The Love Game

CH.15 The Proposal

Chapter 15 The Proposal

Rachel P.O.V.

I get home Friday to see that all three of my kids are waiting for me as I walk into the house.

“What’s going on here?” I ask suspicious of their behavior.

“Well we are all just excited to see you and have a movie night with Garrison, that’s all.” Bella said as the other two just smile at me.

“Then why are you three standing there like that. You are acting very suspicious.” I say crossing my arms over my chest.

“No reason, we are just patiently waiting for Garrison to come over.” Jackie said

“Ok about tonight, Zander is taking me out. So, Aunt Cat and Uncle Conner are coming over with Leah. They are going to watch all of you.”

“Ok sounds like a party!” Matt said

“Yea we should get the place ready for them when they come…” Jackie said to her siblings. And then they left to the kitchen to collect snacks. I pulled out my cell to order a few pizza’s for tonight. After we all finished preparing for our friends I head to my room and to change for my date. I am in my closet going through my cloths when I hear someone come beside me.

“Mom I think you should wear that yellow dress.” Jackie says as she points to my yellow spaghetti strap sun dress. Then she walks and pull my white cardigan and picks my shoes. “Wear these too.”

“Ok… I guess. I wasn’t really feeling like wearing a dress tonight.” I say surprised.

“I think you should. You look especially beautiful in this color, and I know that Zander like seeing you in a dress.” She insisted.

“Very Well. When did you become such a fashionista, I thought that was Bella’s thing?” I wink at her as I place my outfit on the bed.

“I just want to make sure you looked your best tonight. The littles and I really like Zander. Just have fun Mom, we really like seeing you this happy.” She says. It was so warming hearing those words come out of her. Zander really did make an impact in their life and mine.

I take a shower, blow dry my hair, and apply light neutral make up. I change into my outfit and grab my clutch as I proceed downstairs towards the media room. As I get closer, I can hear the loud laughter of kids and adults. I enter to see everyone is already here. Zander was leaning on the doorway staring at the sight of our children. I come up from behind him and wrap my arms around his waist kissing his back.

“Hello Darling, you ready to go?” Zander said and then turned to face me. He was wearing dark jeans, a white t shirt with his signature black leather jacket.

“Yes let me just say bye to the kids and talk to Cat and Conner real quick.” I say to him heading over to my friends.

“Ok bye kids we are leaving now.” They all wave bye and get back to their antics. “Cat, Conner, call me if anything ok?” I tell them both

“Don’t worry we got this, now go and have fun you two.” Cat said motioning us to leave already. I roll my eyes as Zander grabs my hand and leads me out of my house.

We get into his Jeep and drive away. He takes my hand into his. I look over and exam him. He seems to be acting a little different, like he is hiding something.

“Are you ok?” I ask him

“Yea, why do you say that?” he responds a little too quickly.

“You just seem off. Is there anything I should know about?” I ask wondering if he is hiding something.

“Well I have a surprise for you, and I am just hoping that you will love it.”

“I will love anything you do for me.” I assure him cupping both my hands to his free hand. I just smile looking at him. He quickly glances at me and smiles too before looking back at the road.

We get to the lake to the same spot that Zander took me to on our first date. Instead of going to the dock he escorts me down this gravel path that lead up to a gazebo overlooking the lake. It was beautifully decorated with flowers and in the center was a two-person table with candles. I was in awe. I took my hands and covered my mouth from the shocked look I had.   

“Do you like it?” Zander asks with his hands in his pockets

“I love it! Its so beautiful Zander!” I run into his arms ad give him a big hug. He just hugs me back before guiding me to the table to take a seat. There where already plates with silver domes covering them. Zander removes the domes to reveal juicy steaks and roasted veggies. My mouth starts to water as the smell hits my nostrils.

“This smell delish!” I couldn’t help but let out a moan as I dove into my food.

“Well I am so glade you like it.” He said eating his food. We talk for a little bit while we finish. I kept noticing that Zander was fidgety. I just wonder why we seems so nervous. Zander then stands up and extends his hand.

“Come with me, I have one more surprise for you.” He smiles. I take his hand and drop my napkin on the table. We walk to a part of the lake that over looks the dock. I gasp at the sight in front of me. I saw all the kids standing on the dock holding a banner that Read ‘Marry me’. I turn to look a Zander and he is down on one knee.

“Rachel the moment I laid my eyes on you I was trapped by your beauty. Getting to know you these last few months made me realize that you are the missing puzzle piece I did not know was missing in my life. Your caring, strong, and intelligent. And such a great mom. I love you with every fiber of my being. I am the happiest man when I am with you, and I do not every want to let you go. So please, will you marry me?” Zander pulled out a small box from the inside of his jacket pocket revealing a beautiful huge Chocolate diamond ring. I just look at him with tears pooling in my eyes.

“Yes! Yes, I will marry you!” I say smiling and crying at the same time. I was over to moon happy. He stood up and immediately kissed me passionately. We break away for air and lean our foreheads together. He takes the ring out of the box and slips it on my finger. Taking a closer look at it I see that the big chocolate diamond was encircled by a halo of smaller clear diamonds on a silver band. I just admire its uniqueness. He knew that I did not want anything traditional, and I was a chocoholic. This ring matched my personality perfectly.

“Zander it’s beautiful, I love it!” I say giving him another kiss.

“I am so happy you love it. Now I can’t wait until you officially become my wife!” he says giving me his million-dollar smile.

“Well Fiancé, I have to ask how you managed to pull this off?” I ask

“Well Cat helped me plan it. We used your companies for the flowers and food, and she helped me gather the kids. We promised them an ice cream party if they kept this a secret.” He chuckles and I laughed hard.

“Wow that impressive, my kids could never keep surprise this big a secret.”

“Yea well I guess they really like me.” He grins

“Yea and I am so happy that the kids approve. No wonder everyone was acting so suspicious lately. I should have known something was up.”

“Come on, let go to the kids and share this moment with them.”

“Thanks Zander, I love you.”

“I love you more my beautiful fiancé!”

Nate P.O.V.

I am at home again watching TV when my phone rings. I go to answer it.

“Mr. Cavanhall, we have an update on Zander.” The voice on the other line says.

“What is it?”

“Zander has proposed to Rachel and they are officially engaged.” I was beginning to see red.

“What! I thought you were going to inform me of the details before the proposal!” I yell into the phone and kick my coffee table over.

“Sorry Mr. Cavanhall, it seems that Zander had help from Rachel’s friends. All their preparations done were through her companies and it has been difficult infiltrating their ranks for information.”

“What do I pay you people for?!” I continue to scream at the phone. “I need the plan to be executed flawlessly from here on in. If anything should happen to delay or ruin my plan, I will take your head as collateral. Do I make myself clear?” I say with a threating tone. I was not going to tolerate failure.

“Yes Sir.” He says before hanging up. I through my phone across the room. I throw my couch cushions next. I storm off to my liquor cabinet and pull out a bottle of whiskey and begin guzzling it. Feeling the burn going down my throat distracted me from the rage I felt. f**k Zander! Rachel is mine and mine alone. I drank until I felt numb and did not realize when I shut my eyes and fell asleep.