Chapter 27

In the morning, Bull had produced stacks of buttermilk pancakes, all kinds of sweet toppings, and a mountain of crisp bacon for breakfast. Fresh squeezed orange juice and black coffee was available to wash the sumptuous meal down. The old movie Brittney found in her Netflix catalog, had been hilarious, and the perfect light touch to a very emotional evening.

Pete had swung by the airport before tackling the traffic to the office, just to get one more round of hugs and say a quick good bye. He told Evie and Simon that Brittney was shopping for an Internet tutorial for them to learn Portuguese for their next rendezvous in Rio!

As Conrad and Andrea helped Evie, Simon, and Bull loaded their belongings, both old and new, Simon remained uncharacteristically quiet. Evie was beginning to worry about her boyfriend and boss, as she got ready to board their plane. She tucked the giant stuffed panda into a seat and belted it in. She won the stuffed bear on the sharp shooting carnival game at the water park, and Simon had proudly carried it around all day. He kept pointing out to perfect strangers that wandered by, the fact that his girlfriend had won it for him. How silly, but fun. He was so proud of her rifle prowess!

“Rad, have you noticed that Simon is acting a little different?” Evie whispered to Conrad as she hugged him goodbye.

“The guy’s got a lot on his mind. He and Pete had a chat about boy and girl things.” Conrad tried not to snicker. “More like Pete did a birds and bees lecture.”

“Ah hah. I get it now.” Evie smiled and hugged Andrea.

“Have a safe flight, Evielynne. See you in Rio.” The last statement brought giggles to both women and a happy smile to Conrad. “This new life is going to be something. I’ll keep you posted.” The women had bonded over the week and now were fast friends, as well as family.

“Let me know how goes it with Pete and Brittney. If I’m not mistaken, there was something happening between them.” Evie spoke quietly.

Andrea glanced toward Simon, standing next to Bull and Zack, their pilot. “The love bug, I think it’s going around.” She giggled.

Simon seemed to be supervising the loading, even though he didn’t know a thing about planes or flying. But it was a good excuse to avoid emotional goodbyes that Evie knew her man detested. Just before boarding, he came toward the small group standing next to Conrad’s SUV. He put out his hand to shake with Conrad, but it was a useless maneuver. Conrad grabbed the geek in a full bear hug. Complete with a noisy bro-kiss on the cheek! “Love ya man. Rio. September, right?” Before he let Simon go, Conrad whispered noisily enough for Evie to hear, “Good place for a wedding, right?”

Simon almost fainted.

Evie took his arm as Andrea hugged Simon a little less gregariously. “Thank you for everything, Simon. If it hadn’t been for you…” She had to stop before the tears began to flow.

“It was wonderful getting to know Evie’s friends, or extended family.” He stumbled over the words. He was not good at accepting compliments or gratitude, but he was beginning to relax with physical contact in their little group. Evie was proud of him and hoped it was a new beginning for them both.

Andrea held her arms around him and he didn’t squirm. “You are family. Remember that. You’re stuck with us now.” She placed a sweet kiss on his cheek and moved to stand next to her husband.

Simon just stood there with a glazed look on his face so Evie spoke for him. “Yep, family we are, and I am really looking forward to Rio!”

“Boss, we’re ready any time you are.” Bull trotted up, shook hands with Conrad and kissed Andrea carefully. “Nice to meet all of ya. I’ll cook for you anytime!” He laughed and pulled Simon toward the plane. “Come on, Simon. Time to go.”

A laughing Evie followed, waving happily as she boarded the plane.

****

Andrea stood in the arms of her husband. “Think they’ll be all right, Rad?”

“Oh, I think Simon is in for a run for his money, and he won’t even know it. But I also think he is head over heels in love with our gal. And she with him.”

“When did you become Dr. Oz?” Andrea kissed her husband as he helped her into the car.

“How could you miss it? Clear as day.” Conrad got into the driver side and started the engine. “Now all he has to do is realize it.”

They sat in the SUV listening to some country western love song, holding hands, as the private jet taxied out onto the tarmac.

****

Inside, Evie and Simon sat in the front two seats. Behind them was Giant Panda and giant Bull. He was already snoring. The side effects of ten pounds of pancakes with butter and syrup, and about the same amount of crispy bacon.

