Just Deserts - Brenda Jackson [49]
There was a brief moment of silence, then it was Danielle who spoke in a soft voice. “Chris was going through Marc’s things and found a receipt for the ring and traced it to here. I wanted to come and meet you, to finally get a chance to meet the one woman Marc undoubtedly loved.”
Alex dabbed at her eyes. “I think you did the right thing, Danielle, by not telling Catherine Hodges everything there was to know about Marc. It really wouldn’t have served any purpose.”
“I agree,” Renée said, her eyes misty, as well. “I can’t believe what Marc did for that school. For once in his life he was thinking about someone other than himself.”
Danielle nodded. As soon as she and Tristan had set foot on the Marc III, she’d gotten Alex and Renée together for a short meeting, while Tristan told the guys what they’d discovered.
Renée reached out and took Danielle’s hand. “Did handling things the way you did bring you closure, Danielle? Alex and I worry that you’re still not going to move on with your life.”
Danielle nodded. “Yes, it brought me closure. I am happy for Catherine Hodges, and I hate to say this, but I’m grateful that she met Marc and he was able to do so much for her and the school. I don’t know what kind of relationship they had, but from the way she spoke about him, it was easy to see she cared a lot for him. She even admitted to being the one to break off the engagement because she felt Marc would make too much of a sacrifice to marry her.”
After a brief pause it was Alex who asked, “So now that you’ve found closure, what will you do with your life?”
“Continue to love Tristan.” At the looks of surprise on Alex’s and Renée’s faces, she smiled. “Yes, I’ve finally realized just how much I love him, and he has admitted to being in love with me. I hate to say it, but the two of you were right. There was more than friendship between me and Tristan, but I just couldn’t see it. It took us spending time together, him being there for me when I needed him most, for me to realize just what a special man he is.”
She glanced around before leaning in closer to them. “And I haven’t told Tristan yet, since I just found out last night, but…I’m pregnant.”
Both Alex and Renée let out whoops of joy. “Oh, Danielle, we are so happy for you!” Alex and Renée said simultaneously as they rushed from their seats to hug her.
“When will you tell Tristan?” Alex asked.
A huge smile covered Danielle’s face. “Tonight. So don’t either of you be surprised if we don’t join you guys on deck for breakfast in the morning.”
Later that night, after they’d taken a shower together and made love, Danielle was wrapped in the warmth of Tristan’s arms. The night was perfect.
“What did Alex and Renée think about the way you handled things with Catherine Hodges?” Tristan asked her.
Danielle looked at him. “They agreed it was for the best. There was no need to tell Catherine our thoughts on the type of man Marc was, or to fill her in on all his bad deeds. The Marc Foster she knew and loved was a totally different man from the one we knew. He was unselfish and giving. I truly believe he loved her.”
“So now have you found closure, Danielle?”
She shifted positions in the cabin bed and smiled at him. “Yes, but from all this I found so much more. I found a man who loves me and I love back.”
She paused a moment and then said, “From the first, you were there with me, Tris, to hold my hand, wipe my tears and be by side. You let me know that no matter what I had to go through, I was never alone. I appreciate that. You have been so free in your giving, so unselfish in your love.”
“I’ll give you anything that’s in my power to give, Dani,” Tristan said softly, reaching out and touching her cheeks and noticing the wetness there. He cupped her face and brushed a kiss across her lips. “Why are you crying, sweetheart?”
She reached out and touched the hand he held to her face. “I’m crying because you, the man I love, my very