Rena couldn't sleep that night. She sat in the bed thinking of everything that had transpired that day. The impact of the restaurant being sold was a blow she hadn't anticipated. When she arrived in Savannah she thought selling the restaurant was the ultimate solution. She didn't think of how it would affect anyone. She knew Clarissa was not in a condition to run it. She knew she wasn't going to do it and Ian running it wasn't a thought at that time. All she wanted to do was to get back to New York. Now, so much had changed.

The pain of this current regret was too much to bear. She was the one that planted that thought inside of Ian's mind to sell the restaurant. Clarissa was all right now and the problem was handled. She would always have her memories of what she and Blake shared together over the last few weeks. She would always remember the love that they had for each other. It was time for her to stop dreaming of what could happen between Blake and her. Waiting four months for Blake to figure things out had worn on her. She needed to get away from it all. With the restaurant being sold there was nothing to keep her in the place that was causing her pain. New York would be a welcome relief.

***

The next morning Ian and Rena went to the hospital to see Clarissa. They were very surprised to see her very calm. Ian was expecting the worst. "Mom, I'm so sorry. I didn't expect that this would put you in the hospital. I feel awful."

"Ian, I gave you power of attorney three years ago to take care of me. As much as I hate this situation, I'm going to trust that you did this in all of our best interests. When Eldred told me how much the offer was, I could understand why you did it. Certainly all of us will be better off financially."

"There was no other way, Mom."

"Are you going to tell me everything that led up to this?"

"I am, but not now."

Clarissa stretched out her hand to Rena. "Well, dear, I guess you're free now. New York is where you belong. I'm so glad we had this opportunity to be together again." Clarissa held back her tears. The last thing she wanted was for Rena to feel any worse than what she must have been feeling. She comforted Rena with a soft touch. "I will always be grateful for what we've had these last months. It's been wonderful. I so wished that things could've worked out for you and Blake."

Rena began tearing up.

"Don't cry. You can come home anytime you'd like."

"Mom, I've wasted so many years that we could've had together. I don't know if I can leave you now."

"Rena, nothing has been wasted. I got what I wanted, a successful, independent daughter. I wanted to make sure that my daughter wouldn't be stuck in that restaurant. My husband became everything that I dreamed he could be. I have you now and I'll have you forever. I want you to go back to New York and continue to make us all proud."

Ian turned to Rena. "You're going to get Blake back."

"How can you say that? I'm tired of hoping. I'm tired of wanting him. I need to get away from all of this."

"I know that some things are meant to be."

Rena stared at Ian. He looked resolute. His confidence almost made her want to hope again. She quickly shook the thought from her mind. Hope was too painful. "I'm going back to New York. I love you both and I'm going to miss you. I'm so glad we all had this time together."

"Come here, baby." Clarissa reached out and hugged Rena. "I've never been to New York. I think Christmas would be a good time to visit, don't you?"

Rena smiled. "That would be so nice. New York is beautiful at Christmas time."

Eldred knocked on the door. Ian took Rena by the hand. "We're just leaving."

"Don't let me run you off. I'm on break, so I'll be here a little while."

"No, we've really got to be going," said Rena, "are they going to let Mom out in time for you to make the trip tomorrow."

"I'm afraid not."

Clarissa sighed. "Darn it, Eldred."

Ian was so upset. Clarissa looked at him. "Don't you feel bad about this, Ian, because if I wasn't eavesdropping I wouldn't be in the hospital."

He kissed her on the cheek. "Okay, Mom."

Rena and Ian left the room. Eldred sat on the side of the bed and stroked Clarissa's hand. "We've tried so many times to make that cruise. I know you're disappointed, but we will plan it some other time. I was so worried about you yesterday. I'm glad you're okay."

"Eldred, I was really looking forward to going this time."

"So was I, but I want to do something that is more important." He lifted her face and gazed at the woman he loved, "I want you to put me out of my misery of being a single man."

