Kate sent her condolences, though I never expected her to attend. Their relationship, if you could even call it that, was a long time ago. At the time, I chose to ignore what was going on because they were grown adults and their personal lives were theirs, provided it did not affect business.
However, typical Kate still organized a large wreath of flowers for today despite her ties with him being a thing of the past.
As we stand in the cemetery, a minister reads from the bible while we pay our respects and say goodbye. A man from the polo team says a prayer, but no one comes forward to give any personal tributes.
Perhaps, just like me, there are no words to be said.
During the ceremony, Charlotte holds my hand tight behind the oversized sunglasses she wears.
And just like that, it all ends.
Bentley James Woods is laid to rest.
A moment of silence is given before people begin to walk away to the cars parked beside the green lawns.
My feet are planted firmly in the spot I’m standing, staring quietly at the open ground which holds the body of a man who once was my saving grace.
His life walked a path similar to my own. BJ was forced to take control of a family empire, thrust upon the ruthless world of money. Just like me, he battled his demons, and this is what brought us together.
But with this came darkness.
A time when my demons were tormenting me over how I treated Charlotte and ended things between us. How the lies of my former wife, and my father’s actions led me to lose the one person I promised never to leave behind.
How my own weakness damaged everything, we were beyond repair.
When days and nights were a blur, I consumed narcotics and anything I could get my hands on to take away the pain, including women. On many occasions, more than one at a time, and sometimes it was me and BJ with one woman.
A woman who demanded we tie her up and treat her like a slave for our own satisfaction. The vicious cycle we both found ourselves in was toxic and disturbing, but while high—nothing else mattered.
The tightness inside my chest restricts my ability to breathe at an average pace, but then, I admit what weighs so heavily on my mind.
“This could have been me.”
Charlotte squeezes my hand tightly, silently shaking her head.
“It's not you. So, why would you say it could've been you?”
“Because Charlotte, once upon a time, this was me. I was alone,” I clench my teeth with a bittersweet pain. “I did the same things he did. Things I’m not proud of. But then I ran into you in the restaurant, and it all changed.”
“It's fate,” she whispers beside me. “We both did things we weren’t proud of, but fate led us to each other.”
My eyes fixate on the ground as all my mistakes rise to the surface.
“Lex, everything you have is everything you deserve. You are worth all the blessings you’ve been given.”
Releasing a breath, I nod, then smile, leaning over to kiss the top of Charlotte’s head.
I am blessed.
I’ve been given a life filled with a family I never expected. Experienced love in every form, and above everything, a life partner I’m proud to call my wife.
Yet, the longer I stand here, the more I think about how easily my life could have taken a different turn. I could have been the one lying in this cold ground.
Bentley James Woods is who I would have become if I didn’t make a last-minute decision to attend the meeting at the Japanese restaurant where I ran into Charlotte.
The irony of this all is BJ was the one who pushed me to meet with investors that day. He had heard some unsettling rumors of one of the stakeholders laundering money and insisted I make an appearance to show him who’s boss.
And that’s where it all began, again.