by Mack Black
I was proud of him for refusing her. If it were me, I didn’t think I would’ve been able to make that same choice.
Hopefully he wouldn’t regret it in the end.
Bella sat across the table from me as she ate her breakfast. I smiled to myself. After this was over, after today turned into tomorrow, we’d have a fresh start too. My insecurities were gone, replaced by a trust I wished I’d known all along. When she said she loved me, I believed her. When she told me she wouldn’t hurt me, I knew it was true because she would suffer just as much if the tables were turned. I would do everything in my power to make us last forever.
I stood from the table and put my plate in the sink, heading for my room.
"James wait," Bella said, rising from the table.
"Yeah?"
"I forgot to tell you, I was asked to be a unit still for The Exploding Man. Nothing special, just taking still pictures for the marketing, but it's a significant raise in pay," she said.
"That's great Bella. I knew knowing all those people in the movie industry would pay off. When do you start?"
"A week from tomorrow. I have to fly to LA for the first week of shooting, but after that I'll be back here for the remainder. Colin got me the job. This could open up so many doors for me." She looked down at the floor, afraid to meet my eyes.
"I'm really proud of you little flower. You're going to kick ass at this job." I said, trusting that this didn't mean it was the end for us.
It was only a week. I could go a week. It would be torture, sure, but I could do it. Besides, this was her dream. It was the very reason she got in with these people. Bella had always wanted to be in the movie industry. Granted, taking photos wasn't like acting or anything, but being a unit still would help her meet so many people, and a lot of them could potentially further her career.
"I was worried you’d be angry," she whispered, standing and closing the distance between us.
"How could I be angry at you for following your dreams?" I asked, my voice a lot higher than it should be. I couldn’t believe she’d thought I’d be mad, even for a second.
"Okay imposter, who are you and what have you done with James?" She narrowed her eyes and angled her head.
"It’s me, Bella. I’ve changed. And, it’s just a week. We’ll be fine.” My words probably made her think I was insane, but today changed everything for me. In a matter of hours, Charlotte would be executed. Our lives could finally move forward and put all my worries behind me.
"Wait here, okay? I will be right back." I jogged to my bedroom, shutting the door behind me. When I got to my closet, I ruffled through, yanking everything out of my way until I found a small, velvet box. I’d saved it for so many years, hoping I’d eventually find someone worthy of it.
I didn't bother to clean up the small tornado I’d created in my room before charging out.
Bella sat on the couch with her legs propped up on the coffee table, her fingers typing away on her phone screen.
I clutched the small box behind my back as I sat down beside her. Taking a deep breath, I pulled my hand in front of me, still blocking the object from view. “I have something for you.” I opened my hand.
Her eyes darted between me and the box, back and forth. Then she gasped. “James, no.” Her voice was as still as death.
"Don’t freak out, little flower. It isn’t what you’re thinking,” I said, my voice shaky with nerves. Maybe this hadn’t been the right move yet.
"Whew." A loud gush of air flew from her.
Okay, definitely not the right move.
"Actually, just forget I ever said anything." I got to my feet, ready to retreat to my room and hide in shame.
She caught my wrist, pulling me back down on the couch.
"No. I want to see it." The confidence in her tone relaxed me.
I thought for a few moments, gathering myself as I stared at her to gauge if she was telling the truth or not. I finally decided to go for it and cracked open the box.
"Oh God," she said. 0Her eyes flickered between the diamond ring nestled inside the velvet box and my eyes. I stared at her, trying to discern any reaction.
Either she was completely okay with this, or she had one hell of a poker face.
I took the ring from the box, grabbing her right hand and sliding it on her finger. It was the perfect fit, which only made me surer about my decision.
"I-it-it’s exactly what I thought," she stuttered, her voice shaking just enough to betray the cool, calm mask on her face. "I'm not…I can't…Wait. Shouldn't you be asking me something right now?"
"I told you this isn't what you’re thinking. If I was going to ask you to marry me, I would’ve slid this ring on your left hand after I got down on one knee. Trust me when I say this: if I was going to propose to you, I wouldn’t be giving you some cheap diamond ring. When it comes, you won't have a single doubt in your mind." With a soft look, I met her eyes, trying to ease some of the tension showing in her face.
It was much too soon to propose. Even I wasn't that stupid.
"But James, it's a diamond ring," she said, holding her hand up to look at it.
The light bounced off the small diamond, sending a glittering rainbow across every shiny surface around us.
"It was my mother’s, and it means I'm fully committed to you, that I've left all the petty shit behind. I'm not going to worry about our future anymore because I don't want to miss our present. It's my promise to you that no matter what, I will always be right here by your side because I love you more than I love my comic collection, more than I love Batman, and more than I love myself. I would give every single bit of it up for you. You are worth more than all the money or diamonds in the world. You're worth more than the rarest comic. It's only a promise little flower. A promise of me, forever."
Before I could even think, she crawled on top of me and pushed me into the couch. "Damn it James! How do you expect me not to fall even more head over heels for you when you say something like that?” A growl fell from her throat as her lips found my neck.
"Is that a bad thing?" I asked.
"God no," she replied, grinding against me.
