A Celtic Knot (22 page)

Thirty-Three

Z
O
Ë RUBBED HER ROUNDED TUMMY
as Echo moved around the kitchen. The smell of brewing coffee was heavenly, but for now she would have to be satisfied with only the aroma. “Your daughter is tumbling around in here looking for some breakfast. My peanut butter and celery last night didn’t sustain us.”

Echo squished her face in disgust. “No wonder you woke up with heartburn this morning.”

“I guess that means you don’t want to hear what I’m craving for breakfast.”

Echo sighed and draped an arm around Zoë’s shoulder. “Let’s hear it.”

“A barbecued bratwurst smothered in sauerkraut and grilled onions.”

Echo groaned. “That should give you and my daughter days’ worth of heartburn. How about you start with some Raisin Bran and a bowl of strawberries and bananas?”

Zoë pouted effectively. “It’s not the same, but at this point anything will do.”

Echo brought Zoë’s hand to her lips and kissed her knuckles. “I’ll barbecue you a brat for dinner. Is that a reasonable compromise?”

Zoë’s smile was infectious. “Your daughter and I’ll love you forever for that.”

“My daughter is going to come out screaming for a jumbo bottle of Turns.”

They looked up as Olivia walked into the kitchen, buttoning the cuff on her pink blouse. Echo and Zoë spontaneously burst into applause.

Zoë stood and gave Olivia a sideways hug, the best she could manage with Chloe doing her somersaults. “I heard two sets of footsteps climbing our stairs not long after I left you last night. Sounds like Catherine chose the right girlfriend’s arms to walk into.”

“I’m thrilled by her choice. But don’t break out the applause yet. She slept in the guest room last night.”

Zoë looked distressed. “Did something go wrong? I felt so sure that she’d decided you were the one she wanted to be with.”

Olivia smiled. “She did. It was just what I’ve been longing to hear. But she’d had such an emotional night with Kayla and Alexis, I wanted to be sure it wasn’t just the emotion talking. I was the one who decided we should sleep apart.”

Echo poured milk into Zoë’s cereal bowl. “Are you regretting that decision this morning?”

“Of course. And not at all. Catherine and I have a lifetime ahead of us, if she truly feels today the way she said she felt last night.”

Zoë reached for the bowl of fresh strawberries. “I’m amazed by your self-control, Olivia.”

“It wasn’t easy, trust me.”

“I’m sure it wasn’t. But somehow I think you’ll be rewarded for your kindness. Is Catherine coming down to join us for breakfast?”

“She’s sound asleep. But I’m hoping she’ll be joining us for lots of breakfasts in the future.”

Zoë turned to Olivia with shining eyes. “Catherine’s one lucky girl. We’re so happy for you.”

“Nothing’s for sure, Zoë. But I feel more hopeful than I have in a long time.”

Thirty-Four

O
L
IVIA WALKED PAST THE PACKED PATIO
of Cocoa Cream, feeling less at ease than she had this morning. She touched her jacket pocket, feeling the box inside.
Nothing’s for sure.
Had she made the wrong decision last night, pushing Catherine gently away? Would it have made more sense to sweep her into her arms, as she’d wanted to do so desperately?

Catherine had sent her a text message in the middle of the day, asking her to come by the bookstore when she was finished working. Olivia had sent a message back, not wanting to be the one to initiate a real-time conversation. Was Catherine having second thoughts?

Olivia wove her way through the crowded tables of the cafe and headed through the bookstore, glancing cautiously down the aisles in search of Catherine. She met Dana emerging from of the Fiction and Literature sections.

Dana set the stack of paperback books down on the nearest table and stepped into Olivia’s arms. “Well, hello there.”

“Hello, Dana.”

Dana held Olivia’s hands. “You look lovely, as always.”

Olivia felt tears sting unexpectedly at her eyes. She cherished the warmth that had grown between her and Dana in the past few weeks, and wondered what would happen if she and Catherine went their separate ways. She adored her dads, but her mother hadn’t been a mom to her in decades, and Dana enriched her life in ways she’d never anticipated. She even felt the presence of Aidan and admired the true bond he and Dana had shared. She realized she’d fallen in love not just with a woman, but with a family.

“You’re probably looking for Catherine.”

“I am. I was instructed to make my way to Cocoa Cream.”

“Why don’t you go on back to her office. The door’s unlocked.”

Olivia squeezed Dana’s hand and headed alone for the office. Catherine’s orange-blossom scent lightly floated on the air, though no one was in the room. She left the door open and walked toward the small sitting area. She slipped into the nearest chair and stared down at the puzzle on the old chest. Lying on the center of the puzzle were two roses—one red, one white—on top of the velvet pouch Olivia had given Catherine with the first pieces of the puzzle. A card with Olivia’s name scrolled across it in calligraphy lay beneath the roses and velvet pouch.

Olivia picked up the red rose and smelled its subtle fragrance. She picked up the card and noticed that the final piece, the Celtic knot, was still missing from the puzzle. Her heart lurched slightly. She slipped her finger beneath the flap of the card and tore it open. Inside was a card with a picture of two women walking along a beach arm in arm. Relief and happiness washed through her as she unfolded the letter inside.

My sweet Olivia,

Our beautiful puzzle is nearly complete. I left the final piece for you to add, so we could complete it together. I love the mystic fairies floating toward each other. The one holding the Celtic four-pointed-knot pendant is you. I’m the one reaching to receive it.

You were right: I needed to deal with my past before I could embrace my future. You wanted to be sure that I still feel today what I felt last night
—
that I want to spend my life with you. And I do, with all my heart.

