Page 81 of Impossible Love

“What…?”

“A custom jewelry designer buddy of mine in Tahoe made this about a year ago. I saw it in his shop and never forgot it. I guess I’ve always had a thing for red-headed pianists”

My lips have parted. All I can do is stare.

“When I laid eyes on you, I thought, ‘That’s her. That’s the woman from the necklace.’ I called him from San Francisco. He still had it.”

I blink back tears. This is impossibly perfect. I’ve never received a gift this thoughtful, this intimate in my life.

Since I seem to be frozen in place, Cal takes the chain from my hand and asks me to lift my hair. He clasps it at the nape of my neck and then softly caresses my bare shoulder. I look down at it, cradled between the tops of my breasts. Made for me.

I cover it with my palm. Cal places his hand over mine.

“It’s twenty-four-karat gold with rubies, diamonds, and blue and black star sapphires. I guess it’s proof that you coming to Yosemite Ranch is kismet or déjà vu or whatever you want to call it.”

“Meant to be?”

“Exactly.”

“I… thank you so much, Cal. I love…” I look up at him, my heart in my throat. “I love it more than any gift I’ve ever received, and I will treasure it always.”

I lean toward him and touch my lips to his for a soft kiss. I pull back just a bit, and somehow we both decide to rest our foreheads together. We stay that way for a long while, our breath in sync.

This isn’t an engagement ring. Cal hasn’t asked me to marry him. He hasn’t told me he loves me.

But with this gift, we’ve taken things up a notch. Our connection has deepened. Around my neck is something he’s asked me to wear, his gift, evidence of his feelings for me, proof that this is meant-to-be.

Whatever this is. None of the complexities have been erased with this gift. It doesn’t make anything easier to resolve. But something about it is hopeful.

He lifts me in his arms and carries me to his bed.

Chapter 42

Cal

I look out from the kitchen to see Jasmine and Victoria huddled at the piano together, singing and giggling, and think this is probably how it is for Finn all day, every day. Because in the last ten minutes, I’ve listened to the soundtracks to maybe three different Disney Princess musicals. I think I’ve heard references to mermaids, ice kingdoms, and a tale older than time, but it’s hard to keep it all straight.

As if she feels my gaze on her, Victoria turns and gives me a little smile. The delicate necklace sparkles against her skin, its tiny gemstones catching the light. I can't imagine it would look more at home on any other woman's neck. Though I’d seen the piece long before we’d ever met, she was made for this necklace.

Like she was made for me.

I feel a lump in my throat. I need to keep in mind that what I have with Victoria isn’t forever, despite what the Disney lyrics might say. I think we made it pretty clear to each other that she’s going back to San Diego and I’m staying here and that’s how the story ends. I plan to enjoy every last second I’ve got with her, though, no matter how few they may be.

And anyway, I don’t really know her. Most of the suspicions I had about her motives are long gone. Enough time has passed for us to really get to know each other, the good and the bad. The ranch is bringing out the best in her, and I’m grateful I’ve had the chance to be there when it happened, but it's not real. It can’t last.

But dammit, in the back of my mind, I’m thinking I might make the biggest mistake of my life if I let her go. Maybe there’s another way. Since Victoria is the beauty and I’m pretty much a beast, would anybody blink an eye if I locked her up in my house?

I throw the roast in the oven and laugh to myself. It’s tempting. Tempting but not the least bit honorable.

I’m washing off the asparagus and humming to a song about colors of the wind, whatever the hell that means, when I see movement on the back deck. It’s Finn, poking his head into my line of sight, holding a finger up to his lips. I give him the universal expression for “what the fuck?” and he motions for me to come outside and shakes his head to let me know he doesn’t want the musicians to know about his arrival. All this clandestine shit is way out of character for Finn, so I decide to play along.

All of a sudden I’m struck with a horrible thought—has something happened to Dad?

“Hey, ladies,” I keep my voice perky as I head to the back door. “I’m heading out for just a minute. The roast is in the oven, but it shouldn’t need to be messed with. Be right back!”

“Okay, Uncle Cal!” Jasmine calls out.

“We’ll be right here,” Victoria says.

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