SAVANNAH
“A toast. For all of us!” Rafe lifted his champagne glass as we gathered after the program. The Estrellas and some familiar faces in the company had also joined us at our table. With that, everyone raised their glasses and then drank their champagne.
“Thank you, darling.” Rachel put her glass down and clasped her hands. “You see, everyone. I’ve always asked myself whether this time will come, and I’ll be present to witness it.”
Everyone turned silent.
“But here I am, seeing all of you, celebrating our success. I can’t ask for anything more.” Her gaze stopped at Michael, and she smiled. “I’ve never felt so happy again until this moment. And to my husband and children. Thank you for making this possible, and congratulations to us all.”
Everyone at the round table applauded and sipped on their drinks again.
“Congratulations to the additional family member, too,” a sophisticated-looking woman in a blue gown commented. She seemed about Rachel’s age.
“Oh, Anya is giving birth six months from now.” Rachel giggled. “But if you are referring to my new future daughter-in-law, of course. I never thought a day that I’d get to have two beautiful and kind daughters-in-law.”
“Savannah is the sweetest,” Mrs. Estrella inserted, speaking to everyone. “My husband knows I’m always bored with meetings, but thankfully, Savannah came with Rafael and accommodated us. I’m glad to see you again, sweetheart.”
“Of course. I’m happy I’ll be able to help,” I said.
“How about your other two boys?” Mr. Estrella asked them.
“Adam and Carter still haven’t mentioned anything about marriage,” Benjamin answered this time. “But I’m expecting.”
“We’ll give the stage to Rafe and Jules for now,” Carter remarked. “Right, Adam?”
“Ha!” Adam smirked. “Don’t be so sure. Especially you.”
“Oh, come on! Can’t you agree with me for one second?” Carter complained.
“Boys!” Rachel reprimanded.
I laughed. I sometimes saw Adam and Carter as a comedic duo.
“Just kidding. Cheers, Mom.” Adam embraced and kissed his mother’s forehead, then turned to face everybody. “Alright! There will be a dance until before midnight. Feel free to dig into the buffet and the bar. You’ll also love the fondue. Make sure to try it.” He gestured to the chocolate fondue fountain on the buffet table. “We hope that you stay with us and enjoy the rest of the night…”
Shortly after the guests dispersed throughout the hall, Welsey and Sofia approached me. I was waiting for Rafe to greet some people before we left.
“Hey!” Sofia hugged me swiftly. “You’re the star of the night.”
“Oh, gosh. Not really. How are you, guys? I’m glad you came.”
“It’s not every year we have this huge celebration,” Wesley said, then leaned to kiss my cheek. “And you look beautiful. Also, I met someone.”
“Really?” I laughed. “Who?”
“Someone from the IT department. She’s new, and she seems interested, too,” he said.
“She’s a redhead,” Sofia added, chuckling. “I didn’t know you have a preference, Wes. Hey, do you remember Kadie from high school? She went to the reunion too,” she asked me.
“Don’t,” Wesley warned.
“Oh, my God! Kadie?” My eyes widened. “Wesley, you are such a womanizer.”
Sofia laughed. “I know, right?”
Wesley rushed his fingers through his hair. “That’s nothing. I’m out of here.” He excused himself and approached some of our colleagues.
“Hey,” I called Sofia’s attention. “You look stunning tonight.”
She smiled kindly. “Thank you. You too. I’m happy for you, Savi. You know, I’m still ashamed of what I did to you. I’m really sorry.”
“It’s all in the past. How about you? Are you happy?”
She grinned that the joy reached her eyes. She hugged me again in excitement. “Very! And it’s making me feel guilty.”
I hugged her back. “Don’t be. I don’t regret anything, Sofia. I made the right decision. You held your feelings for a long time, and I was selfish to not see that. You’re my friend too, and I only thought about myself.”
“No, you didn’t. I was immature. It’s embarrassing.” She sniffled. “But I’m happy that we’re friends again.”
“Me too.”
She released me and looked into my eyes. “When is our next sleepover?”
“Let’s see. Riley won’t be happy if we discuss this without her.”
“Yeah, right?” She curtly nodded. “That is so Riley. Oh, here comes the fiance. Good evening, Mr. Sebastian.”
“Hello, ladies.” Rafe’s hand glided to my waist. It was his favorite gesture. “Good evening, Ms. Estrella.”
“Are we ready?” I asked him.
“Yes. Michael is waiting for us outside,” he whispered softly. We were driving to Long Island tonight so Michael could spend more time with his family.
