Chapter 6
Few days later
Tommy barely got into the door as Kimberly stood before him on the phone. She slammed the door behind him and held her hand up to stop him from moving from his spot. Tommy looked at her with slight fear at her glare.
"Okay, thank you sir. All right. I will stop by tomorrow at 10. Thank you again." She closed the cell top. "What the fuck did you do now?" Kimberly asked, not letting him move at all.
"Huh?" Tommy asked looking as a deer in headlights.
"Don't you dare huh me! Tommmy!"
"What!"
"That was Vincent Hawkens."
"Who?"
"Don't!" Tommy dropped his bag to the ground and put his keys up to the hook. "It seem he thinks his boss and I need to talk. His boss, William Forester, of Forester's Inc in Beverly Hills! Why is that?"
"Maybe Vincent saw some work of yours?"
"Maybe!" She hit his arm.
"Ow!"
"How exactly is that, Thomas Stevens Oliver! You fuck!" She hit him repeatedly.
"Ow! Ow! Ow!" Tommy laughed and quickly blocked and moved away from her hits.
"I asked you to threw those boards away, instead you go behind my back!"
"I made a few trips!"
"A few! Earlier this morning, I got a call from Emily Gooden. She owns this place and she wants me to stop by, so she can carry a few of my designs. My designs!"
"A simple kiss and thank you will do," Tommy said trying to get away.
"Oh, I'll thank you after I kill you! Get back here!"
Tommy rushed around the couch away from Kimberly for the second time. Tommy rushed into the kitchen and held the fridge door between them. She had him cornered.
"If I am dying, can I at least have a beer first? I really need a beer, Beautiful."
"Fine." He got one. Kimberly followed him to the couch. Tommy pulled her to his lap. Tommy drank his beer down.
"What's wrong, handsome?" Kimberly asked.
"Nothing."
"Liar."
"You know me too well, Beautiful. I do feel bad, and I have no idea what to do."
"What happened?" Kimberly sighed as she wrapped her arms around his neck to listen to his day.
"A student of mine, he plagiarized a paper," Tommy confessed drinking his beer.
"Oh, man. That's serious."
"I know. Suspension if the school sees fit."
"Are you going to tell the professor?" Kimberly asked.
"I have to. It's against the school's laws. But when I confronted him, he broke down into tears, Beautiful. He was crushed. He doesn't want me to tell the professor, but..."
"You have to."
"Yeah."
"Or not."
"What do you mean?" Tommy asked.
"You could always just make him do another paper. I mean, how were his grades before?"
"B/A, but he's not a freshman, Kimberly. As a sophomore, he knows better."
"We all make mistakes Tommy. I'm not saying, he should get off lightly. Tell the professor, but also reason. Maybe, he gets a zero, you know."
"I guess. How come you are so smart?" Tommy asked hugging her a bit closer to him.
"Someone has to be in this relationship." Kimberly laughed as Tommy tickled her.
"Marry me?"
"Wha?"
"You heard me," Tommy said.
"Wha..how...how can you simply ask that question so calmly?" Kimberly gasped.
"Who says I'm calm?" Kimberly looked down. "Well?"
"Well what?"
"Marry me?"
"Is this a joke, because it is not funny!"
"I am not joking, Beautiful. Will you marry me?"
"Someday, I hope so. Soon."
"Is that your answer?"
"Yeah, for now."
"Great answer." Kimberly smiled. Tommy kissed her. "So, what are you wearing for your interview tomorrow?"
"I don't know. God, I hate you sometimes." She got off him.
"What did I do now?" Tommy asked laughing. He followed her.
"You ask me such a serious question as of marriage, and change to what will I be wearing tomorrow for some damn interview."
"Just a simple twist." She sighed. "Art thou mad at me?"
"Extremely! Don't go pulling the Shakespeare's lyric. You went behind my back, Tommy."
"You said you needed a job. You were going to work for that Klien guy in New York as a designer. I thought, I mean, you are here, you need a job, you are a designer, I would help out," Tommy said as he watched her walk around.
"But don't you see, if Roberto finds out that I ditched New York and begin working with Forester's Inc or some other company not his, it won't settle with him."
"And why not?" He came up behind her and hugged her.
