Happily Never Forever

by Sarah Peis

  The child psychologist who was there last time took my phone number and told us she’d be in touch.

  After filling out some paperwork, we were free to go. The whole visit took all of twenty minutes. I was so relieved that I let out a nervous giggle as soon as we exited the building. “That seemed too easy.”

  “He got us a babysitter,” Freddie complained. “It wasn’t easy.” She stopped, her eyes wide. “Does that mean I’ll have to clean my room all the time now?”

  “That’s exactly what it means,” I joked and winked at her, trying to lighten the mood.

  We also didn’t know if Anna was still trying to get Freddie back. But since she seemed to have disappeared into parts unknown, I decided I’d deal with the issue when it came up. Freddie was nearly sixteen. Only two more years and she would be legal and completely free of Anna. Until then, there was still Mexico. Rhett would just have a longer commute.

  “I don’t care who’s going to come and check up on us as long as we keep Josie,” I said, ruffling Freddie’s hair, much to her annoyance. She tried swatting at my arm but I was quicker.

  Rhett was carrying Josie, who was resting her head on his shoulder, her tiny hand fisted in his suit. She wanted him to carry her when we walked back out, and Rhett didn’t miss a beat. He swooped her up and held her like he had done it a million times before. I could see why she wanted him to be the one to hold her. After all, there was nobody else who would make a girl feel as safe as he did.

  I suspected he’d had something to do with Anna’s sudden disappearance, but that was something I had to ask him about later. Without little ears listening.

  “How about milkshakes for my girls?” Rhett suggested. Since we all liked ice cream and would never say no to free food, it was an unanimous decision to go down to Joe’s, only two blocks from the courthouse.

  When we walked in, every head swiveled our way. Damn small towns.

  Rhett ushered us to a corner booth, and as soon as we were seated, a waitress came over. “Hey, Rhett,” she greeted, twirling her hair. Was there anyone in this town who didn’t know him? I shot daggers at her, not happy with her blatant flirting. Josie was sitting on his lap, I was next to him and Freddie and Oma were opposite. How did that scream ‘available single guy’ to anyone?

  Rhett, as perceptive as ever and sensing my rage, put his arm around me and pulled me into his side. I instantly relaxed.

  “What can I get y’all?” she asked, pointedly looking at Rhett’s arm around my shoulders.

  “One cookies and cream milkshake, one caramel milkshake and one kid’s vanilla milkshake. And a coffee, black, and a tea, milk and sugar. Thanks.”

  It shouldn’t surprise me anymore how much attention Rhett paid to everyone around him yet it still did. He’d only bought us milkshakes once before and he still remembered our orders.

  His reputation in business was that of a ruthless tycoon, yet he showed kindness and affection at home. We were the few that saw the real him, the one who would do anything to protect his family. And it was in that moment I realized that it was exactly what we were. His slightly crazy, a little damaged but loyal family.

  I kissed his stubbly cheek, something else that was only ours. He would never go into the office without a clean shaven face. “I love you,” I said, for only him to hear. He smiled at me in return, and I was so happy in that moment I couldn’t stop my own smile from spreading on my face. The milkshakes were just what we needed and we finished them quickly.

  I was still smiling big when we got home and Freddie called me a creep, since she hadn’t seen me that happy in years. All was as it should be.

  “This is too much. How could we possibly need the whole house? Look at all those useless rooms. A sitting room. For who? The queen? And a ballroom. Is that for the ball we’re gonna throw? Besides, it would take me days just to vacuum the place. Are you sure you can’t back out of the sale?”

  Rhett pulled me close and kissed my head, stopping my rant.

  “I think if I can afford a house like this, I can afford the staff that’s necessary to keep it clean. And no, we can’t reverse the sale since it’s all done. The house is ours.”

  This was a world I didn’t know, a world that wasn’t my own. I had always cleaned my own houses, mowed my own lawn and definitely did my own laundry. I certainly never thought a house like this was in my future. “You mean yours.”

