The housekeeper brought him a cup of coffee. A few minutes later, Kendra’s parents entered the room. Mitch stood and opened his mouth, but nothing came out. Mr. McKinnon gestured with his hand for Mitch to sit back down as he and his wife took their places across from him.
“We were surprised that you would come,” Mr. McKinnon began, his voice hard and bitter. His wife, an older version of Kendra, could barely look at him.
Mitch cleared his throat. “I wasn’t sure you’d be willing to see me. I have no right to this.”
“That’s true.” Mr. McKinnon plucked at the cuff of his Ralph Lauren shirt.
“I’m thankful you invited me in.”
“It’s not every day that the man who killed your daughter shows up on your doorstep,” Mr. McKinnon replied, coldly.
“I wanted to apologise in person. I know there’s no reason for you to forgive me. I don’t expect it, but a lot has changed in the past two years in my life. Knowing that I took that chance away from your daughter, and from you, will haunt me forever.”
Kendra’s mother finally faced him. “It’s impossible to undo what was done,” she whispered.
“It is. And if I could, believe me, I’d undo it all. I’d make better choices. Everything I did was the complete opposite of the person I now want to be, and am. And I’m so sorry it took your daughter’s death for me to figure it out,” he said as tears welled in his eyes.
Kendra’s father sighed heavily. “The past two years haven’t been easy for us. You have no idea of the torment we’ve gone through, but I do have to thank you for two things. First of all, I know you were pressured to blame Kendra for her actions that night. The fact that you confessed to what you did—the drugs—well, I admit that I hated you for doing that to her. But I respect you for being honest when a lie could have served you better.
“And the second thing is that I’m thankful you were willing to come here today and address us in person. It can’t have been easy for you. It’s painful for us, but I’m sure that it’s humbling being in your shoes right now. I don’t know what else to say because it doesn’t change anything. But it helps.”
Relief washed over Mitch. “I’m so glad to hear that. I know it can never take away the pain you’re feeling, but I also wanted your permission for something.” He leaned forward and took a slow breath. “I’d like to start a foundation in Kendra’s honour. I want to counsel young people about their actions and the consequences of making bad choices. I have money but it led me astray. If I can do something good with it, if I can help kids to understand the consequences and the recklessness of alcohol and drugs, maybe I can finally put that money to good use, but I wanted your permission before I put Kendra’s name to it. I want to make sure that you feel that it’s honouring to her, and I’m also happy to have your input.”
Mrs. McKinnon’s cheeks grew damp. She looked at her husband and nodded, as if a wave of relief had settled over her. Mitch looked to Kendra’s father, expectant.
“That would be wonderful, Mitchell. Thank you for that. And,” he placed his hand on his wife’s thigh, “I want you to know that I choose to forgive you. It’s not an easy choice, but it’s one I have to make. If this foundation prevents another family from going through what we’ve been through, it’s a good undertaking.”
“Mitchell,” Kendra’s mother said quietly. He sensed how hard it was for her to speak to him. “I don’t want to be saddled by hatred anymore. You took something so precious away from us, but even if you weren’t apologetic, I can’t keep carrying this burden. I forgive you too.”
Mitch let out a sigh of relief. “Thank you.” Tears began rolling down his cheeks. He’d hoped for a day when things would be made right, but he’d never expected it to be this side of heaven.
After leaving the McKinnon home, he headed back to Kyle’s house. He went inside, greeted Kyle, and changed into something more comfortable before joining him in the living room.
“How’d it go?” Kyle asked.
“Better than I hoped.” A small smile played on Mitch’s lips.
“I’m glad to hear it. It’s great they were willing to listen to you. Are you going to move forward with the foundation?”
“Yes. They approved of it whole-heartedly.”
“That’s great!”
“It really is. And you know, since that went so well, I’m going to be brave and talk to you about something as well.”
“Okay… don’t leave me hanging.”
“I won’t. I’m sure you’ve figured out by now that I have life-long intentions for your sister.”
Kyle grinned widely and cheerfully. Mitch knew that the words he was about to speak would come as no surprise to Kyle.
“But since you’re the main man in her life, I need to ask your permission. Do you give me permission to marry your sister?”
“Ha ha! Of course I do! It’s about time, is all I can say!” Kyle jumped up and slapped him on the back.
They went on to discuss Mitch’s plans for how he was going to propose, how he would provide a home without drawing on any of his trust fund, and everything else that needed to be thought through. Before long, they had everything planned perfectly. Mitch had already decided most if it long before he was ever released from jail, but having Kyle back him up and give his opinions was what he needed in order to be confident about this plan.
The day had held two extremely terrifying conversations. The fact that both went exactly as he would have hoped reminded him that God was with him and he was far from alone.
He knew well that God didn’t always give him the things he wanted, but when he prayed through matters, God was aligning his heart to the place it was supposed to be. However, he still had one more question to ask...
Chapter 26
At church on Sunday morning, Mitch and Jenna made plans to get together that evening, but he told her he’d be busy during the afternoon, so she went home to her apartment and relaxed. She’d had a hectic week at work and although she would have loved to spend the afternoon with Mitch, having a few hours to herself was bliss.
