SO WE COULD BE TOGETHER…
Chapter 12
"All those lost years…"
They went to the cabin. He had a luxurious suite, 1st class with 3 bedrooms, a living room, toilet, bathroom and shower.
- Very nice said Roxanne
- Thank you. Have a seat please. Ok, do you want something to drink?
- We've just had breakfast, Nathan. I'm fine. Let's cut to the chase, I'm listening…
- Ok. The last time we saw each other, what happened? I looked for you everywhere…
- You were distant with me, you remember? I didn't know what was going on. Then little Christopher Brydon, told me that he heard something about a marriage between you and Louise Barclay
- Oh my God! That's how you found out? I wanted to tell you myself…
- When? After the honeymoon?
- Ok. I deserved that…
- I'm sorry…
- No, you're right. I should've told you from the moment we met
- I went to the library and I listened at the door…
- What did you hear?
- Your parents talking about the wedding and Louise saying that you were engaged since the crib then I left. I couldn't hear anymore
- I wished you'd heard my conversation with my father. I was telling him that I didn't want to marry Louise, but you…
- Really?
- Yes. Since his business passed before everything, he insisted. He didn't want to see me marry a girl from modest origin…
- Modest origin?
- Yes. The marriage with Louise was a business transaction…
Roxanne had a nervous laugh.
- Modest origin?
- What is so funny?
- My family is rich, Nathan, very rich…
- WHAT!
- I'm Maxime Bramwell's daughter. Being a business man, I'm sure you've heard of him…
- Maxime Bramwell from Bramwell Enterprises?
She nodded. Nathan was speechless. All those years he thought she was poor. But she was rich… if his father had known; he would've made a business transaction for an arranged marriage.
- I'm sorry Nathan. I should've told you
- Yes, you should've…
- But it shouldn't have been important… we loved each other and our fathers' bank account should have meant nothing.
- I know. But for my father it was important. But it's not your fault, I should've told you the truth also. I looked for you everywhere, I wrote you when I arrived in America. I wanted to stop the wedding and marry you, but I couldn't find you anywhere. You didn't answer my letter, so I said to myself that you didn't love me, I was just a fling.
- Oh my God! She said softly. All that lost time, oh my God! All those lives shattered !
She burst into tears. Nathan was looking a her, surprised. He went near her, and hugged her. She cried even louder. He didn't say anything, he let her relieve herself with her tears. After a long moment, she finally stopped. Nathan gave her and handkerchief to wipe her tears.
- You're asking yourself why I'm crying? You're going to be angry with me, when you find out
- Roxanne, this the moment of truth. I'm listening
- After hearing the conversation between your parents, your fiancée and you, I went to hide to cry. You didn't find me because I was in the cook's bedroom crying in her arms. All my dreams were shattered, you promised me you'll marry me when you had to marry another girl. I thought you were just playing with me. I wanted to wait to tell you something…
She remained silent for a while, she was looking at the carpet and she finally said.
- I… I was pregnant
It was almost a whisper. Nathan thought he heard her wrong.
- I beg your pardon?
- I was pregnant she repeated
- You were pregnant? Oh my God, Roxanne !
- I left my job, that's probably why I didn't get your letter. A single teenager pregnant… you can imagine what my life was like. I held on, I had twin girls…
- Twin girls…
- I couldn't take care of two children, so I left one at the orphanage and kept the other one. I went back to America, but once I was there, I couldn't confront my parents with a baby. I asked around, and I learned that you were married and that your wife was in the family way. I went and let the other baby in front of an orphanage. You can't imagine what it did to me to that not once, but twice… I thought I was going to die… I went back to my parents and I took some nursing course, became a nurse and took every job that could send me abroad.
- You never tried to find our daughters?
- I left them each a gold bracelet, I had 3 identical, remember? And every time I see a girl who could be the same age as our daughters, I look to see if there's a bracelet at her wrist… I even looked at Cassandra's wrist… I'm sorry Nathan, I abandoned our girls she said with tears in her eyes.
For all answer, he took her in his arms and held her strong.
- You were a baby yourself, you took a decision based on the circumstances…
- I abandoned my babies!
