You'll Say Yes (35 page)

Joshua cleared his throat. "No, not yet, Dad." He ran his hand through his hair. "Sorry, Dad, but we need to pack now. I'll call you back. Say hi to mom from both of us."

"All right. Be careful. Congratulations to both of you. Bye, son."

"Bye, Dad."

~O~

We ate our brunch in front of the plasma TV after having our calls to our family. I reminded myself to call Stella and Melinda when we arrived back in Seattle. We watched some Sunday shows until we were finished. We began to pack our bags to return to Seattle. I sighed sadly when I realized we will be back to our schedule and our work. I didn't know when I could spend my alone time with Joshua again; just the two of us. I paused from packing my bag when I saw the ocean from the window. I glanced to Joshua who was busy putting the remains of our grocery shopping to be brought back to Seattle. I chewed my bottom lip and walked to the back door. I sat on the steps and pulled my knees to my chest. I wrapped my knees with my arms and put my chin between them. I closed my eyes and listening to the sound of waves and the wind. My mind wandered to all the issues that surrounded my wedding plans.

Wedding preparations, of course.

Our living arrangements, no doubt.

Our jobs, absolutely.

Our past stories, definitely.

And of course...my trust for him.

I opened my eyes. How could I marry him if I didn't trust him yet? But, if I were looking back to our relationship history, I didn't love him when we started to live together. Is it possible that I could trust him after we were married? I do hope so. I wanted him to know that I love him; and of course not from my sleep talking. I closed my eyes again when I felt the wind blew on my face. I will miss this place.

It seemed like hours when I felt someone was sitting next to me. I opened my eyes and turned my head to see Joshua. He looked at me and furrowed his eyebrows.

"Abby, are you all right?"

I smiled grimly and scooted closer to him. I wrapped my arms around his waist and leaned my head to his chest. It had become a habit for me to do that. I felt safe when I hugged him like that. Joshua kissed the top of my head and leaned his head on mine.

"I will miss this place," I said in low voice.

He sighed. "We can come back here anytime we want. Or...maybe...we could have our...honeymoon...here."

I stiffened slightly before released my tensed posture. Nothing could even better than that. I smiled. "Yeah, that would be a great idea."

"Really?" He asked in surprise.

I chuckled. "Of course. I'd love to spend my honeymoon here."

A strange feeling crept into my chest when I imagined what we could do on our honeymoon. My stomach twisted in anticipation. Somehow I had a feeling Joshua will never let me out from the house...or maybe from bed. I shivered again and closed my eyes. My thoughts were no longer coherent.

He kissed my head again. "Anything for you, dear."

I opened my eyes and saw the ocean one last time before I went back to Seattle.

Everything was perfect.

But, I should have known better.

Perfect moments were always risky.

And I had to ready for that.

"Abby, congratulations!" Stella squealed happily when I called her after we arrived in Seattle. I was unpacking my bag in my room while Joshua did the same in his room. I used this opportunity to call her before we both went to sleep.

I smiled. "Thank you, Stella."

"So, did you set the date yet?"

I played with a strand of my hair. "Um...no, not yet. But, it won't be long, though. Besides I want to ask you for a favor," I bit my lip. I didn't have much experience about dresses and I thought Stella could help me.

Stella giggled. "Don't worry, Abby. I can take a few days off to take care of your wedding."

I gaped at her. "How did you know?" I started to believe Stella did have a premonition. I planned to ask her to help me for the preparation.

She giggled again. "I can see, remember? Don't worry. I already imagine what kind of dress that suits you and maybe the theme or the flowers."

I winced. "I leave it to you, then."

"Thank you, Abby. I won't let you down."

I chuckled. Actually I had another plan for Stella and it surprised me she didn't mention it. I thought she had a premonition. "Of course you do. Besides, you need to look for the perfect bridesmaid dress too."

"Say that again?" She asked in surprise tone.

I laughed lightly. "Bridesmaid dress. You need one, Stella."

Silence.

And then I heard a high pitch from the other line and I put a distance between my BlackBerry and my ear. Wow, she did have a high pitch.

"Oh, Abby...Abby...thank you. Of course I will be your bridesmaid. Hey, have you ever thought to have bridal shower?"

I furrowed my eyebrows. "What shower?" I remembered my mom didn't have that kind of event before her wedding with Steven.

Stella giggled again. "Bridal shower, silly girl. It's like an event with close friends with simple games and exchanged gifts. Things like that."

I grimaced. "I don't have many friends here."

"Oh, please, Abby. If you invited your friends from Long Beach, you could have bridal shower days before the wedding. It will be fun. Trust me."

I sighed. "Whatever you say, Stella. Just not too extravagant, all right."

