Facing Redemption (23 page)

“They don’t have an IN-N-OUT Burger!”  Chastity blurted.

“Not yet they don’t.” Timothy took her h
and and led her down the stairs
from the bricktown retail
district to the canal below.  Both had walked here once before after their second date over a year ago.  Chastity smiled at him in remembrance.

             
“Thanks for getting me through this last week.  I don’t know how I could have gotten through it without you,” Timothy said as they walked down the steps.

             
“I don’t feel like I’ve done very much to help.  I’ve been off on my own for the last day and a half.”

             
“I’m sorry.”  Timothy frowned.

             
“No it’s okay.  I wasn’t complaining.  I just didn’t want to leave you high and dry if you needed me.”

             
“Just knowing I have you with me is all I needed.  You would have been so bored dealing with all the medical aspects of the last couple of days.  I’m glad you had some time to do something else.”

             
A water taxi slowly dragged the canal as the two of them walked along its edge.  Chastity giggled as they waved at all the tourists on board.
             

“I still haven’t taken one of those yet.”  She said absentmindedly.  Quickly she came back to reality.  “Back on point, how is your dad?”

             
“He’s okay.  He’s frustrated and frustrating.”  Timothy laughed.  “Poor guy.  He’s not used to being disabled.  He can’t dress himself or bath himself.  He’s relying on my mom for everything, which in secret isn’t anything new.  She’s always been the caretaker.  But at least he was the man of the house.  Now he just feels like an invalid.”

             
“I bet that’s fun for your mom.”  Chastity grimaced.

             
Wanting to change the subject, he quickly switched gears.  “So tell me about your day.  I got your text earlier.  You went to see Jackson after all?”

             
“Yeah.  It was unexpected.  After John’s letter, I couldn’t stop thinking about their relationship…him and his dad’s.  I knew he was trying to sort out his own relationship and I guess it spurred me to do that as well.”
             
“Did he recognize you?”

             
She shook her head.  “I didn’t even go in.  I chickened out.  And then before I know it, some nurse is wheeling out this old man to apparently give him some sense of independence.  We strike up a conversation – except he thinks I’m his wife and he tells me how everything broke after I died, and how he messed it all up without me?”

             
Timothy’s eyes grew wide.  “Wow.  Heavy stuff.”

             
“Mmm-hmm.  And then before I know it, my heart aches for this old guy.  He kept telling me my smile made him happy again for the first time and he asked me not to leave him.”

             
“So what did you do?”

             
“What can I do?  I keep smiling.”  Chastity laughed. “And to top it all off - I’m thankful for the distraction he’s providing.  I grateful I don’t have to go in – so when this same nurse comes out and says, ‘Jackson it’s time to go in’ - I about peed my pants.”

             
“What?”  Timothy blurted out.  “Talk about crazy.  That’s right out of the twilight zone.”

             
“Exactly.  I can only say that it was a true God moment.  I was prepared to see an old, grumpy man and deal with my anger somehow when unexpectedly I’m visited by a sorry, adorable old man, who I really bonded with, unaware it’s my own flesh and blood.”

             
“So you’ve had quite a day.”  Timothy laughed and drew her into his arms.  They stopped under a lit overpass where the canal rounded a corner.  He leaned against the wall and pulled her into his embrace.

             
“I met my grandfather.”  Chastity whispered.  “I don’t know if I’d ever go back, but at the least I’ve resolved some of the feelings I’ve had.”  She leaned her head on his chest.  “He’s a sorry little man who is broken, mostly for what he did to his sons but also what he did to me.”

             
Timothy took a deep breath.  He lifted her chin up and leaned down for a kiss.  Above them, the lights shone from the many restaurants and clubs, as well as the full moon that lit up the night’s sky.  The light bounced and reflected off the canal water below them.  If was almost as romantic as their time in Venice, and Timothy couldn’t think of a more perfect to propose.  He drew back from their kiss and rested his forehead on hers.

“Thanks for putting ou
r dinner off for a few days.  I

know we were supposed to
go out the other night but …” Timothy’s voice trailed off. 

             
“You had things to take care of Timothy.  It’s okay.  We have plenty of time together.”

             
“That’s what I want to talk to you about.”  Timothy drew his head back and put his hands on her arms, putting some distance between them.  He paced a few steps back and forth.  “You know I love you, don’t you?”

             
Chastity nodded.  She drew a breathe in wondering if this had to do with the conversation she partially overhead at Jesse’s.  “Does this have to do with Jesse’s job offer?”

             
“What?”  Timothy rebutted, confused.  “Um, just how much did you hear that night?”

             
“That’s it. I started walking in when he said he could use a guy like you if you wanted to.” 

             
“Okay.  Well kind of – not really.  Oh gosh, this isn’t going like I’d planned.”

             
Like he planned!
Chastity thought.  Her heart jumped up in her throat in expectation.

             
Timothy visibly relaxed, and looked at her from under his eyelids.  He walked toward her, placed her face in his hands and kissed her with a tender passion.  Chastity wrapped her arms around him and leaned in.  When they withdrew, her whole body sagged against his.

             
“That was nice.”  She whispered.

             
“Remember our first date?”  Timothy quietly asked.

“Yes.”

“I was so nervous.”  He said as he dropped his forehead to hers once more.

