Bitter Hearts (A Southern Loving Book 3) (26 page)

Rita
broke the silence between them. “Congratulations is in order.”

“Yes
ma’am. I finally had a chance to get it right.”  

Their
leisure stroll came to an end when they reached a table in the middle of the
heavenly courtyard. The table was beautifully set with a vase full of pink
tropical flowers in the middle with different array of food from grilled
sausage, waffles, eggs, breakfast burritos, fresh squeezed orange juice and
more. Pulling out a black iron chair for Rita, when she was seated he took a
seat in the empty chair across from her.  He squirmed when he felt her heated
stare on him.

“Should
we call for Kari?” he asked.

“Kari
should be here in a few minutes,” Rita smiled and took a sip of her black
coffee. “But this gives us the chance to get talk about the future.”

Rita
was like a mother bear protecting her cub, it didn’t matter that she wasn’t
Kari birth mother or that she was just the nanny. Hank could see that the woman
was genuinely concerned about his relationship with Kari.  

“What
does love means to you?” Rita asked, catching Hank off-guard.

He
smiled as he thought about the look on Kari face when she saw the ring he slid
on her finger. “Loving Kari means doing whatever it takes to make her happy. No
matter what the expense may come with. I will always be there for her, even
when I’m having a bad day or even when she makes me mad with her.” Standing up,
he picked up the metal picture frame. “The pain without her in my life overrides
anything in my life. Life is so much better with her than without her.”

Rita
face was scrunched up like she was trying to believe if he was telling the
truth or not. “I’m not Kari’s mother. I love her like a daughter though.”

“She
loves you like a mother,” he replied.

“Me
and my Martin been blessed to been married for thirty years, it wasn’t easy we
separated twice in those years due to money and infidelity.”

Rita’s
admission struck a chord with him. “I was married previously, I know all about
fussing about money and infidelity.”

Rita
sampled a piece of steamy croissant. “I assume that the second one will be
better this time around?

“I
cannot blame Natalie solely for the destruction of our marriage because I do
take fault in the demise of our breakup. The most important thing I took away
from my marriage is that one person cannot be the constant giver while the
other is a constant taker.”

“I
told Kari that I think she made a wonderful decision when it came to you,” the
smile on her face fell. “But I want you to know that there will be people not
happy with the decision you’re making including family and friends as you fine
young couple walk down the aisle.  I want you to know it’s about the two of you
guys and no one else.”

Hank
thought back to what Kari said in the bedroom.
Getting to the altar won’t be
easy.
He didn’t want to agree with her at that moment but now that he had
to think about it, his divorce from Natalie was in the beginning stages. “I
will never allow anyone to come between Kari and myself.”

“Prepare
each other from what’s coming next; the nasty rumors, money issues, and a
vengeful ex,” Rita said quietly, as they heard the sound of Kari’s infectious
laughter.

Hank
stood up to pull out the chair next to him for Kari. “How was your walk?”

“It
was great but now I’m starving,” Kari exclaimed, giving Rita and Hank a cheek
kiss before sitting down.

“That
ring looks
brillante
,” Rita said with enthusiasm, holding Kari’s finger
.

Kari
reached over and fixed her plate with waffles, bacon and fruit. “Are you happy,
baby?”

“Darling,
I’m happier than a hog in mud.”

“What?”
Rita laughed.

“You’re
so country.” Kari chuckled with a mouth full of food.

“You
love it.” Hank nudged her.

“That’s
right and I can’t wait until I walked down the aisle to you Mr. Jackson, next
step is the walk down the aisle.”

Hank
covered Kari’s hand with his. This was the person he believed in. He knew
firsthand that love wasn’t easy, but he wasn’t living in a fantasy or all up in
his feelings. For a few months he discovered that love was choice something
that Kari always preached about.

 
With a steady head and heart he chose Kari. It was the simpler things with Kari
that made him fall head over heels with her even if she never learned how to
cook, it was her laying against him on the sofa watching the cowboys play, or
fighting for more cover.  He didn’t want to fight for cover, watch a cowboy
game or come home to burnt food to anyone else but Kari. There was no doubt
that they could make each other happy for the rest of their lives together.  He
would be willing to get him the last piece of apple pie.  Charlene used to say you’ll
know when you truly had something great-something truly spectacular and rare.

“What
is that smug look on your face?”

Hank
noticed it was just him and Kari outside in the courtyard. “I can’t wait to add
Jackson to the end of your name.”

“I
love you, baby.” Kari kissed him before going back to eating her food.

Hank
took a sip of his orange juice and continued to watch the woman he chose to be
the person he wanted to make a life with. This is what it was supposed to feel
like to have an imperfect love.

The End

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