beautifully broken:if i break 3(56)

Am I dreaming? After he releases me he does the same to Chris but Chris’ return embrace is genuine.

“Thanks, Dad,” he says almost beaming. Mrs. Scott appears in the doorway and soon everyone is hugging. I don’t know what to say or what to think. They’re happy so I should be happy. This could mean things are going to go really well, we deserve a break after everything. Chris deserves a break. Then my thoughts drift to… what happens after?





February 7, 2011





“I can’t say I’m not surprised, because nothing about you surprises me. But you successfully married and happy? I didn’t see that in your future. I am very proud of you,” Helen beams at me like a gold digger who’s just spotted a dying single billionaire.

“Why thank you mother. I knew you’d be proud,” I say, just as sarcastically.

“Even remembering your two month anniversary. I am very impressed,” she says, handing me the box with Lauren’s present in it.

“These are the Dorothy Shoes?” I ask, looking at the box. Helen has it wrapped in black paper with a big red bow.

“The correct name is limited edition Loubuitons,” she corrects me.

“The Dorothy shoes that fine ass Jessica Alba had on?” I ask.

“Yes Cal. The ‘Dorothy’ shoes,” she says dryly and takes a seat on my couch.

“Dex only remembered our anniversary because his assistant reminded him,” she chuckled.

“Well, I have to tell you, I know I don’t say it a lot but 'Thank you'. For everything,” I tell her with a shrug.

“You deserve to be happy Cal. I’m glad you’ve finally allowed yourself to be,” she says, patting my shoulder.

“Well I’ll be happy once you get the final okay on the meds,” I tell her, handing her my empty pill bottle. She hasn’t given me a refill, and won’t until she receives some final results.

“I’m headed to the team right after I leave here. Besides I better get going, before I ruin your surprise,” she says, standing from her seat.

“Let me know what Lauren says once she sees the shoes. I had trouble parting with them,” she says before I head out the door.

I look at the clock. Lauren won’t be expecting me for a while. I’ve worked out for two hours. I can’t wait until I get home and get see the look on her face when she sees them. Especially since I’m going to pretend not to remember what today is. Everything has been so fucking good. I’ve never been this happy in my whole life. I never thought I could feel like this about someone. I took all that I wanted out of life. Everything I have I had to take or fight for. With Lauren it’s not like that, for once the universe is cutting me a break. Me, the dark sheep, the prodigal son, happily married to a beautiful, amazing woman who loves me. Not for who she thinks I am or wants me to be, just me. There’s really no better feeling than that. I wouldn’t trade it for the world on a platter.



*



I knew she’d be pissed when she thought I forgot our anniversary. She’s so sexy when she’s pissed. It’s cute that she tried to hide that she was upset at first. She was obviously disappointed, but with a little prodding she let it out. I hate when she doesn’t say what she feels or tries to hide her emotions. I don’t want her to hide any part of herself from me. That’s why my favorite look on her face is right when she comes. You can’t hide that at all.

“You’re mad.” I sigh trying to keep from laughing as I put down my suitcase.

“No. Well, yeah, I am. I can give you a pass for forgetting our anniversary, even though it was only two months ago but if you think I’m going to give you a pass for every holiday because you think it’s ‘cliché' or 'arbitrary’...” she trails off as I pull out the shoes Helen had wrapped. I set the box on her lap and laugh at myself for the big cheesy grin that’s on my face.

“You were saying, Mrs. Scott?”

A huge grin spreads across her face and she rolls her eyes at me.

“You’re a jerk, you know that?” she jokes, untying the bow on the box.

I sit next to her and kiss her neck. She’s so careful taking it apart.

“Come on babe, tear into it!”

“Okay, okay. It’s just so pretty,” she squeals, removing the paper and when she sees the box she freezes. She looks over at me her eyes wide and bright.

“You didn’t!” she says excitedly. She opens the box to see a pair of Dorothy shoes she talked about for a week straight.

“Oh my gosh! Cal,” she says her eyes tearing up.

“Read the card,” I say pointing to it tucked in between the shoes. She picks it up.