"Eldred... Eldred, please... I can't..."

"No, Clarissa, I'm not going to let you off that easy. I had intended to propose on the cruise. When I saw you on that gurney yesterday, it was clearer than ever that this is the right thing to do. I don't know how much time we're going to have together, but I want you as my wife. We've been together six years. I'm not going anywhere. You are everything that I've wanted and need." He reached in his pocket and slid a ring on her finger. She was in tears.

"Clarissa, be with me."

"But, Eldred, I can't offer you children. I'm too old and too ill to adopt a baby. I don't want to deprive you of a family. I don't want you tied down to me when I can't take care of myself."

"Do you love me?"

"Yes, Eldred, with all my heart."

"Haven't we been good for each other?"

"Yes."

"Then let me just love you for the rest of your life. Let's enjoy all life has to offer right now, and forget about everything else. Nothing is going to change from what we're doing right now. We're together all the time. I love every minute of it. I want to take care of you. I want you officially mine. Marry me."

"Are you sure, Eldred?"

"If it weren't for your age would you ask me that question?"

"No, I wouldn't."

"I know what I'm dealing with and I want to deal with it. You're the only woman that I want in my life. Commit to me."

"Alright, Eldred. I'm going to do it. I'm going to marry you."

"You've made me a very happy man, Clarissa."

***

By the end of the week Rena was on a plane headed back to New York. It was the most difficult day of her life. Eldred and Clarissa dropped her off at the airport. Saying goodbye to her mother burned her heart. In a few hours she'd be back home. Her routine would be so busy that it would make it easier to forget the flame kindled between Blake and her. She wouldn't be the woman walking along the beach with her heart melting with Blake beside her; she'd be a polished businesswoman with no time for matters of the heart.

A few days later she returned to her office. Everyone was so welcoming and wanted to hear about Clarissa. She gave them a brief update, thanked them and then buried herself in work until she no longer felt pain. She didn't feel anything, she just worked. There was plenty of work to do.

***

Ian left the restaurant early that day so that he could stop by the park and make a private call to Courtney. He was so angry with her. She had been his friend and now she was his enemy. The deal that she worked with Ian was that restaurant was to be sold by the owner and that Mark Benet would handle the entire transaction keeping her in the clear.

"Rena's gone, so you got what you wanted, Courtney. As of this morning that deposit was not in our account."

"Be patient. That's a lot of money to transfer without it being noticed. I have to do it over a few days. I might manage all the buying and selling of my uncle's properties but you and I both know we can't draw attention to this transaction."

"I still can't believe that after all you've seen my family go through, you threatened to have your father call our loan and publicly humiliate our family. My mother was in the hospital because of this."

"I think you made the right decision, Ian. You kept the lid on how your family got into financial problems, you kept Blake's helping your family a private matter and you've left your family's reputation intact and are being generously paid for it."

"The Chicken and Waffle Inn belonged to my family and you had no right to take it away from us just because you wanted Rena to go back to New York."

He felt such an overwhelming swell of pride as the thought of the legacy of the restaurant entered into his mind, followed by an overwhelming grief that he had been forced to sell it just at a time when he felt most connected with it. Ian had been miserable about what he had to do.

"Blake said that is what she came here to do. He said she came to check on Clarissa and to sell the restaurant. Well, it's done. She got what she came here for and now I can move back to Savannah with Blake."

"I'm going to make you pay for this somehow."

"You don't understand the wrath of a woman scorned. I'm supposed to be married right now. I was happy with Blake. Then little Miss Sunshine comes down and disrupts everything I spent three years of my life building. Now I'm living out of a suitcase in Florida when my business is in Georgia. Rena was a threat to my relationship with Blake and now she's been removed."

"He's going to find out what you did."

"Well, it won't be by you, will it, Ian? That acceleration clause is pretty tight and until we go to closing I can still use it."

