by Alina Man
During my first week here I did a lot of thinking about all the things Taylor had done for me in the past. I tried to stay mad at her for as long as I could but in the end I was the bigger person who picked up the phone and called. We both cried like the babies that we are and she spent almost an hour trying to make me understand why they went behind my back. I can’t say I would’ve done the same for her but at the end of the day we both wanted the same thing: to be happy.
Sebastian continued to call every day, leaving messages and texting constantly. I missed him like crazy but couldn’t put behind the fact that he lied. The sun was slowly setting and I gathered my beach bag and book and walked back to the hotel. All I could think about right now was a cold shower and a nice dinner in bed in front of the television. Seconds after I arrived in my room there was a knock on the door. I opened and there stood one of the hotel staff holding a small gift bag.
“Miss, this arrived for you today.” I kept starring at the beautiful gold bag not willing to touch it. The young man waited a few second, eventually dropping the bag in my hand. I closed the door behind me and sat on the soft bed looking at the small gift as tears threaten to escape. Inside the bag there was a small car and a tiny square ring box. I opened the card and a sob escaped me as I read it:
“I am so sorry for what I did but not for loving you. You left without your gift. If you can forgive me I would love nothing more than to spend the rest of my life with you. I love you. Forever yours, Sebastian.”
I picked up the small box with unsteady hands and opened it slowly. Inside sat the most beautiful engagement ring I’ve ever seen and I couldn’t help but slip it on my finger. It fit perfectly. He fit perfectly in my life no matter how much I tried to deny it. He was the one that made my days brighter and always put a smile on my face.
I dial Taylor’s number and she answers on the first ring.
“Hello?” Oh God, I had a feeling I picked the wrong time to call. Judging by the heavy breathing it could only mean one thing.
“I’m so sorry. Call me back later.” I’m about to hang up when some strange noise stops me. I don’t know if it was a growl, or a snort but it sounded funny.
“You are so freaking hilarious. I was on the treadmill and the sad part is that I only walked for like ten minutes before I felt like dying. How do people find physical exercise fun?” The heavy breathing continues and I can’t stop laughing.
“Well I won’t keep you from your fun activity but I was wondering if you knew about some gift from Sebastian.” There was a small silence.
“Ok I swear I didn’t give it to him. He came in and explained the whole thing and while I told him I couldn’t give him the address, I said I would mail the gift to you. So I take it you received it?” “Yes and it is beautiful. What am I going to do Taylor? I mean it’s not like we’ve been together for months and this is the next step.”
“Well from the way he explained it, he wants to take things slow but in the same time wants you to know he is serious about the relationship. I say go for it girly. He loves you. When you left he was terrified that he lost you. He was miserable and drove me nuts with his phone calls trying to find out where you were. So to better answer your question, I think this is the guy for you.”
After talking to Taylor I suddenly felt so much better. While my relationship with Sebastian was not the traditional kind, it was perfect for me. I raised my left hand to better look at the beautiful ring and felt such a rush. I looked up his phone number and send a quick text: “Come to me”.
≈One year later≈
Waterfall, clear blue skies, birds chirping, fruity drink served in a carved pineapple, and soft sand, yet all I see is the beautiful man lying next to me. He draws little hearts on my back with his fingers, sending butterflies all over my body. We got married a week ago and I couldn’t think of a better spot for a honeymoon than the very place where all my dreams began.
There were still days when I wondered if all was a dream. It was like just yesterday I was sending him a text asking him to come to me. The next day I found him standing in the lobby, no luggage, looking tired but wonderfully sexy. No words were spoken but his kiss said it all. Everything around us disappeared; it was just the two of us. We spend the rest of my vacation locked in my room making up for the lost time but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
I turned around to lie on my back and immediately his lips found mine. After all these months it still felt new and exciting. This beautiful man wanted to make me happy for the rest of my life and I was going to let him. With one kiss (and thousands of phone calls) he unlocked my heart.
The End
Please enjoy two chapter of the upcoming novel Finding My Way Home, to be released May 31, 2013. For more information and some other fun stuff make sure to check out my facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Alina-Man/
Finding My Way Home
I.
Have you ever lost someone really dear to you? What did you feel? How did you go on? I sit in my rental car with the engine turned off, rain pounding on my windshield and I feel nothing. No cold, no pain, no fear, just numbness. Is it normal to feel so numb?
We just buried my grandma, my only real family, my best friend, my teacher, my confidant, my everything. We knew she was sick and had prepared for this for a while but I guess you’re never really ready to let go, are you? How can you be ready to let go of someone you love?
The mourners are all long gone and they will not be waiting for me at the house. It was one of the many promises I made to her; that we will not get together after the funeral to mourn her. She wanted us to remember the good times and continue life as if nothing had happened. A month ago she had a party at her house and invited all her friends and whatever little family we had to celebrate her life. Oh the looks on everyone’s face when she asked each and every one of them to say a few words about what they liked and didn’t like about her. Mrs. Burns almost had a heart attack when nana asked her to tell everyone what she will miss the most about her after she was gone.
