I Won't Give Up on You (17 page)

Nancy looks over to me with her eyes wide. Did I do something wrong? Then suddenly Rose gets up and walks over to me. She cautiously holds her hand out to me. I look over at Sabrina to see if this is really happening. The tears trailing down Bre’s face confirm that my mom, the frightened shell, is reaching out to me. Quickly taking it, I follow her down the path and toward the back of the garden.

We walk away in silence, hand in hand, just like when I was little. Memories come flooding back to me of my life with her and how happy I was. My heart flutters, and I just want to pull her into a hug, but I know that would scare her away. When we finally reach the back of the garden, she stops. We are standing in front of a wall of rose bushes that are covered in blooms of every shade.

“Wow, these are beautiful.” I whisper.

“Caston, I’m sorry.”

I was taken back. “Mom, I know—I know what you’ve been through, all of it. You have nothing to be sorry for.”

She looks up into my eyes. Her eyes are brimming with tears that fall in a steady stream down a face so different from the one I remember, yet the same. “I should have been there for you. I should have protected you. I let you down.”

“Please, don’t say that.” A few weeks ago my response would have been different, but now I just want her to get better. “Everything is going to be okay.”

She nods and looks back over to the bushes, pulling away from me mentally again.

“May I pick a rose to take back to Sabrina?”

Her gaze comes back to me, and she smiles before reaching forward and snapping off the most beautiful bud off the bush in front of us.

“I’m so happy to see you’ve grown into an amazing man. Just like your dad.” I have to grit my teeth thinking of him leaving me with Beverly. “Caston,” she reaches up and cups my cheek, “don’t be mad at him. He was only doing what I asked. James tried on many occasions to get me to allow you to visit. But I—I was too afraid. I thought that Beverly had what she wanted when she got you and James. I desperately wanted to believe that you were being loved and cared for. You always seemed so happy in your pictures.” She shakes her head as if trying to erase the doubts that have taken residence in her mind and turns to walk back to the others.

We head back to the gazebo in silence, and I twirl the rose between my fingers. When we get back, she stands at the entrance. “James, I’d like to take a nap. Can I please go lie down?”

My heart sinks. She doesn’t want to be with me anymore. Nodding he gets up to rush to her side and whisks her off into the house.

“That’s it?” I ask Nancy, a little frustrated.

“For today. This was a huge step for her. I was shocked she went with you by herself. Caston do you know how big that was? I feel she will start to come around. Please, say you will come back soon.”

Sabrina joins me and links her arm with mine as Nancy ushers us out the door. I thank her for all her help. Once at the car, I pull Sabrina into a hug. I want to feel love flow through me, and I know I’ll feel it with Bre. She doesn’t ask me what happened, she knows I will tell her when I’m ready, and I’m thankful for the way she understands me.

The next morning, we settle into the drive back home after our flight back, I watch her check her phone more than once. I can see her grit her teeth. “What’s wrong?” I ask.

“Oh, nothing. In that short time, I have twenty emails from Sara, Beth, and Rocco.”

“Rocco?” My head snaps to her.

“The wedding coordinator. Remember?” She laughs.

“Oh yes, we’d like the chipper chicken.” I try my best to quote the movie
Father of the Bride
.

“Caston.” She rolls her eyes at me.

We fall into silence again.

“Are you okay with what happened?” Her voice is full of concern.

I grip the steering wheel and think about what she just asked. “Yeah. I mean, I was shocked to find out she was still alive. Then I was mad they could be so selfish. But once I got over being mad and really looked at her situation, I could understand. I can’t comprehend what she endured. But I’m ‘cautiously excited’ to get to know her… and maybe have a real mom again.” Looking over to her I grab her hand and squeeze it. “Thank you for coming with me.”

“I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

As we get closer to town, my stomach rumbles.

“Getting hungry?” I question her.

Once again checking her phone, she sighs. “I’m up for anything that gets me out of answering these emails and texts. I just didn’t think it’d be so crazy.”

I belly laugh. “Bre, you decided to get married with a big wedding in two months.”

She sticks her tongue out at me, but begins laughing.

Pulling into a nice Italian restaurant, I step out into the cool night air. Taking in the smell of garlic, I walk to Sabrina’s side help her out, but before she can start moving, I pull her into my embrace.

“I love you.”

Her hazel eyes meet mine, and she melts into my embrace. “I love you. That makes all this crazy worth it.”

Holding her hand, we walk into the restaurant and get seated at a corner table with a view of the open kitchen.

“I love watching them cook all this stuff,” she says in awe.

Her face lights up when they do some sort of fire on the grill. I place a wine and appetizer order with the waitress. Turning my attention back to Sabrina, I’m lost watching her expressions.

Suddenly, there is a commotion behind Sabrina. That’s when I see her. Beverly.

“Son of a bitch,” I mutter under my breath.

Sensing what’s happening, Sabrina immediately goes pale.

I stand up and place a hand on her shoulder. She covers it with her hand. “I’ll take care of this, Bre. Stay here, okay.”

She nods, but I can see the worry on her face.

Quickly I take off for the front of the building. Informing the manager of the problem we have, I stay off to the side as he walks over to her table and leans down to speak in her ear. She looks over at him. I can almost see the anger rolling off her shoulders.

She stands up and looks around the restaurant. I immediately tense. I hope she doesn’t see Sabrina. Knowing this isn’t going to end well, I call Detective Alverez.

Before she can make it to Bre, I intercept her. “Beverly, let’s not cause a scene.” I hold my hands out in front of me, stopping her in her path.

“Caston, dear. I was just going to say hello.”

Her voice is fake, and it sends a shiver down my spine.

“You know you are in violation of your restraining order.” I try to stay as calm as I can. She could snap at any time.

