Chapter 9
9
T illy peeked open her eyes, the morning sunlight shining through the window. She blinked a few times, gaining focus.
“What time is it?” she asked.
No response.
She’d never been one to sleep in, and she hadn’t known Rex to either.
Stretching, she rolled over, reaching out for him and got nothing but an empty bed.
She bolted upright, clutching the covers over her bare chest.
“Rex?” she called.
Looking around the room, she noticed his clothes had been picked up.
Her heart sank. He’d snuck out.
She’d woken up alone.
Again.
That shouldn’t be an issue. He must have gotten up and decided to let her sleep. That would be the normal thing to do, not to think he’d taken off in the middle of the night.
Quickly, she got dressed in a pair of cotton shorts and a tank top. Deciding to check to see if he was in his room, she knocked on the door from inside the bathroom.
Silence.
She pushed open the door with a shaky hand and a pounding heart.
The bed was perfectly made, which she expected since he’d slept with her last night. She walked around the room and realized his suitcase was gone.
She sucked in her lower lip. A combination of rage and sorrow flowed through her body.
How could he just up and leave not just her, but his mother?
She raced through the house, making her way downstairs and into the kitchen where Gerry and Judy sat at the table, hovering over a couple mugs of coffee.
“Where’s Rex?”
“He left a note saying he had to go to Florida to take care of something,” Gerry said, glancing over his shoulder.
“When is he coming back?”
“The note said he’d be in touch,” Judy said as she stood. “Can I make you some breakfast?”
She shook her head. “Be in touch? What does that mean? Does Louisa know?”
“Yes. He visited with her briefly this morning.” Judy laced her fingers over Tilly’s biceps. “She’s not doing well. The doctor just left, and he said her kidneys aren’t functioning. He believes she’ll slip into a coma soon.”
“And Rex left after hearing that? Unbelievable. What an asshole.”
Judy jerked her hand back. “He’s coming back.”
“Right,” Tilly said in a huff. He’d left once before without every looking back. He could easily do it again. “Where is the note?”
“I tossed it,” Gerry said with a questioning tone. “Honey, what’s going on?”
“Nothing.”
Only everything.
A tear rolled down her cheek.
“Something has your feathers in a tailspin.” Gerry pulled out a chair. “Sit down and tell us what happened.”
She sucked in a deep breath and leaned against the counter, wiping her face. This was not something she could do sitting down.
“I don’t think I should be here when he comes back.”
“Why do you say that?” Gerry asked. “Did you get into a fight?”
No. We made love. I told him I loved him, but he doesn’t love me, so he bolted.
“Not a fight so much, but I don’t belong here with him right now. I’m sure he sent me a text message or something asking me to leave before he gets back.”
“I don’t think my son would do that,” Gerry said defensively.
She wanted to lay into him about how no one knew Rex anymore and remind him of the pain Rex had left in his wake twelve years ago. “He needs time to be with you and his mom. He doesn’t need me.”
“What about Louisa?” Judy asked with a furrowed brow. “She would be so sad if you left.”
“I’ll be back to visit, but I’m going to move back into my apartment.”
The room filled with a deafening silence. When Rex had left the last time, he’d given her an ultimatum. He told her if she didn’t go with him, he would never return for her, ever.
He left the next day.
Maybe he’d be back for his mom, but if he wanted her here, he would have woken her up and told her, left a note, or at worst, sent her a text.
“I’m going to go visit with Louisa, and then I’m going to pack my things.” She straightened her spine and sucked in her pride.
Maybe getting over him would be easier the second time.
Rex tossed his suitcase in the back of Arthur’s Jeep. “Thanks for picking me up.”
“No problem. Nice jet.”
“I prefer flying coach.”
“I doubt that.” Arthur pulled out of the airport, heading toward the marina. “How’s your mom?”
“Not well at all.”
“So, why are you here instead of being with her?”
“I need to get the ring,” he said, tripping on the last word. He’d woken up around three in the morning with Tilly in his arms, her hair pooled over his chest, the golden locks glistening in the moonlight. His heart had been beating out of control, and all he could think about was spending the rest of his life trying to make up for the past and giving her everything she wanted and needed.
“What ring?”
“My mother’s ring.” Rex rubbed his shaky hand over his thigh.
“I’m sorry, I don’t follow.”
Rex stared out the window at the Intracoastal Waterway. He’d give up his boat and the Aegis Network be with Tilly. He could be a firefighter anywhere, and he wanted to be where she was. “My mother, in an attempt to get me to come home years ago, sent me her engagement ring and told me how crushed Tilly had been when I left.”
“So, your mom wants the ring?”
“No. It’s not for my mom. It’s for Tilly.” The bubble of fear he’d been feeling blossomed into a blooming flower.
“Why? Does your mom want her to have it?”
“For a married man, you’re really fucking clueless.”
Arthur turned into the marina parking lot, glancing in his direction.
He smiled. “I’m going to ask Tilly to marry me.”
Arthur let up on the clutch while still in gear, lurching the car forward. “Well, why are you sitting here? Get your ass in gear, and I’ll drive you back to the airport.”
Rex didn’t waste any time, snagging his suitcase and racing down the dock like a lunatic. He didn’t know when he’d come back, so he needed to pack more clothes. He’d been given time off for as long as he needed. Tears welled in his eyes. His mother wouldn’t last long. Maybe a week, but hopefully she’d get to see her ring on Tilly’s finger.
Once on the boat, he went straight to the safe. The hole in his heart slowly mended, but a prickle of fear that she'd say no troubled him deeply. He also had to make it clear that this wasn’t for his mother, and even though he was rushing it, he knew without a doubt that he loved Tilly and wanted to spend the rest of his life with her.
There was no other woman for him. He’d tried relationships in the past, but they weren’t Tilly.
He pulled out the pouch. He didn’t even want to look at it until he could ask Tilly. He stuffed it in his front pocket. As quickly as he could, he packed his larger suitcase and made a beeline to Arthur’s car.
The entire ride to the airport, and subsequent flight, his heart fluttered, and his palms grew sweaty. His mind fast-forwarded to what he thought a life with her would be like.
When the limo pulled into the driveway of his mother’s house, the gravity of what he was about to do sucker punched his ability to move. He sat in the back of the car feeling slightly nauseous, and a crushing pain slammed into his chest. For the last ten hours, he’d focused on the future and hadn’t given a single thought as to how he would propose.
“I need to go to a florist right away,” he told the driver.