Chapter 21
It has been a few days since Leonard walked out. He hasn’t been at work, nor have I heard from him.
“How long does it take to heal?” I wonder every day. I decide to go visit him at his home.
I start by dropping Charlee at my mom’s before heading to Leonard’s house. The ride to his place feels eerie, and I can feel my heart beating faster the closer I get.
Is this a good idea? What if…?
I decide to keep an open mind. Maybe he got sick or something? I continue to ponder on these and many more questions when I realize I have reached the front
of his house. I park across the road and walk over to his front porch. I can hear screaming and sounds of laughter coming from inside.
I immediately started feeling triggered.
So, he’s been okay and just ignoring me?
I knock on the door and wait for a response or something. I hear footsteps approaching. The door opens, and a woman appears in the frame.
“Delivery or something?”
“Erm…no. Hi, my name is Rayne,” I say. She is dressed in an oversized shirt that I suppose is Leonard’s.
“Oh, hi. Please come in.” She steps aside for me to enter.
“Thanks. Where’s Leonard, please?”
She points in the direction I assume to be the kitchen. I walk in to find him cooking, bare-chested. His expression when he sees me says a lot. I feel the presence
of someone behind me.
Leonard moves back from the island and heads towards us.
“Ria, meet Rayne. Rayne, Ria,” he says casually. “I wasn’t expecting you here,” he tells me, giving me a hug and pulling my hand so we can step out of the
kitchen.
So, that is Ria. I glance back in the direction of the kitchen. The Ria who comforts him every year, the Ria who texts and calls every other day. The best friend Ria.
“I see you have been busy,” I say, making sure my tone sounds as sarcastic as possible. “Not exactly…” he starts to say when I cut him off.
“I don’t get you, Leonard. You say you need time to think and process something less than 24 hours after I agree to be your girlfriend and apparently, processing
things includes having fun with your best friend while I wear myself out with worry, wondering how you are and all?” I exclaim, trying not to shed tears, at least
not in front of him.
I stand there, stunned, as I watch him fumble for words to respond. He looks so lost, so unsure. If he likes Ria, why did he ask me to be his girlfriend?
“I just need time to think,” he finally manages to say, but his words feel empty and hollow.
“Almost a week, and you still need time to think, Leonard?”
I feel my chest tighten with anxiety and anger. He is spending time with his best friend while “thinking” about us. What could he possibly need to think about?
Why am I putting myself through this? Why should I subject myself to the anxiety and pain of wondering where I stand with him? After Reece, I promised
myself no man will make me feel less of myself again, and that’s what Leo is trying to do to me.
“I’m sorry, Leonard,” I say, trying to keep my voice steady. “But I can’t do this. I can’t sit around and wait while you figure things out. It’s not fair to me. You know
what? It’s over. I’ll move out of your place by the end of the month, and you’ll also receive my resignation letter. I can’t deal with this anymore. Goodbye,
Leonard!” I say in one breath, still holding back the tears.
As I walk away from him towards the door, I feel the tears welling up in my eyes. I try to hold them back, but they come anyway, hot and heavy. It hurts to walk
away, but this is definitely for the best. It was already too complicated from the start.
I get into my car and drive away, trying to maintain my composure. But as I drive, the tears keep flowing, and I know that it is going to take time to heal from
this. I stop my car after a while and pick up my phone to call my mom.
“Hi, Mom. Can Charlee stay at yours for tonight?” I ask, rushing my words so she doesn’t suspect I have been crying.
“Yes, she can. Are you okay? You don’t sound okay, Ray. Do you want to talk about it?”
“No Mom, not now. Goodbye and thank you.”
And with that, I end my call drive home, and collapse in a flood of tears.
***
Leonard
“You let her go?” Ria says, walking towards me. “You have been in this house moping about and not listening to my advice to call her. She finally comes here,
and you let her go? For real, Leonard?”
“Ria, I have a lot on my mind,” I say coldly.
“No, you’re just trying to hurt someone that hasn’t hurt you. It’s her ex-husband that got your mother killed due to his carelessness. Not her, not her child,” she says, smacking my head. She is right, of course. Ria is, in fact, the only person that tells me the truth unprovoked.
“This girl obviously likes you, and you are going to throw it all away just like that? I’d do anything to find a man who likes me half as much as Rayne likes you.
Don’t throw a good thing away idiot” Ria finally stops.
Ria’s frustration is evident on her face as she stares at me, waiting for an answer. I try to sort through my thoughts. She eyes me back and forth as if waiting for a reaction from me. But this isn’t Hollywood. I am not going to run after a woman who just broke up with me.