"It'll be like a betrayal to him. That I didn't want to work with him. He gave me my first job, my career. He was my mentor for 3 years now."
"Just because..."
"I learned everything from him! I don't know if I could...I owe him a great deal."
"Then use it and take these opportunities. Mr. Klien would want you to, Kimberly, after the explosion when he hears you are working for another company." She laughed slightly and turned. They hugged and kissed. "Just try it."
"Okay."
Kimberly was invited to work at Forester's Inc within the weekend, starting the following Monday morning. Roberto Klien allowed for Forester's Inc to take Kimberly as a designer, after her contract was deferred to them. Kimberly arrived home late on night. She had been on the job a week. It was January 26th, a Thursday evening. She hung up her jacket and put her briefcase at the door. Kimberly turned and gasped at the many candles and flowers filling the apartment. Kimberly called him early to saw she would be running late tonight.
"What is this?" Tommy turned in a suit. Kimberly knew something was up, as he appeared in a black tux.
"Hey."
"What's going on?" Kimberly asked.
"I thought I would do something special for my baby," Tommy said taking her briefcase and jacket.
"Okay."
"Come, I want you to open this." Tommy took her hand and led her over to the living room.
"What is this?" She took the white long box.
"A surprise."
"Tommy...I love surprises!"
"I know." Kimberly giggled as she pulled off the ribbon. Kimberly pulled the top off and gasped. She touched the top of the fuchsia silk dress with hand-beaded twisted detailing, front side slit and small trim with fuchsia strappy heel shoes. "Go, put it on," Tommy said putting the box into her hands.
"Why?"
"Now please."
"But I feel so sweaty and tired, Tommy."
"Hurry up and shower then. By the time you get down, dinner will be done."
"What are you up to?"
"Go!" Kimberly was shoved upstairs and to the bathroom. She came out in the dress and shoes and found Tommy waiting at the bottom. Tommy held out 2 velvet boxes. Kimberly gasped at the silver diamond bracelet. Tommy put it on her left wrist. "And finally." She opened the smaller box and found a pink flower hairpin.
"Why are you doing this?"
"Because my baby desires it. Now, let's eat." Kimberly allowed him to put the pin to her right side to pull some hair back. He kissed her cheek. "I love you."
"I love you too." They kissed shortly.
Tommy pulled out a seat for Kimberly. She smiled. Tommy brought over the lasagna. They ate their salads and pasta in quiet, soft classical guitar and violin in the background. Kimberly couldn't help but smile at Tommy's frequent smiles and kisses on her hand. Kimberly wiped her mouth as she finished up.
"Great, time for dessert." Tommy pulled out 2 covered plates from the fridge.
"You are not doing this."
"Doing what, Beautiful?"
"You know bloody hell what! Under this hood! You know what is under this hood!"
"What?" Tommy asked.
"A ring!"
"Who said a ring was on this plate?" Tommy lifted the top, though Kimberly did protest, until she found a square chocolate cake. Kimberly held her chest. Tommy smiled. "You are too silly, Beautiful." He kissed her cheek and went to sit down and enjoy his cake as well. Kimberly was a bit shaky as she lifted another fork. She ate the cake, her eyes on Tommy. She had been a little uneasy since her father called and was happy to hear about her new job and relationship with Tommy. Kim's father never liked Tommy, which was the first signal something was up. Back in high school, he kept an evil glare at Tommy, especially when he caught them sharing cute kisses. But her father's call came so vague and frightening. He seemed to be in tears during the talk about how his babygirl was a woman now. Kimberly hung up the phone in fear. Then Aisha and her mother calling on the same day with the same message, how happy they were and how glad about Tommy and her being together.
"Don't get too comfortable Beautiful. We have a show at 8."
"What did you do?"
"Huh?"
"You make me such a lovely dinner, with cake and the flowers, candles, everything. A dress, I designed and made, mind you as well." She sipped on her wine. "This must have cost a lot to do tonight. So, you must have done something wrong. What are you hiding?"
"Can't a guy treat his best girl to a great night?" Tommy went over to the balcony doors and opened them. He smiled and patted his heart through his jacket.
"Of course, he can. But you sir, what have you done?" Tommy turned to Kimberly with a huge smile.
"Nothing yet, Beautiful." Kimberly took his hand, as he sat down in front of her on the couch. "It's about to get very interesting in a moment."
