Chapter 19
While Karen showered, Damian went downstairs to retrieve his bags and turn off the lights. He still couldn’t believe she had come. His heart had filled to near bursting when he heard her calling out to him, and it was all he could do to stand there. But he needed to hear her say the words, to tell him she trusted him and believed in him—in them. Back in his bedroom, he placed his suitcase in a corner and his carry-on bag on a chair. Unzipping an inside pocket, he took out the jeweler’s box, clutched it in his palm and offered up a prayer of thanks. With any luck, the ring would end up exactly where it should be.
He walked down the hallway to a second bathroom and showered. When he returned, Karen was just coming out of the bathroom. Like any man, he got a thrill from seeing her in his shirt. He stood nearly a foot taller than her, so the shirt went almost to her knees.
She held up her clothes. “Can I put these in the washer?”
“Follow me.” He led her back downstairs to the laundry room and waited while she started the washer, then carried her back upstairs.
He pulled the covers back on the bed and made a mental note to thank his housekeeper for changing the sheets. Damian placed Karen on the bed, climbed in and pulled her into his arms. He groaned with contentment.
“I’m so glad you came,” he said, brushing a kiss across her lips. “So glad.”
“Me, too.”
He kissed her again and set about showing her just how happy he was.
* * *
Damian woke up the following morning, braced on his elbow and watched Karen sleep. Twenty-four hours ago, he thought he’d have to live without this remarkable woman. He wanted her by his side for always and didn’t know how he was going to let her go this afternoon.
“Karen.” He nuzzled her neck. “Wake up, sleepyhead. Time to get moving.”
Her eyes fluttered, then opened slowly. “Mmm, morning. What time is it?”
“Morning. Just after eight. We have a lot to pack in before you leave.”
She buried her face in his chest. “I wish I didn’t have to go.”
“So do I, baby. We have a couple of workshops scheduled this week. Otherwise I’d go back with you. The earliest I can fly down is Friday.”
Karen groaned. “I’m going to LA on Friday. Janae is having her first art showing that night.”
“Can you bring a guest?”
She lifted her head, and a smile lit her face. “You’ll come to LA with me?”
“Sweetheart, I’ll follow you anywhere. Do you still want to go shopping? Your clothes are on the bench at the foot of the bed.”
“Yes. I can’t meet your parents wearing a sweatshirt and old jeans.”
He laughed. “You look beautiful in anything, and my parents won’t care. If it’ll make you more comfortable, I’ll dress the same way.”
“It doesn’t. So let’s go. You don’t introduce somebody to your parents dressed like a hobo off the streets.” She flipped the covers back, hopped up and grabbed her clothes off the bench. Still muttering under her breath, she cut him a look, went into the bathroom and slammed the door.
Damian fell back against the pillows and howled with laughter. When she was done dressing, they toured the house. He started with the two other upstairs bedrooms before heading down to the lower level and stopping first at his home office. He watched Karen wander around the room, then over to his desk. He held his breath, waiting for her response, when she picked up the small picture of Joyce. He had a few more photos, the banner Joyce had made for him when he got his first teaching job and the locket he’d given her when she graduated from college, all in a box kept in the hall closet. Everything else was gone.
“She’s beautiful,” Karen said.
“She was.” He waited for her to say something else, but she replaced the picture and followed him out.
Damian escorted Karen through a formal living room with expensive but comfortable-looking furniture, a spacious gourmet kitchen and a large family room with leather furniture and a huge flat-screen television mounted on the wall. He went left and into a beautiful screened-in porch that looked lived-in.
“This is lovely. You must spend a lot of time here. I know I would.” There were three walls of windows, two loungers and a small table between matching oversize chairs in front of a fireplace. It was the ultimate relaxation space.
“I do. It’s the biggest reason I purchased the house.”
Scanning the area, she wondered if he had spent hours out here with his late wife.
As if he had interpreted her thoughts, he said, “I bought it a year ago.” He wrapped his arms around her. “You’re the first woman who’s been here.”
She glanced over her shoulder at him, then turned back toward the windows. “Was it hard to leave your old house?”
“At first, yes. After a while, I felt like I was starting to suffocate and I couldn’t pull myself out of it. I went to counseling for a while and realized I had been trapped in the same cycle of grief for four years. Moving helped tremendously. I even went out on a few dates.” He turned her in his arms. “But no one made me want to try to love again until you. Don’t ever think you’re a substitute for another woman. You could never be one.” He kissed her tenderly. “I love you, Karen.”
Coming home with him had been the right decision. She needed to hear those words from him—needed reassurance of her place in his life. “I love you, too.”
“Let’s go get some breakfast.”
* * *
Damian drove them to a local restaurant, grateful that they’d hurdled that issue. While eating, they talked, laughed and began the discussion of their long-distance relationship commitment. An hour later, he pulled into the mall parking lot. It didn’t take her long to find what she needed. Karen added a tote bag and carried everything to the register. He overrode her protests to pay and placed his credit card on the counter.