Or is that what I am supposed to do? What Rayne wants me to do?
Ria starts to speak again. “What are you going to do now?”
“I don’t know.” And that is an honest response. I do not know what I should or want to do.
“Do you care about her?”
“Yes! With every fiber in me. Charlee too…” I say, shaking my head.
“So, why are you still in this house?” she asks confused.
“I don’t know, she just broke up with m…”
Ria cuts in.
“And whose fault is that?” She walks towards the center table, picks up my car key, and hands them to me. “I’m not going to stand here and watch you make a
foolish mistake.” She hands me a top as well.
The ride to Rayne’s house isn’t long but I stop to pick up flowers. I try to prepare an apology speech in my head, but nothing is coming. Should I knock? What if
she realizes it’s me and she refuses to open it? Should I just enter? I do have a spare key in my car safe.
I finally pull up in front of her place. I rehearse my lines again.
“I’m so sorry. I promise you, it’s not what you think. I was actually planning to drive to your house today with Ria. Please don’t break up with me…”
Lame.I get out of the car with the flowers. I let myself into the apartment. She’s not in the living area. Her car is parked outside so she must be at home. I check
the kitchen and the spare room downstairs before going upstairs. I check every room upstairs but there is no sign of her.
What’s going on? Where are Charlee and Rayne?
I look for my phone to call but I realize I didn’t come with it. I dash back out to my car. The next option is Queens.
“I hope she hasn’t done anything she’ll regret,” I drive as fast as possible.
I arrive at Queen”s about forty-five mins later. I don’t even wait for the car to stop before I jump out, banging on her mom’s door.
“Who is it?” Charlee’s voice. A sense of relief washes over me. Thank goodness she is here.
“Hi Charlee, it”s Leonard.”
Charlee opens the door with a wide smile.
“Hi, Leonard,” she says rushing to hug me. I pick her up from the ground and into my arms. Hmm, Charlee doesn’t seem to know anything about the break-up.
That’s good.
“Where’s Rayne, Charlee?” I ask.
“She’s not here,” Charlee answers.
Wait, what? She isn’t? Where the heck could she be? I try to hide my confused expression from Charlee.
“Where’s my mommy? She said she was coming to see you today, that’s why she dropped me off with Grandma,” Charlee says, looking worried.
Great. Leonard, what have you done? Now a five-year-old is worried about her mom.
“She’s fine. I guess we just missed each other. I also left my phone at home so I can’t call her. Your mommy is fine. But do you mind fetching me your grandma?”
I lie, trying to keep calm.
“OK,” she says as she disappears back inside the house.
“Hi, good evening, ma’am. I’m Leonard. I suppose we haven’t met?”
“No, we haven’t. How may I help you?” the older woman asks, eyeing me intently.
“I’m here to see Rayne. Charlee tells me she is not here.”
“No, she isn’t. She is at her place. She called asking me to look after Charlee for the night. Is everything okay?”
“Yes, ma’am, everything is fine,” I respond trying to sound as convincing as possible. “I guess I’ll just go over to her place to wait for her.”
“Have you called her?”
“No, ma’am, I left my phone at home.”
“And you say nothing is wrong? Have you done something wrong to my daughter?”
“No ma’am, I’ll never intentionally hurt Rayne or Charlee,” I repeat my promise to Charlee.
“Hmmm, I see. Here, you can use my phone,” she says, tossing me her phone.
The last dialed number is Rayne’s. I put the phone to my ear and let it ring. She finally picks up on the fourth ring.
“Rayne, where are you?” I splutter out.
“Errr, she is at a bar, dead drunk,” a masculine voice responds.
“What?! Can I have an address, please…OK, thanks….I’ll be there in twenty minutes.”
I end the call, return the phone, and bid everyone goodnight.
I check my watch. It’s 7:30 pm. Who gets drunk at this time of the day?
The drive to the bar feels longer than the drive to Queens. I hope she is okay. What have I done? I can’t help but let my mind wander over different scenarios as I drive.
I arrive at the bar and scan the room for Rayne. My heart sinks as I spot her with her head on the table, seemingly passed out. I quickly make my way to her and
the bartender, who hands me her phone with a look of disapproval.
“She only had one cup of beer and passed out,” he tells me. I thank him and turn to Rayne. I gently lift her onto my back, feeling the whole weight of her limp
body. As I walk towards the exit, I can’t help but feel a sense of protectiveness over her. I place her in the car, making sure she is comfortable, and wind down
the window to let the cool night air blow on her face.
The drive to her place is quiet, except for the occasional sound of her breathing. I keep a watchful eye on her, making sure she is breathing. When we finally
arrive at her place, I carefully lift her out of the car and then inside.
