The night was long, since we helped my mom pack until midnight, but we finally went to sleep around 12:30. However, we did not sleep much since we were up by five am. We got ready to head to the airport but not before we ate a breakfast my mom had prepared for us. Alex came in when we were finishing and shared a bite with us. When breakfast was done we said our goodbyes, then headed for the airport. Almost as soon as we had arrived in Maine we were gone and back in New York. My father was forever gone and Tom had disappointed me in the worst way he could. Yet Ethan had been there for me every single moment. He had taken the reins of the situation.
Thinking about everything that had transpired I had no idea what I would have done without him. Not only did he help me in the fragile state I found myself when my mother told me my father had passed but he also helped my family in everything. Ethan was a great man, and every moment he showed me that he deserved my love whole-heartedly.
We got home around one pm and as soon as we crossed the threshhold Ethan was trying to make me feel better. He cooked for me and put on my favorite movie. Every moment he was with me, making sure that I was ok and that I didn’t wallow in my pain. But my pain was severe and halfway through the movie I started crying. So Ethan comforted me until I stopped crying. I managed to get through the rest of the movie, but I had no desire to do anything more, before having to go to work the next day.
“Ethan, do you think we can just listen to music the rest of the day? I don’t feel like doing anything else.”
“Sure, whatever you want.”
This is what we did for hours and hours. We listened to music while I laid on Ethan. Every time I would break out crying he would comfort me. Eventually we decided to go to sleep, although it was only eight o’clock. We both had a few long and stressful days, so when it came down to it we were exhausted and needed to rest. I thought it would be extremely difficult for sleep to come but I felt safe in Ethan’s arms and eventually I did fall asleep.
In the morning I dreaded even the thought of going to work. I had no desire to do anything, and the last thing I wanted to do was to see Tom. He had made me feel completely worthless, and there is nothing that I hate more than feeling worthless. Sadly, I had already told Mr. Reynolds that I was going in the day, so I had to stick to my word. As soon as I walked into work everyone started giving me condolences; after a while, even Mr. Reynolds came out and offered his condolences again.
Thank God I still hadn’t seen Tom, as I had no idea how I would react when I saw him. I just found no explanation why he wouldn’t respond to me, even when he knew my father had passed. I wasn’t sure if he had come into work early or was just avoiding me, but what I did know was that I did not see Tom during the morning. Lunch passed as well and there was still no sign of him. It wasn’t until four o clock that I saw him and as soon as he saw me he started walking toward me. He hadn’t reached me yet and I was already furious, but the normal smile he had on his face wasn’t there. Each step he drew closer made me want to leave a bit more, so by the time he reached me I was more panicked than furious.
“Rachel, may I speak to you?”
I looked at him with a heavy glare, then finally answered, “Are you serious? I haven’t heard a thing from you in days and that’s all you have to say?”
“I know you must be mad but please let me explain.”
“Mad! You think I’m mad? I’m furious?” I said, practically screaming.
At this point some of our coworkers that were heading home started looking at us. This should have worried me more, but I was too furious to care.
“Rachel, please let’s talk in private,” he said calmly. “Let’s not cause a scene here. That wouldn’t be wise.”
“Does it look like I care?” I said roughly.
“Please, Rachel, let’s just go somewhere we can talk and I will explain. Please! I don’t want you to lose your job, and I don’t want to lose mine.”
“Fine! You have 5 minutes. I won’t give you any more of my time.”
We walked outside and I followed him to a park nearby. The first bench I saw I stopped at and told him I wouldn’t walk another minute.
“Fine, Rachel. I really don’t want to fight with you. I just want to explain myself.”
“Oh, is that all you want to do?”
“Rachel, I know that you’re hurting and I know that part of it is my fault.”
I interrupted him before he could continue talking. “Part of it is your fault? I think you mean most of it is your fault. You proposed to me even though I’m already engaged. Then you completely disappeared on me, but not only did you disappear on me, you did it with the knowledge that my dad passed away.”
“Please, Rachel, let me explain. That’s all I want to do.”
“Ok. Then explain,” I said roughly.
“I wanted to be there for you, trust me, more than anything. When you first called I was asleep and by the time I saw your text I panicked with the information. I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t know what to say, but most of all when I read your message a lot of old feelings stirred up inside me. I went back to when my father died, and honestly I felt just as destroyed as the day he died.”
“I understand that, Tom. But tell me you couldn’t find the decency to ask me how I was in three days.”
“By the time I was able to recover emotionally I felt it was too late to send a message and not seem like a complete asshole.”
“What did you have to lose, Tom? You already seemed like a complete asshole. We could have helped each other. We could have made each other feel better, but instead you chose to lock yourself up and hurt me in the process.”
“I’m so sorry, Rachel. I’m so sorry I hurt you. Please give me another chance.”
“I don’t know if I can do that, Tom.”