She scoffed. "I can't believe you'll say that. It's your bridal shower. One time in your life. Don't you want to make it special?"

I raised my eyebrows. I thought I was the one who will get married, but she was the one who turned to the excitement mode. "Stella, I just want everything to be simple. That's all." And then I smirked. "How about you? When will Evan drag you to the altar?"

"Uh...um...well..."

I burst out laughing while she cursed under her breath.

"I can't believe you never told me about that," I told her, pretending to be angry. Joshua told me on our way home to Seattle that Evan already proposed to Stella before we had our trip to Seattle.

"I'm sorry. I really want to tell you, Abby. Well...Joshua told Evan that he didn't want any interference when you both had the holiday. So, I planned to tell you tonight, but I guessed Joshua proposed to you while you both in Florida, right? So, you got me this time."

I chuckled lightly. "That's ok. I understand. Congratulations to your engagement too, then. I think we both are engaged with madmen."

Stella giggled. "Yeah, but we love them nonetheless."

I went rigid. My heart turned erratic. This was the most critical issue for me and I knew I must solve this problem immediately.

"Abby? Are you still there?"

I blinked several times and cleared my throat. "Em...yeah. Sorry.."

"What's wrong? Did I say something that upset you?"

I sighed and rubbed my temple. "I don't know what happened to me, Stella. I love Joshua, I really do, but I've always felt I couldn't trust him that easily. Is that wrong?"

"Well..." My best friend paused for a moment before continued, "No, it's not wrong. I understand your position. You hated him when you were in high school and you left Long Beach with a bad memory about him. And then he was there in your life again, completely turned into a different person from your high school time and said that he loved you and you agreed to become his wife when you both were six years old. Now, you love him, but some parts of you didn't fully trust him yet."

I smiled grimly. She was really my best friend.

Stella sighed. "Why don't you learn to trust him, Abby? Just slowly. It will be all right. He already did lots of things for you. Can't you just let the cautious part from your brain to slip a little bit?"

I sighed. "It's not easy, Stella."

"I know that, Abby. It's not easy to fall in love with someone that you hate once either, but you managed it. Why don't you do the same with your trust for him?"

I smirked. "You should have become a psychologist, Stella. You choose the wrong career."

She laughed in her chiding tone. "Psychologist is my side job. I prefer to be a designer."

I laughed too.

~O~

"Abby, I'm so happy for you. Congratulations. So, when is the happy occasion?" Melinda asked me.

I chuckled. "We haven't set the date yet. What about you?"

She laughed. "As you know that I already sent the invitation online, but apparently we had some last minute decisions, so our wedding is postponed for another week."

"Oh, I'm sorry," I still remembered Melinda's wedding with Brian this weekend on Sunday afternoon. Joshua and I already planned to attend too, but I guessed we had to re-schedule everything again.

"Don't worry. It's not a big deal. Will you be here with Joshua?"

"Of course. I'll call you back next week," I promised her.

Melinda giggled. "I know. Congratulations, Abby. Um...sorry...my cousins are going to bed now and I have to babysit them. Say hi to Joshua from me, okay?"

I chuckled. Melinda has lots of cousins; that's why she's good with kids. Perhaps I needed to learn from her too. "Okay, Mel. Bye."

"Bye, Abby."

~O~

I went to work on Monday morning with happy mode, but apparently it didn't last long. I started to work with Kelly's manuscripts and my office was still busy preparing for the book launching this weekend. I really hoped it won't be delayed anymore or my bosses will turn to their berserk mode and that was the last thing I wanted to see.

I was busy looking through Kelly's script when Camila popped her head to my cubicle. "Hey, can I borrow your scissors?"

I grabbed my stationery kit and gave her the scissor without looking away from the computer screen. Suddenly, she held my left hand and I instinctively looked at her. She looked over my engagement ring and my heart sped up.

Oh, crap!

"That's a beautiful ring," She said flatly.

I snatched my hand back and turned my head to the computer. "Yes, it is."

"I always wonder why you could get into a serious relationship very fast. You never dated and then suddenly you're engaged to a handsome man. What tricks do you have there, Bennett?"

I clenched my jaw and took a deep breath. This is Monday morning for God's sake. Should I pass this week with a bad start? This woman really annoyed me.

"I don't know how Joshua could love you. You barely have your own life outside this office."

I turned my head to see her and anger flashed to my body. I stood from my seat and approached her. Camila backed up to my cubicle wall. "Why won't you take care your own problems, Stevenson? I never come to your personal life, so you better do the same thing. If you want to know why Joshua could love me, why don't you ask him?"

