Page 85 of Embrace
“I would like that,” Jasper said. “I like you, Dr. Ross.”
Holly chuckled as she rubbed her husband’s back. “He just likes saying Dr. Ross.”
“Dr. Ross!” Jane repeated excitedly, and we all laughed.
Throughout the rest of dinner, Bryn led the family in an exercise in which they only shared good memories from the past while Jane sat on her lap. Jasper recounted the time Spencer got the idea to do a backflip off a private yacht while it was in motion. He would’ve been lost in the middle of the South Pacific if Jasper hadn’t gotten to the captain in time and had him retrace their path. The current had carried him five miles off course. They finally found him before nightfall.
“Father was never told about that?” Asher asked.
“No,” Jasper said. “He didn’t need to know.”
“How old were you then?” Jada asked, looking at Spencer.
“Thirteen.”
“Then, Jasper, you were only fifteen,” Jada said. “You never cease to amaze me.”
Jasper shrugged. “I did what needed to be done, that’s all.”
They talked about cheerier memories like swimming in the sound, which their property curved around. They had to admit that they were struggling to pinpoint the good times.
“Well, we’ll make happy memories now, starting with tonight,” Bryn said.
“Actually, Sunday night was a blast,” Holly added.
We all agreed.
After dessert, we sat under the stars, and I listened as they all talked about their plans to connect with one another. Holly would be helping Jada with a fundraiser for the Spencer and Jada Christmas Foundation. Bryn was going to work with the foundation to help set up shelters for people who had fallen victim to sex trafficking in the US. They discussed a preventative aspect of targeting the issue of illegal trafficking, hoping to figure out how to help people before they ended up in the clutches of traffickers. Then the conversation turned to a bakery in Santa Barbara, and it wasn’t until Holly gave Jada tips on being pregnant that I noticed she was indeed with child.
All in all, the night was perfect—so perfect that when Asher and I made it back to the penthouse, I found my shoebox and the letter my mom used to make me keep. I’d had two glasses of the most delicious red wine that night, so as we sat on the balcony, spectators of a summer moon and lively riverboats, I peeled open the seal of the letter. I couldn’t read it, though, so I handed it to Asher, who read it for me.
I closed my eyes as I listened to him say, “If you’re reading this, then it means I’m not coming back. The girl’s name is Penina Ross, and she is my daughter. I have tried to love her as a mother should, but I can’t. She’s better off without me, and I’m better off without her. Please contact her aunt, Christine Louise Ross, and not my parents. My parents are the reason I cannot love as I should. They will destroy her like they did me. Call Christine and only Christine.” Then she gave my aunt’s address and phone number.
Asher and I stared at each other. I was choked up, but the last three days had been too happy for me to cry.
“Well, there I have it,” I whispered.
He smiled and held out his hand. “Let’s go to bed.”
We slept that night because I had started my period. But three days later, we got on an airplane to our first vacation destination, and unfortunately, we were close to the end of our wonderful romp around the world.
“What are you smiling about?” Asher asked.
I took off my scope glasses that made me feel as if I could touch the aurora borealis and beamed at him. He was standing in the doorway, wearing pajama bottoms and a thick black turtleneck sweater and holding something.
“Ha!” I gasped, slapping my hands over my mouth.
Asher dropped down to one knee. “My beautiful Penina. Would you do me the honor of walking through this world with me from now until forever?”
There was only one answer I could give him. My hands shook, and tears rolled freely out of my eyes when I said it.
Epilogue
Penina Ross
“Penina?” Asher’s voice gusted through my mind like leaves rustling in the wind.
My eyes flickered open as I eased into full consciousness.
