When Fate Steps In

Chapter 130 Friday Night at the Vineyard

Chapter 129 Friday Night at the Vineyard

Pizza arrived. Everyone ate on the deck. The boys begged Gramp to go with them to look for shells after lunch. Christopher took all four boys and Jessi to go shell hunting. They tried to get Lana to go, but she didn't want to. She had a book she wanted to read.

Christopher's crew was shell hunting. Karson, Gigi, and Ricky were gone exploring. Josh and Honor returned and were in the pool with Cynthia and Mitchum. Rory and Logan went to take a nap. And Lana was on the deck in a deck chair reading 'My Boss the Stud'

After a while, Christopher and the crew returned. The boys all showered off. Honor suggested they all grab a screen for some quiet time. The kids agreed. "Cynthia reminded them that Rory was asleep upstairs. After Rory went to sleep, Logan got up to go to the office for a while.

Mitchum stopped by the office in the late afternoon. "Logan is this something that can't wait," Mitchum asked. Logan shook his head. "The kids are having screen time, I think that is what Honor called it. Cynthia has gone upstairs to change, we are going on the yacht to watch the sunset." Logan nodded. "We will not be back tonight." Logan looked at his dad, then he realized what Mitchum was saying "I don't want to hear about that." Mitchum laughed. "What if I tell you and I am proposing tonight." "Way to go dad," Logan said. Mitchum smiles.

Honor, Karson, Gigi, and Rory were in the kitchen getting burgers ready for the grill. Logan, Ricky, and Josh were on the deck watching the kids in the pool. Christopher and Lana left earlier to go back to the Hayden house. Mitchum and Cynthia already left for the yacht.

Christopher called Rory to tell her they were going out to eat. "I talked to Gigi, she packed some clothes, I think her plans were to stay with Karson tonight," Christopher said. "That's fine dad. We are going to grill burgers and hot dogs. I'm making a salad. We are going to eat on the deck. The kids will probably swim again. Honor and Josh brought back the stuff for homemade ice cream, so stop by after supper and help us eat it." Rory said. Christopher laughed " Maybe we will." " Okay, well that's about. covers our plans for the rest of the night. Have fun and we will see you later"

Cynthia and Mitchum took the yacht out. It was a beautiful afternoon. It wasn't too hot. There was a breeze blowing. A couple of miles from the dock at the house on Matha's Vineyard, Mitchum pulled into a cave. Mitchum likes to captain his yacht. When the children were younger, Mitchum used to take the yacht out. Shira always insisted that they hire staff. Someone to captain the yacht as well as someone to prepare and serve food. Mitchum learned early to pick his battles. This is one he chose not to fight.

This is probably why he didn't take the yacht out very often when they were on the Island. Cynthia was on the bow of the yacht, sunbathing and reading. Mitchum was watching her. She was beautiful. He had the ring in his pocket. He saw it online one day. It showed up in an advertisement. It was not your typical engagement ring. But when he saw it, he knew it was meant for her. He keeps trying to remind himself that he was not too old to remarry.

When Mitchum stopped the yacht and dropped anchor, Cynthia looked up from her book. "Mitchum, this looks just like the place in Greece you used to take me." "I know. I thought this would be a good spot to drop anchor, maybe fish a little, eat some lunch?" Mitchum said with a smile. Cynthia stood up, grabbed her cover-up to put on. "No," Mitchum said. "Don't put that on. I like looking at you in your swimsuit" Cynthia grinned at him. "When you say stuff like that, it reminds me of when I first met you." Mitchum comes down to where she is, puts his arms around her. "If I had said stuff like that to you when we first met, what would you think?" Mitchum asked. "You know what I would think. Should I show you?" Cynthia said. Mitchum took her by the hand and led her below deck.

As the sun was setting, Mitchum and Cynthia were sitting on the deck watching the sunset. "Are you thinking about all the times we use to sail around the Greek Islands?" Cynthia asked. Mitchum nodded his head. He had a lump in his throat. The mighty Mitchum Huntzburger was afraid that the love of his life was going to turn him down. The ring is burning a hole in his pocket. He had to ask her soon.

Cynthia sighed. "I remember when I met you. You and your family were in London. I believe it was supposed to be a vacation. If I am correct, I remember your mother fussing because you and Elisa insisted on working some." "Yeah, we had taken over a couple of papers in the London area. We were trying to get a foothold in the industry in England. We were ready to go international." Mitchum said. "I remember seeing you and Logan, gosh, he was what 5, 6.? You had him on your shoulders so he could see above the crowd. I remember thinking how sweet it was to see a father and son enjoying something so simple as a sidewalk act." Cynthia said with a smile on her face. "I was 24, just finished nursing school. Thought I knew everything." Cynthia said as she signed again. She was lost in thought. "See, the problem with that memory is that I did not see you that day. The first memory I have of you is in the hospital. I tripped over a toy that Logan left on the stairs in our house in London. Broke my leg." Mitchum said. "You had to stay in the hospital for a few days. I was your nurse." Cynthia said. "Yes, that was the beginning of a wonderful relationship. You, Cynthia, are the love of my life. I think somewhere deep down, I knew it back then. I wish I had the balls to stand up to Pop and tell him. But, I was married with 2 kids, running a publishing company trying to take it international. When Pop found out about our relationship. He told me not to let Shira find out. As long as I kept you a secret, he didn't care. But under no circumstance was I to divorce Shira until after the kids were grown. The prenup left her very little after Logan was in college. Cynthia, I am so sorry." Mitchum said. "Things are as they should be. I would not be the person I am today, had you divorce Shira and married me. You would not be the person you are. Nor Logan or Honor. Like I said. Things are as they should be." Cynthia leaned into Mitchum and kissed him. "It's getting cool out here. Do you think we should head back?" Cynthia asked. "Sure, change into something warmer. I will pull the anchor and get ready to go." Mitchum said.

Cynthia went below deck to change clothes when she returned. Mitchum was standing at the front of the yacht looking out. "Hey," She said as she walked up behind him and put her arms around him. "Thought we were going back?" He turned around and got down on one knee. "Cynthia, will you please marry me? I want to make up for the mistakes I have made. I want to be a good husband and father. I really messed up my life, but I am getting a second chance. Please join me in this new life I am carving out." Cynthia was in shock. Mitchum Huntzburger just asked her to marry him. If he had asked 15 years ago, she would be jumping at the chance. But is this the life she wanted? She looked up at him. She loved him. That was not even in question. She could give Jessi the life she deserved. Is loving Mitchum and his family enough? Could she keep her identity or did he expect her to be a society wife? Mitchum was waiting. It seemed like hours, he was afraid to say anything. He was afraid he would push her away. "Mitchum. I love you. I do not doubt that. I also do not doubt that you love me. My question is does marrying you mean the same thing to you that it means to me.?" Cynthia asked. "Cynthia, I love you. If you tell me what being married to you means to you, I will comply." Cynthia smiled. "Yes! I will marry you." Mitchum started grinning from ear to ear. He started to put the ring on her finger, but she stopped him. "I will marry you, but before you put that ring on my finger, I need to tell you that I will not marry society." Mitchum was still grinning. "I am sure I understand what you are saying, you will not be a society wife." "Yes, I will not be a society wife. I will not embarrass you in public, and I expect you to spend time with me and Jessi. Now, do you still want to put the ring on my finger?" Cynthia asked. "Yes," Mitchum said as he slid the ring on her finger.