"Good because I meant every damn word."
"Shut up and kiss me," she demanded, not giving me a chance to respond as her lips captured mine again.
After a few moments, I looked at the clock, panic setting in when I realized we had only moments to get to the prison before everything started.
I sprang out of bed and threw some clothes on, throwing my things into Bella’s purse.
Just as I finished gathering everything, Bella came out of my room wearing a tight, black halter dress and black flats. Her hair was pulled back with only a soft tendril framing her face, which had only the softest touch of makeup. She looked beautiful. It was suiting since we were kind of going to a funeral of sorts.
We rushed out the door and straight to the jail, running through the double doors. My sister and Jace hadn't made it yet, but Dad stood in the hall with a woman I’d never seen before. Bella smiled at the woman, making me wonder if she knew her. What if it was Dad’s new girlfriend? The thought had my anxiety bursting to the surface, but I managed to push it aside to deal with later.
Jace and Vanessa walked in then, taking in the scene around them. Vanessa’s gaze landed on Dad and the mystery woman before falling on me with raised eyebrows.
I had no answers, so I shrugged my shoulders in response.
My dad rested a hand on Jace's shoulder, and the two of them had a silent conversation. A pang of jealousy went through me and I wished I had the same kind of connection with Dad that he had with Jace. But I never had.
Jace nodded, then put his arms around my dad.
Bella held my hand, watching everything unfold in silence. I was so glad to have her comfort since I wouldn’t get it anywhere else. We each took chairs in the small waiting room, none of us speaking as we waited to be called back. More than anything, I wanted to ask Dad who the mystery woman was, but now w
asn't the time or the place.
An officer called us, and he escorted us into an empty room where only a thin piece of glass separated us from the giant electric chair. We were the first people in the room, and the front row of seats were reserved for us. As we took those seats, they escorted Charlotte inside. My hand tightened around Bella’s, and from the corner of my eye, I noticed Dad taking Jace’s free hand while we all waited in silence.
“I thought they no longer used the electric chair?” Dad asked, looking from me to Jace and back to me again.
“In 2015 there was a law passed that an inmate on death row could choose the way they died. She must have chosen to go this way,” I said.
Charlotte’s eyes locked onto Jace, and she didn’t even look away when they called her name. The tension in the air was so thick I could barely breathe.
An officer guided her into the chair, then tightened the leather straps so much the skin around them turned a deep shade of red.
This is it.
"Any last words?" a guard asked Charlotte.
"I love you Jace," she said without breaking eye contact.
Jace seemed to be in another world. His own flesh and blood was about to die, and her last words only showed him she was a sick human being.
It was so quiet you could hear a pin drop in the room, at least until the guard flipped the switch on the wall.
Beside me, Bella’s free hand clung to her mouth as she gasped. A sick feeling hit my stomach because I was actually enjoying this. Maybe I was as sadistic as Charlotte deep down. Another feeling wrapped around me, one of finally being free, and I couldn’t stop the smile from stretching across my lips.
Her body convulsed as foam fell from her lips. Her widened eyes never closed, not even when they turned the switch off, and even in her death, her eyes on Jace was haunting enough to cause nightmares. I could only hope it wouldn't affect him the way she’d hoped it would.
Her body fell slack, and her head rolled down. There wasn't a chance in the world that there was a single breath of life inside her, but seeing her stare directed at him was enough to make me stand and leave the room immediately.
I didn't even wait for the officer to take her body away before rushing straight out the door, finally letting out the breath I’d been holding. My stomach felt sour. I was going to vomit if I didn’t start breathing right again. Two deep breaths later, Bella was at my side.
"You okay James?" Bella laid a gentle hand on my back.
"It's finally over." Those were the only words I could say.
"That was intense," Dad said as he came out and gripped my shoulder. "You look pale, James."
“This is hard for me to admit, but I found that enthralling. Do dead bodies always look like that? I can’t tell if I feel good or bad right now. The look on her face made me sick to my stomach, but deep down I still feel almost giddy." I could barely say the words. I was terrified Bella would find me disgusting and leave.
"No son, it makes you human. I think we all enjoyed that, even Jace," my father said.
For the first time, I looked down to find his hand holding the mystery woman’s. I followed their arms up, staring openly at her for the first time. Her dark brown hair framed a pretty face, and her eyes were as blue as the sea. Wrinkle lines around her mouth and eyes showed her age, but still, she was beautiful. I could see why my dad went for her.
"Let's celebrate," Jace said as they made their way out the door. He patted my dad’s shoulder twice and let out a loud laugh. "To justice being served, and to the announcement you need to make to your children."
Wait, what announcement? Dear God, please don't let it be another engagement.
"Jace shut up," Dad said, giving him a disapproving look.
"Do it or I'll do it for you," he said, laughter bubbling around his words.
I hadn't expected him to be so happy, but it was refreshing to see a difference in him for once.
"Fine. Ice cream?" Dad said, looking around at all of us.
"Can we grab the girls from the playground first?" Vanessa said, her own smile mirroring Jace's.
"Sure. Meet us at the ice cream shop on Fifth," Dad said, smiling at his mystery lady.