“Let’s go, then.” I turned back to Sofia. “Hey. I’m afraid to say we’re leaving early. Enjoy the night, Sofia.”
She nodded. “I will. I invited him.”
Rafe’s eyebrow arched. “Reed?”
“Yes!” She beamed. “Do you mind?”
He glanced at me. I shrugged.
“I suppose not. He’s the harmless Reed.” He pulled me close to him and smelled my hair. “I’m glad we’re leaving,” he murmured, and it tickled my ear.
I patted his arm. “He’s maybe my ex, but he’s with Sofia now, and she’s your business partner.”
“In the future, yes.”
“You’re so competitive.”
He laughed. “I already won.”
***
A banner with a “Welcome Home, Michael!” printed in bold letters was hung in the living room when we came down. I couldn’t believe I had slept so much until almost noon. It must be the sex until three in the morning.
The maids pushed trollies back and forth from the main kitchen to the veranda. The head servant instructed them while he watched.
“Didn’t we have a feast yesterday? And the banner is too much,” Michael commented. He came from the right wing, where they gave him a bedroom. I saw how spacious and cozy it was before Rafe and I went to bed.
“Come on. I think it’s amazing,” I said.
“Do you usually do this here?” Michael asked Rafe.
“Not the banner, no.” He pressed his lips together, suppressing a laugh. “Anyway, that’s lunch. Shall we?”
“We shall.” We stepped down the stairs. “Did you sleep well?” I asked Michael.
He shrugged. “Surprisingly, yes. I wondered what they put on the mattress. It felt exactly just like my bed.”
I chuckled. “Welcome to your not-so-new life.”
The rest of the Sebastians were already present at the dining table. One thing I noticed was that they loved eating outdoors together. I couldn’t blame them, though. The beach was so beautiful to watch.
“Sit with us, darling,” Rachel called Michael, gesturing to the seat next to her. Michael obeyed and sat between Benjamin and Rachel. There was always something with Rachel that you couldn’t help but oblige. I thought it was her motherly charm.
When every dish was delivered, we started eating.
“Savi, can you pass the sauce?” Carter asked me, referring to the bowl in front of me.
“Of course.” He rose up as I handed it to him.
“How do you like the ambiance?” Benjamin asked my brother… or his son. It’d take a while since I got used to this new setup.
“Did you say I was born here? In this house?” he asked and ate more. He was obviously enjoying munching the food.
“Yes, and I’m proud to say that,” Benjamin answered. “We have private doctors and medical assistants that tended to your mother when she labored. We can still remember our joy when we heard your cries.”
Rachel held Michael’s hand. “And your name, Mikhail, was from your dad’s favorite Russian athlete. Mikhail Ivanov. I like the name Michael more, of course. Rafael and Michael are angel’s names.”
Michael nodded and continued eating.
“And he’s a professor, like Julian,” Benjamin mentioned. “Intelligence runs in the family. He’s definitely a Sebastian.”
“What do you teach?” Julian asked.
“Literature and history,” Michael answered simply.
“Wow. I’ll be happy to discuss them sometimes,” Julian added, then drank a glass of water. “I like history. I’ve collected some books.”
“But It’ll be much easier if you visit my class,” Michael said with his mouth curled up.
“Ah. I think that’s a good idea.”
“Savannah has mentioned things about you, but I’m open to hearing more,” Michael said, and it was the first time he spoke more seriously in front of his family. I was glad.
“Only if you tell us more, too,” Rafe suggested.
Michael flashed a smile.
I joined and listened as they answered more of Michael’s questions. I liked that he was opening up. In the end, Michael requested that they let him stay as Michael Gibson since it was the only life he knew he had lived. He also wanted to remain my older brother. He would be adjusting to a new life with the Sebastians.
“Michael, darling. You found your way back to us. I can’t ask for anything else.” Rachel cupped his face, brushing his thumb on his face. “You are our Mikhail no matter how you want to live your life. Just don’t forget to visit us when you’re free.”
Michael nodded, smiling. “I will.”
“Come on, guys,” Rafe joined in. “He’s with Savannah, and we all know Savi’s with me, so he’ll always be present. Speaking of the present. Julian, could you hand me that one thing I asked from you?”
“Yes, sir. I have it ready.”
We all watched Julian turn around the table and walk behind Rafe. His wife was grinning so widely as if there was something they knew that everyone didn’t. He took something from his khaki coat pocket and handed it to Rafe. It was a small but long navy blue elegant-looking velvet box. Julian returned to his seat afterward. Was he giving Michael a welcome gift? Crap. I should’ve prepared something.
