Dad whistles, obviously impressed with the jet. “Wow!” he exclaims. “This is some airplane you’ve got here, Alex.”
Alex laughs. “It’s not bad.” He grabs our bags and walks over to say hello to the pilot.
I turn and give Dad a big hug. “It was great to see you,” I say.
“You take care of yourself, honey,” he says.
“I will.”
Dad smiles, and says, “I like him. We all do.”
“That’s good to hear,” I reply, laughing. “And I’m really glad ya’ll like him. I do, too.”
“I know you do, sweetie. It’s written all over your face,” he says, giving me another hug.
Alex walks back to us after speaking to the pilot and crew.
“Alex, it was good to meet you,” my Dad says, shaking Alex’s hand, giving him a hearty pat on the back. “You take care of her,” he says, nodding towards me.
“It was nice to meet you, too, sir. And I’ll take good care of her, I promise you that.”
We walk up the stairs. I turn around, give Dad a wave, and climb aboard the jet.
“I really like your family, Katherine. They’re good people,” Alex says, settling into his seat.
“I’m glad you like them.” Sitting across from Alex, I gaze at him. He has a faraway look in his eyes. “What is it?”
Alex blinks and looks at me, shaking his head. “Nothing. Just happy, that’s all.” He leans over giving me a peck on the lips.
We take off, the jet beginning its ascent into the Georgia sky. Alex opens his laptop, checking emails. I settle back into my seat and flip through a magazine. It was great to be back home in Georgia, but I missed London.
I realize, as we fly over Georgia, that London is where I belong. There’s been a shift. A change. The thought, first tiny, now has grown into the forefront of my mind. Alex is my home. London is where I belong.
“I’m glad to be going home,” I say to Alex. He turns and looks at me, his eyes soft and loving.
“Me, too, darling. Me, too.”
Chapter 42
Alex walks along Bond Street, a spring in his step, a light in his eyes. He carries in his hand a small plum colored gift bag with the name Asprey written across it in gold. Inside the bag is a little purple box with a purple ribbon tied around it. Inside the box is Katherine’s engagement ring.
They had been back in London for two weeks now, and Alex didn’t want to wait any longer. He knew Katherine was The One. He’d known all along, and their time together in Georgia only confirmed his feelings for her.
Upon returning home, Katherine had moved in with him. The idea of Katherine returning to her flat, especially after what had happened there, was out of the question for both of them.
He couldn’t wait to propose. The grand opening celebration of the London Cosmopolitan Hotel was to take place Friday night, in two days. Alex and Katherine would make their first public appearance together. Afterwards, he would whisk her away to the English countryside, back to his country home. And there he would propose to Katherine.
“Alex! Alex, over here!” the photographer screamed.
“Alex, turn left!!” another one shouted.
“Alex, who’s the beautiful blonde?!” still another paparazzi called out.
The photographers snapped away, capturing me and Alex, together, on the red carpet. It was our first public appearance together, and I felt like a deer caught in the headlights. And probably looked it, too. We continue to walk the red carpet, the flashing lights nearly blinding me.
Just smile, I thought.
“You look beautiful,” Alex murmurs in my ear.