Bella and I followed a short distance behind my dad as we made the short walk to the little quaint ice cream parlor.
When we were just out of hearing distance, I turned my eyes towards Bella.
"Something tells me this is what you meant when you said my dad was alright," I said.
She pressed her lips together, the corners pointed up in a smirk.
"I love you, little flower." I squeezed her hand as the little bells on the door jingled at our entrance.
I quickly scooped myself some ice cream before settling in at the table in the back. My dad and mystery woman had already gotten their ice cream and were digging into it like it would disappear before they could eat it.
Jace and Vanessa walked in with my two nieces, got their ice cream, and sat down at the table with us.
"Okay John, out with it now," Jace said with a mouth full of ice cream.
Dad stood, pulling the woman up with him while he cleared his throat so loud everyone in the ice cream parlor turned to us. "James, Vanessa, this is Lola. Lola and I have been together for five years. We’re getting married, and we’ve decided we want to adopt some children.” The words shot from his mouth, so fast I wondered if I heard him right.
Five fucking years?
I looked at Dad, then the woman, and my gaze snapped back to Dad. "What the hell?"
My eyes landed on Bella, who was grinning at me. "Jace and I both knew. Only because your dad wanted advice how to break it to you guys."
I lowered my voice. "When?"
"He told me about her that night after dinner, but remember that one night when I came in late? You asked me where I’d been, and I kissed you and never answered. I was at your Dad’s house meeting Lola, and so was Jace. That’s why I never told you.”
I turned back to my dad with my mouth hanging open. I had to admit my respect for him grew knowing he valued Bella’s opinion.
"What made you decide to adopt?" Vanessa asked, her voice monotone as if she was still trying to process everything.
"Lola can't have children, but she’s always wanted them.
She knew she couldn’t live her life without them, so we made some calls. After a long process, we finally get our new little girls next week. They are twins from Russia.”
"How did we not know about her? Five years is a long time, Dad. That’s as long as Sky has been alive," my sister said, her tone filled with disbelief.
"I didn't want a repeat of last time, Vanessa. I had to be sure, to know I was making the right decision, before you met her.
That's half of why I let Jace meet her first, to get his approval." Love shone from his eyes when he talked of her, and the affection his gaze held as he looked at her made my heart swell with happiness for him.
Looks like it's his turn after all.
"So, when is this marriage?" I asked, taking a bite of my ice cream.
"Technically we’re already married. You have to be married to adopt. We want to have a huge wedding, though, and we want all of you to be a part of it.” Joy brightened Dad’s face, so much that I couldn’t help but feel it too. "How old are the girls?" Vanessa asked.
"Ten. Anna and Ava," Dad said.
"Smart Dad, skipping the baby and toddler phases," I joked, earning me a swift kick under the table and an elbow to the side. "What?"
"Don't be a dick," Bella said, although her eyes sparkled with humor.
"I have a dick, but I'm not a dick," I said, only loud enough for her to hear…or so I thought.
She giggled and winked at me. "Yes, darling you do."
"What was that?" Dad asked, his stare telling me he’d heard every word.
"N-nothing I want to repeat," I said with a smirk.
"Good answer son."
A comfortable silence fell over us as we finished our ic
e cream. When the girls were done, they danced around the small shop, innocence radiating from them with every turn.
"I've heard a great deal about you, James. It's an honor to finally meet you. Your father speaks very highly of you," Lola said, laugh lines prominent in her features.
Her words blew me away, but I masked my reaction by tipping the empty cup of ice cream in my mouth to get all the melted goodness. "I've heard nothing about you, obviously, but welcome to the family. I'm sure you’ll find we're a great bunch," I responded.
"Great bunch of losers," Jace cut in, winking at her.
"No, big-headed freak, that's just you," I teased.
"Well, at least I'm not a nerd," he retorted.
"Shut up!" I scoffed.
If a stranger walked by and looked at us, he’d never know we’d just watched a woman that had been a huge part of our lives be executed. He’d only see one big, happy family, and that was exactly how it should be.
"What you gonna do about it, sissy boy?" Jace stood from his chair and hit his chest.
"Watch out for that tree," I yelled, gaining the attention of the few employees.
The entire table broke out in fits of laughter, and so did I.
Somehow, I still stood and made my way over to him. "You still wanna fight pretty boy?".
"Nah. I might mess up that face Bella has come to love so much," he said.
"Please don't mess up his face," she replied.
"Enough you two," Vanessa said, pulling Jace back down to his chair.
"You two are definitely as funny as your father said you were. I don't think I've laughed this hard in years," Lola said, one hand on her face, rubbing at the redness in her cheeks.
I didn't know Lola, but I liked her already. Plus, if Bella and Jace liked her, I knew my dad had picked a winner.
"Just wait until you come for a Sunday dinner. That's where all the fun happens," Jace said, laying a small kiss to Nessa's forehead.
"Indeed it does," my dad said.
We all stood to leave the small shop, ready to part ways. I grasped Bella's hand and pulled her along with me, while Dad finalized the plans for us all to meet the following Sunday for dinner at his house.
"So, this is why we couldn't have dinner at your place, huh?" I asked him.