Flawlessly Executed (Dark Horse Guardians Book 3) (26 page)

Lara nodded, “Ben’s taking it hard. He tends to keep to himself, but there are moments when he’s different. There’s a sadness in his eyes. It’s as if there is nothing I can do to help.”

“How are you doing being here, with all of Hawk’s stuff? I know you were two peas in a pod, really close friends. I still can’t believe he’s…gone.” Monique’s voice broke off.

“Whenever I’m here, I feel like Hawk’s with me, sort of on my shoulder, listening to my complaints. After talking with him, everything would seem to make sense. He had that way about him.” Lara whispered. “I know it probably sounds strange, but I feel comfortable here, as if it’s where I belong.”

As Lara started eating her half of the sandwich, the two friends fell silent.

“So, enough dreary talk,” Lara started, “how’s your life going?”

Monique took a big bite of the tuna melt, “I enjoy the work very much. I can’t wait to get up in the morning and tackle the day. And, Bettencourt is so understanding and supportive.”

“Yeah, he’s a great guy. He’s crazy about you, in case you didn’t know.” Lara chuckled.

Monique smiled and wiped her lips with a napkin, “I never thought I’d meet anyone like him. He’s patient, understanding, helpful, and downright sexy. Everything I’ve always wanted in a man. And, he’s real, you know. He doesn’t have anything to prove. There’s a humble quality about him.”

“So...do you think this could be serious?” Lara held her breath waiting for the answer. For a moment she appreciated the pressure guys went through at such a moment.

“Yes, it’s
different
with him.  I feel like the world is perfect.  I look forward to seeing him every day. Just eating Fruit Loops in a bowl next to him is somehow improved.  He’s sweet and caring; and best of all he makes me laugh. Crazy, I know.” Monique blushed.

“You’re really in love with him. I know because that’s how I feel about Ben.  I’m happy for you, Monique.  You deserve someone like Randall Bettencourt and he is a super nice guy.  I couldn’t be happier for both of you.”

A sense of relief flooded over Lara, “I think a woman can sense when it’s right.”

Monique smiled, “Oh, I can’t imagine myself with anyone else. In fact, I don’t even think I’ve ever
been
in love before. I’ve dated other guys, but no one like Bettencourt. He’s one of a kind.”

As soon as Monique left the bungalow, Lara was on the phone with Bettencourt. “The coast is clear. Take her to that French restaurant Saturday night. I’ve made the reservation for you 7:00 PM. I will let the head waiter know you are going to propose. After you finish the meal, get down on one knee, hold the ring in your hand and ask her to marry you. I paid for the best French champagne to be served to your table.”

Bettencourt’s voice boomed back, “Really! Hot damn, thank you ma’am.” His voice sounded both relieved and enthused.

“Oh, and one more thing, Bett.” Lara said. “If you’ll allow me to help, I’d love you to have the wedding at Clearwater Farm in April and your honeymoon will be in a fantastic bungalow in the U.S. Virgin Islands, St. John, at no cost to you, of course.”

There was dead silence on the other end of the line. “Did you hear me, Bett?” Then she heard his voice, “Yes, I can’t believe you’d do all of this for me.”

Lara laughed, “What are friends for?” After she hung up a sense of satisfaction flooded over her. It was exciting to hear Bettencourt so happy and to see Monique’s eyes light up today saying she loved him. Monique loved him. That’s all that mattered. A little bit of faith in humanity was restored in her at that moment and she relished the feeling.

~ Bettencourt ~

The restaurant was dimly lit and romantic. He forgot to buy flowers but there were fresh flowers on the table, and he wondered if that counted. He hadn’t been in a dinner suit since he could remember. Beer and pizza joints were more his style, but tonight he wanted to treat Monique to a perfect French meal. Lara reserved a private corner table. Good deal. The coat check lady slipped Monique’s long wool coat off and put it away. Bettencourt put the token into his pocket.

