good memories and acceptance. She knew, as she always had deep down, they’d want her to be happy. And she truly was now. For an hour, she stayed in the swing, occasionally giving herself a little push with one foot. An unfamiliar peace fell over her. Her jumbled mind was quiet and calm. No worries clouded her thoughts.
She laughed when she remembered the time she’d tracked the house with mud and blamed it on the dog. Her heart warmed when she remembered Christmas and how somehow she always seemed to get exactly what she wanted even when money was tight. A slight cringe crossed her face when she thought about her first time driving and knocking down the mailbox. Tons of memories came back to her. Things she’d long forgotten. Some were gone by choice. Others had just been lost somewhere along the way. She promised not to lose them again.
A check of the time, told her she needed to move on. There was one more stop to make. Goodbyes were said into thin air. Then, she climbed back into her car which luckily started this time. Running two fingers under her eyes while looking in the rearview mirror removed most of the evidence that she had shed any tears.
Her last stop, and by far the easiest of the day, was the crusher. The beat up, well-used car had served her well. Yet, it was too constant a reminder of desperate times and hopelessness. With fascination, she watched as the employee loaded the car into the heav y machinery. He pulled the lever and that’s when she turned around. A cab had arrived to take her home. For some reason, she felt badass for not watching or weeping for the old hunk of metal.
She gave the driver a hefty tip, knowing that the worker had probably had a rough day. Something on the porch caught her eye. Bright blues, yellows, pin ks, and orange splashes of color that she couldn’t quite make out. Her eyes were squinted as she stepped closer. A beautiful bouquet had been placed carefully on the welcome mat in front of the big white door.
“Logan….” She whispered out loud as she picked up the flowers.
The card read:
To my soul mate,
I am nothing without you. Thankfully, you are with me in my dreams.
With boundless love,
Logan
Candice opened the door, grinning broadly as she arranged the flowers in the vase on the dining room table. The whole house appeared brighter. As hard as it was to be apart, she’d never loved him more than in that moment of great distance.
That evening, Logan caught the first flight back to Candice that he could get. It took a thousand dollars in bribe money to convince a lone traveler to forsake his seat. Every so often, he’d pat the inside chest pocket of his suit to make sure the engagement ring was still there. He was nervous. Harworth’s didn’t get nervous. They did what needed to be done and then some. It was a family trait, or so his father had always said.
Logan arrived in town early the next day after several excruciating flight delays. His decision to fly commercial instead of arranging to leave in his father’s personal jet was purely out of necessity. The sooner he was out of the city, the better… especially without Maxwell Harworth’s knowledge.
A few times, Logan started to call ahead to tell Candice he was on his way, but he resisted. This was supposed to be a grand professing of love and a surprise. She’d open the door, he’d fall to his knee, and they’d rejoice when she answered yes to his question. That was the plan, at least. It had to be perfect for her.
He rang the bell and Candice opened the door. She’d obviously been asleep. Her eyes were half open, her hair a mess, and she probably had morning breath. His vision of the moment hadn’t been quite so… normal. Surely, she would not appreciate him proposing like that.
“You’re back!” She wrapped her arms around his neck.
“I told you I was going to try to come back early.” Gently, he rubbed her back and kissed her cheek. “How’d you like the
She laughed when she remembered the time she’d tracked the house with mud and blamed it on the dog. Her heart warmed when she remembered Christmas and how somehow she always seemed to get exactly what she wanted even when money was tight. A slight cringe crossed her face when she thought about her first time driving and knocking down the mailbox. Tons of memories came back to her. Things she’d long forgotten. Some were gone by choice. Others had just been lost somewhere along the way. She promised not to lose them again.
A check of the time, told her she needed to move on. There was one more stop to make. Goodbyes were said into thin air. Then, she climbed back into her car which luckily started this time. Running two fingers under her eyes while looking in the rearview mirror removed most of the evidence that she had shed any tears.
Her last stop, and by far the easiest of the day, was the crusher. The beat up, well-used car had served her well. Yet, it was too constant a reminder of desperate times and hopelessness. With fascination, she watched as the employee loaded the car into the heav y machinery. He pulled the lever and that’s when she turned around. A cab had arrived to take her home. For some reason, she felt badass for not watching or weeping for the old hunk of metal.
She gave the driver a hefty tip, knowing that the worker had probably had a rough day. Something on the porch caught her eye. Bright blues, yellows, pin ks, and orange splashes of color that she couldn’t quite make out. Her eyes were squinted as she stepped closer. A beautiful bouquet had been placed carefully on the welcome mat in front of the big white door.
“Logan….” She whispered out loud as she picked up the flowers.
The card read:
To my soul mate,
I am nothing without you. Thankfully, you are with me in my dreams.
With boundless love,
Logan
Candice opened the door, grinning broadly as she arranged the flowers in the vase on the dining room table. The whole house appeared brighter. As hard as it was to be apart, she’d never loved him more than in that moment of great distance.
That evening, Logan caught the first flight back to Candice that he could get. It took a thousand dollars in bribe money to convince a lone traveler to forsake his seat. Every so often, he’d pat the inside chest pocket of his suit to make sure the engagement ring was still there. He was nervous. Harworth’s didn’t get nervous. They did what needed to be done and then some. It was a family trait, or so his father had always said.
Logan arrived in town early the next day after several excruciating flight delays. His decision to fly commercial instead of arranging to leave in his father’s personal jet was purely out of necessity. The sooner he was out of the city, the better… especially without Maxwell Harworth’s knowledge.
A few times, Logan started to call ahead to tell Candice he was on his way, but he resisted. This was supposed to be a grand professing of love and a surprise. She’d open the door, he’d fall to his knee, and they’d rejoice when she answered yes to his question. That was the plan, at least. It had to be perfect for her.
He rang the bell and Candice opened the door. She’d obviously been asleep. Her eyes were half open, her hair a mess, and she probably had morning breath. His vision of the moment hadn’t been quite so… normal. Surely, she would not appreciate him proposing like that.
“You’re back!” She wrapped her arms around his neck.
“I told you I was going to try to come back early.” Gently, he rubbed her back and kissed her cheek. “How’d you like the
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