Starting Over Trilogy Boxset

by Kennedy, Brenda

  I wake up early on Sunday, and Mason is lying on his side looking at me.

  “Hi,” he says.

  “Hi,” I say, sitting up a little. “Is everything ok?”

  “Yes, it’s fine, I was just looking at you.”

  “I can see that. Are you sure you’re all right?”

  “I was thinking: I want to do something for your birthday. Not just something, but something special. Your birthday’s next week. Any ideas what you want to do?”

  “Oh, I guess it is. No, no ideas.”

  “Really, there isn’t anything you want or need?”

  “I’m very blessed. I have everything I need right here.”

  “Wow, Angel, once again you surprise me. Most girls would have a list of things they want.”

  “Lucky for you, I’m not like most girls.”

  “Lucky for me, indeed.”

  I roll over on my side to look at him. “You do know I’m not a big, fancy kind of girl.”

  “I know, but it doesn’t mean I can’t do something special for your birthday.”

  “I don’t want a party or anything big.”

  “I was afraid you would say something like that.”

  “Do you have something in mind?”

  “No, not at the moment. I just wanted to get a feel for something you would want.”

  “Small and intimate, just you and me.”

  “Just you and me,” Mason repeats.

  We lounge around the house on Sunday. Usually I’ll sleep during a movie but today I go and nap in the bedroom. When I wake up, Mason is walking into the bedroom.

  “Sleep well?”

  “I did, what time is it?”

  “6:00 p.m.”

  “Mason, I slept all day.”

  “It’s ok, we didn’t have any plans and it seems you have been more tired lately.”

  I head into work on Tuesday. Brea and Sara are at the coffee pot talking.

  “Good morning. I brought muffins to go with the coffee,” I say, walking over to the coffee pot to fill my mug.

  “Good morning to you, too, and muffins sound great, thanks,” Sara smiles.

  “What are you guys talking about?” I ask, filling my mug with decaf coffee. It’s the only coffee we have in the office since Brea is pregnant.

  “The baby shower and all the wonderful gifts we got. Thank you both for throwing the baby shower and for having my family come in. That was a huge surprise. I am so lucky to have friends like you.”

  “Just remember that when I need a bridal/baby shower,” Sara jokes.

  Sara runs out at lunchtime and grabs us salads from Sweet Tomatoes. We sit around Sara’s table talking about her moving in with Donovan. She is excited and scared at the same time.

  We are busy and work well past quitting time. We say our goodbyes, and I head home. I want to have dinner ready for Mason before he gets home. I stop by the store and decide to grab a few items, condoms being one of them. I grab a pack of 12, thinking this will be enough. Maybe not, I grab another box.

  I look beside the condoms and see a pregnancy test on the shelf. I pick up the pregnancy test and decide this will be a good way to clear my thoughts of something I have been suspecting recently. I buy three just to make certain.

  I have been so tired lately and now my period is a few days late.

  If I were pregnant, that would be terrible. Certainly just once wouldn’t be enough to get me pregnant, pregnant with Jim’s baby. My life with Mason would be over. The end to my beginning. I would be a single mother to a baby whose father was a rapist and an attempted murderer. Could I even love a child who shares DNA with such a person?

  I walk into my cottage, so I can be alone. I wouldn’t want Mason to walk in on me. I go into the bathroom and read the instructions before I pee on one of the pregnancy sticks. I wait the three minutes as instructed on the box, and stare at the stick. I reread the instructions again and look back at the stick. Still no change. I blink a few times and still no change. I pee on another stick and wait for three more minutes; the reading on the stick is the same as the last one. I drink some water and pee a third time. I wait three more minutes and get the same result.

  I gather up the trash and carry it out to the curb. I wouldn’t want someone to see these. I head home to the beach house and cook dinner before Mason gets there.

  Mason

  Angel cooked me the most delicious meal last night of seafood linguini. I think she got the recipe from my Mom. We talked about her birthday dinner planned for tomorrow night and what color dress she was going to wear. I want to match my tie with her dress color.