I lay her down on the couch, tucking a blanket around her to keep her warm. I sit beside her, watching as she sleeps and wondering what would have happened
to her if I hadn’t shown up. What is worse is that I know I’m the reason she is in this position.
“So much for not doing anything that will hurt her,” I say to myself.
***
Rayne
I slowly open my eyes, feeling disoriented and confused. As I look around, I realize that I am back in my living room. Memories of the last few hours start to return, and I feel a wave of embarrassment wash over me.
As I try to piece together what happened, I notice Leonard sleeping in an uncomfortable-looking chair next to me. I feel a pang of guilt for putting him in this position. I grab the blanket covering me and gently place it over him, hoping to make him sleep a little more comfortably.
The movement seems to stir him awake, and he looks up at me with tired eyes. For a moment we just stare at each other in silence, neither of us sure of what to say.
“Hey,” I finally manage to say, my voice hoarse with sleep. “Thank you for bringing me home and staying.”
He rubs his eyes and stretches, still looking a little groggy.
“You’re welcome,” he says. “I wanted to make sure you were okay.”
I feel a rush of gratitude towards him for being there, for coming to pick me up because I’m sure that is how I got home.
“Thank you,” I say softly, feeling my cheeks heat up in shame.
We sit there in silence for a while. It starts to get awkward before he finally speaks.
“Rayne, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have let you go when you left my place yesterday. I don’t want to let you go. I’m sorry I freaked out. What you saw with Ria is not what it is. She just arrived yesterday and came straight to my place because I mentioned to her the stuff I was dealing with.”
I listen to him, taking in his words and trying to decide how I feel. Part of me wants to believe and forgive him but another part of me is hesitant. I can’t help but wonder if there is more to the story.
He continues, “I almost lost it yesterday when I couldn’t find or reach you. I came here first and then I went to your mom. I’m sorry my foolishness led you to drink. I wouldn’t have forgiven myself if something had happened to you. Rayne, please forgive me.”
I take a deep breath and try to clear my head, reminding myself to communicate my feelings and boundaries.
“Leonard, I don’t know what kind of relationship you have with Ria, but if it is me, it has to be me. I’m sorry Charlee is the reason your mom is dead, but I don’t want you to date me or have a relationship with my child because of pity, Leo.”
“I promise you, Rayne, it’s not pity. I love you and I love Charlee.”
“Okay, I forgive you.”
He pulls me in for a deep passionate kiss.
“Hmmn, I have missed you,” I say as I kiss him back.
***
Rayne
It has been almost three months since the fight. Charlee seems to love Leonard more than me. Leonard introduced me to Ria and his dad. Things have been
great, and this man is just perfect.
Today I resume my new job at Sterling Holdings. Leonard pulled a few strings for me but I am not about to be that girl who got a job through a man but can’t keep it.
Sterling Holdings has been in business for ages. It was started by Sylvester Sterling, and it has since then been passed on through the generations.
The workday goes by fast. After a lot of introductions as the new secretary, I do a lot of catching up on the company’s policy, mission, vision statement, JD, etc.
Apparently, my role is a shelf position, but I’m happy to be here, not working for Leonard.
My first task at work is to make sure my new boss, Joe Sterling, attends all of his meetings and the last meeting of the day is with Leonard at the City Hotel at 4 pm. At 2 pm, Monica walks in to drop a dress for me, saying it is from Leonard, wishing me a happy first day in my new role. Apparently, it was supposed to arrive earlier so I could wear it to work, but she couldn’t make it due to “unforeseen circumstances.” I take the garment bag from her and wish her a lovely day.
As soon as she leaves, I pull out my phone to thank Leonard. He doesn’t pick up but responds with a text.
“I’m in a meeting at ATM. I’m guessing Monica just delivered your dress?”
“Yes, but I haven’t tried it on yet.”
“You should wear it to the meeting we have later today. Happy first day”
I put my phone down and head over to the restroom to change. The corporate white knee-length dress that Monica delivered is made of crisp and lightweight
fabric with a subtle texture that adds dimension and sophistication to the overall look. The dress has a tailored fit with a slight A-line shape, which flatters the
figure without being too tight or revealing. It features a high neckline and short sleeves. The dress has a hidden back zipper and is fully lined for added comfort
and opacity. The hems fall just above the knee. It’s perfect.
“I love that Leonard has grown to understand my style to this level of detail. The dress is flawless,” I whisper to myself.
I take a selfie in the dress, showing just a little above the hem of the dress to my legs. “See you soon,” I text.
“Can’t wait to see you and make love with you! Winks,” he texts back.
