“Can I come in?
“Come in.” Loren said.
She been holding back her tears, but when Robert came in she ran to him and cried. Most of tears were for her father, but some of them was for him. She forget how good he smell or what felt like to feel safe. Robert miss her smell and was happy that Mr. Crawford.
“Good, my two favorite people are here. Robert, when is your father going to be here?”
“He supposed to be here tomorrow. Did what come earlier then that?”
“No, I will still be by tomorrow. If you can be so kind I would like to speak to my daughter.” Mr. Crawford said.
Robert did what Mr. Crawford asked. He went to find where he could find some more coffee. Robert had been getting help to get through all the things with he former wife Maria. He had waiting for something and he didn’t know what. Robert had be a couple of dates, but it never seem to work out.
“Dad, I sorry have been a bad daughter later. One of my friends is getting married.”
“Loren, I am glad you doing the things that you always wanted to do. Are you happy with your life?”
“Yes, Daddy I am.”
“You didn’t need to worry about me Robert been keeping me company ever since I got sick the last time.”
“Really?” Loren said shocked.
Chapter Twenty
Loren asked Thomas could he watch the restaurant while she stay with her father. Thomas agreed. Thomas was already back in town helping his cousin with a few of their wedding details. He was glad that he would be having something to do besides looking for the perfect dress. Loren asked her cousin to work at the restaurant while she stay with her mother.
Robert continued to work at the restaurant. All of his mornings were spent at the hospital. Occasionally Loren and he would talk a little about their lives now. They never told each other where they worked. Robert was working one night and he got a call from Mrs. Crawford telling him to come to the hospital. He told Chris and Chris let him off of work. Mr. Crawford had past out and the doctors was working hard to revive him. It was his cancer that was spreading faster than they thought. For two days the doctors did the best to try to keep him living, but he didn’t make it. He died. After the doctor called the time of death Robert called Kris Kelly and he started to make arrangement for his funeral.
Loren was a mess. She was happy that Thomas was there to take care of things because she didn’t know if she could. Her cousin Kandy was there too. Once they told them that her father was dead Robert disappear for a while. She was happy that he was there. She needed someone that she loved to get her through one of the hardest moments of her life.
“Loren, I got in contact with your father’s lawyer. I am taking care of the hospital bills and the funeral. Is that ok with you?”
“You are very thoughtful. Would it be alright if you stayed with me?”
“It would be alright.”
Her mother was happy that Robert’s father and mother came down and that they kept her company. Robert followed her home. Coming over to Loren’s house after all these months didn’t feel strange or weird at all. Robert felt more peace at Loren’s house than he felt at his own house. He was hurting too, but he had to be the man that Loren needed right now. She opened the door and he followed and nothing changed about the house. Inside she went and change clothes. Robert was happy that he always kept so extra set of clothes in his car. He also changed clothes. Robert sat in the den trying to keep the tears from falling.
“I don’t think I will be able to sleep. Robert I am tried and I need to sleep. Can you lie beside me in my bed?”
“Are sure that is what you want?”
“I am sure.”
Robert got up and followed Loren to her bedroom. He waited for her to get into the bed before he followed her. When he got in he put his arms around her. He held her until she went to sleep. He went into the guess room and cried, the tears couldn’t no longer be contained. When he finished crying he got back to her bed and held her some more. He kissed her face and fell asleep.
Everyone came to Mr. Crawford’s funeral even some relatives that Loren hadn’t seen in awhile. Loren didn’t know how she was going to make it without Robert the last past week. He was strength when she was weak. He paid for everything and she loved how active he was in the death of her father. She was glad to see his parents didn’t leave her mother’s side. Mr. Crawford wanted Robert to do the eulogy.
“Dear friends and family today we lost amazing father and friend. DC was like a second father to me and he was friend. He would be greatly missed.” Robert said at the end of his speech.
Robert wanted to add that he was in love with his daughter. He wanted to tell that he wanted a relationship with her, but it was too soon to tell her that. What if she didn’t really forgive? He wanted to stay one more week with Loren and he would leave her a lone for good.
