Chapter Fifty-four Jennifer
Chapter Fifty-four
Jennifer
I breathe in the fresh air mixed with Daniel’s scent as I hold onto him, taking in all the sights of Chicago.
The sun is just starting to go down, the sky showing a mixture of blue, pink and purple. I smile against his back, the feeling of freedom finally overcoming me.
All of this is over. And we feel it. The soft bantering before we left the mansion, the slow walk toward the garage, the way he helped me get onto his Harley without any worry in the world. It finally felt like peace.
When Daniel turns into a familiar street, I smile to myself.
We’ve been here before. Not too long ago.
It was the first time he made me ride on his Harley with him, and seriously?
Although I loved it back then as well, I love it even more now. Because tonight, we can truly enjoy the freedom which was just an illusion that day.
The vibrations of the Harley slowly fade into the background as I immediately get up, not wanting to wait until I get to see the beach again.
“You should hurry up,” I grin at him while he just shoots me a viciously smile. “No need to rush. We have all the time in the world to enjoy this.”
A silent “pfft” is all I can say before I finally take his hand into mine, not wasting any time as I walk towards the beach.
The next time we get here, I’m definitely making sure Mary comes with us. She hasn’t seen a beach yet, but I’m sure she’d love it.
I need to get her here.
Once both of us stop right in front of the water, the waves slowly crashing against the rocks, Daniel looks at me. “What are you thinking about, pretty?”
I smile. “We should come here again more often. And we should bring Mary. She’d love this.”
A subtle hum is all he gives me before he glides back into his thoughts as well, both of us amazed by all the lights reflecting in the water.
Last time we’ve been here, we were the only ones. Perhaps because it was almost in the middle of the night. But even with a few other people around, I don’t mind it.
It makes me feel good. Normal.
Like I can interact with other humans without needing to shred any thought toward all the shit that’s been happening.
“You like it here, don’t you?” Daniel asks me softly. He steps closer to me, his hand now resting on my lower back.
“I love it here,” I respond, “Thank you for bringing me here. Back then and today. I absolutely love it.”
When I turn my face, the only thing I can make out on his face is a smile.
That’s all. A carefree, soft, genuine smile. He’s so different from just a few hours ago.
He’s not on edge. He’s relaxed and calm. He’s living life in the moment, not anxiously thinking of all the things that could go wrong.
And I love it. It’s what we’ve both been craving all this time. What we’ve both needed.
“Is there any place you’ve been wanting to visit? Maybe a city, or a country?” He suddenly asks me.
I just laugh, trying to cover my confusion. “I’m sorry, that just came out of nowhere.”
To my luck, he just laughs with me. “I know, I’m sorry, pretty. But tell me, is there?”
I think about his question. Honestly? I don’t know. Ever since I’ve got Mary in my life, I didn’t waste any second of my life lying to myself, telling myself I could afford taking us on vacation.
But now, with Daniel? I know he would take me anywhere. I could tell him I’d like to go to China, and hell, he’d probably have a flight ready for us within hours. Maybe even minutes.
It's… An overwhelming thing to think about. I mean, don’t get me wrong. I love thinking about vacation places now that there actually is a chance for us to go. But there are so many possibilities, and not enough time.
Definitely not enough time.
“How about Miami?”
He laughs. Daniel fucking laughs about it.
I scoff, acting hurt when in reality, hearing him laugh is always the highlight of my day. “What’s so funny about that, hm?”
“I’m sorry, I just… Miami? You’re joking, right?”
“I am actually not, thank you very much.”
“Look, it’s just that… We are in Chicago right now. I could take you anywhere in the world. And you choose Miami?”
“So what? The beaches are nice.”
His eyebrow raises. “We got lots of nice beaches here.”
“Oh, come on. You said any place in the world!”
He laughs it off again. “Fine, fine. I’ll take it.”
“What about you?” I ask then, focusing on the way his brown eyes sparkle.
“Anywhere but Miami, pretty.”
I roll my eyes. Jesus, this man…
“Do you have personal beef with Miami now?”
“Wouldn’t say that. That city is just not special enough to go on vacation to, pretty.” He grins at me.
“You have no idea about Miami, clearly. Besides, I think Mary would like it, too. She barely gets to see any pretty places. She’d go crazy for Miami.”
“I love how you always think of her, pretty. I might consider Miami now.”
“She’s my daughter, Daniel. I need to think of her. Who else is gonna do it?”
