Esteban, Ready to Risk It All

Chapter 23 ~ Bomb Squad

Thanksgiving Dinner turns out to be a success and somewhat of a reunion as a couple of our father's old friends show up. I scan the room and appreciate what I see, both of my parents, my sister, my men, and my heart, Estebana.

" Ban, what's wrong" Estefania stands by me and moves her eyes around the room. "Nothing, just looking at how happy everything is, how today is so different from this day last year. She rubs my back understanding the moments I have when I am overwhelmed with gratitude.

Patting my back, she walks away, I see Remi sitting in between Merci and Lani, I swear those three are magnets if they are in the same room. I search for Estebana, she is sitting between Carlos and Rico Jr. who hasn't taken his eyes off my baby since he saw her. I observe them, she is paying him zero attention while he goes from looking at her to his hands, and his little cheeks get red. I chuckle

Rico walks my way "You are going to have big problems my man" he laughs and turns his beer up. " That might be and I don't mind spanking little six year old's either" We both chuckle and watch Rico Jr admire my oblivious daughter. Everyone close to us is spread around the room. "Excuse me for a minute" I walk over to Remi.

"I am going to borrow my wife for a moment, don't worry she will be right over there" I pointed to the space in front of the room. "Tsk whatever," Merci says while Lani rolls her eyes. I chuckle. They love me too and I know it.

"Are you ready to let our family know the date?" I ask her "Sure let's do it now before people start going into a food coma."

Holding Hands we walk to the front of the room. I signal to the DJ to cut the music that has been playing. It's been background music but the room quiets down and gives us their attention.

"Hope everyone enjoyed dinner," I said and the room filled with agreement. "So we have set the date for our wedding," Remi says and the room goes still

"The wedding will be in January" everyone starts clapping, "Okay one more thing" I get everyone's attention and drop to one knee.

Pulling the red box out of my pocket I open it and present it to Remi

"The look of shock on her face has me praying she doesn't pass out"

"Dominica, my love, I didn't get a chance to propose to you properly. So today with all the people who matter to us present, I want to confess my love to you and ask you to choose me again.

 Will you fulfill our destiny and marry me? I wait for an answer, her head is nodding, and gives me her hand, I slip the custom-made six-carat diamond solitaire on her finger and kiss her hand.

Standing up Remi finally says "Yes" I pull her into my arms for a hug and she cries. By the force of her sobs, I knew this was not a regular release of emotion so I excuse us and escort her to our library. Walking in I close the door behind us.

We stand in the middle of the room, in my arms she holds me as if she would fall if she let go. I hear all of the emotions she has experienced since I left her to wake up alone after she shared herself with me.

I feel the bricks of the wall she built to protect herself fall one by one as she sobs. I don't rush her, I hold her and give her time. Her emotions pull tears from my eyes as I realize how much she loves me, and how much she has done to make us possible.

I kiss words of comfort into her soft curls, slowly the crying stops, I hand her a tissue to clean her face. There is a knock on the door and then it opens, our parents file through the door and walk to us.

The looks on their faces cause waves of remorse, regret, sadness, and gratefulness to wash over me. I have hurt everyone in this room. Mr. Baptiste takes Remi into his arms and my eyes connect with my parents. Without Remi, I am empty and exposed.