- Shut! With all the power I have, I'll do everything and we'll find them, I promise you. I'm sorry you had to go through that alone. Tell me, you never got married?
- I had guys hitting on me, but my past traumatised me. I didn't trust any man….
- I divorced Louise two years ago. She let me the custody of the children. She sees them from time to time.
She pulled away from him.
- You're not angry with me?
- Roxie, we lost all those years because of a misunderstanding. Getting angry now is not going to change that. "it's better to lit a candle than to curse the darkness"
- We can feel the Asian influence on you. So I tell you " he who doesn't know how to get mad is an idiot, he who doesn't want to get mad is wise" and "the past has a perfume stronger than a bouquet of lilacs"
- "Until today become tomorrow, we won't know the good deed of the present". Roxanne, I've never forgot you…..
- Nathan…
- I've never stopped loving you….
- Oh my God, this is going to fast…
- "The moment given by chance is better than the chosen moment". Roxie, the universe is giving us another chance. Let's not waste it. I've lived all those years without you. Louise and I were friends but we were not in love. We divorced when she fell in love with someone else. It was very friendly. Roxanne please, tell me if you've forgot about me or not…
Roxanne remained silent for a moment. She looked at Nathan. Oh she loved him, like the first day. But should they rush this? They've lost almost 20 years….Why not seize this second chance ? Hearing Nathan telling her that he still loved her was a dream she never thought possible after all those years. She would be crazy to refuse!
- Nathaniel Winstanley said Roxanne with tears in her eyes, I love you, I never stopped loving you…
He had a sight of relief, he came next to her and hugged her. He looked for her lips and he kissed her passionately.
They heard noise at the door. It was the kids. They separated so they wont shocked the children.
- Daddy? Said Cassandra coming in, oh you're with Roxanne. You're having a trip down memory lane?
- Hi dad, said Steven, Roxanne
- I better go to my cabin said Roxanne. See you later
Nathan walked her to the door.
- I'm in cabin number 221 said Roxanne
- I'll come and see you. See you soon. I love you.
- I love you.
He went back to the cabin.
- Is she an old girlfriend? Asked Cassandra, you can feel the chemistry between you…
- You seem to like her said Steven
- Yes, I was in love with her when I was young. We lost touch because of a misunderstanding
- Oh, said Cassandra smiling, do you still love her? Do you want her back? Is she available?
- Yes, to all
- Oh daddy that's wonderful. You need a wife. Mom is already remarried, we need a mother…
- It won't bother you?
- Daddy who's been trying to set you up with every single woman in the world?
- What about you, Steven? Would you like to have a stepmother ?
- Yes, it would be fun…
- But kids, I have something to tell you. I don't want to hide anything for you.
- What is it dad, you seem serious…
- Yes, it's very serious
- Ok dad, we're listening
- A long time ago, before I marry your mother, I was with Roxanne. I wanted to marry her, but there was the misunderstanding…
- …and you married mom said Cassandra
- But Roxanne, I didn't know it at the time, was having my baby
- A baby? Said Cassandra stunned
- In fact, she had twin girls
- Twins, we have 2 sisters?
- Yes, but she didn't keep them. Since she was barely older than you, she abandoned them so they could be adopted by other people
- So we don't know where they are?
- I'm going to move earth and heaven to find them
- Oh my poor daddy said Cassandra I hope you find my sisters
- You're so good, honey. Thank you.
- You're good too, dad. I don't look like you only physically!
They started laughing.
- Now you go see Roxanne…
Nathan kissed his daughter and got out of the cabin. He had to retain himself not to run to Roxanne's cabin.
Meanwhile Roxanne was sitting in her cabin. She thought of her life since the last hours. If she had talked to Nathan, all those years ago, she would have been his wife with their two daughters. All those lost years! Crying now will not do anything, what was done, was done. She found Nathan again, something she thought impossible, she will find her daughters. There was a knock at the door. She knew it was Nathan. She went and open the door. He was standing in front of her. She didn't say a word and stepped away to let him in, closed the door and the fell in each other's arms and were kissing passionately.
- I've missed you so much he said
- All those years… she said between two kisses
- Roxanne I have a question, I wanted to ask you almost 20 years ago…
- Hum hum she said kissing him on the face everywhere
- Roxanne Bramwell, will you do me the honour of becoming my wife?
