Unwritten (29 page)

After we cleaned up our picnic area, we all headed to the shore for a game of Capture the Flag. We had an uneven number of people, but we all agreed that the children would probably only count as one adult, anyways. Jennifer, Connor and the kids played on one team while Rich and I played on the same team as his mother. I think I should’ve actually been considered the handicap, instead of the kids, as it was obvious Rich’s family had a long-standing tradition of Capture the Flag.

After several failed attempts, Connor finally sneaked past Rich and was able to snatch the flag from our side of the court. Loud cheers erupted for the opposition, “Nah na nah, Uncle Rich, we beat you and Grandma, too!” the kids cheered.

“Yes, you did, rugrats,” Rich exclaimed as he ran toward the kids – picking them up and swinging them each in the air. “You got lucky. You better believe I won’t let it happen again!

“Why don’t you two head up to the beach and start setting up for the fireworks,” Brenda suggested to the children.

We positioned our blankets on a small, sandy hill toward the back of the beach, directly facing the pier. Rich grabbed our portable radio and synced the station to follow along with the colorful blossoms erupting in the clear, night sky. It was difficult at times to hear the patriotic favorites over the crowd, gasping in amazement with each explosion.

I chuckled to myself as I remembered always wanting to be one of the Bayside kids in one of my favorite episodes of
Saved By The Bell
. I always dreamt of being the one to kiss Zack Morris under the fireworks at the Malibu Sands beach resort. At this moment, I was just thankful to sneak several quick kisses from Rich, as his niece and nephew’s eyes remained glued to the sky.
Who needed Zack Morris when you had Rich Davis, I thought to myself.

After nearly twenty minutes, the sky lit up in a sea of color as the fireworks danced across the night sky as part of the grand finale. The children sat in their mother’s lap in complete awe at the show. I snuggled closer into the crook of Rich’s arm, not wanting the day to end, just as I saw the last rockets begin to smolder in the night air.

“We should get going, son,” Brenda said to Rich as she began picking up the last of their beach gear. “The children are rubbing their eyes which means it’s bedtime.”

“No sleepy! We want to stay and play with Uncle Rich and Brooke,” Nathan said, trying to suppress the yawn that escaped his mouth.

“I don’t know, little buddy. I think maybe you should listen to your grandma and go get some sleep,” Rich told his nephew. “I promise, we’ll see you again real soon,” he added, as he kissed the top of Nathan’s blonde head.

We said our goodbyes to the rest of his family, before Rich suggested we stay and stargaze for a bit before making the drive back to Dad’s house.

“I’ve dreamt of this day – this moment – for over ten years,” Rich whispered in my ear.

I paused for a minute before the realization dawned on me. “You’re unbelievable!” I exclaimed. “You just recreated my perfect date. The one I told you about during that silly game of Truth or Dare all those years ago! It’s been amazing, Rich. Today really has been perfect – your family – the beach – picnic – the fireworks – stargazing – just perfect. Thank you!” I said, peppering his lips with kisses.

“I’m just glad that no one beat me to it. How many times do I have to remind you that I remember everything about you, Brooke Anderson? I knew one day, I would create this moment for you – for us. So, now that this perfect date is out of the way … what else do you have in mind?” he said with a wink.

“I just can’t believe you are real sometimes. You are just amazing, Rich Davis. I love you.”

“And, I love you, sweets – forever.”

“Now can you take me home? I want to make love to you, but I don’t want to be cleaning sand out of my whooha for weeks,” I said with a giggle.

“Your whooha?” Rich said with a raised brow. “I think you’ve been talking to Cass too much.”

As we walked back to the car, I was a little disappointed that Rich hadn’t asked me to marry him on the pier that day, or even under the stars, but I knew that Rich only had even grander plans up his sleeve for his proposal.

I
t was our last day in Michigan and I was starting to think that Rich wasn’t going to propose until we got back to D.C. I was a little disappointed I wouldn’t be able to show my bling off to my best friend, but I could also show her over FaceTime.

While making a pot of coffee in Dad’s kitchen, Rich found me and told me he’d made us plans for the afternoon. I was a little miffed as I’d been home nearly a week and still hadn’t seen my two best girls. Cass had been busy with clients all week; July was the busiest time of year when it came to wedding planning.

She had planned on coming to visit earlier in the week, but I’d been feeling a bit under the weather. I chalked it up to lack of sleep and constantly being on the go since our arrival. I missed my own bed and my own place – I needed sleep. I loved being back in Michigan and spending time with my dad, but truth be told, this didn’t feel like home anymore. When I was with Rich in D.C., I was at home.

Of course, I video-chatted with my girls at least every other day, but I was sure I would be shocked to see how much my little princess had grown. Rich must have seen the disappointed look on my face because he quickly added, “Don’t worry sweets, my plans involve Cassidy and Kaitlyn, too.”

“Really?”

“Yes, really. I know how much you miss them so I asked them to join us for the afternoon. But, that’s all you’re getting out of me. Now go throw on a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt – it might get chilly.”

Even though it was July, the Michigan weather had been a bit unpredictable.

“Have I mentioned that I love you, Mr. Davis?”

“Mmmm, not in the last twenty minutes, Miss Anderson,” he growled in his husky voice.

“Well, I do, Rich. I love you – to the moon and back.”

“What I wouldn’t do to make sweet love to you to the moon and back, but, since your three-year-old goddaughter will probably be storming through that door any minute now, and we’re in your father’s kitchen, that’s probably not a good idea. But, you better be ready for me to pleasure every inch of your body later in the privacy of our bedroom,” he added, with his signature smirk that instantly soaked my panties.

