Page 1 of A Family Affair: The Ring
1
Eight years before
Magdalena, New York
WillCallahan depended on himself and his abilities to exact an outcome.He did not require chance, destiny, or what some referred to as good old-fashioned luck to see him through.All he needed was determination, perseverance, and a game plan.
He’d never gone in for sugar-coated promises or over-the-top proclamations of love and ever after, but what guy did—especially when they had no idea what the wordlovemeant?Sure, he loved his mother, and his older sister when she was around, and he really loved his dog.Pizza was high on the list, same as a double cheeseburger and fries.And football.Definitely football.
And then he met Melanie Russell.From the moment he spotted her sitting two rows over in chemistry class junior year—chestnut curls pulled into a high ponytail, slender neck bent over her notebook—he knew she was the reason for the sweaty palms and churning gut.When she turned and caught him staring, those hazel eyes sparkled, and her full lips pulled into a tiny smile.
How had he never noticed her before?Maybe because she was the studious type and not a leggy blonde stuffed into a sweater, with too much hair and not enough brains.This one had brains, horn-rimmed glasses, and a vocabulary that made him wish he’d paid closer attention in English class.From the first conversation after class that day to the cheeseburgers at Lina’s Café, the walks in the park, the late-night talks...the first kiss, second kiss…Will finally understood what head-over-heels in love meant.
Melanie seemed to feel the same way and it wasn’t just the breathy sighs or the soft whispers that swirled around him as he trailed kisses along her neck.Or the smile she gave him when he held open the door for her or brought her dark chocolate-covered strawberries.No, it was thewayshe looked at him with those hazel eyes, as though she could see right into his soul.And when she spoke in that husky voice?It was almost impossible to formulate a thought.
Why are you with me, Will?she’d asked a few months after they began dating.You couldhave any girl you want.Why me?
Why?Because I don’t want anybody else.I want you, he’d said.You’re smart and beautiful and I can never quite figure out what you’re thinking, which drives me crazy but in a very good way.You’re unpredictable yet constant and real…Oh, she’d liked that answer and it had been the truth, so he shared more.You own my heart, Melanie Russell.I’m never going to want to let you go.
She’d leaned on tiptoe, clasped his face between her hands, and kissed him long, slow, and deep.Then don’t.
After that night, they began planning their future as only naïve seventeen-year-olds can do.They would attend the same college, Will for accounting, Melanie for nursing.After graduation, they’d move to the city—Boston, Pittsburgh, Raleigh—work for a few years and then consider the next phase of their lives.
Together.
They had a “life” plan and for the next four-and-a-half years, they assessed, evaluated, and reworked that plan.Will even spoke words likedestinyandmeant-to-bealong with the feelings attached to them.A guy in love doesn’t worry about sounding like a fool because he already knows heisone, especially with the woman he loves.In their senior year of college, they began narrowing down where they might live, the budget for an apartment, and later a house...
It was so close.All they had to do was step into the life they’d planned…just a few more months…starting with Christmas break.Final exams finished late that morning, but Will and Melanie told their parents “break” didn’t begin until tomorrow.The delay would give them one last night together before the craziness of “holidays with family” set in.How could Will turn down a chance to spend a night with the woman he loved in a swanky hotel that offered room service and a king-sized bed?
The hotel in Renova was everything the brochure said it was, along with champagne, a sunken tub, and rose petals on the bed.Melanie sure loved those rose petals, especially when he placed them on her naked skin...In a little while, they’d fill up the jacuzzi, sip champagne and feed each other the dark chocolate-covered strawberries he’d picked up yesterday.And then…
“I’m so glad you convinced me to do this.”Melanie made tiny circles on his chest, snuggled closer to him as they lay in the king-sized bed.“It’s perfect.”
Yes, he had done a little convincing, but it hadn’t taken much to get her to agree.A tiny shred of guilt spun through him as he thought of the “fabrication” they’d told their families.How much difference could a day make anyway?
It could change a person’s life.
Of course, Will didn’t realize that when he spoke the words.At the time, they were merely intended as an excuse to spend one last night together before they split off into the hustle-bustle of holidays with their families.Melanie’s mother, Susannah Russell, was a fantastic baker and believer of all things Christmas, from the hand-strung popcorn, to the caroling, and homemade fudge.As an English teacher at the high school,A Christmas Carolwas not only required reading, but Mrs.Russell expected her class to discuss the darn thing.And wear costumes!The weird thing was, nobody refused her, not the jocks, or the cheerleaders, or the geeks...nobody.Maybe it was the convincing presentation or the soft smile, or the excitement filtering through her voice as she told them about this great experience.You’ll learn about yourself and each other, she’d said.
Umm...not so much, but it did turn out to be half interesting and who was he to argue with Melanie’s mother?She seemed to like him, but then she liked everybody, or at least acted as if she did.Later, he would realize the woman was a great actor, in the classroom and in real life.
The soft sigh beside him made him forget about Susannah Russell and the hand on his chest made him wish he’d booked two nights at the hotel.Will planted a soft kiss on the top of Melanie’s head, trailed a hand along her naked thigh.
“Can you come for Christmas Eve dinner?”
Good question.“I’ll see if my mom’s okay with it.You know how she gets...like she hasn’t seen me in five years and won’t see me for another ten.”
Small groan.“Same as my mom.No pressure or guilt and then they start piling on both when you make a choice they don’t like.”
Will sifted her long hair through his fingers, enjoyed the silkiness of it.“Yeah, that’s why I’m glad we’re not settling in Magdalena.Can you imagine whatthatwould look like?”They’d promised each other they’d venture to a city after graduation where they could explore and experience the food, the people, arts,and life.Anywhere but the tiny dot on the map where they’d grown up.
That was the plan.
Melanie lifted her head, met his gaze.“I really don’t care where we go, as long as we’re together.”
“Agreed.”He pulled her closer, kissed her.“But I prefer the city.”
A tiny laugh, followed by a smile.“Me, too.And a king-sized bed like this one.”
