Their Double Blessing

Chapter 9

George was happy to finally be ready to head home tonight. It was be daytime already in America but he would reach home in the evening. He was glad to have had a great trip. The investors were happy and everything was in great shape. There was no doubt that he could handle a new relationship and still be a billionaire businessman. As much as he loved Patricia, this was the life he was meant to live. He was never going to be the guy who left everything behind to become a baker or accountant to live with Patricia in her matchbook apartment.

Life had thrown him the perfect curveball by bringing his new soulmate at age forty. At first it seemed like horrible oversight. At the busiest time of life with the decision of an arranged marriage looming. Why would fate bring Patricia in his life then? Now he understood why. To keep him from choosing an empty life of convenience over one of true love and happiness. Plus, he was older and wiser with a readymade life for a family. He wasn’t exactly unable to in the past but now was an even better time than in the past.

It also gave him time to get over the loss of his past love. Yes he still missed her but in his twenties and early thirties, no woman could have handled that stage of mourning. If there was a soulmate during that time, he would have missed her a million times. That loss had changed so much and his parents feared he might not survive it. With Patricia in his life it felt like he lived for them to meet one day. That sounded unrealistic but then again there were so many things about their meeting that sounded like something out of a romance novel.

Though in that case he would probably have been more of a wealthy early thirties bad boy and Patricia a mid-twenties young woman coming to work at his father’s firm. A naive young lady looking for love in all the wrong places. Only to meet the baddest boy who had the key to her heart and so much more. The thought made him laugh out loud. Romance novels could have the funniest concepts for a story. But they were made as fantasies for their readers. An escape from reality that could be harder than anything fiction could cook up.

He hadn’t been able to get a hold of Patricia recently. At first he thought there might be issues with reception, that could happen when calling from abroad. He also tried Mary and only got voicemail. Seeking advice from Cynthia, she told him to wait. That trying too hard might look like stalking or desperation. Also that leaving three or four voice messages were two too many. He thought that was restraint but accepted the suggestions. The last thing he needed was for his girlfriend to see him as some kind weirdo calling her up repeatedly.

Instead he focused on what was going to happen once back in the States. Being away had really opened his eyes to what was missing in his life. Business would always be a part of him. It was in his blood to do what he did for a living. Many assumed that wealthy people just sat on their money, but it was hard work to stay in the top percentile. Sure, those of lower class worked hard for less. He never wanted to lose all his riches to toil like that. Over time he learned to be grateful to be part of a family that was steeped in generations of wealth.

Before Patricia it was much less burdensome to travel solo. There was no one to come home to so why not be a traveling billionaire. No downside existed. Work and the fun of luxury were his only companions. He always kept his group of friends small. After losing his first love, he wasn’t a great person to hang out with for a long time. He’d lost most of his more outgoing friends and never was the same. But he came around and adapted to the person who existed now. Better to be changed but alive instead of the same and in the grave.

Returning meant facing the fact that there needed to be a talk about the future. Up until this point he and Patricia were living in the now. Getting to know each other and moving forward in small doses, aside from the night in the penthouse where they took a huge leap. One he hoped she wouldn’t come to regret. After her hard past he wanted to keep things from getting too complicated. But their romance reminded him that love can be messy. They just had to learn how to navigate that and stay together. He’d come too far to lose her now.

Personally he was excited to see Patricia soon. Nervous too, but that was expected. Their lives had changed by a chance meeting and deciding to take the leap. One day he would be prepared to take another big step forward. An engagement was in the cards but he had to find the right time. What he knew for sure was not to serve anything too exotic at the reception. He doubted she was going to be a fan of blowfish. The furthest he was willing to go was caviar. Hopefully that would be less horrifying than veal or rabbit.

At the end of the day he hoped that they would be in it for the long haul. It seemed a waste if they fell to the wayside. He was determined not to let that happen. Patricia was willing to give her all and so was he. Both deserved happiness and sometimes you had to fight for it. Besides, if this tanked he would just remain a lifelong bachelor. After experiencing love like this there was no way he could bear going into an arranged marriage.

Cyntia walked in, grinning like a Cheshire Cat. Holding out a cell, he took it with a wary look on his face. That was never a look on her face before and it was a mixture of glee and terrifying. “I thought you were taking things slow but I guess my boss is a sly dog.”

He had no idea what was going on. Did they enter a new venture or find unexpected profits? Whatever it was he hoped it was worth seeing Cynthia acting so out of character. “Good afternoon, this is George Kent on the line.”

“Wow, is that how you sound during business?” Patricia responded on the other line.

George nearly jumped ten feet into the air. The last thing he’d planned was for Patricia to call back. Silly in retrospect since he left messages on both her and Mary’s phones. Now he understood why Cynthia thought that was overkill. If she was calling because of his over worrying that would be embarrassing. “Hi, I was trying to reach you earlier. Yes, there’s my work voice and my casual one. So, how have you been feeling since we last spoke?”

“I’m fine and yes those messages were a bit much. But I know you care and that means a lot,” Patricia said. “George I have some news that can’t wait. I told Cyntia first to get a gauge on your reaction. Sorry, but I was kind of nervous. She loves the second part but thinks the first half will be hard for you to handle. I want to start off by saying that I’m fine. The hospital has taken great care of me and I’m going home tomorrow after some rest and extra tests.”

George clutched the phone for dear life. His mind went back to the love he lost. Was there something wrong with Patricia? He couldn’t bear losing another lover. It would be better if Patricia dumped or cheated on him. The words wouldn’t come out as his throat started to close up. It had been years since he had a panic attack but knew the signs. Moving slowly he sat down with Cyntia watching over him. There had to be good news in this call somewhere. Why else would his publicist be so excited to hand him the phone.