Every Beat of My Heart Read online

  He smiled, gave her shoulder a squeeze. “Carla, I think I’ve got the perfect wedding present in mind for Lina, but I want it to be a surprise. I’ll need your help to put it together. What do you say?”

  Her expression morphing back into delight, Carla nodded. “I say, what do you need me to do?”

  He quickly leaned down and whispered his plan into her ear.

  When he straightened, he saw the tears standing in Carla’s eyes.

  Her voice shaking with emotion, she said, “My Lord. That’s the most wonderful gift you could give her, and me. Thank you, son. Thank you for being so thoughtful.”

  She gripped him in a tight hug, which he returned. Knowing Carla approved of his intention, and seeing how touched she was by the gesture he planned to make, filled him with a sense of pride. Now all that was left to do was to notify his family of his upcoming nuptials. Since Lina was still standing on the front porch yammering on her phone, he could safely assume she’d tell everybody in her contact list.

  He turned toward the front window, his eyes landing on her back as she stood outside, talking and flailing. Even from this distance, her excitement and happiness were palpable. He loved her, and he loved being the one who filled her with joy. Staring at the profile of his future wife, he felt his heart somersault in his chest. Everything they’d gone through to reach this point had been totally worth it.

  Because soon, Lina would be his, for keeps.

  Chapter 19

  Six Weeks Later

  With her mimosa in hand, Lina flopped down onto Eve’s white leather sofa and sighed with contentment. In several hours, she would become Mrs. Rashad MacRae. When she and Rashad had sat down to plan the wedding, they’d both agreed on two things: there was no need to drag out the engagement, and the ceremony should be small, classy and simple.

  The day had dawned a beautifully sunny Saturday morning, the first of September As Lina sipped her drink and looked out the picture window at the manicured lawns of Eve’s property, she felt the happiness of the day fill her soul. Eve’s idea to have a celebratory brunch on her wedding day, since there hadn’t been time for a bridal shower, had been nothing short of brilliant. She and her four closest girlfriends had enjoyed a sumptuous catered breakfast buffet, manicures and pedicures, and were now relaxing around Eve’s palatial house as the afternoon began.

  Eve strolled in, still wearing her white Serenity Spa bathrobe and a headful of hot rollers. “So, how are you enjoying your wedding day so far, girl?”

  “I’m finding it quite lovely, thank you. Where are the rest of the girls?”

  “Fiona’s on her way, you know she’s always late. Ophelia and Denise are with the hairdresser in one of the bedrooms upstairs.”

  Lina drained her glass and set it down. “Okay, I think that’s going to be my one and only mimosa. I’d like to be upright and coherent enough to say my vows.”

  Eve giggled. “No worries. I made the drinks heavy on orange juice, with just a drop of vodka. All except mine, which was all juice.” She stuck her lips out in a mock pout as she rubbed her growing stomach.

  “I salute your sacrifice. Keep up the good work, because I expect you to be very cautious about your diet while you’re baking my little ‘god-bun.’” Lina gave Eve’s stomach a loving pat.

  Denise walked in then. She still wore her robe as well, but her Afro was done, having been blown out and neatly shaped by the hairdresser. “O’s still in the chair. Takes a lot of work to tame those locks.”

  Lina sank back into the cushions and sighed. “I can’t believe this day is finally here. I just hope Rashad will like my gift.”

  Eve sat down on the arm of the sofa. “I don’t see why he wouldn’t love it. I bet he’ll be thanking you all night long, girl.” She gave an exaggerated wink.

  Shaking her head, Lina chuckled. Securing Rashad’s wedding gift on such short notice had not been an easy feat. If he loved it as much as she hoped he would, his reaction would be well worth the effort she’d put in.

  Denise’s brow knit with confusion. “Okay, spill it. What exactly did you get him?”

  “You know how that piano reunited us, right? So I thought, since he took the high road and donated Monk’s piano to the museum, I’d get him something else of Monk’s to replace it.”

