Reunion Beach, Elin Hilderbrand [novel books to read txt] 📗

chided. “So, this heaven thing . . . I think I finally figured it out. For me, anyway. I’ve read a lot of opinions. Some of them were wise. Some . . . not so much. Me, I’m more logical. I believe in a God who is all-powerful and all-just. So, it makes sense, to me, that God will not allow evil to triumph. God rewards good people. He’s the final judge.”

Kristina listened to every word. “Okay. By that theory, Hitler doesn’t go to the same place as his victims.”

“Right,” he said with a short laugh.

“Then you’re saying you believe in heaven?”

“I believe in eternity. A place with no beginning and no end. It’s infinite. Like love,” he said, gently stroking her arm. “I’ll be there waiting for you, whenever you arrive.”

She clung to him. “I want to go there with you.”

“No. Not yet.”

“But why?”

“You have to find your purpose. I believe each of us was given a purpose to fulfill in our life. It’s tied in with our destiny. Kind of like a test we must pass or fail to reach heaven, or whatever you call it.” He paused. “Kristina, I believe you have yet to discover your purpose.”

“How will I know if I’ve achieved it?”

He lowered his head and she felt his kiss on the soft hairs of the top of her head. “You’ll know.”

She lifted her gaze to meet his, so dark and unfathomable. “You found your purpose?”

“I did.”

“What was it?”

His gaze kindled. “Not what. Who. You, Kristina. Loving you was my purpose.”

This broke her. Kristina buried her face in his chest and wept, telling him over and over that she loved him, soaking his shirt with her tears, as he gently stroked her hair. When at last she quieted, the room was quiet. The gentle rise and fall of his chest reassured her that Joe was still with her.

“Kristina?”

“Yes?”

“I have something important I want to say to you.”

She felt her breath still and whispered, “Okay.”

His voice was soft, but deliberate. “I’ve talked this over with my parents. They’re in agreement. I don’t have much, but what money I have I’m leaving to you. It’s just under ten thousand dollars.”

“What? How did you get so much money?”

“It’s money I’ve received from gifts over the years. My bar mitzvah. I saved it, knowing I’d find a good use for it one day.” He paused, letting that sink in. “You have to leave your house. Your mother. Right away. It’s not good for you to stay there. My parents will help you in any way they can. Use the money to go to school. Start your life. And when you’re ready, find your mother.”

It was all overwhelming. She clung to him tighter. “But Joe, how do I do all that? You can’t give me all your money. It’s too much.”

He smiled. “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. I’m just giving you a first step.”

Chapter Three

Reunion

MOTHER

Elinor put the final touches on the bouquet of flowers she’d arranged especially for Kristina’s visit. White roses and lilies with blue hydrangeas. Her favorites. Only the best for today, she thought with a final adjustment.

Stepping back, she perused the dining table. It sat in the middle of the brilliant turquoise-colored room enclosed on three sides with white plantation shutters. The epitome of a beach room, she thought with pleasure. The flowers were a counterpoint to the large coconut cake with the words “Happy Birthday Kristina, 40!” encircled in roses made of blue and white icing.

She glanced at her watch. Dinner reservations were for six-thirty. Her plan was for them to meet on neutral territory, on the beach. Then they could walk back here, have a bit of cake and champagne, then go out to the Long Island Cafe for a leisurely dinner. This would be followed by bedtime. “Keep moving,” Maeve had advised. “You don’t want to get stuck in the mud.”

Elinor smoothed out her white linen tunic top, thinking what a shame how linen wrinkled up so quickly. She spread out her blue silk scarf across her chest. She paused to look at her hands. They were shaking!

She shook them and puffed out a plume of air. She was being silly. This wasn’t like her. She could face down a classroom full of students, speak to a large group without skipping a beat. Today she only had to meet one woman. What was there to be nervous about? She’d been waiting for this day for forty years. To the very day. She inhaled and blew out slowly, calming herself. She chose to meet at four o’clock today because forty years ago, that was the time Kristina was born—4:18 p.m. to be exact. Elinor hoped Kristina would be pleased to learn that. It was one of a series of little surprises she had planned for Kristina.

Including her birthday gift.

She picked up the small, wrapped package from the side table and carried it to the Sheraton dining table, setting the box beside the cake. She pinched the white bow to perk it up a bit. Elinor had thought long and hard about what might make a suitable birthday gift for Kristina’s fortieth birthday. It was the first time they’d be celebrating her birth together.

She didn’t want Kristina to think she was taking her adopted mother’s place. She would never do that. Yet she wanted her daughter to know that she was loved and cherished by another woman . . . another mother, as well. Elinor agonized over the decision, plaguing Maeve with a series of texts listing possibilities. She kept coming back to her original idea like a broken record. Maeve finally texted back in capital letters: JUST GO WITH YOUR HEART!

So, she did. Elinor moved her hand over her bare neckline. She was giving Kristina a gold turtle necklace. It had been her favorite for years, a rare extravagant purchase when she’d traveled to Hawaii. She rarely took it off. The turtle had always symbolized her belief in feminine independence and resilience. And yes, motherhood. She