“Well done, the place looks incredible,” my brother said, tipping his head back to take in the glass-domed roof of the triple height ceilings. My mission when it had come to this place was to communicate calm and relaxation. The carpet was a deep, lush cream, the furniture classic and sophisticated, and the jewelry was displayed in the walls, as if it were the art in an expensive drawing room. “Mum and Dad would be so proud of you.”
“They certainly would,” Primrose said. “They’d be very proud of both of you.”
I swallowed down my ever-fresh grief and nodded. “Thanks. I’m just grateful they gave me this passion.” The only thing wrong with this evening was their absence.
“But you put in the hard work,” David said. “This is all you, Dexter.”
The hard work opening the London store hadn’t been physical, it had been emotional. Getting to the point where I felt comfortable opening in this city had taken years and longer than it should have done.
“Did you show David the cabinet?” Primrose asked.
I guided my brother over to the middle of the room, where there was a large, waist height, mahogany display cabinet lined in black velvet that was the centerpiece of the store. “Do you remember this?” I asked, pointing at the brass plate screwed into the back of the case. Both the case and the plaque were a replica of the original that had been in our parents’ shop.
“Is this from their shop?”
“No, I had it made. But I wanted to honor them, you know?”
Hollie’s familiar hands slid around my waist as she came to stand by my side. “You do that every day by being the man you are,” she said.
“You’re biased,” I replied.
“She’s right,” my brother said. “But I like this too,” he said, brushing his fingers over the brass. “It’s a nice touch.”
“They’re with me in everything I do.”
My brother nodded, blinking back the tears. In his eyes, I saw sadness that my parents weren’t here, regret that he and I hadn’t reconciled sooner, and disbelief at the passing of so much time. It all stuck in my throat too.
“Here’s the rest of your crew,” Hollie said, glancing over to the door where Joshua, Andrew, Gabriel and Tristan made an entrance. Beck and Stella had already arrived and knowing Beck, by now he’d have convinced Stella she needed another piece of jewelry.
“Thanks for coming,” I said as my friends all approached, each of them pulling me into a hug.
“Wouldn’t miss it,” Tristan said.
“Right,” I said. “Now that everyone’s here.” I slipped my hand into Hollie’s and led her to the top of the three stairs that led to the private rooms and overlooked the rest of the shop.
“Are you making a speech?” she asked.
“I think I should, don’t you?”
“Absolutely.” She twisted her hand out of mine. “But I don’t need to come with you. This is your moment.”
“Not a chance.” I scooped up her arm. “You’re the reason I’m standing here with so many people I love. You’re staying with me.”
“Ladies and gentlemen,” I started. Gabriel had asked me if I was nervous and I had to answer no. He’d said when he’d proposed to his wife, he’d shaken like he was jelly. But it wasn’t like she was going to say no. She loved me. I loved her. It was that simple.
“You’re all here to help me celebrate the opening of the first Daniels & Co London store.”
“Finally,” someone shouted out. “About time,” another person commented.
“I think you’ll agree we’ve found a great space. It doesn’t hurt that it’s a five-minute commute on foot from where we live. Not that that influenced my decision at all.” Hollie and I had found a perfect home on Montpelier Square, which meant I was close to the office and to the new store. I’d insisted that we convert the entire top floor to a studio for Hollie. She’d decided she enjoyed being her own boss and wanted to produce her own line, so she worked on that while I went to the office. I kept trying to invest in her but she insisted on using my contacts but not my wallet. She still didn’t get that everything I had was hers.
“But the reason we’re here is because of the woman standing next to me,” I said.
“Dexter,” Hollie whined. She hated to have the spotlight shone on her but she deserved it—tonight and every night.
“Hollie Lumen, you captivated me from the first moment I saw you and you continue to make my world a better place every moment you’re in it. You’re the most thoughtful, giving, generous, wonderful woman. And I am very grateful that you put up with me.
“The first time we spoke, I interrupted as you were mesmerized by a ring my mother designed and my father made. And I’m pretty sure you were wondering whether it would suit you.”