“I’m sorry, James. I…I can’t.” She turned and made her way down the path ignoring James calling after her.
Ten minutes later, she’d made it to the house. After collecting her key off the hook, she drove away from everything. She needed to be alone.
Fifteen minutes later, she found herself down by the marina, which had gradually become one of her favorite spots.
Rory strolled down the festively decorated boardwalk, admiring the way the lights illuminated the water, the buildings closest casting their reflection in the pristine mirror of the marina. She firmly pulled her parka together and zipped it together from the chilly gale that seemed to be picking up in speed and intensity. In a way, she guessed it was a reflection of how she was feeling at the moment— alone and afraid. She didn’t know how to move on from this. She didn’t even want to think about it.
A tear slipped down her cold cheek as she observed the couple walking ahead of her. They were walking hand in hand and leaning into each other as they whispered in each other’s ears and giggled. Deciding it was too much, she stopped and made her way over to one of the benches facing out. The coldness of the metal seeped through the soft material of her dress and into her legs. She wished she’d stopped to put on some pants or at least some jeggings.
Her mind flashed back to James and the pained expression on his face when she walked away from him. It had broken her heart to have to hurt him like that, but it couldn’t have been helped. She’d wanted him for so long to stand up to his mother for her, and instead, he had tried to rationalize her actions. Maybe Lenora had been right. Maybe he only wanted her because she’d proven to be a challenge— one that he believed he could save in some way.
A soft sigh left her lips.
“Hey.”
She looked up to see James staring down at her, eyes filled with caution.
Rory furrowed her brows, surprised by his presence.
“Trey told me I might find you here,” he answered her unspoken question. She remained silent, staring up at him. “Can I?” he asked, pointing to the empty space on the bench.
Rory moved over to allow him more space. The two sat for a while staring out at the water, neither saying anything. Rory threw furtive glances at him before turning her attention back to the water.
“I told mom that she’s not welcome to our wedding.”
Her mind ran a mile a minute at his surprising revelation.
“I told her that if she can’t accept that you are the only woman for me and that I can’t live without you, then she is prepared to no longer have a son in her life.”
“James,” was all she could manage to say as she turned fully to stare at him.
James turned to her with a small smile. He reached for her hand, and she let him. “I love you, Rory. I won’t ever stop saying it because it is the truth, and I am sorry I didn’t do it sooner but as much as I appreciate my mother for all she and my dad has done for me, you are my future now, and it hurts me when you’re hurt. I want you to know that it doesn’t matter who tries to hurt you. I will always stand up for you. I will always defend you because that’s what love is.”
Rory was overwhelmed. Her heart was filled with joy. Reaching up, she cupped his cheek lovingly. James placed his hand over hers and squeezed her fingers softly.
“There’s something else.”
“Oh really?” she asked with a soft chuckle.
James released a hearty chuckle of his own and took an envelope from the inside of his jacket.
Rory stared from the envelope to him with questioning eyes until he removed the papers. Her eyes widened.
“I had this with me the last time I was here, and I was going to do to it what I am about to do now.”
“James, what’re you…” she started, staring in alarm at the paper he’d started ripping.
“I don’t want there to be anything but trust between us, Ro. I don’t need a prenup because I know that our love is strong enough to withstand anything that will be thrown at us. I will spend all of my life making sure you know just how much I love and appreciate you.”
Her heart was a pattering mess. “I love you,” she breathed, then a broad smile transformed her face.
“I have one more surprise. Ethan offered for me to join him at his new environmental law firm. I’m thinking about making an investment in it.”
“James, that’s too much. I don’t want you to give up everything just to please me. You have a life back in San Fran…our home is there.”
James cupped her face in his hands and planted his lips against hers. When their lips separated, he looked lovingly into her eyes. “You’re my home,” he affirmed.
Rory smiled.
