The Final Chapter
Kelissa pulled up to her father’s house, parking down the street and grumbling that his neighbors had taken up most of the parking with all their Thanksgiving guests. It wasn’t the first time they’d done it, but it was the first time they’d allowed their guests to park in his space. She didn’t recognize the cars as she squeezed past them, careful not to slip on the little bit of snow that was accumulating in little drifts as it floated silently from the sky.
The one car looked like a rental, so they must have had some out of town family come in for the occasion. She couldn’t really be mad about that, and she made a conscious effort to check her temper and let it go. It didn’t matter where they were parked, there was enough room for everyone, and Kelissa had a lot to be thankful for.
She’d received a notice from her bank the day before, offering to schedule an appointment to talk about financial planning. At first, she’d been confused, but then she realized that she hadn’t checked her bank account since she left California. Panicked, she thought that she’d overdrawn her account, even though she should have had plenty with the money she’d made modeling, the money David had paid her for the bonus and the month of October, even though she hadn’t completed the contract.
Was it possible that he had changed his mind and taken the money back out? Could he remove a deposit he’d made from his account? He couldn’t, right?
Hands shaking, she signed onto her account, grumbling at herself for not downloading the app since Instagram and all her photos took up so much memory. If she had the app, she would know what was going on instead of relying on the register she kept somewhat up to date in her checkbook.
To her surprise, there was much more in her account than she had thought, and David had made another deposit in addition to the ones promised. David had deposited fifty thousand dollars in addition to the twenty he’d paid for her escort services, and the five thousand she’d made modeling for the billboards. In total, she had a little over seventy-two thousand dollars in her account after her sponsors had paid her for her endorsements on her Instagram account, and her bills were paid up until April.
She was shocked when she saw her balance, and she immediately called David.
“Hi,” he’d said softly, answering on the first ring, his voice excited.
“What’s the money for?” she asked without greeting him in return.
“Breach of contract,” he said simply.
“I didn’t breach the contract and why would—”
“I did. Part of the contract stipulated that I would provide security and be responsible for your safety either by hiring a bodyguard or site security. I failed to do that.”
“I told you I didn’t want a bodyguard,” she argued.
“And I listened to you.”
“Funny,” she shot back, but that familiar flutter was inside her again.
She’d missed the sound of his voice more than she had realized. She’d tried to talk him into taking the money back, but he couldn’t be convinced, and she’d given up trying. He was a billionaire, so the money was a drop in the bucket to him, if that. But he knew that it was money she could use, and now that she had enough to manage her bills for the rest of the year and then some, she could afford to get new headshots and hire an agent without making much of a dent in the money. It also gave her a chance to get her career going without having to worry about money.
“Thank you,” she finally said.
“It’s the least I could do.”
“You have to stop beating yourself up over that.”
“Why?”
“Because I forgive you, and I know that it wasn’t your fault.”
“Are you sure you’re not mad?”
“I’m not.”
“Then why aren’t you here?”
She didn’t have an answer for him, at least, not one she was willing to share. Kelissa had always struggled to admit when she was wrong, and this was no different. She decided to change the subject.
“Are you doing anything special tomorrow?”
“I’m eating with family,” he said, his voice flat and irritated. “I know what you’re doing. Someday we’re going to have to talk about this. You can’t hide from your feelings forever.”
“I have to go.”
“Of course, you do. I hope that you’ll change your mind. It isn’t the same here without you.”
She sucked in a deep breath, wishing she’d had something better to say, but in the end, she had just said goodbye and wished him and his family a happy Thanksgiving. She wanted to kick herself.
Finally at the door to her father’s side of the duplex, she opened it and was greeted by the welcome scent of good food that filled the air. Her dad was an amazing cook, and Kelissa had been looking forward to this all week.
“We’re in the kitchen,” her father called out when he heard her.
“We?” she mumbled, then shrugged.
He’d probably invited someone from work who had nowhere else to go to come to dinner. It wouldn’t be the first time he’d done that, but he usually warned her first.
Smiling, she took her coat off and hung it up in the hall closet with her scarf and gloves. She went through the living room on the way to the kitchen, a soft, female voice floating through the open door that separated the two rooms.
Did her dad have a girlfriend?
Now she was excited, hoping that her dad had some news for her. It had been a long time since he had dated.
