Chapter 386: To Move On (Part 2).
The sun was playing with its rays on the damp earth. It was still a long way to spring, but the first attempts to warm the cold soil were taking place more and more often. So today was one of those days when winter receded for several hours, reminding of itself only with a cool wind.
"Frozen?" Rick saw Corey tuck her neck into the collar of her coat and let her hair down. "We can go back."
"No, it's okay. You need to be in the fresh air more often, it's healthier," the woman smiled and looked away.
When they were alone, she often looked away, while continuing the conversation. Rick didn't know if his gaze embarrassed her, but Corey deliberately kept her distance.
Over the past month, they have managed to talk about a lot, discuss what happened in the past, talk about their fears and doubts, resentments and pain. The first was more related to Rick, the second to Corey.
"How did the conversation with your father go?"
"Better than I thought, you know," Rick brushed off his overgrown bangs, which the wind immediately threw back on his forehead, "I promised that I would come to England in March. He said he prepared a birthday present for me. I still have no idea what we can talk to him about, considering that we have not seen each other for twenty years."
"Twenty years is a long time, Rick. You have changed, and so has he. You will find something to tell each other," Corey encouraged him.
"You're right," the man nodded.
When Marcus brought back his past life memories when he used to be Richard Steiner, Rick became indifferent to what his father lived. After the death of the boy's mother, for that man, alcohol was more important than his son. Rick Lawrence died beaten to death on a London street at the age of thirteen. And all the years after, Rick did not make himself felt, preferring to erase the existence of his own father from life, as if he did not exist.
Therefore, he was very surprised when he came to his senses in the clinic and found out that his father had repeatedly tried to contact him to find out if Rick was his missing son or not.
After the disappearance of his only child, Mr. Lawrence began to drink even stronger until he was admitted to the hospital with a heart attack. Long months of rehabilitation, debts, and loans brought the man to the brink, where he had to make a choice - say goodbye to life or pull himself together.
He chose the latter as a token of punishment for his weaknesses and for the fact that these weaknesses took the life of his son. Young Rick's body was never found, but rumors circulated around town that someone had seen a crowd of boys beating some boy.
It took Mr. Lawrence more than ten years to pay off all his debts, find a stable job, and cut all ties with worthless alcoholic friends.
Once on TV, he saw a stylish man whose facial features were so similar to his son. It was a broadcast from the White House. Mr. Lawrence did not listen to what the talk was about. He only remembered the name of this man - Rick Stein - the same as his son's.
He tried many times to contact Rick, but the management of MarcTechnologies did not give access to the personal data of their employees. Only when after the new year the company changed its management team and it came under the control of Lenali Enterprise, Mr. Lawrence was able to find out about the man named Rick Stein and contact him.
"I am glad that you and your father can discuss your past and let it go. It will become easier for him and you to move on. Otherwise, the burden of the past can drag on for the rest of our lives, even if we pretend not to notice it," the woman walked forward and stopped.
"Corey, I-" She turned around, and Rick fell silent in mid-sentence. One look into her eyes was enough for him to understand what she was about to say.
Her eyes were the same sky blue as when they first met, but this look was different. Before him was not a girl head over heels in love, but a confident young woman who made a decision and knew what she wanted.
"Six years ago… six years ago, when I found out that you were dead, I blamed myself for it," Corey's lips trembled as she took a deep breath and continued, "I thought I didn't love you enough. That I was not enough to make you want to change and give up your destructive ideas. Your past turned out to be stronger than our future. I couldn't prove you otherwise. It was my fault."
"Shhh, don't cry," Rick held the woman close to him, ran his fingers through her hair, stroked her head, "Don't cry, I don't want you to cry because of me. Enough. It's not your fault, I was the complete jerk for not appreciating you properly."
Corey buried her nose in the man's chest, her fingers tightened on the warm sweater on his back, "I loved you so much, Rick. So much. At first sight. You were my first in everything. I dreamed that we would have a big house, many children, and we would be together until we grow old."
"I know, my girl. I know..." Rick lowered his head and touched his lips to her wet cheek, "You are the best thing in my life, Corey Williams. You are the light that did not allow me to drown in my own darkness," he left a light kiss in the corner of her lips, "You gave me a personal sun, our Ashley. If anyone is to blame for something, it is only me. Do not blame yourself."
Rick put his hands around the woman's face and lifted it, brushed the tears from her cheeks with his thumbs, "I'm alive now only because you were there all this time. So, if it becomes easier for you, know that you have done more than enough. Your existence in the world is enough for me to want to live, Corey Williams."
"Rick…," tears came again in the woman's eyes.
The man smiled gently. He so wanted to kiss her, but he could not. "Do you think I don't notice how you look at the door of the ward every time someone turns the knob? Or staring at the phone, waiting for a call or message? That you are next to me, but your thoughts are about another person?"
Corey lowered her eyes, a slight laugh escaped from Rick's lips, "If I'm really able to let go of my past, then you don't need to worry about it. You are completely free, my beautiful bird. Spread your wings and fly wherever your heart calls you."
The woman sniffled, her cheeks flushed, "Thank you."
"Thank you for Ashley. You have no idea what that means to me, Corey," Rick scratched the tip of his nose in embarrassment, "I have a request. It will sound arrogant on my part, and maybe I don't deserve it, but ... how can I put it ...," the man exhaled and closed his eyes, "Do you mind if Ashley carries my last name?"
"Stein?" Corey was surprised.
"No, my real name. Lawrence."
Corey looked up at Rick, light bangs fell on his forehead, the wind ruffled his hair. He looked like a mischievous boy, the one she met as a child when she was lost in an unknown city.
"Of course, Riri. I don't mind," she smiled broadly, feeling the warmth spreading through her heart and filling the voids that had existed for several years. How the heart becomes whole again, ready to beat for someone else.
Rick's gaze froze on the woman's lips, his hands squeezing her waist, not wanting to let go, "I love you, Corey."
Corey's smile wavered for a second, but she didn't look away, "I love you too, Rick Lawrence."
"But not like I do you."
"Yes, not like that," she added in a whisper. Her embrace loosened and Corey took a step back.
Rick nodded, accepting the woman's answer, took her hand in his palms. It was cold, and he wanted to hold Corey's hands in his hands a little longer, to warm them a little more, "Since it is highly unlikely that I'm going to be the father of your future child, how about making me his godfather?" he winked playfully.
Corey giggled, released her hand from Rick's, and buttoned her coat, "Interesting proposal. But are you sure what you're signing up for? I'll make you make up for all my sleepless nights with Ashley."
"I'm ready to take risks," Rick broke into his trademark smile, to which Corey could not help smiling back.
"Okay, I'll think about your proposal. Are you going?"
"Go first. I'll be back a little later."
They gazed into each other's eyes in silence for a few seconds, after which Corey turned away, "Don't stay here for too long or you'll get sick again."
"Yes, ma'am," Rick nodded and remained standing still, not looking at his leaving woman.
Weekly Power Status
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Ranking 
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