“Me too.”

“You’re one amazing woman Chastity Wayne and each time I’m with you I know I can’t stand one more day without having you in my life forever.  You’re it for me Chastity,” he whispered before softly kissing her again.

It was a mixture of lip-gloss and salt.  He pulled back when he realized she was crying.

“What’s wrong honey?  Is this going too fast for you?  Do you not feel the same way?”  Timothy cautiously asked.

“No…I mean yes.  I mean – I’m so in love with you that it hurts.  I love you Timothy and it’s scary and wonderful.  My insides are all jumbled and I can’t imagine being without you either.”
             
             

“Then don’t be.”  Timothy stared her in the eyes, and backed up before getting down on one knee.  He fumbled to reach for the box he’d been carrying in his pocket all week. 

Chastity’s chest constricted with so much emotion that she couldn’t breathe, so she did the only thing she could.  She continued crying and nodded her head. 

“Yes,” she barely got out joining him on the ground.  She wrapped herself around him trying to soak every ounce of him in.  “Yes,” she whispered in his ear.

While they thought they were in their own private moment in their own little world, it was clear they weren’t as they were interrupted with the sound of clapping.  For the second time in their relationship they were applauded by those, appreciating a beautiful moment of love and adoration.  Another water taxi full of people rode by with a standing ovation for the couple.

“You think they want an encore?” He laughed referring to their kiss in Venice.

“They can have it.”  She leaned in to kiss him with every emotion she was feeling.  Out of the corner of her eye, she saw multiple bursts of camera flashes.

Timothy pulled back in awe.  “You’ve just made me the happiest man on the face of the earth.” 

“I love you Timothy.  I can’t wait to be your wife.”

“Can we get off our knees now?”

“Yes.”   Chastity laughed.

Timothy stood and slid his grandmother’s ring on Chastity’s left hand.  It quickly fell to the side of her finger.  “I know it’s too big.  I’m going to get it resized.”

“Hurry and get it back!”  She exclaimed.  “It’s gorgeous.”  Chastity adored her new symbol of commitment, not only because it came from the man she loved but because of how jealous Anne would be when she saw it.  She held out her hand to admire her new engagement ring.  It was a vintage white-gold yellow diamond, and it was stunning. 

“Okay, here comes the hard part.” Timothy breathed.  Chastity laughed in response.  “I have some things I need to talk to you about.  I probably should have talked to you about this first beforehand.  It may change your mind.”

“Um.  Are you wanted in five states for armed robbery?”

He laughed and looped his arm around her waist.  “No.”

“Do you have another wife hidden somewhere?”

He looked at her, his eyes twinkling.  “Maybe.”

Chastity punched him in the arm.

“No.  No, of course not Chastity.”  He laughed again.

“Okay.”  She let out a breath.  “Then I’d say it’s safe to assume I’m not going to change my mind about marrying you.”

“Okay.  Well hear me out.  If you’re not onboard for it then it’s okay to back out.”

“This isn’t going to be something like you like to swing or anything right?”

“No!” he laughed out loud.  “Just hear me out.”
             
“Okay.”  Chastity put two fingers and pulled an imaginary zipper over her lips, and then crossed her heart as a promise to be quiet.

Timothy found a bench along the canal and sat down next to her.  “I did not expect anything to happen to my dad.  I mean I know things can always happen, but this was just too soon – so unexpected.  It started me thinking about my future.  And currently I can’t see leaving him here – leaving them both here struggling like this.  My parents need me to help out and I wouldn’t be much of a son if I just ran off without helping.”

Chastity nodded but said nothing.  Timothy was trying to read her face but had no indication of what her thoughts were. 

“Do you understand what I’m saying?  I really feel like I need to be here with them…not temporarily, not on weekends, but picking up and moving to be near them.  Is that something you’d want to be a part of?”
             
Timothy held his breath.

Chastity stared straight ahead showing no emotion.  “Well I am tired of the long distance thing,” she said seriously.   She looked at him from the corner of her eye.  He looked so cute, like a little kid.  She turned to smile at him before finishing.  “And I guess it does help that I’m already mostly packed to move to your part of town in California already.”  She winked at him, which resulted in big smile.

Timothy jumped up and let out a whoop, which sent some birds flying in the air around them.  He sat back down and quietly asked, “Are you sure you’re okay moving all the way to Oklahoma … for me?”

“For you?  Hey don’t be such a self-centered man!  I’m doing it for me!  I have Cheryl and her family here, my uncle and his family.  Give me some credit.”

Timothy laughed and pulled her in for kiss.  “I love you.”

“I love you too.  So did my uncle really offer you a job?”

“Yes, he did.  So how is it that he knew we were moving back before I did?”
             
“Because I asked for your hand in marriage, and he agreed.”

“What?  You are so sweet.” Chastity squealed.

Timothy shook his head. “Now don’t say that too loud.  People might hear!”

“My fiancé – oh wow – fiancé?”  Chastity nodded and continued, “My fiancé rocks!”  She yelled at the next water taxi that drove by.  It was the same group that caught their engagement show around the last corner.  Again, they were met with applause and cheers.

“Want to go share the good news?” Timothy asked.  His eyes were gleaming.

She nodded and stood to take his hand.  They waved goodbye to their small crowd and rushed to their car hand in hand.