be a formal affair. And it is by far, the most elegant and – regal – event I've ever been to, let alone as the guest of honor. Some of New York's elite, the movers and shakers, and even celebrities are among the guests milling about.
I look out to the dance floor and see Bri cutting loose with Dom and smile. They've made their plans to move in together and will probably be getting married at some point in the next year or so. Nothing makes me happier for my best friend. She deserves all of the love and happiness life can throw at her.
“Thank you for this,” I say, turning to Regina. “This has been the most amazing night of my life.”
With a mischievous twinkle in her eye, she gives me a sly grin. “I hope this comes in second to your honeymoon night.”
I laugh heartily, nearly doubling over. Regina is one of the most refined women I've ever met, but she still has a wit and a wicked streak that rivals anybody I know. And I love her for it.
“After all,” she winks. “I think Aurora needs a sibling.”
“Perhaps,” I say. “Duncan and I are still negotiating about family size. He wants a football team – offense and defense, but I'm not sure my body could manage that. I'm looking for something slightly under your average basketball team. Or perhaps just doubles tennis.”
It's Regina's turn to laugh and she grabs onto my arm, giving it a gentle squeeze. “As long as I get more grandbabies to spoil, I'll be a happy woman.”
I take a sip of my champagne, my spirits lighter than they ever have been before. “Speaking of Aurora –”
“She's fine. She's with Desiree upstairs in the nursery. You don’t have a thing to worry about. Desiree is a wonderful woman,” she says. “No, tonight is all about you, dear. This is for you, so I want you to enjoy yourself and not have a care in the world.”
“Thank you, Regina,” I tell her. “I mean – that's so insufficient. I don't even know how to thank you.”
She turns and looks at me, a small smile tugging at her lips. “Just keep making Duncan happy,” she says. “You have brought about such changes in him, dear. I've never seen him more content, more satisfied, or more – alive, really. You have given him purpose and reason. You've given him happiness and love. For that, I can't thank you enough. What you two have is special, Alexis. Hold onto it and never let it go.”
My cheeks flush and I can't keep the smile off my face. “That's my plan,” I say. “Because even though you say I've wrought changes in him, he's wrought just as many in me. It's something I plan on holding on to forever.”
She squeezes my arm again and smiles warmly. “That does my heart good to hear, Alexis,” she says. “You're a good woman. The kind of person I always hoped Duncan would find.”
We stand together in silence for a couple of moments and I soak in her words. Regina has no way of knowing or understanding just how much her words mean to me. I can't even fully express it. But she's touched a chord deep within me and set off a bomb of emotions.
“How are my two best girls doing?” Duncan asks as he steps between us, an arm around each of our shoulders.
“Enjoying this amazing evening,” I say. “It's like something out of a fairy tale, honestly.”
“Except, in this one, you don't turn into a pumpkin at midnight,” he replies.
He and his mom exchange a warm expression and a wide smile. I really love that he's so close with his mother. I think their relationship is a beautiful and amazing thing.
“Can I have everybody's attention please?” a sudden voice echoes around the grounds.
I recognize the voice instantly. A cold chill runs down my spine as I look up at the stage. I feel Duncan's body tense and feel the anger radiating off of him. He lowers his arms and both his mother, and I grab a hand, holding him in place.
Henry is standing on the stage, dressed in a tuxedo, holding a flute of champagne in one hand, the band's microphone in the other.
“Who invited him?” Duncan growls, his voice low and tight with anger.
“I invited him, dear,” Regina says. “I thought it important he be here for such a momentous occasion.”
“Mom –”
She holds her hand up. “Just keep an open mind and hear him out,” she says. “I think you're going to be surprised.”
“Yeah, I'll believe that –”
“When you see it, I know,” Regina interrupts, then looks straight into Duncan’s eyes. “People can have a change of heart, you know.”
“They have to have a heart to be able to change it,” he snaps.
I stand there completely frozen, not sure what to do. If Regina is willing to give him a chance – and says we should – I know we should. On the other hand, knowing who – and what – Henry is, I don't want him to ruin our special night.
Duncan and I exchange a look and I can see the same debate going on in his own head. I purse my lips and give him a small smile. I can tell he's worried about what is going to fall out of his brother's mouth and how it's going to impact me.
“Let's just wait for a minute,” I whisper. “Let's hear what he has to say.”
He gives me a small nod. “If you're sure.”
“Your mom is, so I am,” I say, earning a smile of thanks from her.
The crowd falls silent and everybody gathers around the stage. Duncan, Regina, and I stand near the back of the dance floor, watching what we all hope doesn't turn out to be a train wreck. When the crowd settles down, Henry holds the mic up and starts to speak.
“I stand before you tonight to tell you all something many of you already know – I'm an asshole,” he says, drawing laughter from the crowd. “No, really. Some months back, I said and did some things that in retrospect, I'm not proud of. I made horrible assumptions, terrible judgments, and was pretty much an all-around asshole.”
“Is he drunk?” Duncan hisses.
Regina shakes her head. “No, he's actually not.”
“I know this isn't your typical engagement party speech, but there are some things I need to say to the happy couple,” Henry announces.
I feel myself stiffen up as he looks out at us, though there is a small ember of hope burning inside of me. Duncan gives my hand a squeeze and when I look up at him, he silently mouths the words I'll never get tired of hearing, ‘I love you’.
“Duncan, Alexis,” Henry starts. “The first thing I want to say is that I'm sorry. From the bottom of my heart, I'm sorry. What I said and did was wrong. Beyond wrong, actually. And Duncan, yeah, in retrospect, I deserved the punch in the nose for it.”
Another wave of laughter ripples through the crowd. As I listen to Henry, the skeptical, petty side of my mind tells me that this is all an act. That he's got an agenda. But as I listen to him, I also can't help but hear the sincerity in his words. Shockingly enough.
“Duncan, that day in my office – the last time we spoke all those months ago – you reminded me of something that I've obviously either taken for granted or forgotten. Many things, actually, but the one thing you said that I can't shake is that the Clyburne legacy is family,” he continues. “You're right. That sense of family is something Mom and Dad instilled in us when we were young. As were some of the other traits you mentioned – compassion, kindness, generosity – everything. You were right. I was wrong.”
Henry takes a sip of his champagne and looks down at the ground, as if contemplating what to say next. He looks back up at us, his eyes locked onto Duncan's. It's then I feel the full weight of his sincerity. The look on his face is one of sadness. It's the look of a man who desperately misses his brother. Seeing that look on Henry's face makes the tears well in my eyes.