The head waiter gushed over them as if they were someone special. Monique enjoyed the attention. A carafe of iced water was brought to the table and the server brought fresh warm French bread with butter. Monique was bubbly and talkative, but all Bettencourt could think about was
how beautiful she looked tonight
. Hell, she was beautiful all the time, even with gloves on cleaning the bathroom. Monique spoke French to the waiter and Bettencourt smiled. He loved it when she spoke French, it just added to her delicate feminine charm. What did she see in a big lug like him?

“I’m so happy tonight,” Monique smiled and sipped her water. She broke the French bread into tiny pieces and swirled it in the melted butter before slipping it between her lovely lips.

“I’m happy, too.” Bettencourt said awkwardly. Damn, all he could think of was giving her the ring, asking her to marry him. He wanted to hear her answer. He felt like a man at the gallows, waiting for the floor to fall away beneath him.

Without remembering Lara’s instructions, Bettencourt got out of his chair and down on one knee. Immediately he saw the sign in Monique’s eyes, a positive sign, and he asked the question, “Please, marry me?”

A cry escaped from her lips, a squeal of delight actually. Bettencourt sighed with relief. She grabbed the ring and put it onto her own finger. “Oh look ~ it fits perfectly! Yes, of course I’ll marry you!” Monique waved her hand in the air with the expensive cushion cut two-carat diamond surrounded by baguettes glimmering in the candlelight. The room erupted with applause and Bettencourt felt strange to be the center of attention.

Monique stood and he scrambled to his feet to kiss her. It wasn’t just a little kiss, it was a serious kiss, filled with fire and passion. When they sat back down all eyes in the room were upon them. Several people, total strangers, approached their table to view the ring and congratulate them. The sommelier delivered a perfect bottle of the finest French champagne.

Bettencourt never wanted to eat a meal so quickly. But, he sat back and relaxed his large frame in the upholstered chair. He wanted Monique to enjoy this night and remember it forever. He knew he would.

~ Lara ~

She had one more item on her to-do list and pulled her Mercedes into a large yard in Gorham Maine. She was about ten miles from Portland, and a tall lanky man in his mid-thirties met her in the driveway.

“Hi Seth, I’m Lara.” She said shaking his hand. He had strong hands like Hawk’s, hardened from years of physical work.

“Nice to meet you.” Seth’s eyes met hers and she instantly recognized him. He worked at the Henderson Property with Hawk when he installed the garden there, and he had worked at Clearwater Farm on her garden.

“I’m pleased you want to take this on,” Lara continued.

“He was a special guy, you know?” Seth spoke haltingly, “I loved him. We did rehab together and he changed my whole way of thinking. He made me realize I could do something with my life. I just had to believe in myself.”

Lara handed him a bill-of-lading with all of Hawk’s landscaping equipment listed on it.

“This is yours now. I see you’ve got a good sized barn there to store it.” She said.

“Yes, and I have another building out back. Plenty of room.” Seth whispered. “I don’t know how to thank you for this, Lara. I couldn’t get this equipment on my own. It would’ve taken me a lot of years.”

“Well, now you have it. And, I know Hawk would be happy about this. So, get Secret Gardens back into business. I have some projects I’ll send your way. But, it’s up to you now. Go for it, Seth!”

She climbed back into the Mercedes and rolled down the window, “Everything will be delivered to you on Monday, will you be here to sign for it?”

“Yes, ma’am.” Seth smiled and waved.

She touched the watch in her pocket and a feeling of warmth spread over her. “I know you would have wanted this,” she whispered, and pulled out of the driveway to go home.

~ Ben ~

“Hey Will, what’s up?” Ben spoke into the phone. “Mom said you could come for Christmas. Did she tell you yet?”

“Yes,” William said breathless with excitement. “She just told me last night. I can’t wait to come there, Dad and see the place, and Lara and Einstein. And, to be with you again, Dad.”

Ben listened to his eager voice and felt a pang of sadness mixed with exhilaration in his heart. His son was so happy to hear from him, so enthusiastic, he hoped the visit would meet his expectations. “So, tell me…what do you like? Egg nog? Apple pie? What are your favorite Christmas movies?”

