Creeping down the stairs, mindful of her father’s voice rumbling angrily in his study, Elena closed the front door with the barest of clicks. Even after sneaking out, she was irritated that a woman her age had to sneak from her parent’s house. A 22 year old should not have to sneak. Again the thought crossed her mind that maybe she should finish her degree away from home. With it being online, she could finish anywhere. As she walked down the street to the 24 hour IHOP, she thought back on all the memories that had held her together while Sean was gone.
Once he had left she had no idea what step to take first to leave her parent’s agoraphobic house but she knew she had to go.
It didn’t take long to reach IHOP. She stepped into the brightly lit foyer and scanned the room. He was in the corner, blue eyes beaming her way.
“Elena.” He wrapped her up in a warm welcoming hug. “Six months was too long.”
Elena bit back her retort. She didn’t want her first words to be bitter. She settled for, “I missed you too Sean.”
His hug tightened briefly before he released her, looking into her eyes. “Come. Sit down and tell me everything I’ve missed.”
They settled back into the booth he had previously been waiting in and Elena stared at her best friend and at all the changes that must have happened over the past several months. It startled her into wondering how different she looked now? His once shaggy blonde hair was now impeccably trimmed with no sign that he ever let his beard grow out. There was a power in his eyes now, as if he was used to being in charge and expected to be listened to and taken seriously.
“I am thinking you need to laugh more in your life.” Elena let slip.
Sean’s eyes widened, rapidly followed by a bright smile. A laugh twinkled through his eyes. “You never did have a problem calling me out. Especially when I needed more happiness around.”
Elena blushed.
But Sean continued, “Are you doing alright E? I’ve worried about you.”
So simple a confession but still it warmed her senses. And out it all came. Her plans to leave, her secret apartment shopping, chafing against the strictures that had long held her in her room, even her desire to find a new job out of state once she was finished with her degree. The longer she talked the more she felt the months spent apart becoming inconsequential.
Sean listened to it all. And after she finished spilling out everything she had been wanting to tell him, out came the questions that had bothered her over and over again. “Where have you been Sean? Why did you have to leave? And why for so long?”
He almost looked guilty but quickly straightened, reaching out for her hand. She didn’t, couldn’t, move away from the searing heat his touch instilled. It had been lonely without him.
With his other hand he rubbed his face. “Elena, I am so sorry. I made a deal with my father. Once I graduated college he wanted me to go straight into the family business and train to take over. I wasn’t ready and demanded a break before I committed so fully to the company. I wanted a life. I didn’t want to be me for a while.” He paused to squeeze her hand. “He agreed to two months of complete freedom in exchange for six months of full dedication to the company.”
Elena stared at him. This man in front of her was not the vacationing, happy go lucky guy she had known and fallen for. He wasn’t entirely different but definitely more focused, polished even. She had been drawn to his confidence before. Now, it was as if he glowed with self assurance. Sean had become a force of nature to be reckoned with.
“So, what’s the family business?” she asked, tentatively.
“You don’t know?”
She cocked her head to the side, staring honestly over at him. “No. Should I?”
Sean shrugged, almost looking embarrassed. “I guess I just assumed you would look me up at one point.”
Elena shook her head. “I don’t pry into anyone’s life on the internet. Too many lies and half truths.”
It was Sean’s turn to grin, sheepishly. “I should have known you wouldn’t.” He let out a big sigh. “My dad founded Trelling Conglomerate. It started out small but two years ago it went international. Since I left here I have been traveling, helping cement new business partnerships around the globe.”
“Oh.” Elena wanted to say more but she sat back in shock. That was not what she imagined at all. Son of a huge multi-national business. Heir to a fortune. How small she seemed in the big picture of his life when he was such a prominent part of hers. She ventured, “How did you find time to come all the way back here?”
When he leaned forward, across the table, her attention was riveted. “Elena, this trip back here has been in my schedule and unchangeable since the second I left. I promised my dad six months with no social distractions of any kind, but I wasn’t going to wait a single day passed that to come back to you.”
She mentally staggered under the immensity of emotion his confession charged in her. “What now?” she whispered.
“Well, as far as plans go, I had hoped to spend time with you for the week I’m here. I was hoping you’d still be willing to go on a few dates, talk things over and figure how we can best move forward together no matter where that is. Then, in a week I will have to head back to New York to settle things.” He paused, looking beyond anxious but excited. Elena couldn’t figure out how to feel. It was more than she had hoped for in all the time she had ached to be with him. Her gaze zeroed in on his very kissable mouth as he began to talk again.
“When I leave, Elena I was hoping you would come with me.”
Shock again coursed through her, leaving her energized and giddy. She smiled and began to nod when she noticed he was holding out a small box over the table. He pulled it open to display a diamond ring. She smothered her gasp with her hands as tears rolled.
“Elena, love. I know it has been a long time, but there has never been any doubt for me that you are the one I want to spend eternity with. Will you marry me?”
All she could do was nod and cry. Sean stood and slid into her side of the booth, easing the ring onto her finger and whispering into her ear, “I love you E.”
