Love in Flame (De La Fuente Family 5)

At least she likes Diego and she gets on well with Kasey. Their friendship seems to be purely platonic and in a way I’m glad and it makes me being with Diego easier.

Hearing a knock at the door, I jump, then feel a hand on my shoulders. “Rae, I know you’re worried but just remember that this is Andie. She’s your flesh and blood and she loves you.” He kisses the top of my head and moves toward the door.

14

Diego

It’s difficult to hide my own anxiety when Rae is suffering enough for the both of us. I know the wedding last night was impulsive, but I don’t regret it. I love having Rae as my wife and I can’t wait to shout it from the rooftops. I was surprised she’d agreed so easily though, but I wasn’t about to complain. Part of my decision was purely for selfish reasons. I mean now that we’re married it isn’t going to be as easy for her to walk away from me when it gets difficult being around my mother. That was my biggest fear—that my mom would finally get through to Rae and scare her off.

Knowing Andie is on the other side of the door, I do feel more confident in her reaction to our news than I am about my mother. That’s one conversation I’m not looking forward to.

Reaching for the door handle, I tug it open and smile at a beaming Andie. She’s a beautiful woman with her long hair curling down her back and skin as smooth as her mother’s. Her smile wavers as I stare at her and it’s only when a frown starts to form on her brow that I move away from the door. “Sorry Andie. Please come in.”

She let’s the door close behind her and when she turns her eyes widen as she notices Rae, “Mom.” Andie smiles and dashes over to her, wrapping her arms around her. “Are you, okay?” She glances between her mom and me.

Rae cups Andie’s face in the palms of her hands and smiles. “I’m…happy. Really happy, Andie.”

Andie looks in my direction and raises a brow. “I figured,” she comments before turning back to Rae. “You’ve both been unable to keep your eyes off of each other. I wasn’t sure though because Kasey was throwing me off track.” She narrows her eyes at me. “He knows about you two, doesn’t he? That’s why he’s been dodging my questions.” She shakes her head and dropping into a chair she laughs. Not the humorous kind either.

Perhaps this isn’t going to go the way that we were hoping, and by the panicked look that Rae throws at me, I’m guessing she knows it as well.

“Andie?” Rae whispers and sits on the coffee table facing her daughter.

“Mom, until now I wondered if something was going on between the two of you, especially when you told me that we were having separate rooms here. I accepted it thinking that it was cool that you’re not alone, but now, now I don’t know how I feel.” Andie rubs at her brows and meets my gaze. “I like you Diego. I don’t mean like as in like, but I do like you. I like all your family, but…when I really think about you and my mom, it’s not right,” she finishes quietly.

“Not right?” Rae tries to stand and stumbles. “Even though I was nervous to tell you, deep down I thought that you’d be in our corner, Andie.”

I wrap an arm around Rae, offering support and she relaxes slightly when she leans into me, taking the comfort I offer. “The age thing?” I ask already knowing the answer.

Andie nods. “You’re closer to my age Diego than my mom’s. It’s weird now that I’m really thinking about it.”

“I’m in love with her, Andie. I chased after your mom because Rae thought the same as you. But age doesn’t bother me. It doesn’t change how much I love her. I can’t breathe without her and surely that’s what you want for your mom, Andie. Don’t you want her to be with someone who will always love and cherish her?”

Andie has tears on her face and they match Rae’s distraught ones. “Of course I want that,” she snaps, “with someone of similar age to her. You’re more of a brother than a stepfather.” She puts her face in her hands. “Oh, God. I need to go. I’m sorry.” She dashes to the door and leaves while I keep Rae tight in my arms.

I kiss the top of Rae’s head. “Going after her now isn’t going to make anything easier. Let her calm down and think,” I add when Rae struggles as though to follow Andie.

“She doesn’t even know we’re married,” Rae wails and buries her face into my chest.

Other than holding her close and reassuring her with slow strokes down her back, I don’t really know how else to comfort her. Having never been in this situation before, it’s difficult. I just want to make all of the heartbreak that Rae is obviously feeling go away. I wish it was simple, but I’m starting to realize that our marriage is going to be more difficult than any marriage should ever be.

“What are we going to do?” she mumbles the question into my chest. “I really didn’t think that she’d be so against us. I know I worried, but I really thought she’d be happy.”

“I know.” We stay wrapped around each other staring blankly through the window of our hotel room until the insistent buzzing from my cell interrupts. “I’m not answering,” I comment when Rae starts to pull away.

She sniffles a few times and shakes her head. “You need to answer. It could be important.”

With a heavy heart, I watch her retreat to the bathroom by which time my cell has stopped. Picking it up it starts again and my heart sinks further when I see it’s Gideon, my boss on the forestry team.

This isn’t going to be good.

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Accepting the call, I answer, “Gideon.”

“Diego, how quickly can you get back?” he asks.

“Our flight is tomorrow evening. It can’t wait?”