e? Your old man will be fine.” Elliot enfolds me in his arms. “Happy
birthday.”
“Okay.” Taking my hand, Christian pulls me from Elliot’s embrace.
“Enough fondling my wife. Go fondle your fiancée.”
Elliot grins wickedly at him and winks at Kate.
A waiter I hadn’t noticed before presents Christian and me with glasses of
pink champagne.
Christian clears his throat. “This would be a perfect day if Ray were here with
us, but he’s not far away. He’s doing well, and I know he’d like you to enjoy
yourself, Ana. To all of you, thank you for coming to share with me my
beautiful wife’s birthday, the first of many to come. Happy birthday, my love.”
Christian raises his glass to me amid a chorus of happy birthdays, and I
ha一ve to fight again to keep my tears at bay.
I watch the animated conversations around the dinner table. It’s strange to be
cocooned in the bosom of my family, knowing the man I consider my father is
on a life support machine in the cold clinical environs of the ICU. I’m
detached from all the proceedings but grateful that they’re all here. Watching
the sparring between Elliot and Christian, José’s ready warm wit, Mia’s
excitement and her enthusiasm for the food, Ethan slyly watching her. I think
he likes her . . . though it’s hard to tell. Mr. Rodriguez is sitting back, like me,
enjoying the conversations. He looks better. Rested. José is very attentive to
him, cutting his food, keeping his glass filled. Ha一ving his surviving parent
come so close to death has made José appreciate Mr. Rodriguez more . . . I
know. I gaze at Mom. She’s in her element, charming, witty, and warm. I love
her so much. I must remember to tell her. Life is so precious, I realize that
now.
“You okay?” Kate asks in an uncharacteristically gentle voice. 358 | P a g e
E L JAMES
I nod and clasp her hand. “Yes. Thanks for coming.”
“You think Mr. Megabucks could keep me away from you on your birthday?
We got to fly in the helicopter!” She grins.
“Really?”
“Yes. All of us. And to think Christia
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