Give me your forever

Chapter 69 - Coming back home

"They had arrived in paradise as lovers. And now they were leaving it as something even deeper - two souls absolutely certain they belonged together."

When they arrived at Bangkok airport, Rawee, Richie sr and Num were already there waiting for their daughters. Everyone greeted each other with warm hugs and chatted excitedly as they walked toward the car.

Freen and Becky, always hand in hand, told them all about the trip while everyone listened attentively. Then Richie asked:

"Girls, are you very tired from the trip?"
"No. Why?" They both answered at the same time.

The three other adults exchanged satisfied smiles.

"Because we wanted to take you somewhere." The old man said.
"Where?" Becky asked curiously.
"It's a surprise. Can we go?" Rawee replied mysteriously.

The couple looked at each other before answering:

"Sure, we can. But what are y'all up to?"
"Nothing! We never get up to anything." Num said with an amused grin.

As they headed toward the mysterious destination, Becky and Freen kept telling stories about the trip, carefully leaving out the intimate moments (which, admittedly, had taken up a good part on their time there).

Everyone listened attentively, smiling and melting at the details of each adventure. About 20 minutes later, old Armstrong pulled the car up in front of a house the girls had never seen before.

"We're here." Num announced.
"Here where?" Freen asked curiously.

No one answered. They simply said:

"Come on!"

When they rang the doorbell, a very friendly elderly woman answered the door and invited them inside. Freen and Becky were completely confused, exchanging puzzled looks.

"Love... what do you think is going on?" Freen whispered.
"I have no idea, baby." Becky replied. "But this house is unbelievably beautiful, don't you think?"
"Yes. It would be perfect for us, BB! It's a pitty it isn't for sale..."
"Yeah..."

Rawee overheard the comment and smiled to herself. Num gently pulled the two of them farther inside.

"Look at this enormous garden!" Freen's mom said excitedly.
"And even better than the garden is the swimming pool!" Richie said. "Come and see."

They proceeded to show every room of the house to their daughters, who became more enchanted with each step.

"Mom, whose house is this?" Freen finally asked, genuinely concerned. "And why are we just walking into somenone's house like this?"
"That's true." Becky agreed. "This house is perfect, but it doesn't feel right for us to be wondering around, looking at everything without the owner's permission or even their presence."

Richie ignored their concerns and simply asked:

"So... What do you think of the house?"
"What do we think?" Becky laughed in disbelief. "Are you kidding? This house is amazing! Really gorgeous!"
"Perfect!"
"It is exactly what we've been looking for!" Freen and Becky answered at the same time.
"Really?" Rawee asked with a smile.
"Yes mom. You know exactly what we're looking for. Before we left on our trip, we even talked about it, remember?"
"Oh, that's true..." Rawee nodded.
"Well..." Num said. "You both were worried about us snooping around the house without the owners being here, right?"
"Yes, of course!" Freen replied. That's not right, you guys. What's gotten into you? You're acting so awkwardly..."
"You know what?" Rebecca added. "This really doesn't seem like you!"
"Mmm, the truth is..." Num said with a grin, "The owners are right here."
"They are? Oh my Gosh! Are you three out of your minds?" Becky stated really alarmed. "Where?"
"Jesus dad..." Freen said lowering her voice. "Let's go back to the living room before one of them catches us sneakering around and..."
"I don't think they'll have any problem with this." Num replied.
"How can you say that, mom?" Freen frowned. "Would you like it if someone walked into your house and started snooping through everything? I hardly recognize you, Mrs Num!"
"Relax girls." Rawee said unable to hide her smile. "We know the owners very well!"
"Oh, thank godness!" Becky said dramatically. "I'm way too tired to end my day at a police station. You three are impossible!"
"By the way, BecBec..." Richie said casually, "could you do me a favor?"
"Sure. What is it, dad?"
"Could you grab that paper on the table for me, please?"
"Of course..."

The moment the younger girl picked up the document, she instantly covered her mouth with her free hand. Her eyes widened as she slowly turned to look at Freen.

"L-love..."
"BB, what is it? Are you ok?" Sarocha asked immediately, every protective instinct she had kicking into overdrive.

Rebecca could barely speak. Words failed her. Instead, she simply held the document out to her girlfriend.

Freen took it, her eyes scanning the page. A second later, she looked up in complete disbelief.

"Is... is this for real? Love, is this what I think it is?"

Before the thai/british girl could say another word, Rawee, Num and Richie spoke in unisson:

"Yes! The house is yours!"
"It's our gift to you. We're so happy you liked it!" Rawee added.
"B-but ... how?" Becky asked, finally able to form a sentence.
"Well, on the day we dropped you off at the airport, we happened to drive down this street on our way back and saw a "for sale" sing in front of this house. So we decided to stop by and take a look. To our delight, we realized it was everything you had been looking for. So, we went over our finances, made an offer to the owner and he accepted." Richie said smiling huge.
"We signed the purchase agreement yesterday morning. The deed will take a few more days to be finalized." Rawee said with a happy smile.
"B-but... you guys..." Becky whispered, still holding the papers in trembling hands. "You bought a house for us... we were saving money for this and..."
"Then, keep saving it." Num interrupted with a gentle smile. "Having savings is incredibly important. The house is one less thing you'll have to worry about."
"My God..." Freen breathed, her voice breaking. "You're unbelievable! We don't even have the words to thank you for everything you've done for us."
"You don't have to thank us." Rawee said. Her own eyes glistening with tears. "After everything that happened... after all the misunderstandings... we wanted to give you this house to show you that you have our blessing!"

The older Armstrong stepped closer, placing one hand on Freen's cheek and the other on Becky's.

"May this home become the stage for a lifetime of happiness! May it witness your laughter, your victories, your quiet mornings, your family dinners, your children ruming through these hallways someday." Her voice trembled. "You're our daughters. We love you!!!!"

Silence settled over the room. Not the awkward kind. The kind of silence that comes when emotions are simply too big for words. Freen lowered her head, blinking rapidly in a futile attempt to keep the tears streamed freely down her cheeks.

Without saying a word, the two young women stepped forward at the same time and embraced the three older adults. It wasn't just a hug. It was gratitude. It was forgiveness. It was acceptance. It was family.

Richie cleared his throat, pretending something had gotten into his eye.

"I hate emotional moments." He muttered.
"You're crying harder than all of us." Num trased.
"I am not. It's just allergies."
"There aren't even any flowers in here!" Becky laughed through her tears.

Richie sighed dramatically before pulling both girls into another hug.

"Fine." He admited. "Maybe I got a little emotional."
"A little?" Rawee chuckled.

Everyone laughed. The heaviness that had followed them for weeks finally beginning to lift. After a few moments, Freen slowly looked around the living room once more.

"So..." she said quietly. "This... is really our home?"

Richie reached into his jacket pocket.

"It won't feel official without these."

The man pulled out 2 small silver keys attached to a wooden keychain engraved with a single word: HOME.

He placed one key in Becky's hand and the other in Freen's.

"For the first time," He said softly, "you won't be walking into someone else's house." He smiled. "You'll be walking into your own!"

Freen stared at the key for several long seconds before looking up at Becky. Their eyes met. No words were needed.

Becky leaned forward, resting her forehaead against Freen's, both of them smiling through tears.

"Welcome home princess!" Becky whispered.

Freen let out a quiet laugh, the kind that escapes only after a surviving storm.

"Welcome home, love of my life!"