Page 98 of Beyond Expectations

“You must think I’m such an ass.”

“Of course not. You’re a man who’s just lost his father. So, is it so surprising that your head is all over the place? You’ve gone through a horrible couple of weeks, but maybe as time and grief settle, things may become clearer?”

“But what if I’m too late? What if anything I do or say won’t have influence?”

“If you genuinely love her and want to give your relationship a real shot, you must take that chance. Reach out to her. Lay all your cards on the table and ask her to do the same. As all things that are meant to be will be.”

My body began to vibrate. It was as if she gave me a new purpose or sense of direction. Suddenly, I felt wide awake. As if the past few weeks, I had been in some coma-like trance, and now I had been shocked back alive. I knew I needed to see her.

Grabbing my wallet from my pocket, I go to pay.

“You put your money away. Just promise me you will at least give it your all. We only have one life, so it’s imperative to make it the best we can.”

This time, it was my turn to hug her. She, indeed, was a remarkable woman.

Chapter 28

Rhett

Iwaved goodbye as I made my way to the car.

“Where to, sir?” Russell asked when I got in.

“First, I need you to drop me back at my apartment. I need to have a shower and change. While I’m there, can you please pick up a bouquet? I want it to consist of lilies, stephanotis, peonies, roses, and carnations. And make sure they are the best.”

“Yes, sir.” Russell had a smile on his face, too. Obviously, my mood affected those around me more than I realized.

We were stuck in midtown lunchtime traffic, but for once, I didn’t mind as it gave me a chance to think and plan what to say to Serena. Scrolling through my phone, I realized there was a voicemail I’d never listened to. Goosebumps prickled my skin as I heard her husky voice.

My breath stopped.

Why didn’t I notice this before?

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck!

She’d wanted to check on me and see how I was doing. She said there was something she wanted to tell me. It had been two days since she left the message. She must have presumed I’d listened to it and ignored her.

Frantically scrolling through my call list, I saw the call ended.

I must have rejected her call.

SHIT!

Was it already too late? No. I wouldn’t allow it.

“Russell, change of plans. Please take me to Ms. Parker’s office. And get there as fast as you can.”

As I was scrolling through my emails, my mind was working out what I could do to fix it, as I knew what I wanted. I knew I needed Serena. I loved her with every fiber of my being. I kept replaying my father’s words in his letter, which only solidified things for me. She was my future. I wanted to spend every day for the rest of my life showing just how much I loved her, her courage, determination, and passion. I wouldn’t allow anyone or anything to come between us ever again. The car stopped after we pulled up outside her office building. I realized I didn’t just want to talk to her, I couldn’t just dump this out. I needed to show her how much she meant to me. Prove that I was a man of my word and prayed to God and every other deity out there that she felt just as consumed as I did.

Grabbing my phone out of my jacket pocket again, I brought up my contact list and made the first of two calls I never imagined I would have to make.

***

As Russell pulled into the gate and drove down the drive to Mother’s house, a slight pang of guilt settled over me as I realized I hadn’t been back there since the wake. Although I had been checking in and seeing how she was doing, and I knew my sisters had been to see her, it was just another reminder of how much things had changed. I knew the conversation I was going to have wouldn’t be easy, but one that was absolutely needed.

“Mother. How are you?” I asked as I kissed her cheek and sat on the couch opposite her.

“I’m as good as can be. What are you doing here? Surely there are lots of things in need of your attention at the office?”

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