Authors: Vi Keeland
***
Dad was in good mood all night and really
seemed to enjoy sitting with Kennedy. It was odd seeing him relaxing with a
man that wasn’t his friend. He was always surrounded by girls. Me, mom, the
twins, Candace. I found myself wondering if maybe dad regretted never having
a son. Maybe him and mom would have tried for a boy if she hadn’t died so
young. He and Kennedy laughed like old friends, and it warmed my heart to see
the two men that I loved getting along so well. I noticed that Kennedy seemed
to appear whenever I was alone with Candace, and I wasn’t sure if it was a
coincidence or he was being protective.
Candace had drunk an entire bottle of wine
herself, and I could tell it was bringing out a mean streak. We were just
finishing cleaning up after dinner in the kitchen when her claws came out.
“Your father tells me you are moving in with Kennedy. You know, men don’t like
women that make it that easy for them.” She slurred her words and tilted her
head back to empty her glass. “I guess it shouldn’t surprise me that you have
no idea how to keep a man’s interest.”
I felt my face burning with anger as I
continued to put away the last of the dishes.
From behind me, his calm and cool tone, sent
shivers up my spine. “Hope has more than my interest.” I turned and could
tell he was keeping his voice down so that Dad wouldn’t hear.
His appearance had Candace flustered, but
she was a pro at masking the evil within. “I was just telling our little Hope
that sometimes men don’t buy the cow, when they get the milk for free.” She
trailed her perfectly manicured finger flirtatiously across Kennedy’s back as
she passed him on her way out of the kitchen. Watching her touch him made me
sick to my stomach. I watched as his whole body tensed at her touch.
I walked to him and put my hands flat on his
chest, leaning into him. “You okay?” he asked as he ran his hands up and down
my back.
I did my best attempt at a smile. “I’m not
going to let her get to me.” I lied. Honestly, the woman knew how to zone in
on my biggest fears. Would he get bored of me? He was gorgeous and worldly
and rich. Men like him didn’t belong with boring small town girls like me.
He squinted at me, as if he wasn’t sure I
was telling the truth. “Really, I’m fine. Let’s go back to Dad before he
realizes that anything is wrong.”
He squeezed me and led me to the living
room. I wasn’t sure he believed me, but he was giving me a free pass.
Dad had made Candace and the twins keep one
present unopened from Christmas, so that we could all open gifts together,
since I hadn’t exchanged with them yet. Dad and I were giving out gifts to
everyone when I noticed Candace take a seat on the small loveseat next to
Kennedy. It was a small loveseat, so normally people had to sit close, but
Candace looked like she was sitting extra close. When I looked at Kennedy I
could see his jaw was tight and he had noticed it too.
I walked over to Candace and held out a gift
to her without saying a word. She smiled a sugar coated plastic smile up at me
and snatched it out of my hands. I made a point of ignoring her and turned my
face to Kennedy and handed him a gift.
“You already gave me gifts.” His voice was
calm, but I knew he was controlling anger sitting so close to Candace.
“I saved one to open here.” I smiled at him
and watched as his face untensed.
He gave me a little smile back. “I saved
one for you too.” One eyebrow arched and my knees quivered at his naughty
dimpled smile. I felt my face flush
Candace made a loud fake cough, bringing us
back to the room. I opened my eyes wide to Kennedy in a silent, playful “stop
it” face and walked back to Dad.
I opened one of the gifts dad had given me.
It was a pretty keychain with a large dangling silver star.
“Thanks Dad, it’s very pretty.”
“I don’t care if it’s pretty baby girl, it’s
got a secret alarm built in.” He took the keychain and pressed the sides of
the bottom and it emitted a high pitched, ear piercing, loud alarm sound.
I smiled and laughed. “Thanks Dad, I’ll use
it. But I told you I am fine.”
He kissed my forehead. “I know you are, I
trust Kennedy to take good care of you.”
You do? My dad trusts Kennedy to take good
care of me? When did that happen?
“I’m sure you will be alone an awful lot
living out there in Chicago. I mean Kennedy is a busy business man and I’m
sure he has a lot of functions and travel that monopolizes his time. Your
daddy and I just want to make sure you are safe, Hope.” Candace’s words came
out an odd mixture of slur and sugary.
“Actually, I don’t plan on going to any
functions or traveling anywhere without Hope, now that she is moving to
Chicago.” Kennedy didn’t look at Candace as he spoke.
“That’s what you say now, but things can
change.”
“Candace.” The
whole room went quiet at his one word. His tone said it all.
But Candace never knew when to stop. “Well
someone has to look out for our little Hope. I’m just afraid that she will
wind up all alone while Kennedy is busy in his world.” The words sounded
inconspicuous, but I knew what she meant. We were from different worlds and I
didn’t belong in his.
“They will be fine. And I don’t think this
is the time or place to discuss any concerns you might have.” My Dad rarely
raised his voice, but his curt response was loud and clear.
Kennedy stood and I was afraid that he had
reached his limit and had enough. I knew he was protective of me; I walked
toward him needing to touch him to keep him calm.
“That’s okay, Joe. I’d like to put
Candace’s mind at ease, so that she isn’t concerned.” Kennedy reached out and
took my hand and brought it to his lips, kissing the top of my hand gently. He
looked me in the eyes. “Candace doesn’t have to worry about me being busy in
my world without you, because you are my world.” He paused but his eyes never
looked away from mine. “I don’t have any functions anymore,
we
have
functions.” I watched as he looked to Dad and Dad gave him a smile and head
nod. Then he turned back to me. “But there is one thing Candace is right
about, things can change. And I hope they will, really soon.” He looked down
and reached into his pocket. “I’ve been carrying this around in my pocket
since the night you were in the accident. It was my mother’s ring. But
tonight I asked Joe for his blessing, and he thought you should have this one
instead.” He fished into his pocket again and I saw my mother’s ring. My eyes
filled with tears. Shock. Excitement. Love. Happiness. I wanted to scream
and jump up and down, but I was frozen.
His large hand gently cupped my chin and
tilted it up to meet his gaze. “Hope Marie York, I know I’m not good enough
for you, but will you let me spend the rest of my life in your world?”
My head started to spin and I realized I had
been holding my breath. Kennedy leaned down, his head next to mine, he
whispered. “Breathe angel, breathe.”
I exhaled and the tears started flowing
uncontrollably.
He wiped my tears away. “Give me an answer beautiful.”
“Yes.” I whispered.
“Yes?” He whispered back and smiled down at
me.
“Yes!” I yelled. “Yes, Yes, I want to
marry you!” I wrapped my arms around him and hugged him tight. He smiled and
looked down at me.
“Welcome to the family son.” Dad patted
Kennedy on the back. I hugged Dad.
“Thank you Dad.” I whispered as I hugged
him. Over Dad’s shoulder I saw Candace’s face and could barely hold back
hysterical laughter. Her mouth was hanging open and she was pale, as if she
had just seen a ghost.
***
By the time we went to bed that night, I
felt as though I was floating. I was happier than I ever thought possible. I
was going to marry the man of my dreams, who loved me and would protect me with
his life. I stared at my mother’s beautiful ring as Kennedy climbed into bed
next to me.
“I love you.” I said softly.
“I love you too beautiful.” His mouth
covered mine for a soft kiss.
He lifted his head to look me in the eyes as
he moved his body over mine, resting his weight on his arms. I felt the
stiffness between his legs brush my leg as he shifted his body to settle
between my legs. “Now I’m going to give you the present I have been saving for
you.” I saw the corners of his dirty smile and caught a glimpse of his dimples
as he reached up and turned off the light. And then he gave me another present.