by Beth Rinyu
“Ah! I love you!” Natalie screeched, throwing her arms around Becca.
“See that, the first pretty girl that comes around and she’s already in love,” Liz joked, lifting her drink up to her lips as we all began to laugh. I could just sit and watch Becca for hours as she talked to Liz and Natalie. Every time I was with her, I could see her becoming more and more comfortable with herself and with me. I was seeing so much of the old Becca tonight, the way she would throw her head back and laugh or move her hair completely to one side and twirl it around her finger. The way that her warm, soft skin felt underneath my fingertips as I stood by her and gently caressed the back of her neck. She leaned her head back into me and I breathed in her perfume, making me wish that we were all alone instead of a restaurant full of people. Liz ordered another round of drinks for everyone and held her glass up. “To Mason and Becca, for getting all sixteen indictments in the Mueller case.”
“They’re only indictments, Liz, he hasn’t been found guilty yet,” I said.
“Are you saying that you don’t have faith in this beautiful prosecutor here to get the convictions?” Liz asked.
“Nope. I have all the faith in the world in Becca.”
Becca smiled widely and Liz lifted her glass up once again. “Well then, like I said, to Mason and Becca….the perfect team!” Liz looked at me and winked before we clinked our drinks together.
I leaned down and whispered in Becca’s ear, “I forgot I have a reward I need to claim.” She grabbed my hand and began to giggle loudly. Liz shook her head in defeat and chugged down her drink, but not before giving me a huge smile.
Becca unlocked her apartment door and wrapped her arms around my neck. “Now, about that reward…” She grinned.
“I’m listening.”
Her hands swept down my face as she stood on her tiptoes and placed a gentle kiss on my lips. “Well, here’s what I was thinking. Maybe it shouldn’t be just one set prize. Maybe we should leave it up to our imagination and see what happens.”
I bent down and moved her hair from her neck, unable to resist planting gentle kisses along it. “That sounds like a great plan,” I whispered in her ear.
“On one condition.”
“What’s that?” I asked
“You have to spend the night.”
“I agree to those terms.” I smirked. She let out a loud laugh when I picked her up and carried her through the doorway, more than willing to take whatever reward that she wanted to give.
The week was flying by and I was spending every single free minute that I had with Becca. I had just got off the phone with my sister, who informed me that she had planned a last minute party for my parents’ fortieth wedding anniversary. I had been crazy busy at work with all of the drug busts that were going down, but I knew I had to try and get a few days off to fly down there or I would never hear the end of it. I waited for Becca to answer her door when a thought came to me.
“Well, hello gorgeous.” I smiled upon seeing her standing there looking just as sexy as ever in her cut off shorts and tee shirt.
“I’m sorry, is there someone standing behind me to which you are speaking?” she joked.
“Nope, it’s all you, Baby!” I pulled her close and stuck my tongue in her mouth as Lilly sat by my feet, waiting to be pet. Once I got done giving her owner the proper greeting, I bent down and gave Lilly some attention.
“She’s trying to butter you up. She wants to go for a walk,” Becca said.
“Well, then let’s take her. It’s a beautiful day out.” I grabbed Lilly’s leash from the hook and put it on her, taking Becca’s hand in mine and heading out the door. I gave Becca the leash once we got outside and we began our walk, letting Lilly lead the way.
“That is just so amazing. How she is so well trained,” I said, looking down at Lilly who was completely focused on the task at hand.
“She is my lifeline. I seriously don’t know what I would do without her.”
We stopped along the way and got ice cream and took a seat in the outside seating area to eat it. I tried my best to distract myself from getting totally turned on as Becca licked the side of her ice cream cone. “So Becca, have you ever been to Louisiana?”
“Nope. Can’t say that I have!”
“Do you want to go?” I asked. She looked up from her ice cream, looking a little surprised. She shrugged her shoulders, clearly waiting for me to elaborate. “My sister planned a last minute anniversary party for my parents next weekend and I would love for you to come.”
“Oh, umm…..” It was too soon for her, and I instantly regretted asking her when I saw the look on her face.
“No big deal if you don’t want to. I just thought maybe you would want to get away.”
“No, I do and thank you so much for asking. It’s just…I would have to make arrangements with Linda to see if she could take Lilly and –”
“Becca, really it’s okay. I understand it’s last minute. It’s not a big deal. I just thought I’d put it out there.”
She sighed heavily and nodded. “Well thanks for thinking of me.” She forced a smile, staring off into space like she was deep in thought, before finally breaking her silence. “Mason?”
“Yeah.”
“Did you tell your family about me?”
“Yes, I did.”
“Do they know?”
I shook my head in confusion. “Do they know what?”
“That I’m blind.”
“Of course.” She looked down at the table and her eyes filled with tears. “What’s wrong, Becca?”
“Nothing.”
I reached over and grabbed her hand. “Becca, please tell me.What are you thinking?”
“Well, why would you want me?”
“What? Why wouldn’t I?”