“This impromptu trip was my idea, so it’s only fair that I cover any expenses,” he reasoned. They engaged in a stare-down until she finally relented.
“Fine, you win.”
He gave her a quick kiss. “Thank you.” He signed the receipt, picked up the bags and escorted her back out. “We’ll go home so you can change, then head over to my parents’.”
He drove home and carried her bags inside. Upstairs in his bedroom, he watched her pull out a curling iron, makeup and a host of other things. He shook his head. “Honey, we’re not going to dinner at the White House, just over to my parents’.”
“I know, but I want to look nice.”
“What you’re wearing is fine.”
She placed her hands on her hips. “Damian Bradshaw, I am not wearing—”
He held up his hands in surrender. “Okay, okay. I’ll wait for you on the porch.”
“I won’t be long.” She gathered up her haul and went into the bathroom.
Damian’s heart raced with excitement. He never thought he would risk his heart again—the pain of losing had been too much. Since meeting Karen, he realized the pain of not having her in his life outweighed everything else. He couldn’t wait to introduce her to his parents.
* * *
Karen surveyed herself one last time. She wanted to look especially nice for his parents. Would they like her? Or would they compare her to his first wife?
When she toured the rest of the house, she saw that he kept only one small picture of Joyce in his office—nothing like the shrine Karen had envisioned. But Joyce was a beautiful young woman, and Karen couldn’t help wondering how his parents would feel about him marrying again. She took a deep breath and tried to still the butterflies fluttering in her belly. She placed her stuff in the tote bag, turned off the light and made her way to the porch.
Damian stood facing the window with his feet braced apart
and his arms folded across his chest, seemingly deep in thought. She crossed the floor and touched his arm. “You okay?”
He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and dropped a kiss on her hair. “I’m good. You look beautiful.”
“Thanks. I’m ready, if you are.”
On the way over, she wondered again how they would make the relationship work. “How are we going to do this, Damian?”
Damian’s gaze slid to hers briefly, then back to the road. “Do what?”
“This. Us.”
They came to a red light, and Damian reached over and covered her hand. “Baby, like I told you over breakfast, we will figure out what’ll work best for both of us. Relax.”
“Okay.” She resumed watching the passing scenery. A few minutes later, Damian pulled into the driveway of a one-story brick ranch-style house on the corner with a circular driveway. She saw a smaller attached structure and asked about it.
“My mom has an art studio. It’s connected to the house through a breezeway.”
“An art studio? That sounds so cool.”
“Yep.”
“What type of art does she do?”
“Sculptures. I’m sure she’ll give you a tour if you ask.”
Just then, a tall, slender woman with the same golden-colored skin as Damian opened the front door. “Did your parents know you were bringing a guest?”
“Nah. I wanted to surprise them.”
“I am so going to kill you, Damian. You’re gonna give them a heart attack.”
Damian laughed, hopped out and came around to her side.
He helped her out of the car and she whispered, “You’d better be right.” He kissed her, and she saw his mother’s eyes widen. Karen groaned and let him lead her up the walkway.
“Hey, Mom,” he said, bending to kiss her cheek.
“Hi, sweetheart. Welcome back. And who is this lovely young woman?” she asked with a warm smile.
“Mom, I want you to meet Karen Morris. Karen, this is my mother, Gwendolyn Bradshaw.”
“It’s very nice to meet you, Mrs. Bradshaw,” Karen said, extending her hand.
“I’m so happy to finally meet you, Karen,” she said, ignoring Karen’s hand and pulling her into a warm embrace. “Please come in. Louis is going to be so tickled to meet you.”
Karen followed her through the foyer and large living room to an even larger family room, where a walnut-colored older version of Damian sat watching a basketball game.
“Louis, this is Damian’s girl, Karen,” Mrs. Bradshaw said.
He rose to his feet swiftly and engulfed her in a bear hug. “Welcome, Karen. It’s nice to meet you. Make yourself comfortable.”
“Thank you. It’s nice to meet you, too.”
He turned to Damian and pulled him into a rough hug. “Welcome back, son.” His parents traded secret smiles.
When they were comfortably seated, Mrs. Bradshaw said, “Karen, tell me about yourself.”
“I teach fourth grade.”
Damian cleared his throat, and she smiled at him. “Actually, I’ve just been appointed principal.”
“Congratulations. That’s wonderful.”
They spent another hour with his parents—his mother insisted on fixing an elaborate lunch—getting to know one another, and leaving no doubt in Karen’s mind that she wouldn’t be standing in the shadow of another woman. When the time came for Karen to leave, Damian’s parents walked them out and again expressed their happiness. She waved at them until they were out of her sight. On the drive to the airport, she and Damian spoke very little, both reluctant to part. He parked in the lot and walked her inside.
He kissed her deeply. “I love you so much.”
“I love you, too.” She turned and started to walk away, but Damian held on to her hand. “I can’t leave if you’re holding my hand. You have to let go.”
“I can’t let you go.”
