Not My Type: Adele Ch. 09

I couldn't help but laugh with him. "I guess you're right, four months is more than enough time. I doubt the guest list will be very big."

He led the way to the kitchen at the back of the house. Esther sat in the sunlight, waiting patiently for her lunch.

"The Tanner brood and you," Nate said with a smile. "And Adam did say he wanted to invite his sister and some of the Langoustine gang."

He opened the fridge and started pulling out lunch ingredients. Without asking, I began to piece together sandwiches.

"Actually, I'm glad it's not very long between now and September fourth," Nate mentioned. He glanced over at me with a flicker of apprehension on his face.

"Oh yeah?" I murmured when it was clear he wouldn't continue unprompted. "Why's that?"

Nate put down the knife he was using to slice cheese, but he still didn't turn to face me. Instead he reached for the mustard.

"Because I don't want to announce our engagement until after they're wed. I don't want to take away any of their thunder."

I grasped the edge of the countertop, suddenly dizzy. It wasn't a panicky dizzy though, so much as the gleeful kind.

"Our engagement?" I echoed. When I glanced over at the tall, lean man standing beside me, my heart knew and saw one thing: my husband.

He was still fixing lunch but there was a gentle smile on his face. "You will be my wife, won't you?"

I tried to calm my excitement and think logically. I knew what marriage could be like, what sorts of disasters befell couples. I'd lived through it; I saw it all the time at work. I couldn't bear the thought of going through all that with Nate.

But he would never let that happen. He was a man who understood truth and hope, who respected goodness and love.

"I think there is something we should talk about first," I said softly. I wanted to return his honesty and goodness. It was only fair that I did. "If you're expecting to have children..." I faltered, unsure of the best way to phrase the fear in my heart. "I mean, if that's part of your plan... there's a very real possibility that I'm not able... that I can't..."

I stopped talking. It still hurt so much to say it aloud, especially to Nate, whom I loved so much.

This time Nate did turn to me. His hands came down to cup my elbows. His brown eyes were kind and earnest.

"Adele, sweetheart, not being able to get pregnant does not make you a less worthy wife in my eyes. Nor does it make you less of a woman, if that's your fear. I would like a family, yes -- just as you would. I see how you are with the Brewster children and with little Sophie -- you would be a phenomenal mother. There are plenty of women in the world who have children who shouldn't, and plenty who should that do not, so you are not alone. We will find a way, if that's what you want."

And although I didn't think it was even possible, I loved Nate more in that moment than I had ever before.

"Really?" I whispered, still in disbelief.

Nate cupped my cheek. "Really," he promised. "Somewhere out there is a child who desperately needs a good home and we can give them that."

My heart expanded, full of a possibility I never considered before.

"So let's get married," he said. "After Lilly and Adam have their day we can have ours. A big wedding, a small one, just you and I at City Hall, I don't care as long as you say you'll be my wife."

I nodded into his hand, too emotional to speak.

We sealed our pact with a kiss.

~*~

La Langoustine Fachee was the fanciest restaurant on the Island. I'd been there a few times for work—it was a great place for the law firm to bring important clients—but I'd never seen it done up for a special occasion and I had to admit it was breathtaking.

The private glass conservatory was home to a long table set for eleven - the Tanner brood, Adam, Nate, and myself. It was a warm night and the doors were thrown open to the darkened lawn beyond. The entire conservatory was lit by the candles on the table and the myriad of tiny twinkling fairy lights hung from the ceiling. The setting was magical.

After the chilly reaction Rhiannon had originally received from Lilly's parents, I'd been secretly worried that they wouldn't be a fan of Adam either—not with the sort of past he had. But there didn't seem to be any basis for my fear. Pat and Gerard Tanner looked as if they adored their eldest daughter's tall, dark fiancé. Or maybe it was Adam's doing; he was so patently charming, they couldn't help but love him.

The wine and laughter flowed as the courses of food kept coming. To my right sat Violet, practically bouncing in her seat with energy, to my left was Nate, calm as always. He wore a light grey suit with a cornflower blue shirt and matching tie. I'd never seen him look more handsome. It took all my energy not to ignore the other people in the room and just stare at him.

Beneath the table his hand rested on my knee, just below the hemline of my dress. I'd chosen to wear a modest A-line black dress with a simple draping neckline. But there was no way I'd outshine Lilly anyway—she glowed with happiness in her sexy blue sheath dress and while I tried to hide my appreciation of Nate, Adam didn't even attempt to hide his of Lilly. He couldn't keep his eyes off her.

I lost track of the courses of the meal. I only knew each one was more exquisite than the next. My wine glass never seemed to empty either so that by the time dessert was served I felt giddy. Having Nate's fingers curled around my thigh didn't help either.

Silence finally descended on the table as Adam rose to his feet.

"I would like to thank you all for coming tonight to help us celebrate our engagement," he began with a broad grin. "I'm so pleased you could all share this with us."

Adam took his wine glass in hand and gazed fondly down at the redheaded woman beside him.

"It's been an interesting year," he admitted with a chuckle. "I knew the second I saw Lilly across that crowded bar that she was someone special, except I couldn't have predicted then just how much of a difference she would make in my life."

Adam glanced over at Rhiannon and Joe. "I couldn't have predicted I'd make new friends."

His attention skipped over to Nate and me. "Or the joy I'd find in watching my best friend find happiness in much the same way I have."

He smiled at the circle of Tanners surrounding him. "And I never in a million years would have thought I'd finally find a family who would love and accept me."

Adam swirled the glass of wine in his hand. The burgundy liquid caught the light and glowed.

"I've never been happier than I am right now. And that's all because of one person." Adam reached for Lilly's hand and pulled her to her feet. He leaned down over her small frame and told her, "I love you and you can never know how honoured I am that you've agreed to be my wife."

Beneath the table Nate squeezed my knee, quietly communicating the same sentiment with me. Tears welled up at the corners of my eyes. I would have dashed them away except I wasn't the only person in the room crying. Violet sniffed into her napkin and at the head of the table the tears flowed freely down Lilly's freckled cheeks.

"I love you too," she said to Adam, her voice thick with her tears. "And the honour is all mine."

I laid my hand over Nate's, continuing our silent conversation.

"To Lilly." Although his words were meant for the room at large, Adam's gaze never left her pretty face as he raised his glass to toast the woman he planned to marry. "And therefore, to love."

~*~

Thank you all for coming along on this journey with Lilly and Adam, Rhiannon and Joe, and Adele and Nate. Each of them has grown to mean so much more to me than fictional characters should. They are like friends, like family, and the way you have embraced them all has been a gift to me.

Thank you again for your continuing feedback and emails. I keep each one so I can reread them when I'm having a bad day and remind myself that the struggle of writing does not go unappreciated.

There is more to come for the Tanner family... after all, there are still three siblings who have yet to find their special someone. I hope you will all continue to make a place for them in your heart. Felicity's story is already in the works and it is one which I hope you will love as much as I do.

Again, thank you.

All my love,

firstkiss