“You’re so good to me, you have this great personality and I’m fairly certain that you’re not bad to look at either, so why would you want to be stuck with someone who can’t even walk down the street without a dog or holding someone’s hand? You deserve so much better than that.” The tears were now streaming down her face and I felt like I was taking a slow bullet to my chest.
I lifted her hand to my lips and placed a gentle kiss on her knuckles. “Because when I look at you I see so much more than just a blind girl. You make me happy, Becca. You make me feel things that I haven’t felt in a very long time. So to me there is no one better; you’re the best there is. I wish you could see what I do when I look at you. Please do not ever think that you are not good enough.”
I took her ice cream cone that was melting all over the place and threw it in the garbage. I handed her a napkin and she wiped off her hands. I could still see so much doubt all over her face and I hated it. I stood up and grabbed her hand. As she got up, I took her face in my hands. “If I have to tell you all day, every day just how special you are until you finally believe it, I will. I will do whatever it takes for you to see yourself exactly how I see you.” She began to reveal the slightest of smiles, which in turn made me smile. She wrapped her arm around me tightly and handed me Lilly’s leash before we headed back off for our walk.
I wasn’t sure if my body or brain was more exhausted as I sat in work, wrapping up the last of the reports from the epic week of arrests that had gone down. I was headed home tomorrow for a few days and wanted to get everything done before my time off. I tried not to think about not seeing Becca for the next few days. I knew I was going to miss her like hell. It was as if she had read my mind when I looked down at my phone and saw her name on the caller ID.
“Hey there, Gorgeous,” I answered.
"Want to hear something funny?"
"After the day I had, it's going to take a lot to make me laugh, but shoot."
"Well, I just happen to be able to get off tomorrow and Friday and Lilly's going to be spending time with Linda and her husband. So I think I may be pretty lonely."
I could feel the smile stretching across my face, hoping I was deciphering her cryptic m
essage correctly. "Oh well, that seems pretty sad to me, not funny." I played along.
"Hmmm...... I suppose. But maybe if there's still room on a certain flight to Louisiana I may have to take a trip down there. Assuming I'm still invited, of course."
I immediately pulled up the flight information on the computer and booked Becca a seat.
"Getting you on the flight as we speak," I said.
"Boy, Agent Boudreaux, you sure do work fast."
"Yes, I do! Well…..not all the time."
She let out a loud laugh and I couldn't hold mine back either. "Flight leaves at eight fifty seven in the morning. I'll be at your place to pick you up at six."
“I’ll be ready and waiting.”
“See ya tomorrow, Becca.”
“See ya! Well, actually I won’t, but you know what I mean.” She giggled.
I shook my head and smiled as I hung up the phone. Becca was actually going to meet my real family instead of thinking they died in a car crash and I had no one. I knew that I should be happy; I was finally able to bring her into my world freely. But deep down inside, I felt like I was living a bigger lie than I was back then.
It felt good to be pulling in my parent’s driveway for the first time in two years. It had been too long since I had been home and I missed it. My mother loved New York City and her and my dad had been up to visit me quite a few times. Although, I loved seeing them, it still wasn’t the same as being home. I took a moment and stared at the four bedroom brick colonial that I had lived in my whole life. Some of my best memories took place right in that house. Growing up, I loved spending my time running around my parents’ six acres of land, riding horses, fishing, and hunting. I couldn’t have asked for better parents than mine, they were so warm and caring. They accepted everyone for what they were and I knew that once they met Becca, they would fall in love with her the same way I had. I looked over at Becca, who had fallen asleep on our way from the airport.
“Hey, sleeping beauty,” I whispered, gently tapping her on the shoulder.
Her eyes shot open. “Are we here?” she asked in a very groggy voice.
“Yes.”
She reached for the elastic band that was around her wrist and pulled her hair back into a pony tail. Reaching into her purse, she grabbed a piece of gum, popped it in her mouth and put on a quick coat of lip gloss. “Okay, I’m ready.”
I stared at her for a brief moment. She was so beautiful and she made it seem so effortless. She got out of the rental car and stood by the door, waiting for me to get the bags from the trunk. I threw each of our bags over my shoulder and grabbed Becca’s hand. I could feel her tensing up. “Becca, don’t be nervous. I’m telling you, my parents are the most welcoming people in the world.”
She nodded, but I could tell I still hadn’t completely convinced her of that. I opened the door and led her in. “Mason! Is that you?” I heard my mother’s voice coming from the kitchen. She was grinning a mile wide when she saw me and Becca standing in the foyer. I put the bags down on the ground and let go of Becca’s hand, allowing my mother to throw her arms around me. “Oh it’s so nice to see you home, Sweetie.”
“It’s nice to be here. Mom, this is Becca.”
My mother instantly focused on Becca, taking both her hands in hers. I could tell that she had fallen in love with Becca’s beautiful eyes right away just by the way she was staring at them. “Becca, I cannot tell you how great it is to meet you.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Boudreaux; it’s nice to meet you as well.”
“Please, call me Nadine.”
Becca nodded and finally loosened up a little and smiled.
“Nadine! Where did you put the watering can?” my father shouted from the back door.
“Dennis, can you please come here? We have company.”