The previous few weeks with him had been a dream. He was growing in Christ and he’d shared with her that morning about Kendra’s parents approving the foundation he’d been praying about starting. Jenna felt so much pride for him, observing the changes that had taken place in him, even since his release.
The afternoon passed too quickly and before long it was time to get ready for their date.
She chose a simple, pale blue silk blouse, a pair of skinny jeans, and shoes with a low heel. She generally dressed casually, but whenever she and Mitch had a date night, she spruced herself up a little, wanting him to know that she respected him enough to make the effort.
She left her hair down but sprayed some texturiser to add a little body before putting on some subtle makeup. He hadn’t mentioned their plans, but typically they went for dinner and occasionally saw a movie. She was interested in seeing a new film that had been advertised and she hoped he might take her.
However, fifteen minutes before she was set to leave, she got a call from him.
“Hey Jenna.” He sounded a little nervous and disappointment filled her as she figured he was going to cancel. “What’s up?” she asked.
“I just wanted to let you know that I’m here. At your door. I decided to pick you up tonight.”
She smiled in relief. Kyle must have loaned him his car. “Oh, great, I’ll be right out,” she replied before hanging up the phone.
She snatched a last glance in the mirror and then headed to the door. When she opened it, her breath caught. On the street was a car that was fancier than anything she’d ever seen in her life. She had no idea what was going on, but when Mitch climbed out and came to the passenger’s side and opened the door and held his arm out, Jenna grinned. “Wow.” She laughed as she walked towards him.
Mitch took her in his arms and gazed into her eyes. “You look beautiful.”
She took in his black suit an
d white shirt. His cologne floated on the evening breeze—a floral scent that made her swoon. “You look pretty handsome, yourself.” She stretched up and kissed him on his lips. “What’s with the car?”
“It’s my mum’s. She let me borrow it for the evening.”
Jenna was glad to hear it. Mitch had told her that he and his mum were re-building and repairing their relationship and that things were improving between them every day. She was also relieved that he hadn’t gone out and bought it.
“What is it?” she asked, craning her neck to see it better.
“An Aston Martin.”
“Cool. Not that I’ve ever been in one before, but it looks cool.”
“Before we get in, I have something for you.”
Jenna frowned. He’d only once given her flowers. She hadn’t minded. He was learning to budget on the small income he received from working with Kyle. But whatever he had for her, he seemed rather excited about it.
He pulled a small, neatly wrapped box from his pocket and handed it to her. Her eyes lit up. She undid the wrapping and opened the box. Inside was a pair of delicate, diamond earrings. “Oh my…” She could hardly speak.
“Do you like them?”
She looked at Mitch, her eyes wide. “I love them.” She’d never seen anything so beautiful. They were perfectly clear and cut to perfection. A small paper certified that they were authentic, conflict-free stones. They must have cost him a fortune.
“Would you like to put them on?”
Nodding enthusiastically, she removed the little silver dot studs she was wearing and replaced them with the diamonds.
Carefully, she put her studs in the box and slipped it into her purse. “How do I look?” she asked, smiling at him.
“Like you belong in diamonds.” He grinned.
Averting her gaze, she studied her hands. She’d made such an effort to discourage Mitch from seeking the things of the world, and here she was, excited about being decked out in high quality rocks. A small part of her felt like a hypocrite, but then she knew she needed to accept the gift graciously. Mitch had bought them for her, and it showed he cared.
“Shall we go?” he asked, opening the door for her like a gentleman.
“That all depends. I feel a little underdressed. I wasn’t aware that this was a fancy date.”
“You look perfect. Really. And even if you were in a t-shirt and shorts, I’d be honoured to escort you.”
“Thank you. I can hardly wait to see what else you have planned.”
Sliding onto the leather interior, she gazed up at him and smiled.
They talked about many things while he drove, his mum, Kyle, work, but when he spoke about his plans for the foundation, he grew animated. It was clear he was more than ready for the project to get underway.
“I’ve finished the organisation plan and I’m taking it this week to get it formally licensed. I also called Mr. McKinnon today and asked him if he or Mrs. McKinnon would be willing to be on the board. I have three other people. Daniel from church and two of my dad’s business acquaintances have already agreed to it. Mr. McKinnon said he would be proud to serve and that he would talk to his wife about whether or not she wants to be involved in any capacity.”
Jenna gave him an encouraging smile. “That’s wonderful. It’s great that they’re supporting you.”
Mitch turned the car into the porte cochère of the exclusive Langdon Towers in the heart of the city. Jenna had heard that the top floor of the Towers offered spectacular views overlooking Sydney Harbour and across Darling Harbour west to the Blue Mountains, but she’d never been inside the exclusive hotel. Mitch turned to her and grinned. “We’re here!”
“Wow! I didn’t expect to be coming here tonight. This is exciting.”
A porter, complete with top hat and tie, greeted them and opened the car door for Jenna. “Good evening, Madame, Monsieur.”
Jenna smiled and looked to Mitch. He scooted around the car and tucked her arm into his. He thanked the porter and then led her up the stairs to the entrance where another porter, dressed in a tuxedo, opened the door and bowed upon their entry.