  The next day I get ready in the guest bathroom for her birthday dinner. I decided on a midnight black suit and white shirt with a red silk tie. I know black and white is classy, but Angel taught me a pop of color adds spice. I’m sure she was talking about decorating. Today is Angel’s 23rd birthday, and I want it to be special.

  I sent Angel flowers at work today and made her breakfast while wearing the Kiss the Chef hat and apron this morning. She laughed throughout the entire meal. I texted her throughout the day to make sure she was having a great day. Mom told me I needed to make dinner reservations at The Chart House Restaurant on Longboat Key, so I did.

  Making sure I have everything, I check my pockets for my keys and wallet. I check myself in the mirror again, and once I am satisfied I head out to the kitchen. I grab a Scotch to try to calm my nerves. It’s Angel, and although we have gone out before, I don’t want to mess this up. I play some soft music on the surround sound so Angel can hear it in the bedroom. I want the mood to be perfect. She didn’t want anything special or big for her birthday, so I settled on something small and intimate — just like she wanted.

  I down my Scotch and straighten my tie again. I look at my watch before the bedroom door opens slowly. My heart beats a little faster, and my palms begin to sweat when she comes into view.

  Angel walks out of the bedroom slowly. She is holding her hand to her stomach as she walks out into the living room. She has a look on her face that I can’t read.

  The black, above-the-knee-length dress snugly fits her body above the waist and fans out at the hips. It is low cut in the front but lower cut in the back. It shows off just enough skin to make it sexy. She is wearing four- or five-inch red stilettos, and her long, tan legs are bare. Her eyes are done up with a smoky gray color and black eye liner and bright red lipstick. Her hair is pulled partly up with loose curls outlining her face.

  I walk over to her with a dimpled smile and hold my hands out for her. She slowly takes them.

  “You are breathtaking,” I say as I twirl her around slowly.

  “Thank you, you look very handsome yourself.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Are you ready, Beauty?”

  “Let me just check myself once more. I feel like I’m missing something.”

  “Angel, come on, you look stunning.”

  We drive in silence to the restaurant and use valet parking. I wink over at her before exiting the car. I speak briefly with the attendant before assisting Angel out of the car. She reaches for my hand and stands tall while straightening her dress. I place my hand on the small of her back and lead her into the restaurant.

  We are led to a private table in the back. The fresh-cut daisies I ordered to be delivered to the restaurant earlier are decorating the center of the crisp white linen tablecloth next to two lit candles. Our table is private and facing the still ocean water. The sun is low but hasn’t set yet.

  I pull the chair out for Angel to sit and she smiles at me. The maitre’d smiles at Angel, and I clear my throat. He looks over at me before he excuses himself.

  “Thank you,” she says as she sits. “Jealous much?” She smiles.

  “You are welcome and only when I’m with you,” I say, having a seat across from her.

  Angel places her white linen napkin on her lap and looks at me with a smile. “This is a very beautiful place, and you have no reason
to be jealous.”

  “It is beautiful — the view and the food are spectacular. I have been here only a few times with my parents and Madison. It’s Madison’s favorite restaurant. When men look at you like that, I can’t help but be jealous.”

  “Don’t be. I’m here with you, and that’s all I care about.”

  “Thank you. I’ll try to remember that.”

  I order a bottle of champagne, and we watch the sunset before we order dinner. The maitre’d tells us the specials, and Angel doesn’t pick up her menu. We have been out enough times that I know she gets overwhelmed with the menu selection, and I take pride in the fact that she lets me order for her.

  “What are you in the mood for, Beauty?”

  “Anything you choose is fine.”

  “Steak or seafood?” I ask, already knowing the answer.

  “Seafood, please.”

  I order us crab-stuffed mushrooms appetizers, pan-seared scallops with a baked potato, and Asian green beans.

  “Is that all right, Beauty?”

