Chapter Twenty

Mia's eyes landed on the spot where Adam had kissed her, next to the enormous stone fireplace that was now lit despite it being only early fall and despite the mansion being filled with warm bodies.

For a moment in time, Mia thought she had everything she ever wanted. She thought she could have Adam until her mind kicked in and saw it for the mirage it was.

With the family standing next to one another only a few feet away, Mia looked at the formed line and realized they were in the line to offer condolences to each of them. First to William, then to Mary, then Adam.

Some people shook their hands, while others closer to them embraced them each in a hug. Mia wondered how many times they'd have to hear, 'I'm so sorry for your loss' and, 'he was a good man'. Seeing as how the loss was felt by hundreds of employees and friends made throughout the years and extended family, Mia guessed they'd be stuck in the same spot until sundown, fazing the condolences out, shaking hands and hugging people almost robotically as they crawled into their minds and suffered their pain in silence.

It was three minutes until she was the first in her family to reach William, who she saw coming out of the daze to give her a genuine smile. "I loved him like he was family," she decided on, not wanting to say the words they'd already heard a hundred times or more. Maybe this wasn't the place for it, but Mia knew her time was limited before she'd fly back home. "And I hope someday you'll love me like family again."

William took her hand in his, then covered it with the other, giving her a tired smile. "I never stopped."

"Hurry it along, Mia," her father spoke behind her mom. It was the first words he'd spoken to her in days. "There's many people behind you waiting to give their condolences."

Mia nodded and tried to continue on to Mary, but William didn't let go of her hand. Instead, he clenched it and walked her over to the other side of the wall with his mother and her mother following.

She watched as her mother pulled an envelope out of her purse and handed it to Mia. "Your plane ticket home, honey."

Though her mother's voice wasn't filled with callous, she couldn't help but feel like she was being forced away like a teenager being sent to a home for unwed mothers back in the day.

"Your flight leaves in four hours, so I suggest you get a move on."

Mia looked at Adam, whose gaze darted to every person in their small circle, then grabbed his brother's arm. "Give me one minute with her. Please."

William shook his head and unbuttoned his blazer, reached in, and pulled out an identical envelope. "You're going with her."

Mia choked on the air in her lungs from the words William spoke. It wasn't possible. No one could ever accept them. That's why he'd stayed away for so long and if her father's reaction before was any sign, Adam had been right all along.

When they'd spoke of their relationship in theory that night at the club, the mother's would eventually warm up to the idea, but the father's would never accept it. Only Adam's father was gone now.

"What the hell is going on?" Her father's volume seemed to gain the attention of the room because, in an instant, Mia felt the eyes of everyone fall on them.

Mary stepped forward and placed her quivering hand on her father's cheek. "I just lost the love of my life, Keith, but I have so many incredible memories of him that will get me through the rest of my days. You know I love you as if you were my child, but you aren't. Adam is my child and I don't want him to reach the end and only have sad memories to look back on.

"Adam told me something that Mia said to him years ago. How loving someone and choosing someone are two very different things. And if he's too scared to make that choice for himself, then as his mother, I will make the choice for him. You don't have to like it, sweetheart, but I hope you can come to accept that the only way these two will ever be happy is with each other."

Mary's hand dropped from her father's cheek and over to Mia, moving her hair behind her ear just as her mother had. "Take care of my son."

Not knowing what to say, she risked a glance toward her grandparents, who were standing next to her father looking back at her, her grandmother giving her a timid smile.

This was a plan hatched by both families, with three of them none the wiser.

"He doesn't want me to," Mia spoke, each word catching in her throat. She wanted so to be the woman who took care of Adam for the rest of their lives and for him to do the same, even now after all the words he'd spoken to her and all the times she'd been forced to watch him walk away.

She looked at Adam, who was already looking back at her, and their eyes seemed eternally locked in place.

When he didn't say a word, Mary placed a hand on his shoulder. "The company will be fine, honey. No one's fighting. As unusual as this pairing is, we'll all adapt, including Keith, I hope."

She heard her father let out a sarcastic laugh and, although her eyes were still locked, she heard his footsteps walk away from the group.

"And if you're worried about leaving me," Mary continued, ignoring her father, "don't. You're no good to me like this. All I want for both of my sons is for them to find happiness, and no one can deny that Mia has always been the one to give you that. So please, honey, go with her and start living your life before you run out of time."

Adam broke eye contact only for a moment to look at his mother, but they instantly found hers once again. "Tell me I haven't already fucked this up beyond repair."

"Language," his mother scolded with a smack. "You were raised in a mansion, for Pete's sake, not a barn."

He shook his head. "It's the only one that's fitting, mom."

The real question was how many times could one man break her heart before she said 'enough'? Could she forgive him for stealing away so many pieces, leaving her unable to love another?

"I want to hear you make the choice, Adam. No one else can make it for you."

Adam laid his palm against her cheek, and then the other, before he pulled her in and kissed her.

No more holding back, no more sadness and no more desperation. It was the first kiss he'd given her that was given with untainted love. "I choose you," he said after breaking the kiss, only to kiss her once more.

She allowed herself to kiss him back this time, giving in to the hope and love she prayed would not betray her as it had done so many times before.

His hands moved to her waist and pulled Mia into a hug, turning her body until her back was turned to the others. "Thank you," he said above her. "All of you."

"Go, honey," Mary said warmly. "We'll handle Keith."

Adam let her go and they both looked at the small circle before Adam grabbed her hand and led her through the crowds and out the front door.

She'd loved him since she was a baby. He was the only person who could stop her from wailing at the top of her lungs and had been the only man to make her cry. He was the man she'd fantasized about being her first kiss as a hopeless romantic teenager. He was the man she'd fallen in love with throughout the moments shared. He was the first person to break her heart and the only person who could put it back together.

In the time he'd been away, he'd fallen in love with her through every letter sent and every word they didn't have the courage to say aloud. He'd loved her in silence and in shame and kept her at a distance, thinking that somehow their love would hold less power over them both.

But nothing was more powerful than love.

It was the love of their families who'd given him the freedom to love her without fear or remorse and allowed him to be free of his regret.

After years of Mia waiting for him, Adam finally made a choice.