Chapter 13 The Calvary Has Arrived… and Her Name Is Josephine James #3
He calls me an asshole, then goes straight to sleep, leaving me to lay awake worrying about the future.
Everything I said is true. Henry is going to feel the loss of his fun uncle, and I’m going to miss my brother like hell.
I’m going to be alone to figure out parenting without anyone to talk to about the little decisions and the big ones, the highs and the lows.
I’m twice as likely to screw it all up because Dominic is the voice of reason, the calm in the storm, the guy who reminds me not to overreact to every little imaginary thing coming.
And that includes all the things I’m scared will happen to my brother.
He may think he’s ready for Broadway, but it’s a far cry from a resort show on a tiny island to Manhattan with the biggest stars and the highest competition for parts in the world.
This whole marriage could come back to bite him in the ass big time.
I hope it won’t, but it might. And that’s the last thing I want for someone as good-hearted as my brother.
Vivian’s Blissful Living - Episode #764 - Guess Who Got Engaged?!
The video starts with Andrea Bocelli’s “Time to Say Goodbye” playing while the camera pans over a beautiful jungle, then zooms in on Dominic and Vivian holding hands while they walk along a boardwalk path to a restaurant in the distance.
Dominic is dressed in jeans and a light pink button-down shirt, and Vivian is wearing a flowy off-the-shoulder bright pink dress.
They’re laughing and smiling at each other, and he lifts her hand to his lips and plants a kiss on her knuckles.
A young man in a tuxedo seats them at a table overlooking a fast-flowing river, and offers them a bottle of champagne.
He pours two glasses, then disappears while the happy couple clink their flutes together, sip their drinks, and lean in for a lingering kiss.
The music fades, and Vivian smiles. “This is the perfect place to celebrate our first six months together.”
Dominic reaches up and tucks a lock of hair behind her ear. “I can’t believe it’s been such a short time. I feel like I’ve known you my whole life.”
Vivian smiles up at him. “I feel exactly the same way.”
“You’re my best friend.”
“You’re my best friend, too,” she says.
“We’ve got a lot to celebrate, so let’s choose our meals, then revel in the splendor that is the Santa Valentina Park Reserve while we watch the sunset over the river.”
“I’m so glad you brought me here. It’s nothing short of magical.”
“Not as magical as you, my darling girl,” Dominic says, running his fingertips along Vivian’s upper arm.
The music starts up again while they peruse the menus and sit talking.
The scene cuts and skips forward to them eating their dinners and laughing.
After their plates have been cleared, the music stops again and Dominic takes Vivian’s hands in his.
“I am so very lucky we found each other that evening at the burger bar. The moment I saw you, I knew this could really be something. And after all this time together, we’ve shown that we have what it takes to have a perfect partnership. ”
“Oh, Dominic, you’re so sweet.”
“I know,” he says, with a little wink. “And I have a very important question to ask you.”
Standing, he then gets down on one knee, the night sky behind him, the sound of the water rushing by.
“Vivian Katherine Whitlock, you’re my best friend, my partner in crime, and the only woman I would ever want to marry.
I don’t have a ring, but tonight, on this special night, in this special place, I feel like I can’t wait any longer. I have to ask you. Will you marry me?”
Vivian squeals and nods. “Yes! Yes, I will marry you, Dominic Jeremiah James!”
She leaps into his arms, causing them both to almost lose their balance, then they hug and kiss.
The music starts up again, and they stand, hugging some more, then slow dancing together under the moonlight, her resting her cheek on his shoulder.
When the song ends, they pull away from each other, and he says, “I’m going to want to get married right away. Is that okay with you?”
“Of course! I can’t wait!”
“Good, because next week, I’m going to whisk you off to New York to pick out a ring and a dress.
Then we’ll come back here for the wedding of a lifetime,” Dominic says in a dramatic tone.
“And I promise you, Vivian, I’ll be the best husband any woman has ever had.
I’ll hold your purse for you when you’re shopping, and watch Pride and Prejudice with you whenever you want, and I’ll even slow down the video on the part when Colin Firth comes out of the water in the wet shirt. ”
“You will?”
“I will. And I’ll love every second of it.”
More kissing and hugging. More music, and then the video fades out and the music ends.
I sit at the workbench in my shop, fuming as I watch the entire video.
It’s late in the evening and I should be working on the pirate ship, but instead I’m yelling at my phone screen.
“Oh my God, of course he’s going to slow the video down.
He’s in love with Mr. Darcy!” I scan the comments, and it seems like all of Vivian’s followers are eating this shit up.
GinaFey25 writes: I am praying to the gods to send me a man like Dominic. He’s perfect. Gah! I can’t even take it.
“He’s full of shit is what he is, GinaFey25,” I mutter. He’s basically making a mockery of the whole thing, only no one else can see it.
I find myself seething with anger. And I know what you’re thinking, but it’s not because I’m filled with envy at seeing my brother kiss and touch a woman that I feel a mild attraction to, because I swear that’s not it.
It’s solely because they’re a couple of liars.
Big, dumb liars who shouldn’t get away with scamming everyone like this.
And I also know I told Dominic I was sorry (which I am), and I’d stay out of his business from now on (which I will), but still, I can feel what I’m going to feel.
That’s fine. Like Lacey said: It’s okay to not be okay. And I am not okay.
On a sidenote, I haven’t had a chance to apologize to Vivian for calling her a homewrecker.
She’s been avoiding me like I’m a meddling tech billionaire these last couple of days, making sure we don’t have even a second alone together.
My mum isn’t exactly making it easier for me to find a moment alone with her either.
She’s been hogging her and whisking her off for ‘girl time’ every chance she gets.
I thought for sure I’d catch her yesterday since it was Saturday so I didn’t have to work, but they went out for manis and pedis (and a liquid lunch).
By the time they got back, they were belting out Miley Cyrus songs until they both ‘took naps’ on the deck in the lounge chairs.
And yesterday, she and Dominic were off filming this stupid engagement video, then she went straight to the resort to help edit it, and I was asleep by the time she got home.
And today is Monday, so it was back to the grind.
At least it was until I heard that damn ping on my phone and saw that the big engagement video was up. Yuck. Garbage. Absolute garbage.
That’s it. I’m going to bed. I want to fall asleep before Dominic gets home from work and starts snoring.
Oh, Ben, what has your life become?