Page 47 of Our Promise
“So, you were never leaving me?”
“I remembered the promise, our vows. But don’t get it confused. I’ll leave broken and all, and even if I can’t recover, you won’t be able to tell. I’ll be around here smiling and ignoring you at family functions, then crying my eyes out at home.”
“There are no more tears. Come on.”
Benny led her to the sliding doors of the living room. On the patio was a complete set-up of the evening of their wedding day. It was six in the afternoon but waiting until later tonight when her flight landed at two would have killed him.
“Benny…”
Lorielle admired the candlelight dinner, and he could tell when her ears perked up to the song that was playing. It was the same song from their first dance.
His event planner was golden, coming through for him like she always did. Plus, slipping her a little extra didn’t hurt as well. She had everything set up for him. He knew she and a chef were working out of the guest house to make sure tonight would be perfect.
He had gone all out, and it was only half of her surprise.
“I want to relive that night over, because it was the best day of my life, but before we eat, it’s something I want to show you.” He led her to the small table tucked away out of view. He pulled off the sheet and revealed a clay figure of the castle they got married in. Their names and the date they got married was on the front of the castle in the bottom right corner.
Lorielle gasped, covering her mouth with both hands. “How? When?”
“I wish I could take all the credit, but I had an artist take a picture I gave him and turned it into clay.”
“The detail…” Lorielle ran her fingers over the clay structure. “Lord, this had to cost a fortune.”
“A small fortune, but you’re worth it.”
She moved into his arms, and he held her. Something so simple, like her being in his arms, brought him so much peace. He couldn’t lose her, and he would do everything in his power to make sure that didn’t happen.
“I had to check myself, Lorielle. Tara almost won. She set out to cause damage in our relationship, and I was so caught up inmy feelings about everything that her plan had worked. But I won’t let her or anyone else or anything else come between us. We’ll fight them together, and I’ll know we’ll conquer.”
She kissed him. “That’s all I want—to be your partner in life.”
“Let me be your protector and your best friend.” He threw in the last part to make her smile.
She giggled. “I’m going to tell Jo.”
He laughed. “I love you, baby.”
“I love you too.”
Benny and Lorielle talked and ate until the sun set. Then when night fell, they danced under the stars as they did the night they were married. Afterwards, he took her into their home and made love to her like he did that night except with more tenderness, more care, and more love.
Epilogue
Our Promise for Forever
Three years later
Lorielle took her time getting ready. She hadn’t seen her husband’s face for two months. He had been away on business one month, then he had to be in Wilmington to prepare for the grand opening of the new location of Cup of Jo.
She was so proud of Benny. He had rebuilt the original Cup of Jo and it was doing better than ever. Then he went off to build two more locations in Winston-Salem and now Wilmington.
“You look good, girl. He is going to want to eat you up.” Lorielle complimented herself as she placed the finishing touches on her makeup. When she was finished, she moved to the bed, waking her sleeping son.
The entire ride down, he had been up, and when they pulled into the driveway of the beach house, she saw he had fallen asleep. Instead of waking him, she let him sleep so she could do all the things that needed to be done in preparation for today.
“Time to wake up, B.”
Barryn Dominic Collins was an energetic two-year-old, and she loved him with her whole heart.