Camila blinked several times and then hurried up to escape from my cubicle. I sighed and pinched the bridge of my nose; another habit that I learned from Joshua. I walked back to my chair and I lost all of my will to work in my computer.

I hastily grabbed my bag and left my office. I drove with my car and apparently my will has its own accord because suddenly I parked in the hospital's parking lot. I blinked several times. Wow, how did I get here? I scratched my head and unbuckled my seat belt when I saw someone who was familiar walked outside from the ER. I froze instantly. I recognized that person. I couldn't forget the last time I saw...her.

It was Natalia.

I furrowed my eyebrows. What is she in the hospital? Did she come here to meet Joshua? Or did she have something to do with her father's business? How come Joshua never told me about this? I clutched the steering wheel while I followed Natalia's movements to a black Mercedes.

Rich girl, no doubt!

She didn't see me because I was parked far enough from her car and besides who will be interested to see who drove this old sedan anyway? I sat there until the black Mercedes disappeared from my sight. I released my grip from the steering wheel and my fingers were red from how hard I clutched before. I slumped in my seat. The anger and jealousy took control of my body. I took deep breaths and leaned my head to the seat. I'm in a bad mood instantly and I knew I couldn't work with this condition nor forced myself to see Joshua. I needed to think clearly.

I pulled out my BlackBerry and dialed my office. I told Mr. Smith that I had a meeting with my author and perhaps it will take all day long. My boss gave me his permission and I was surprised I could do a white lie today. If I forced myself to work, it won't do any good for me either.

I quickly revved the engine after I turned off my BlackBerry and put it to my bag and drove from the parking lot.

My destination: Green Lake Park.

~O~

I stayed at the park until the sun set; just reading some books that I've found from my bag. How those books could be in my bag, I had no idea. I ate my lunch there too. I was truly enjoying my time alone and tried very hard to return to my normal self before I needed to see Joshua tonight. He probably worried for me not coming home in this hour.

After I was positive I could control myself, I drove back to our apartment. As I predicted, I could see Joshua's black car in the garage and I exhaled. I unbuckled my seat belt and got out from my car. I walked slowly to our room and opened the door. I was expecting Joshua to greet me with worried expression, but I spotted him sitting in the living room table with scattered papers in front of him. He looked so serious and..tired. My heart clenched. Perhaps I will stay in my room for tonight.

He didn't know I was home and I sighed. I slowly closed the door and that sound seemed halted his daydreaming because suddenly he turned to look at me and stood from his sitting position.

"Abby? Where were you? I've been trying to call you all day."

I smiled tiredly. "Nowhere. I just want to go to sleep tonight." I walked to my room and then I felt Joshua gently turned me around.

"I'm sorry, dear. I don't mean that. You must be so tired. I can cook you dinner."

I shook my head. I was emotionally exhausted and I needed my sleep. "No, thank you," I stated simply.

I turned around and opened my room. I closed the door behind me and leaned myself into it. I was sure he knew there is something wrong with me. I probably could lie to my boss, but I couldn't lie to him. I shook my head and opened up my closet. I pulled out a T-shirt and pajama pants and grabbed my toiletries bag. I got out from my room and I didn't see Joshua. He probably returned to what he's doing before. I took a warm shower, removing the entire sore that I felt in my body and relaxing my muscles. The smell of strawberry from my shampoo calmed my mood too. I changed my clothes and let my hair half-dry when I got out from the bathroom. My stomach suddenly growled and I sighed. I guessed a simple dinner would be fine.

I walked to the kitchen and saw Joshua already sitting again in the living room reading a piece of paper. I smiled grimly and continued to walk to the kitchen. I started to cook a simple dinner and put my meal to a plate and poured water for myself. I sat on my chair and started to eat my dinner. Several moments later, I felt Joshua wrapped his arm around my shoulders and kissed the top of my head.

"Hmm...I always love the way you smell," He whispered in husky voice and I shivered. Get a grip, Abby!

I swallowed my food nervously. "Uh...uhm...thanks."

I continued to eat and I felt he was sitting next to me. We didn't say anything until I finished my dinner and put the dishes to the sink. I almost jerked when I felt he hugged me from behind by my waist. I could feel he leaned his chin to my shoulder.

"Are you all right, dear?"

I sighed and turned the sink off. I rubbed my temples. "I was just having a...bad day," I answered in low voice.

He turned my body around to face him and I kept my eyes down. I could feel him sigh and caress my cheek. "Will you please look at me? I miss your beautiful eyes," He whispered.

My heart clenched and I slowly raised my head to look into his eyes.

He smiled and kissed me softly. I closed my eyes when I felt his lips touched mine. I missed him too. He broke his kiss and I opened my eyes again. His hazel eyes bore into my soul and I knew instantly he could see through my lie.