John sits there, looking over things again, takes some sips of his wine glass, before rolling his eyes to the ceiling, to let out a long breathy sigh.
"FINE."
You could hear a pin drop it was so quiet.
"Fine, I'll let you go forward with this ... plan of yours. However, I'm not loaning any money to the project. ALSO, if this doesn't work out, it's just you that's out the money for the remodel, not me. You only get the money back on the remodel, if you sell them all and make more than the five point five million projected to pay me off for the rest of the building. Whatever profit there is after that five point five, that pays you back whether its the right amount or not. Can you agree to that?"
Sarina takes in a big gulp of air, "I think I can live with that. Thank you, John." She shakes his hand and makes a note on his copy and her copy of the contract with both of their signatures.
"Well, since that is done. I must be on my way. I have to travel early in the morning. Enjoy your evening, I'll be by to see how things are coming along in a few weeks."
We walked him to the door and once it was shut, I turned to Sarina, thrilled, with my arms open.
She jumps into my arms and squeals, "We did it! I still have a chance!" She places kisses all over my face, "And it's all thanks to (KISS) you! And your wonderful (KISS) mom and dad!"
"Don't forget yourself." I grin at her as she kisses me on the lips. "Come on, let's celebrate."
I set her down and crack open a bottle of champagne that Alyssa had sent me home with last night. I pour us each a glass, and raise it up to her.
"Here's to you, my love."
Grinning, she raises it up and clinks it to mine, "Here's to us."
The next two months were hectic for us, but I couldn't be happier. I had moved in fully to the house and I love waking up to her beautiful eyes each morning, even with her messy, bed head hair and her puffy, sleep filled eyes. Going to sleep after a day at work or visiting with friends, I feel like life couldn't get any better. I feel whole, complete, happy, and I can't imagine how I ever lived my life before her.
We had meetings with remodeling contractors trying to decide on who to choose that could do the job Sarina required. After finding a contractor, we had to find an interior decorator to help the contractor bring the plan out on paper so we could get permits started.
David surprised Sarina with a gift of the sale of part of his shares left in the company. His gift totaled just over one point eight million dollars for her to use for the remodel. He wanted her to hold onto as much of the stocks she has and could for now. He said it could be used to make sure she did the remodel up to par and get the money plus some for the apartments. David seemed to be doing as well as could be expected. He was happy and full of life with Alyssa, he still had bad days but they were less than the good days.
Things were going well and I was saving up all the money I was spending on rent before, putting it aside for Sarina and I. We had been together for almost six months now. So, I had two purposes for the money, our future wedding and a trip. I wanted to take her somewhere special, when all the remodeling was done, because I plan to ask her to marry me. Lance suggested an island getaway, but I wanted to do something different. So I started looking at my brothers travel books for some ideas.
I just was not sure how it would actually turn out. At the same time, it will all depend on her brothers health too. She wouldn't want to be too far away, just in case something happens...
David has told me to just take her somewhere and ask her already, who cares about if the remodel is finished. He said if I was ready to propose, the longer I wait, the harder it will be because I will have psyched myself up. I laughed and asked him if he became my therapist. He only chuckled and told me I owed him some money then.
I had to wait until the crap situation with the club was over too. The detectives were investigating these allegations of drug use for the purpose of 'unusual sexual escapades and acts' and they were trying hard to find something. Lance refused to accept any new members, concerned that an acquaintance or possibly even an undercover would try to plant something to set them up. He felt that way because of all the members who have spoken to the detectives have been called down for questioning again. They told Lance how they were getting agitated when they were not given the answers that they were hoping for.
The thought made me laugh and shake my head, because most of the people who went were subs. They knew how to retain their composure and not be deceived or tricked into saying something that was untrue, especially under pressure. Our members were more than just names to him, they were his friends, a different type of family.
In fact, the club got rid of some of the new members that were the ones closely associated with the guy in custody. Many had either tabs or memberships that had not been paid, or done something against the policies. One person included was Sarina's ex, Marcus, as he had brought in a girl who was not a member and thought he'd just take her into one of the rooms, when first times are voyeurs only. This was not his first offense either, so he was no longer welcome at the club.
Lance was currently speaking with one of the judges he knew, explaining the situation and how it seemed off with how persistent the detectives were being. The judge was going to look into it for him, so that put Lance's mind at ease a bit. He had other things he wanted to focus on anyways.
