Found My Heart

"The Deal"

(Mitchell)

"What?! Why would you do that?" Abby was staring at me in shock. "That's crazy, you know that!" She was talking about the story I had just told her over dessert. We had been at the restaurant for almost two hours, but hadn't spoken about anything serious since that moment on the side of the road in my car. We had been laughing and talking about different interests we both had. She had mentioned a fascination with sharks, so I had shared a story about reef diving and coming face-to-face with a young tiger shark, which I had promptly tried to touch as it swam quickly away. She was right, of course, it was crazy, but I hadn't even thought about what could have happened if I had actually touched him. 

'Well, at least it wasn't a Great White or something." I grin at her across the table and take a drink of my tea. The restaurant, Bryan't Pub, was home to "the best burgers and wings anywhere around," according to Abby. She had told me this was her favorite place to eat, but she rarely got to come because she couldn't afford it or she was taking care of other things. I hadn't tried to bring up the talk we needed to have, but I knew I would have to sooner or later. "Abby, listen, I know you don't really want to talk to me about the business deal I mentioned back at the store, but you did say you would at least listen. Can we talk about it now?" I watched as her face changed. She became nervous and serious very quickly. She pulled in a few deep breaths, letting them each out slowly, but then leaned forward in her seat and looked at me. 

"I did say I would listen, but that doesn't mean I will agree to anything. Okay?" She said simply, and waited for my response. 

"That's all that I am asking, really. I want to help, and I meant it, but I won't force my help on you either." I paused, waiting to see if she would say anything else, but she simply leaned back in her seat and listened. "Okay. Well, you know that I sold my dad's business after he died. I had no interest, and will never have any interest, in running his business. I never did, but I went to business school anyway, partly because I thought this would make him see me and love me. He never did, and in the years since I finished school, I have come to accept it as a part of who he is, and I am at peace with it now. My M.BA can be better served doing something more important or logical than buying and selling other businesses for profit. I sold Dad's company and made a LOT of money on it, and the first thing I want to do with it is help you. My dad took something irreplaceable from you and your Nana, and I am not saying that this help will come close to repaying that debt, but it is a start." She started to say something, but I put up my hand to tell her to stop. "My proposal is this. I would like to buy the building next to yours, the building you are wanting to use for the expansion, and donate it to the Early Learning Center as a donation. In addition to that, I would like to contribute the startup costs for the reconstruction, supplies, and facility upgrades that will be needed, as well as for the marketing of the business for the first year after opening." 

I stopped talking, looking at her face as she started to fully realize what I was saying. The amount of time and money that was involved in this type of expansion and upgrade was not unknown to her. I know they had been planning this expansion and relying on it as a potential savior for the "Attic." The very idea of someone volunteering to put forth the amount of financing required for this was surely a shock and a surprise, but I was hoping against all hope that she would allow me to help. I was hoping that she would not ask what I wanted in return, because what I wanted was within her power to give, but the help I was offering was going to be provided to her even if I received nothing from the deal at all. 

"That's a lot of money, Mitchell. A lot of money. Why would you do that for me, for our store? You don't know me, and you don't really owe me anything, so why?" Abby was looking at me like I had grown a third eye. She looked shocked, and there was some other emotion on her face, but I couldn't place it. 

"I told you. We owe you. My father owes you, and so do I. I know you said you don't blame me, but I blame myself. I feel that I should have reached out sooner, and you should have had reparations for what you lost. This is nothing compared to what you lost. It is only money, I can earn more. You need it, and I have it to give, and I want to do so. Please, just let me do this for you." 

"If, and that is a big IF, I say yes, I have to know one thing first." Abby leaned forward on the table, looking into my eyes. I felt as though she could see my soul. 

"Okay, anything. I promise to tell you whatever it is you need to know." I was nervous about the questions she would ask of me, but I knew I had to tell her the truth either way. 

"What do you get out of this, because we both know that nothing in this world comes free. There is always a price that must be paid by someone. So, Mitchell Hendricks, what is your price?" 

