Destined to Love (Starting Over Trilogy Book 3) (7 page)

I kiss him back and then I tell him that I love him, too.
 

He smiles and lowers me to the ground. I probably shouldn’t keep doing that.

I laugh. “Soon, I’ll be too fat and you won’t be able to lift me,” I say, getting into the passenger seat.

Mason laughs and says, “Buckle up,” and closes my door.
 

I buckle up and he gets into the driver seat and fastens his own seat belt. He looks into the back seat. “Did you do some shopping today?”
 

“A little. I made some decisions today and went ahead and put them into action.”

“Really?” he asks, as he pulls out of the parking lot.

“I called your Mom and invited her, your Dad, and Madison to dinner tomorrow.”
 

“Good, I haven’t seen them much lately. Dinner will be nice.”
 

“I also called Aunt Maria today and I told her I was gifting them the beach house. I called and made an appointment with an attorney today to draw up the paperwork. I want to gift them the beach house as soon as possible.”
 

“You had a very productive day today.” Mason looks over at me and smiles. “My Dad may be able to help you with gifting the beach house.”
 

“Surprisingly, the news today didn’t send me back to the black depression I used to live in. I do believe I owe that to you.” I reach over and take his hand in mine.
 

“Beauty, I believe this is all you. You have always had inner strength; you just didn’t know it.”
 

“I don’t know about that, but thank you. Do you think your Dad would mind helping with the legal paperwork for the cottage?”
 

“No, I think he would love to help.”
 

We pull up into the garage at the beach house and Mason helps me out and then starts to reach for the items in the back seat.
 

“I’ll get these, if you’ll get the paint samples from the trunk,” I say, reaching into the back seat.

“Ok, what are you planning on painting?”
 

I grab the bags from the back seat and close the car door behind me. “Nothing. Well, not yet anyway. It’s for my Interior Designing Business. It’s time I get it up and running, don’t you think?”
 

“Have you decided on where you are going to set up your office?”
 

I follow him into the house. “I thought I would take your advice and work from home. I like it here and it’s very motivating.”
 

Mason closes the doors and locks up behind us. “I think that is a wonderful idea.
I also think I give wonderful advice. Do you want to dine out for dinner tonight?” 

“Sure, that sounds great.”
 

“Ok, let me shower first, then I’ll be ready.”

Mason and I go out for pizza and salads for dinner. We talk about the news we received today at the doctor’s office and about planning our wedding. He asks if I want to move the date up for the wedding, and I don’t. I still don’t want to interfere with Brea and Vincent’s wedding. I ask him if the news we received today has changed any feelings he has, and it hasn’t. He still feels this baby is his and he will love it, no matter what. I believe him; I have no reason not to. That eases a lot of stress from me. I would understand if it is too much for him. We did the pregnancy test, but I think we were still hoping it was wrong.
 

When we get home, we walk through the spare bedrooms and decide which will make the best room for my office. We don’t talk about the baby’s room or a nursery or anything pertaining to children.

I have already spoken to Sara and Brea about leaving and told them that my last day will be Friday. It is bittersweet. I love them and love working for them, but this will be the ideal move for me, Mason, and our family. It’s time I put my college degree to use.
 

The next day we clean the house and go to the grocery store. Mason’s Mom, Dad, and sister are coming to dinner. I want everything to be perfect. We stop and get some fresh-cut flowers for the table before heading home.

I was going to cook, but Mason thought it would be too much, so he is going to have steaks on the grill. While the steaks marinate, we make potato salad, baked beans, and fruit salad. Mason is wearing his signature white linen shirt and a pair of plaid shorts. His hair is curly and unruly, and he smells of spice and sandalwood. The music is on the surround sound, and he is singing to every song that comes on. I love seeing him so carefree and happy.
 

I shower and dress in a white sundress to match Mason’s white shirt. He sees me and walks over to me and lifts me up so we are eye to eye.

He smiles and says, “You look beautiful.”
 

I wrap my arms around his neck. “Thank you, you look pretty handsome yourself.”

The doorbell rings and Mason walks to the door still carrying me. I giggle, wrap my legs around his waist, and hold on so I won’t fall. He opens the door wide for his family to enter, without putting me down and I laugh.

“Hi, come on in,” I say, still laughing.
 

Mason slowly lowers me, and his Mom and Dad kiss and hug me before kissing and hugging Mason. Madison hugs me then Mason. I close the door and everyone gathers outside near the bar. Bruce pours Mason and himself a Scotch and pours champagne for Madison, Lilly, and me. I look over at Mason and notice that he is watching me. I don’t say anything; I just take the champagne and smile. I have a bottle of water and I continue to drink it. Mason hasn’t drunk any alcohol since my birthday. I wonder if he’ll drink the Scotch.

He puts the steaks on the grill and walks over to me. “Are you feeling all right?”
 

“Yes, I’m fine. I didn’t know what to say when Bruce handed me the champagne.”
 

“It must have been a little awkward.”
 

“It’s fine, I just told them the heat was getting to me so I was going to stick to my water.”

“Good thinking.”
 

I kiss Mason before he returns to the grill to remove the steaks. Madison, Lilly, and I place all the food out on the large round outside table. Mason and I sit side by side, then Lilly, Bruce, and Madison seat themselves around the table. As always, the conversation flows easily as we talk about our recent engagement.

“Angel, I would love to throw you and Mason an engagement party and have some of our family and friends and Bruce’s and Mason’s colleagues come,” Lilly says, with a gleam in her eyes.
 

