My Sweet Valentine (14 page)

“There, two o'clock.” Allen glanced and saw the smoke of a flare and the flash of its fire. He pointed the bird in that direction.

When they got there, he assessed the situation. Roughly three dozen people were crammed onto the smallest sailboat he'd ever seen. No one had life vests or heavy jackets for the cold rain that was pelting them. When the waves hit the small boat, he held his breath, hoping that it wouldn't capsize.

“Call it in,” he told his copilot. “Have them get as many boats out here as possible. We're going to need them.”

With the Coastguard boats on their way, Allen and his team  just had to continue to assess the situation and wait for backup. They wouldn't swing into action unless an immediate rescue was needed. Looking out his window, Allen saw everyone on the small boat start pointing off to the left. “Man overboard,” he called into his radio. “Damn it. Find him.” He glanced around, swinging the helicopter to the left quickly. Every team member searched the choppy waves for any sign of life.

It took them two minutes to find the mother and daughter bobbing in the cold waves, their dark heads barely hovering over each wave.

“You're on the rope, Marcus,” Allen called to the back, signaling who would take the lead. Larry was the newest member of his team and had yet to make a water rescue. He couldn't afford to lose the precious cargo because of a rookie mistake.

Allen carefully positioned the helicopter with the instructions his crew gave him as Marcus started moving down the wire with the basket. They were geared for the water in thermal wet suits. Larry talked calmly into the radio, telling Allen when to move, when to hold still.

“We've got them. Bringing the basket up now.” Larry sounded happy. They were half way up when a gust of wind caused the chopper to dip dangerously. He held the stick with both hands and for a second, his mind flashed back to five years ago.

“Man down. Man down,” Larry screamed into his ear.

Sara looked at her reflection in the mirror and smiled. “Wow, you look good, sis,” Becca said from behind her. Her sister was dressed in green leggings and a large Oregon Duck's sweatshirt.

“Thanks.” She turned and gathered her long coat. “Don't wait up.” She smiled as she walked out.

Running through the snow, she entered the Golden Oar and shook off her umbrella. Her heels were just a little wet as she walked through the doors. She was greeted by Iian and Allison. They both looked so wonderful, Allison in her new dress, Iian in a tux.

Soft Christmas lights hung from the ceiling, making everything glow and look magical. There was a huge pile of presents underneath a large Christmas tree which sat by the fireplace near the back wall. She handed her gifts over to an employee who took them and set them amongst the others.

Looking around, she noticed a huge fish tank where there used to be open space. The tank, complete with blue lights and exotic fish, looked great as it separated the bar area from the main dining room.

Employees were handing out drinks to guests and she grabbed a flute of champagne.

“Where's Allen?” Allison walked up behind her, wrapping her arms around her.

“Oh.” She turned and hugged her friend. “There was a call. He should be here shortly.” She nibbled on her bottom lip, hoping.

“Well, come on in and see what they've done to the rest of the place.” She smiled and motioned her into the back ballroom.

A large Christmas tree stood in the center under a disco ball. There was a band playing on the stage, and people were slowly dancing around the tree to Christmas music.

Luke and Amber were already there and just seeing how they looked at each other made her heart skip.

“They look good together,” Allison said beside her.

“Yes,” she sighed and looked towards the front door. Iian walked over and, smiling, pulled his wife onto the dance floor. They look good together, too, she thought. Now she was left standing in the doorway, watching the couples spin in circles around the floor.

She was just turning around to walk back to the bar area, when the music stopped short. Turning back into the room, she watched Luke get down on his knee.

“Will you do me the honor of moving in with me?” he asked a very embarrassed Amber. He opened a box and presented it to her.

“Yes! Yes, I'll move in with you.” She laughed as he stood up and they hugged.

They spun around to the cheers of the crowd. But then Amber pulled away. “Actually, now that I think about it. No.”

The whole room went quiet. Every eye was on the couple. “No, I won't move in with you. Not until you say that you'll marry me.”

Several people laughed. “She beat him to it,” Aaron said to Lacey a few feet away from Sara.

Luke smiled, then got down on his knee again, holding up another box to her. “I was hoping to ask that question next.” He opened the lid and smiled up at her. “It was my grandmother’s.” He pulled the ring out of the box and slid it smoothly onto her finger. “Amber Kennedy, will you move in with me? Be my family? The mother to Jackie? And to some human babies maybe a few years down the road? Will you marry me?”

