The CEO's Rose

Langston’s POV

In the last few years, Langston Terrell had not considered himself a lucky man, but now he was feeling like the most fortunate human being in the world. He had lived to see his grandson getting married. That was a blessing that very few people ever got.

Ryan’s wedding was the first one that Langston had attended in years. He had stopped going by using his poor health as a reason. But the truth was that he had gotten sick and tired of all of the showing off that people did during their weddings. It had been boring in his youth and had gotten even more tedious the older he had grown.

For his grandson’s sake though, he had been prepared to endure all of that, but he had been pleasantly surprised. Rather than going for the extravagance that they could afford, the two of them had instead chosen something quieter. A small wedding that focused on the two of them showing their love instead of trying to show off for other people.

A wedding attended by only three guests. Langston was certain that tongues were wagging in their social circles. Some people choosing to believe it was the beginning of the end for the Terrells, yet he could not care less. He was far too busy enjoying himself for that.

His cane tapping lightly as he made his way back to the reception yurt Langston came to a stop at the door. For a moment he just watched the youngsters doing ridiculous dance moves, a part of him wishing that he were at least fifty years younger, so that he could join them.

Knowing that even attempting to do such a thing would result in him waking up in hospital, he contended himself with watching, laughing at the antics of the youth.

The parcel that he had gone to get wrapped in silk cloth and held under one arm, Langston began walking towards the small group.

Finally noticing his arrival, they stopped dancing, and turned their attention to him, the music smoothly cutting off.

"You’re back. Did you finish with the thing that you had gone to prepare?" Langston nodded at his grandson’s question.

"Indeed I have. There is still some business to attend to,"

***

"What business, grandfather?" Ryan asked.

Not answering his grandson, Langston instead gestured for the staff. They came out of the shadows, and in no time at all, the giant table was free of food and drink. Walking over to the cleared space, Langston carefully set his parcel down. Moving back to the youngsters, who were watching him with wide eyes, he held out his hand to the new bride.

When she slid his hand into his, he pulled placed a soft kiss there before looking her in the eyes.

"Vivian Terrell, I am honored to have you be a part of my family, and as such I would like to make it official," Finally realizing what he was alluding to, his grandson straightened.

"Grandfather," He said breathlessly, a big smile on his face.

"Vivian, we as the Terrells have a tradition that we honor every time a new family member joins us, be it through birth or marriage," Langston explained as they began walking towards his gift, everyone else following behind them.

After they had taken their seats, Langston began undoing the knot on the silk, and as it fell away, there came multiple gasps. It was a reaction that was only right given what they were all seeing.

"This it the Terrell family book," Langston explained.

It was a thing of beauty, so old the pages had long gone yellow. The cover, as well as the spine were not made of paper, instead they were made of wood.

From front to back there was a giant oak tree that had been done by hand. Each branch, every leaf, had all been carved there by skilled hands.

"I never actually thought that this existed," Mark breathed, and Langston ignored him.

Reaching into his inner pocket he pulled out yet another silk wrapping. This one held a long tube, and when he opened it, a paint brush as delicately decorated as the book was revealed.

Once again a member of staff materialized, and in her hands she held a small ceramic bowl filled with paint. Taking it, Langston held out the brush and the paint for Vivian.

"I drew in the branch myself all that you have to do is write your name there,"

With that Langston carefully opened up the old book, and even louder gasps followed.

With the book closed, it played games on the eyes. What looked to be multiple pages was actually just one giant page folded over and over.

Langston had no idea what the tough yet flexible material used to make it was, but it was proof of its high quality that it was still holding even after all of the years that the book had been in existence. In that single page, there was a tree that matched the one on the outside, it had multiple branches, many of which had long stopped being productive. But now a new name was about to be added to the branch that had come from Langston’s side. It would be right next to Ryan’s and with time, there would be more names going beneath theirs.

"I am truly honoured," Vivian said as she accepted the brush.

Instead of immediately writing, she took her time. Treating the book with the respect it deserved and reading the names of Terrells that she would never meet.

Langston’s heart hurt a little as he took in the names of the people that he had lost. Looking up, he caught his grandson wiping a tear, and he knew that he was not the only one affected.

They all watched as Vivian carefully wrote her name. The strange material of the book instantly absorbing the paint and drying it.

After closing the book with a soft thump, Langston turned back to Vivian.

"Welcome, Lady Terrell,"

"Welcome, Lady Terrell," The others echoed, and he reached out and settled his hand against her cheek.

Letting go, Langston began packing everything away again, his heart full in a way that it had not been in years.

Next to him was the key to the new branch of the Terrell family. With just her presence, the family was already stronger, and doing better than they had done in years. Hopefully, Langston would still be around, when they grew the tree again, this time with his great-grandbabies. He really hoped that he got to meet them.

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