The back door slammed and my father made his way down the hallway. A huge grin was plastered across his face when he saw me. I idolized my dad growing up and still did. He worked hard his whole life, allowing me to have the great childhood that I had.
“Well, hell, this isn’t any company and you’re not too old to give your old man a hug.”
I placed my arm around him and he pulled me into his embrace. “You’re looking good, son.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
“And who is this pretty lady here?” my father asked.
“Dad, this is Becca.”
“Boy, Mason wasn't lying when he said you were beautiful."
"Thank you. It's very nice to meet you." Becca smiled.
My mother winked at me and gave an extra smile. "Mason, your old bedroom is all made up." She placed her hand on Becca's arm. "I'm with the times and I'm perfectly fine with the two of you sharing a room unless, of course, you would rather not."
Becca's cheeks began to turn red. "Umm....no, I’m okay with sharing a room." I grabbed her hand to try and ease her embarrassment.
"Well, go get settled. I'm just going to the market to grab some more things for dinner," my mother said.
I took Becca's hand and led her up the stairs and into my room. She stood in the doorway as I placed the bags down on the floor. I grabbed her hand and showed her around the room. “There’s a bathroom right here.” She nodded as I led her out the door and onto the veranda that overlooked the backyard. “And this right here was the best thing ever when I was a teenager. Do you know how many times I would sneak out of the house in the middle of the night down this?”
She let out a loud laugh. I pulled up a lounge chair and helped her sit down. “That warm sun feels so good,” she said. I sat down next her and she rested her head on my shoulder. “It’s so peaceful here. No horns honking or sirens. The air smells so fresh and clean.”
“Yup, it’s like being in a totally different world.”
“What do you see when you look down?”
“Green. Everything is pretty much green. I can see my father’s stable in the distance and the pond that I would fish in as a kid, but other than that not much else except for trees.”
“Your dad has horses?” Her voice perked up.
“Yeah, he owns three and boards a few. He’s an equine vet.”
She lifted her head from my shoulder and smiled. “Really? That is so cool! So you grew up around horses?”
I began to laugh. “Yeah, I think if my dad could have had them eat dinner with us every night, he would.”
“Wow! That is so awesome!” She rested her head back on my shoulder, but her smile remained. I kissed her on the top of her warm, strawberry scented head.
“Did you want to meet a few of them?”
“Who?” she asked.
“The horses.”
“Yeah, that would be great!”
“Okay, in a little bit. But first I want to take a little rest.” I pulled her close to me as we lay in the lounge chair. The warm summer breeze rustled the leaves on the trees along with the stray hair that was sticking out of Becca’s ponytail. I looked down at her and pushed the hair out of her face. Her eyes were closed and her head was resting on my chest. “What are you thinking, Becca?”
“How happy I am right now. How I wish I could just freeze time and stay this content and relaxed forever.” She wrapped her arms around me tighter. “What about you?”
“How happy I am that you agreed to come and how good it feels to have you in my arms.”
“This would make a beautiful painting, you know?”
“Well then maybe when we get back you should paint it?”
She smiled and took a deep breath. “No, this is a moment that I want to keep all to myself, right in here.” She placed her hand on her heart. “There are very few moments that I store in there, but I can tell you that each and every one that I do, I will never forget. So, thank you for giving me another beautiful image to have inside my heart forever.”
After a two hour nap, Becca and I were getting ready to head out to the stable. I sat on the bed, waiting for her to brush her teeth and wash her face.
�
�Hey, could you do me a favor and make sure I stuck my ID back in my wallet? I’m ninety nine percent sure I did,” she shouted from the bathroom. I grabbed her wallet and looked through its contents, finally coming across her ID.
“Yup, it’s there.”
As I went to slide it back down into the slot, something was stopping it. Once I was finally able to get a grasp on it, I pulled it out and my stomach dropped as I stared at the picture of me and her taken on the night of the auction. She looked so happy. Her beautiful blue eyes that matched her dress perfectly sparkled for the camera. I knew that there was something different about her from the moment I had first saw her standing there that night all alone, looking so out of place. She wasn’t a young typical girl whose beauty would fade along with her youth. There was something timeless about her and the fact that she was totally oblivious to just how beautiful she was made her even more attractive. I flipped the picture over and wished I hadn’t when I saw what she had written on the back: Best night ever….best guy ever. I couldn’t believe she carried around that photo after all of these years. I quickly shoved it back in her wallet when I heard the water turning off. I got up and went into the bathroom, handing her a towel to dry her face.
“Thank God it was there. That would have really sucked if I had forgotten to get it back after going through security.” I watched as she patted her face with the towel and I couldn’t resist hugging her. I wanted us to be that couple in that picture again so badly, and I would do whatever it took to try and make that a reality.
She smiled up at me. “What was that for?”
“No reason. Now, come on; we have to go see a man about a horse.”
“Hey there, where did you two run off to?” my dad asked as we walked into the stable.
“Fell asleep,” I replied. “Becca wanted to meet your horses.”
“Do you like horses, Becca?”
She nodded. “Love them!”
“Have you ever ridden?” my father asked.