16. Guilty As Sin
GUILTY AS SIN
CHELSEA
Maisy walked the stage at her Columbia graduation ceremony and I couldn’t have been prouder of her. Sophie attended as well, since her ceremony was the day before. They impressed me so, two beautiful young women, completing their studies, about to set out into the world to make their mark. While Sophie planned to stay in the city, Maisy was literally setting out on a ship to sail the world the next day.
At that thought, I dabbed my eyes for the millionth time with a tissue, a package of them resting on my knee for Mom and Sophie to use as well. Our smiles had been huge, but our eyes leaked throughout the event, mine filled with both happy and sad tears.
“Your father would have loved seeing Maisy graduate today,” Mom admitted, sniffling as we waited outside for her after the ceremony ended. “He’d have been proud of both of you, and Colt, too. You all turned out wonderfully.”
“I’m already crying over Maisy, now you bring up Dad and Colt, too? I miss them,” I broke down, hugging Mom to my left, while an arm wrapped around me from my right. Rex’s. Thank God for him today, for being my rock and practically holding me upright.
By the time Maisy made her way to us, Mom and I had cried enough and put ourselves back together so Rex could take photos of us all, which we immediately texted to Colt.
Afterward, Rex took us all out to celebrate at Tetto, the Italian five-star restaurant at the top of one of the high-rise buildings he owned. He insisted on treating us all out on this special occasion with Mom, Maisy, Sophie and her parents, and me, and of course, he wouldn’t take no for an answer, having already made the reservation.
I’d come to realize that, while Rex could afford any material possession he wanted, the one thing he loved most was treating his loved ones in special ways. Like it filled his heart and soul to do so, and for that I couldn’t resist letting him for take us some place so expensive.
Once the champagne arrived, we all drank and toasted the graduates. When it came my turn, I beamed. “Maisy, Mom and I wanted to get you something special to wear and remember us as you set out on your amazing adventure, so family will always be with you.” A lump caught in my throat as I handed over the gift and couldn’t say another word.
I remember her eyes, so young when our father passed away, and now I looked at her all grown up. A young woman bound for great things.
She opened the box and gasped, finding a sterling silver heart locket from Tiffany’s. Inside was a photo of us kids with Mom and Dad taken several years prior.
“Thank you,” was all she could manage, crying as she came around the table to hug us both. “Love you guys.”
She put it on, and it looked lovely. This was just a day full of tears all around, but I wouldn’t change a thing about it.
Rex waited until we were through to make his toast. “Here, here. What a special day for Maisy and Sophie. Best of luck with your future endeavors.” Rex ended simply. I thought that was it and almost drained my champagne glass when he continued.
“But if you’ll all indulge me, I have one more toast to make.” He turned to me with one hand raising his glass, the other hand pouring more into my glass. “To Chelsea, who has a birthday this week.”
I’d almost forgotten. I’d been too busy to think about it, or to plan anything. Leave it to Rex, proving how he made me a priority in his life.
“To think this time last year, I didn’t even know you existed, Sweetness. But I do now. This will be my first time celebrating your birthday with you, and, God willing, I’ll be there for every birthday for the rest of our lives. Happy birthday, Chelsea.”
“Yes, happy birthday, to my Chelsea-Sunshine girl,” Mom gushed and clapped.
Right then, the wait staff brought a peach pie with lit candles on it and sang a rousing rendition of Happy Birthday to me.
“I had your mom bring this for you especially,” he said and squeezed my hand. But he didn’t need to say a thing; I recognized her signature cutouts of hearts in the top layer of the piecrust.
“What? How did you two manage to sneak this by me?” My eyes darted between them as they both shrugged, acting innocent, and mum about it all as more tears falling mixed with my laughter and caused a smile that hurt my cheeks. The moment was truly special with most of my loved ones all around me.
“Speech, speech,” Sophie’s father called out, a stout man with a jolly laugh. Her mom was more subdued, classic opposites.
“I don’t know what to say. Just thank you. You all bless my life in so many ways. Rex, I can’t wait for a forever amount of birthdays together. And Maisy—” I paused, recalling something from the past. “Dad always had a saying about happiness, the trifecta something or other. Remember?”
“Have people to love, something you love to do, and something to look forward to and you’ll always be happy,” Mom supplied.
“Yes. That was it.” I nodded, and thankfully the food arrived, saving us all from more cheers and tears.