“Lilly, that is very thoughtful and sweet of you, but Mason and I would rather not.”
 

“Mom, Angel and I just want to keep this small, between our families,” Mason says while squeezing my hand.
 

“I understand, but may I post the engagement in the newspaper? Something announcing the engagement with a photo of you both?” Lilly sits up straighter from across from the table and smiles. “Mason, I’m your mother and you’ll get married only once. Please let me do to this for you, for you both.”
 

Mason promises to provide his mother with a picture of us before they leave tonight. We ask her and Bruce about having the wedding in their backyard on New Year’s Eve. They are excited about us getting married there and readily agree to open their home to us and our friends for the wedding. Lilly starts to cry and Bruce comforts her. Mason squeezes my hand under the table. Mason and I inform his mother that we want a small intimate wedding. She readily agrees.

Mason and Bruce clear the table, while Lilly, Madison, and I get the coffee and dessert ready. We sit at the table and talk about me quitting my job and starting my own business. We also talk about Mason selling his condo fully furnished and that he needs to go over tomorrow to clear out his personal belongings. Madison announces that she thinks the condo will sell quickly. She says that she often gets request for condos in that building and because it is the penthouse with the view it has, it will bring in several different buyers.

“Mason, I’ll meet you at the condo tomorrow and we can get most of your personal items in a few trips,” Bruce says.
 

 
“Can you go to the cottage and get my white desk and a few other items from there?” 

“Oh, you’re getting rid of the cottage?” Lilly asks.
 

“Well no, I’m gifting it to my aunt and uncle. It originally belonged to my Aunt Rosie, Raùl’s sister. I am meeting with an attorney next week to help draw up the paperwork.”
 

“Angel, save your money. I can assist you with that,” Bruce offers.

“Thank you, I’ll call and cancel my appointment on Monday. ”
 

Mason tells his Mom and Dad that we would like to go to church with them Sunday. His mother is so excited and tells us Mason hasn’t been to church in months. She tells us to be there at 11:00 a.m. sharp. After everyone leaves, Mason jumps in the shower and I pull out the items I bought from Babies R Us yesterday. I hold the small booties in my hand and smile. They are so tiny. I bought a pink pair and a blue pair. I tuck them away in my dresser and then take a quick shower.

Mason
 

I get out of the shower and walk into the bedroom, expecting to see Angel. I hear water in the bathroom so I know she is in the shower. I don’t want to run into her wearing a towel or less. I dress quickly and head out to the lanai to make sure everything is cleaned up
 

The news we got at the doctor’s yesterday was good news. The fetus is healthy as far as can be determined. Anything that is a part of Angel, I swear, I will love as much as I love her. She is amazing and beautiful. She doesn’t have a clue how her beauty affects people. They stop what they are doing just to watch her. She has inner beauty to match her outer beauty, as well. She would give up her lunch to feed someone in need. I once saw her give a homeless man a sack lunch she had made for herself to eat. We watched him give half of the lunch to another homeless man.

Angel’s inner strength is starting to show. I knew she had it; I just haven’t seen it until now. She is coming to terms with being pregnant.
I was afraid she would become depressed and shut herself out from the world and from me, but she didn’t. It must still be hard on her to have a reminder of that night with Jim. I am so proud of her. I noticed she got some pregnancy books from the library, but hasn’t opened them yet.

Angel walks out on the lanai wearing the white linen shirt I had on earlier. I look over at her and smile.

“Nice shirt.”
 

She smiles, “It smells like you. I hope you don’t mind my wearing it.”
 

“What’s mine is yours. If you promise to wear them all the time, I’ll buy a dozen of them for you.”

She walks over to me and reaches up to kiss me. “I love you.”
 

“I love you, more,” I say, kissing her back. “Do you want to take a walk on the beach?”
 

“Sure, I’ll have to go change first.”
 

“Come on, it’s dark. There won’t be anyone out here.” I take her hand and we walk down to the beach. It’s a full moon and the stars are out. The breeze blows Angel’s hair away from her face and she looks stunning. Her long dark curly hair against my white shirt on her flawless body is gorgeous. She is so beautiful.
 

“What are you thinking about?” she asks, looking at me with a smile on her lips.
 

“I was thinking about how beautiful you look.”
 

“Mason, I swear, you need glasses.”
 

“You are always beautiful and you never know it. You have no idea how many people just stop and stare at you when you enter a room.”
 

“Mason, that’s not true and stop trying to embarrass me.”

“See what I mean?”
 

Angel and I walk a short distance down the beach in silence and I notice her shiver.

“Come on, Beauty, let’s head home.” I take her hand and lead us in the direction of our beach house. “What are your plans tomorrow when Dad and I go to the condo?”
 

“I thought I would go to the cottage and pack up some of my things. I meet with your Dad next week to gift the cottage to Uncle Raùl and Aunt Maria.”

I look over at her as she intertwines our fingers.

She says, “When my Aunt Rosie gave me the cottage, it was fully furnished. A few things in there belonged to my Mom, so I want those things. I also want the china cabinet with the serving dishes in it. I’ll need to call Aunt Maria to make sure it’s all right. That is, if you don’t care? The furniture there won’t really go well with your furniture.”
 

“I’m sure they would want you to have whatever you want out of there. Don’t worry about it matching or not. If you want it, we’ll make it work. ”
 

“I bet you didn’t realize how little I was bringing into our relationship?”
 

“All I want is you; nothing else matters. What is mine is yours.”