Yup, that was my nana; always cracking jokes and making everyone feel good. She always said, “What do you have to be sad or angry about? Always remember that someone out there has it worse than you. You only live once my princess and you are the maker of your own destiny.” And then she would wink, pat my cheek and go back to her baking or her knitting.
Was she right about us being the makers of our own destiny? Because if she was, I really don’t know much about it, let me tell you. I really don’t. If I knew anything about making my own destiny, I would be able to sit here and say that my life turned out exactly how I expected, that I was happy beyond belief and madly in love. Instead I’m miserable, confused, and lonely. And let’s not forget full of regret; regrets mostly over not coming home more often after college, regrets of not spending more time with nana while she was here and not telling her more often that I loved her and I was grateful for everything she did for me.
The ringing coming from my purse brings me back to the present. It takes me a while to find it through all the mess I have in there but whoever is calling doesn’t mind waiting I guess, because the ringing doesn’t stop.
“Hello?” I ask, my voice is hoarse and unrecognizable.
“Hi babe,” the strange voice answers.
“Who is this?”
“Brenda it’s me, Joe.”
“Ohmygod Joe I’m so sorry. My mind is all over the place right now.”
“No worries. Listen I just called to find out if you’re flying back home today. Remember we have dinner plans?”
His indifference to my feelings should no longer surprise me, yet I can’t help feeling hurt.
“I’m sorry but I don’t think I will. Joe, I just buried my grandma and meeting your clients for dinner is the last thing on my mind right now.”
“I’m sorry dear, you’re right. Forget I asked. Do you need anything or is everything settled there?”
“No I’m good. I will be her
e for a few days to figure out what to do with the house but I should be home by the end of next week.”
I don’t even bother to say goodbye and hang up on him before I say something I’ll regret later. After all the years together this is all I get? With just that one phone call, I feel like I just woke up from a three year coma. Everything that my nana ever told me now all of the sudden makes sense.
I start the engine then take a long last look at her new home before driving away. The rain is thick and heavy. It reminds me of when I was little and she used to tell me that the angels were probably crying or doing laundry and that’s why there was water coming from the sky. At that age I never even consider questioning her theory and loved watching the rain from my bedroom window. I could stare at the sky for hours trying to see if I could catch a glimpse of an angel or two. It was a childish thing to do but it always put a smile on my face. Everywhere I look has a memory attached to it and in each and every one of them I see my nana, making the pain get deeper and deeper, pushing hard on top of my heart.
I try not to think about the phone call because today is not about him. For three years it’s been only about him, I’ve just been too blind to realize it. I pull in the old driveway of my grandparents’ house and turn off the engine but I can’t get myself to move out of the car. Maybe if I close my eyes and wait a minute or two, everything will go back to normal and I will wake up from this bad dream. If only life worked that way.
I grab my bag and dash for the front door trying to escape the large raindrops but still manage to get drenched from head to toe. The thin dress is soaked and pasted to my skin making me shiver as I fumble with the key. I open the door and walk into the large foyer I don’t know what to expect so I just sit there for a second and wait. I know I’m acting like a crazy person but I can’t help it. I feel like I’ve been abducted by aliens and I no longer have control of my body.
I drop my bag and leave the shoes behind by the door not wanting to make a mess on the shiny hardwood floors my nana was so proud of. She loved everything in this house and took really good care of it. She used to say that the way you keep your house can tell others what kind of person you are inside. I never really understood what that meant but I didn’t disagree with her either.
Every room in the house is still the same as it was before I left for college, like a time capsule waiting to be discovered, and I try to look for a sliver of proof that she’s gone yet I find none. It’s as if time stood still and I don’t think I want to move forward anyway. I just want to sit here and remember everything about her. I’m scared that if I let life go back to normal I will start to forget things, forget the smell of her perfume, the sound of her voice, the aroma of her cooking. So I sit still, my eyes closed, picturing her rolling out the dough for the noodles, smiling and telling me stories about her life before she moved to America.
The lights are no longer working and I use the light from my cell to find my way into the living room. I know there are candles somewhere there because she loved to light them on nights as this one. I light up the large pillar candle on the coffee table and immediately the room is immersed in warm gold colors. I shiver from the cold and say a small thank you prayer when I find the fireplace all set up and ready to be turned on. The room is fairly small and within minutes it starts to feel warmer. With my small luggage still in the car and the lights out in the house, I am forced to keep the damp dress on for now. I pull the big chair closer to the fire and wrap myself in the throw I find on the back of it and before I know it my eyes get heavy and I find myself drifting in and out of sleep before I’m surrounded by complete darkness.