It’s about time, she thought.
When she crossed the threshold into the kitchen, she stopped in her tracks, staring at the woman sitting at the table. The other two guests had their backs to the door, but she knew who they were when she saw Marta.
“What’s going on?” she asked, shocked to see Bill, David and Marta at her kitchen table, the Thanksgiving feast laid out on the counter and just waiting for Kelissa to arrive.
“I invited them here,” Demetrius said. “Bill and I were talking, and we decided that you two need to talk. Face to face.”
David had turned around, and she could tell from his face that things had gone down just like her father said. Their parents were meddling; there was no other way to put it.
Kelissa looked at her dad, treating him to a glare that he hadn’t seen since she was a teenager.
“We’ll talk about this later,” she said, then smiled at Marta and Bill. “I appreciate you guys flying all the way out here for dinner. You didn’t have to.”
“We wanted to,” Marta said, standing and giving her a fierce hug.
The shorter woman hugged her so tight that Kelissa almost couldn’t breathe, and she started laughing, hugging the woman back.
“I’m glad to see you,” Kelissa admitted. “I’ve been thinking about you guys a lot lately. I’m sorry you had to give up your life because of what Roy did.”
Bill shook his head.
“It wasn’t all bad. We all go through things in life; the only thing that matters is how you deal with it.”
Bill hugged her then, holding her like her father had when she’d come home, broken hearted and licking her wounds. Tears threatened, but she bit them back and held her composure.
David was standing there behind Bill, waiting to see what she would do. Their eyes met, and she offered a weak smile, then motioned toward the door in the back of the kitchen.
“Can we talk for a minute?”
“Sure,” he said.
He followed her into her old room and she closed the door behind him.
“Was this your room?”
“It still is, even though I have my own place.”
“It looks like you.”
“What does that mean?” she laughed.
“I can see the experiences and memories that shaped who you are today.”
“Why are you here?” she asked, cutting to the chase.
“Because I love you,” he said. “Is that enough?”
“I told you I needed space.”
“You did. And I gave you space.”
“But you’re here now.”
He shook his head.
“You and I both know that what’s going on now isn’t about space.”
“You don’t know what I’m feeling.”
“I have an idea.”
“Then, what’s this about? Why don’t you tell me why I still think I need space, but you think it’s something else?”
He sat on the bed, and patted the place next to him.
“Sit with me, please. I’ve missed you so much it hurts.”
She wanted to argue, but she couldn’t. She wanted to be close to him, too, and the pain in his eyes was too much. He really had missed her, and her absence was tearing her up.
“I came here to talk, Kelissa. Because I’ve done everything I know to make this right, and I can’t. I want you home with me, and I’m willing to do whatever it takes to make that happen.”
He took her hand, bringing it to his lips and kissing her knuckles like he used to. Kelissa struggled to keep her walls up. She didn’t want to be vulnerable, but his touch brought back a flood of memories she couldn’t stop. His other arm went around her and he pulled her close, inhaling the scent of her when she finally allowed herself to melt into him.
“I’ve missed this,” he said. “I’ve missed seeing you in the morning and coming home to you in the afternoons. I’ve missed dinners, and untangling myself from you in the mornings. Kelissa, I love you. More than I’ve ever loved anyone in my life. Whatever you need me to do, I’ll do it. If I have to move to Iowa, I will. Just say the word and I’ll do it.
She laughed.
“I don’t want to stay here the rest of my life.”
“Where do you want to live? It can be anywhere. I’ll make it happen.”
“Why?”
“Because I can’t live without you. My life is empty without you.”
“I’ve missed you, too.”
“I’m glad to hear that. I was starting to think I was the only one who had fallen head over heels in love. I’m not used to being this way.”
“Neither am I.”
“What can I do to make it right?”
“I don’t know. I want to be with you, and I want to live in San Diego. I was really happy there.”
“What’s holding you back? Do you want a guard? Your own place?”
“No. It’s not that. David, being kidnapped made me realize I’ve been taking my father for granted. I don’t have forever with him, and I can’t stand leaving him behind again. That’s not the only reason, but that’s a big one.”
“Would he move?”
“No. He’s been at his company since we moved here. He has too much here to walk away.”
“You could visit him.”
