“If I could just indulge you all for another moment.” Alex got up from his seat and bent down on one knee. For just a split second, Braylee couldn’t process what was going on. He reached into his inner coat pocket to pull out a small, velvet, black box. It creaked just a little as he pulled the top off. Braylee’s hands immediately flew to cover her mouth from the awe of gazing down at one of the most beautiful diamonds she had ever seen.
Alex was nervous. There was a soft sheen of perspiration glistening on his forehead. With shaky fingers, Braylee gently wiped it away. He took a deep breath. “I was going to wait, so blame your father.” He smiled tenderly. “Braylee, you have thundered into my life like a magnificent storm and captured my heart in a way no other has. It’s yours. I freely give it to you because I trust it to be well kept in your hands. While our time together hasn’t been long, I’ve always believed that when you know it’s real, you just know. From almost the moment that I met you, I knew you were the one. I knew because you challenged me in all they ways a partner in life should; mentally, physically, and emotionally. It’s asking a lot.” He thought about the family they may never have the traditional way but hoped she loved him enough to want to pursue other alternatives. “It won’t always be easy, but Braylee Ann Hinsdale, would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
Stopping the flow of her tears was impossible. She couldn’t believe this was happening and could barely manage a whisper. “Are you sure? We haven’t even been dating a full year.”
Alex took the ring out of the box, ready to place it on her finger. “I’ve never been more certain of anything.”
Braylee tried to get her voice to work, but it was just too full of emotion. Instead, she vigorously nodded yes. Fabi had stood to videotape the entire proposal on his cell phone and everyone’s reactions. He knew they would always want to relive this moment. Their mother was going to kill them for not being present when Alexandro finally decided he was ready to become a husband.
Alex wasted no time pulling Braylee into his arms for a soul-stirring kiss this time. Shouts of laughter and congratulations flowed freely from everyone except for Katherine. “Well, now that the show is over would anyone like some dessert?” The celebration came to an immediate halt, and all eyes shifted their focus from Braylee and Alex to her. Katherine didn’t appear the least bit joyous or impressed with the turn of events.
Cecily motioned for Fabi to stop taping. She remembered Braylee telling her that she didn’t have a great relationship with her mother.
Braylee jerked away from Alex. Stephanie responded under her breath. “Oh God.” She wasn’t sure how Braylee was going to respond. As their mother started to clear away the dishes, Braylee stood. “I think we should go. I won’t let her take this from me.”
“Sit down Braylee.” Her father’s booming voice thundered across the room.
“Dad, I’ve spent the last couple of hours enduring…”
“Sit down!”
Alex was ready to take matters into his own hands but decided to wait based on the look on her father’s face.
“Katherine, apologize to Braylee.”
Braylee couldn’t recall the last time she’d seen or heard her father in what appeared to be a controlled rage.
Katherine was pissed. Her eyes shot to his in surprise. “Apologize? For what?”
Braylee slowly sat down as she watched her father do something she couldn’t recollect him ever doing. He was defending her. The room was eerily quiet as they all realized something significant was about to take place.
Painfully, James looked into his wife’s eyes. “You and I both need to apologize for a lot. I’ve started the process of atoning for my ills. But, regarding Braylee, the list of how you’ve hurt your daughter is too long. You’ve got to start making some changes, Katherine.”
“I need to atone to her?” She yelled. “Again, for what? I haven’t done anything!”
“For blaming her for a shitty life. For blaming her because I’m not Phillip!” He slammed his fist down on the table.
Cecily jumped. Alex reached out to hold her hand.
“I’m not, and I’ll never be. I’m finally happy to say I don’t want to be. I’m James Robert Hinsdale, and he’s a pretty terrific guy.”
“I’m not having this conversation. I won’t do it!” She turned to Braylee. “This is what happens when you come around. Madness! It has always followed you everywhere!”
Braylee was taken aback.
“Stop blaming that child for your choices, Katherine. She is your daughter. The flesh of your flesh and your hatred of her over a man who never really loved you is sick. I won’t ignore it anymore. You need to get some help. I’m done pretending, in my sorry attempt to smooth things over, I hoped and prayed that if I ignore it things will get better. It made me bitter drunk, and it didn’t stop you from being hateful.”
“How dare you sit there all high and mighty judging me? You’ve been sober for five seconds, and now you want to pretend that you weren’t ever an alcoholic? That you never beat the hell out of me? No, you don’t get to re-write history and come in here like a knight in shining armor.”
“You’re right. I made some horrible choices. But, I own them. You need to do the same. It's time for