Lirael's baby bump was swelling into obvious pregnant belly. Her morning sickness was long gone, but her hormones were still sending her emotions all out of whack. She'd call Sarina crying because nothing fit, and she was getting fatter... Sarina took her shopping, reassuring her that being pregnant is not the same as becoming the good year blimp that she compared herself to.
I mentally shake my head over the statement I can hear Sarina commenting to as we drive over to Alyssa's to go visit. When we pull up, Amanda and Dass are outside doing work in the yard together.
"Hey Mandy, hey Dass. You two are working hard today."
Amanda nods, "Taking advantage of the nice day today, plus it's tense in the house right now..." She throws a look over her shoulder. "I'll let them tell you what's going on."
Dass gives us a shrug with her smile before getting back to helping out Amanda as we enter the house. Tense doesn't accurately describe the feeling that overwhelms me as we enter. I look towards Sarina with her brows furrowed and lips set in a thin line, I know she's feeling the same.
We enter David's room where he's laying on his bed by himself, writing something on a notepad. He looks up and nods, setting his paper and pen to the side. "Hey you two. Come on in." He says sounding drained and tired.
"Hey Bubba, what's with the gloomy vibe today? Are you having a bad day?" Sarina gives her brother a hug which he sighs and shakes his head.
"Go talk to Alyssa about that, Sis. She's outback, we needed some space from each other for a little bit. Let me talk to Doc for a little bit." He says patting her arm and giving her a forced smile. She nods and gives me a questioning look before heading out.
"Pull up a chair, Doc." David points to the arm chair near his bed.
Getting comfortable, I ask him, "So what's up brother? What's with the gloomy, tense atmosphere in here?"
David sighs, "Alyssa is ... pregnant." His eyes close as his lips tremble, tears start falling from the corners of his eyes as he lays his head back against the pillow.
I think back to one of our sessions, when David told me that when he found out he had cancer, that he was glad he didn't have a family. That he could live with the fact he wasn't leaving children with out their father. That part of him wishes he had the experience of a child, but he said it was a selfish wish on his part. It all makes sense to me now.
The love of his life is pregnant with their child. He's not only leaving her behind when he leaves, but he'll be leaving a child behind that will never know him. That he'll never know, never hear their voice, never see grow up, or get married and have children of their own. If he ever gets to hold the child in his hands would be a double edged sword to him.
"Oh, David." It's all I can say at this moment. Comprehending his pain and thoughts right now, even I find myself beating back tears.
"Yeah, I know Doc." David grabs a tissue and wipes his eyes, and then picks up the notepad, "That's why I'm doing this right now." He hands it to me for me to look at.
Looking at the notepad, I realize he's writing letters, letters to the child he'll never know. Some are written for birthdays, some are for holidays, and the one he's working on right now is for when they're in trouble.
I wipe my eyes, hand it back to him, and nod, "That's an amazing thing you're doing right there. You should, if you think you can, make some videos so they can hear you and see you, emotions and all. It might help them feel closer to you."
David nods, "Yeah, I could do that too."
"So when did she find out?" I lean back in the chair, sighing to clear my head of the heavy emotions going through me.
"Last night. Not sure how far along she is yet, but it was a very clear PREGNANT on the test. Looks like she not only could make me hard again, but also knock her up." He tries to laugh, but you can tell it's forced.
"She's happy about it, though. That's the crazy part to me. She's going to be doing it all on her own, but she's happy because it'll be her way of having me with her after I'm gone." He breaks down again and gasps out, "Why couldn't I just be her wedgie?"
We both let out an emotional laugh at those words, but both start as Alyssa walks in, "Because then you'd be in my ass, and I prefer you somewhere else." Tears roll down her face and David opens his arms for Alyssa to come and crawl up in them.
I get up and wave to David as he whispers love into her ear and I rejoin Sarina who's in the kitchen. Evidence of her own tears show on her cheeks, some of her mascara has smudged under one eye. I lift my hand to wipe it away with my thumb and give her a soft smile. Her bottom lip trembles as she looks up at me with wide emotional eyes, before she wraps her arms around my chest holding me close to her.
"I love you." She whispers to me.
"I love you, too."