Chapter Twenty-nine #2
“If the hospital didn’t catch on, why would you? Or any of us? I think your dad feels the worst.”
“Yeah. He’s still kicking himself for not putting two and two together. But why would his mind even go there? It never occurred to any of us.”
We need a subject change. “Life has finally slowed down for you. I love that you’ve hired more staff. Now you won’t be running yourself ragged.”
“Ragged, huh? Was I that bad?” He grimaces, but he begins to eat his salad.
“No, you’re gorgeous and amazing. But you do need sleep like the rest of us humans.”
“For the first time in a long time, I’ve had a minimum of eight hours a night. I’m a new man. Next on my list is moving back to the comfort of my own home.”
“You mean 6263 Forest Grove Circle? My happy place?” I love his home. It’s my favorite place in the world.
“Yep. I love it there too. I love it the most when you’re there with me. And I won’t need to be here at Exodus as often anymore.”
“Exodus will run like the well-oiled machine it is.”
“I’ll still show up most evenings to greet guests, check on everything. But then I’ll go home early and leave all the responsibilities to the people I’ve hired.”
“And I’m one of them.” He hired me to take care of his accounting. I love it. I can do the job from anywhere.
“Yes, you are. Have to keep you close somehow.” He winks at me.
I bite my lip. “I’m not going anywhere, Ren.”
He grants me his sexy half smile. “By the way, Mom and Dad have decided to build their retirement home on the property next to mine. They love the slow lifestyle in Canby. They’re selling their condos in Portland and Florida. It’ll be nice to have them close by.”
“It will.” I love Jack and Susan. “You’re not talking about Todd and Rhoda’s property, are you?”
“Nah, other side. Although their place is for sale. They won’t need it for the next ten years while they rot in prison.”
Well deserved, if you ask me.
Our second course is served to us, a delicious lobster risotto, artfully arranged on the plate.
“I hope Curtis is getting the help he needs.” The risotto practically melts in my mouth. Delicious.
“Once he threatened to take his own life, his trip to jail took a detour straight to the local psychiatric hospital.” Ren fiddles with his napkin as he thinks.
“Do you believe Curtis when he says he didn’t know about the Adderall?” I ask again. It’s been a hot topic.
Ren moves his napkin back to his lap. “I do. I think he really loved Allie, and he wouldn’t have hurt her for anything.
I believe it was his parents all along. It was their twisted way of getting revenge on someone who, in their view, had hurt their son.
I don’t know, he could be lying. Truth is, we’ll never know for sure.
I don’t understand the relationship Allie had with Curtis.
Not at all. But I don’t believe Rhoda when she says Allie was playing with his emotions.
That’s not the woman I knew. Of course, I never would’ve expected her to have an affair either. ”
“A strange dynamic, for sure. I understand your father’s intense dislike of Curtis now, though. It had nothing to do with his mental health issues.” I take another bite.
“True. Everything makes an odd sort of sense. I spoke with Rhoda’s older sister, Diane.
She’s the one who packed all their personal belongings and prepared the house to put it on the market.
I asked about Curtis. She said he’s back on his Adderall, now that no one is stealing it from him, as well as some other meds to help regulate his mood swings.
Diane says Todd and Rhoda were his downfall, that they treated him like a child, gave him whatever he wanted to make him happy, and never got him the help he needed or gave him the skills to succeed in life.
In essence, instead of dealing with his issues, they chose to hide him from the world.
Now he’s getting the correct meds, therapy, and training.
She said he’s doing really well, flourishing even.
Proof that mental health issues can be treated.
Plus, he’s sober. I’m glad. He deserves a chance in life.
Even with everything I know now, I like Curtis.
He was always friendly to me. Underneath it all, I think he’s a good kid. ”
Ren has a forgiving heart. “I want to be you when I grow up.”
Ren laughs as though I’m joking. I’m not.
“The weird thing about the entire situation is that Curtis seemed like the normal one of the family. Diane said he’ll probably be released in a few months, but he will remain in therapy.
He does deserve a chance, but at the same time, I’m not sure how I feel about that.