“Alright. I know this is unannounced, given that this day isn’t about me, but that’s the purpose of surprises, right? Everyone…” He looked around each other’s faces. “I’m not the type to make such statements or speeches, but this time isn’t just any ordinary day.”
He wasn’t. He used to be so distant. He thought he had walked in the right direction, but he was misled by his guilt; he had forgotten to live… How to be really alive…
But I still wasn’t sure why he was suddenly having such… yes, speech.
I pierced a slice of fruit and ate it. I had a great time.
“Savannah…” He shifted his body to my side. “You are the love I waited for.”
I choked out. The fruit got stuck in my throat. What was happening?
“Excuse me.” I glanced at everyone who was wearing an inexplicable expression on their faces.
Rafe gently stroked my back, chuckling. He grabbed a glass of water and handed it to me.
I drank it straight. Phew!
“Are you okay, love?”
Love? Oh my God.
And I was probably right when he opened the box before me.
In the box was a shiny white gold necklace with a diamond sparkling in the middle of an infinity symbol pendant. Around the curves were tiny circle studs. It wasn’t that I cared about the pendant’s details, but it was unusual unless…
I was getting a feeling of what this was about, and I was right when he bent on his knees. I clasped my mouth with my eyes wide open. My surroundings suddenly turned muted.
“Rafe…”
“Savannah, I’m not the man I used to be, and it’s all thanks to you.” He gazed up at me with his mesmerizing ocean-blue eyes. “I was selfish, uncaring, incapable of any feeling. But ever since I saw you in that airport, you’re all I could think about. I thought it was just the attraction, but everything changed when I got to know you better. Savannah, you rocked my world. You brought me back to life.”
I chuckled between my whirlwind of emotions. Tears fell on my cheek. “You rock my world too.”
“I’m glad you knocked on my phone that day.”
“I’m glad you picked up mine.”
He flashed a satisfied grin. “So, baby, with our families as witnesses, will you let me take care of you for the rest of your lives?”
I nodded, crying so hard. “I do.”
“Will you be my wife?”
“Yes!” I hissed.
“You will?”
“Yes, yes! I will be your wife.”
Rafe’s shoulders relaxed, and he sprang up. He lavished my mouth with a deep kiss, never minding if we had an audience. Cheers and whistles of bliss grew around us. I knew eventually that there would be a wedding. We even said we would announce it today. After all, we already spoke about it as a proposition.
But I didn’t expect he’d make it more special. More real. More extraordinary.
Rafe put the infinity necklace on my neck as a sign of our promise. An infinity symbol close to my heart. It was so fitting.
“Now, it’s official,” he whispered, touching the pendant with his finger. “It’s beautiful on you.”
I threw my arms around his neck. “Oh, God. And you said you weren’t capable of anything romantic.”
“It seems I am.” He squeezed me tight against him, almost lifting me up.
“My darlings.” Rachel sighed in awe. Her hands clasped together on her chest. “We are so happy for you.”
“This needs further celebration!” Benjamin announced. “Tell me about your plans.”
“You must have a prospect date,” Adam said.
“Yeah. Enlighten us a bit. Let’s see what we could help,” Carter suggested.
“Actually, we’re starting from scratch,” Rafe said, making sure everyone was listening. “After all, Savi deserves something much more... real... and we want something more private.” He clasped me closer to him. “Isn’t that right, love? Didn’t you say we have a lot to do?”
“Tons to do.” I rested my head on his shoulders, then turned my gaze to my brother. “We’re all going to be one big happy family.”
Michael’s lips curled up. “And I’m happy for you.”
“But the sooner, the better,” Rachel stated as we sat all back at the table. “And we’re celebrating tonight, too.”
“I love you,” I whispered to him.
“I love you more...”
This was what I dreamt of what my life should be like. The life I wanted to have before I married someone.
Love was a complex thing. And maybe Rafe understood that more than I was.
He was a man who would love me enough that words alone were not enough to express it, and only true and devoted actions and decisions could prove it.
And a family that would make each other whole with common ideals of what true happiness means.
I failed a lot of times in my life, but with every attempt to get up, I was led to the right path. It led me to him.
Maybe Rafe and I started with a proposition.
But who would have thought that an attempt at pretense would turn into something real?
I guess there was a lot more to learn, and that was something I would find out later...