Broken Together (35 page)

“Amen,”
Rafael and I repeated.

I
pulled the thermos from the picnic basket.

“May
I?” Father Ramires nodded toward the workbooks. “Were there any sections that
proved troublesome?”

“Not
really.” Rafael handed him the workbooks. “That section on managing finances
proved very useful. We’ve opened two joint accounts, one in Portugal and one in
the United States. We’ve already added one another as beneficiaries for our
investments, retirement plans, and life insurance policies. I still need to add
Kristine as a joint owner for my properties.”

I
poured each of them a cup of coffee. “We still need wills.”

“Benjamim
can help us with that.” Rafael handed me a white pastry bag filled with
natas
.

Father
Ramires pulled a ham and cheese croissant from the other bag. “Have you made any
decisions regarding children?”

“We’re
tentatively planning on three, but we’re willing to consider more if the
opportunity presents itself.” I set two
natas
on my napkin before
passing the bag to Rafael.

“You
have agreed to raise your children Catholic.” Father Ramires picked at his
croissant while reviewing our handwritten responses.

“Our
children will be baptized and complete the required sacraments in the Catholic
Church,” Rafael confirmed.

 Father
Ramires quietly considered our work. “Very well, then. There are a few matters
I would like you to take under advisement before we discuss your wedding vows
and practice the ceremony.”

Rafael
and I exchanged glances.

“I
would like you to attend church whether together or apart. I would like you to
keep praying together, and I would like you to read the Bible together. This will
strengthen your relationship with one another and with God.” Father Ramires
took a deep breath and blew it out. “This may not be an issue for you, since
you live so far apart, but I would be remiss if I did not advise you to abstain
from sex. Please honor one another by waiting until you are fully united in the
sacrament of marriage.”

My
cheeks heated while Rafael’s face sheeted white. Our plans to reserve a room
were promptly tossed aside.

*
* * * *

Rafael
eyed the black satin sheets uncomfortably. “Maybe I should sleep on the couch.”

I
joined him on the other side of the bed. “We can still hold one another. We’re
fully capable of sleeping together and abstaining from sex.”

His
eyes softened as he gently caressed my face. “I’m so sorry, Kristine. I should
have respected you instead of seducing you like some desperate fool. Will you
forgive me for treating you so poorly?”

“You
haven’t treated me poorly. You’ve treated me like gold. Everything we’ve done,
I’ve done willingly. I regret that we didn’t wait, but I shoulder that blame.”
I planted a kiss in the center of his hand when he cupped my face. “Of course, I
forgive you, but I must ask that you forgive me too. I never meant to hurt you or
to demean our relationship with my indiscretions.”

Rafael
pulled me into his arms. “I hardly think that requires my forgiveness when Kadyn
and Michael came before me. You haven’t hurt me, and you haven’t sullied our
relationship. Our relationship is everything I dreamed of and more.”

I
swallowed. Hard. “I crossed the line with Maxim. Can you forgive that?”

His
eyes captured and held mine. “I’ll admit, your willingness to put up with his
advances has hurt at times. I understand there were some extenuating
circumstances. Still, it means a lot that you would ask my forgiveness for
this. Yes. I forgive you, Kristine.”

I
sank against his chest. “Thank you.”

He
kissed the top of my head. “Sleep well, my love.”

My
jaw dropped when he strode from the room.

With
a soft click, the door slid closed.

*
* * * *

My
nose twitched. I smelled bacon, coffee, and something I couldn’t quite put my
finger on… something…
floral
? My eyes popped open. A stunning display of
white roses and fresh lavender filled a crystal vase on the nightstand. A white
envelope lie propped against the vase. I broke the seal and read the inscription.

Kristine, there is no me
without you… for every last one of my dreams, my hopes, and heart reside in
you. Happy anniversary, my love. Always and forever, Rafael.

The
handwriting blurred. I’d been so immersed in work, in school, and Maxim’s
pipeline that I’d completely forgotten Rafael’s birthday marked our one year
anniversary.

I
fell back against the bed. Pinpointing our anniversary wasn’t easy. Rafael served
as my bodyguard before we even met. We became friends, and then? Our
relationship evolved into something far more difficult to comprehend. He
breathed life into me after the attempted drowning. He served as my guardian
angel while I mourned the loss of my child. He fell in love with me long before
I fell in love with him. Still, he denied his feelings. He encouraged Michael
to mend our relationship because he thought it would make me happy. After waiting
five months, he decided he’d had enough.

One
year ago today, Rafael confessed his love for me. He staked his claim on my
heart. Dating proved tumultuous. Michael’s death nearly ripped us apart. Rafael
pieced together my broken heart, and yet here we were living an ocean apart.
Like angry waves during a violent storm, life kept throwing us together and
tearing us apart.

Still,
my guardian angel, who was really a knight, was commandeering a palace where he
planned to make me his wife, all while slaying the monsters who preyed on vulnerable
children at the Casa Pia Orphanage. Violence and tragedy marred our pasts, but Rafael
was still fighting for the happy ending that all fairytale romances promised. What
gift could I possibly give to a man like that?

If
the smell of bacon was any indication, Rafael was in the kitchen cooking breakfast.
Kadyn and Jase were staying with us, and Rafael’s surprise birthday party was less
than twelve hours away. I sifted through some extremely limited options before
settling on an anniversary gift that Rafael might consider romantic and thoughtful.
I texted Eva, followed up with a phone call, and breathed a small sigh of
relief when it actually proved feasible. I buried my nose in the fragrant bouquet
and forced myself from bed.

Kadyn
and Jase were sitting at the breakfast bar. They were deeply engrossed in a
conversation about Sierra Leone when I padded into the kitchen. Rafael was facing
the stove, so I planted a kiss in the center of his back. “Thank you for the
flowers.”