  “That sounds perfect.”

  I go to refill Angel’s champagne, but her glass is still full. I reach for her hand and hold it across the table. The glow of the candlelight reflects on her flawless face. Her eyelashes fan across her cheek, and she is the most beautiful sight in the world.

  “What are you thinking about?” she asks. “You look like you are in such deep thought.”

  I look up at her and smile. “I was just thinking about how beautiful you are and how blessed I am to be here with you tonight.”

  “I do believe I’m the lucky one here. This is so beautiful, and I can tell how much thought you put into this day. Everything from start to finish was absolutely wonderful. It is the best birthday ever. Thank you.”

  “Thank you, but how do you know? The night’s not over with yet. It still has time to go from good to bad.”

  “I highly doubt that — nothing I have ever done with you has ever been shy of amazing.”

  “Thank you.”

  Our appetizer arrives and the aroma fills the air between us. “This smells so good,” she says, leaning back in her chair.

  “Wow, this is really good,” she says, taking another bite of the appetizer. “I have never had this before.”

  “Good, I’m glad you’re doing this with me then.”

  After we eat the appetizer, Angel excuses herself to go to the powder room, and I pull out her chair for her. “Do you want me to walk with you?”

  “No, thank you. I’m fine. Would you mind ordering me a Pepsi for my dinner? I’m not really in the mood to drink tonight.”

  “I can do that,” I say, looking at her. “Are you feeling all right?”

  “I’m fine, I’ll be right back.”

  While Angel is gone, I check my pockets again. I look around the room and see that it is very busy. I nod to a neighbor of mine from the penthouse who is sitting near the front of the room. Angel returns, and I swear all eyes are on her. She is oblivious to the stares she attracts, and I just smile. I stand and pull her chair out for her to sit.

  “Thank you,” she says, scooting her chair closer to the table.

  Our dinner arrives, and she talks about looking for an office for her Interior Design business. I offer to help with whatever I can. I tell her about marketing and advertising and the best location to set up. She could use my penthouse or her cottage and even set up an office at the beach house. She ponders that idea but doesn’t say anything. She tell me she’ll need to start getting samples of paints, fabrics, and textiles. She seems to be in deep thought tonight and quieter than usual.

  Once dinner is over, Angel passes on dessert and I order two coffees. The maitre’d brings out a small birthday cake and the servers sing “Happy Birthday” to her. She smiles and lowers her head in embarrassment. I can see the blush rise to her face. She makes a wish and blows out the single candle on the cake.

  “I didn’t expect this. Thank you.”

  “You are more than welcome. You seem a little distracted — are you sure you’re all right?”

  “Yes, I’m fine. I am better than ever.” She smiles, but the smile doesn’t reach her eyes.

  I cut two small pieces of cake, and we have it with our coffee.

  Once I settle up the check, I pull a small box from inside my jacket pocket.

  “I didn’t give you your birthday present yet,” I say, holding the small silver box.

  I reach over the table and hand it to her.

  “Oh, Mason. This is beautiful. You didn’t have to.”

  I lean up and smile at her. “You haven’t even opened it yet. Maybe you won’t like it.”

  “Mason, it’s from you and I know without looking at it that it will be beautiful.”

  “So sure of me, are you? Well, that’s very reassuring.”

  I stare at Angel while she holds the gift.

  “Are you going to open it?”

  “I’m afraid.”

  “Afraid of what? Maybe it’s a watch.”

  “Mason, it’s too small to be a watch.” Angel laughs.

  “Please, Angel, just open it.”

  The maitre’d comes over to check on us, and I dismisses him with a wave. I don’t want any more interruptions tonight.

  “Please, Angel, open it,” I say, nodding to the silver box.

  She opens the small box and looks up at me with a smile. It’s a smile that melts my heart. She has tears in her eyes as she looks back into the box. She wipes her tears and removes the necklace from the black velvet box.

