“Are you sure you want to see him?” Rachel asked, glancing at George as he placed his hands on the steering wheel, getting ready for their short trip to the prison where her father stayed.
“Of course, I am.” George turned to look at her. “I’m actually expecting you to scold me for just doing this now. This is something I should have done a long time ago, since we got married. We’ve been together for almost five months and I have never set my eyes on your father. It doesn’t make any sense. Don’t try to talk me out of it, I’m going there today”
Rachel sighed “I’m not talking you out of it. I understand. I am just wondering if you’ll feel comfortable seeing him since it’s been a whole five years since you last saw him. But it’s alright, let’s get going”
George turned on the ignition and drove out. Rachel chatted about other things but he was so immersed in his thoughts that he didn’t comment much.
“Are you nervous?” Rachel’s voice broke through his thoughts making him look at her for a second before fixing his eyes on the road.
“Huh? Nervous? No, I’m not” George replied in defense. Was it showing on his face? How could she see it? He thought he was doing a good job at hiding how nervous he was.
“Yes, you are. Your body language is giving it away. You’re scared to meet my father”
George sighed. “Is it that obvious?”
“Yea. You’re not really good at hiding your feelings.” Rachel laughed heartily making George smile.
“I don’t know how he is going to see me. Coming to see my father-in-law only after four months, doesn’t that make me a bad son-in-law? Won’t he feel like his daughter made a bad choice?” George replied, sighing again.
“My father is not like that, he won’t think that way. Trust me”
Rachel continued to calm him down until they were seated at the prison ground, waiting for her dad to come out. With every minute that ticked away, George’s anxiety level increased and a bead of sweat formed on his forehead.
The prison door swung open and Arthur Reeves strolled out. His eyes scanned the open space until he saw his daughter, Rachel. He noticed she was standing beside a man. He moved closer to meet her, shock gracing his face when he realized the young man’s identity.
“George…George Scott, is that you?” Arthur repeated, reaching for George’s hand. His eyes skimmed over George’s appearance, noticing the scars that covered his skin. How bad had the accident been that day? He never got a chance to see him before he was arrested.
“Yes, it’s me, Mr Arthur” George answered, extending his hand so Arthur Reeves could hold it.
“You have gotten so big compared to when I last saw you” Arthur chuckled. George noticed his eyes didn’t light up even when he laughed. “How have you been? Your family? How is everyone?”
“They are all doing fine” George pointed over to the bench beside him “You can have a seat”
“What brings you here?” Arthur asked when they all settled down “I haven’t set my eyes on you or your parents in the last five years ever since your parents were warned to stay away from me”
“I’m really sorry about that” George muttered, rubbing his palms together in worry. “I didn’t mean for that to happen. It just occurred to me that I had never come to see you even after marrying your daughter. I’m so sorry I took so long to do the right thing”
“It’s alright. Those things happen. At least, you kept your promise”
They talked about George’s accident, his parents, the company and the real culprit behind Arthur Reeves drug trafficking case….
“I have decided to join Rachel in investigating your case. We are working on it and soon there will be an answer” George smiled up at Arthur Reeves. He looked frail and older than when he last saw him and the gray hair on his head had multiplied.
“Really?” Arthur glanced at him in surprise “That’s wonderful news. Rachel told me about it and I look forward to seeing the final result. Though, based on my past knowledge of your father, I don’t think he would like the fact that you are investigating a case you were told to stay away from.”
“That’s not a problem. No matter what happens, Mr Arthur, I want you to know that I am on your side. I don’t want you to be here for another five years. I will do my best to find and arrest the real culprit regardless of who it turns out to be. You have my word.”
Rachel smiled at her father “You can be assured that we won’t stop until we get you out of here”
~~~~*~~~~
“When will you finally take me shopping?” Rachel nudged George lightly with her arm as they walked through the door that led to their villa, heading towards their bedroom.
“Oh my!” George rubbed his head. “How am I so busy even when I have so much money? This is not the way things should be…”
Rachel raised an eyebrow, eyeing him “So…what are you saying?”
“That can’t be today, we just came back from seeing your father. We should rest in bed and do other interesting things. Like cuddles…” George grinned and slid his arm around her waist, pulling her to him. Leaning closer till his mouth hovered over her ears, he whispered “… Or, you know, we could also kiss and touch each other if you want, huh?”
Rachel chuckled, the sound of it making George smile.
“You like my amazing idea, right? It makes perfect sense. We’ll go shopping another day” George whispered, grinning like a champion.
Rachel wrapped her arms around his neck and moved closer till her body pressed against his. “Well, after everything that happened today, I just want to say that I’m really thankful that you took the time out to see my father. It has been a long while since any familiar person came to see or talk to him apart from me and my mother.”
“It’s nothing really. I did it because I wanted to” George replied.
Rachel slid her fingers up his chest, and moved swiftly, unbuttoning his shirt. “I guess this is a good way to wrap things up after today’s outing.”
George stiffened. The smile left his face as quickly as it came.
Rachel paused, wondering what the problem was. She looked up at him, noticing his straight face “George, is there a problem? Is something wrong?”
George sighed and took a step back “Is that what it is?”
Rachel tilted her head, completely puzzled “I don’t understand”
“Is sex between us transactional? It means nothing right? Are you trying to ‘thank me’ for taking the time to see your father?”
“What?…” Rachel stared at him, wide-eyed. Is that what he thought she meant? It must have been the way she spoke. Ugh!! What did she mean by ‘a good way to wrap things up after today’s outing’. That didn’t sound right and she didn’t mean it that way. “No, that’s not what I mean. It’s a misunderstanding.”
“Really?”
“Yes…” Rachel moved closer to him “Sex between us has never been transactional. Not even for a moment”
George glanced at her when he heard her say those words “So what has it been like?”
“It has always been a special moment in the arms of the man I have come to love” Rachel whispered, smiling at him. Yearning for him.
A spark flashed through George’s eyes and his ears tingled. He was sure he didn’t hear correctly, there was no way she would love him with the way he looked. Who would love a man covered in scars? She had better options when it came to choosing a man to love. Why would she choose to love him?
Rachel fixed her gaze on George. He looked like he was in a daze. He just stood, fixed on one spot and stared at her. Did he hear what she said? Why wasn’t he saying anything? Maybe she should repeat herself properly “George Scott, I love you”
George blinked. It was real, he had heard correctly. “Wha- what did you just say? Say it again. I think I’m dreaming”
Rachel wrapped her arms around his neck again and kissed his cheek. Leaning closer till her lips was just a breath from his lips, she held back the strong urge to kiss him like she really wanted to. He had to hear her words once again. She had tried so hard to fight these feelings, instead it grew more, the roots of love stretching deeper in her heart.
She loved this man, there was no need to fight these feelings anymore. Looking into his eyes, she whispered…
“I love you George Scott. With all my heart. And I want to stay by your side and love you for the rest of my life”