Awakening to the muffled sound of Aaron's ringtone, Rachael retrieved her phone from the nightstand and answered it with the video off.
"Mom? Where are you?"
She took a drowsy moment to orient herself. She was in bed, with Danielle sleeping naked beside her. Jeremy was nowhere to be seen.
"Mmm...your new Auntie and I got to chatting and we came upstairs for a drink." Danielle stirred behind Rachael and began kissing her shoulders and running a hand over her ass. "I'm afraid I zoned out on her. Still jetlagged, I guess. Showing my age."
"As if. Say, if you're up for it, why don't you both come on down to our room? Em and I are hosting a little private thank-you. Family only."
"What time is it? Reception over already?"
"We made our thanks an hour ago, Em tossed the bouquet and we split. At last look, the younger folks were still going strong."
"Younger folks?" Rachael laughed. "You stodgy old married man, you. "Sure, I'll be down in a little while. But I'm good for another half a glass of champagne at most before I turn in."
"That works. Tell Dani if you see her. She's not picking up."
"Will do." Rachael ended the call. Danielle stretched languidly and rolled out of bed. She sorted through her hastily discarded pile of clothing and pulled her panties on.
"Half a glass? Live a little, lady. Sleep late tomorrow."
"I'm taking the redeye back to JFK tonight, actually," Rachael said. "I can catch up on work at home before Monday."
Danielle frowned. "That won't do." She walked around the bed to sit beside Rachael, taking her hand. "No, that won't do at all. We're just getting to know each other."
Rachael exhaled slowly. "I'll be honest, I didn't expect to enjoy this trip when I flew out here. I didn't know anyone, and--"
--"We were just a bunch of strangers taking your son and lover away." Danielle said what Rachael would not. "Yeah, I'm good at reading people." She held Rachael's face in both hands and kissed her. "We're not taking him away, honey. And we're not strangers. Not anymore. We're family. Right?"
"Family." Rachael nodded.
"Good. And since now you know what that means to us Marchands...let's go party with the newlyweds."
Emily and Aaron had the single luxury suite on a concierge floor accessible only by keycard. They were Tahiti-bound in two days, but when Emily ushered Rachael and Danielle into the expansive, elegantly furnished rooms, Rachael thought that these private accommodations were all the getaway she could ever want.
"Aaron's taking a quick shower," Emily said, kissing her aunt and new mother-in-law each on the cheek. "What are you having?"
"You have an espresso maker? I'm good with coffee for now," Rachael said.
"Double vodka," Danielle said.
"Coming up. Where's Cuz? I bet Aaron he was with you two."
"I sent him off on an errand to fetch his father."
Emily paused. "You mean his uncle? Daddy?"
Danielle patted her hair and kissed her on the cheek. "Don't fret, Em. Rachael knows all about us."
"Oh!"
Emily's feet seemed barely to touch the polished wooden floor as she skipped gracefully over to the bar. Clad only in a loose-fitting white cardigan and heathered gray tights, the long-limbed blonde looked every inch the champion athlete she'd trained to be.
One of the first things that Aaron had told his mother about the young legal intern who so intrigued him in video staff meetings was that she'd placed in the National Gymnastics Championships three years running. Emily had made it to Olympic trials twice before a shoulder nerve injury had sidelined her. Soon after that, she'd abandoned her athletic pursuits for law school and the family business, but she was still whip-thin and moved like a gazelle.
Rachael and Danielle settled down on a leather sofa next to glass doors leading out onto a walled terrace with a breathtaking sunset view of the mountains.
"Aaron says you're going home tonight," Emily handed them their drinks. "I wish you'd stay at least until we leave on Tuesday."
"I'm tempted," Rachael conceded. "I've had a lovely time."
"Please do," Emily said earnestly. "We've spent no time at all together, and it's all my fault. I've been a complete scatterbrain all week. All wrapped up in last-minute planning, and I've neglected my new Mom horribly. Haven't I?" The casual apology might have sounded glib from anyone but Emily, who always appeared so guileless that it was frightening.