The Perfect Life (2 page)

The purpose of life,

my love,

is to feel.

You must understand

that your pain,

is essential.”

–Christopher Poindexter

Five months earlier

Monroe

“REMIND ME AGAIN
why we’re doing this.” I sucked in my abdomen and rolled my shoulders back as Colin tugged the zipper of the pale blue designer evening gown over my hips and halfway up my spine to where the silky fabric ended.

My husband chuckled and bent down to brush his lips over the delicate skin just below my ear, our matching emerald gazes locking in the full-length mirror that hung in my spacious walk-in closet. “For the kids, Roe.” His proud smile spread so wide that his eyes crinkled at the corners. “You do it, because you love the kids more than anything else.”

I blew the held breath out through my painted red lips and leaned my head back to rest on his tuxedo-clad chest. “You’re so right.”

My mouth curled up at the edges in a playful grin as I twirled around to face the real him instead of his reflection. Raising up on my tiptoes, I straightened his bowtie then affectionately tapped my finger on the tip of his nose. Even when I was wearing heels, Colin towered over me with his substantial six-foot-six stature. Although he often appeared thin when compared to the colossal offensive linemen who protected him on the football field, his shoulders were quite broad, and when I stood next to him he made me feel petite and very feminine.

“I do love those little monsters like nobody’s business,” I admitted with a snicker, “but I just wish we could’ve had a casual afternoon barbeque to gain sponsorship for the house, rather than a fancy-shmancy, high-society gala. I’m sure most of the guys aren’t too thrilled to be spending a Saturday night in an uncomfortable tux, making small talk with uptight Boston socialites while having a string quartet for a soundtrack.”

“They don’t mind at all,” he assured me, his expression one-hundred-percent sincere. “Especially since everyone’s in a good mood, now that we wrapped up our preseason Thursday night with another win. Plus, I’m not sure a midday picnic at the Common would’ve brought in the same kind of money that a black-tie affair at The State Room will.”

I sighed and looked away, still tense about the evening to come.

“Stop worrying so much, sweetie,” he reassured me. “This money is all going toward the kids. Every single penny. Tonight is about you, your dream, and bringing a Mending Hearts house to Boston. My old town. Your new town. Now our
home
town. We wanted to make a difference, and this is our chance.”

Colin gently held my arms just above my elbows and leaned down to stare at me straight in the eyes, his brows lifted high into his forehead as he continued talking. “I know these things aren’t easy for you, but this isn’t about meaningless movie premieres and red-carpet-rich-people rendezvous. This is
real
. These kids need people to fight for them . . .” He trailed off and skimmed both of his hands across my bare shoulders and up the sides of my neck until he cradled my jaw. I heard the unspoken words “just like you needed someone, but didn’t have” plain as day, but his tender lips would’ve never been so harsh when speaking to me. “And we’re those people, Roe. You and me. We’re a team. To the very end.”

“To the very end,” I repeated the four words we’d both concluded our handwritten wedding vows with. It had been our mantra ever since. The words that our entire relationship was built around.

His boyish smile returned as he pressed his lips to the top of my head. “The car will be here in ten minutes. I’m gonna make a quick phone call in my office, and then I’ll meet you downstairs. I promise I won’t leave your side all night, gorgeous. Not even when everyone tries to steal you away from me.”

He gave me a final chaste kiss on the cheek before striding out of my closet. Watching him with an overwhelming sense of appreciation and affection, I said a quick
thank you
up to the heavens above for blessing me with such an incredibly understanding man in my life, then pushed back my own personal anxieties and fears to focus my thoughts and energy on the important aspect of the evening.
The kids
. If everything went well, the money that was raised could provide the rest of the funding we needed to get the children’s home up and running. I’d been working for over a year to make this dream a reality, and I was eager to finally be able to see it all come to fruition.

And once that happened, every single second in the too-tight strapless bra and toe-pinching stilettos would be worth it. Boring music and all.

The limo door opened and we were immediately greeted by an onslaught of flashes from the multitude of cameras lining the roped-off, red-carpeted walkway. Colin grabbed my hand and helped me gracefully exit the backseat of the car as paparazzi called out our names so we’d pose for their shot. We both smiled and waved, genuine in our regard for those who’d come out to give our important event some runtime in the press. I greeted several of the familiar local photographers and columnists as we stopped to take a few pictures, and I loved how their eyes would light up when I remembered their names. Making other people feel special always made me feel good.

Before I knew it, we were ushered inside the downtown Boston skyscraper and whisked up the elevator to the top floor of the Sixty State Street building, where the First Annual New England Mending Hearts Gala was in full swing. All of the men were dressed similarly to Colin—in black and white tuxes—though none looked quite as dapper as my unbelievably handsome husband, while the women sparkled and glittered in their formal attire, the elegant dresses spanning the entire color spectrum from snowy white to onyx black and every shade in between.

Classical music floated lightly through the air as I scanned the massive, contemporary space, which was tastefully decorated in an array of blues—the color used worldwide to represent child abuse awareness, hence the reason for my own gown’s hue. Guests mixed and mingled with easy conversation and sincere smiles. Some chose to find comfort at the tables and chairs expertly positioned around the room, while others opted to stay on their feet, most of them flocking toward the floor-to-ceiling windows that provided a panoramic view of the skyline and harbor. I couldn’t blame them much, though. The spectacular backdrop was the main reason I’d selected this venue over the others I’d toured. It was absolutely awe-inspiring.

“Ma’am, can I interest you in a grilled scallop wrapped in prosciutto?” I hadn’t even noticed anyone approach while completing my thorough inspection, but the deep voice jolted me from my thoughts as he extended the silver tray filled with delicious-looking hors d’oeuvres.

