Page 40 of Until the Stars Fall

Chapter Twenty

We separatedwith only a few tears being shed by us, but a bucketful being shed by everyone else. I noticed James was glued to his phone like he usually was lately. He had made a friend through the app account Remy had put on his phone a few months before and was still texting or messaging with him several times a week. He didn’t share much about him other than to tell us he was a nice guy who needed a friend. We had seen his picture that one time weeks ago, but that was the last time we’d teased him about it. He was very protective of his privacy where this was concerned. Not even Remy bothered him about it. What we all noticed, though, was that James was happier than we’d ever seen him and this guy Ethan was obviously the cause. But James wasn’t laughing or smiling now. He looked worried and upset. Then put the phone to his ear and walked out into the hall.

Mom chose that moment to come over with Lillian. “Connor, Lillian tells me you turned her down when she asked you to participate in her newest collection. I would think it would be an honor to participate in something like that.”

“Mom, did Lillian tell you what her collection is?”

“Well, no, but if it’s an artistic endeavor, I would think she’d need you to model or something like that.”

“Or something like that,” I said, then I noticed James rushing into the room looking a little frantic. “If you’ll both excuse me, Aunt Lillian why don’t you tell Mom all about your collection.” Lillian’s face practically glowed as she turned toward my mother and I made my way over to James who was surrounded by Ladd, Rhett, and Remy now.

“No, Remy, I don’t need you to go with me. I’ll be fine I think, but I do need to get going. Ethan’s friend Jensen is staying with him until I get there and I find out all of the details. What I need you guys to do is get the guest suite cleaned up and ready. Connor, I know you moved all of your stuff back to the carriage house today, thank God, so we’ll have the guest suite for him to use. It looks like Ethan’s in bad shape from his picture, and I’d like everything to be perfect when we get here. Ethan will be staying with me until he can get back on his feet. He’s got years of bartending experience, Connor. I think he would be a great asset for you here.”

I thanked all that was holy that I had made that wish a little while ago when Dean had mentioned it. I guess I was one lucky son of bitch after all. I nodded my agreement and put a reassuring hand on James’s shoulder. “Of course, James, he’ll have a shot here as soon as he gets better.” That seemed to calm him some, and he rattled off a few more instructions to his nephews before leaving out the front door.

“What just happened?” I had to ask.

Rhett answered before anyone else could speak. “From what I could get from him, his friend Ethan that he’s been talking to and messaging the last few months is in some kind of trouble. Serious trouble, the kind that got him hurt yesterday. James is on his way to New Orleans now to go get him and bring him back here. That’s all I know, but from his reaction and the way he was acting, I think Ethan may be a little more than just a friend.” Rhett was probably right. James had seemed rattled, and that was unusual for the consummate professional.

After the drama of James leaving had died down and all the congratulations had been given to us, I laced my fingers with Ladd’s and pulled him out the back door and into the alley for a minute of privacy with my new fiancé. I found myself playing with his new ring and brought his hand up so I could kiss it. “I love seeing my ring on your finger, my Laddy.”

Ladd pulled up my hand to his own lips and kissed my new ring in turn. “I love seeing this one on yours. But I’ll need to get Uncle James to make me a matching wedding ring for you.”

“That’s not necessary. I already have it right here.” I said and brought out the ring James had made for me to match Ladd’s. Our rings were intricate Celtic knots broken up by natural blue zircons that sparkled brighter than diamonds. I had told him I wanted the rings to evoke the stars in the sky without being too literal. He had captured what I had wanted perfectly.

“Oh, Connor, they’re perfect! So when do you want to get married?”

“How about New Year’s Eve?” He giggled and gave me a squeeze of a hug.

“You’re crazy. We can’t do it that fast.”

“Okay, then Valentine’s Day. Let’s set our date for Valentine’s Day. We don’t need anything big or elaborate. As long as I can say my vows to you in front of the people we love the most, it could be in an empty field, and I would be happy.”

“Conn, I love your big romantic softie heart. Okay, we’re getting married Valentine’s Day. We should go inside and tell everyone. I’m sure your mom and sister and my aunts will want to start planning immediately.”

Aunt Helen came from the alcove around the corner and gave us each a huge hug. “Oh, but, sweetheart, we’ve planned most of it already. We’ve just been waiting for a date to put it all in motion. You two don’t worry about a thing. We’ve got you covered, and if there’s anything in particular you want, just tell us, and we’ll make it happen.” She framed Ladd’s face in her soft palms and placed a gentle kiss on his forehead. “I’m so happy for you, Ladd. You deserve every happiness, my lovely nephew.” She looked over her shoulder at me with a wink, then let Ladd go and turned toward the back door. “That’s one down. Now I’ve just got James, Remy, and Rhett to pair off. James may have his in hand. We’ll see how this Ethan stacks up. Rhett may have found his match with your sister, Isobel, Connor, those two bear watching, I think. They’ve been quietly talking all night long. But Remy.” She shook her head. “I just don’t know about that boy. Maybe we can wish on a star for him, too, Ladd. Maybe your lucky stars could be lucky for him.”

With that, she went back inside and left us alone once more just staring in her wake.

“Rhett and Isobel?” I asked him. “You think that’s true?”

Ladd shrugged his shoulder and looked back at me. “Could be, what about James and this Ethan?” This time I shrugged and looked back at him.

I leaned my back against the brick wall and pulled Ladd into my embrace. “I guess we’ll just have to wait, watch, and see. Until Valentine’s Day. After that, they’re all on their own, and the only thing I’ll be doing is making my husband the happiest man on Earth.”

Ladd looked up at me with his smiling eyes, framed my face with his hands just as Helen had done to him and brought my forehead down for a soft kiss. “You don’t have to wait, Conn. You’ve already made me the happiest man on Earth by loving me just as I am.” He kissed me soft, then kissed me deep, and it was everything I’d ever wished for and more.

THE END