Our Forever Promise

by Mary Wasowski

  “So what wedding plans are we doing today?” she shyly gives me a smile.

  “Good morning, Jenny, and thank you for coming in so early. No wedding talk today. I have different matters that require my attention.”

  She poured my coffee and plated a muffin for me. Grabbing her tablet, she awaited my instructions.

  “Jenny, call Miles Jacobson and tell him that his presence is required here at Reed Global immediately. Secondly, find out where Henry Townsend is and his schedule for the week. Thirdly, have my plane prepared and ready for departure by noon. Am I clear?”

  “Yes sir, on all counts. Where am I filing your flight plan to?”

  “New York City.”

  It easily rolls off my tongue. After speaking with Jackson, and now after seeing a vision of Elizabeth, I knew what I had to do. I never questioned myself…not ever. My heart was leading me to the direction of my son.

  “Sir, if I may ask, will I be accompanying you on this trip?”

  “No, Jenny, not this time. This trip to New York is solely based on personal reasons. I will need you here to run the office. As soon as Donovan checks in this morning, put him through immediately for me.”

  “Will there be anything else?”

  “Not at this time, Jenny. I’ll reconnect with you in a couple of hours. I don’t wish to be disturbed by anything or anyone, other than what I have requested.”

  “Yes sir.”

  Jenny quickly departed my office with her eyes focused on the door. I knew I’d been curt with her this morning and would make a note to apologize to her later. My head was spinning right now with the turn of events this morning. I couldn’t seem to shake the uneasy feeling that was putting me on edge.

  Elizabeth said, “For a man that has everything, I should be happier.” Those were the same words that my father recited to me months ago. I’m already there, I do have everything. The ghosts of my past keep reminding me of painful memories. It’s almost comical at this point. Are the fates laughing at me? What am I not seeing? Was my father’s prediction a prophecy? Well, whatever it may be will not prevent me from having a future with Reese.

  With all our near misses that Reese and I had to endure over the years, I felt that I was waiting for the bottom to fall out from under me. No! I have to put these negative thoughts out of my head. We are going to be okay, we have to be. Fate would not be so cruel again. It’s our time. I believe. And so does Reese. The happily ever after is right in front of me, but yet so far away. Reese will be completely mine once we take each other as husband and wife.

  Everything happens for a reason. Maybe we had to go through what we did to get to this point now. All I knew is that if I was ever truly to forgive Phillip Reed, I needed to delve deeper into his web of lies. Could there be more that I don’t know? His letters spoke otherwise. He promised that he disclosed everything to me in his letters. His time left was limited. There was no point to keep anything else from me.

  Sitting and fighting my inner monologue right now was not helping me at all. Focus, Reed! Do what you do best. I took my own advice and got right back into my work.

  I WAS FINISHING up a conference call with the Reinhart brothers when Jenny stepped into my office. Designing and building the new hub for Sebastian and Viktor Reinhart has been the focus for more than two years now. We worked endless hours on this deal and were about to reach the finish line. I thought the memorial wing at Johns Hopkins was the signature piece for my work, but the Reinhart building was international and will keep Reed Global on the front lines for many years to come.

  It was my design that they wanted most. I almost did the happy dance the day we signed the contracts. My father never wanted me to pursue this side of the business, but I couldn’t help myself. As much as I loved commanding my ship from behind my desk, I also loved being in the middle of the creative process. This was my passion, my true passion: To create something in your mind and then build it from the ground up. It still gave me chills.

  I saw the same drive in Jackson when he was working on a film project. Nothing would make me prouder if he joined me here by my side at Reed Global, but I knew that’s not where his heart was. One of the early promises I made to him when he was little was to always support him in his dreams. I never had that with my own father. To pursue my dreams in secret probably cost me more ways than I could have ever predicted. This was one part of my past that I knew I could leave behind with full certainty and no regrets.

