Page 86 of Completely Captivated

She found a sudden burst of energy and sprang out of bed.“If you do, we’ll never get out of here!”

Showered, dressed, and in the car, she insisted on driving so I wouldn’t know where we were going until we got there.She was so excited over the surprise, I couldn’t deny her the pleasure of keeping it secret for a few minutes longer.When we pulled up outside the courthouse, I turned and gave her a puzzled expression.

“I thought we’d go in together and formally withdraw the divorce petition.There are some papers I have to fill out to stop the proceedings, and I want you to be there with me.It’s symbolic of our new start.”

“I’d love to, Christa.”With my hands on her face, I pulled close to her and gave her the hottest, most X-rated kiss I could possibly give with our clothes on.“Mrs.Rivers.”

“Forever,” she replied earnestly.

With the papers completed, signed, and recorded, the sense of relief I felt was incredible.The last six months had been the longest of my life, every minute hanging on her decision to stay or go.

She looked up at me as we exited the building, love beaming from her eyes.I reached into my pocket and retrieved the small velvet bag that hadn’t left my person since that day in Lance’s office.When I stopped walking, she looked at me questioningly.Then I knelt on one knee and slid the rings back onto her finger.Where they’d always belonged.Where they’d always stay.

I raised my eyes to meet hers, and tears of happiness shimmered like diamonds.She smiled as I stood, still holding her hand in mine.“With this ring, I’m not only giving you all my love, but every part of me.Mind.Body.Heart.Making you fall in love with me all over again every single day will become my life’s ambition.

“If the day ever comes when you give these rings back to me, I’ll know you’re throwing my love away, tossing us aside.I’d never be able to love anyone again after that.Hold on to us no matter what the future throws at us.Our love, our marriage, and our life together are all that matter.Never give up on me, Christa, and I’ll make you the happiest woman who ever lived.”

Tears rolled down her cheeks as she took my hand in hers, fingering the wedding band that hadn’t left my hand since the night I put it on in Vegas.Even sitting in Lance’s office, a strong foreboding and sense of profound loss wouldn’t let me take it off.

“Before I met you, I never believed in love.I thought it was a fairy tale I’d only read about and could never happen to me.You took everything I held true and ruined it in the best way.The love you’ve freely given me opened my eyes, my mind, and my heart.The fears that held me captive disappeared when I found you.

“With this ring, I’m forever yours.I promise to love you more every day.To walk by your side, even when no one else will.To stand behind you and help you achieve your dreams.To be whatever you need when you need me the most.I’ll never give up on you.I’ll never stop loving you.If the day ever comes when you’re no longer with me, I’ll never love another.I’ve found the other half of my soul in you and only you.”

“The wedding vows you wrote for me,” I replied, equally shocked and thrilled.

“I still mean every word of them.”She rose up on her toes and kissed me, sealing our commitment yet again.

“You’ve completely captivated me, Christa.”

Epilogue

Delilah

Love is a funny thing, isn’t it?People could be so fickle, never knowing which paths their lives should take.Sometimes they just needed a good, swift kick in the ass to make them see.Like my sweet Christa and her handsome man, Aaron.Now that their future was finally on the right road, it was time to turn my sights on another who had lost her way.

I stepped into the café, and the chimes over the door alerted her to my presence.Christa and Aaron were finally on their two-week honeymoon in Maui.Aaron tried to talk her into going somewhere more “exotic,” but she was adamant to see Hawaii.Their absence left one person there to deal with me.

“Christa isn’t back yet,” Allie said, effectively dismissing me when she turned her back to me.

No matter.I didn’t become the woman I was by backing down from insignificant challenges.“I’m not here for Christa today, and you damn well know it, young lady.”

She turned slowly but deliberately, cutting her hostile eyes at me.“I’ve tolerated your presence for Christa’s sake, because she loves you and because I know you’ve been secretly helping her.She told me she refused the money you’ve been saving for her since she and Aaron have enough to make the world go ’round a few more times.But she doesn’t know everything about you.She didn’t grow up under your thumb, always made to feel irrelevant and like an outcast.Until Christa gets back, you can get your coffee somewhere else.”

“You tasted happiness long enough for Christa to realize she’d found hers.Then you dumped that poor man, Lance, the minute Christa stopped her divorce.That man loves you, and it’s time for you to stop running andallowhim to love you.”

“It’s time for you to leave, Nana.You have no say over how I live my life anymore.”Allie put her fists on her hips, drew in a deep breath, and glared at me.

I’d seen that stance many times before.Ever since she was a headstrong little girl, she used that posture to signal her stubborn streak.She wouldn’t listen to me then, not in that state.It’d take more finagling to make her see the light.

Game on, little girl.Game on.

“Okay,” I replied, infusing my tone with as much sadness as I could.“I’ll go.I’m sorry you hate me so much.I love you, my little spitfire.I’ve always loved you with all of my heart.”

My walk back to the door was unhurried and measured.She’d seldom seen me sad and never saw me broken, so that version of me was no doubt confusing.I wanted to give her plenty of time seeing me in that state before I was out of sight.It would help us both later, when I implemented my plan for Allie and Lance.

Until then, buttercups.Until then…