  “So, what did you get him?” Denise was literally on the edge of her seat.

  Lina clasped her hands together. “Monk’s son.”

  Denise’s confused expression deepened. “What?”

  “Thelonious Monk, Jr. I was able to get in contact with his rep, and he agreed to play at the ceremony. Rashad has no idea he’s going to be there.”

  “Wow. Good one, sis.” Denise fist-bumped her.

  “He goes by TS Monk to cut down on confusion with his father, but he definitely inherited the musical talent. He’s made a name for himself as a jazz performer. Some of the money I was going to spend on the piano went to pay his appearance fee, in the form of a donation to the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz. Money well spent.”

  Ophelia’s voice called out from upstairs. “Lina, ain’t it about time you got dressed, girl?”

  Looking at the old grandfather clock in the corner of the den, Lina got up from her comfy seat. “O’s right. It’s already one o’clock, and I don’t want to be late to my own wedding.”

  “It wouldn’t be a good look,” Eve cracked.

  The three robe-clad women climbed the stairs to the second level of the house and entered the room Eve had set up for them to get ready. They passed the hairdresser on her way out, and Lina gave her a generous tip along with her thanks for making a house call.

  Inside the guest bedroom, Ophelia sat on the edge of the bed, clipping garters to a pair of nude thigh highs. Ophelia’s long, thin locks had been curled and pinned up on top of her head. On their entry, she straightened. “All right. Let’s get you ready, Lina.”

  In keeping with the tone of the ceremony, Lina had eschewed a big poufy gown in favor of a cream-colored cocktail dress. After her girls laced her up into her bridal corset, she got into the dress on her own. Since she hated pantyhose, she didn’t wear them. She stepped into three-inch satin pumps that matched her dress, and let Eve place the crystal-encrusted barrette she’d chosen in lieu of a veil in her curls.

  Once the girls got into their soft yellow, one shouldered dresses, Lina gave her reflection a final check in the full-length mirror. The woman looking back at her was resplendent with happiness, abounding in love and fully ready to commit to the man who’d be waiting for her.

  She turned to her girlfriends, her smile reflective of the happiness she felt inside. “Let’s go, girls.”

  * * *

  With sure, steady hands, Rashad gave his clothes one final adjustment. The ivory button-down shirt was properly tucked into the slacks of his navy suit. He carefully tied the Windsor knot of the navy-and-yellow-striped tie around his neck, then shrugged into his sport coat.

  He and his boys were in a spare room at the Afro American Arts Museum, hanging around in the final moments before the ceremony. Darius, Marco and Ken, all similarly dressed, were currently clowning around behind him. He chose to ignore their horseplay in favor of keeping his mind occupied with thoughts of the beautiful woman who would soon become his wife.

  Tandy, the museum staffer who’d been placed in charge of coordinating the ceremony, poked her head into the room. “Mr. MacRae, this package was left on Monk’s piano, addressed to you.”

  He strode over to the door, took the large padded envelope she held out. “Thank you.”

  “We’re ready for you guys, whenever you’re ready.”

  She disappeared, and he inspected the envelope. His name was printed on it in block letters, but there was no clue as to who might have left it.

  Turning it over, he pulled off t
he tape securing the flap, then reached inside. When he pulled out the wooden frame and saw what was in it, his breath caught.

  “Guys, come look at this.”

  Darius, Marco and Ken came over, and soon they were all staring in wide-eyed awe.

  Inside the frame was an aged piece of sheet music. The composition was “’Round Midnight,” and the lyrics were handwritten in the margins. At the bottom of the last staff were the initials T.S.M. When Rashad turned the frame over, he saw a yellow sticky note attached to the back of the frame. It read,

  Love is the music of the soul. May your harmonies be ever beautiful. The Music Man.

  “That’s just like the picture of the Duke that was left on my porch. It’s got to be the same person.” Darius’s brow furrowed.

  Rashad shook his head in amazement. “I’m guessing you still don’t know who he is?”

