Chapter Seven
Sebastian
The end of the summer is here. Adelaide’s promised to stay and not return to school out of state. My love for her has only deepened stronger, by living and loving her for these past three months. I wouldn’t have let her go. I can’t live without her. Although, I have her undying love, there’s a blessing I need before I can truly make her mine.
Parking in the lot outside the restaurant I’m brought back to the last time Phil and I met for a drink at this location. It’s almost a year to the day that he asked me to watch over and serve as Adelaide’s guardian. The inevitable hasn’t happened, but Phil is much closer than he was a year ago.
Just like last time, Phil’s arrived first and is waiting for me in a booth. This time with a scotch on the rocks in his hand.
“Live it up pal,” I say, slapping him on the back, making him jerk to catch the drink at his lips.
“Sebastian. You made it.” He pushes to get up. I hold him in place with a hand on his shoulder.
“Stay still.” I turn and wave down the waitress with a finger, then sit across from him. “No more club soda?”
“Hell, what does it matter now. The doc’s latest guess gives me months.” He downs a good long swallow.
My drink is set down. “Cheers.” A raise my glass to clink with his. “Here’s to bad guesses. May they be off by years.” We share a drink and set the glasses down. The tone turns solemn fast. I look at my feeble friend and know my toast won’t come true. He’s living on borrowed time. Which makes my purpose for the lunch date that much more important.
“Anything can happen. How’s Addie?” He pats the table, nervously. “Has she settled alright? If you ever want to send her back. You can’t,” he chuckles. “She’s yours.”
“That’s why I’m here, Phil. I can’t imagine a day passing without her. She’s my joy. My everything. And you, my friend. It means so much to me that I can be here for the both of you.”
I want to say so much more. I want to tell him how perfect every inch of her is. How seeing her in the morning gives me the strength to breath. That the air feels stale without her and that I think of her constantly. All the love I have for Addie, as her dad, I know he shares it too.
The man sitting across from me, raised my lover from a baby. He gave her the childhood that shaped the woman she is today. Stood by her when she lost her mother, and stays strong, facing his own fate. I’ll stand by her when she looses him. I don’t have to tell him all this. He knows I love her. He sees my intention is to be by her side forever.
“Phil, I have a question to ask Adelaide, but I need your permission first. Do you grant it?”
Damn you, Sebastian. Why did you have to wear a suit? Later that evening, I’m back standing outside the restaurant door, pacing, waiting, and sweating. Even though the height of summer has passed, the air is still full of humidity. My nervous energy is heating me up, not cooling me off.
I wipe my brow, using the reflection of the glass window as a mirror. In it I see Adelaide pull up and park. She gets out of her vehicle. A vision so perfect I can’t believe my eyes. She hasn’t seen me yet. I take a moment to watch her compose herself. She has no idea I’m committing her every move to memory. If I try hard enough, I’ll never forget a second of this night.
“Hey stranger. Have you been waiting long?” she asks, tapping on my shoulder.
I turn, take her by the waist, feel the blood rush through my veins to pump my heart faster as I hold her close to me. “You’re worth any wait, my dear. Shall we?”
Letting go with one hand, I loosen my hold for a moment to open the door for her. I don’t tear completely away. After tonight, if the answer is the right one, I’ll never let her go. Until her answer is made, I’m keeping my hand securely on her body.
“We have a reservation for two under the name Banuellos,” I say to the hostess. Adelaide snuggles under my arm, shaking off a chill from the air conditioned building. I caress her side, sliding up and down the linen yellow dress she’s chosen for the evening. A perfect color. The same she wore the first day we kissed. I imagined after our lips locked for the first time that this day would come. The day I’d propose to my love.
At the table, I can’t force myself to sit across from her. I can’t pretend I’m not planning anything. I seat myself adjacent to her, my hand caressing her thigh. She holds my heart and I fear losing it.
She’s unaware that her dad’s sitting with his back to us at a nearby table or that the staff knows my intentions. I’m supposed to wait until after our order is taken to give the signal, but I can’t hold out. I nod and champagne is brought to the table instead of water glasses.
“Sebastian?” Her mouth gapes open and she covers it with her hand. Her cheeks flush red, she’s a surprised, radiant beauty.
“Adelaide.” I slip off the chair and lower down on one knee. I take her hand in mine. Lock eye contact with my love. Four little words ready to fall off my tongue and yet I’m speechless. Taken aback by her beauty. In that moment, I’m overpowered to speak. I wobble in place, looking up at her. Courage returns and I compose myself.
“Will you marry me?”
Seconds pass with an excruciating wait between them. Her eyes light up brighter than the sun and moon and stars together. She grins with delight and I mirror her joy. “Yes. A thousand times yes.”
We both jump to our feet. I take her in my arms, squeeze her tight, and plunge a devouring kiss on her lips. “You made me the happiest man on earth, Adelaide Cantrell,” I say, pulling back to just hold her hands in mine. “I promise to make you the happiest wife in the universe.”
“Damn, fine job,” her dad says from behind us. With the help of a waiter, he stands. “Jumped the gun a bit, friend. Glad you did.”
“Daddy.” She leaves my side to hug him. He’s the only man worthy of sharing this moment with. “Did you know he was planning this?”
“He asked for my blessing.” Phil turns Adelaide back to me. He offers and places her hand in mine. A symbolic gesture. One he’s waited to give. Glad he’s giving it to me. “There’s no other man I’d rather walk you down the aisle to be with.”
“Thank you,” I shake his hand, holding his elbow to steady him. “I intend to make your daughter one happy woman for the rest of her life, like you did her mother, Diann.”
Congratulations are passed around the room. Love is in the air. The crowd only wants to stare and watch true love play out. I only want to take my lover home and ravish her body. Make her physically, mentally, sexually mine all night long. Then spoil her and shower her with my love all through until morning. I never want this high of living life with Addie to go away.
Adelaide possesses my being. I’ve given it to her to have and to hold from this day forward. As long as we both shall live. And I plan on living a long time to cherish every day sleeping next to and waking up with Mrs. Adelaide Banuellos, my wife.