Loren watched as they put her father in the ground. She wondered if Robert was going to stay one more week. Then it hit her that her father and Robert been hanging out this whole time. Robert came up to Loren and took her by the hand. Robert stayed with her the night.
“Are you stay the week”
“That’s only if you want me to.”
“I want you to. How long have you been visiting my father?”
“I came by the house a week after he got out of the hospital.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because your father asked me not to. He wanted you to have a year of doing what you want to do. He wanted to see you happy.
Robert didn’t want to leave after the week was over. He wish he could stay forever, but he still promised her father that he would give her the year and he is a man of his word. So one the last day he packed his bags and left. Loren had gave him a key. He went back home. He love it his cabin, but it didn’t really felt like home it felt like he just lived there.
Loren had awaken in the morning with peace. She was still sad that her father pass, but Robert being there that whole week helped her in ways she couldn’t explain out loud. The next week she went to work as usual, but she did notice how Thomas and Kandy acted around each other. She could tell that love would be in the air. Normally that would bother her, but some reason it didn’t. Although this was supposed to be a place that would give Chris a break from serving breakfast and lunch she felt like it was hers. Chris wanted to start a branch where Glen stay he wanted Loren to run it, but she told him no. He told him to ask Glen. Glen and Loren talk every once and awhile.
Robert wanted to tell Loren that he still love her. The death of her father just brought some emotions that were deep down. Chris finished with the construction of his other restaurant. Chris was going to let Robert have it, but he said no, his life was here.
Two months had past and it was the day before Jason and Kayla’s wedding. Robert was the best man and Jason said he didn’t want any strippers. He wanted a boy’s night out. Luckily for Robert one of his teams was playing and he decided to have his bachelor party in a sports bar. Jason was so happy. He normally ate very healthy these last months trying to get in the best shape possible, but he wanted to eat so hot wings and drink a beer.
“Thanks man, I love this. I been eating all healthy foods and trying to make the wedding night a wedding you know what I mean?” Jason said with a beer in his hand.
“I am glad you like it. Thanks for not wanting strippers. I haven’t seen a woman naked since Maria die. For the first time I can truly say I am over her death. Could you image? Jason, I am happy for you.”
“Thanks. Are you a little nervous?”
“I think I should be asking you that. And no, I can’t wait to see her again. I miss Loren. Although I am over Maria I still feel like I am married. The year is over. We aren’t supposed to be talking about me, but you.”
Kayla d
ecided that she wanted have a sleep over so she wouldn’t be worry about all of her bridesmaids being late with helping her get ready. Kayla was lucky that she had the kind of body that just burn fat. Kayla wanted to eat pizza and fatty foods too. Loren always wanted to design her dress when she got married and since it didn’t seem like she would be getting marry anytime soon she decide to design Kayla’s dress. Kayla loved the design.
All week she keeps dreaming about Robert and the children she didn’t have, two boys and one girl. Kayla’s mother was there and was surprised how creative Loren was. Loren not only design the dress, but she design how the general wedding was going to look. Loren picked out the flowers. She was happy that Kayla had a friend like Loren who was that creative.
Morning time and Jason wished he didn’t have that last beer the night before. Robert was up in early to give him some aspirin and some soda. Then Robert gave him a green leaf salad and fruit salad. Jason ate all of it then asked Robert could he run with him. He ran four miles. Jason wanted to burn all the calories that he ate the night before.
Kayla and Loren decided to take a jog before Kayla had to go and get her hair done. The jog was nice and they knew that they weren’t going to bump into each other because all the women were at Loren’s house. The jog took one hour and both Kayla and Loren was relaxed after the run. Loren designed the bridesmaids’ dresses as well. All of the bridesmaids were happy about their dresses. Even the women who normally don’t like pink loved the design of the dress.
Loren went to the church to make sure that all her decoration was still up. She was surprised when she saw Robert. Robert asked her if she needed any help. And she did. He helped with everything. She made sure that people was catering was there. Robert called to see if the band was still coming. Right when they were finished with the last detail. It was time to start the ceremony. Kayla was started to freak out because she didn’t know where Loren was. Kayla looked beautiful in her wedding dress. Loren never was envious of any woman, but to day she was of Kayla.