  My father was so angry when he found out I pursued degree in Architecture. Even though Reese wasn’t with me the day we should have graduated together, knowing she was the only person that knew my secret warmed my heart. In our short time together, we shared everything with each other. Now we had the rest of our lives to see our dreams come to life.

  I ended my call and looked up to see Jenny. She appeared to be nervous, but she never needed a reason to interrupt me.

  “What is it Jenny?” I asked as I began to pick up the receiver to make another call.

  “You have an unexpected visitor waiting for you outside.”

  “Whoever it is, send them away.”

  She raised her eyebrows at me. With my curiosity piqued, I asked who the mystery visitor was.

  “Jenny…” I said, “I’m not in the mood for games right now.”

  She replied, “Walker Phillip Reed, forgive me, sir, but you are way too serious for your own good. I will send in your visitor, and you can find out for yourself.”

  Jenny had let out a huff and turned away from my door.

  I scrubbed my hands over my face and didn’t even attempt to figure out Jenny’s obvious take on my personality traits. I was this way for as long as I could remember, so why change now? Not making my call, I looked back at my computer and began typing an e-mail when my guest walked in.

  “She’s right, you know. You are way too serious.”

  Just what I needed…my Reese. The sound of her soft velvet voice cloaked me like a protective shield. She was exactly what I needed right now. I wasted no time getting up from behind my desk and rushing over to her. I swept my beautiful girl up in my arms, and she wrapped her long slender arms around my neck and began kissing me, deepening every stroke of her tongue with mine.

  “I missed you, Walker. I know you’re busy, but I couldn’t stay away.”

  “Oh baby, I missed you too! More than you know. Did you drive here on your own?”

  “No, I was driven in. I wasn’t feeling too hot this morning, and it didn’t help that I woke up with you already gone, so I phoned Stephen to pick me up. I hope that’s okay.”

  “Of course it’s okay,” I said to her. “I’ve been so busy this morning, I didn’t even know Stephen was absent from the building. What’s going on? How are you feeling right now?”

  I take Reese’s hand and lead her over to my plush sofa. I want to be as close as I can, so I sit first then pull Reese onto my lap.

  “I’m better now,” she said. “I woke up feeling sick and was experiencing some dizziness. Priscilla helped me, and I was able to keep some broth down.”

  “Did you phone your doctor? It seems like you are sick not only in the mornings, but throughout the entire day.”

  “Walker, it’s all due to the hormone change in my body. It’s perfectly normal to be having morning sickness, and as long as I stay hydrated, I should be okay. I promise you if I feel anything out of the normal bounds of the pregnancy, I will tell you immediately.”

  Her words gave me little comfort, but I believed her. Reese wouldn’t keep anything from me now. So I gave her the same respect.

  I held her tightly to my body and breathed in her beautiful scent. The perfume she wore was pulling me in like a moth to the flame. Reese was intoxicating. Her scent alone was thrilling me. I could never get enough of her. I wanted to just peel her out of her clothes and have my wicked way with her, but I held back. My mind was all over the place. I didn’t want to be rough with her. She calmed me with her touch. Her body was m
y temple to worship in, and it cured all that was plaguing me. I need her so much…she’s my home.

  Her hand was caressing her small baby bump, leaving me with chills throughout my entire body. She was unbelievably sexy, and my resolve not to take her was breaking down.

  “You are so beautiful, you know that, right?” I said to her.

  Gazing into my eyes, she placed a chaste kiss on my lips.

  “If I am beautiful, it is only because you make me feel that way. I love you so much, Walker.”

  “Reese, you are so precious to me. I thank God every single day for reuniting us again. Now that you’re carrying my child, I can’t help but fall in love with you more and more each day. I just wish I could have been there when you found out the sex of our baby.”

  “I wanted you there, Walker, believe me I did. Having lost two babies before, I was so scared to hear a negative outcome. I’m older now, so I will face more risks.”

