by Alicia Rae
I rapidly scribbled my name on the bottom line of the paper, and he walked off toward the exit.
“Thank you,” I muttered while glancing down at the floor, praying that the floor would swallow me whole, and this humiliating day could end anytime soon.
~Gail~
After visiting with my mom for a while, I watched as my dad carefully wheeled Caroline’s wheelchair outside for some fresh air. He positioned her under the big willow tree to the side of the backyard.
I grabbed a wicker chair from the patio and made the short walk over to Caroline while gazing at the tree, recalling that it had been there for as long as I could remember.
I shifted my attention to my sister and her casted leg supported out in front of her. She had a light-blue blanket draped over her lap, and her head was meticulously propped on a pillow as her chin rested on her knuckles. Her lips were curved into a pout.
When she caught sight of me, I regarded the tiredness, pain, and defeat in her eyes. The look shattered my heart and made me feel helpless, seeing her suffer so dearly, even though she was recovering remarkably well given the circumstances.
I would have done anything in the world to save her from such profound agony and distress. I wished I could set my hands on her, pull her wounds from her, and make them my own just to see her smile again.
“Hey, Caroline,” I said in a loving tone, smiling softly. “Are you catching some sun this afternoon?”
“Yeah.” She smiled, but it did not reach her eyes. Then, she frowned. “I did not want to be inside anymore,” she declared.
“I’m sure that it is tough being cooped up,” I agreed sympathetically. “But at least you are feeling well enough to come outside,” I offered positively.
“Yeah,” she repeated, sounding down. “But I still can’t do much, except sit or lie down or sleep.”
I deliberated all the things Caroline and I used to enjoy together as kids, hoping something would brighten her spirits yet still keep her immobile.
“Do you want to make up stories together like we used to?” I asked, remembering how much she enjoyed those.
Her smile was slightly bigger this time around. “Okay,” she answered. “You can start it.”
“Hmm…” I pondered, realizing I should have brainstormed a bit before I made the suggestion. Then, I decided to wing it. “Well, there was this beautiful young girl who loved nothing more than being outdoors…”
“Until she fell and broke her leg,” she cut in with a huff.
“She did,” I murmured, switching tactics when I saw my sister was not going to make this easy on me. “Nonetheless, her strength and perseverance healed her in no time,” I spoke quickly so Caroline could not throw another negative spin into the mix. “She pushed herself every day, working hard, so she could get better and strive forward.”
I repositioned my chair, so the sun was not beaming directly into my eyes, and I could sit closer to my sister. “And sure enough, time healed her deep wounds, and her heart and mind grew even stronger.”
Caroline raised a speculative brow at me. “How strong?”
“Incredibly so,” I emphasized. “She achieved more goals than she’d ever dreamed.”
“But where is her Prince Charming? Does she meet one?” she questioned, looking onward at the trees running the length of the backyard. The slight breeze blew her brown locks.
I redirected my train of thoughts, revolving around princes. “Of course,” I scoffed kindheartedly. “He was a long-lost Prince of…Wales.”
“What did he look like?”
I said the first color that came to mind, “Well, he had the most handsome blue eyes.”
“Hazel,” she corrected in a dreamy tone.
“Hazel,” I repeated. “And dark brown hair that matched his olive-tanned skin.”
“Tall, right?” she questioned.
“Ridiculously so,” I agreed. “And big muscles.”
“A cute butt, too?” she asked.
I choked on thin air. “Uh…” I muttered, shaking my head. “We can’t talk about butts, or Mom might ground me, twenty-five or not.”
Caroline rolled her eyes jokingly. “I’m not going to let Mom ground me at twenty-five,” she said, letting that Bennett stubborn-streak flare.
I laughed. “Make sure I’m here when you tell her so.”
“Okay.” She giggled. “Maybe I’ll tell her when I’m thirty then.”
“That might be a wiser plan.” I winked at my sister.
“So, how does the girl meet her prince?” Caroline asked, shifting in her wheelchair to get comfortable.
I reached over to readjust her pillow that had shifted with her movements. “There you go.” I settled back in my own seat.
“Thank you,” she replied. “So, about my prince?” she probed.
“Right.” I racked my brain. “Oh! I got it!” I exclaimed with a playful grin. “At a swim meet, of course.”
“That’s awesome!” Caroline snickered. “How do you know he swims?”
“Big muscles require upkeep.” I shrugged.
“That’s true,” she agreed. “When I’m done swimming at practice, our coach always makes us do dry-land exercises, too.”
“Ew, those don’t sound like fun,” I responded, scrunching my nose.
“I thought you like to exercise?”
“I do,” I acknowledged, crossing my legs. “As you get older, you quickly learn you can’t scarf down a bag of potato chips without getting on the treadmill, or your cute clothes won’t fit anymore.”
Caroline giggled again. “Well, I love my potato chips. I guess I’d better stick to my rehab plan, so I can get back in the pool.” She shook her head. “I don’t even want to give up my junk food.”
“Me either.” I chuckled, loving this time with her. I set my hand on her shoulder. “And that sounds like a great plan. I know you can do it.”
