43. A Fresh Start
A Fresh Start
Electra
W e stayed in Bastian's parents' house longer than he had planned. He made a reservation in Coos Bay, but we didn't want to leave at midnight and drive half an hour to another city when we were already lying in a comfortable bed.
I was pleased when an old lady from the other side, Mrs. Lovely as Bastian called her, gave us grilled chicken wings with rice, a pack of frozen fries, and three frozen pizzas that only needed to be placed in the oven and they were ready to be served.
She also packed us chips, biscuits, and strawberry pie. She was the best.
"I'm so happy you're okay, Sebastian," she said, clutching his hand with the tears in her eyes. "I prayed for you every day."
"Thank you so much." He smiled and kissed her forehead, which made her shine with happiness. In a split second, she looked twenty years younger. "Take care."
"You too, my sweet boy. And say hi to your brothers." She raised her index finger at him, making me giggle at his expression. Not many people dared to do that with him. "I expect them all to attend my funeral."
"Oh, c'mon!" Bastian groaned, and she burst into laughter, closing the door before he could say anything.
We stood before her house with arms full of food, smiling. Another neighbor peeked from behind the curtain, and we quickly hurried back like some criminals with our prize.
Thankfully, even when no one lived in the house for years, they still paid for electricity and water. While I bathed, Bastian warmed up the food and thawed the pizza.
We ate, laughed, made love, ate again, took a shower, and had sex another few times. It was a paradise. No phones, press, annoying reporters, or responsibilities, nothing—just us enjoying our love.
It was late afternoon when we admitted it was the time to return to reality.
We cleaned everything, avoiding white sheets covering the furniture.
I packed my clothes because I spent the day in Bastian’s shirt and shorts, and I checked the kitchen to see if all the equipment was turned off.
I found Bastian in the dining room, leaning against the wall, lost in thought with a broad smile.
"What is so funny?" I asked, wrapping my arms around his torso and pecking his chin. He looked down at me, grinning.
"I just remembered as Mom and Dad announced the last pregnancy," he replied, chuckling and shaking his head, stirring my curiosity.
"Okay, I'm listening." I folded my arms on his chest, staring at him expectantly.
"Fine, but let's sit. My leg is protesting." He pointed to the covered table for six people, and with a grimace, he took away a white sheet. We plopped on old wooden chairs that screeched in disapproval, and he started to talk.
"I was eleven when Mom got pregnant, Andreas was ten, and Fredy was five.
It was a Wednesday. Don't laugh, but I remember every word from that evening.
" He chuckled, placing his hand on my thigh when I giggled at the precise information he provided.
"We finished with dinner, and Mom stopped us when we wanted to leave.
Dad came from the outside because he smoked on the porch, and they looked nervous.
They exchanged glances, Mom's hands were trembling, but I was the only one who noticed it. "
He sucked his lower lip into his mouth, shaking his head at that memory.
"Fredy read a book and ignored us most of the time.
He used the I'm deaf card to the maximum.
And Andreas caught some bugs and wanted to examine them, so he didn't pay attention either.
Dad sat behind the table, and Mom stood beside him, placing a hand on his shoulder.
" He nodded at the chair before us as if he saw them.
"It was ridiculous, like from some ancient photo.
I remember frowning at them and thinking what was going on. "
I watched his face as he talked, realizing how happy he was as a kid. He had everything: loving parents, siblings, and a beautiful home, and he was clever as hell. He was destined to be successful and be an example for others.
"And then Mom said, ‘ I'm pregnant. You will have a baby brother or sister’ ," he continued, disturbing my thoughts.
I smiled, imagining their faces. "I was like, okay, that's not that bad.
Fredy didn't react but Andreas totally stole the show.
" He looked at me, suppressing a chuckle, and I stared at him impatiently.
"He looked at them, pale like a sheet of paper and wide-eyed, forgetting about his precious bugs, and yelled, ‘ You two had sex!’ " I slapped my hand over my mouth, and my shoulders shook when I tried not to laugh.
"And it was only the beginning," Bastian stated, snorting.
"Mom blushed, and Dad covered his mouth so we couldn't see him snickering.
And Andreas continued, ‘ Seriously? With your aching back, Dad?
How did you do two minutes of this if you're in pain?’ And he stood up and showed us perfect impression of someone pounding into a woman. "
I couldn't hold myself any longer and burst into laughter, but it wasn't the end of the story.
"I was horrified," Bastian admitted, wiping the tear that escaped his eye. "And I wanted him to shut up, but then he turned to me and said, ‘Y ou saw the video. He's too old for that!’ "
"Oh, my God!" I shook my head in disbelief, and he raised his hands in surrender.