I replied with a friendly nod and a “Yes, thank you,” as he handed me one of the finger foods on a small napkin, and then watched as he repeated the action with Colin. Before I even had a chance to swallow down the savory treat, a cocktail waitress appeared to offer us both a glass of wine, which I gladly accepted, but as usual, Colin declined. In the seven years we’d known each other, the only time I ever saw him drink alcohol was at our wedding reception, and even then, it was only a single glass of champagne during the toasts. My man treated his body and mind like a temple, and with his openness about his spirituality, he never wanted to be seen indulging in any activity that could be construed as damaging or immoral.

“It looks amazing, Roe,” Colin murmured in my ear as he laced the fingers of his right hand through my free one, slowly guiding us away from the entrance and toward the heart of the party. “I knew you’d put together something great, but this . . . wow, you’ve completely outdone yourself.”

“Thank you.” I beamed up at him, my cheeks lifting so high I could see them in the lower portion of my line of sight. “I’ve been obsessing about it so long, I was starting to wonder if perhaps I’d overthought the whole thing. But now that I see it all come together . . . I’m really glad we didn’t do that picnic.”

Laughter rumbled so deep in his chest that the vibrations resonated through our interlocked hands and warmth bloomed inside me. There was nothing better than the sound of Colin Cassidy’s unbridled mirth, especially when something I did or said was what caused it. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to try and make him do it again before we were noticed by a small group of partygoers and were swallowed up by enthusiastic greetings and introductions for the next half-hour.

After making our way through the first throng of gracious guests, I finally spotted Allison Northcutt, the one woman I’d been searching for since we arrived, talking to several people close to the area roped off for the silent auction. She was my closest female friend, my life mentor, and my soon-to-be new boss. And other than Colin, she was the person I trusted most in the entire world.

My entire body relaxed the moment her gaze found mine and she smiled brightly, lifting her arm in the air to beckon us over. Squeezing Colin’s hand, I tugged him in her direction and made a beeline to where she stood.

“Monroe, love, you’re absolutely gorgeous!” she exclaimed as I unwound my fingers from my husband’s grip and received her in a tight embrace. After releasing me, she moved her warm, inviting arms to Colin’s neck, having to nearly jump up to hug him. “And you, young man, grow more handsome each time I see you. It appears life in Boston is treating you both well.”

“It truly is. We love it here. And speaking of gorgeous . . .” I paused to blatantly allow my eyes to drift up and down her classy sapphire gown. “Look at you! That dress is stunning, and you chopped off all your hair since I was in Detroit a couple of months ago. It frames your face perfectly.”

I reached up and smoothed my hand over her brunette bob, admiring the sophisticated cut. Allison may have been twenty years my senior, but ever since I met her my freshman year of college, she’d always seemed so youthful and energetic—both in appearance and spirit—that I never thought of her as being that much older than me. From the moment I first walked into the original Mending Hearts house in Detroit that Thanksgiving Day almost seven years ago, introducing myself and expressing my desire to volunteer, she and I had hit it off immediately. Our relationship had always been a well-balanced combination of professional and personal respect.

“Thank you, my dear, but enough about me.” She waved her hand in front of her face, humbly passing off my compliment. “Tonight is your night, and I’ve got some people I’d like you to meet. I know you’re familiar with all of the members of the Board of Directors from your undergrad days with me in Michigan, but I don’t believe you’ve met any of the staff from the Chicago house yet since it kicked off right about the time you guys moved here. Have you?”

“No, I haven’t.” I smiled politely as I glanced over to the trio Allison had been talking to before Colin and I approached, waiting patiently off to the side. She motioned for them to join us and smoothly began the introductions.

“Monroe and Colin Cassidy,” her eyes shone with delight as they bounced back and forth between us and them, “this is Jeff and Tracie Long.” She tilted her head in the direction of the friendly-looking, middle-aged man and the small, curly-haired woman at his side who were standing directly to her right. “They are the senior advisors at the home, with Jeff obviously being in charge of the boys and Tracie looking over the girls.”

Colin and I shook their hands and we exchanged cordial pleasantries. I immediately liked them, knowing from my days working at the Detroit house that the senior advisors were dedicated, devoted, and big-hearted people, living in the centers full-time to care for the children in their custody. I could tell Jeff was trying his best to play it cool around Colin, but there was no hiding the awestruck expression in his eyes when the starting New England Patriots’ quarterback laughed at something he said and patted his shoulder.

Allison then sidestepped toward me to make room in our semicircle for the other man who’d been hanging back to join us. “And this is none other than Dr. Oliver Saxon, who, as you already know, is the Executive Director,” twisting to face me, her already brilliant smile grew even bigger, “and now your counterpart,
Dr.
Cassidy.”

A girlish-sounding high-pitched giggle bubbled out of me and, instinctively, my cheeks flamed. With the combination of Allison emphasizing and bringing attention to my newly-earned doctorate degree and the completely unexpected image of Oliver Saxon, something strange happened inside of me, and that unnatural sound was the embarrassing effect.

I hastily thrust my arm in his direction, hoping to minimize any awkwardness my random laughter may have initiated, and threw on my best charming-the-public smile that I’d been perfecting since I was in diapers. Thankfully, he didn’t miss a beat, fitting his strong hand around mine, and when our skin met and an unanticipated tingle ran down my spine, I started talking before I could do anything else to mortify myself.

“Allison’s told me so much about you, Oliver. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.” I left my hand in his just long enough to be courteous then pulled back to break the contact; however, I couldn’t for the life of me tear my gaze away from the unique color of his eyes. A mix between amber and light brown, they almost looked fake, but I was too well-mannered to ask if they were tinted contacts.