I don’t know how long I’ve been asleep but the sky is dark and the fire in the fireplace is almost out. I get up and try to turn on the lights but nothing happens. There’s so much quiet around me making me uneasy and hearing things that are not there. Maybe this was a bad idea; me staying here all alone on the day of her burial. The loud knock on the door makes me jump out of my skin. I walk slowly towards the front to check the peephole but all I see is darkness.
“Hello? Anybody home,” a man’s voice asks from the other side of the door.
I push away from the door as I don’t recognize the voice. Maybe they’ll leave if I don’t say anything. I’m about to walk away when whoever is outside starts unlocking the door. Instantly panic takes over and I start looking around for anything that could be used as a weapon. The black large umbrella is the only thing I find by the door and I grab it with both hands, holding for dear life, ready to use it just as the door opens wide and a large figure makes its way inside.
“Stay right there, don’t come any closer,” I yell at the intruder.
“I won’t, just don’t hit me, ok? I’m a friend of Sonia’s.”
He turns on a small flashlight and pulls off the hat he’s wearing and I can see his face now. He looks kind of familiar I just can’t say where I’ve seen him before. I stare at him for a moment when it hits me.
“You were at the funeral, weren’t you,” I ask him but still keep the umbrella up high ready to make my move.
“Yes I was. I saw your car in the driveway and wanted to come by and make sure you’re ok. The lights have been out for a while because of the storm and usually they will stay out until morning.”
I don’t say anything and it looks like he is not planning to leave anytime soon. I’m about to ask him to do so but he just keeps on talking and I’m not sure what to do next because the alien that took over my body is obviously as confused as I am.
“I’m Noah by the way; I live across the street.”
I remember my grandma telling me about her neighbor, the one she wanted me to go out with in case things didn’t work out with Joe. Gosh nana, what were you thinking?
“I’m sorry, I’m being rude. I’m Brenda,” I finally say and put down the umbrella before offering my hand.
He takes it and gives it a small shake. “I know your name. I told you I’ll never forget it,” he says with a smile and makes me wonder just what exactly does he mean by that. His palms are callused, nothing like Joe’s, and immediately I wonder what kind of work he does. Let’s just hope he’s not some serial killer.
“Would you like some tea? That’s all I can manage without burning down the house,” I ask and instantly wonder if it was wise to have him in the house at this hour.
“Tea sounds great actually.”
We move together towards the kitchen and for some strange reason I feel very comfortable around this stranger. Not sure if this is the real me talking but for the first time tonight I feel ok. I put the kettle on the stove and start looking around for mugs, tea bags, and sugar and come up empty handed. I feel another pang in my heart for not paying more attention to the small things while she was alive. All the small things I took for granted and I could no longer have. The stranger points me in the right direction, more at home around the large kitchen than I ever was.
“You sure know your way around here,” I say sarcastically.
“I should since I spent a lot of time in this room, especially in the last few months,” he laughs and it brightens up his whole face.
As we wait for the tea to cool down a bit, I take a moment to really look at this intruder. He has really dark hair, longer than what I usually like, large eyes the color of dark chocolate surrounded by the most amazing set of eyelashes I’ve ever seen on a guy, and a beautiful mouth that seems to constantly smile. I guess he is good looking in a rugged way, not that I care. He lights up a few more candles and as I place the tea in front of him I notice the piercing in his eyebrow. I’ve never been a fan of piercings on a guy but for some reason it only adds to his appeal. He towers over me, with large broad shoulders, and the left side his neck has some type of tattoo peaking from his thermal shirt.
“I’m surprised you didn’t jump back on an airplane after the funeral. It’s been what, three years since you came back,” he says and stirs the tea around.
“How would you know w
hat? Are you like the attendance police? I didn’t know I had to report to you each time I came over to see her. I have a very busy schedule but I always managed to come see her and called every day,” I say defensively.
“Wow slow down princess, I didn’t mean anything by it. You know she missed you an awful lot, don’t you?”
“Yes I know she did, and don’t call me princess.”
Just that simple nickname brings back another memory of nana. It’s my seventh birthday and grandpa got me this life size princess doll, dressed in a long pink gown, beautiful tiara on a mass of curls, and shiny crystal clear sleepers on her tiny feet. I walk around the house with her tiara and talk with a fake English accent, ordering my nana and papa around like a real princess would. Those were the good simple times. When I didn’t know what the real world was like; when my only worry was that I wouldn’t get to have ice cream if I wasn’t good, and any kind of pain could be taken away with nana’s kisses. Noah places his cup back on the table, the noise making my memory nothing but a shadow flowing in the wind.
“Well thank you for the tea but I better go and let you get some sleep. There are some things I need to talk to you about but they can wait until tomorrow.”
“What kind of things?”
“Did Sonia tell you anything about a letter?”
“No she didn’t.”
“She left you a letter but not with me. She said that once you found it, you’ll need a friend more than ever; I swear those were her exact words. Kind of like a game, if you will. I had to promise her that I will follow all the rules and unfortunately I can’t give you more information. Not because I don’t want to, but I just don’t know much about it either.”