Page 57 of Love Me Carefully
“I’ve always been afraid of the unexpected, Nik. I like things planned and organized, you know that. But Terrell is…I mean, he was…totally unexpected. I wasn’t looking for these feelings and I damn sure wasn’t looking in his direction for them. Yet somehow he found me.” She could still feel his hands on her, could still see his face as he promised her everything. And she’d let him walk right out that door, not knowing if she’d ever see him again.
“Damn. I never would’ve guessed. None of us ever would’ve figured that the person so against marriage and relationships would be swept away. But it seems Ms. Rosie’s son has done just that.” Nikki shook her head. “So what are you gonna do now?”
Leah smoothed her hair back, squelched any lingering doubts, and looked Nikki right in the eye. “I’m going with him.”
“Going with who? Terrell? To Jamaica?” Nikki gave Leah a frazzled look.
“That’s right.” Leah’s voice was soft. “I won’t let him do this alone.”
“You can’t be serious!” Nikki yelled. “What about work? You’re right around the corner from the wedding season!”
“I know, I know. But my next one isn’t for another three weeks. I’ll call Melinda and go over the checklist with her. She’s competent; she can handle things until I get back. I don’t see that we’ll be gone for long.” Sighing, she grabbed one of the pillows from the sofa, crumpling it beneath her arms. “‘I have to do this.’ That’s what he said to me. You don’t know him, Nik. He’s hell-bent on saving his mother. He might do something irrational, something dangerous, something…” She couldn’t bring herself to say it.
Nikki covered Leah’s hand. “Alright, I get the picture. Calm down. I’ll help you. Call your office. I’ll book you a flight.”
Leah sighed, giving her friend a hug. “Thanks, Nikki.”
“If you really want to thank me, give me Leon’s phone number.”
Leah frowned. “Uh-uh, don’t even go there.”
Laughter erupted between them.
* * *
Rosie was amazed by the view from the balcony of their suite at the Samsara Resort. The Caribbean Sea spread out around them like a giant blue carpet, its rock formations a drastic but stunning contrast to the soothing backdrop.
A light breeze moved through the tropical trees, gently lifting Rosie’s hair from her neck. Leaning over the balcony, she took in the beauty of her surroundings and wondered again what it would be like to wake up to this every morning. Her heart fluttered momentarily, the thought so exciting she almost screamed with joy.
Then, like a weight on her heart, Terrell’s face crossed her mind. How could she leave her boy, her only child, the one steady person in her life for the last thirty years? She’d be so far away if he ever needed her—which he hadn’t, since he left for college.
Terrell had his own life, his own goals; he was a grown man and he could certainly make it on his own. Still, she struggled with the sense of abandoning him as he’d felt his father had done.
“Hey, beautiful.” Donald came up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist.
“Good morning,” she said, allowing herself to lean back into his steady hold. She felt comforted, loved, emotions she hadn’t felt in a long time. Was she ready to give that up? No, she didn’t want to give that up. But she didn’t want to live her life wondering if she could trust Donald either.
“What are you thinking so hard about?” He’d seen her out here and wondered what was going through her mind. In their short time on the island he’d felt something different from her. She’d questioned him that night on the boat and he’d lied to her, one of the hardest things he’d ever had to do in his life.
He loved Rosie with all his being. Everything he’d done for the past few months was because of her—for her. He thought then of Terrell. He’d never had a son of his own, but figured if he had he would’ve wanted him to be as strong and persistent as Rosie’s son, the son he’d left locked in the basement back in Baltimore.
By now the young man and his wedding planner friend would be free. He was sure Terrell’s persistence would’ve seen to that.
“Just that it’s beautiful here.” She looked down toward the pool, trying her best to push the worry aside. “Let’s go for a swim.”
“I’d love to, but I’ve got to take care of something this morning. How about as soon as I get back we grab some lunch, then camp out at the pool for the rest of the afternoon?” He hoped she wouldn’t ask too many questions about what he needed to take care of, but could almost see them reeling through her mind.
“Is it something about the house you’re looking into?”
“Ah, yeah, it is. I need to meet with the realtor and give him a picture of what I’m looking for.” He was glad for the excuse she’d given him.
“Okay, well, I should go with you. I mean, if I’m gonna consider living here I should see some of the homes they have to offer.”
She had a good point there. “This is just a preliminary visit. We’ll just be talking price ranges and stuff like that. I don’t want to take you away from enjoying the scenery. I can handle that alone. You stay here and get some rest. We’ve been traveling for a few days now and you’re probably tired.” His fingers caressed her jaw and tucked strands of hair blown out of place by the breeze behind her ear.
“No, I’m not tired, and if we’re about to be married I should be as aware of our finances as our living quarters, don’t you think?” He was trying to brush her off. She could tell it, and she didn’t like it.
“Well, call me old-fashion, but I’d like to take care of the financial stuff like a man should. I’ll be back before twelve, and we can go out then.” Before she could come up with another retort, he kissed her quickly and walked back into the room.