“Thanks.” She smiled, her eyes sparkling.
My chest warmed at the sight, thankful I could put some light back into those beautiful eyes of hers. “You’re welcome,” I replied.
I rotated to face the back of my parents’ ranch house, wondering if they needed my help with dinner, only to see Damon sitting at the picnic table on the patio, silently watching me with a tender expression in his gaze. I smiled over at him and then looked back at my sister.
“Caroline, do you mind if I go over and talk with Damon for a little while?” I asked, feeling torn over the idea of leaving her alone.
“Sure, but only if you answer a question for me,” she countered too sweetly.
“What would that be?” I asked apprehensively.
“Is Damon your prince?” she asked louder than I would have liked.
There went the hives again. I could feel those bad boys sprouting and igniting my body temperature along the way. I turned my back, so Damon could not see my face, and I cleared the knot in my throat.
“Um…” I muttered at a loss for words.
Caroline lifted her hand to her mouth. “It’s okay. You can tell me the truth,” she said just as loudly with pleading eyes.
I never could deny her, so I whispered, “Yes. I hope so.”
Her responding squeal was loud.
It was within ear range of a particularly handsome man, too. I was doomed. I stared at the bark of the willow tree, praying it would swallow me whole if the ground wouldn’t oblige my wish.
“I’m going to take Caroline inside for a little break. I’ll bring her back out soon,” my dad said, coming up from behind us.
I blinked at him as he adjusted Caroline, and I nodded. “Okay.”
“I think that man over there is waiting for you.” Dad grinned at me, gesturing toward Damon.
“Thanks,” I replied, shifting my gaze over to Damon, who was still observing me.
My heart pounded in my chest as I let out a deep breath and slowly made my way across the green grass. With each step, I confirmed he was definitely within earshot of my conversa
tion. I could only hope he had just arrived.
“Hey, you made it,” I said to Damon, reaching him.
“I did,” he crooned, smiling up at me from his chair.
I glanced over to observe my dad as he wheeled Caroline back inside the house, leaving Damon and me to ourselves. My mom must still be in the kitchen.
I pulled out another wicker chair from the table and sat down next to Damon. When I raised my legs to put them on the footrest, he gently took them in his hands and placed them on his muscular thighs.
My missing filter got the best of me, and I asked, “So, how long have you been here?”
“Oh…” he drawled in a sexy tone. “Long enough to learn that you torture yourself on the treadmill for potato chips.” He grinned wolfishly. “Which you don’t need to do by the way,” he added.
“Shit,” I muttered, making him laugh. “And my thighs and ass disagree with your assessment.”
“Well, I love your thighs and ass, so you’d better just leave them be,” he growled playfully, keeping his voice low so that only I could hear even though we were alone. “And I might have also heard something about a fascinating prince with blue eyes,” he continued with a boyish smirk.
I stumbled for a response. “Hazel. She changed it to hazel,” I corrected, not wanting to fill his ego any more than it already was.
“Your prince’s eyes were blue,” he said thoughtfully. His eyes were filled abundantly with emotions as they studied mine.
It felt as though so many unspoken words were passing between us, yet I had no answers to how he felt inside.
And I now knew that he’d unquestionably heard all of my conversation with Caroline.
I broke our connection, incapable of keeping his gaze anymore.
First, I’d told him that I loved him in my sleep.
Then, he had heard me refer to him as my prince.
And I had no fucking indication of how he felt, and it made me feel as though I had pulled out my heart and put it in his hands, leaving myself vulnerable and exposed.
Old track records of my exes taunted me, clouding my better judgment that told me Damon was different.
Unable to bear the tension building inside me any longer, I rose from my chair.
Damon lightly caught my arm before I could escape. “Wait.”
“What?” I snapped, powerless to restrain my conflicting emotions pumping thickly in my blood.
“Don’t walk away from me after that…” Damon trailed off as though he did not know how to convey what had passed between us.
“After what?” I prodded, wanting to hear some kind of verbal feelings from him.
“Tell me what’s wrong,” he said, sounding out of his element.
I shook my head and scanned the yard to see it was still empty. “I need to check on my mom and see if she needs help in the kitchen,” I responded. It was all I had in me right now.
Damon clenched his jaw at my avoidance to his request and then released it. “Okay,” he answered on a sigh. “I know now isn’t the time, but later tonight, you and I are going to talk. No excuses because I have even more to tell you after this morning.”
His reply left me reeling and frustrated. It was like he was speaking a foreign language.
“All right,” I agreed, coming to my senses.
It was not his fault we had not spoken yet.
“When we get home,” I added.
I stepped closer and bent forward to run my hands through his hair. He tilted his head up at me and groaned as I closed the gap for a peace-offering type of kiss.
Then, I withdrew. “I really should check on my mom, or she might bake up the whole kitchen for a feast, and we won’t end up eating until midnight.” I laughed.
“My stomach will eat itself by midnight, so I’ll allow you to leave me,” he replied jokingly with an amused expression.