"Why?" Tommy reached into his jacket pocket and pulled on a small black velvet box. Kimberly gasped. "Tommy?"
"I am a bit of a tradionalist, Beautiful. So, I had to take some steps. I love you with all my heart and soul. Since you came back into my life, I've felt nothing but complete. And I know you feel the same. I called your father and told him that I was going to ask his daughter to marry me soon." Kimberly gasped. "At first, he was a bit shocked, but eventually, I won him over. He gave me his blessing to marry you. Then I called your mother, Aisha, to help me to find the perfect ring. Which I'm hoping they did." Kimberly covered her mouth, as the tears freely fell down her cheeks. Tommy got down to his knees before her. He opened the box and Kimberly gasped at the beautiful princess cut, 2 carat, sparkling diamond ring.
"Wait!" Kimberly held her hand out for him to stop. She fanned her eyes to make the tears stop. Tommy shook his head. She fanned for about a minute. "Okay, okay." She cupped his face. "I'm sorry. Sorry, sorry! Go on!"
"Good. Where was I, right. Okay, you ready?"
"Yes!"
"Kimberly, I always knew that we belong together, from the first moment I met you, you were the one for me. I don't know what I did in my life to have you, but I will forever be thankful to God for allowing me to be with you. I love you, Kimberly. Will you make me the happiest man in the world, and marry me?" She gulped. She smiled.
"Yes!" Tommy slid the ring to her finger. "Of course, I'll marry you!" Tommy reached up and kissed her.
"Yay!" Streams of confetti flew into the apartment as many people rushed inside.
"Congratulation!" Kimberly and Tommy laughed at their parents and friends rushing inside the apartment.
"Let me see!" Aisha rushed to see her hand. "Awww! It's beautiful!" They hugged.
"Congratulations man," Jason said hugging Tommy.
"Wait, the night is not done, have you told her?" Adam asked.
"Told me what?" Kimberly asked.
"I dare you."
"Dare me to what?" Kimberly asked.
"Marry me."
"I will."
"This weekend," Tommy said.
"What?"
"I have tickets for us to fly to Las Vegas this weekend, where we can get married," Tommy said with a smile. Kimberly gasped.
"A wedding this weekend! You are crazy! I want weeks, months to plan my wedding!"
"Done."
"Done?" Kimberly's mother opened a book and handed it over. "This is my dream wedding book. Where did you...?"
"Tommy. He arranged it all, princess," Kimberly's mother said moving her hair back before holding her. "He has everything set and ready for you."
"You said you would marry me."
"Yes, but I didn't think that meant tomorrow!"
"Not tomorrow, Saturday."
"What about..."
"Everything is set and waiting."
"But I wanted a dream wedding in the snow."
"And we have that." Tommy showed. It was an Ice chapel with snow decorations. It was a perfect chapel to be married in.
"Invitations?"
"All set, sis," Aisha said. "Everyone else will be arriving tomorrow and tomorrow evening at the latest. Tommy has been working hard on this. You will have your dream wedding. I promise you."
"My dress? My shoes?" Kimberly asked.
"Verra Wang special. She is waiting with a collection for you as we speak."
"You see, Beautiful. Our wedding can come true. Your dream wedding. Will you do it? Will you marry me Saturday in front of our family and friends?" Kimberly touched the book. Tommy had worked hard, everything was set the way she always dreamed and wanted it to be. She couldn't pass this chance off. Her dream wedding was waiting for her.
"I don't see why not!" She hugged him. "Of course we can get married Saturday! I would be the silliest woman in the world if I said no! I love you and I can't wait to marry you." They kissed. "But I haven't done anything!"
"You said yes. That is all you needed to say."
"There is one last decision to make," Aisha said.
"Oh, right. What time do you want the wedding? 9, 2 or 6?"
"I get to decide?"
"Yes!"
"Uh, 2."
"Good, now come on! Our flight leaves in 3 hours!"
"This is all so crazy!"
Note: sorry this was a short chapter...wedding chapter is next and trust me it is a majordozy! I worked through every detail I possible could for the perfect wedding, but wanted a little break here before getting into the depts of the story..just breaking a sweat...much more to come soon, maybe even later today so look out!
babye :P
catch ya on the flip side!