“This is amazing,” Jenna whispered through a giggle as they walked to an elevator where yet another porter met them and pressed the button for the top floor.
Upon reaching the top, the doors opened and Jenna gasped as she gazed out at the city spread before them. The sky had begun to darken and the twinkling lights of the city made it look like fairyland.
They had the entire floor to themselves. To one side, there was a jacuzzi with soft lighting on a deck with two lounge chairs, and on the side where the view was the best, a single red rose sat in a slender glass vase on a table covered with a lace tablecloth. There was something incredibly beautiful and romantic about the whole setting.
“Do you like it?” Mitch asked, slipping his arms around her while brushing his lips gently across hers.
“I love it. But why are you doing all of this?”
“Because for once, I wanted to spoil you. You’ve never expected anything from me when you know I could have given you anything you wanted, flown you to anywhere in the world, but you’re happy to simply go to the movies. You deserve to be spoiled once in a while, Jenna. Tonight, I want you to relax and enjoy this special treat.” He lifted his hand and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
Her heart warmed at the touch of his hand on her skin as she looked into his soft eyes. “So, is it going to be a huge disappointment when I tell you that I didn’t know we would have a jacuzzi and I didn’t bring a swimsuit?”
He chuckled. “Would it be a disappointment if I told you that there’s a present for you next to the jacuzzi?”
Jenna laughed. “You’ve thought of everything.”
“Think of tonight as my way of saying thank you for everything you’ve done for me. Now, are you ready for dinner?”
“Absolutely. I can’t wait.”
“This way, my darling.” He slipped his arm around her shoulder and walked her to the table where he pulled the chair out for her and waited for to sit before he sat opposite.
She lifted her gaze to his and smiled.
A waiter appeared and offered them a choice of drinks. She chose a non-alcoholic apple cider and Mitch, a glass of sparkling mineral water which they sipped while enjoying gourmet canapes. Later, he returned with a selection of mains which Jenna found difficult to choose from, they all sounded and looked superb. In the end, she decided on the roast duck breast and crispy leg croquettes with cherries and almonds. Mitch chose the lamb rump with wild garlic risotto and fava beans.
Before they started their mains, Mitch took Jenna’s hand and gave thanks. Tears sprang to her eyes at the sincerity of his prayer. Never in her wildest dreams had she imagined this scenario playing out before her, but God was good and had brought them to this point and she trusted Him to lead them to wherever He wanted to take them.
Chapter 27
So far everything had gone perfectly according to plan. Mitch could see how delighted Jenna was to be here with him, and that gave him great joy.
He’d been hesitant about lavishing her with expensive gifts and such a luxurious night. After all, he didn’t want her to feel like he was trying to buy her after everything they’d been through. She was deeper than the gifts he could give. She was not the sort of woman who would be swayed by the jewels he’d purchased for her.
She was a woman who knew her worth and value in Christ and because of her confidence in that, Mitch felt it was right to give her these gifts that could represent the depth of his affection for her. If she’d been anyone else, perhaps she might have been caught up in them.
But not Jenna.
One of a kind, a true jewel, the sort of woman that the Proverbs taught a young man to look for. That was Jenna. She was the sort who could bring a man to his knees, not through any power she had, but through her humility and kindness.
He was anxious, knowing that the proposal was nearing. He
had planned out every detail of the evening, but there was no telling how this part might go. After all, he and Jenna had not been dating long.
He was nervous that he might not be the spiritual leader Jenna wanted. He worried that maybe she’d been happy in their relationship but felt uncertain about their future. All of these things were certainly possible. It wasn’t as though he deserved her. He’d accepted that he truly had been the most arrogant, selfish jerk before he met her, and of course, God. Together, they’d changed his life, but he still had such a long way to go on this journey.
Of course, he was anxious about the future. How could he balance his wealth with his new lifestyle and priorities? He wanted to provide for his family by good, honest hard work, but what if it wasn’t enough? He was starting from nothing. Could he resist the temptation to draw on his vast wealth instead of trust the providence of the God who owned the cattle on a thousand hills?
Focusing on that truth, he cast aside his worries and turned to God, asking Him for peace. After all, he could provide as well as he was able, but it was God who was the giver of all life and everything they had. He asked God to help him remember that he was merely a steward of the gifts and provisions that He had blessed him with.
“How was your meal?” he asked, wiping his mouth with his napkin.
“Wonderful, thank you.” Jenna’s smile was eager and filled with affection and delight. It made him so happy that she was enjoying the evening.
“Dessert will be here in a few minutes, but I was wondering if you would like to dance?”
Her smile faded and was replaced with a frown. “I’d love to, but there’s one tiny problem.”
“Oh?”
“I’m not the greatest dancer, but I’m even worse when there’s no music.”
Mitch looked around, pretending to have only just noticed. “Oh, that. Of course. You’re right. No music. Well, we can’t dance without music, now can we?” He gave a small nod to one of the wait staff.
“What’s going on?” Jenna asked.
Billionaires with Heart Boxset: Christian Romance Series Page 33