Page 108 of Purchase Power

Epilogue

While it wasn’t the first warm, sunny day of the year, it was the first when gathering with friends and family finally felt safe and welcomed. Granted, convincing Lucy’s mother to travel down from Vermont after begging her to stay home for weeks (or was it months?) was harder than she anticipated. So was inviting Tonya Merriweather from her most recent home near Philadelphia, a place she described as “chaotic” and a reason to “stay inside in general.” When she found out that Lucy and Noah were now officially going out, she rolled her eyes on her webcam and pretended she hadn’t heard anything.

Noah wasn’t concerned about his mother’s reactions, however. He looked forward to the first full gathering after a springtime of staying inside and forming a bond with the love of his life.

Lucy was unforgettable in her green one-piece that reflected the springtime leaves. Upon further inspection – and Noah always made sure to thoroughlyinspectLucy’s garments, if he had the time to be so bold – he was happy to acknowledge the threaded white daisies adorning her dress. They happened to match the buds blooming on the far side of the yard. The ones Noah didn’t ask the landscapers to pluck the last time they came through with their machinery.

Was it finally time to start a new chapter in his life? Would this mark the time when they forgot their woes and embarked on a new, more fulfilling routine? As much of a homebody as Noah was, even he had to admit that being forced to stay at Gabriel Manor for weeks on end was seriously getting to him. He wanted to go to the city. Take Lucy out on a proper date and show her off to the world. He wanted to return to New York and see her favorite haunts, meet her bosses, and experience her Alma Mater as she remembered it. Nothing sounded sweeter than absconding with her to Paris or Hawaii, although it would still be a little while before that was probable. For right now, however, there was this. Family. Friends. A new start and a garden party to celebrate.

“So many people…” Stacey stood on the balcony off Noah’s chambers, her pink party dress one she picked out for herself and decorated with Lucy’s help. Candace had pulled Stacey’s hair up into a twist and assisted her with purple body glitter. She was the perfect birthday girl at any age. Too bad it wasn’t her birthday. Yet. “You swear you know all of them?”

“The only new person to me is Lucy and Lacey’s mother, but I have no reason to believe she’ll make you nervous. She raised two beautiful young ladies, didn’t she?” Noah had to admit that he was a little nervous. Only because he had only seen their mother via shaky video screen before and nothing else. He wasn’t naïve enough to think his money and big house was enough to placate his future mother-in-law. He’d have to be on his best behavior and gain some charm in the process, too. “You know everyone else. Except for maybe David’s date, but any girlfriend of his is a friend to this family.”

Stacey looked between her brother and the people sharing hugs and kisses below. “Okay. As long as I don’t have to sit next to Mom during dinner.”

“I promise.” Noah extended his arm. “Shall we?”

His sister was hesitant as they made their way down to the garden. No music played, but the laughter, the joy at seeing one another again, and the social vibrancy of the event finally got to Noah and Stacey. While Stacey wanted to hang back a little, Noah knew that she would be the butterfly of the ball soon enough. She simply had to get used to everyone there. Maybe formally meet Lucy’s mother and figure out she wasn’t a scary stranger, after all. There wasn’t a soul at this party who wasn’t prepared for Stacey Gabriel to get a little excited that so many people were there to talk to about anything.

Of course, some people Noah was more excited to see than others. He could easily bypass his own mother if it meant shaking hands with David and getting swept up in along time no seehug that he hated to admit he rather missed. David stepped back to reintroduce the love of his life, for Noah wasn’t the only one to take a chance with fate on his birthday night.

“You remember Kelsey, of course.” David did his best to quash the gallant grin on his face, but Noah saw it as plainly as he saw the lovely young lady extending her hand for a placid shake. Kelsey was certainly more confident around her boyfriend now, and wasn’t shy to show off the gorgeous amber ring on her right hand. Apparently, it was David’s grandmother’s favorite ring, although this was Noah’s first time seeing it outside of a photograph on his phone. For the past several weeks, David had been blowing him up about this budding relationship, all the way from exclaiming,“I saw her naked last night! You won’t believe how gorgeous she is!”to“I’m in love, you fuck. I’m seriously in love with a woman I haven’t even had sex with yet.”Noah only bore it as well as he did because he had little else to entertain him when he sequestered himself in his office all day. It was either that or obsess over Lucy, and that somehow made work even more agonizing to complete in a timely manner.

“Yes. Kelsey.” Noah took a step back. “So good to see you looking so well. David is absolutely smitten with you, I hope you know.”

She giggled. Perhaps the most genuine sound he had ever heard her make during their few interactions. “As I am with him. I assure you he’s in good hands with me.”

“I’d be more worried about you, honestly.”

There wasn’t more time to be his most sarcastic self. People were settling down for lunch, prepared by Bernard and the return of his full kitchen staff. Courses were brought out and drinks were poured. Noah saw to a few last things before sitting between his mother and Lucy, who were respectfully not speaking to one another.

Didn’t matter to Noah. As long as he had Lucy on his right side, he was more than content. He was positively beside himself with love.

“I have a surprise for you after dessert,” he whispered into her ear, the exact moment she attempted to shove salad into her mouth. “I hope you’ll like it.”

“Is it as radiant as Kelsey’s sweet amber ring over there?” Lucy nodded to the woman offering a piece of fresh spinach to her boyfriend’s lips. They both laughed when it inevitably ended up on the ground. “Because that would definitely make my day.”

“No ring, unfortunately, but I assure you it’s something good. I hope.”

“Youhope.” Lucy shook her head. “I never know what to do with you, Noah Gabriel.”

He always knew what to do with her.

After everyone settled into the groove of conversation and dessert, Noah stole away with Lucy to the far edge of the garden, where hedges turned into a lovely, empty yard that stretched beneath the balcony of the guest suite. Lucy’s sister and mother stayed there now, but the last Noah saw them, they were having a heated discussion at the garden table. With any luck, he and Lucy would be alone here.

“What’s this about?” Lucy took his hand and offered a flirtatious bite of her lip. “Don’t tell me you wanna bang right here next to everyone else.”

“No.” Yes. Yes, he did, but that hadn’t been his plan.Sometimes, I can keep my hands to myself.“I wanted to talk to you about something very important. About this family.”

“Dare I ask what it is now?”

Noah grimaced. He had asked for that one. “Lucy, I need you to know that I love you unlike any other woman to grace my life. The way you have effortlessly blended into my family astounds me even now.” Every time he saw her with Stacey or talking to Candace with a laugh between their lips reassured him that he wouldn’t make the same mistake his mother had constantly made when choosing a spouse. “As the sole expectant heir of my family’s estate, I’ve always known that it was up to me to ensure that everyone I bring into this house is on the same page as me when it comes to…”

“Noah,” Lucy said with a beleaguered sigh. “If you’re asking me to marry you, just say that. You know I much more prefer you when you’re blunt and…”

“Marry me, Lucy.”

He didn’t know what he expected. Tears? Disbelief? Laughter?

She wrapped his arms around his shoulders and pressed her face against his chest. “I love you, Noah Gabriel.”

“Is that… is that a yes or a no?”

“I think you know.”

Slowly, he returned her embrace. To the sounds of their friends and family drinking wine and dropping forks against dessert plates, they slowly rocked back and forth. A sweet, loving moment that looked nothing like the first night they met.

That celebration could come later that night.