“Lara has e-mailed me and we’ve texted a lot. She knows I hate egg nog and she knows everything I like to eat. Some of my favorite Christmas movies are her favorites, too!” William laughed.

Ben should have known that Lara would have this knowledge. She often read e-mails aloud to him from William and he wondered why he hadn’t paid more attention.
Too self-absorbed, he berated himself. I should know everything about my own kid and I know very little.
“Yes, Lara often reads your e-mails to me and I remember now, she told me you liked the movie Elf.”

William was smiling, Ben could tell by his voice, “Yes. Elf sort of reminds me of you and me, Dad. Buddy the Elf wants to be with his real father in the movie, but the father is not very nice to him. But in the end the father realizes what a great son he has. It’s super funny and I like it because it has a happy ending.”

Ben almost dropped the phone.
My child is more perceptive than I am
. But he regained composure and said, “Yeah, I like that movie, too. Sometimes fathers are just too wrapped up in their own problems to recognize they have a great kid. I like happy endings, too.”

“Hey, Dad, I’ll be out of school for Christmas break on December 19
th
and I don’t have to be back here until January 6
th
for classes,” William announced.

“Mom approved a week, and I don’t want to piss her off. So, I’ve set up your flights for December 20
th
with a return date of December 27
th
. That’s exactly seven days. I think she wants to spend New Year’s Eve with you.” Ben said, wishing he could’ve won the argument for a longer visit.

“Dad, I’ve got to go. My friend just showed up and we’re going to play a video game. It’s called “A Sense of Duty”, William said, “I’m a soldier and can do all kinds of neat things like kill bad guys. I’m getting pretty good at it.”

Ben almost choked on his ginger ale when he heard William talk about the video game. He’d have to check that out. He needed to know so much more about William and he had a lot of catching up to do. For the first time in years he found himself genuinely looking forward to Christmas, getting a tree, listening to music, having a real Christmas dinner, and best of all, being with Lara.

~ Lara ~

The first few weeks of December brought a few minor dustings of snow, but Lara looked forward to going to the bungalow every day. She found great solace in working on designs for the clientele of Stone and Associates, seeing Monique every day, and getting back into the swing with the contractors.

When alone at her workplace she often found herself pouring through Hawk’s book collection or wrapping herself in the denim jacket hanging in the entryway. She carried the pocket watch with her everywhere and sometimes used the timing mechanism to see how quickly she could perform a task or drive from point A to point B. Every time she touched it, she thought of Hawk. Not just the man, but the loyalty, attentiveness and support he always gave her, expecting nothing in return. She recognized that her grief was turning into a fond remembrance.

She sensed her husband was going through the same process but in a different way. He couldn’t bring himself to talk about Jake Wilson or the funeral. Although she noticed he had several articles of Jake’s clothing tucked away in his closet. When she looked in there once while vacuuming, she noticed Ben had Jake’s journal. She knew she was prying but couldn’t help reading the passages he had written the last few days before going on the mission. His words were those of a desperate man, deep in the clutches of depression, and she cried when she read them. She didn’t let Ben know. He seemed to have the memory of Jake tucked away in his heart, on a shelf, and when he felt strong enough she was certain he would touch the items and feel the same things she felt.

William would be arriving at Clearwater Farm soon and Lara looked forward to seeing him. She e-mailed or sent a text to him daily; he was always in her thoughts. And, she instinctively knew that William loved her. He didn’t have to say it. She knew he did. Her thoughts wandered back to Ben. She hoped it would be a good Christmas for him. It was important to have time together to be grateful and joyous. She invited her mother and Rusty over for Christmas dinner and imagined it would be wonderful.

She was busy sending out invitations for a pre-Christmas dinner party. She had thought about cooking but realized how that could be a disaster. Instead, she decided to employ a fantastic caterer and enjoy her guests. It was important to get to know the Dark Horse Guardians better, and to have Don and Olivia come over, and, of course, Uncle Harris, Bettencourt and Monique. She started to feel a little bit happy and feared the happiness for a moment, hoping it wouldn’t be jinxed with another unexpected tragedy.