CHAPTER SEVEN
Zek
Three days later…
Our time at the lake was needed and well deserved. It settled me back down to believing that I could do anything, and that the last few years were part of the past, not a foreshadowing of the future. I dropped Alisa off at her brother’s so that she could start working to gather up all of her stuff. She would be moving in with me over the next few days, and the reality of that left my heart on fire. Things were moving forward in all areas of my life again, and I wanted to keep the progression in motion.
Mark and I were meeting for lunch at a little deli he loved and I hated just outside of the mall near the middle of downtown. I parked the Lexus in a secured lot and walked through the city streets as people in business suits moved by me at a million miles an hour. The humor of me being someone much like them only a few years ago wasn’t lost on me. I’d always been a success junkie, looking for my next high and not giving up or giving in until I found it.
My biggest mistake was quickly turning into a blessing in disguise. I wouldn’t have Alisa beside me, nor the new outlook I was gaining on life. There was far more to living than slaving away in my office every day. Success was a fun mistress because she gave back to those who worked her hard, but she was demanding and addictive.
My thoughts moved to Jon Mills and to Ronnie Dellup. Both great men who I’d come to know over my years at Kellington, but now each of them were meeting their ends, much like I had. A thought swirled inside of me, but I let it go. The need to help men like myself see the error in their thinking before it was too late ran across me for the tenth time that day.
I didn’t need to start speaking publicly about my story and how I’d taken the wrong path. I could do that in the future, but for now, I wanted to stay focused on me and Alisa. She was my priority and I wouldn’t let anything shift my focus from her.
“There you are. I got you a roast beef with cheddar. You’re welcome.” My older brother yelled half way across the sandwich shop, and while I should have been embarrassed, I was far too used to him and his antics.
I sat down in the seat in front of him and snagged a chip from his plate. “Thanks. I love roast beef.”
“No shit, and stay off my chips. You got a whole plate of your own. Jeez.” He lifted his drink to his lips and gave me a look. “Did you guys stay at the lake for the rest of the week? I haven’t heard a word from you.”
“Yeah. I took Alisa hiking and fishing. She’s a natural, but I’m not surprised. The woman can run circles around just about anyone.” I picked up my sandwich and took a deep bite of it.
“Maybe around you, but there’s not a woman in the world who can take me down.” He rolled his shoulders and snorted before choking on something.
“Right,” I mumbled and sat back in my chair as I wiped my mouth. “I’m going to look at rings after this. You wanna come?”
“Oh really? It’s about fucking time. Lizzy told me to talk shit to you today until I badgered you into getting a ring.” He laughed.
“No need. I realize what I have, and I’m not losing her. I gotta call her old man this afternoon, though I would rather do it in person. I really need to get this thing moving forward. I just feel like it’s the next step in everything. Once we’re engaged, I’ll start focusing on where I want my career to go and all that jazz.”
Someone tapped the window next to me, and I turned to see a handful of press agents standing outside of the restaurant, most of them snapping pictures of me and Mark.
“What the hell?” Mark got up, and I started to stop him, but there was no reason to. He was a big guy, and could be quite scary when he put his mind to it. The press was waiting for me to blow up and give them another story to work up, but if my brother acted like an ass instead of me, no one would care.
I took another bite of my sandwich and gave the guy closest to the window a shrug as Mark walked into the middle of them, yelling and throwing a fit. I chuckled softly and grabbed a few more chips from his plate. He needed an emotional release, and I was glad to let him take one of my turns. I was beyond tired of them.
He dropped back down in the seat across from me a minute later and let out a long sigh as his eyes moved along the table in front of us. “You fucking stole some of my chips, didn’t you?”
I shook my head. “Nope. You’re being paranoid. It’s the reporters. They’ll make you feel like everyone is out to get you. I’m your brother. I didn’t steal your chips.”
He grabbed a few of mine as I swatted at him. “You’re a damn liar. I went out there to save you and you eat my food? What kind of thanks is that?”
“Thanks.” I winked at him.
“For dealing with the press?”
“No, for sharing your chips. They were delicious.” I laughed and moved back as he reached for me. We were far too old to be causing a scene in the middle of the sandwich shop, but life was too short not to live it.
***
“Which one?” I picked up two rings that I thought might look good on Alisa’s hand and held them out toward Mark.
“Neither. Those are big and gaudy. This isn’t about showing her that you’re still wealthy and can buy her the world. The wedding ring is supposed to whisper the truth that you know her... really know her heart.” He shrugged.
I was at a loss for words for a minute. Where was my shallow brother?
“Wow. That was deep.”
“Yeah. It was on a commercial this morning.” He chuckled and pointed to a much smaller ring with a spray of tiny diamonds encircling a larger one. “That looks like Alisa to me. She’s beautiful and sweet, but the complexity of her personality is vast. I think that ring speaks to that. Honestly.”
I picked it up and smiled before handing it to the saleswoman keeping an eagle eye over the expensive rings. “You’re right. How did you get away with being so sensitive and me not knowing it?”
“I didn’t want to be bullied by you, you brute.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “Come on. I’m ready to get out of here. I’m starting to feel like I need to buy Lizzy something.”