Robert always thought that Loren and Thomas went back dating, but he saw Thomas with Loren’s cousin. He thought he was making a sacrifice for Loren and it didn’t matter. He got to walk Loren down isle and he wished it was his wedding. Everything was perfect except this wasn’t their marriage.
Everything was a blur for both Robert and Loren. Before they both knew it they were at the reception area. Everybody made the toast. The music started to play and Jason and Kayla started to dance. And others went along with the dancing.
“Loren, may I have this dance?”
“Yes, you may.”
Robert and Loren stayed on the dance floor. The more they dance the more they got closer. Loren started to want and she knew how dangerous it was to feel. Robert held her closely with his arms around her waist. And when it was time for everyone to go home she thought he would make a move, but he left before she could.
Robert couldn’t believe he just left her standing there. He couldn’t believe how much he was coward. What was he waiting for? Robert wanted a sign and he asked God for one. He knew that moment wasn’t perfect.
A week had passed and Robert was still a little depressed. On the day he was off he got a knock on his door. He opened it up and it was a lawyer. The lawyer explain that he should have gotten the letter when his late wife had died, but he didn’t because Lance was killed in a car accident a year ago when Thomas told Loren that he was married. The lawyer told him this was for him. When he opened the package he pulled out some divorce papers. Maria had signed them four days before her death. After he read it the lawyer left. He stared at the papers for twenty more minutes. Inside the envelope was this note.
Dear Robert,
In life wasn’t the wife you deserve. Yes, I know I was a control freak and at times I was an ass, but trust me I didn’t mean to be. I wanted you to have the life you always wanted. Loren cares for you. I can tell. She was really sweet taking care of me even though I could tell that she was missing you. Don’t miss another moment without her. I sign the divorce papers. You are free from me forever. Now live your life the way you wanted to.
Love,
Maria
Robert looked in the mirror and for some reason that’s what he had been looking for. Maybe he needed to hear the words that he was free. He granted both his parents wishes and Mr. Crawford and he waited until his heart healed. Now it was time for him to get the woman of his dreams. Loren.
Loren didn’t know what happen, but she was waiting all her life. She know he felt something too. She had always thought a man was going to come in a white horse. Well, if the man wasn’t going to come to her she would have to go to the man. She put on her loveliest outfit. Loren knew he had been working at Chris’s restaurant. She went by there and he was no where to be found. She went by Steve’s house and he wasn’t there. She called his parents, but they said that he wasn’t there. She even called over her mother’s house and he wasn’t there.
Robert knew she had a new job he just didn’t know where. He went by the Publishing house that he own and she wasn’t there. He called her mother’s and still she wasn’t there. He called her cousin Kandy and she wasn’t there. He went by her house, but she wasn’t inside. He called the restaurant that Thomas’s own that now was Loren’s and no one had seen her. He waited until she got home. When he heard keys he waited patiently in her den.
“I have something to say to you.” Robert said to Loren after she was in view.
“I have something to say to you.”
“Let me go first. I told you I loved you in London. I told you I love you a year ago. This is still true to day. I don’t know why, but my feelings haven’t gone away. I guess I was waiting for something to set me free. And now I am free. So, Loren Crawford will you marry me?”
“Yes, I will.”
Chapter Twenty-one
Loren had the same dream that she did a couple years ago, but the only difference is when she opens her eyes she see the same family in her dreams. She often awaken by the smell of fresh coffee and the smell biscuits. She gets up the twins are at the table. It had been five years since they got married. She had one baby on the way.
The twins are four years old, one boy and one girl. The girl was named Sara and boy was name Jas. He was named after Jason without on. Every night Sara asked her mother how Chestnut Brown met Cinnamon Happiness. Loren and Robert both tell the story how they both endure their journey of love.
Chestnut Brown And Cinnamon Happiness Page 20