The Proposal (Forever Bound Book 2) (17 page)

I know this has been a burden on you and have a tough decision to make, but I trust that you will make that decision and will take everything into consideration.  Should you fail at reaching this deadline, then the estate will be placed in a separate fund, to which you will only have access for city uses.  Don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions and I will make sure to communicate with you regularly until you have come to your decision.

Sincerely,

Max Grayson, Attorney at Law

Derek groaned and folded the letter back up.  He slid it into his desk drawer and tried to push it out of his mind.  The quicker the two years was up, the happier he would be.  A knock on his door, caused him to look up.

He smiled, spotting Charity.  “Hey!”

“I just wanted to let you know that I’m leaving to go get my sister.”  She smiled. 

He had a thought, and he brought it up to her.  “Do you want me to go along with you?  After all, it’s a boring drive.”

She raised an eyebrow when he asked the question.  “Do I want you to go along?  Absolutely!”  She then gave him a mischevious smile.  “Will I let you go along?  I don’t think so.”

He frowned.  “Ouch,” he replied, pretending to be hurt.

She laughed.  “It’s not that I wouldn’t love for you to come with me, but how would that look?  She’d question it, and we’d be scrambling for answers as to why my boss chose to drive me to the airport.”

He nodded.  “I suppose you’re right.”

She walked up to him and kissed him on the cheek.  “I appreciate the offer, though.”

He smiled, returning a kiss to her lips.  “Be careful,” he whispered as the kiss died down.

“I will.  I’ll see you tomorrow.”  She blew him a kiss and left his office.  He watched her as she got on the elevator and waved to him before the doors closed.  He reached back into his desk and pulled the letter out, then stuffed it into his briefcase.  He would soon call Max and tell him that he had no intention of taking his father up on his stupid guidelines, and he would appreciate it if he left him alone.  He knew that was exactly what he needed to say and do.

****

Charity quickly parked her car and nearly sprinted up to the airport door.  She pressed the button for the door to automatically open, and she rushed in.  With her paper in her hand, stating Tiffany’s gate number, she looked up at the wall to see where she needed to go.  She instantly found it and hurriedly moved down the corridors, until she came to an opening that showed the gate number.

She finally could breathe.  After hitting every red light and running into much more traffic than she anticipated, she thought she’d be late.  According to the scrolling screen of information, she about fifteen minutes to spare.  She fell back against a chair and heaved a sigh of relief.  She then pulled her phone out of her pocket and scrolled until she found Derek’s name.  She sent him a new message.

Charity:  Traffic was a bear, but I made it just in the nick of time.

She glanced around at all the other people that were there to pick up a passenger.  She obviously didn’t know any of them, but she found it interesting to see the diversity of the people in the airport.  A teenaged girl sat nervously, as she pretended to read a magazine.  Periodically her eyes would dart around the lobby, then she would go back to reading.  An elderly couple sat across from her.  They were holding hands and still looked as much in love as anyone could look.  A Japanese or Chinese couple stood in the corner.  They were talking and while they were close enough that she would be able to hear the conversation, it was in a different language, so she moved onto the next person.

A tall man with sunglasses on top of his head leaned up against the wall and had his eyes closed.  He had been there longer than she had and by the look of things, he was ready for the plane to get there unless he enjoyed taking a nap while standing up.

She chuckled as she looked away from each of the people standing or sitting in the airport lobby.  Her phone sounded with a text, so she graciously took the distraction and looked at Derek’s response.

Derek:  So glad to hear it.  Enjoy the beautiful night with your sister.

Charity smiled.  He was sweet and caring.  She couldn’t deny that.  Then there was Damian who sent her gifts and poetry, and she was starting to wonder why she never saw him as a guy that could give her everything she wanted.  “Because he wasn’t that guy!” she whispered.  She heard someone clear her throat, and she looked up at a man that sat in the seat two spots down from her.  He raised an eyebrow and was looking right at her, clearly thinking she was nuts.  She smiled and looked down.  If he only knew the dilemma she was in.

She heard the call of Tiffany’s plane arriving, and she thought it couldn’t have come at a better time.  Of course, she knew that they would be getting instructions, just in case anyone was a first-time passenger, but soon the gate was opening, and passengers started filing out of the corridor.  She stood up from her seat, while the other people located the person they were there to see.  Arms were flailing around, and eager cries of enjoyment ensued and then she saw Tiffany coming out of the door.

She squealed, then realized it was a little louder than she should’ve gone with.  Tiffany ran towards her, and they hugged one another.  “I’ve missed you so much!” Tiffany mumbled against Charity’s hair.

“So did I!” Charity exclaimed.  After they had several minutes of embracing, Charity was the first to pull apart.  She looked her sister over and felt herself getting misty.  “You have grown so much.”

Tiffany laughed.  “Um…that’s something you say to a five-year-old.  I’ve always been this mature.”

They both erupted into laughter and then hugged again.  “Come on you mature one…time to get your luggage.”  Tiffany snickered, and they walked arm in arm to the baggage claim area.  Tiffany immediately started chatting away about how she was doing in college and Charity hung onto every word.  She could at least live vicariously through her sister and still hope that one day she was able to get there too.  Then she switched the topic to boys and Charity quickly had to stop her.

“Boys?” Charity asked.

Tiffany laughed.  “In case you haven’t noticed sis, I’m not a little girl anymore.”

“I noticed,” Charity whispered.  She hated seeing Tiffany grow up so fast, but talking about boys wasn’t something she intended on doing, so she quickly changed the subject.  “So, excited about starting Harvard in the Fall?”

Tiffany snickered.  “Yes…” she then looked excited and flung out her phone. 

“What are you doing?” Charity asked with a chuckle. 