  “No, I mean ours.”

  “You know, I don’t have even a fraction of the money to afford this place.”

  “And I never asked you to pay a dime. So we’re good.”

  He backed me up against the wall of glass overlooking the giant backyard. His body pressed close to mine, and my hands found his tight stomach, resting there. “What is this really about? Because I never thought you’d be bothered by my money. Are you getting cold feet?”

  “Nobody is getting cold feet.” Well, except for me, maybe.

  “I call bullshit. And I won’t let you back out. You are mine and I’m yours. Let me take care of you. This is what couples do. Take care of each other.”

  “But it’s just you taking care of me. I’m not even in the same league as the bathrooms in this house. Did you see them? They’re a marble and gold explosion. And they’re as big as Oma’s house.”

  A few short months ago, I was limiting everyone’s shower time to five minutes and turned all the lights off at nine every night. I hadn’t bought myself anything in a long time, because food seemed to be more important. And now I found myself standing in a house that I wouldn’t have to pay for, a guy that seemed to love me just the way I was and most importantly accepted my family, and I didn’t know how to adequately express what I was feeling.

  Because I loved him, and I always would. But I was also independent. And how could I explain this to him without sounding like an ungrateful brat? Words escaped me, so I did the next best thing and jumped him. Literally. My arms went around his shoulder, and I hopped up, winding my legs around his hips. Rhett being Rhett caught me, and if judging by the gleam in his eyes, had no problem with my actions.

  I leaned in and he pulled me closer at the same time, our mouths meeting in a deep kiss. A kiss that seemed to get better every time. He pushed me against the wall that he had walked to, and I used the unmoving surface as leverage to grind against him.

  He moaned into my mouth and I did it again, loving the way he felt and reacted to every movement, every shift. When my hands started roaming under his shirt, he leaned back.

  “I take it you like the place?”

  I grinned at him and continued my exploration. “I guess I could live here.”

  Rhett kissed my cheek but didn’t let it get any further, despite my best attempts. “I really want to take this further, preferably up against the wall, but the interior designer will be here any minute.”

  That halted my wandering hands. “Interior designer?”

  “I thought you might like to make this place your own. You just tell her what you want it to look like and she’ll make it happen. I used her for my apartment and office.”

  Guess the house would be kept in black and white then unless I changed it. “She’s gonna do whatever I want?”

  Rhett set me down and nodded. “Whatever you want. That’s what I pay her for.”

  “So who briefed her in on what they wanted for the office and your apartment?”

  “No briefing. I just told her to make it look professional. She did the rest.”

  “I see.”

  “You think it looks boring.”

  “It definitely looks professional. But why would you want your apartment to look professional? It’s your home. It should be comfortable and homey.”

  Rhett took my hand and walked towards the kitchen. “It never felt like a home. The only time I felt like I belonged somewhere, a place that I could call home, was with you, at your Oma’s. I know I don’t live there. But it’s where I feel at peace.”

  Be still my fluttering heart, he m
ight not have meant it the way we think he meant it. But he did call me his home. Surely there is no other way to interpret that. I beamed a big smile at him and squeezed his hand, ready to jump him again. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to do anything of the sort because a voice drifted through the house, echoing off the empty walls.

  “Yoohooo, anyone home?” The high pitched call was soon followed by a familiar pair of giant boobs. Oh no he didn’t. She strutted into the kitchen like she owned the place, her long wavy hair bouncing, her skin-tight dress barely containing her considerable assets.

  “Rhett, darling, so good to see you,” she gushed, and if I hadn’t taken a step back, I had no doubt she would have pushed me out of the way. She planted a kiss on Rhett’s mouth and rubbed her body up against his.

  I took another step back and studied my hands, unwilling and unable to look at them any longer. Rhett’s body turned to stone and he took a step back, the only reason why I wasn’t currently engaged in a hair pulling match.

