I lean over, short of strength and high on this feeling we’re sharing, and see the red blot on the sheet in the shape of a heart.
If that’s not life imitating art I don’t know what is.
But what I do know is this means everything.
I’ve finally found what I wasn’t even looking for. Someone who understands me even when I don’t quite comprehend myself. Someone to watch over me and push me to be my best in life, in all ways.
I’ve found him. The man has already changed my world for the better and will continue to do so.
My Daddy.
14
Silas
The next evening
I help Scarlett onto the boat and we take off for our sunset cruise after an early dinner in South Beach with her father.
“This is amazing,” she says, heading to the bow of the boat to take in the view before we turn around to watch the sunset over the city.
“We have to do this more often,” I say, as she does her best Leonardo DiCaprio impression, shouting, “I’m the king of the world!”
“Sweetheart, that’s enough. Get back from the edge.”
“Is that a rule, Daddy?” She turns around and turns her bottom lip up at me.
I simply point at the deck and she comes back to safety, where she belongs, by my side.
“I just wanted to have some fun.”
“And you did, and Daddy wants to have a lot of fun together for the rest of our lives, so he always wants you to be safe.”
“All our lives?”
That’s my cue.
“Yes, princess. All our lives.” I take a knee and carefully slide the small, black velvet box out of my pocket opening the top and exposing a ‘lucky seven’ carat ring, in a princess cut of course, for my princess. I’m extremely careful with the ring, one because it’s for the most important and beautiful girl in the world, and two, I don’t want it to wind up on the ocean floor, like the Heart of the Ocean did in Titanic.
“Beautiful,” I begin, taking her hand. “For all these years it was my best friend who was looking for you, and although I didn’t know it at the time I was too. The world never completely made sense to me before you arrived in it. I thought I had everything, but one second with you and I knew my life before had nothing. You keep me sane. You give me structure. And you are the person who I can’t wait to not only possessively protect and guide through our life, this life together, but also the only woman I’ve ever loved. To the outside world we’re probably crazy, but to each other we’re just crazy in love. Let’s continue this journey we’ve started, and sail off into the sunset…for real, together. We’ve only known each other a short time, but we both know that when you know, you know. And I know you were meant to be mine and I was meant to be yours.”
I stand and emotions damn near get the best of me as her hands shoot up to her face, covering it as a single tear streams down her eyes. I slide the ring on her finger, a perfect fit, just as she’s the perfect ‘fit’ in my life.
My little one jumps into my arms and we kiss for the first time as an engaged couple.
She pulls her head back, and stares me in the eye as I do to her, seeing depths in her blues greater than the azure ocean surrounding us. “I almost thought you were going to ask me to marry you for a second.”
“That’s not my style.”
“No it’s not, and that’s why I love you. But for the record, I accept.”
“You had no choice,” I say, completely straight faced, which causes her to bust out laughing.
“I know. I don’t want to get punished. Oh wait…maybe I do,” she teases, bringing her pinky finger to the corner of her lips.
“You’re a good girl, and tonight you get anything you want.”
“Ben & Jerry’s Netflix and Chilled ice cream flavor?”
“Absolutely, although we’re not going to be Netflix and chilling, if you know what I mean.”
“I know exactly what you mean. I might have to turn naughty just to…make sure,” she winks.
“And you know I’ll be right there to reel you in.”
“Thank you, Daddy.”
I smile as she hugs me tight, then pulls away again. “I need to call dad!”
“He knows.”
“How does he know?”
“I asked him earlier today and he gave me his blessing.”
“You actually asked someone something? I’m shocked.”
“It’s a tradition.”
“You mean…a rule?”
“I guess Daddy has his own rules to follow in life too.”
“Like to always be my Daddy, and only my Daddy.”
“Always and forever. You were always the only one,” I say, bringing her hand to my face and kissing her ring. “And that’s why I love you, princess.”
“And I love you…Silas.” I give her a stern look and she giggles. “My bossy Daddy.”
“Good girl.”
Epilogue
Silas
Two months later
“And the winner of this year’s Art Basel is…”
The man slowly opens the envelope while a real live drum roll is played by a single musician.
“Scarlett Steele and Jack Sharp!”
I clap and whistle harder than I ever have in my life, completely abandoning my stoic, professional personality. It’s amazing what the right woman in your life will do to you, and I’ve got the only one for me.
And now that I do I want nothing more than to enjoy life to its fullest, and cheer on my little one through all her accomplishments.
We worked tirelessly for the last two months to get her up to speed to her dad’s level, and to also get Jack back into the swing of things. His mental struggles are starting to turn a corner and he’s seeing the world with renewed optimism, and with Scarlett