“We should... Together.”
Can a man get even more sweeter? I think I might need some help here…
“We should” I nod, “She’d love that.”
His eyes wander down my neck towards my chest. And if I wouldn’t know better, I’d say he’s checking my tits out. But it’s not that.
He’s looking right at his mother’s necklace. The one Lilia gave to me.
"You know… I’m really sure my mom gave you the necklace because she believed we'd stay together, even if we didn't know each other for long. It's like... She knew we were meant to be. But I think there's something missing, my love.”
Daniel smiles at me before he grabs something from his jacket, but I have no clue what. Is there another heirloom? Did I miss something?
"Pretty. I seriously love this necklace around your neck. You look so... astonishing. But do you know what would go perfectly with that necklace? What would make you even more breathtaking?” He asks me, his eyes staring deep into mine.
Brown on blue. Like the beach we're at. Sand and water. Trees and the sky. Perfect in every way.
I still look at him confused before he finally grabs the thing from his jacket, slowly going down onto one knee in front of me.
... Holy fuck. Is this really happening?
Is it really what I think it is?
He looks up at me from below, his fingers slowly opening the case, showing off a silver ring sitting in a cushion.
Silver. Just like Lilia’s necklace.
… My necklace.
The necklace which made me a part of this family to begin with.
“Listen, pretty… I know the world has been against us ever since we’ve met. And yet, both of us always made it. And I just know we’re meant to be. You. And me.” When he releases his breath, he’s shaking.
He’s nervous? Daniel Caruso is nervous?
Over… This? Oh my god. I can’t cry.
I shouldn’t. But the hot, burning sensation behind my eyes is telling me otherwise.
Shit, shit, shit—
“I know, we haven’t known each other for long. It’s been, what, five months? But I’m worried that if I don’t make you my wife now, life will ruin my chance. You know how easily everything can change. And I don’t want to miss my chance to make you mine. So, please… Will you be my wife?”
I shake. Not from fear like earlier today. But from how unreal it feels.
“I promise I will always protect you and be a good husband to you if you say yes. And I promise you this as well; I will always be a good father for Mary. I asked her if she’d want me as her dad, and she agreed.
She knows about this, pretty. You don’t have to worry about her, she’s fine with us being a family. With me being her dad.”
The last sentence makes me sob. Not because I feel sad, but because he makes this moment so unbelievable beautiful, memorable.
All I know in this moment—
I love him. I will always love him.
And I will never regret saying,
“Yes.”
Instead from him getting up, I drop down onto my knees, jumping straight into his arms before he even has the chance to put the ring onto my actual finger.
But it’s not important, not right now. Materialistic things mean nothing compared to the feelings we have for each other.
To the things we’ve been through.
He falls back onto his back just as I land on top of him, both of us laughing when we hit the sand.
“Fuck… I love you so much, my pretty girl.”
I smile through my tears as I look at the gorgeous man below me. “I love you so much more, my handsome man.”
With a gentle touch, he slowly caresses my cheek, fisting my hair with his other hand before his lips wrap around mine, trapping me in a world in which it’s just us.
Our kiss lasts longer than both of us intend, always breaking off for a few seconds to get some air in our lungs, then being trapped alone in our world again.
I don’t know how long we lay there, kissing and holding each other, but I don’t care. All I know is the second we come home; we’re going to be a family.
Fuck the wedding. Fuck the vows. Fuck the wedding papers.
From today on, Daniel, Mary and I—we’re a real family. Nothing, and no one can change that.
He breathes my scent in, his forehead pressing against mine, completely unfazed by the tears slipping down my cheeks.
“I’ve been meaning to ask you for a while, I just… Everything. Everything was against us, and I—”
“I know, I know… Daniel?”
“Yes, my wifey?”
A subtle blush wraps around my cheek as I take in his words. How can a man like him be so violent, yet so gentle with his voice?
“Can we stay here just a little longer?”
“We can stay here all night if that’s what you want, pretty.”
I smile as I lean into his arms once more, the scent of his cologne lingering in my nose. He always smells so good.
“I love you, sweetheart…” I whisper.
“I love you the most, pretty,” he replies.
He does exactly what we should’ve done a week ago. He’s holding me. Kissing me.
Making me feel as if heaven isn’t a place to reach for after life ends, but as if there’s heaven on earth, hidden deep behind all the struggling and pain our society goes through.