  Darius’ shrug told him that The Music Man’s identity was still a mystery.

  “We’ll figure it out eventually, but right now, there is the matter of you getting married.” Marco tapped his gold wristwatch.

  Rashad knew his friend was right, so he slid the framed sheet music back into the envelope and tucked it beneath his arm. “Let’s go.”

  Quietly, the four of them filed out of the room and down the hallway toward the main gallery, where the wedding would take place.

  Their family members and friends were already seated and carrying on muted conversations. Rashad smiled at the sight of his maternal grandmother, Annmarie, who’d come all the way from Trinidad to witness his marriage.

  Rashad could hear the strains of someone playing a piano. He’d heard the music from the hall, and now that they were in the room, the sound grew louder. Though the chairs and the altar had been set up around Monk’s piano as he and Lina requested, the music was coming from elsewhere. Letting his eyes scan the room, he searched to see who was playing.

  And nearly fell over when he saw TS Monk tickling the keys of an upright piano set off to the side of the main exhibit.

  A smile spread across his face, and he broke ranks with his boys to walk over to the piano.

  Thelonious Jr. stopped playing long enough to stand and shake hands with him. “You must be Rashad. Congratulations, man.”

  “Wow. Mr. Monk. Thank you so much for coming. I’m a big fan, of both you and your father.”

  “I appreciate that. And please, call me TS.”

  He couldn’t remember ever being this star-struck, so he took a deep breath to steady his voice before he asked the obvious question. “I’m honored that you came, but I have to ask. What are you doing here?”

  “Your fiancée told me how much my father’s music meant to you. And, she made a very generous donation to my father’s foundation.” TS went back to playing the piano, his manner as casual as could be.

  He wanted to show TS the sheet music, but knew time was running short. Aside from that, it seemed pretty unlikely TS Monk was the music man. That wouldn’t make sense considering Darius’s gift.

  Still shocked and utterly thrilled, Rashad walked back across the room and took his appointed place. All the while, he couldn’t help thinking what a remarkably thoughtful woman Lina was, and how blessed he felt to be marrying her.

  Darius elbowed him. “Dude, fix your face. Your jaw’s hanging wide-open.”

  Shaking his head, Rashad did as he was told.

  The judge who would serve as officiant took his place next to Rashad, and with the change in the music, everyone directed their eyes toward the door.

  Lina’s girlfriends processed in and took their places.

  When Lina stepped into the room, the sight of her took his breath away. The pearl-encrusted dress left the length of her honey-brown legs exposed to his eyes, but she remained as classy and elegant as the occasion called for. The look in her eyes, however, told her she had intentions for him that were anything but proper.

  She finally reached him and passed her bouquet to Eve, then joined hands with him. The vows were said, promises exchanged, and a few minutes later, Rashad locked lips with his new wife. Mindful of the friends and family present, he kept the kiss chaste. In his mind, he knew there would be plenty of time to unleash the full measure of his passion for her later, in private.

  The ceremony ended, and everyone remained in the main gallery as the staff reconfigured the room. Chairs were moved aside to make room for dancing, and tables were moved into place. TS came over to congratulate them again before he left, and was gracious enough to autograph a wedding program as a keepsake.

  A string trio came in and quickly set up, soon filling the space with music once again. Rashad was barely aware of any of the commotion because he had eyes only for Lina. They were standing in a corner of the room, embracing and stealing kisses.

  He stroked his fingertips along the silken line of her jaw. “Thank you so much for getting TS Monk here, baby. I’m so amazed that you would even think of that.”

  Her responding smile was soft and affectionate. “You’re welcome. Although you should know I’ll expect a full and proper thank-you this evening.”

  Leaning down near her ear, he whispered to her a few of the naughty things he planned to do to show his gratitude, while she giggled and turned red.

  Someone cleared their throat, and he jerked his head away from the crook of her neck.

  Standing in front of them, aided by a carved mahogany cane, was his grandmother, Annmarie. In her thick island accent, she admonished, “Save some for da hotel, before ya set da drapes afire.”