  “You’re healthy, right? Everything is good with the baby?”

  “Everything is absolutely wonderful. You have no need to worry about us. My next appointment is in two weeks, and you can see for yourself.”

  “Thank God! I don’t think I could bear it if anything happened to either one of you. As happy as I am Reese, I’m a little scared.”

  “I understand that feeling, Walker. How could you not? I did this alone last time. I promise you will be involved every step of the way from here on out.”

  “Thank you, baby, I needed to hear that. Now I have a few things I need to discuss with you.”

  “Okay,” she replied. “What’s wrong? Does this have anything to do with your sleepless nights? After our talk, I had thought you were feeling better, but I’m guessing they returned again?”

  “They have, and I’m doing a piss poor job at hiding them from you.”

  “Walker, I don’t want you to keep anything from me. We talked about this. We need to always be honest and forthcoming with each other.”

  “Like you’ve been honest with me? What about Samuel? Were you ever going to tell me that he reached out to you? And what was said?”

  Why did I say that? Fuck! The look that Reese is giving me right now tells me that I opened my mouth and inserted my foot...big time! I couldn’t help it. He was still a trigger for me. Here she was comforting me, and I once again let my jealousy over her ex spoil our tender moment. My head is once again spinning in directions. Was it out of control? Out of fear? Or from the unknown? I refuse to allow this to happen. I was behaving like him, my father. Stubborn. Closed-minded. It’s the stress of all this bullshit that has me crazy and acting out. Samuel is nothing to me. Reese is everything.

  “You have to stop this, Walker. Whatever battle you have raging through your mind right now is going to break you, and then it will break us. We have already been down this road too many times before. It is not one I wish to travel down again. Do you want to know what happened with Samuel? Will this satisfy you?”

  “Yes,” I quickly answered her.

  “Not much happened. He phoned me several weeks ago and apologized for his behavior toward me back at the house. He said he was trying to work through his anger and bitterness about our divorce. What could I say? Throw his apology back in his face? You know that’s not me, and it was never my intention to hurt him by loving you. I was a fool thinking that walking away from my marriage would be so easy. Riley was right about one thing. I left a trail of hurt feelings behind me. Once I left, I really never looked back. Was that fair to Samuel? He tried his best to be all that I needed, but I made him pay for it over the years for not being you.”

  “I’m sorry, Reese. I guess I never really took into account how you spent your life without me in it. All I know is that when I saw you in that restaurant, I knew I had to have you, and to hell with the rest of the world.”

  “It’s not your fault that my marriage ended. It was over for me and Samuel, and long before you ever came back into my life. Samuel knew this deep down where it mattered and so did I, but neither one of us ever had the courage to voice the words out loud. It took a conversation with Nana to finally convince me to leave and to drum up enough courage to find me again. I never thought that would lead me back to you. Although I know I hurt Samuel, I can’t regret how everything has turned out for us. Look at us, Walker. We are about to get married and have a baby of our very own. We are blessed.”

  At that moment, I was so caught up in my emotions, I literally dropped to my knees and wrapped my arms around Reese, laying my cheek against her stomach, listening to the beat of her heart, and sending love to my child growing inside of her. I willed myself to talk and finally get it all out.

  “Yes. I’ve been having a few nightmares,” I said, “But something else happened. I’m not sure what to make of it, or least of all, understand it.”

  Reese kissed the top of my head and ran her fingers through my hair. She knew me so well and understood that I needed to take a breath before beginning my explanation. She waited patiently for me to continue. Her smooth strokes through my hair and along my face were slowly calming me. I loved the feel of her caress. I craved it, and I never wanted to be without it.

  “Reese, I’ve been having the same recurring nightmare since you told me about the baby. My father keeps visiting me in my dreams. He tells me that I will never get my happily ever after with you, as long as I continue to not forgive him. He begs me for it, and I always refuse him. Last night was the worse one yet. After waking up, I fled our home to clear my head of that nightmare. I was led to the cemetery to visit Elizabeth, and—are you ready—she appeared right in front of me. As real as you are with me now, I actually felt her presence on my skin. Can you say something Reese? Anything that tells me I’m not crazy.”

