Pole Position
Page 14
There’s no such surprise today though. On the other side of the lake is a lone TV screen. It’s the largest I have seen other than the one in Tiananmen Square, and it’s playing a video to the music of the band that I selected to play at our party.
The video is a series of professional photographs, personal snapshots and film footage we each took on our cell phones throughout not only our married life, but all our years together.
I forget about the missing people and the party we were supposed to have and instead I focus on how far Elliott and I have come. My eyes fill with tears at the sight of the man I used to be as the headshot for my first racing job security pass, before I even met Elliott, displays on the screen.
I don’t move my attention from the screen as I lay my arm over his shoulders and pull him close so that we’re sealed at the side.
“Thank you. This is the best present I could ask for,” my voice is soft, cracking with emotion, but he hears me and tightens his hug.
There’s footage of me on my bike, that first day I fell off and we went to stay at the orb in the woods. There’s a short video of us jet skiing during some downtime in Dubai and then there’s the two of us at the house in the mountains we stayed at while Elliott was recuperating and before our wedding.
“Thank you for always being there for me, whatever we do,” Elliott pulls me close and kisses my cheek.
Elliott
The music playing to the video changes. It grows louder and it takes me a second to process what’s happening. All of our friends and family are spilling out from behind the screen. Each has a drink in their hands. I spot Jessie and Zac with their arms draped over Kyle’s mom. His cousin is here, and a whole host of other people. There’s too many for me to focus on. I can’t make out their individual features.
“Happy anniversary,” Kyle grins. “I worried that the party had been called off with you planning a surprise too, but it looks like Axel did a great job of combining two ideas for a surprise anniversary gift. Where is he?” Kyle scans the crowd and I do the same as people walk around the one side of the lake to greet us.
Axel appears with two drinks in his hand. “Happy anniversary,” he says. “Do you like your surprises?”
“We love them, thank you,” I lean in full of pride and love for this young man who has progressed so far in the short time we’ve had him as part of our lives.
“You’ve done an amazing job.” Kyle draws him in too, and we stand like that, bound in a family unit, just taking some time to breathe each other in.
“Come on, let me show you everything.” No longer the man, Axel has reverted to the excited schoolboy desperate for praise. I have no issues in lavishing him with it as he walks us around to an area where he’s managed to hide the band on a small stage and a dance floor. Servers wander around with drinks on wooden trays, just like they did at our wedding, and the whole effect is one of love.
“Happy anniversary.” I know that voice. Daisy grabs me from behind, pulling me in for a hug.
“You two really are the best couple,” she says, collecting Kyle too.
The afternoon passes in a blur, until the sun begins to soften into night. This is when the lake lights up in a series of colors, a light show coordinated to the music of the band.
“I have to say something. Axel has done brilliantly,” I say, tugging on Kyle’s hand. “You know, I said I wanted a party, but he arranged all of this.”
“Mine too. Come on, let’s say thanks.”
We make our way to the stage and take the microphone, collecting Axel as we go. I call for everyone to stop what they’re doing, and a silence closes in the atmosphere.
“I don’t often make speeches at home, so I’m going to keep this quick, but we do want to say one thank you today, other than to you good people for coming.” I grin, scanning the crowd, Florian is smiling, his eyes full of... what is that? His eyes aren’t focused on either me or Kyle. They’re on Axel. Florian’s eyes twinkle with adoration for my son.
A million thoughts fly through my brain, but the most important one is recognizing that Florian’s emotion has such force that he’s unable to keep a lid on it. His love for Axel oozes out of every pore as he stands by and watches him receive the praise for a job well done. And although I’ve obviously missed the start of something special here, and I also wonder where it started, I’m more touched by the depth of the honesty in Florian’s gaze. I’ll find everything out later, but for now, I push the thoughts away and continue to enjoy this moment surrounded by all the most important people to Kyle and I.
