Page 114 of Fall to Me
I look up and see River talking to a donor. My eyes have always been able to find her in any room. She has this energy about her that draws me in, and my heart hammers in my ears every time I look at her.
Cal turns his head, finding my line of sight and shakes his head. “The hold those women have on us.”
Looking back at him, I can't help the smile that spreads across my face. “Tell me about it. Bet you didn’t think I’d catch up with you so fast.” I laugh. “I told you over a year ago she wasgonna be my wife. Now look at us, married and about to have babies.”
“We find out at the next appointment what we’re having.”
“Damn. She’s that far along already?” I ask.
Nodding, he lifts his glass, gulps down the champagne, then sets his empty glass on a table. “Thirteen weeks, man. We go back to the doctor in three weeks.”
We walk around the room together, talking to different donors. Aiden, Sean, and Jerome approach us as River climbs the stairs to the stage to give Cal’s introduction.
“Well, I think it's about time for my speech,” he says. “I’ll meet up with you guys here in a bit.”
“Good evening,” River says, her eyes twinkling from the lights above the stage as she glances around the room.
I can’t help but notice how everyone instantly quiets. . . how she manages to draw people in with just two words.
“I would like to start by extending our gratitude to each and every one of you for being here tonight. Your presence, time, and generosity mean more to our family than you can ever imagine. As you all know, we have an auction directly following dinner, but before we kick off, Cal would like to come up and say a few words.”
Cal steps up to the podium, one hand in his pocket.
“Thank you all for being here tonight.” He leans into the mic. “No one should ever have to experience the loss of their child, but the horrible truth is, it’s a tragedy that happens to many. It’s a tragedy that happened to me. Five years ago, my late wife, Paisley, and I lost our son. A couple of months later, the grief from that loss, coupled with post-partum depression and psychosis, took Paisley from this earth. And with those two losses, I spent over four years suffering in silence. To this day, even in the quietest room, Paisley and Xander’s absence echoes louder than any sound.
“My wife, Aspen, and I started this organization so no one else would ever have to walk through the heartbreak of those dark moments alone. Every donation is a lifeline. It’s a counselor on the other end of a call, even at two in the morning. It’s a support group full of people who truly understand what one another is going through. Tonight, I humbly ask you to give. To be a part of someone’s journey to healing after the loss of their child. To be part of the reason they find strength to take one more breath, one more step . . . to live one more day. Together, we can make a difference. The loss of a loved one is never easy, but it doesn’t have to be endured alone. Thank you.”
I’ve seen Cal in a lot of situations, but this is the bravest I think I’ve ever seen him. The room grows with applause, and I clap until my palms sting, pride swelling in my chest.
As River finds her way to me, Aspen approaches the mic and instructs everyone to find their seats for dinner.
River leads us to our table, and as soon as I see the nameplates of those sitting with us resting on the table, I raise a brow.
“What? Aspen put me in charge of the seating, and I wanted to make it interesting,” River says to me.
A laugh lurches from my chest. Oh, I know exactly what my little wife is doing. It’s the same thing she did to Cal and Aspen. She’s trying to play matchmaker, so she sat us all together to make Sean jealous.
We sit down in front of our names as Hannah’s date pulls out her chair. She takes a seat next to Sean with her date taking a seat on the other side of her. Aiden is next to sit down, followed by Cal and Aspen.
River unravels her silverware and places the cloth napkin on her lap as Hannah says, “Guys, this is Spencer. Spencer, this is Cal and his wife, Aspen; Carter and his wife, River; you already know my best friend, Aiden; and this is Sean.”
I offer my hand to shake his. “Pleasure.”
Everyone extends a handshake, except for Sean. He ignores the man and stares Hannah down. I nudge Sean with my elbow. He lets out a grunt, then rolls his eyes, and reaches out to shake hands with Spencer.
River leans over. “Let the games begin. Sorry, there’s no popcorn for the show.”
I chuckle under my breath.
“I’ve heard so much about you,” Spencer tells Sean.
“Oh yeah?” Sean asks, taking a drink of his whiskey. “Hannah trying to give you pointers or something?”
River’s eyes nearly pop out of her head, and water sprays out of her mouth. I grab her napkin from her lap, helping her clean up while she strangles on her water. Leaning over, my mouth grazes the shell of her ear. “I think you might have bitten off more than you can chew here, Kitten.”
“No pointers needed here,” Spencer says, as a waiter sets a plate down in front of him. “But I could give you a couple if you’re looking to invest.”
“I’m good,” Sean counters, turning his body toward Aiden.
