A Valentine Wish (Gates-Cameron 1)

She stopped with a gasp, staring at Anna.

Anna’s hand tightened convulsively in Dean’s.

“Aunt Mae, Cara, Casey, this is Anna. My fiancée.” Dean spoke as easily as though he were merely bidding them good morning.

Mae was on her feet, her face pale, her eyes fixed on Anna’s with a mixture of fascination and disbelief. “Your—your fiancée?” she stammered. “But where? When? She looks like—”

Anna held her breath.

Dean never blinked. “Anna is the great-granddaughter of Nicholas Cameron, James Cameron’s brother, who stayed in London when James emigrated to America. That would, of course, make her a distant cousin of the Cameron twins. She came here out of curiosity, wanting to know more about her American family and the tragedy that struck them.”

“But—where did you meet? Where has she been staying? And you’re engaged?” Aunt Mae looked a bit dizzy.

Anna stepped forward and placed her hand in the older woman’s. “Please forgive us for springing this on you in such a way, Mrs. Harper,” she said sincerely, trying to sound at least slightly British. “It’s unforgivable of us, I know. Please believe that there were... circumstances that kept me from meeting with you sooner. I love your nephew very much, and I want to spend the rest of my life making him happy. I know how close he is to you. I hope you can accept me into your family.”

Mae’s face softened. She took Anna’s hand in both of hers. “Oh, my dear, of course. I was just taken by surprise, that’s all. I’m thrilled that Dean has fallen in love—why, just look at him. It’s written all over his face.”

Anna studied Dean’s face through tear-filled eyes. He grinned at her, looking as though he didn’t care if his feelings were written on his face in permanent ink. He loved her. And he didn’t care if everyone knew it.

What had she done, she wondered, to deserve this joy?

They spent the rest of the morning reciting the story they’d concocted so carefully, improvising when necessary.

Anna had told Dean earlier that she felt terrible about lying to his family, and he shared her qualms, but both of them had agreed that the only way they could hope to have a normal life together was to keep her true identity a secret, from everyone. Even Mae and Bailey.

“It’s such a shame that all your luggage was lost,?

? Mae fretted later. “Honestly, those airlines these days are so careless. We’ll have to see about getting you something to wear. And, Dean, you make sure she is compensated for her loss, you hear? Even if you have to hire a lawyer.”

“Yes,” Anna agreed with a smile for Dean. “I’m afraid all I have is one dress and a pair of heeled slippers. I can hardly go around in those or Dean’s sweatclothing all the time.”

“Sweatclothing?” Mae repeated with a puzzled frown, then looked at the fleece garments Anna was wearing. “Oh, his sweatsuit.”

“I have some jeans and tops you can wear while you shop for new clothes,” Cara offered shyly. “Shoes, too. You and I look to be about the same size.”

“How kind of you, Cara. Thank you.” Touched, Anna smiled. She thought she and Cara would become friends. It was nice to have a friend in this strange, rather frightening new world.

Mark stopped by that afternoon with a first draft of the article he’d written about his bizarre interview with Bill Watson. Cara, as usual, conveniently busied herself in the kitchen after escorting Mark into the sitting room with the others.

Mark was introduced to Anna Cameron, and given the same story Mae and Cara had heard earlier. Though he seemed to accept it easily enough, he looked at Anna very closely, and then at Dean.

He didn’t stay long. As he left, he shook Dean’s hand, congratulated him on his engagement, and then murmured within Anna’s hearing, “Something tells me I don’t really want to know the truth about your lovely fiancee.”

“Trust me,” Dean said, clasping his friend’s hand firmly, “it’s better if you don’t.”

“That’s what I thought. Umm, Dean—anything you need, er, you know, paperwork, certificates, whatever—well, I have sources.”

“Thanks. I’ll probably be giving you a call.”

Mark nodded, gave Anna one last, curious look, then smiled. “It’s been one hell of an adventure,” he commented as he departed.

Dean smiled and drew Anna close to his side. “The adventure is just beginning,” he said.

She smiled lovingly up at him.

DEAN AND ANNA WALKED in the garden that evening, just before dark. He wore a jacket, this time, and she was bundled into a coat that belonged to his aunt.

It would be spring soon, Dean mused, looking at the few plants that had survived his cleanup of the area. They would plant trees, flowers, rosebushes. The gardens would come to life again. He looked forward to seeing it.