“Believe me, Rage is not someone who can replace you, for either of us.” He points to the room where Sarah is. “You are the food that that girl needs to live, and you are my pillar. Never doubt that.”
“Thank you, I promise to be more understanding on the subject.”
“You could come to the party next week.”
“Don't push me.”
* * *
One week later.
I haven't seen her for two days, but it's for a good reason, I had bought a new house and I wanted to surprise her. I made up some excuses for Sarah and as always she insisted that "she was fine."
But I had other plans in mind.
I still have men in the house arranging furniture and finishing some details. The house is on a green hill; we are surrounded by pine trees and some lower bushes. It’s a fortress really, hidden among nature, equipped with the most advanced technology, the cameras cover every inch of the property, there is not a single blind spot. I am not unreasonable, just cautious. There are many enemies out there, especially Kaled, someone who won’t give up easily.
During the week, I had stolen some ideas from Sarah about what her "forever house" would be like, she told me about light colors and sunlight, so that's what I did, I found a house that is practically made of glass, there are a few walls, the curtains are white, and the floor is made of light wood.
It is an exact representation of what Sarah had done with my life. She filled me with light.
The kitchen was a gift for myself, entirely made of stainless steel, an island with stoves in the center and a big white table on the side. I wanted to have enough room to make big family dinners.
Our bedroom was the most beautiful room of the house in my opinion. Two of the four walls were windows that pointed to a beautiful forest, mountains and some bordering houses. At night you can enjoy a sky full of stars.
Dante and Amira moved to my old house, it was the best option, until their get back on they feet. Dante had resisted the idea a little, but I finally convinced him it was the best outcome. They both needed their own space and privacy. Hopefully, living together would give them courage and open their eyes, to realize everything they were missing.
“That's what I call a great backyard,” Carter says as he closes the sliding doors. “I think you have to have a barbecue party for the big opening.”
I'm standing there, admiring the view. I'm wearing a pair of torn jeans, the hammer is hanging out of my left pocket, I still have work to do.
“No, I'm going to get married there, I've got it all figured out.”
Carter's eyes widen. He didn't know my intentions yet.
“Are you fucking kidding me? Are you going to propose to her?!”
“Yes, I knew it the moment I saw her in that dusty Saudi ally, I just want to wait for her to recover to propose properly this time.”
Carter comes over and hugs me like a brother would.
“Does that mean you already screwed up once?” he asks.
“Yeah...” remembering that moment makes me want to bury myself in the ground. “In Saudi, I called her ‘my wife’ in front of her and everyone else.”
Carter bursts into a contagious laugh and presses his arms against his stomach. His laughter is so deep that the idiot begins to choke, so eventually we both end up with tears in our eyes.
“That's so pathetic, cuz!” Carter can barely talk.
“I know. I still don't understand how she didn't run away.” I walk over to the fridge and hand Carter a beer and one for myself.
The bottles collide in an intimate toast.
“To infinite happiness,” Carter toasts, wiping the tears from his cheeks.
“Same to you, cuz.”