I’m in the middle of a speech, and my fluidity has faltered. I re-focus. “I want to thank this young man here for taking mine and my husband’s individual surprise anniversary celebration ideas and having the creativity to turn them into this one fabulous party. Thank you, Axel. You’ve done us proud.”
Axel fills up again then steps in to take the microphone.
“Thank you for trusting me.” He grins, and makes a flourish with his arm as he takes a bow. Our guests chuckle. “No, seriously, thank you for allowing me to take such an active part in your celebrations. You’re the best parents.” My eyes zip to him, did I hear him right. My shocked gaze flips to Kyle, did he hear it too?
Kyle grins back at me, white teeth shining in the dark. He widens his eyes and makes a nod so tiny it is almost imperceptible.
Axel continues, “Thank you for welcoming me and allowing me to give you something in return for the family you’ve given me. Happy anniversary, Dad.” He throws his arms around me, and I am blown away. I can’t speak as happiness beams light into my heart and my soul swells as my eyes tear up.
He just announced what he said he would never. The arguments of the past are now done with, my son is finally delighted to be known as such.
In all my years of racing, winning and being a husband, I have never been more willing to invite the future in to my life. I close my eyes and savor this luscious moment as Kyle joins us in a three-way family hug.
And as we stand there in full view of all our most special people, the world finally has no expectations of us. I never want to release them from my grip as I hang there, suspended by love. This is what life is about, taking the pole position when it comes to loving and being loved.
Other books by Karen Botha
Read Daisy’s story in the Love series. https://amzn.to/2QWceJG
NAKED TRUTHS Amazon.co.uk http://amzn.to/2DhXgpy Amazon.com http://amzn.to/2trpgXO
NAKED LIES Amazon.co.uk http://amzn.to/2p0Imic Amazon.com http://amzn.to/2p3ooU9
NAKED SOULS Amazon.co.uk https://amzn.to/2jLUxNB Amazon.com https://amzn.to/2I8wXoL
THANKYOU
Thank you for reading Elliott and Kyle’s story in COMMITMENT 6: Pole Position
I hope you enjoyed the 6th chapter of Elliott and Kyle’s journey. If you did, please consider leaving a review on the site you purchased the book from. My boys would be MOST grateful.
If you would love to talk to other readers who love this series, you can find them HERE at Karen Botha’s Facebook Group.
special thanks
First off, thanks to you guys for taking a chance on Elliott and Kyle and coming back for more. Elliott and Kyle would be delighted.
But, there’s plenty of other people that I need to say a huge thank you to who have helped this book come to life. To my BETA and ARC readers. You are not only a help when my eyes blur over and I can no longer see straight, but you brighten my day with your funny comments.
To Charlie, you not only cut down the amount of golf you play to help me launch this book, but you put your visa card on the line to pay for everything involved and then you also listen tirelessly to me go on about the boys and how their lives are panning out. You are a total star and I love you for this as well as so many other reasons that make you, you. Thank you for always being there, with your ears wide open and for allowing me to experience so many of the different facets of love that I’m able to write this, and all
my other stories. For all the right reasons, I would not be able to do this without you.
And, to my friends. Do you remember who you are? I’ve been in my writing cave barely lifting my head. Thank you for still being there when I poke my nose out at the other side.
And then to Eamon, and Jen. Only you know how this book would have turned out without you (and we’ll keep it that way!)
So, that’s me done for now, until we get to read all about Axel and Florian. Follow me on Amazon to ensure you don’t miss their ride.
Until then,
Mwah
Karen x
About the Author
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Get to know Karen better
And if you would love to talk to other readers who also love Karen’s books, then you can do that at:
Karen Botha Author - Discussion Group
Karen Botha is the author of the Commitment series, including Buckle Up, G-Force, Jump Start, Ignition, Turbo Charged and Pole Position.
She’s also the author of the fan favorite, Naked series, the first of which follows her life experiences pretty closely (but don’t believe everything you read. An author needs some creative license, right?)
Some of her favorite authors include Ella Frank, Brooke Blaine, Riley Hart, and Carly Philips.
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