“I know. I wish he’d come with me, but I know that no matter what, I have to live my own life.”
“Then where does that leave us?”
“Here. In this moment. David, I just don’t want to get hurt. I love you. I mean, really love you. I’m just scared.”
“What if we just take it one day at a time? You don’t have to make a commitment right away.”
“That’s worse. If we’re not committed, then you can walk away.”
“I wouldn’t do that. Kelissa, you’re everything to me.”
“But you could.”
“So, do you want to get married? We could elope if you want.”
She laughed.
“You’re always trying to fix things,” she said, bumping him playfully with her elbow. “I’m not quite ready for marriage, but I’m not saying no later on down the road. I just need to know that you feel like I do, and that we’re in this together. But most of all, I need to know that you trust me to take care of myself. I don’t want a man that treats me like I need to be coddled. I can handle myself. You need to believe in me.”
“With all we’ve been through, I would be a fool to doubt that you can take care of yourself. I made a mistake and I underestimated you. I won’t do that again.”
“I believe you.”
“So, what do we do about your dad?”
“I need to talk to him. I didn’t talk to him when I left the first time, and I really regret that. I want him to come with me, but if he won’t, I need to know that he’ll be alright without me here.”
“You can visit whenever you want.”
“And if my career takes off?”
“When your career takes off, you can fly him out to you. We can make this work.”
She nodded.
“No more excuses,” she said.
“It’s alright to feel how you feel. You’ve been through a lot and somehow, you forgave me. You’re not making excuses; you’re being smart and making sure that you have all the answers before you make a big decision.”
“I don’t know if I can live in that house again.”
“We’ll stay somewhere else and figure it out.”
“And I’m going to need to find a manager or an agent or something. Rich already emailed me to see if I dumped him, too, and he said he’s got some prospects for me.”
David threw his head back and laughed.
“Rich is something else.”
“He was worried if we broke up I wouldn’t work with him anymore.”
“That’s great,” David said. “I’m never going to let him live it down. I’ve thought about retiring from real estate and helping manage your career. But I wanted to ask you first.”
“You don’t have to quit for me.”
“But I don’t have to work anymore, and honestly, I’d rather spend my energy on you. I have what I need as long as I have you.”
“What about your company?”
“I hired a couple agents to keep the business going. There’s no use wasting those billboards. They’re paid for two years. I have one more big property to deal with, but I think I’m done after that.”
“Are you sure?”
“That your career is about to take off and I won’t ever see you otherwise? Yes, I’m sure. I want to be with you, and I want to make sure that no one messes with my woman. Agents are shady, and managers do too much skimming.”
“You’ve always got my back,” she said.
He winked.
“I’ve got your front, too.”
She laughed, then squealed when he pulled her into his arms and hugged her tight. When he tilted her chin up and kissed her tenderly, she leaned into him. This was where she belonged. She was sure of it.
“I love you, Kelissa,” he whispered. “I would move the heavens and earth to see you smile.”
“I never doubted that.” She looked at him, searching his eyes and preparing herself for his answer to her next question. “When is your flight home?”
“Tomorrow morning.”
“I don’t know if I can come with you tomorrow.”
“Take all the time you need. I’ll be waiting.”
“I just need to talk to my dad.”
“I think that’s the best thing to do.”
“Can you wait a week or two?”
“I’ll wait the rest of my life if I have to.”
“I love you, David.”
She kissed him, the tenderness gone as she deepened the kiss and opened her mouth to him. He returned her passion with his own, and when they pulled away, they were both breathing hard, hearts racing.
“Come on,” he said, holding his hand out to her. “I’ll wait forever for you, but my Thanksgiving isn’t going to wait for us. Everything else can wait until tomorrow. Right now, our family is together under one roof, and I don’t want to let that blessing go to waste.”
*
“Are you driving David to the airport in the morning?” Demetrius asked, washing and rinsing a dish and passing it to Kelissa to dry it.
They fell into an easy rhythm, just like they had when she was young. This sink had been the site of many heavy discussions through her teen years, and it only made sense to talk to her father about this right here.
“I’ll take him. His parents went back to the airport hotel, but he wanted to spend a little more time here.”
Demetrius nodded.
“I know that tone and that look,” he said, handing her another dish. “What’s on your mind? Where is David?”
