Read, Write, Love at Seaside(76)

He followed his father’s eyes as they shifted to his mother as she approached. He reached a hand out to her and pulled her close. His mother put a hand on his father’s chest.

“Are you men ready?” she asked with a smile that Kurt had missed over the past few weeks.

“We are.” His father kissed the top of his mother’s head; then his voice turned serious again and he set his eyes on Kurt. “Be there for those who matter most. Not just with lessons, but with life, Kurt. It goes by far faster than you can imagine.”

“Ah,” his mother said with a smile. “I see I interrupted a moment.”

“No, sweetheart,” his father said as he pulled her close. “You are our moment.”

Kurt was struck mute. Rooted to the ground. He’d never witnessed such intimacy initiated by his father, and as he watched his parents walk away arm in arm, he tried to send a message to his legs to move.

You are our moment.

Four words that changed the way he saw his father.

Four words that seeped into his heart and found Leanna.

You are my moment.





Chapter Twenty-Eight





FROM HIS PLACE by the gazebo, standing beside his brothers, Kurt watched as Jack took Savannah’s hand in his and promised to love, honor, and cherish her for the rest of his life. Three words that resonated with Kurt when he thought of Leanna. Love. Honor. Cherish. He’d add a few of his own to that short list. Trust. Desire. Protect.

He eyed Jack and Savannah, wishing Leanna were there, and longing to have her in his arms again.

Ribbons of yellow and orange hovered over the mountains as the sun shone brightly and the day took on a romantic glow. Treat had become ordained to officiate at resorts he owned all over the world. His deep voice rang out in the silence.

“Jack, I invite you to kiss your bride.”

Jack took Savannah in a deep, loving kiss that brought both families to their feet. When they drew apart, Jack wiped a tear from Savannah’s cheek with the pad of his thumb.

“I love you, Savannah Remington.” Pride and love coalesced in Jack’s dark eyes, bringing a lump to Kurt’s throat.

Savannah laughed and cried as Jack took her in his arms. She wore her auburn hair loose with a ring of white flowers at the crown. She looked beautiful and happy. They were a striking couple, both tall and fit. Jack’s thick, jet-black hair against her long, auburn locks. Jack looked handsome in his black suit and tie, and Savannah’s wedding dress was unlike anything Kurt had ever seen. Made of summery gauze with an overlay of lace, it was cut above the knee in the front and fell to the ground in the back, angling gracefully in between. The fitted waist had two strips of satin tied into dainty bows in the center, and lace sleeve caps covered Savannah’s lean shoulders. The deep V-neck had a swatch of lace in between, giving Savannah a fresh, exotic, and almost daring appearance. It fit her feisty personality perfectly, and he began to wonder what type of dress Leanna might choose for herself.

Sage elbowed Rush. “You’re next, bro.”

Rush ran his hand through his short dark hair. “Don’t count on it.”

“Ha! Better him than me.” Dex shook his head in an effort to clear his long, straight bangs from his eyes. They fell right back into place.

Weddings had never affected Kurt in the past, but as he listened to his brothers, he felt a tug of desire to be the next one to marry.

He went to congratulate Jack while his brothers talked about women—which only made him miss Leanna more. He opened his arms to Savannah. “Congratulations. You look gorgeous.”

Savannah smoothed the front of her wedding gown. “Thank you, Kurt. You know I couldn’t be happier. I adore Jack.”

“That’s evident in everything you say and do. Same with Jack. Transparent as glass.” He nodded at her dress. “Did Josh design your gown? It’s lovely.”

“He did. Isn’t it beautiful? I wanted something that didn’t feel too formal.”

“It’s perfect, and so was the ceremony.”

Jack pulled Savannah close. “She’s perfect.” Jack had an inch and seven years on Kurt.

Kurt draped his arm over his brother’s broad shoulder. “Yes, she is. Congratulations, Jack.”

“Thanks, man.”

Jack had been so distraught after his first wife had died in a car accident that Kurt wasn’t sure his brother would ever recover. For two years, Jack had disappeared to a cabin in the Colorado Mountains that he hadn’t even told his parents he’d bought. He’d spent those years alone, save for sporadic weekends teaching survival courses and flying clients around in his bush plane from time to time just to keep a modicum of income coming in. Savannah had attended one of his survival courses, and by some miracle, she’d seen through the angry, guilt-ridden shell that his brother had worn like armor and helped him heal.