Chapter 38 #2
I answer questions for another five minutes or so and call for the last question. An older lady at the back puts her hand up and steps through the crowd in a long, elegant gold dress, pushing a loose strand of greying hair from her eyes. Her jewellery glints from the light as she smiles at me.
“Are you willing to sell The Caged Girl? ” she asks, and my throat ceases to work, especially when I look behind her, and see a familiar set of hazel eyes .
Tears collect in mine as hushed murmurs and conversation takes route. The lady waits patiently, unwavering in her gaze on me but I can’t focus on her.
My dad stands behind her. He’s dressed nicely, his hair styled with gel like he used to do when I was younger, and his face is cleanly shaved.
He looks… good. He gives me a sad smile before it morphs into a genuine one, and I can see the few tears that glide down his weathered face as he gives me a nod.
It takes me a moment to realise tears are falling down my face as well, but then it dawns on me.
He’s telling me to let go of the little girl inside of me.
To sell the painting.
Swallowing, I keep my eyes on my dad but address the woman.
“I am.”
“Good. I shall call you tomorrow so we can discuss.”
With that, she glides through the crowd, brushing shoulders with my dad before disappearing.
I’m about to move from the podium, but I’m stilted when my dad shakes his head. He gives me one last smile and mouths three words I’ve died to hear my entire life.
I love you.
Tears pool at the corner of my eyes again, but I keep them at bay so I can thank everyone for coming, and only then will I allow them to fall freely.
But when Damon walks up the steps and towards me with a knowing and cheeky glint in his stormy hues, I know I’m not going to be able to keep the tears back much longer.
Especially when he gets on one knee and pulls a black box from behind his back.
A collective gasp and chatter start up around us as my hands fly to my mouth and I hiccup through a sob, as Damon opens the lid and presents the most beautiful oval amethyst and diamond ring.
It’s so gorgeous, it leaves me speechless and breathless, and I need to actively remind myself to suck in a lungful of oxygen.
“Dorothy May Willmott, my Goddess, my Blossom. I have loved you in one way or another for so many years, but it’s only recently that I’ve come to adore and love the woman you’ve become, finally seeing past the titles that almost separated us to appreciate what we have is a raw, unfiltered, mess but it’s ours.
Over these past few months, I have come to find my soulmate, my reason for breathing, and the love of my life within you.
I don’t have much to give you beside my love, admiration, support, loyalty, and forever after, but would you do this old man the honour of becoming my wife? ”
This man…
My eyes flicker quickly toward my dad to see him still smiling at me, and his face wet. He gives me a small nod and lets out a choked sob before calling out to me.
“I’m proud of you, bub. Now marry the old man before he expires.”
The crowd erupts in laughter, and then my dad chuckles before giving me one last smile and disappearing through the crowd. My heartbeat thumps loudly in my ears, my throat constricting tightly when I can no longer see him.
I don’t forgive him for the shit he’s done, and I don’t know if I ever will, but I can’t deny the simple fact that I still love him. He is my father after all, and although I am not indebted to him or was ever, I do wonder if mum’s death has awoken him from his pity party slumber.
Does he miss her as much as I do?
My eyes stay rooted to where he once stood, and I wonder if I’ll see him again.
Because that felt like a goodbye .
But he came here to tell me he loved me, and that he was proud of me, giving me his blessing so I turn my attention back to the love of my life.
Damon .
He’s still in the same position, unfazed, a smile on his too handsome face, and it’s then that I realise he knew my dad was here. Did he ask him for my hand in marriage like men used to do in the old days?
Damon smirks at me, and it solidifies my thoughts.
“Well, Blossom, you gonna leave me here on my knees all night, or put me out of my misery?”
I hiccup through a laugh and sob.
“Yes, I will marry you!”
The crowd starts hollering and Damon gets off his knee and grabs my left hand to slide the ring on my finger. It fits perfectly. My vision turns blurry from all the tears as I look up from the ring to my now fiancé.
Grabbing the side of my face, Damon brings me closer before his lips descend on mine. Tongues tangling, heat pools in my belly as I deepen the kiss, only to be thrown back into reality when the wolf whistles start.
Breaking away from the kiss with a choked laugh, I look away from Damon and out to the crowd to say my thanks, but I spot Arrie in the back corner in what looks like a heated argument with her mother.
She grips her by the arm and drags her out of the art gallery.
I stand there stunted for the umpteenth time for the night wondering what the hell is going on.
What in the actual fuck is she doing here?
I don’t have time to say anything, because Damon is dragging me off the stage and saying his thanks for me.
“What about my paintings?”
“Hargrove said we can pick them up tomorrow. ”
“You already asked him?”
“Of course,” Damon answers, walking me outside.
“Wait, Arrie is coming over.”
The closer she gets, the more I can see the strain and tension in her face. Something happened, but with that look on her face I know she isn’t willing to talk about it.
When she gets closer to the truck, I close the distance between us, and she wraps me in her arms.
“Congratulations, Wench.”
I start crying again and Arrie squeezes me tighter.
“You knew?”
“Of course I knew. We’ve been planning it.”
“Assholes.”
Arrie laughs but we don’t let go of each other.
“I hate you.”
“No, you don’t.”
“Not even a little bit.” I say through a sob. “Are you ok?”
Arrie stays quiet for a few seconds, before untangling herself from me and answering me.
“I’m not, but I will be.”
I give her a nod, because I know that’s all I’m getting tonight.
“Congrats, Dottie!” Adam calls out, sidling up to Arrie and cradling her under his arm. “Come on, baby, let’s get you home.”
Arrie smiles at him before focusing back on me.
“Congratulations again. I’m happy for you. Oh, and dad if you hurt her, I’m cutting your balls off!” Arrie yells out, and I hear Damon groan inside the car.
“Alright, now fuck off so I can get my fiancé home.”
“Ew, yuck. That’s my cue. I’ll call you tomorrow, ok?”
“Ok.”
We say our goodbyes and I watch them disappear before I get into the truck. Damon starts the engine and pulls away from the curb. Swallowing, I glance down at the ring and smile before turning to focus on Damon.
“I love you.”
“I love you more, and I’m going to show you just how much as soon as we get home.”
Well damn!