  “I believe you, Walker, and you are not crazy. No matter what is said here, it’s okay…we are always okay. Talk to me, I want to know everything.”

  Taking in a few deep breaths, I continued. “I didn’t know I would end up at the cemetery, it was like I was being drawn there. I found myself directly in front of her grave, and I broke down for the first time in years. I have never felt her loss more, and I didn’t even know what I was hoping to find. I began talking with Elizabeth, and then that’s when I heard her voice call out to me. I thought I was having a hallucination, not believing for one second that she was real.”

  “What happened next?” she asked. Reese was now at full attention and sitting up to look at me.

  “I yelled at her and told her to go away.”

  “You yelled at her? Why would you do that?”

  “Um…seeing a vision of someone that you know is dead would make anyone shout out loud. Yes, I did yell at her. I felt as if I was having an outer body experience.”

  “What happened next?” Reese asked as if she was anxiously watching a movie play out in front of her.

  “Well, when she didn’t disappear, we argued and then she slapped me. I swear I believed it after that. I literally felt the sting on my cheek.”

  Reese’s expression is very hard to read right now. Does she think I lost my mind? Or is it the shock over hearing about Elizabeth? I can’t blame her if she is surprised. Look how I behave when she mentions Samuel. I see no reason, nor do I care to hear it. Now I’m asking her to believe something I still doubt myself.

  “Say something baby, are you okay?” I asked.

  “I’m okay, I guess,” she replied. I have never experienced anything close to what you are describing. Not even when my parents died. I always wished to see them again, but Nana always had told me that if I ever needed them, they would come to me in my dreams. Walker, they never once came to me. I was a little girl of ten years old. I wanted them to return to me every single day. And still, I never experienced what you did today with Elizabeth. I’m almost jealous of you. I’m sorry if that sounds wrong, but I can’t help it. I miss my parents so much, and I would have liked for this type of revelation to happen to me.”

  “Don’t be sorry, b
aby, and please don’t feel bad. I’m not sure this was such a precious gift to be given. It almost felt like a punishment. I never got the closure I needed when Elizabeth died, and I wished for a sign to know that she was at peace. Today after many years of hoping, I was given my answer, but for me I didn’t feel at peace. I felt guilt over moving on from her and reuniting with you.”

  Reese was now moving away from me. I hadn’t planned on saying it that way. I could see the hurt in her eyes.

  “Is that how you feel? Guilty because we’re together now?”

  She is a bit shaken now. I reach out to touch her, but she put her hands up to me. It felt like her rejection was piercing my soul. How could she ever doubt my love for her? I attempted to speak, and my intercom buzzed.

  “What is it?” I yelled rather loudly.

  It was Jenny. She said, “Sir, I have Mr. Tate on line three for you.”

  “I’ll have to call him back, Jenny.”

  “Sir, if you don’t speak with him now, he may be out of touch for a while. He said he will be traveling for the rest of the day in dead cell zones.”

  “Okay! Put him through. Reese, please don’t leave. I have to take this call.”

  She now has several tears falling down her beautiful face. Dammit! I fucked up again and hurt her. Walking over to my desk, I took my call, but not before witnessing my beautiful girl crying. I turned away when all I wanted to do was hold her. Fuck!

  “Donovan, I need an update. What did you find out?”

  “I’ve located the family of the three workers that were killed in the accident. They all live together but deep in the jungle out here. The town is desolate and hidden deep within the mountains. I will be lucky if I come out alive. This area is so backwards. They haven’t caught up with modern times yet, and I don’t think they ever will.”

  “Well that doesn’t surprise me. My father always tried to cut costs. No wonder he hired migrant workers like these men. What about the family?”