Page 79 of The Client
Confused, overwhelmed, and blinking back tears, I look between them. Rhys smiles and Eva hurries on. “Rhys got me an appointment with the best rheumatologist at Lurie Children’s next week. It’s one of the top ten pediatric cancer clinics in the U.S. People come from all over the world to see this doctor—she’s incredible.”
“Oh my God. Oh my God!”
I pull her into my arms again and squeeze as hard as I can. Locking eyes with Rhys over the top of my sister’s head, I mouth,thank you.
“And Rhys said we can live at his house,” she goes on, “at least for now, until you…”
Just then, the designer calls my name from up on the stage.
“Let’s give a big hand for Izabela Jasinski, our producer and event coordinator!”
Eva pushes me toward the stairs and I make my way into the glare of the lights, still in a daze. The designer kisses my cheek and hands me a bouquet of flowers, then retreats behind the curtains. I step up to the microphone, preparing to say a few words of thanks, when suddenly Rhys runs up onto the stage, a mischievous glint in his eyes.
“Um. Hi?” I say, right into the mic.
The audience laughs. So does Rhys, and then he pulls something from behind his back. It looks like…a cupcake? With a candle in it? Eva hisses his name, motions him to the end of the stage, and lights the candle for him, eliciting more laughter. Then Rhys turns back to me.
One eyebrow arches in amusement when he sees the question on my face.
“It’s my birthday candle. I want to make another wish,” he says.
I laugh. “But—your birthday was months ago.”
“The universe doesn’t care, does it? Is there a time limit on wishes, or—”
“No! Make your wish.”
He grins as he captures my gaze. “I wish for the woman I love—who I love more than anything—to come home.”
He blows out the candle and then eases down on one knee, setting the cupcake aside. From his jacket, he pulls out a black velvet box. All the breath goes out of me.
Rhys cracks the box open, lifting it toward me so I can see the sparkling diamond ring inside. Not that I could have possibly mistaken it for anything else. The stone is huge, oval shaped, and flanked by two pale pink baguette-shaped side stones. It’s the most beautiful ring I’ve ever seen.
“I know I’ve been out of touch the last couple months,” Rhys says, “but the truth of it is, I spent that whole time working to make sure that all your dreams would come true. Because you deserve nothing less. That doesn’t excuse all the mistakes I’ve made, and God knows I should have treated you better, but if you’ll give me the chance, I’d like to spend the rest of our lives making it up to you. Izabela Jasinski, of Zamosc, Poland—will you marry me?”
I’m not sure if I say yes as I throw myself into his arms, but the ring slips onto my finger and the gathered crowd erupts in applause, cheers, and whistles. I think Rhys’s mom cheers the loudest of all. Rhys lifts me up in his arms, spins me around, and then kisses me softly, searchingly, his lips searing hot on mine, my heart expanding like a rose in full bloom.
Maybe there’s such a thing as happy endings, after all.
30
IZABELA
“She’s goingto want to get a dog, you know.”
Softly closing the door to the guest room where Eva is sleeping, I smile as Rhys slips an arm around my shoulders and leads me down the long upstairs hallway, toward his room.
“Then we’ll get a dog,” Rhys says easily, like it’s the simplest thing in the world. “Who doesn’t love a new puppy?”
“Whoareyou?” I tease.
He kisses my temple. “A man in love.”
Warmth surges through me. “Remember to tell Mrs. Dunham that when she has to help clean up after all the messes.”
“I’ll be glad to,moja milosc,” he says.My love.
“What? Are you learning Polish now?” I gasp.