"To my defense, I only saw like twenty seconds, and then I ran away," he claimed, nodding to underline his words, but I didn't believe him.
They were curious, and when the situation arose, they used it.
"Anyway, Mom almost had a heart attack, and her ‘ What video! ’ was probably heard on the next street. I swear, even the deaf one flinched."
I was done. This was the best story about announcing the pregnancy I ever heard of. Just the thought of Bastian and Andreas being in the center of it with their perfect reputation and public image made me love it even more.
"How long were you on house arrest?" I inquired, chortling when Bastian stood up, and I helped him cover the chairs.
"Two months, and we had to return all stolen tapes with naughty princesses," he winked at me, and my eyes widened with realization.
"Princesses?" I yelled, but he only shrugged and chuckled when I demanded further explanation.
"There's one more place I want to show you before we leave." We got into the car, and I set the GPS, frowning when he switched it off. "I know the way."
"Okay." I drove the car through the thin dirt road and the forest behind the town, not knowing what to expect. Bastian looked outside, mindlessly playing with the handle of his walking stick, and I didn't want to interrupt his quiet moment.
He was happy and calm around here. All the memories he cherished from that time returned, and he relived the best experiences again. It was like a road trip back in time.
"We're here, princess," he whispered when the car exited the forest, and I realized we were on the cliff. I stopped the vehicle, staring at the ocean with my mouth open. "Let's go."
I got out, excitement bubbling in my stomach when I took Bastian's hand and let him lead me. The dark water under us hit the shore, foam formed around pointy rocks, and the wind grew stronger with every step we took closer to the edge.
"This place is called Shore Acres," Bastian said, looking at me instead of our beautiful surroundings while I savored the view. It was spectacular. "And it's the place where my dad proposed to my mom," he added, letting his words linger in the air until my mind decrypted them.
I snapped my head to the right, staring at him with shock consuming my body, and I almost squealed when he knelt on one knee and showed me a tiny, gorgeous, red velvet box. He opened it, and inside was a white golden ring with the biggest diamond I had ever seen.
I covered my mouth with my hands, tears streamed down my face, and my legs trembled. It was so unexpected. We were already married. My chest was tightening, and my heart almost collapsed.
"Electra Marietta Hernandez, I'm so sorry for all the trouble I caused," he started, his eyes glistening in the afternoon sun and his voice slightly wavering. "I'm sorry for Rosalind and our contract, for the accident when I should've been more careful, and for forcing you into marrying me."
He inhaled deeply, and I shook my head firmly, preparing to object, but he only smiled and continued, "I had the best intentions but had no right to push you to become my wife.
I love you. I can't live without you, and the idea of losing you clouded my judgment.
I violently took control of the situation, and without your consent, I made a decision that changed everything for both of us. "
He hung his head low momentarily, making me squirm because I wanted to grab his shoulders and shake with him that it wasn't true. He did it to protect me because he loved me.
"I'm sorry, princess. You have no idea how deeply sorry I am for dragging you into my world between those sharks unprepared." His words dripped with certainty, and his irises swirled with love. I couldn't be angry at him. I never was. I loved him more than anything.
"I brought you here to show you the part of my life no one except my family has ever seen.
" He gently took my hand, and my heart skipped two beats in a row.
It was really happening. "And I want you to be part of everything that will happen in my life in the future, but I want to ask properly, and I need your honest answer. "
He took a deep breath while I stopped breathing completely, and a nervous smile appeared on his lips.
"Will you marry me, princess?" he asked, and the entire world spun. “For real this time,” he added when I only stared at him with my mouth shut.
“Electra?” He squeezed my hand, breaking me from my trance, and I gulped, inhaling sharply.
"Y-yes," I choked out, ignoring the thundering of my heart and the deafening crushes of the waves under us.
"Sorry, I didn't hear you." Bastian shrugged, and I dropped to my knees opposite him.
"Yes! I will marry you!" I cupped his cheeks, crushing my lips on his. He wrapped his arms around my waist, holding me tightly.
We pulled away only when we were out of breath, and he exchanged the rings on my finger, taking the fake wedding ring away and hiding it in his pants pocket.
"You'll get another one," he promised, brushing hair away from my face. "I love you, princess."
"I love you, too, sir," I replied, leaning closer for another kiss.
Everything around me was a blur. Nothing mattered anymore, only us. My mind shut down, my heartbeat calmed, and I saw only him in my arms, happy and safe.
He was all I ever wanted—my partner, lover, Sir, my everything. And I couldn't wait to explore the next chapter of our life.