The Celtic knot symbolizes so much to me. It symbolizes eternity
—
the eternity I want to share with you. It symbolizes eternal beauty, and the beauty I see in you. You’re strong-spirited with a beautiful soul. You, my darling girl, are full of integrity, faithful, loving, honest, and trustworthy. I’m filled with excitement at the thought of our future together. I’m drawn to you emotionally, intellectually, physically, and spiritually. I look at you, I listen to you, I see your smile, your eyes, your impish playfulness, and I know I’m where I belong, next to you.

Seventeen days ago, you gave me a single pink rose, and told me it signified friendship. Today I’m giving you two roses, one red and one white, signifying both the passion and the purity of our love. They also symbolize our distinct personalities, and the beauty we can create together.

At times in these past few weeks you’ve pushed me beyond my comfort zone. Today, I want to push you a little beyond yours, as a way for both of us to leave our pasts behind and move into our future.

Our puzzle is complete. Now it’s time for me to show you how completely I love you. Two weeks ago you handed me the velvet pouch to guide us on this journey. It will now guide you to me.

Love always,

Your Catherine

Olivia reached for the velvet pouch and loosened the strings, then slipped her fingers inside and pulled out the final piece of the puzzle. Carefully, tenderly, she snapped it into place and smiled. Opening the pouch wider, she pulled out a business card for the Hotel del Coronado. She turned it over and read,
A message awaits you at the front desk. I love you.

Remembering her experience at the Coronado two years ago, a touch of confusion intruded into Olivia’s happiness.

“I’ve never seen Catherine so full of nervous excitement as she was today.”

Olivia looked up to see Dana standing in the doorway. “You knew she was planning something?”

“I’ve been sworn to secrecy.”

Olivia smiled. She slid the business card into her pocket and grabbed the roses and card. “I better run, so I can learn for myself how the plan falls into place.”

Thirty-Five

O
L
IVIA HANDED HER KEYS
to the valet and headed across the balconied walkways. A wedding party hurried past as the bride struggled to keep from tripping on her train. Olivia wished she could still enjoy the Coronado the way she had before the unhappy weekend when Jessica had left her. Before then, she’d loved the Victorian grandeur of this historic landmark, the breathtaking ocean views, the opulence of the elegant lobby.

A young Hispanic woman smiled as she approached the reception desk. “Welcome to the Hotel del Coronado. How may I help you?”

“I’m Olivia Carrington. I was told a message would be waiting for me at the front desk.”

The woman smiled as she reached into a drawer beneath her computer. “Yes, Dr. Carrington. Ms. O’Grady asked that we give you this key card. You’re in one of our beautiful Signature Suites located in the Victorian Building. Your room is 201. Just head for those elevators behind you. Please don’t hesitate to call us if you need anything, and enjoy your stay.”

“Thank you.”

Olivia studied the key card as the elevator rose to the second floor. Was Catherine turning the tables, giving Olivia a room of her own the way she herself had done for Catherine last night? Or was Catherine’s plan for the two of them to spend their first night together here at the Coronado?

She located the door and slid in her key card. She stepped into the gorgeous living area of the suite, surrounded by plush couches. “Catherine?”

Hearing no response, she walked into the huge master bedroom, surprised to see her own suitcase sitting open on the king-size four-poster bed. The suitcase was empty except for a gift-wrapped package the size of a shoebox and a note written on a single sheet of pink rose paper. She picked up the note and read:

My sweet Olivia,

The last time you received a note in your suitcase it was an end. This is our beginning. This time, this place, this memory is for us to create. It’s just about you and me exploring each other for the first time, with our pasts behind us. I’m ready to be your partner and your lover. I’m ready to be yours completely.

Olivia looked up to find Catherine standing in the French doors leading to the balcony, dressed so elegantly in a floor-length sleeveless black dress. Olivia dropped the note into the suitcase as Catherine rushed into her arms.

Olivia brushed her lips against Catherine’s flushed cheek, then stepped back and looked her up and down. “I’m so happy to see you. And yet I’m a little confused.” She smiled mischievously and swept her arm to take in the beautiful room. “The Catherine O’Grady I know is not very comfortable with this kind of extravagance.”

Catherine took Olivia’s hands in her own. “That Catherine has turned into someone new. This one understands that on certain momentous occasions—not every day, mind you—extravagance is absolutely called for.”

She grew more serious. “I hope this wasn’t a mistake, Olivia. To remind you of a painful past. My desire was to put it behind us.”

Olivia touched her lips to Catherine’s forehead. “That’s exactly what you’ve done.”

“Celebrities, dignitaries, and American presidents have all slept in this beautiful hotel. I bet it has never housed a woman as extraordinary as you, Dr. Carrington.”

“And you, Catherine O’Grady, take my breath away.”

“I love you so much, Olivia. I want our first night together to be truly special. I want it to be a night we’ll never forget.”

“I’ll never forget any moment I spend with you. I’ll never forget walking into your office and reading that beautiful letter, especially since I was nervous you might be having second thoughts. Your interpretation of the Celtic knot moved me. I was touched that you allowed me the pleasure of placing the last piece in the puzzle.”

“I wanted you to be a part of that journey.”

“Since the day I met you we’ve been on an incredible journey. A journey I can only pray will last for all time.”

“I truly believe the Celtic knot reflects our unity and timeless love and devotion to one another. I’d love to know what that puzzle means to you.”

“I’ve always loved mythical fairies. When I first saw that puzzle I loved the peaceful imagery of those two beautiful creatures. I knew that the pendant the one fairy was handing the other was Irish but I didn’t know what it meant or symbolized. I kept that puzzle in my office for a year, not knowing what to do with it. When a beautiful Irish woman came into my life, I knew I had to take a chance. I had to reach for my fairy princess and offer to share an eternity with her.”

Catherine wiped at her tears. “You were brave to do that. Especially the way we first started off.”