Her biting tone angered him even more. She might have the upper hand now, but Ian knew this battle was far from over. He had until closing to find a way out of this situation. More than any other time in his life he wanted to solely run the restaurant. He wanted the legacy to continue.

"Courtney, that earnest money deposit needs to be in my account by the end of the week. I don't care what you need to do to get it there."

"Or else what, Ian? You're really not in a position to do a whole lot. You'll have your money."

"I'll have it by the end of the week, Courtney."

Courtney didn't say anything more. She hung up the phone. Ian felt a guttural roar rip through his throat. Courtney had planned things out well. She used her uncle's company as the purchaser so that her name wouldn't be associated with the takeover. She pried enough out of Blake to find out that the restaurant was struggling to pay its hazard insurance due to the second mortgage and that's what she was going to use to accelerate the loan. Ian knew that a scandal would not benefit Clarissa's health and that's why he went along with the sell, but now watching her gloat made him even more determined to find a way out.

***

Two weeks passed. Eldred and Clarissa made an announcement of their engagement at the restaurant during the lunch crowd. A round of applause and well wishes from all their friends met the announcement. Clarissa was so happy and displayed her ring for all who wished to see it. Eldred sat with Mrs. Madison vicariously enjoying Clarissa's pleasure as she flitted about the room.

Mrs. Madison smiled, "I've never seen her this happy. You've done so well for her, Eldred."

"She was the one who saved me."

"I think you've saved each other."

Eldred turned to Mrs. Madison. His face was filled with pride, "You might be right on that one."

"When I look at you and Clarissa together I see what relationships should be like. The only thing that should matter is how much you love and care for each other. You've taken such good care of her. She's a lucky woman."

Avery walked across the room and joined them. "Eldred, I was hoping to see this day. How's Dr. Clark handling all this great news?"

Eldred laughed. "He's being my dad. He's happy for me, Avery. He's not going to get over the age gap. It's just not in his generation to do so. But he did tell me that he truly loves Clarissa and that he knows we'll be fine together."

"I think that's good."

"How are you and Ian doing?"

"I'll answer that one," piped up Mrs. Madison, "He's been in the doldrums. It seems like something has taken all the energy out of him. He looks depressed. I can't get a word out of Avery."

Eldred reached his hand across the table to Avery. "I think she should know."

"Know what?"

Avery sighed. "Mrs. Madison, you've got to promise not to say a word to anyone about this."

"I promise. What is it?"

"Ian sold the restaurant to an investor. He won't tell me everything that happened. I know it's got to be something bad. He told me to trust him. That's what I'm going to do."

Mrs. Madison was shocked. Her lip was trembling but she couldn't form a single word. She got up and walked away from the table for a few minutes and then came back. "This is unbelievable. Does it have anything to do with that man that came by here to see Ian?"

"Yes. His name is Mark Benet and he's from an investment company in Atlanta. Ian told him no several times. But something happened, and the next thing I know he took the offer. The offer was for $600,000."

"My Lord! How's Clarissa handling this?"

Eldred looked across the room at Clarissa. She was happy today. But since the news of the restaurant selling, she was emotionally everywhere. One day she'd be fine and think that Ian made the right decision. The next day she'd cry. "As well as can be expected. I do everything that I can to keep her calm. When she has those bad moments I scoop her up and take her somewhere to get her mind off of it. We both trust that Ian had a very good reason to do what he did. It's just hard to deal with her emotions."

"I knew that man was no good from the first day I saw him walk in this place. Poor Ian." Mrs. Madison walked around the table and put her arm around Avery. "How are you going to help him to ease his mind if he won't talk about it?"

"I will deal with him. I've been trying to give him some space. I'll get it out of him because he was dead set against selling the restaurant. That man must have threatened him."

"So you think there might be some foul play involved?" Eldred asked.

"There's got to be. He was so proud of himself for running the restaurant while Blake has been gone. He's been excited about implementing new and good changes. All of this is too abrupt."

"Get to the bottom of it, baby."