And there it was. The one question I had been hoping to avoid, but she had thrown it at me and struck me like a dagger. What I wanted, only she could give me. I had known it since the moment I laid my eyes on that lost little girl with the bright green eyes in that hospital bed, but what I didn't know was if she would be willing to give it to me. 

"That isn't so easy to explain. You will definitely think I am crazy. God knows my Uncle does." I say to her, shaking my head and looking down at my folded hands resting on the table. 

"What is the price, Mitchell?" Abby barely speaks loud enough for me to hear the words. I look up to see her green eyes pleading with me to answer, so without thinking I reach into my coat pocket and pull out a plain, simply ring box. 

"What I want in return is for you to be my wife." 

(Abby)

I didn't know what to say. I was in shock. Had Mitch just asked me to be his wife? I don't even know him, and I for sure do not love him. 

Looking across the table, I see his beautiful blue eyes staring back at me, his thoughts and hopes displayed clearly. I look down at the ring box, holding a beautiful, oval cut diamond ring, surrounded by petite emeralds. I look back up at him, and suddenly I can't breathe. I don't know what is happening to me, but I feel that tug again. The same tug of connection I felt when I was that little girl, lost and alone, seeing those same blue eyes looking back at me. Those eyes have the look of hope and home that I have been looking for since I lost my parents, and then my Nana, and I find myself wanting to say "yes."

"Abby? Are you okay? You've gone very pale." Mitchell's soft voice pulled me back to reality for a moment. What am I thinking? Have I lost my mind? I do not know this man at all, and I don't know that I want to know him. A small voice in the back of my mind is softly laughing at me, because even it knows how badly I want to explore the tug that I am feeling with Mitchell. 

"I'm fine." I whisper, barely able to get it out. I clear my throat, and try again, a little louder. "I'm fine. Just shocked, I think." 

"I was hoping you wouldn't ask what I wanted in return, but I did say I would tell you anything you wanted to know, so" 

"Yes, you did. I wasn't expecting that, though."

"No, I guess not." 

"Why, Mitchell? Why this?" 

"It's all I want. I would not expect you to say "eyes" right away, but I would hope that in the future you would change your mind. In either case, the offer of help still stands. I want to help you with the Learning Center and the "Attic" even if you tell me no."

"Not much of a balanced deal, then is it?" I smirk at him and clasp my hands tightly together in my lap. "I don't know. I always said that I would only marry when I fell in love, and I also don't expect people to understand this, but I want to be married only once."

"I understand that. I only want one "once in a lifetime" love and marriage as well. That is what I see with you, Abby." He takes a deep breathe, and slowly lets it out and looks at the ring box on the table, then at me before speaking. "Abby, I was not going to say this because I know, well, knew, that you were meant for me the moment I saw those beautiful green eyes in this beautiful face." 

"This morning?" I scoff at him. 

"No, all those years ago in that hospital hallway. I knew then, and I know now. I feel the strongest urge to be with you, and I feel like I have been battling back to it ever since that night so long ago. I am not crazy, but do know that you are nervous for many reasons. So, this is what I was hoping could happen. You wear this ring for me, as a gift and as a reminder of what I am hoping we can be, can have, together. When the renovations are over, and the Learning Center has opened and we have signed the ownership papers of the newly refurbished building over to the "Attic," and you, then we will decide together. If you say no, then I will walk away, and I will not bother you, but that means you have to give me, us, a real shot in the meantime." 

"A real shot? As in, we would date?" 

"Yes. For the entirety of the renovations, expansions, and opening of the Learning Center, we date. We do everything that a couple would do, which also means you come with me to parties or fundraisers as well. So, Abby, will you be my "fiance-in-waiting" during this project, and let me help you create a wonderful new future for you and the store? 

I looked at him, at the man who had come to my store this morning to rescue my business, and I felt that tug again. I knew there was something to this, and I felt very strongly that he could be the one I am meant to be with. I don't know what came over me, but without hesitating I extended my left hand and said one word that would change everything. 

"Abby?" He whispered to me as I extended my hand toward him. 

"Yes." I whispered back, and he eagerly pushed the ring onto my finger and kissed the top of my hand. Suddenly the entire pub erupted with applause. I smiled at Mitchell, and he smiled back, neither of us paying the people around us any attention.