  “This is so beautiful,” she says as she stands up. I stand up with her and she hugs me. “Mason, thank you. This is the most beautiful necklace that I have ever seen.”

  In her hands, she is holding the gold and diamond, past, present and future necklace I got her.

  “I wanted to get you something special, and I thought that this would be nice. We both have a past we would like to leave behind us — that’s the small diamond on top. We both are together in the present and I couldn’t be happier — that’s the middle diamond. And you are the only one I want in my future — that’s the largest diamond on the bottom,” I say as I remove the necklace from her hands.

  “Thank you so much. I love it and I love you.”

  “You’re welcome, Beauty,” I say, bending down to kiss her. “Here, let me put it on you.”

  Angel turns around and lowers her head for me to fasten the necklace. Once I am done, she reaches up for the necklace and fingers it lightly. She turns around and smiles at me.

  “You’re beautiful,” I say, bending down to kiss her.

  We both sit down at the table. “See, you had nothing to worry about. It was just a necklace.”

  Angel

  “I was scared, I thought you were giving me an engagement ring there for a minute,” I say, looking at Mason. His eyes are dark, and he is rubbing his finger over his top lip. He is looking at me, but I don’t think he sees me.

  “I’m glad you like it, but I have something to ask you.”

  “Oh.” Now my heart starts to beat a little faster and my palms sweat. “You do?”

  His eyes are dark, and I can’t read them.

  Mason reaches in his jacket pocket, and pulls out a smaller black velvet box. He stands up, unbuttons his jacket, and kneels down on one knee in front of me. He looks so calm. He opens the velvet box and reveals a princess-cut engagement ring with a two karat diamond set in gold.

  “Angel,” he says as he removes the engagement ring and lays the empty box on the table. He takes my left hand in his and strokes my knuckles with his thumb gently. “I have waited my whole life for you. When I first saw you, I knew I wanted you. I know we haven’t known each other long, but we have been through so much already, and I know, without a doubt, that I want to spend every day of my life with you.” Mason looks at me and smiles. “There is nothing that we can’t handle together. I want you to be my wife, to be the mother of my children. I want us to grow old tog
ether and I want to be your beginning and your ending. You are so beautiful and I love you.” He smiles and holds the ring to my finger. “Angelica Hope Ramos Perez, will you marry me?”

  I look at him with tears streaming down my eyes. “Mason?” I swallow the lump in my throat before I try to speak. “I love you, but there is something I have to tell you first.”

  Chapter Nine: Will You Marry Me? (Destined to Love)

  Angel

  “I was scared, I thought you were giving me an engagement ring there for a minute,” I say, looking at Mason. His eyes are dark, and he is rubbing his finger over his top lip. He is looking at me, but I don’t think he sees me.

  “I’m glad you like it, but I have something to ask you.”

  “Oh.” Now my heart starts to beat a little faster and my palms sweat. “You do?”

  His eyes are dark, and I can’t read them.

  Mason reaches in his jacket pocket, and pulls out a smaller black velvet box. He stands up, unbuttons his jacket, and kneels down on one knee in front of me. He looks so calm. He opens the velvet box and reveals a princess-cut engagement ring with a two-carat diamond set in gold.

  “Angel,” he says as he removes the engagement ring and lays the empty box on the table. He takes my left hand in his and strokes my knuckles with his thumb gently. “I have waited my whole life for you. When I first saw you, I knew I wanted you. I know we haven’t known each other long, but we have been through so much already, and I know, without a doubt, that I want to spend every day of my life with you.” Mason looks at me and smiles. “There is nothing that we can’t handle together. I want you to be my wife, to be the mother of my children. I want us to grow old together. You are so beautiful and I love you.” He smiles and holds the ring to my finger. “Angelica Hope Ramos Perez, will you marry me?”

  I look at him with tears streaming down my eyes. “Mason?” I swallow the lump in my throat before I try to speak. “I love you, but there is something I have to tell you first.”

  “Oh, that’s not the answer I was expecting.”