“Please, Rachel,” he said, stepping closer to me. “I love you with all my heart. I know I made a mistake but please forgive me. I’ll be better; I’ll give you better. Please just give me a chance. “
“I don’t know if you can actually give me better. You left me in my worst state. How do I know you won’t do that again? How can I marry you knowing these things? Do you think that leaving Ethan is going to be any easier now?”
“Rachel, something like this will never happen again. It would be different if you decided to marry me. Ethan would no longer be in the way. I knew that Ethan would be with you at your apartment. How could I comfort you when I had so many things against me?”
“Ethan didn’t arrive till much later that night and I would have found a way so Ethan wouldn’t have noticed.”
“Rachel, we don’t act normal when we are sad. That would have been extremely difficult.”
“I won’t deny it that you are half right. It is a lot harder for us to control ourselves in that state, but I just don’t know if I can let this go.”
I turned to leave but he grabbed my wrist.
“Please, Rachel, don’t go. Please. I swear to you I will do better. I swear to you I can do better. I may not have been for you then, I may not have been with you at that moment, but I’m with you now.”
Chapter twenty-four
I turned around and faced him. I look straight into his eyes. Not only could I see all the love in them but also all the sorrow and repentance. My heart was divided. Tom had let me down in a way that should never have happened. While he was away trying to fix his own sad heart, Ethan was left picking up the pieces of not only my father’s death but of Tom’s actions toward his death.
“Tom, you left at a critical point and Ethan was left to pick up all the pieces. Pieces that he shouldn’t have had to pick up because they shouldn’t have shattered in the first place.”
“You’re right, Rachel, and I will apologize for this as much as is necessary. I promise you this. If you give me another chance I will help you mend every scar, even the ones that shouldn’t be there.” He grabbed my hands and continued to talk. “Please, Rachel I beg you. Give me another chance...give us anothe
r chance.”
“Tom, I just can’t,”
A tear rolled down his face and he wiped it away.
“Rachel, I’m so sorry. Don’t make me beg. I love you. I can be without you but I never want to. A life without you would be pointless.”
I sighed and let go of his hands. “One more chance, Tom. Just one. If something like this happens again, I’m done.”
“It won’t, I promise,” he said, hugging me. “I love you, and I will prove it to you.”
“I don’t know the value of your promises right now, but I have to go. I have to go home. I haven’t slept well in days.”
“I understand. I’ll see you tomorrow.” He kissed me on the cheek.
I walked away and headed home. Not long after I got there, Ethan came in, too.
“Rachel, can we talk a minute?” he asked.
“Sure. What’s going on?”
“I know this is bad timing, but the hospital asked me if I could go on another weekend conference in three weeks and I didn’t dare say no since I took days off recently. I’m really sorry. I didn’t want to leave you so soon.”
“It’s ok, Ethan. I understand. You have done more for me in these days than I could ever ask for. So if you have to go another weekend, it’s ok.”
“I’m glad you understand.”
The next day at work a man arrived at R&R with a beautiful bouquet of red roses, then stopped at my desk.
“Excuse me. I have a flower delivery for Rachel Scott.”
“I’m Rachel Scott.”
“These are for you, miss. Have a nice day.” H put them on my desk and left the building.
I grabbed the card that came with the roses and read it.
My dearest Rachel,
I know I have made a terrible mistake, but I will do everything to win you back. You are very important to me and the last thing I want is to lose you. I have something planned for us after work. I’m sure Ethan won’t mind.
With love,
Tom
I couldn’t help but smile at that last sentence. I still held some resentment in my heart from Tom’s actions, but I had promised him one more chance so I would give it to him. At four, like always, Tom and I clocked out. He guided me to his apartment where he had a candlelight dinner set up for us next to the pool.
“Your neighbor helped again?”
“Actually, this time it was a friend of mine.”
“I didn’t know you even had friends.”
“That’s because I’d rather spend time with you than with my friends.”
I smiled and looked down.
“Too fast?”
“No, it’s ok... I just have a lot on my mind.”
“I would too. I’ll just put on some music to lighten the mood.”
He stood up and turned on the radio. Soft sweet music began playing in the background. I started eating before he got to the table and sat down again.
“Rachel?”
“Yes.”
“When is Ethan leaving again?”
“In three weeks.”
“For how long?”
“Just for the weekend.”
“Ok, I’d like to take you somewhere when he leaves. Is that ok with you?”
“Sure, why not? Is it far away from here?”
“Not too far. About two hours heading toward Connecticut.”
“My parents used to live there long ago. I actually grew up there.”
“You hadn’t told me that. So you’re a country girl,” he said mockingly.
“Oh shut up,” I said as I started laughing. Connecticut is nothing like the country.”
“It is compared to New York.”
“Whatever. Just hurry up and eat. Ethan gets back from work around six thirty.”
