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“Paige, Derek, when we’re getting married, and where. Although Madison has requested it’s somewhere warm.”
“Hmm, well Paige is upstairs smiling while Seth sits quietly beside her bed. Derek, I have no idea about, and when we get married is open for discussion anytime you’re ready.” Alexander kisses my hand carrying his ring.
“I’ll marry you as soon as Paige can be my maid of honor. I hope you’re okay waiting.”
“I’ll wait as long as I have to. I’m not going anywhere, and Paige has to be a part of our wedding.”
I lean close. “I love you Alexander McKenzie, and I look forward to starting our married life together.”
“Then let’s work on helping your sister through recovery, and get her strength back … although I think Seth might be the best thing for that.”
“I do hope so. She’s been so stubborn not letting the poor guy into her room, even her life. I only had to take one look at him to realize how much he’s wanted to be with her.”
“The McKenzie’s can be stubborn.”
“I’m not stubborn.” I poke him in the stomach. “I seem to remember falling into bed with you within seconds of the adjoining door opening.”
He rolls his eyes. “So dramatic,” he drawls.
Becoming serious once more, I say, “I’m glad we took a chance on each other because the fallout from our families was nothing like we’d expected. We could have missed out on so much because we thought we were doing the right thing.”
“We did take a chance and I’m never letting you go again. I hope you know that.”
“I do.”
THE END
Of Kissing Cousins
31
Madison
The sun had set hours ago, but I’m still in the same place, sitting in the lovely old rocking chair on the back porch of Derek Jackson’s home. The blanket keeps the chill away, but nothing can bring me out of the gloom I’ve sunk into.
After visiting my cousin Paige in Boston, she’s weighing heavily on my mind. The McKenzie’s are a close family, which makes me sad that Paige hasn’t mentioned to anyone about what she’s been going through.
Not only has she had a hysterectomy without any family support, but she has also had one round of chemo. It breaks my heart that she had to go through that alone. I know she hadn’t wanted to worry us, but we’re her family. We’re supposed to stick together and be there for each other no matter what. I’m still struggling to get my head around it all.
Sickness is only supposed to happen to other people. Not my family. I know that sounds cruel, but others suffering probably wonder ‘why me’ and not someone else. I guess it’s just human nature.
I tug the blanket up around my neck and move my hand to gently rub at my brow, willing the throb behind my temples to subside. It does no good, which means I’m going to have to call it a night and head up to my room for some Tylenol.
“I thought you’d already gone up to bed?” Derek says, moving to stand in front of me, leaning a hip against the porch.
I wonder how long he’s been standing in the doorway behind me before he’d decided to make his presence known.
“I did. I couldn’t sleep, so I decided to watch the sun set.” I shrug. “I enjoy sitting out here.”
Derek studies me before looking off into the distance, not that he can see anything with the darkness having already settled in. I can see him though. Just looking at him causes a deep ache.
I hadn’t been able to stop thinking about him after we’d met at Sirena and Garrett’s wedding. It wasn’t until my other cousin, Charlotte, had brought her fiancé home that I’d spent a brief time with Derek. He’s different to everyone I’ve ever met before, and so much older than I should take interest in.
Something that my brother likes to remind me of on a regular basis.
Derek doesn’t look like he’s in his late forties, but he is. He’s only a couple of years older than Garrett. My way of thinking is if Sirena can fall in love with an older man then why can’t I?
He’s taller than me, with strong features. His dark hair is cropped short and when he turns his dark Gray eyes to me, my knees weaken and goose bumps trail over my skin. At one point I’d thought that he really couldn’t tolerate me, but I was so wrong. I realize that now. Or rather I’d realized after my cousin, Rachel, had pointed it out to me.
