Isaac

When Beth joins us at the hospital, I'm anxious to hear the results. I groan when I hear she lost out to Sophie.

"Really? The audience chose doggie clothes over an app that could transform education as we know it?" I say.

"Sophie won in the energy category, which means if you hadn't stepped in, she wouldn't have been a finalist," Beth reminds me.

"Right, er. Well good on her. I still think you should have won."

"Thanks, but I didn't have an adorable dog to model my app. The audience couldn't resist voting for Snickerdoodle, and it was a great product. So how's Gran?"

"Better. The doc thinks she can go home in a day or two, but she's going to have to take it easy. Gran's been asking for you."

"Good! I can't wait to see her."

I lead Beth into Mimi's room where the patient is sitting up in bed having her blood pressure taken. Her hair has been brushed and makeup applied. It warms my heart to see her looking so much better.

"Beth, my dear, you must sit by the bed and tell me all about it," Gran says with sparkling eyes.

With a smile as broad as mine, Beth does just that.

***

Two days later, I send Beth a note with two bits of instruction.

Be ready at 6:00 pm and wear red.

Picking her up promptly, I am blown away by how gorgeous she looks in her fitted red dress. I take her to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. As we walk toward the entrance, she looks at me knowingly. There's no way I'll be able to fool her about my intentions, and I don't really care. It's been more than ten years since we were here together, and the place will always be special to us.

We walk the beautiful gardens in peace, soaking in the beauty surrounding us.

"I can't help think how differently things might have been if we had stayed together these last ten years," I muse, squeezing her hand.

"Consider this," Beth says. "We became the people we became because of what we went through. If we had married young and sold Solaire, we would likely have traveled the world together. I imagine we would have had those kids we dreamed of. Would you have been too content with your life to have the drive to do your work in Africa?"

"It's possible I may not have," I admit. "I'd like to think I would have made it happen."

"And if I had been living abroad, my niece and nephew would have been at the mercy of their mother and grandfather. I would have felt their injustice, but would I have felt I could do something about it with my responsibilities to my husband and children? Would you have been okay with me tutoring my niece? Or would I be too busy traveling the world to even see her needs? Sometimes things don't fall into place in our lives because other things need to happen first, or other people need us first. I firmly believe that.

"So although there's a part of me that wishes things would have been different, I mostly believe things turned out exactly the way they needed to. Sometimes we have to grow separately before we can grow together. I can't imagine either of us will ever not appreciate what we have after being lonely for so long."

I kiss Beth again. It is such freedom to kiss her without any guilt.

"There is something else I wanted to talk to you about," Beth says.

"Uh-oh," I say.

"What?"

"You have a crease between your eyes," I say, rubbing my thumb over it softly. "It must be serious."

Beth nods, placing her hand over mine.

"It is. Aunt Alice is dear to me. I hope you will become friends, because I think you two would actually like each other if you gave each other a chance."

"I don't know about that," I say, looking down. The pain over her deeming me not good enough for her niece still stings. "It's hard to forgive her for breaking up our relationship."

"And it will be hard for her to admit she was wrong. Just try, for my sake, will you?"

I pull her to my side and kiss her forehead.

"For your sake, I'll try."

"Thank you," Beth says. Her smile is breathtaking.

I suppose it's time, but I'm nervous. After everything we've been through, I don't know how I could do this without being nervous.

"Are you happy, Beth?" I ask.

"Very," is her reply.

"I have something I want to say, but if you aren't ready, I need to know. This time, if it goes on, it stays on. My heart can't handle losing you again. I just can't—"

"Isaac?" Beth cuts me off.

"Yes?"

"Shut up and put the ring on my finger already."

I laugh and go down on one knee. I open the box with Mimi's precious pearl ring, the same ring I gave her all those years ago. My hands are shaking, betraying how nervous I am.

"Beth Marie Malcolm. Will you make me the happiest man in the world and marry me?"

"I will," she says as I slip the ring onto her finger. It is where it belongs and where it will stay. After all this time, divided by ocean and land, we have finally come together. It feels so amazing to know that Beth has once again agreed to be my wife, and this time I trust we will see it through.

For a moment, the vision of the future opens for me. I see Beth holding our beloved child in her arms, then handing her to Gran, who is the proudest great-grandmother in the world. The thought of bringing so much much happiness to the women I love and respect fills me with joy.

I stand and pull Beth to me to seal her mine with a kiss beyond human power to break. 

__________________

Show this story some love and hit that star please!

It was such a pleasure to write this chapter for you guys. After all of the difficulties and misunderstandings over the years, it's beautiful for Beth and Isaac to finally come to a place of understanding and love. I would love to hear your thoughts!

We are nearing the end now. Only one more chapter to go, can you believe it? Thank you so much for joining me on Beth's and Isaac's journey and for all your encouragement, advice, corrections, and care. It means so much to me. A girl couldn't ask for better readers!

I posted one of my favorite love songs up there - so perfect for our couple! Listen to it if you have a moment.

As a reminder once again, here's Beth's gorgeous engagement ring.

And here's the happy couple.

Dedication going out to several readers: KimTracey, WulanWoelan, ykaitot, ClemDucenas, violetlolipop, and sarahjanesmith408. Thank you so much for your support of RESTLESS HOPE. I appreciate you so much!