Five Minutes Late (31 page)

Cedric grinned. “I stole it from an amazing woman.”

Ellie smiled.

 
“I like this corner,” Cedric continued. “Must be because it’s where we met.”

“There isn’t a day that goes by I don’t think of that when I’m waiting here for the light to change.”

Cedric nodded. “We need to talk.”

“I gathered that by the fourteen voicemails and ten text messages. And the emails, I can’t forget those.” She smiled. “I was disappointed you didn’t send a telegram, though.”

“I contemplated hiring a pilot to fly a plane to write something in the sky, but it’s been cloudy lately.”

Ellie laughed. “I was going to call you today. I was such a fool. Vlad set up some elaborate plan to make me think you were seeing another woman, and I believed him. I didn’t trust you and I’m so, so sorry.”

Cedric nodded. “When I heard about the accident, I thought I’d lost you. Then I thought I was such an idiot to not spend every single moment with you. I’d been scared to get involved with someone, but after I heard the news, I would have given anything to spend one more day with you.” He moved closer to Ellie. “But I didn’t come looking for you today because I found out you were alive. I’m here because I can’t live without you and … I love you. Deeply.”

“And I wasn’t going to call you today because I found out you didn’t cheat on me. I was going to call you because I love you too.” She grinned. “But my love is much deeper than your love.”

“Ha!” Cedric laughed. “Impossible.”
 

“It is!”

Cedric laughed and grabbed the latte from Ellie’s hand.

“I’m not done with that.”

“I know.” He set it on the sidewalk. “I’m just preparing for our kiss.”

“You and all of this constant preparation. Just kiss me, would ya?”

“It would be a pleasure.” He leaned forward and kissed Ellie, and she fought hard to hold in the tears.
 

Cedric pulled away. “Dominic left me a message regarding the property. He told me what you did.”

Ellie shrugged.

Cedric caressed her cheek and kissed her. “Thank you. It means so much to me. But not as much as you.” He checked his watch. “Crap, you need to get going or you’ll be late.”

“Relax,” she said, smiling. “I’d like to hear more about how much I mean to you.” She inched up and kissed Cedric on the lips. “I can be five minutes late.”

Epilogue

Eighteen months later

Cedric stood with Tony in front of the new garlic museum, smiling and a little misty-eyed.
 

Tony leaned in to examine Cedric’s face. “You going to get all girly on me and cry?”

Cedric turned to Tony. “You’re the one who’s going to cry.”

“Ha! Twenty bucks?”

“You’re on. Wimp.”

“Pain in the ass.”

“Douchebag.”

“Dorkwad.”

The minister cleared his throat and covered his lapel microphone with the palm of his hand. “FYI … the microphone is on.”

“Shit … sorry,” said Tony.
 

The minister shot him another look.

“I mean … darn.”

Cedric laughed and looked around at the large gathering and all of the familiar faces. Papa George’s old property—now Cedric’s property—was the perfect place for a wedding. The garden with the fountain and picnic area next to the museum turned out just as he hoped it would.

After the DJ started the processional, “At Last” by Etta James, Tony reached over and squeezed Cedric’s shoulder. “Showtime.”
 

Maria appeared and slowly walked down the aisle toward them with her father.
 

Cedric got emotional as he thought back to his own wedding day over a year ago, an intimate ceremony and celebration at the Black Stallion Winery in Napa. He winked at Ellie, who was sitting by the aisle in the second row. His gaze dropped to her swollen belly—Jane would be born in a few weeks and he was the happiest man in the world. Love was in full bloom. In fact, everyone seemed to be getting married. A month after the fundraiser, Frank and Peggy got hitched in Lake Tahoe. And Julio and Hugo tied the knot in Las Vegas earlier in the year.
 

Now it was Tony’s turn.

Cedric wiped an eye and Tony held out his palm. “Pay up.”

“Must be allergies.”

“Yeah, you’re allergic to being a pansy. Twenty bucks. Hand it over.”

“Later.”

“I won’t forget.”

“I know.”

The minister cleared his throat again.

“Shit … sorry.” Tony covered his mouth with his hand. “My mouth is like a runaway freight train.”

The ceremony was short and sweet, very romantic. Afterward, the guests enjoyed the cocktail hour and a wonderful dinner under the stars.
 

Cedric raised his glass to everyone at the head table. “To Tony and Maria … love, laughter, and happily ever after.”

They clinked glasses and Tony shook his finger at Cedric. “This doesn’t get you off the hook. You still have to do the Best Man speech.”

“I’m so happy for you, I may do three or four toasts before the night is over.”

“Me too!” said Ellie, raising her glass.

Tony pointed to her glass. “That better be apple cider.”

Ellie smiled. “It is. You know, back in the fourteenth century, they used to baptize kids with cider, since it was often more sanitary than water.”

“That’s why I shower in cider everyday,” said Cedric.

Ellie pinched Cedric’s side.

Cedric laughed and grabbed Ellie’s hand, kissing it. Everyone was happy and that was the way it should be. Except for Vlad, of course, who was arrested for tax fraud just last week.
 

“Friends and family,” said the DJ. “Tony and Maria would like you to join them next to the fountain for the cake cutting.”

Everyone gathered around as Tony and Maria cut the first slice from the cake and fed each other. The night was perfect. Unless you count the incident later in the evening when the dancing came to a temporary halt after Owen fainted and knocked over Maria’s sister, Sara. Ironically, it happened during the song “Crash Into Me” by Dave Matthews.
 

Owen and Sara started dating three days later.

<<<<>>>>

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A Note from Rich

Dear Reader,

I’m honored that you took the time to read my debut novel and I truly hope you enjoyed Cedric and Ellie’s story.
 

I have a favor to ask! The greatest gift you can give an author after you enjoy their work is to leave a review online on Amazon and Goodreads. Would you mind doing that? It would mean the world to me and would help other readers find my work. Thank you SO MUCH in advance!

And feel free to send me an email to say hello! I love to hear from my readers—it motivates me and helps me write faster. :) My email address is
[email protected]
.

With gratitude,

Rich

Acknowledgements

So many people played a part in making my debut novel happen.

Thank you to my editor, Max Dobson, from
http://www.polished-pen.com/
.

To my very talented cover artist, Sue Traynor, at
http://www.suetraynor.com/
.
Thank you for drawing such a beautiful cover for me!

Special thanks to Romance Author, Deb Julienne (
http://www.debjulienne.com
), for your help and for swapping countless emails with me.

For your help and feedback, a BIG thanks to Silvi López-Martín, Isabel Anievas, Julita Sofijski, Krasimir Sofijski, Julio Navarrete, Kristi Lassalle, Rachel Daven Skinner, Michelle Josette, B.E. Priest, Libby Hawker, Lee Gaiteri, Shayne Rutherford, Elizabeth Barone, and Jessie Gussman.

Thank you to Kristan Higgins and Jennifer Crusie for motivating me.

And Jean Herriges, Willow Glen Library Branch Manager. Thank you for patiently answering my questions during my research visit.