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"Why is it too late? I don't think it is ever too late until you give up. In fact, Dad, I think you are the one who told me that." She looks sternly at me.
"I did, yes, but sometimes it is too late. I think I lost my chance with Gabi. Besides I have no idea where she even is now so I can't even get hold of her to say sorry or try and sort it out. She is not answering my messages or calls, and I don't really know what to do at this point." I say feeling frustrated all over again. I put the plate full of food on the coffee table and sit back on the sofa, sighing heavily.
"Dad, why didn't you just ask me?" She says.
"Ask you what, Bella?"
"I remembered where she said she was going. Remember I told you it was something about where she grew up? She went to her mom's house in her old townwhere she grew up." Bella is excited about the idea of being able to help me.
"Do you know the name of the town?" I ask, hope growing.
"Yup." She says proudly," and like, you have all the money in the world so obviously you know you have to go after her right? Otherwise, what is the point of being so rich?" She challenges me.
"I guess I do hey, so I really don't have any excuses anymore?" I find myself smiling. For the first time in days, I feel a little lighter and a little happier. Just the idea or possibility of seeing Gabi and talking to her has me filled with happiness.
"Nope, you don't. It will be just like all those fairy tales." She jumps up excited by the idea of me rushing off like Prince Charming to get the princess.
I get up and grab my laptop, bringing it back to the sofa. "OK, Bella, I guess you have to help me book tickets and stuff. I have some planning to do." I say, pulling her down onto the couch next to me. She claps her hands together. "Plus, you have to decide what you are going to wear, Dad. You have to see her for the first time looking your absolute best. You kind of look bad at the moment." She laughs.
"Hey, that's rude." I laugh back at her and run my hand through my hair.
I book a flight and a hotel. I want to leave tonight. I can't wait another moment, now that I know where she is, and I realize how heavy this feeling has been on me. I cannot wait a moment longer. I don't care if this is crazy or a huge risk. I at least know I have Bella's full blessing on this, and it is just up to me now to do the best I can.
I am going to go all out and make sure I do try my best.
I dial Matt's number. It rings once and then he answers.
"Matty," I say. "I need your help. Can you meet me right now?"
He chuckles. "A man on a mission? Of course, I can. Where are we going?"
I laugh nervously. "We are going to choose a ring," I confess, half expecting backlash.
"Yes." He shouts. "I knew this was coming. You have been moping around for days now. Iknewthis was coming." He cheers into the phone.
I give him the name of the jeweler and tell him I can be there in twenty minutes.
When I arrive, he is waiting outside, grinning from ear to ear.
He helps me pick out the most exquisite diamond ring. An elegant cut that will sit beautifully on Gabi's delicate finger. The gold band will compliment her skin tone and the two diamonds on either side of the giant one add to the sparkle. I wonder if perhaps the ring is too big and Matt laughs at me. "I thought you said you were going all in, man? The ring can never be too big." The man behind the counter laughs and agrees with him.
"I am, man. All in." I pay for the ring and choose a gorgeous velvet box in a rich blue that almost matches the color of her eyes. Slipping the box into my pocket I say, "Thank you for your help, Matthew." He pulls me into a hug, patting my back. "Good luck, brother." He says, smiling broadly.
I head back home.
Bella meets me at the door holding a suitcase of her own. I am about to try and explain to her that she can't come with me when she says, "I'm ready. I called Tessa and her mom said I can go and stay there for a few days. So, you don't even have to worry about me."
I smile down at her, then lift her into my arms. "You really are all grown up, aren't you. You barely even need me anymore. What am I going to do when you start telling me you want to move out and get your own place?" I tease her.
"Oh, whatever." She laughs. "Just hurry up and get your suitcase; you don't want to miss your flight."
"Wait, you have to tell me what you think of this," I say, putting her down and dropping to her height I take the ring from my pocket and hand her the box.
She screams. She jumps up and down and runs in a wide circle around me. "You are going to marry her?" she screams again.
"I am going to ask her," I say, trying to pry the box from her fingers.
She is smiling so broadly it is infectious and I find myself starting to grin like a maniac.
