Page 51 of Embers of Torment

"My sister-in-law, Kendra. You came up in our conversation this afternoon during lunch. Oh, and before I forget. She asked if we could join her and my brother next Sunday for the Red Sox and Astros game at Fenway. They have two extra tickets."

"Sure, why not? I like baseball, and I'd love to meet your brother."

"You would?"

"Of course. I don't plan on going anywhere, and it would be wonderful to meet your family—all of them eventually."

"All rightie then. We can start with my brother, Spencer, and work on the rest." I smiled at Jace, thrilled at how much he was willing to invest in our relationship. He wasn't a one-night stand or get-what-you-want and back-off kind of guy. He was honest and scrupled, which I had minimal experience dealing with, especially these days. I froze as a thought struck me.

Oh, jeez. Jace is a family man! Holy moly, this means my parents will love him. Monkey muffins! Is this good or bad? Okay, okay. Don't get crazy on me, Della. This situation is good. It has to be good.

"Della?" Jace said, half laughing.

"Huh?"

"I asked a question, and your mind was off somewhere else."

"Oops. I'm sorry. Ask me again." I took a sip of water, trying to camouflage my embarrassment.

Betina brought our appetizer to the table right then, interrupting Jace. She was gone as quickly as she had arrived.

Jace leaned back, seemingly amused. "I said I'd love for you to meet my cousin, Ree, and asked if you'd be okay if I arranged it. And by the way, you're adorable when you get embarrassed, especially when your cheeks turn that pretty shade of pink."

"Oh, shush. I was not embarrassed."Yeah, right! That's a lie."Anyway, to answer your question. Yes, I'd like to meet your cousin."

"Great. Ree's daughter, Lily, recently signed up to play soccer. To keep it casual, we can go to one of her games."

"I'd like that."

"Me too. Now that's settled, let's polish off these oysters."

We wiped out the tasty mollusks, finished our soup and salad, and were halfway through our main course when the subject of our families came up again. Jace had asked about Kendra and my brother, wanting to know what they did for a living and whether Spencer was my only sibling. I explained that Kendra was a sculptor and Spencer was a forensic accountant. Then I told him about my sister, Beverly, a chief financial officer for a utility company in Seattle.

And now I was curious about his family.

"It's your turn. Do you have any brothers or sisters?"

"No biological siblings, but I gained a stepsister when my mother remarried. Hillary is four years younger than me. Since her father was a professor at the University of Chapel Hill, he pushed her to attend college there. She's now a veterinarian in Austin, Texas, with a rancher husband and two little boys."

"Wait. I'm confused. Are both your father and stepfather professors? I recall Adam saying one of his professors was your dad."

"No, that was my stepfather Edward. I typically refer to him as my dad because he adopted me when I was eleven, right after he married my mother."

"Oh, did something happen to your biological father?"

Jace's expression changed, becoming somber as he fumbled with his napkin. "My…ahh, real dad. Well, he wasn't the best person." He lifted his head, and the pain in his eyes was like a stab in the heart. Jace cleared his throat. "When my mom filed for divorce, after years of ample reasons, my dad was angry, bitter, and determined to make our lives miserable. He hadn't wanted much to do with me, always telling me I was worthless, but the divorce cemented it. He tossed me to the side like a piece of garbage, refused to pay child support, and skipped town."

"Jace, I'm so sorry." I reached for his hand, but he pulled it back.

"I've had a lifetime of dealing with the repercussions of my less-than-stellar childhood. Now is not the time to bring it up, and I apologize for doing that. Tonight is our night. I want it to be amazing because that's what you are. You mean a lot to me, and I want you to know that. No more talk about the past—let's discuss the future instead. Do you have a bucket list? If so, what's on it?"

We finished our meal while I gave Jace a rundown of my life's desires and goals, including owning a home someday and traveling the globe. Even though the discussion was light, I hurt so horribly for Jace. It sounded like his childhood rivaled mine in some respects. The pain was deep, and I could tell he had scars.

Jace paid the bill, and we left the restaurant. He held my hand as we strolled the Harborwalk, the air fresh with a hint of salt. It was peaceful in the darkness, framed by the city's lights.

We were quiet, enjoying the evening as we walked past Fan Pier Park, spotting several other couples along the way. Jace had his arm around my shoulders, holding me close, while mine encircled his waist. I was wrapped in a blanket of comfort and tenderness and happier than ever.

Jace stopped and stepped behind me, his hands warm as they slid over my stomach. He pointed upward, his mouth at my ear. "There's a shooting star. Make a wish."

---