Amber smiled and nodded, then the couple was kissing and everyone cheered. Sara smiled as she watched the newly engaged couple turning around the dance floor. They looked happy. Marriage. It was a huge commitment, one she wasn't ready for anytime soon. But an image of Allen popped into her mind. Stepping back, she turned and walked towards the bar area and took another flute of champagne. She’d set hers down somewhere and had lost track of it.

“Here alone?” She spun to see Zach leaning against the bar.

“No, I'm waiting for my date to arrive. For the moment. I thought…” She broke off, embarrassed.

“What?” He stood up and walked towards her, caging her between the fish tank wall and him. She hadn't realized that he was almost a foot taller than she was. Even though she thought of him as skinny, he still was bigger than her. “You thought that since you turned me down, I wouldn't show?” He leaned his hand on the wall behind her, caging her in even more.

She shook her head and looked around. At this point of the party, everyone was still in the back room congratulating Luke and Amber and few people had trickled out yet.  “No, I thought you'd find someone else to bring along.” She tried to move around him, but he grabbed her. Since her dress was strapless, his cold hands curved around her shoulder, causing her to shiver.

“No, there's no one else.” He leaned closer and she could smell the alcohol on his breath.

“Zach, I really think you should…” She moved his arm away then stepped aside.

“There you are.” Allen walked into the bar area, causing Zach to jump back a full two feet. She let a sigh escape her and quickly walked over to him, not looking back at Zach.

“Are you okay?” He took her arm and steered her towards the main dining room. Looking behind him at Zach.

“Yes, just a misunderstanding.” She felt warmer, close to him. His arms moved around her and he smiled down at her.

“You look beautiful.” He stopped and leaned down to kiss her.

“Thank you. You look very dashing.” He did, he looked like a young Clark Gable, stepping into his next movie set or a high-roller Hollywood party. “How did the rescue go?”

His smile fell away. “Marcus fell from the bucket. He's got a broken collarbone, but other than that…Thirty-five Mexican immigrants are alive.”

“Oh, no. Is Marcus the one that had the puppies?”

He chuckled a little. “Well, his dog Sadie did most of the work, but yes. His wife and kids are at the Edgeview hospital with him now. He'll be fine.” She could see something in his eyes.

“It wasn't your fault.” She took his hands and held them in hers.

“For a minute there I was back in Afghanistan.” He shook his head, then looked down at her and smiled. “None of that talk tonight. Tonight it's all about dancing, good food, champagne, and presents.” He pulled a box out of his jacket pocket. The long black box had a bright red bow on it.

“Merry Christmas.” He smiled as she took it from him.

“Oh, wait here.” She handed the box back to him and walked over to the tree, looking quickly for his present Finding it, she rushed back over to him.

“Here, Merry Christmas. Let's open them together.”

“Okay, come over here.” He steered her towards the fireplace and they sat on the stone seat in front of the heat.

They opened the gifts together.

She opened the lid to a dainty bracelet full of silver spoons, pans, cupcake pans, a small mixer, a rolling pan and even a whisk. She laughed. It was perfect.

“
I saw it and thought of you.” He smiled at her. “There's even a measuring cup.” He set his box down and helped her put it around her wrist. The silver of the bracelet shone in the lights, sending sparkles around her wrist.

“It's perfect.” She smiled at him. “Now, open yours.”

He picked up the box again, this time ripping the paper off quickly. “I always love the sound of that.”

He opened the tissue paper and stared down at her gift. The knife set was one of the finest, made for the highest quality restaurant. “I noticed you didn't have a good set the other day. These are the best.” She smiled.

“You bought me knives?” He smiled at her and shook his head. “Leave it to a baker to buy a guy something he'd been thinking of getting for the last few months.” He chuckled. “Do you know how hard it is to cook a steak without a good knife?” He pulled the box open and started looking at the knives one at a time.

She laughed. “Now you won't have to. I hope you like them.”

He set the knife he was currently examining down and pulled her closer. “They're perfect.” He kissed her and the heat from the fireplace wasn't the only heat in the room.

“
Tell me you can stay with me tonight?” he whispered into her hair.

She nodded. “I packed an overnight bag.” She pulled back and smiled at him.

“Good. Now,”—he looked around—“you mentioned something about bringing some fudge?” She laughed.