  “Violet, I trust you remember Emmi,” he said, waving me closer. I ground my teeth but took the three steps back into the kitchen.

  Violet looked me up and down, found me less interesting than the speck of fluff on her suit, no surprise there since I was wearing my usual skinny jeans and tank, and snapped her attention back to Rhett.

  “What a beautiful house. Don’t tell me you are finally ready to settle down.” Her hands brushed his chest, and I suppressed a growl. “So what did you have in mind, handsome?”

  Rhett pulled me into his side, kissing my head. “Whatever Emmi wants. She’s the boss.” He winked at me, totally oblivious to the tension suddenly taking over the room.

  Violet looked ready to sacrifice babies at the altar of Rhett if that meant getting rid of me, and I couldn’t help the smug look from spreading on my face.

  “Who’s Emmi?” she had the audacity to ask.

  Rhett looked confused and sounded annoyed when he responded. “I just introduced you. Emmi is going to be living here with me, and I want you to work with her on the design. No budget, as long as you okay everything with her.”

  Violet looked ready to spew fire. Her eyes narrowed, and she was clearly trying to figure out what exactly Rhett saw in me. “Right. Emmi. Why don’t we walk around and go through the house room by room. I can have a draft proposal for you by next week.”

  I just hoped she wasn’t going to trip me on our way up the stairs.

  Rhett nodded and released me after a short but wet kiss. “I have to make a few calls. Find me when you’re done.”

  There were so many things I would rather do than be left alone with the fire-spitting dragon. She might act professional but I had met a lot of Violets in my lifetime. I bet she would say something about my appearance. Or my age. Because I knew I looked younger than my twenty two years.

  “I suggest you go for something similar to his apartment. He likes dark colors, simple forms and leather.”

  “And I suggest you let me tell you what I want and then do it without arguing and presuming you know Rhett better than I do.” I wasn’t going to be a pushover, so I refused to simply back down.

  She stopped me with a hand on my arm, her nails digging into my skin. “I have known Rhett longer than you. He is a longstanding client and good friend, and I know exactly what he likes.” At that, she smiled at me slyly. “He might want to play with you for now, but he always comes back to me. He likes a real woman, not a child. Once he gets over playing daddy, he’ll drop you. A piece of advice, don’t get too attached.”

  Well, wasn’t she just a bucket of sunshine. And here I thought she was going to be a professional. “I think we won’t be needing your services. But thanks anyway.”

  I removed her fingers from my arm and turned back to the front door.

  “We’ll see about that,” she hissed and brushed past me, sending me crashing into the wall.

  When I went outside, she was already pressed against an agitated looking Rhett who was trying to put some distance between himself and Violet. Every time he took a step back, she took one forward. If I wasn’t so mad, I would have laughed at the ridiculous display. When I was within hearing distance, I could make out the last of her infuriating words. “We were so good together. Don’t you remember Paris? It was the best week of my life.”

  Barf. I definitely did not need a reminder of the things Rhett did to her. We all had our pasts but there was no need to slap me in the face with it.

  When she heard my approach, her head snapped up, her hair hitting Rhett in the face. “Give us a minute,” she barked at me.

  “I don’t think so. If I remember correctly, I told you we no longer required your services. Which means get your ass back into your overpriced car and leave.”

  “Did you hear that? Are you just going to let her talk to me like that?” The pout on her face looked ridiculous. Nobody over the age of ten should pout like that.

  Rhett ignored her and the confusion on his face nearly made me laugh again. He was so smart yet so oblivious when it came to the women that tried to climb him like a stripper pole. I wondered how he could pick up om my moods and always knew what I needed, yet he was an emotional fortress when it came to anyone else.

  “Emmi, that was a bit harsh,” Rhett said, his eyes still on his phone. “But if you don’t want to work with Violet I’m sure she can recommend someone else.”