She chuckled. “What do you mean you can’t let me go? I have a plane to catch and work to go to in the morning.”
“I can’t let you go—not without you agreeing to be my wife.”
“Wait!” She gasped and stared at him in shock. “What did you...? Your what?”
Damian dropped to one knee in front of her. “Karen, I never thought I’d be able to give my heart again, but then you came along. Your presence calms me, your touch comforts me and your love reminds me what’s most important each day. When I look at you, I know the love we share will continue to grow. You mean everything to me. Marry me. Let me give you all of me from this day forth.”
Tears began to fall before he could finish and ask the question. “Yes, I’ll marry you.” She lowered to her knees to match him. “And I want to give you all of me.”
He reached into his bag and pulled out a small box from Tiffany. Her eyes widened like saucers when she saw the ring nestled inside. He slid it on her finger. It fit perfectly. “Oh. My. God. It’s amazing,” she whispered through her tears. She launched herself at him, knocking him to the floor. “I love you, Damian.”
Laughing, he said, “I love you, too.”
They lay on the floor kissing until he said, “If you don’t let me up off this hard floor, you’re going to miss your plane.”
She groaned and buried her head in his chest. Someone tapped her on the shoulder, and she looked up to see a smiling Kyle. Karen sprang up, hearing the clapping and whistling.
“I can’t wait to show Troy this video,” Kyle said with a laugh, holding up his cell. “That was some proposal. Congratulations.”
Her mouth fell open. “What? How did you...?” She narrowed her gaze at Damian. “Did you do this?”
He smiled and shrugged. “I wanted proof, just in case you changed your mind.”
She shook her head. “I don’t know what I’m going to do with you, Damian Bradshaw.”
He laughed. “Hey, you’re stuck with me now, for better or worse.”
She glanced down at the ring on her finger, then back up at him. “Yeah, I am, huh?”
He kissed her once more and held her tightly against him. “You’d better go. Call me when you get home. I love you.”
Holding him tight, she whispered, “I will. I love you, too.” Karen released him and then walked away while she still could.
The trip home seemed much longer, but the knowledge that she would see Damian the following weekend and the exquisite ring on her finger made it bearable. She giggled to herself. Grandma can scratch me off her matchmaking list. She couldn’t wait to see her parents’ faces when she told them.
She and Damian still had a lot to work out, but Karen felt confident about their future together. She stared, once again, at the ring on her finger and knew she would love him forever.
Epilogue
One year later
“So, how does it feel to know in less than thirty minutes you’ll be a married woman?” Janae asked, coming into the room where Karen waited for the wedding to begin.
“I’m so excited, I can barely stand it.”
“This dress is spectacular.”
Karen walked over to the mirror and ran her hand down the front of the strapless beaded gown with a sweetheart neckline, lace-up back and trumpet skirt. “I fell in love with this dress the moment I saw it.”
“I think Damian’s going to fall in love with it, as well.” Janae wiped a hand across her forehead.
Noticing the slight frown on Janae’s face, Karen turned from the mirror. “Are you okay?”
Janae waved her off. “I’m fine. Just a little light-headed and queasy.”
“Janae? What are you telling me?” Janae paused, and Karen called her name again.
Finally, she smiled faintly and said, “You’re going to be a godmother.”
Karen’s eyes filled with tears, and she hugged her friend. “I am so excited for you and Terrence.”
“Thank you. But today is all about you. Don’t go ruining your makeup with all this crying,” she said, laughing. “No tears allowed.”
Karen pulled a tissue from the box sitting on the counter, handed Janae one and turned back to the mirror. She dabbed at the corners of her eyes, being careful not to smudge the mascara and liner.
“So, are you ready to admit I was right?” Janae asked.
“What are you talking about?”
“Remember Terrence’s concert on the cruise? I reminded you about what happened the first time we went to his concert—one of us ended up married. I told you to be careful because it would happen again, and you didn’t believe me.”
She laughed. “I totally forgot about that, but I guess you were right. I’m really glad you were right.” She thought about all that had happened since the first day she saw Damian on the cruise and realized it had all been leading to this moment. What began as a cruise-ship fling would end in a lifetime of love and happiness. He was everything she could want and more, and she couldn’t wait to start their life together.
Over the past year, even with the times apart, she and Damian had grown closer. Karen had settled well into her job as principal, even more so with Nikki gone. As Melissa had predicted, all Nikki’s lies and drama had cost her her job. Karen’s mind went back to her soon-to-be husband. After much discussion, she and Damian had decided to live in San Jose for at least another year, and then reexamine their options. A knock sounded on the door, and Melissa entered.
“I think it’s time,” she said with a smile. “Your dad is on his way.”
Karen shared one more hug with Janae and Melissa, and they left just as Karen’s father entered.
“Ready to go, angel girl?”
“I am, Daddy.”
She linked her arm with his, and he escorted her out to where Damian awaited.
* * *
Damian paced the length of the floor in the room, waiting for his wedding to start. He didn’t remember being this nervous last time.
All of Me Page 19