He
turned and folded me in his arms. “Happy anniversary.”

I
rolled onto my tiptoes so I could kiss him on the lips. “Happy birthday. Do you
have to work today?”

He
shook his head. “No. I need to pack for Sierra Leone. Other than that, I’m
free. Would you like to go shopping?”

“Maybe,”
I conceded. We still had to purchase gifts for our groomsmen and our
bridesmaids. “I would like to treat you to a heated stone massage at eleven
o’clock if you’re free.”

His
eyes sparked with interest. “Will you be joining me?”

I
nodded.

He
grinned. “I’m all in then.”

I
stole a piece of bacon when Rafael began scrambling the eggs.

“You’re
not arguing?” Jase inquired over the top of his coffee.

I
nearly choked on the bacon. “Why would we be arguing?”

He
jerked his head toward the living room. “Why else would Rafael sleep on the
couch?”

Kadyn’s
eyebrows rose.

I
laughed as Rafael and I exchanged glances. “Rafael doesn’t want to sleep with
me before we’re married.”

Jase
looked stunned. “But…”

“Father
Ramires has advised otherwise,” Rafael answered drily.

Jase
rubbed his prickly jaw. “Where are you going to sleep in Sierra Leone?”

Rafael
groaned. Judging from the pained expression on his face, he hadn’t thought that
through.

I
topped off his coffee. “Surely, we can share a room.”

He
bit his bottom lip.

My
eyes widened. “There are two beds in the room.”

“I
can share a room and
not
sleep with her,” Jase offered, “so you don’t…
you
know...
burn in hell.”

Kadyn
snorted orange juice out of his nose.

*
* * * *

Rafael
gaped at me. “Guilty? There’s a restaurant named Guilty within a stone’s throw
of my flat? How could I not know that?”

I
scanned the storefronts, searching for the sign. “Because it’s new. Eva claims
the chef is famous… someone named Olivier.”

Rafael
slowed. “Chef Olivier as in Olivier da Costa?”

I
smiled. “Yes. That’s it. Have you heard of him?”

Rafael
laughed. “Yes. Chef Olivier is one of the most successful restaurateurs in
Lisbon. His food is phenomenal.”

My
smile widened. “Good, then we’re in for a real treat.” I admired his attire
from the corner of my eye. Rafael was wearing black slacks, a crisp white dress
shirt sans tie, and a brand new pair of Italian dress shoes. He looked like he
stepped off the cover of GQ Magazine with his five o’clock shadow and his
lightly tousled hair. I was wearing a black cocktail dress with lace bolero
sleeves and heels that were way too high for me. The stiletto heels had proven
downright treacherous against the tiny mosaic tiles that formed the sidewalk,
which is why Rafael maintained a death grip on me.

Rafael
stopped in front of the restaurant. A pulsing, contemporary beat greeted us
when he opened the door. A long line of people separated us from the bouncer
who was sitting on a stool at the far end of the hallway. Cocktail dresses,
high heeled shoes, slacks, and dress shirts were standard attire. The bouncer waved
us through after checking our names off the list.

I
took one step inside the restaurant and froze. A large, semi-circular cocktail
bar sat in front of us. The bartenders were shaking martinis, drizzling
champagne over long-stemmed fruity looking drinks, smiling, and dancing around
one another while filling drink orders. A DJ sat to their right, spinning the
type of music you’d expect from a dance club… only there wasn’t a dance floor.

Flames
leapt through large stainless steel ovens in the open concept kitchen to our
right. A ritzy looking lounge sat between the kitchen and the cocktail bar. Panels
from wooden wine crates covered the far wall. Cowhides lie scattered across the
bare cement floor between plush brown leather couches, contemporary chairs, and
tables. Another seating area sat to our left between the cocktail bar and the
outdoor patio.

I
spotted Kadyn and Chief D’Souza before the hostess returned from seating the
other guests. Rafael was still admiring the décor, so I tugged on his arm.
“This way.”

He
hesitated until he saw Chief D’Souza. “You planned a surprise party?”

I
grinned. “Turnabout is fair play.”

He
stopped just short of our table. “I’ve never had a surprise party.”

I
kissed his cheek. “This is long overdue, then.”

He
pulled me in for a hug. “I love it.”

“
F
eliz aniversário!
”
Chief D’Souza greeted cheerily.

“
Obrigado,
Comandante
.” Rafael reached for his hand, but the police chief gave him a
hug.

Chief
D’Souza was still chuckling when he pressed a kiss against my cheek. “Kristine,
this is my wife, Mariana. Mariana, this is Rafael’s fiancé, Kristine.”

“Hi,
Mariana. Thank you for coming.” I paused uncertainly. I wasn’t sure whether to
extend my hand or kiss her cheek.

She
kissed my cheek. “I’m sorry I missed you at Christmas. I would have joined Leandro
at the orphanage, but I was in Porto, caring for my mother.”

I
stepped back so Rafael could greet her. “I hope your mother is feeling better.
Perhaps you can join us this year?”

Mariana
smiled as he kissed her cheek. “I would love to. We’re so pleased this has
become an annual event.”

“The
officers and their wives still talk about the gift wrapping party,” Chief
D’Souza remarked. “Such a brilliant idea and a heartwarming experience for
everyone involved.”

Benjamim
slapped Rafael on the back. “
F
eliz
aniversário, meu amigo!
”
They bantered in Portuguese.

Eva
joined me. She was wearing a red cocktail dress that hugged her curves in all
the right places. Her bottom lip jutted out in an adorable pout. “Kristine,
when will you move to Lisbon for good? I miss shopping with you.”

Kadyn
frowned.

“We’ll
be dividing our time between both countries,” I assured him while kissing Eva’s
cheek. “Have you met my friend, Kadyn?”