“He’s in the shower. I told him that I needed to talk to you now that the house isn’t so full.”
“What do you need to talk about?”
“I don’t want to leave you,” she said softly. “I know I left before without really saying goodbye, but with everything that happened—”
“You know that every goodbye could be our last,” he finished for her.
“I didn’t think about my own life. I never imagined that something could happen to me and I wouldn’t get a chance to tell you goodbye and to make sure you know how grateful I am for everything you’ve done for me. You raised me by yourself and you’ve sacrificed everything.”
“Most twenty-somethings don’t. But this isn’t about me. Whatever you decide, you have got to live your life. You can’t put your dreams on hold for me.”
“I know that. I just don’t want you to be alone.”
“I have friends, you know. I’m not some lonely old man that needs your pity.”
His eyes were twinkling.
“I’m glad you find it amusing, but you know that’s not what I mean.”
“We can visit each other throughout the year. You can fly home, and I can visit out there. I haven’t had a vacation in forever, and San Diego sounds warm this time of year.”
“It’s always warm.”
“See? I’ll have a good excuse to treat myself to a vacation. And I’m always a phone call away, no matter where you are, and no matter what I’m doing.”
“I know that. And I know that I can always come home. I’ve never doubted that you’ll always be there for me. You’ve always been my rock, even when I didn’t know that I needed you.”
“Don’t let your worries about me stand in the way of your future. I didn’t work this hard building a life for you to second-guess yourself. Moving from Chicago and everything I knew was the hardest thing I ever did, but it was the right thing to do. If moving to San Diego is what you need to be happy, then that’s all you need to know. You’ll look back at this time, and you’ll know that you made the right decision. You have a good head on your shoulders, and you’ve thought this through. I have faith in you. You’ve got this.”
“I told David I wouldn’t be able leave for a week or two. I might even stay until after Christmas or the New Year. I just don’t want to leave in the middle of the holidays. It doesn’t feel right to leave you now.”
Demetrius dried his hands and rinsed the sink out, then he gave her a hard look, leaning against the counter with one hip, his face set.
“And then you’ll stay until my birthday. And then there’s Valentine’s Day, just in case I’m lonely. Then Easter, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Labor Day. And before you know it, you’ll still be here, always worrying about the next big day.”
He turned to face her, brushing his thumb across her cheek and staring into her eyes.
“Kelissa, you are everything I dreamed you’d be and more. Go and live your dream. I’ll be there when you need me, I promise. Don’t let that man leave here without you.”
“But they’re leaving tomorrow morning.”
“So, you don’t want to go?”
“I do.”
“Then go. It doesn’t matter when you leave, I’ll still miss you just the same. And I’ll still be as proud of you. You amaze me every day. Don’t let anyone stand in your way, especially not me. I’ll drive you two to the airport tomorrow.”
“Are you sure?”
“It’s not about whether I’m sure or not. I was sure you were meant to be with him when I picked you up at the airport. If it was about what I knew, you’d already be back in San Diego. But this is your life, and it’s about what you want. You only get one soulmate, and you only get to live one life. So, live it, and never apologize for being happy.”
“Thank you, Daddy.”
She threw her arms around him, hot tears spilling down her cheeks. His arms went around her, and he rubbed her back, just letting her cry and telling her how proud he was of her. And how proud her mother would be.
He was still standing there in the kitchen with her when David came out, freshly showered, a concerned look on his face.
“Everything alright?”
“It is,” Demetrius said. “I’ll be driving you two to the airport in the morning.” Demetrius put his hand out, and shook David’s hand. “I expect someday I’ll call you son.”
“I hope so,” David said, smiling at Kelissa.
“You’d be a fool to let her go,” Demetrius said.
“I was a fool. But I can promise you I won’t make that mistake again.”
“That’s good. You only get one second chance with me.”
The two men laughed, and Kelissa watched them, marveling at how natural they were with each other. She thought back to her father’s words the week before. Everything with David was so easy, and even though she knew that any relationship worth having required work, it wasn’t the same with David. Everything about their relationship was different, and the easy way he fit into her family solidified that for her. She loved this man, and there was no turning back now.
Her future was now, and it was with this man. Everything else would fall into place. As hard as it was going to be to leave her father and her home behind, she was going to be on that plane in the morning.