“It’s a work meet, you naughty man!” I respond, smiling at the thought of him ripping this dress off my body. We have never had sex, and he knows how I feel
about it, but the thought of being intimate with Leonard gives me chills.
As I walk back to my office, I meet a young man in the waiting area,
“Miss Rayne?”
“Yes, that would be me,” I reply.
He hands me a parcel. “You have a delivery. Please sign here.”
I sign and collect my parcel.
“What are you up to?” I send another message to Leonard.
He takes his time to respond.
“Actually, those are gifts that were supposed to arrive yesterday as a congratulatory first-day gift, but I mixed the dates up, and it’s just arriving now. Very clumsy of me.”
“Okay. Thank you so much, baby.”
“Do you like them?”
I open the box. It’s an LV set, a silver purse, and silver sling-back sandals. The smaller box has a gorgeous necklace and earring set inside.
“Very pretty,” is all I can manage to text back.
“Not as pretty as my girl. Looking forward to seeing you.”
By 3:30 pm, Joe walks out and says we need to be ready to move in a couple of minutes. I pack my things, call the driver to bring the car around, and wait for
Joe’s instructions to go. I can feel the excitement rising in me. I’m going to be seeing my boyfriend as a client!
We arrive at the hotel a little late. Joe explains that the client has changed the meeting location from the reception area on the ground floor to the rooftop. I don’t make any comments but follow my boss inside.
As the elevator bell jingles and the door opens, I am almost beside myself when the first person I see is Charlee. Wait, Charlee?!
What is she doing here?
I peer closer. My daughter has a bouquet in her hands.
“Welcome, Mommy.”
Okay, dress, rooftop, and now Charlee. This is definitely not a meeting. How could I have believed such a lie?
I walk with Charlee on the flower petals scattered across the floor. My mom and Leonard’s dad, alongside a couple of friends, are on the side waving at me.
Some of them have their phones out, their cameras pointing at me. I look ahead, and I see Leonard. He is wearing a deep green tux that matches his eyes,
standing in front of a “Marry Me” prop with lots of flowers and candles.
I walk towards him, teary. This is so thoughtful and intentional of him. I’m sure pulling this off wasn’t that easy.
“So much for the miscalculation of dates,” I say to him as I finally reach him.
He is laughing so hard that it’s contagious.
He kneels on one knee before starting his speech.
“Rayne
It feels like yesterday you bumped into my life, my head, my heart, and now I want you to bump into my family. Today, I stand before you with a heart full of love and a soul brimming with happiness.
From the moment we met, I knew you were special. My love for you goes beyond just you. It extends to Charlee, who has captured my heart just as much as you have. In front of you and everyone, I promise to love her as my child as much as I love you.
I promise to always be there for her, to support her dreams and aspirations, and to guide her through life’s challenges. I will be a father to her, someone she can count on and trust.
As I look into your eyes, I know that I want to spend the rest of my life with you.
Rayne, will you make me a happy man today and do me the honor of becoming my wife? Will you allow me to love you and your daughter forever?
I promise to always be there for you and your Charlee, to love you unconditionally, and to cherish every moment as we grow old together.
What do you say, Rayne? Will you grow old with me?
As I nod my head in agreement, stretching my hand for him to insert the ring, I can’t control the tears. This man loves me and loves my daughter, which is by far the greatest gift for me.
***
The next morning
As I open my eyes, the bright sunlight streams in through the window, indicating that it’s already morning. But as I sit and rub my eyes, I realize that I am not in
my bed. I look around and see that I’m in Leonard’s bed, and as I remember the events of the previous night, a smile spreads across my face. I bring my left
hand to my face. The ring is still there—a gorgeous silver sterling ring with a huge diamond rock on it.
As I reach for my phone to check the time, I see that I have multiple notifications. Curious, I open one of them, and I am surprised to see my face on the front
page of a publication. I scroll down, my heart beating faster. The article is about me and Leonard.
It’s both thrilling and terrifying to see our faces plastered all over the news. The stories are mixed. Some of the publications have positive remarks praising our
love story and how we met. But as I continue to read, I realize that not all the publications are as pleasant.
Some call me a “gold digger,” implying that I’m only with Leonard for his money. Others emphasize the fact that I’m a single mom as if it’s something shameful. It is disheartening for me.
But as I look over at Leonard, who is still sound asleep next to me, I know that we have something special that can withstand any kind of scrutiny. I get out of
bed to freshen up and make breakfast. I smile to myself at the thought of making breakfast for my fiancé. The thought of being his wife seems unreal. He makes
me so happy. In all those tears I shed with Reece, I never knew this level of love existed.