“I want to show you a picture of Paul.  He is hands down the best catch at school.  He’s planning on coming to Harvard, as well.  We’re just friends now, but you never know.”  She thrust out her hand to show Charity his picture.

Charity stared at her.  “When did you become so boy crazy and what did you do my sister?”

Tiffany shrugged.  “I guess I’ve always been boy crazy and you just never noticed.”

Charity grabbed the phone and looked at Paul’s picture, while Tiffany grabbed her luggage.  “Hm…I guess he isn’t bad.  Does he know you have these feelings for him?” Charity asked, handing the phone back to her sister.

Tiffany laughed.  “Uh no.  That’s not the way things work.”

Charity shook her head and helped Tiffany with her bags.  They carried them through the airport and made their way out the front door.  “I parked over here.”  Charity motioned with her head, and they headed to her car.  Tiffany started talking about Paul again, and Charity only half listened.  When they got to the car, she opened up the trunk, and they put the luggage in.  Charity walked to the driver’s door, and Tiffany walked around to the passenger side.  She took a breath as she slid into the seat, but then started right back up. 

“His favorite musical group is Pink Floyd.  Can you believe it?  Pink Floyd…I told him that’s so 80’s, but he told me I’m nuts.”  She sighed.  “He is so unique, and that’s what draws me to him.”

Charity chuckled under her breath and went to start the car.  She turned it once, and it started to make a sound, but then quickly died.  “Oh…no…no…no…no…” she chanted, trying again.  The second and third time she did the same, and the car did the same.  She hit her hands across the wheel.

“What’s happening?” Tiffany asked. 

Charity took off her seatbelt.  “I don’t know.  Haven’t had the issue before.”  She opened up the hood of her car, then got out of the vehicle.  She walked around to the front of the car and lifted up the hood.  She stared aimlessly into the motor and whatever else was under the hood.

“Do you see anything?” Tiffany asked as she leaned out the window.

Charity laughed.  “That would mean I have a clue what I’m looking for.”  She grabbed her phone out of her pocket and scrolled through until she found the tow service that came with her car coverage.  She clicked on their information and waited for a woman to answer. 

“Main Street Towing…how may I help you?”

“Hello.  My name is Charity Parker, and I am stuck at Portland International Jetport in section G of the parking lot.  I can’t get my car started, and I was hoping someone to come and try to jump it for me.”

“Do you have coverage with us?”

“Yes.  I do.”

“Alright, let me look you up.”  She heard some typing on a computer and then the woman came back on the phone.  “Charity Parker you say?”

“That’s right.” 

“What’s your date of birth?” The woman asked.

She told the woman her birthdate then proceeded to wait for her to look up the information.  She came back and said she found it, but the news she gave wasn’t the best Charity could’ve received.  “Three hours?” Charity asked.

“I’m sorry, but that’s the earliest anyone can get there.”

Charity closed the hood of her car and glanced at Tiffany in the passenger seat.  “I’ll call you back.”

“Suit yourself.  I’ll be here until seven o’clock, then the night shift comes in.”

“Okay…thanks!”  Charity hung up the phone and moved to the driver’s side of the car.  She got in and shut the door hard.  “Well, this will be fun.  Feel like waiting it out for at least three hours?” Charity asked.

Tiffany chuckled.  “Do we have an alternative?”

Charity thought about it, then dialed up Ana’s number.  They could hope that Jesse could come and help them out of this bind, or wait until some nice person just happened along and could jumpstart the car.  Ana answered the phone.  “Hello?”

“Hey, Ana.  What are you and Jesse up to?” Charity asked, attempting her hand at a positive sounding voice.

“Well, we were supposed to be going out, but he just called and said he needed to reschedule.  He has to stay late at work and meet with a client.  Why?  What’s up?”

“Oh…” Charity groaned.  “Well, Tiff and I are stuck in the parking lot of the airport.  My car won’t start, and I was hoping for a jump.”

“Oh geez,” Ana replied.  “I’d come and try to help you out, but my Mom just came and got my car.”

“Why what’s up with their cars?” Charity asked.

“The Camaro is in the shop getting detailed, and she needs a car for tomorrow.  Dad dropped her off, and they just left.”  She paused.  “I could try to reach them on the phone and see if Dad can come and give you a jump.”

Charity hated burdening them, so she turned down the offer.  “I’ll figure something else out.  Thanks anyway.”  She hung up the phone, and Tiffany gave her a weary look.

“No luck?”

“All hope isn’t lost.”  Charity responded.

She dialed up another number and waited for him to answer.  “Hello?  Charity?”

“Hey, Derek…I’m stuck in the parking lot of the airport.  My car won’t start.  I hate to bother you, but could you bring some jumper cables and help a girl out?”

He didn’t even hesitate and said he would be there as soon as he could.  Charity told him they were in section G, thanked him and hung up the phone.  She turned to Tiffany, who seemed more hopeful.  “You have help?”

Charity nodded.  “There’s something you should know before he gets here, though.  It’s Derek Worthington.”  Tiffany didn’t seem to catch the drift until Charity reiterated the name.  “It’s Mayor Derek Worthington.”

Charity’s jaw dropped.  “Are you serious?”  She lowered the visor and checked herself in the mirror.  “I look hideous.”

Charity laughed.  “You look fine.”

Tiffany flipped the visor back up.  “I know you work for him and all, or you did, and now you do…” she shook her head.  “I’ve lost track.”  She snickered and ignored Charity’s glares in her direction.  “Anyway…I know you work with him, but I didn’t think you were chummy enough to call him up and ask him for a favor.  I’m impressed.”

Charity rolled her eyes and looked away from Tiffany.  Eventually, she would have to confess everything to Tiffany and Ana, but she just wanted to keep things between Derek and her.  “We’re friendly with one another.  That’s all.”

“Right and I’m friendly with Channing Tatum…no big deal.”