Before leaving, we all ventured out onto the rooftop Viewing Deck, a prime spot to overlook New York City. The sun setting, the lights, and incredible views of Manhattan provided a beautiful venue for celebrations of all kinds.
“Penny for your thoughts?” Rex came up behind me, resting his hands on each side of me at the railing, and kissed the top of my head.
“This place will forever be special considering you proposed to me here,” I reminisced.
“The second time I proposed, the one that counts,” he corrected me. “Best day ever. The day you agreed to be my wife. ”
I loved Rex’s sultry voice every single time he said that word, churning it over in a deep tone with a growl that vibrated into my soul, as if calling for it to rendezvous with his. We both loved each other, both happy with our work and things we loved to do, and we had our wedding to look forward to. For the first time in my life, I felt like I had managed to achieve the trifecta for happiness, according to my father.
Suddenly, Rex took my wrist and latched something onto it. Twinkle lights turned on over our heads, revealing a diamond tennis bracelet sparkling under the shine—as if he coordinated this moment—and I wouldn’t put it past him to have done so.
“Don’t you dare say it’s too much. I get to spoil you, remember?” He chuckled. “And it was either this or a little two-seater Mercedes, but I figured I’d start here for your first birthday with me.”
“Rex! You spoil me, like always.”
“Not spoil. I prefer the word treat. I’ll always treat you to fine things because you deserve it and I love you. All I ask in return is that you love me back with your whole heart and soul.”
“That can be arranged.” My heart beat faster for this man, and I turned in his arms, linking my lips with his. But it didn’t last long enough, with the girls bounding up to us.
“Sorry Rex, but we’re stealing Chelsea away,” Maisy announced and pulled at my arm.
“Yep. Time to party and dance for Maisy’s last night in New York City.” Sophie shimmied her body.
“Go on,” Rex gave me up. “Be safe and have fun.”
Rex took Mom back to our apartment for the night, but the girls and I went to one of our favorite clubs. For a while, it was just us; the roommates back together, drinking, laughing, and dancing our asses off.
Time sped by, when all I wanted was to slow down, enjoy what few hours were left of the night with my sister, and to hold on to her tight. Finally, we took a break from dancing and refreshed our drinks, finding a table to rest a bit.
“I am happy, you know?” Maisy started. “I have people who love me, and I’m about to take off on a boat to explore the world, and that makes me really excited. Then I’ll be back for Christmas for your wedding and look forward to that. But I think there’s one thing Dad missed in his equation.”
“What’d he miss?” I cocked my head.
“Loving someone special. I don’t have that, not yet. But you have it with Rex. You’re so lucky.” She slurred her words a little, pointing at me with her drink in hand. “I just don’t want to be lonely for the next year, and that’s my greatest fear. Not that the ship will break down or sink in the middle of the ocean. But the loneliness. That’s the one thing I don’t look forward to.”
“Maisy, there’ll be an entire crew to befriend. I’m sure you’ll be fine,” I started to say when, suddenly, three men I recognized surrounded us and stunned me. “Rex? Archer and Brooks? What are you all doing here?”
“Brooks!” A mostly drunk Maisy threw her arms around him and dragged him off to the dance floor before I could react and hold her back. Sophie took Archer away, too, leaving me with Rex, whose face looked guilty as sin.
“ You brought him? But why?” I groaned, and glared at him through slits. How could he do this to my sister? I had a horrible feeling the night could end badly.
Rex stopped me with his hands up. “Brooks just wanted to say goodbye to her, and not leave things the way they did, that’s all.”
“I should be furious at you for butting in like this.”
“Come on, don’t be like that.” He pulled me to him and I lodged perfectly between his chin and collarbone. “Maybe they’ll work something out for when she comes back.”
“But didn’t you have a wager going with your friends about them? I thought your bet was they wouldn’t stay together? In that case, why would you bring him here and potentially lose?”
“Sweet Chelsea. You have the biggest heart.” His chest vibrated with a chortle. “What can I say? You’re rubbing off on me. Now that I have the love of a good woman, I want all my friends to find the same. Is that such a crime?”
“I guess not,” I relented. At least his heart was in the right place, pinning two people together at the same time in the same place in the hopes they’d work out their differences before it was too late. Whatever came of it, I hoped Maisy would find her own happiness in her own time.