  A bit harsh? A BIT HARSH? No, he did not just tell me off in front of her. I didn’t get a chance to respond before Rhett started walking off. “Now I really need to get back to my call. Excuse me.”

  He lifted his phone back up and turned his back on us. Not exactly the support I was hoping for. I raised my eyebrows at her and waited. She huffed and puffed up her ruffled feathers before she relented and got back in her car.

  Once she was gone I decided I needed a minute and started walking home. Rhett was busy with his call, and I didn’t want to talk to him. Butler was small enough that it would only take me about thirty minutes to get home. I needed time to cool off.

  When I made it back, Oma was sitting on the porch swing, waiting for me. I dropped down next to her, and she covered me with half her blanket. I laid my head on her shoulder and we pushed the swing back and forth in silence. I knew Oma had something to say, and she would say it when she was ready. No use pushing her; it was always best to wait her out.

  “I spoke to Rhett.”

  Guess that answers the question if he made it home before me or if he was still on the blasted phone call that seemed to have been so damn important.

  “Oh yeah? What did you talk about?”

  “The house. He told me he bought one big enough for all of us. I think we will move. He is a good guy. Perfect for you, my Schatz.”

  “But Oma, you love your house. Opa built it. You raised dad in this house.”

  “I know. But everything has an end. Only the sausage has two. Time to move on.”

  “Right. So you’d be okay to move?”

  “Yes. It’s what’s best for us. Now go inside and be nice to your man. He loves you.”

  I kissed her weathered cheek and got up, making sure to tug the blanket around her.

  “Don’t stay out here for too long. It’s getting cold.”

  “Don’t worry about me. I’ll be just fine.”

  I nodded at her and let myself inside, walking straight to Rhett, who was sitting on the couch, frowning at his computer.

  He looked up when I approached and smiled. I took the computer away from his lap and sat down, curling up against his chest. “I’m sorry for overreacting.”

  “And I’m sorry for ignoring you. I promise to be less distracted.”

  “I love you.”

  “And I you.”

  He rubbed his nose against mine. “Wanna watch some mindless reality TV and judge everything they do?”

  “Do you even have to ask?” I was up and looking for the remote before I even finished the sentence. If only everything was this simple.
>
  It was a week after the big house reveal and things had settled down again. We were packing up everything, taking longer than we thought. Turns out you could stash a lot of crap in a closet, no matter how small it was. Freddie had discovered vacuum sealed bags earlier in the year and apparently used them on everything. I had taken a break to go through the mail and have a cup of tea when Freddie interrupted me.

  “Whatcha looking at?”

  “Letter from the lawyers.”

  “Open it.”

  I was scared to, opting to stare at the unopened envelope instead. I didn’t want to open something that could potentially tell me that we had another court date. I hadn’t heard from Anna. She had just disappeared. What if she decided she wanted the money after all?

  Freddie watched me for all of two seconds before she snatched the letter out of my hand and ripped it open. “No fudging way,” she yelled.

  “What? Show me?” I tried to snatch the letter back, but she was holding it away from me. “What does it say?”

  “It basically says Anna is foregoing all her rights to custody, which gives you the green light to organize adoption like you wanted to.”

  Freddie hugged me, crushing the letter between us. “That’s awesome. Josie is ours to keep.”

  I hugged her back. “She’s not a possession.” I couldn’t help but tell her. “But yes, we’ll get to keep her.” I just wondered how this had happened so quickly. Why would Anna just back down?

  I joined in her squeals, causing Oma to come out of the living room to see what all the noise was about, Josie trailing after her with her donkey in one hand, a cheese stick in the other.

  “What happened?”

  “Anna is gone. She’ll never bother us again,” Freddie blurted out before picking up Josie and spinning her around the kitchen.

  “How?” Oma asked, taking the letter.

  “I have absolutely no idea. But we’re free of her and that’s all that matters,” I said. I had some idea of who had done this for us. Unexplained disappearance aside, he said he had taken care of it. And it seemed like he really had come through.