Page 55 of The Write Knight

???

Elizabeth

Once cleaned up, we go back to our seats at the front of the jet. The ice in my drink is completely melted, and you can see the different layers of liquid in the glass. Miles sees me eyeing my glass and asks the attendant to get us fresh drinks. Somehow,he always knows what I need. He knew I was nervous about flying, so he took me to bed and had his way with me. Two orgasms later, I have no qualms about flying. Honestly, I’ve never felt so exhilarated in my life. He brings me out of my comfort zone, but then replaces it with solace.

"Lizzie, there is something I’ve wanted to tell you about my father before he died. I have been holding it close to my heart because I was too proud to admit I did something wrong, but I’m ready to talk about it with you." Miles takes my hand in his and squeezes.

"The day before my father passed away, I called him while he was home with my mother. He had taken a half day off from work, and I was aggravated because there were things that needed to be done at the office. He argued that the work would still be there tomorrow. But I continued to berate him for being needed. I wanted him to keep teaching me everything he knew, for when he retired. I thought I had to be prepared for any and everything. My father argued that work was not what life was all about." He takes a deep breath and continues, "I yelled at him for spending time with my mother because he would get to go home to her that night, seeing her then. He got so upset with me that he ended the call, and I never called him back. It resulted in me staying at the office until midnight that night, trying but failing, to get everything done." He sighs, taking a sip of his whiskey. "Those awful words were the last things I ever said to my father. He passed away the next day from a massive heart attack. And I’ve been punishing myself ever since, by almost working myself to death."

"The thing is, when I remember my childhood, my father never worked crazy hours. He was always at all my brother and my basketball games. He was there for all the holidays and birthdays. He wasn't just there physically; he was there with us in those moments mentally. I don't know where I got so lost along the way, that I felt the need to be the best. I worked hard and for long hours to make that happen. I want to be like my father with you, Lizzie. I don't want to get so enveloped in my work that I neglect you or the family we create one day." He sighs, looking out the plane window.

"I am telling you this for two reasons. The first beingI want you to hold me accountable for my work. If I get to where I am overworking myself, I want you to be there to pull me back. I know that you will be the only one to do it because you’re already having that effect on me. I didn't think twice about staying home for a week to care for you, and I didn't bat an eye when I gave the whole office a week off. I want them to be happy as well. The only way my employees can work their best is to not work them to the bone. The second reason I wanted to tell you this is because I don't want you to regret the last moments you had with your father. I want you to be able to try and reconcile. Even if it doesn't happen, you tried and that's all anyone can hope for."

Tears streak down my face from everything Miles just confided in me. I can’t imagine holding all that in for so long. It must have been eating away at him. I wish he would have been able to have spoken to his father one last time. I realize I don’t want that for me. I need to see him when I get home.

"I had already been thinking about going to see my father. I wrote a letter to him a few weeks ago; it listed everything I felt from my point of view. I want him to know how I feel. I never sent it, and I didn’t know why. Now I know it’s because I need to do this in person. Not only for me, but for him as well. Will you come with me? I don’t know if I’ll have the strength to do it without you."

"Lizzie, you never have to do anything alone again. I will be with you, always. But I want you to know that you are stronger than you think. You have been through so much and yet, you’re the most caring and compassionate person I know. You are utterly amazing. But it would be an honor to accompany you."

"I love you, Miles," I profess.

"I love you so much, baby," Miles croons.

???

"Mom, you didn't have to go through so much trouble for us." I try to persuade a frantic Sandra as she runs around cooking all kinds of dishes for Miles and me. I tried to help, but she knows the extent of my culinary skills, so she shooed me out of the kitchen.

"I just wanted Christmas morning to be perfect," she responds.

"Why? We normally have lazy Christmas mornings," I retort.

"It's just special having you and your brother here and y'all's significant others, all under one roof. Go take this eggnog around and see if anyone wants some. Breakfast will be served soon enough." She hands me the fancy glasses and the glass jar full of eggnog. I take this as a defeat and retreat to the living room to serve everyone.

Chapter 36

Miles

I climb the stairs two at a time to retrieve the ring box I stashed away the moment we got here. We just finished a huge Christmas breakfast and Sandra is keeping Lizzie occupied, until I can get everything set up for the proposal. I asked Sandra for Lizzie’s hand in marriage the night we got here, and to say she was happy would be an understatement. She and I hit it off instantly, and I have no doubt that she and my mother will get along very well.

Once I get down to the back porch, I see that Lizzie and her mother are enjoying a cup of coffee. They are watching William's darling little girls play in the backyard. Opening the sliding glass door, I step out and Lizzie turns her attention to me with a smile that stops me in my tracks. Her raven black hair is glistening in the Savannah winter sun and her magnetic brown eyes pull me right to her. I lean down capturing her lips with mine for a moment before pulling away.

"I seem to have forgotten a gift for you upstairs, sweetheart." I grab her hand and pull her up to me, placing her coffee on the table behind her. As I pull the book from behind my back and present it to her, she gasps and puts her hand over her mouth.

"How did you find this?" she whispers, taking the book from me.

"I made several calls and went to many different secondhand bookstores. It was finally Edith that called. A copy had come in while you were home resting from the accident. I immediately went out to get it, then stopped and got lunch on the way home. You didn't suspect a thing." I chuckle when I seethe shocked expression on her face.

"Edith was in on this?" she asks, adorably shaken.

"She was. She seems to have taken a liking to me. But anyways, when I finally found this book, I knew it was meant to be," I reply.

"I’ve been looking for the first edition of Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice” for several years. This one is in perfect condition too." She opens the book and closes her eyes. She breathes in the old book smell she loves so much. I wish I could bottle that smell for her. I guess I’ll just have to build her a library so she can smell it anytime she wants. As she opens her eyes, I see the glistening of tears. She’s about to say something, but changes course when she realizes the bookmark that I placed in there.

"Miles, your bookmark is in here. The one from your copy of “Sense and Sensibility” by Jane Austen. I would recognize it anywhere. I love ravens and I have never seen a real feather from one before. It would make a perfect quill." As she starts to ramble, I stop her before this begins going in the wrong direction.

"I put that there because I knew how much you loved it. It’s always reminded me of Poe, whom I know you love as well. Anyways, read the second paragraph on that page that’s marked for me, baby." She looks at me suspiciously for a moment, and then obliges.

"Okay," she replies and takes a deep breath.

---