It’s simple and elegant, not flashy, or gaudy in the least. This is perfect for my Lili.
The ring is a thin gold aged band that held a row of five smaller diamonds. Even with her millions sitting in her bank account, this family heirloom means the world to her, Gran told me as much when relaying the story of Lili in her youth. She adores this ring and has expressed her dreams of one day wearing it.
“It only been a short time, but I can’t deny this feeling. I love you, Liliana. Will you spend a lifetime with me? Be my wife.”
Her lips crashed onto mine in a passionate kiss and her arms came around my neck. I held her, she embraced me.
After a minute she pulls back, eyes full of elation, desire, and love.
“Is that a yes, then?”
She nodded and swiped at her eyes, “Aye. One million times over. I love ye!”
Unable to contain my excitement I grabbed the ring and slid it on her finger, watching as it fit ever-so perfectly, like it was destined to be hers all along.
This moment will be etched into our minds, an addition to our good memory pile. Soon, we will have so many of the happy ones, they will suffocate our demons, dwindle them down to nothing.
I hear her heart singing to me, it’s soft and sweet, and holds a glorious tune. I hear it, for it’s the same song my heart makes.
Harmony of the heart.
_CHAPTER 17 - ALEXANDER_
“Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.” – Mahatma Gandhi
-One Month Later-
Icouldn’t wait to accomplish all the design improvements toHarbor’s Edge Bar and Grill,my pride and joy, a big reason for why I am still amongst the living. This place was one of the first things to help me find my purpose. It was time this place had an upgrade to fit in with the evolving harbor area.
Grady made it into Buffalo today and is excited to go through the blueprints and ideas with me. I am to let him know the second the lovely Lili is back in town so that he may meet the woman. I will forever be grateful for this man and his wise bar wisdom, and I cannot wait for him to meet my siren. Whether he likes it or not, his original bar style will stay here, long after he’s gone. He built this place; his kids names are etched under the bar top, hints of his Irish homeland are permanently scattered throughout the building, and the original bar signs and memorabilia should be given to him. There is quite a bit of money covering these walls, most of the jerseys and signed items are in frames to keep their authenticity.
It's time I make this place my own.
Ford seemed to enjoy my happier mood; everyone did. I wanted more time with Lili and knew the only way to do that would be to open my mind at the possibility of having a manager or two to help run things while I’m away. Afterall, we could be traveling more, seeing the world together, as Lili is wanting.
I asked Maddie, a longtime hard worker of the bar, to come into my office.
Maddison Boyd is thirty-two and a single mom to two boys, ages seven and eleven. Being a single mom of two can be difficult on anyone but watching what this woman has gone through over the years, dealing with a pain-in-the-ass ex-husband who walked out on the three of them, and who’s mom is fiercely battling lung cancer, I have no idea how she does it all.
She never has her personal problems while work, she is always the first to come in, work double shifts no problem, and keeps the front of the house tidy and in order; it tells me she is overdue for a pay increase, way overdue.
“Hey Maddie, how have things been? How are the boys?” I lean forward in my office chair and intertwine my fingers together on my desk, two files sit there patiently waiting.
She sits in the chair across from me, a questionable glance in her gaze, “things are good. The boys are excited for the fair to kick off next week. They are going to leave me broke by the end of it.” She cocks a brow, “but I know that isn’t why you called me in, so, what’s up?”
I smile, that’s Maddie, no time for bullshit. It’s why we get along so well. I opened her folder with the new pay increase and job title.
“You have been here, five years now, correct?” I watch her nod then I keep going, “you have proven yourself time and time again over the years, and I know Grady will agree with me.”
“Grady hired me when I had nowhere else to go. I’m glad you decided to keep me on. I can’t be more grateful for this job. The extra hours this past year has allowed me to save enough to get the kids to camp. I owe my life to this place.”
I sense her hesitation at mentioning her vulnerability to me, but her determination is right there with it. This feisty woman can put Ford in his place and is one of the hardest workers out there; I’d hate to lose her. We will remedy that, right now.
“That is one of the reasons I asked you here.” I hand her the packet with detailed plans and improvements for the bar, the seating, bathrooms, host stations, and kitchen. Everything is being revamped, no more broken coolers, or things that need constantly mended.
Lili did an amazing job at mixing in the older style of the building with the new modern industrial touches. I wanted to keep the outside mostly original, the bricks were placed here in the early eighteen-hundreds. I never imagined this place could look like her renditions. She told me to have faith, so I shall.
She silently pours over page after page, her eyes growing wider with every picture. When she made it to the last page with details of the time frame and date of the project, her face fell. “Is this for real?”