For all I know, he could have revenge on his mind. ”
“I get it. He could be unpredictable, and that’s a little scary.
But I agree, he deserves another chance.
Especially since he’s doing so well. If he has revenge on his mind, it’s probably directed at his parents, not us.
He didn’t have the best example in life.
No one could hold a grudge like his parents.
Three and a half years of revenge? That takes some serious commitment.
” I can’t believe they kept up with drugging Allison for that long.
“My red mailbox and I are well aware.” Ren shakes his head. “Guess what Diane said to me?”
“I’m on pins and needles.” Diane sounds like the normal sister to me.
“She said she loved my red mailbox. She wondered why everyone else went with silver. It looked so ‘monochromatic.’ Her exact words.”
“Validation is so satisfying.” I can’t help but laugh. I love Ren, and I love his red mailbox.
“Right?”
“It’s been a whirlwind of highs and lows lately. But the highs are winning. As a matter of fact, they’re stealing the show.” Things are finally coming together for Ren and me.
Dessert comes next. I burst out laughing when I see that it’s molten chocolate lava cake. “This brings back memories.”
“Yes, it does. Good memories?”
“The best. It’s the day we met.” I was downright prickly back then. Times have changed.
No, I’ve changed.
Neither one of us can finish our rich desserts. We finish off the meal with steaming mugs of herb tea, nursing them quietly as we can’t take our eyes off each other. Now that dinner conversation is over, my mind has returned to kissing him. I can’t get enough.
“You know, Bree, I realize that I just lost my wife recently, but really I lost her four years ago. I couldn’t move on while I was in limbo, never knowing what was going to happen from day to day.”
“Mad respect.” I touch my chest, over my heart, then point to him. I love Quinn for helping me realize what an amazing man Ren is.
“The thing is, it’s been a long time for me. A really long time. Probably the loneliest years of my life.”
“I can only imagine.” I don’t know how he managed everything. He had so many balls up in the air, it’s a wonder several of them didn’t crash to the ground.
“What I’m trying to say is, it’s been four long years, and I’m not willing to wait any longer. I’m ready for my life to move forward.”
“You deserve it.” I take a sip of my herb tea. It’s an orange spice flavor. Very refreshing. Plus it will give me good breath when I get to kiss Ren again. I hope it’s soon.
“Bree, I want my life to move forward with you.”
“I got that message, loud and clear, on the dance floor earlier.” I want to stop talking and start kissing again. I’ve had a taste, and now I’m starving for more.
“I’m not talking about dating or sneaking kisses here and there. I’m not looking for something casual.”
I freeze. More like full-body paralysis. “What?”
“I’m talking about forever.”
The empty restaurant. Rose petals lining the floor. Romantic music. Candlelight. An elegant dinner. Both of us dressed to the nines. We’re talking major grand gesture, here.
Oh my gosh. I’m an idiot. I didn’t see this for what it was. “Forever?”
“Yes. It can’t happen soon enough for me.”
Ren gets down on one knee next to my chair. He removes a small velvet box from his pocket. He opens it to reveal a stunning diamond ring.
He’s taken me by complete surprise.
His eyes burn into mine. “I don’t want to wait. I want to marry you now. Right away. Next week, if we could pull it off. Will you marry me, Bree?”
My trembling hand covers my mouth. “You want to marry me?”
“Yes. More than anything in this world.”
“I thought…I guess I just assumed that you would need time.”
“I’ve had plenty of time. Nothing but time. I choose life. I choose you. Marry me? I’m so ready to start living again.”
I was not expecting this. At all. I figured Ren would need time to mourn his losses.
But he’s mourned long enough. He’s done, ready to go for it.
“Yes,” I say. “Yes, yes, yes. A thousand times yes.”
I’m rewarded with a huge smile. Ren slips the ring on my finger. He stands, then he pulls me up to him, and we embrace in the tightest hug.
Then he kisses me again and again and again. And he doesn’t hold back. I am Bree the Beloved.
I can’t wait to live my life with this man by my side.