“You should.” I put the ring on the counter and smiled at the lady standing behind the register. “I need a size five. Can you check to see if you have one?”
“I sure can.” She smiled at me before looking over to Mark. “Did you need something checked too, sir?”
“Yeah, my sanity.” He chuckled and turned his attention back to me. “I’ll get Lizzy something once everything settles down. She’s interested in moving forward with her idea of a private firm with Alisa, but I know you guys have a ton going on right now.”
“We’ll always have a ton going on. You guys will too. That’s life.” I turned back as the woman approached and paid her. After tucking the ring into my pants pocket, I walked out into the main part of the mall to find Mark on the phone. The smile on his face told me that he must be on the phone with Lizzy. No one else had the power to affect my brother so much.
I pulled my phone from my pocket and found a comfortable place to sit before calling Alisa’s dad. Her mother answered on the second ring, her voice bringing back innumerable memories of me and Clark getting into trouble.
“Hello?”
“Hi, Mrs. Beeler. This is Zek Kellington. I’m not sure you remember me, but—”
“Are you kidding me? How could we not remember you? You half grew up over here, silly boy.” She chuckled as a smile lifted my lips. “How are you? Alisa tells us that the two of you started dating and that you’re a free man now.”
I cringed at her words, but simply went with the conversation. “That’s right. Thanks to Alisa’s hard work in defending me.”
“Well, we’re quite proud of our girl.” Her mother’s tone changed a little. “Speaking of... is she okay? You’re not calling because—”
I cut her off. “No, ma’am. I mean yes. I mean... she’s fine.”
“You seem nervous. This is almost comical.” Alisa’s mother chuckled again. “What’s going on, Zek?”
“I need to come visit you guys, but I thought maybe I could just call first. I bought a ring today, and I was hoping that you and Mr. Beeler would let me ask for Alisa’s hand in marriage. I’ve loved her since we were kids.”
“I knew it!” Her mother’s excitement left my insides warming. “Honey. Get in here. Zek is on the phone and he wants to ask us if he can ask Alisa to marry him.”
I glanced up as Mark walked toward me and mouthed, ‘who is that?’
“Alisa’s parents.” I covered the phone to respond.
“Hey, boy. It’s been a long damn time. What gives?” Her father’s voice filled up the phone and it was my turn to laugh. Clark and I had gotten into more trouble with his old man than anyone knew, including his pretty wife.
“I’m outside the jewelry store, and I’m hoping you aren’t going to make me go back in there and return this pretty ring I just bought for Alisa.” I held my breath, hoping that I had the right to joke with him after all these years.
“Well, hell no. She’s just like her momma and would likely come after all of us if we took that opportunity away from her. She’s been in love with you for far too long for us to stop it. Not that we would.” He cleared his throat. “People make mistakes, boy. We all know that. Just don’t make them again. Once you get married, it ain’t just you. You got a woman to think about, and a family too after a while.”
“Give me that phone. Zek is a grown-ass man.” Alisa’s mom came back on the line. “We’re happy for you, baby. Make sure you guys come visit us soon and show the ring off. We’ll want to tell everyone about it, and you’re getting married in our home church, so don’t get any fancy ideas about running off or having some big unnecessary wedding in a hotel downtown. It isn’t happening.”
“Yes, ma’am. I’ll have her call you the minute she says yes. I hope she says yes.” I chuckled as Mark gave me an incredulous look.
“She will, Zek. Just make sure you’re willing to take care of her. She means the world to all of us.” Her mother’s voice softened and I could tell that she was close to tears.
“I will. She’ll be my first priority from here on out. I’ll be in touch, and thank you.” I hung up after we said our goodbyes and let out a long sigh. “They’re good with it. That part is done.”
“Now, tell me how you’re going to do it. Where are you going to propose?” Mark nodded toward the exit and moved that way as I joined him.
“I want something simple. Intimate.”
“A restaurant? A private balcony? Are you thinking of renting out a penthouse?” He opened the door and moved out into the late afternoon warmth.
“No. I think that’s the kind of guy I was back then, but I’m thinking on the back patio at the house. I want to put up some lights and make it special. You got a few hours you can lend me?” I pulled my keys out of my pocket as we walked to the car.
“You bet. I’m not supposed to be home until five or six. Lizzy has been a bit of a wreck lately from everything going on at Dellup, but I know she’s ready to work with Alisa on filing a suit against the firm. We have our finances in order for her to take off a few months. Today she’ll be putting in her notice. I need to be home when she gets there in case she needs me.”
“Alright. This shouldn’t take long.” I got in the car and pulled out my phone, texting Alisa to meet me at the house at six, but not a minute before. I wanted her to know that I had a surprise for her, but didn’t say much more than that.
She called immediately, but I let it go to voice mail as I turned the car out of the busy parking lot and headed for the house. Tonight was the night I would hit my knee for the only woman I could truly see myself spending forever with.
Now I only had to hope like hell that she felt the same for me as I felt for her. The truth of the matter couldn’t be denied though. Any woman willing to put up with the shit my life had slung at us for the last few years was completely committed and beyond willing to love me for the rest of my days.
I was glad it was her, though it always had been.