She was stunned for an instant, speechless. She smiled and said
- Nathaniel Winstanley, I will be honoured to become finally your wife
He kissed her again.
- I'm going to talk to the captain so…
- Why? She asked her head on his chest
- So he could marry us, of course!
- Marry us? When?
- No time like the present…
- How?
- The captain can do it
- What about your children, they are ok with this?
- After trying to set me up with every single woman in the world in Hong Kong, they're practically forcing me to marry the one I love…
- What did you tell them exactly?
- Everything. I don't want to hide anything from them
- Even…
- Yes, even about the twins
- It's good to be open with your kids
- That's why if I want to spend my time with you, I want it to be legal..
- So you're marrying me to set a good example for the kids…
- Roxie…
- Ok, ok. The first time, we didn't wait… this time around, we're going to be legal
- Legal… I'm going to see the captain, I'll be right back
He kissed her on the forehead and left. Roxanne got ready, looking in her clothes for a dress suitable for a wedding. She found one whit dress with some pink on the sleeves and the waist. A few minutes later there was a knock on the door. She went and open the door and found Cassandra with a big smile.
- Cassandra? Come in please
She came in and hugged her.
- Congratulations!
- It doesn't bother you ? You're sure ?
- You're kidding, right? Ever since my mother left, I've tried to set him up with every single woman I meet, without any results. He finds you and a second later, he wants to marry you! For me, it's a dream come true!
- Thank you, she said hugging her. A lot of young girls would have been mad and mean
- Until we find your children, my sisters, I can be like your daughter… we have the same blond hair and green eyes, we can fool anybody!
Roxanne started laughing and kissed her.
- I brought some flowers for your hair
- Thank you. The closest thing I found to a wedding dress is this one, it has some pink on it…
- It's perfect. The ceremony is in an hour… let's get you ready
They got ready. Cassandra did her hair with the flowers. An hour later, the ceremony of marriage took place and Roxanne Bramwell, became Mrs. Nathaniel Winstanley, almost twenty years later. Roxanne moved to Nathan's suite after the ceremony. This time, they did thing in order. A few days ago, if someone had told her that she would have a family and a husband, she would have laughed out loud. Her family is going to be surprised. She was the black sheep of the family and coming back married with an instant family…it would probably a choc for them, but in a good way. She'll have to tell them that she'd had twins that she abandoned at the orphanage. Well she was not a scared teenager, she now a married woman ready to confront her family. She had Nathan to protect her.
It was late and the children had to go to bed.
- By the way said Cassandra, how did you guys meet?
- It was the fifth Sunday in college in London. There was a barbecue at Lord Brydon's said Nathan
- And I worked there as an assistant. I went to get some food at the buffet and…
- There was only one piece of chicken left
- That I wanted to take
- Me too…
- Our forks find themselves on the same piece of chicken
- Wow said Cassandra, that's romantic. I'm reading an article about a girl who refused to open the dance with the Prince of Liege at a ball because she wanted to have her first dance with her boy friend. The Prince had to walk to come and ask her himself. She finally accepted.
- Yes, I remember that, royalty didn't impress her at all, she was thinking only of her boyfriend.
- You have to be courageous to do that said Nathan
- Maybe she didn't realize what she was doing said Roxanne
- Well I find that romantic, said Cassandra, come on Steven let's go to bed, good night
- Good night said Roxanne I'll come and tuck you in…
- Good night said Nathan
The children went to their bedroom. Roxanne went to tuck the kids in. She told them an African story and Cassandra who was in Steven bedroom, was listening. She told a Chinese story in return. When they were asleep she joined Nathan who was in the living room.
- You're a good mother Roxanne
- Thank you…
- I know you're thinking about the twins… I'm going to move earth and heaven to find them
- Thanks, Nathan. I'm going to take a shower
When she came out of the bathroom, he was waiting for her on the bed. She was a little nervous. Nathan found her so cute.
- Come on Roxie, it's not the firs time…
- It's been so long…
- You mean that…
- I had trouble getting over you? Or I never got over you…
- Oh, honey… he said taking her into his arms.
The night of passion was magic. Roxanne had come back to life.