I rolled my eyes. “In that case, I’ll take my time.” I snickered.
His hand smacked my ass playfully. “Get out of here, sassy girl,” he responded, laughing.
I winked at him before heading back into my parents’ house, passing by my dad at the door. Mom was right behind him with a tray.
“I’m sorry, Mom. I’ll take that,” I said to her, offering my hands to take the platter of food. “I was talking with Caroline and then Damon, and time got away from me.”
“Nonsense, dear.” She handed me the tray, shaking her head. “Don’t apologize for visiting with your sister or your boyfriend.” She smiled, and her eyes became glossy. “Caroline came back into the house with a genuine smile on her face for the first time in days, so thank you, honey.”
“I’m glad to hear that,” I said sincerely, smiling. “I hate seeing her so sad.”
“Caroline is recovering well. You know that.” She patted my arm. “We just have to keep her mentally strong and on the right track. And that is exactly what you did today.” A tear trailed down her cheek, and she wiped it away. “Now, come on, let’s get dinner on the table before our men starve,” she added with a light snicker.
“Oh, how right you are.” I chuckled in agreement.
Everyone sat down and enjoyed one another’s company over a hot home-cooked meal while laughing and talking. Caroline had been bummed about taking a break from swimming class while she recuperated from her injuries. However, she now seemed determined to work hard during her physical therapy.
Dad talked to Damon about projects around the house while Mom and I chatted about her reorganizing certain rooms and other little things.
After we finished eating, Caroline talked Damon into drawing her a picture of her favorite bridge—the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. He explained to her in great detail of how to start with the foundation of a basic outline and build from there. Caroline beamed the whole time, saying how she would practice this coming week.
I smiled while observing them, grateful that Damon had given her something to look forward to this week to keep her mind occupied.
After visiting with my family until nearly dark, I found myself feeling uneasy and eager to get home, so Damon and I could finally talk. He must have reciprocated my feelings because he gave me the look that said it was time to go. We gave our hugs and said our good-byes before heading out.
Damon followed me since we both had our vehicles. With every mile closer to home, nerves crept in against my will. By the time we arrived inside of the apartment, I was ready to talk before I burst from the anticipation of the unknown.
He quietly shut the door behind us. I turned around to face him and searched his gaze for any answers I could go on. My pulse increased with every passing second. His eyes bore into mine with the same fleeting emotions I’d seen in them earlier today.
He soundlessly stepped closer, gathered me in his arms, and tucked my head under his chin. He let out a content sigh. Then, his lips kissed the top of my head before he created a small space, so I could meet his stare.
“I’ve wanted to share something with you all day, but I wanted to wait until we were alone to tell you…” He hesitated, making me anxious over what it could be. His hands came to my sides, caressing them.
“Is it good news or bad news?” I asked, feeling my heart rate spike to unfathomable heights.
“Very good news,” he said with a smile. “At least, I hope it is,” he added with a soft chuckle.
Damon lifted one hand and slipped it into his back pocket. He pulled out a thick manila sheet of paper that was folded several times. Small crinkles outlined the corners from being in his jeans.
“So, the guy I met with this morning was Paul Eisner,” he started to say while handing the document to me.
I gave him a perplexed expression as I grabbed it. “Should I know who that is?” I asked, feeling more confused than ever. Surely, I must have missed something because I did not recognize that name.
“He’s the founder of E2 Excellence in Education,” Damon said softly.
I nodded, processing the information. “I
remember you said you worked on designing that building,” I replied, knowing that was where Caroline would be transferring to next semester.
“Yes, I did,” he acknowledged.
I finished unfolding the paper and read it.
Dear Mr. & Mrs. David Bennett,
I am pleased to inform you that Caroline has been granted a full four-year scholarship to E2 Excellence in Education.
We look forward to her joining our exceptional program next semester and watching her grow.
Sincerely,
Paul Eisner
Founder of E2 Excellence in Education
I could not read the bottom signature because tears were blurring my vision before flowing down my cheeks and dripping onto the manila paper. My hands started to tremble as Damon held me.
I blinked up at Damon, trying to see his face through my hazy, water-filled eyes. All the while, I felt awed beyond belief with gratitude and excitement at what this meant for my dear sister and my family. But I still didn’t understand how this could feasibly be happening.
“Where did you get this?” I whispered, finding my voice at last.
“It’s from Paul Eisner himself. This letter confirms Caroline’s tuition will be taken care of for the next four years until she graduates,” Damon said sincerely.
“I got that part—well, most of it,” I replied disjointedly, shaking my head. “But how did this happen?”
Then, the fog from my overwhelmed state of mind cleared, answering my own question. I blinked several times, wanting to see his face, and his eyes told me everything I needed to know.
But I still asked, “You did this? For Caroline?”
“Yes,” he responded with a gentleness in his voice as he cupped my cheeks to brush away my tears. “And for you and your parents.”
This was a substantial amount of money—thousands upon thousands of dollars per semester times four years. As someone who had paid her own way through college, I was still in debt with remaining loans, so I could not wrap my mind around why someone would so generously pay such a vast tuition.