Simon closed his eyes. He needed to shut out the world for a few minutes. He needed to think.

Evie recognized the behavior and let him have his space. Whatever was bothering him, he would work out. If it was their relationship, she couldn’t help him anyway. But she had faith that things would somehow work out. Like Uncle Grady’s reunion with his ghostly love, Andrea’s rescue, and Conrad’s decision to work on their marriage, Simon would come around. Or not.

****

Simon sat, still but not relaxed. Pete’s words still bothered him. But so did his past.

“Your past ain’t what makes the future, boy. Unless you let it.” The words Uncle Grady spoke at his mother’s funeral came back to him, full force. Could he let go of the memories that haunted him? Could he leave the mental picture of his mother, beaten and dead, behind? How could he be sure, even if he did ask Evie to marry him, that he wouldn’t add hurt to her already wounded body and soul? That would kill him.

“Only you can decide what you will, and will not, do. Your mama had the drugs tellin’ her. She didn’t make her choices, her addiction did. You ain’t got that problem, boy. All you got was a bad break that tainted your soul. Now let it go, son. Forgive and forget. Toss the bad stuff out. Let Evie fill up that place where the bad stuff was, and you’ll find the kind of love me, and my Amee have. That’s all I got to say on that.”

Simon smiled to himself. Uncle Grady always used that statement just before he headed into the second lecture.

“She’s worth it, boy. And that’s really all I got to say.” Again, Simon heard a heavenly giggle, like sweet chimes from above. Amee was laughing at his uncle!

He opened his eyes to see Evie looking at his smile.

“What’s so funny, Simon?” Evie was curious.

“Oh, I was just thinking about Grady and Amee. They can be very helpful, when they want, ya know.” He chuckled.

Evie smiled at his statement. “They sure helped us with Andrea. I don’t think we would have found her, had it not been for Amee talking to me.” She spoke a little prayer of thanks to her guardian angel that only Simon could hear. “We wouldn’t even have known she was alive.”

“So I was thinking…” Simon turned sideways in his seat. “And so was everyone else back at Conrad’s place.” He grimaced a little, then took a deep breath. “Evie, will you marry me?”

It was out.

“Marry you?” Evie blinked in surprise. She had expected some kind of move toward the next step in their relationship, but marriage? Now that was a bolt out of the blue. “Like, be your wife?”

Now that the question was out, Simon experienced a whole new set of feelings kick in. He chuckled. “Yeah, ya know, like Andrea. A wife.”

“Your wife?” Evie was still having trouble believing her ears.

“Maybe you should send her an email, boss.” Bull mumbled from the rear seat.

Simon didn’t know what to expect, but he had sort of visualized Evie melting into his arms, all teary with a resounding yes! And she just sat there, looking at him. Granted, she did look surprised, but…

“What’s it gonna be, baby sister?” Bull held Giant Panda’s arms up in question.

Evie slid out of her seat across the aisle and hugged Simon. “Yes. Yes, Simon, I will marry you.” She settled next to him, cuddling into his arms with a huge grin.

“Ah, I don’t have a ring or anything.” Now he was stumbling. This whole thing had just popped out of his mouth so suddenly.

From behind him, Bull pressed a beautiful, folded gold filigree cigar band into his hand. “Been holdin’ onto that for some time now. Thought it might come in handy.”

Simon took the cigar band and slipped it on Evie’s fourth finger. It fit like it was made for her, and he thought he saw it twinkle just a tad as he slipped it on.

“Just like the Unsinkable Molly Brown. I love it.” Evie held up her hand to the sunlight streaming through the windows of the Phenom 300.

“Who is Molly Brown and why is she unsinkable?” Simon had never seen the classic old movies.

“Next family reunion, I’m gonna have to introduce her to you, via Netflix. I’m sure it is one of Brittney’s favorites.” Evie kissed her fiancé soundly and snuggled back in for the long flight home.

Home was going to take on a new meaning after this flight, she thought to herself.

“It sure will. I am so happy for you!” A chiming giggle sounded throughout the plane.

“Guess we got the vote of approval.” Simon kissed her head and closed his eyes.

Bull was grinning like an idiot. Simon and Evie were finally engaged.

God was in his heaven and all was really right with the world!