We finished our food, then Tom suggested we read a bit. I couldn’t say no when he suggested we go back into the world of Pride and Prejudice. He read for about an hour, but then I told him I really did have to get going. I walked downstairs and in front of the door he planted one of those kisses on me that helped me fall in love with him. You know the type of kiss where you feel that all the person on your lips wants in the world is you. He picked me up and pinned me against the wall, igniting every part of me, taking every single thought of resentment away.
Chapter twenty-five
“Tom, I really have to go now. It’s seven o’clock. Ethan is going to call me any minute.”
“I know, I’m sorry. I just couldn’t help myself. With all the bickering and everything that has happened I’ve just missed having you so much.”
“Well, you had me with you, and now I have to go.”
“Before you go. Did you like the flowers I sent?”
“They were beautiful. How did you now I like red roses so much?”
“I remember the first time I gave you a red rose your face lit up like you had seen the very best thing in this world, and your smile was so genuine.”
I looked down and he lifted my head up.
“That’s why I love you so much. Even the simplest things in this world cause such a great impact in you. You appreciate every little detail and make others feel special in the process.”
“I love you too, but I really have to go.”
I opened the door and there was woman walking toward the door at that very moment. As soon as she saw Tom, she stood straight and smiled, yet Tom had no smile present on his face. He actually looked a little scared and stunned.
“Tom, how are you?” she asked, giving him a hug.
He hugged her back but then just stood there silently after she let go.
“Are you not going to say anything to me?”
“I don’t know what so say,” Tom finally said.
“How about ‘HI, Mom?’ I’ve missed you so much. How are you?”
I couldn’t keep my surprise in and just blurted the first thing that came to my mind.
“You’re Tom’s mother? I thought you said your mother passed away in an accident seven years ago.”
“Is that what you told her?”
“Mom, I’m sorry. What else could I say?”
“How about the truth?”
“What would anyone gain from that?”
“Everything, Tom. Like actually understanding you and why you can be so closed off.”
“What’s going on, Tom?”
“Rachel...I’m so sorry you had to find out this way.”
“Tom, just tell me what’s going on.”
“I told you my parents died in a car accident. That’s not really what happened. My brother had some psychological problems. He had recently lost his job and his wife. We were all in the car together. A fight started inside the car and it escalated very quickly. My brother was depressed and extremely pissed off, so he tried to kill himself and everyone in the car with him by driving the car into the ongoing traffic. My father died in the accident and so did my brother, but my mother and I survived.”
“Why wouldn’t you tell me this?
I was ashamed of how it happened and what happened afterwards. My mother became depressed and I started drinking intensely. I became a drunk in every sense of the word. I distanced myself from my mom until I was able to get myself better. Sadly, by the time I did, things with my mom weren’t that good. After that I just felt bad going back to her so I stayed away and called her from time to time. Plus my family comes from money. So in a way, in part of my mind, I thought it was good chance to get away from the rich lifestyle.”
“Tom, you have to stop lying to me. I understand things are sometimes difficult, but I’m an adult and I won’t judge you for your past.”
“I’m sorry,” he said, grabbing my hands. “I should have told you the truth from the beginning. I was scared how you would react knowing that my father died because of my brother.”
“Tom, that isn’t your fault. But I can’t take any more lies.”
“I won’t lie to you again. I promise.”
“You said that last time.”
>
“I know, but I had already told you this, and I didn’t know how to tell you the truth. I thought about it a million times but just didn’t know how to do it. I’m sorry, but I want you to meet my mother, Debora.”
“Nice to meet you, Debora,” I said, extending my hand.
“Nice to meet you, Miss...,” she said, shaking my hand.
“Scott.”
“Nice to meet you, Miss Scott.”
“It’s nice to see where Tom comes from. You raised a fine gentleman.”
“I hope he’s been good you.”
“He’s not perfect, as you clearly saw, but he treats me well.”
My phone rang at that very moment, and I excused myself. It was Ethan.
“Hey, babe. Are you ok?”
“Yes, I’m ok. I’ll be home soon. I went to watch a movie after work and then stopped at a diner. I’m about to take a taxi. I’ll be home soon.”
“Ok, see you soon then. I love you.”
“I love you too.”
I walked back to Tom and his mother. I didn’t want to interrupt, but if I wasn’t home soon, Ethan would suspect that I was lying to him.
“I’m sorry to interrupt,” I said. “I really have to get going.”
“So soon?” Tom’s mother asked.
“I wish I could stay longer, but I really must get home.”
“Her mother isn’t well and she’s taking care of her,” Tom said.
I looked at Tom from the corner of my eye and tried not to hit him for telling such an unnecessary lie.
“I’m sorry, I hope your mother gets better.”
“Thank you. Once again it was nice to meet you.”
“You too, sweetie.”
Tom gave me a hug and I walked away, leaving him and his mess behind. If anything from this last week had taught me anything it was that Tom definitely had a side of him that I didn’t know.
The next day when I got to work there was a white teddy bear on my desk and a card between his paws. I grabbed the card and read it.
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