She places her hands on her hips. “That’s a funny thing, isn’t it? Why do I have to be the one to leave? I was obviously here before you. My food is on the table. Funny the way the judicial system is, right?”

Her laugh echoes off the walls that feel like they are closing in on us. I keep her talking as calm as I can until I see Detective Alverez walk through the door. Immediately walking up to us, he grabs her hands, pulling them behind her back, placing cuffs on her.

“Beverly Holden, you are under arrest for not following the orders of the restraining orders Mr. Black and Ms. Bennett have against you. Anything you say, can and will be used against you in the court of law…” he speaks while dragging her out of the building.

The commotion in the restaurant is high. People are whispering and taking pictures on their phone. I shake my head, walking back to Sabrina. Taking my seat, I call the manager over.

“Please, let me pay for everyone in the restaurant now. I’m sorry for the inconvenience and the outburst that just happened. I feel bad for ruining their dinners.”

“That is not necessary, sir,” he tries to argue.

“I insist.”

He nods his understanding and walks away.

Sabrina smiles at me, holding her hands out over the table for me to grab. I take them and place a kiss on each palm before entwining our fingers.

“She’s going back to jail. Hopefully, she will be held until the trial. Now, where were we?”

“Just like that?” she asks, her face full of concern.

“Just like that,” I respond.

It’s only been two weeks since I decided I wanted a quick wedding. Never in my life did I anticipate the crazy train I’d departed on. Thankfully, Sara was able to get the top wedding planner, and it just happened to work out that the church and reception site that was the ‘it’ place were both free. I was reluctant at first. Originally, I wanted a nice quiet wedding in our backyard, but somehow I got Beth and Sara to talk me into the big fairytale. They insisted I’d be sorry. I gave in, and they were right in some respects, what little girl doesn’t dream of their wedding day? Mine was always to a prince charming, which I’ve found, and me wearing a big poofy dress in a church. Now, however, with every passing email and decision my nerves are strung tighter. I still wasn’t feeling well, even with the change of medicine, but the doctor assured me it was just the nerves. She also said that if I didn’t relax, I’d have an ulcer in no time. The news is all over us about the incident with Beverly, and now they are focusing on the so called ‘wedding of the year’. Everyone has been trying to find out when it would be, where we would have it, and every time we went out, they bombarded us with questions trying to find out anything they could. Relentless vultures. I just want this to be over; I’m kind of wishing I’d taken Caston up on eloping last week when I was stressing over cake flavors.

I make it into the office and sit at my desk, hoping to clear my head. My email pings, and I sigh. I wonder what I’ll have to decide on today. Just as I’m about to pull up the awaiting email, Sara pops her head in.

“Hey, got a minute.”

I check the time and see I have about twenty minutes before the photo shoot today.

“Come on in. If you ask me anything about wedding decisions, I think I might call security on you.”

She chuckles as she slowly moves the notebook behind her back.

“Why so gloomy?” Her concerned look contrasts her bright and cheery blue suit with black tights and black heels.

I open a drawer in my desk and pull out a bottle of water. “Just not feeling well.”

“Still?” She moves over to me and places her hand on my head.

I shrug her off. “My nerves are just shot with this wedding crap.”

“Understandable.”

She moves to sit on the couch by my desk, and I get up to follow her.

“Before I start,” Sara grabs my hands and smiles, “if anything gets too much just let me know, I’ll shut up.”

I smile back at her, my stomach flips at her touch. Taking a deep breath in, I blow it out and nod.

“Okay, since our bridal party spa day was last week and the wedding is only six weeks away let’s discuss the bachelorette party.”

I let out a huge laugh. “And here I thought this was going to be a serious conversation.”

Just then the door to my office opens, and Beth pops in. “What’s up, bitches?” she exclaims, stepping into the office.

A huge smile breaks on my face, and I look over at Sara in disbelief. She’s laughing. I jump up and squeal.

“BETH! You’re here! Oh my God!”

She runs toward me, and we jump up and down laughing. I thought Beth was out of town for business, and she shows up here. I’m in disbelief. As she was talking a mile a minute about how Sara contacted her and how excited she is about their surprise for me, Caston walks into the room with a cocky smirk on his face.

“You knew about Beth being in town?” I rush to his arms while lightly smacking him on the chest.

He plays hurt before swooping me up in a big bear hug. “Of course I did, Bre.” Then he plants a sloppy kiss on my cheek. “I knew everyone was here when I heard shrieking across the entire building.”

Sara walks up next to us. “Bre, Beth and I are going to take you away for a nice relaxing girl’s weekend.”

My stomach drops. It sounds wonderful, but being away from Caston makes me nervous. I’m not sure why. I try to fake a smile, but Caston sees right through me and squeezes my waist. He leans over to kiss my cheek again and whispers in my ear, “It’s only for a couple of days.”

Sara and Beth link arms, smiling at me like kids in a candy shop. “We leave in an hour,” Beth chimes in.

My eyes go wide, an hour. “But my photo shoot,” I grasp for an excuse to procrastinate.

“I’ve got you covered already,” Caston says. “I was in charge before you got here, remember?”

I let out a nervous laugh and turn my head to his chest, taking a deep breath. I love his smell. Caston’s thumb strokes my back. I look up into his eyes, but talk to the girls, “Well, I guess I need to pack then.”

He leans over and kisses my nose.

“Let me just check my email before I—”

“No, no emails and no packing, the girls already took care of that this morning after you left.” Caston spins me around and pushes me into the hall with Sara and Beth following us out the door.

Before the girls join us, I jump into Caston’s arms and plant a large kiss on him. Hoots and hollers fill the hall behind us. Not only from the girls, but from some of the employees as well.