"I will, Mrs. Madison."

Eldred got up from his seat. "Excuse me ladies, Clarissa is motioning me to come over there."

"That's the mayor. We don't see him that often. It might be a good time to ask him to make a day of proclamation over everything Clarissa has done in this town through the restaurant. It surely would make a nice wedding gift."

"That's a good idea, Avery."

***

Avery loved the feel of Ian's hand holding hers as they took their evening walk. This was one of her favorite parts of their life together. She and Ian had become so much more than friends. They were great lovers, great companions and she was fascinated with him being Chloe's new dad. The distance that was between them because of what happened with the restaurant was really bothering her. She wanted Ian back. This sad side of him would never do.

"Ian, I know I told you I would trust you with this situation, but it's gone too far. You need to talk to me. I feel like we're miles apart."

He walked a long way in silence. She could see the frustration on his face. As much as she wanted to know what was behind the abrupt sell she didn't want to push him. Avery knew that patience was the best path. If he didn't talk tonight there would be another time. She stopped and held him. "I'm here for you whenever you're ready to deal with this."

"I'm so upset with myself." He kissed the top of her hair. "I can only imagine how badly this is hurting my mother."

"Ian, we all trust you."

"I don't deserve anyone's trust after what I've done."

"Don't say that." Avery tugged him along. "You were set to keep the restaurant. Something forced your hand."

"The problem is, had I not gotten the restaurant into debt none of this would have happened. So everything is my fault."

"What does that have to do with anything? We're recovering. We've been paying the loan. We've gotten everything reorganized. We have a few issues, but from where we've come from, we're in good shape. Why are you going back to that?"

"Mr. Benet is not the one who bought the restaurant."

"What?"

"You're going to need to sit down for this one. Let's find a seat." They walked to the nearest bench. "Courtney is behind the purchase. Mr. Benet's business is real. It belongs to Courtney's uncle. He's acting on her behalf so Blake won't find out."

Avery felt the pit of her stomach curl. She was dazed at the thought. "I can't believe this."

"Courtney is upset about living in Florida. She blames Rena for messing up her wedding plans. She wanted Rena back in New York and knew the best way to do that was to sell the restaurant."

"Oh, Ian."

"She threatened to have her father call our loan and vowed to publicly humiliate our family and tell everyone what I did and how I messed up our finances unless I sold the restaurant. She knows that we struggle with paying our insurance, and she was going to use that to get her father to accelerate the payout."

"This is unbelievable," Avery was so angry she didn't know what to do. She'd mapped out all kinds of reasons for Ian doing what he did. She never could possibly have imagined these circumstances. Ian and Courtney had always been close. "This is the worst kind of betrayal, Ian. I feel horrible for you right now."

"I have one thing in my favor. I made her agree to give us $300,000 in earnest money. I'm hoping to find some kind of way to make her forfeit at closing. I just don't know how."

"You've got to tell Blake."

"She says if I mention it to anyone that she is going to start a rumor campaign to smear our family image over my mishandling things. With Mom being ill, I can't allow that to happen. If she forfeits, it will be enough money to pay off the loan and we'll keep the restaurant."

"What do you mean when you say forfeit?"

"I have to find a way to get her to tear up the contract or not show up at closing."

"When is closing?"

"In two weeks."

"Has she given you the money?"

"She put half of it in the account. I told her I needed all of it by the end of the week."

Avery stood up. "We need to get back to the house. This is all going to work out. Don't give up on this Ian. We'll find a way."

To My Beloved Readers

I have really enjoyed you being a part of this story journey.  We have one more chapter left and it will be posted on Tuesday. If you really enjoyed Only You, please support by leaving a review in the comments section in the last chapter.  Tell me the impact that the book had on you.  For many of you that have written me, it was very stirring an caused you to reflect on life differently yet in a very good way. Some have even said that it caused them to love deeper.  Writers need all the support they can get and your words of encouragement keep us writing.

Thanks