  Rashad couldn’t help laughing as he leaned over and took his little firecracker into his arms for a hug. “Grandma, I’m so glad you could come. How have you been doing?”

  “Eighty-six years on dis good earth, and I’m feeling like a teenager.” She gave him a kiss on the cheek, then turned to Lina. “And you, come here to me. You done walked in my dreams till I feel I know ya.”

  Looking somewhat confused, Lina hugged Annmarie. “I’m so happy to meet you, Mrs. Callahan, but I’m afraid I don’t know what you mean.”

  “For many months, I dreamed of you. Same dream over and over again. I told Rashad of dis. In my dream, I walk pon the shore, and you wash up there, like a mermaid. Then I watch Rashad come der, scoop you up in his arms and carry you away.”

  Lina turned her questioning gaze on him.

  He shrugged. “She knows things. Don’t ask me how.”

  Shaking her head, Lina grasped Annmarie’s hand. “I don’t know how you knew, either, but I’m glad you were right.”

  Annmarie chuckled. “I’m always right, honey. Didn’t live this long by being dense.”

  Watching the two of them, he felt his heart swell with love. Knowing that his mother, his sister and now his grandmother all loved Lina delighted him.

  As the evening went on, the time finally came for them to cut the small cake. After that, he raised his glass to his new bride, happy to finally be able to announce his wedding gift to her.

  “My wife has given me a priceless experience of meeting someone I truly admire, and I only hope my gift touches her the way her thoughtfulness did to me. Ladies and gentleman, I’m proud to announce that I’ve given an endowment to the Afro-American Museum in the amount of three hundred thousand dollars.” He paused, locked eyes with Lina. “This gift is given in the name and memory of Mr. Bradford Smith.”

  Her hand flew to her mouth, and tears welled up in her eyes, spilling onto her cheeks. “Oh, Rashad.”

  As soon as the emotion-filled words left her mouth, he leaned down to kiss her. “Welcome to life with me, baby. I plan on spending the rest of my life making you feel this way.”

  She wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned up to be kissed again. Cheers erupted in the room as they shared a kiss as sweet and potent as the joy of their special
day.

  And later that night, when he carried her over the threshold of their honeymoon suite, he showed her just how grateful he was to have her in his life.

  Epilogue

  Lina pressed her free hand over the crown of her wide-brimmed sun hat to keep the strong ocean breeze from blowing it away. Her other hand was nestled into Rashad’s as the two of them strolled along a bustling street near the center of town.

  “It’s really beautiful here, Rashad.” This was her first time visiting the island of Trinidad, and she’d been enjoying every moment of it. Their days were spent wandering the streets of Toco, where his mother had been born and his grandmother still lived. The town sat on the far northeastern corner of the island, boasting rocky cliffs and spectacular views of the Caribbean Sea.

  “I’m glad you like it. Grandma has been on me about not visiting her enough, so we’ll be coming here often.”

  She quieted, taking in more of the scenery. Today’s sojourn had brought them to Galera Point. According to Rashad, the famed lighthouse was a significant local landmark.

  He pointed up to the lighthouse now. “The lighthouse was built in 1897, and it’s been here ever since. There was some talk of making the area a national park, but I don’t know if that idea ever got off the ground.”

  She looked up at the tall, whitewashed structure. The bright red door stood as a stark contrast to the rest of its exterior, and she could see the Spanish influence in its architecture.

  They moved down to the park surrounding the structure, and took a seat on a wooden bench overlooking the water. The sparkling blue surface reflected the bright sunshine, and as she snuggled close to her husband, she knew she’d have no qualms about visiting this island sanctuary as often as he wanted.

  “Thanks for bringing me here.” She placed her hand along his jaw.

  Looking into her eyes, he smiled. “Thanks for coming into my life, baby.”

  She leaned up for his kiss. And as their lips touched, all the love they shared flowed between them, just as the sea flowed to the shore.