“Thanks, baby. Now I need to change my panties, too.”

“Well, go baby. I don’t want us to be late,” he said, as he spanked my ass and lightly pushed me toward the bedroom.

I quickly changed clothes and was making my way back to the kitchen when I heard squeals coming from the living room.

“Long time no see, Davis,” Cassidy said as she entered from the hallway.

“Hmmph, nice to see you too, Cassidy,” Rich said, exchanging pleasantries.

“And, this must be the lovely Kaitlyn,” Rich said, as he kneeled to get closer to the pint-sized toddler who was hugging her mom’s leg for dear life.

“Who are you?” Kaitlyn asked.

“I’m Rich. I’m your Aunt Brooke’s boyfriend. You must be Princess Kaitlyn. I’ve heard so much about you. It’s so nice to finally meet you, Beautiful.”

“Eew, boys have cooties! That’s what Mommy says.”

A deep belly laugh escaped Rich as I approached the three of them.

“She’s definitely your daughter, Carpenter,” he managed to sputter out between laughs.

“Aunt Brookie!” Kaitlyn exclaimed, as she broke away from her mom and ran toward me, grabbing my leg this time.

“Hey, Princess. Look how big you’ve gotten. You’re almost as big as I am.”

“Am not, Aunt Brookie. You silly,” Kaitlyn giggled.

“Are you ready for our afternoon out? Rich here has a surprise for us girls.”

“We’re going out with … a boy?”

I chuckled to myself; this poor little girl had so much to learn about boys. Her mother’s warped feelings toward the opposite sex would need to change drastically before Kaitlyn became an angry teenager.

“Yes, Princess. We’re going with a boy. His name is Rich. Can you say ‘hi’ to Rich? I promise he doesn’t bite.”

I heard Rich let out another laugh behind me, but chose to ignore his obvious innuendo.

Kaitlyn looked toward Rich with questioning eyes. “O----K, I guess. As long as he doesn’t have cooties. Promise he doesn’t have cooties, Aunt Brookie?”

“I promise.”

“Hiiiiiiiiii, Rith,” she squeaked out in her shy little voice. I could tell when the look in her eyes turned to pure bravery as she let go of my leg and ran into Rich’s now open arms.
I swear in that moment I felt my ovaries flop inside my belly.

It took only a few more minutes before Kaitlyn had made Rich her new, best friend. I collected my purse which I’d forgotten in the bedroom and upon returning was delighted to see that Kaitlyn was already riding on Rich’s shoulders, as they all headed out the door. I stepped up my pace and quickly met up with them in the parking lot.

Cassidy scooped Kaitlyn off of Rich’s shoulders and placed her in the car seat that Rich had already so thoughtfully placed in the back of our rental car. He opened my door and I slid into the passenger seat, then he placed a soft kiss on the top of my head before shutting the door.

“Where are we going?” I asked Cassidy, before Rich had made his way around the car.

“Ha! That’s not my secret to tell, Brookie.”

“Ugh, since when are you on HIS side?’ I sighed in frustration.

Just then Rich opened his door. “She’s not on anyone’s side. She just knows who’s boss,” he added with his sexy wink.

“You two are evil! Just evil. Can’t I have a little hint?”

“You’ll have fun … how about that?” he quipped back.

“You’re incorrigible.”

“You love me anyways,” he added teasingly.

“Hmph, you got me there,” I said, as I stuck my tongue out in his direction.

“Better be careful, or I might just bite that tongue of yours.”

“You wouldn’t dare. Besides, I already told Kaitlyn that you didn’t bite.”

We drove most of the way while playing car games with Kaitlyn. Rich immediately suggested Truth or Dare, but I was familiar with his version so I quickly suggested the License Plate Game. Thankfully, Kaitlyn went with “Aunt Brookie’s” suggestion.

Her infectious laughter filled the car each time she spotted a license plate from a different state. She asked if “Uncle Rith,” as she almost immediately dubbed him, could play on her team. He agreed to both the game and his new moniker.

After about an hour had passed, and the team of Kaitlyn and Uncle Rich were kicking our butts, we arrived at, what I believed was our destination. I’d been so distracted by the game that I wasn’t entirely sure where we were. I thought it was somewhere near Detroit, but, I honestly didn’t really know.

Rich pulled into a deserted parking lot and I looked at him with a questioning stare.

He chuckled at my confusion before pulling what appeared to be a blindfold, from his pocket.

“What the heck are you doing to me?” I asked, a bit irritated.

“Relax, sweets. I don’t want you to know where we’re going yet. Let me put this on you, please.”

“Just let him do it so we can get this show on the road,” I heard from the backseat. “Yeah, Aunt Brookie,” Kaitlyn chimed in, joining her mother.

“Great, now you have the peanut gallery on your side … again!”

They all erupted in laughter before I finally agreed and bent in Rich’s direction so he could tie the silk around my head and over my eyes.

“Is it comfortable, baby? Can you see?” Rich questioned.

“Yes and no. Now let’s go!”

I heard the car start and we were once again en route to our destination as I hoped we were. I felt the car come to a stop after another twenty minutes, or so.

“Can I take this thing off yet?”

“Not yet. I’ll come help you out of the car.” Rich answered.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I huffed.

“Is that a big Ferris wheel with baseballs?” I heard Kaitlyn ask from the back seat.

Suddenly, I registered our location with the assistance of my inquisitive goddaughter.

“The jig’s up, Rich, and company. We’re at Comerica Park. You can remove the blindfold now, baby.” I sputtered, as I stuck out my tongue in what, I hoped, was his direction.