by Cathy Johns
Hope for a miracle.
Taylor
They say good things comes to those who wait at least that’s what my Sunday school teacher taught me and this time, I can say her words were true because what I feel… I let my thoughts trail as I take her hand in my hand and palm it on top of my chest where my heart lies pounding like I’ve been running up Mt. Kenya, while my other hand wraps around her waist and I let her see all the emotion and the things she makes me feel right through my eyes as they search hers. The woman who has managed to crawl under my skin and straight to my heart and soul.
Everything about her feels right. She feels right in my arms even now as I hold her, moving us through the crowd like she was perfectly made for me and that’s why I can’t take things slow when it comes to her.
Gazing at her, I know I have what my heart has been looking for all these years, I know I’m ready to love her even when things seems to be moving way too fast.
Our eyes meet as we take the first dance, our bodies pressed together as we dance to the slow music that surrounds the hall that is holding the event, an event I couldn’t have pulled through on my own if it wasn’t for Cecilia who by the way happens to be having a good time as she dances with Leo. Ever since he represented her in court during her divorce a year ago, they’ve become close. Close enough to have me worried what kind of a game my brother is trying to play but the way he’s gazing at her makes me realize that that’s the same look I always have when I’m looking at Hope. I guess I’m not the only one who has found happiness, Leo has and God help me if he ever…
“Are you okay?” I turn to look at Hope, her brown eyes on mine and I see the concern in them.
“Now I am” I say truthfully.
I should be the one asking if she’s okay. Ever since I picked her up from her house this evening, she’s been looking all sad but trying to hide her pain in that smile we all know doesn’t reach her beautiful eyes. I know she has a lot going on in her life especially with her mom and I’m wondering if she had one of those episodes Hope had told me about. God, I want to take away her pain, I want to step in and help her but I can’t cross that line yet but it doesn’t mean I won’t be doing anything, actually, I’ll have to speak to some people and see how they can help. I want to see my woman happy, I want to see her smiling all the time because when I see her smile nothing else matters, only her and it will always be her.
We stay in tune dancing, taking my time to gaze into her eyes, mesmerized by her beauty and I want to hug the man above for bringing her my way. She’s here with me, in public and I can imagine the talk going around the social media will take a few days before it calms down that is if they don’t find some other juicy story to tell but I know they’ll want to dig into her past but whatever they say, I’ll be here, I’m not going anywhere.
“Have I told you how stunning you look tonight?” I ask smiling at her and I see her blush.
“Nope.” She giggles with that sound I want to hear for the rest of my life.
“You are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid my eyes on Hope. And this here, right now, you being in my arms feels like nothing I’ve ever experienced before and if you would let me…” I rub my thumb on her cheek my eyes never leaving hers. “I want to have much more with you.” I lay it all out.
I want more with her, I want to get to know her, share my life with her and do all those things that couples do. Go on holidays with her as I long for the day to end so I can go home to her. I want more with her just like I’m planning a future with her in my head. I said I’m not taking things slow and yes, this is not slow…
I see her give me that scrutinizing look that she usually gives me whenever I mention anything serious between us. She doesn’t realize how beautiful she is and any man especially the ones in this room would wish to have her in their arms. I need to show her what she does to me, how much she has changed my life ever since I saw her that night. I knew that was not her life and there must have been a story behind it all and I’m glad that she trusted me enough before she gave herself to me.
I’m her first and I hope to be her last. Scratch that. I’ll be her only man no matter what life throws at us, we’ll find a way to handle it all as it comes. I know I have my story to tell, the story that no one apart from those people I call family knows and right before me stands my future and I don’t doubt it for a minute.
“What?” I ask her.
“I don’t know how I got this lucky to have you walk in my life when you could have any woman like the one giving me the eye.” She raises a brow looking at someone behind me before giving me that heart stopping smile.
I sway us around and that’s when I see the woman she’s talking about. Leah. I didn’t know she would be here and neither am I interested since what I want is right here in my arms. I pretend not to have seen her as I sway us around again back to our previous position before kissing the woman I’m falling hard for. I know she knows why I’m kissing her because she’s laughing even when I’m swiping my wet tongue on her lips.
“Someone from your past?” she asks.
“An ex” I answer.
With that said, she kisses me hard and deep before breaking the kiss and gazing into my eyes. “I’m just glad she wasn’t patient enough to stick by your side.” Before I can respond, the song comes to an end and we have to take our seats. I lace our hands together and walk us to our table. I pull the chair for her and follow next as I take her hand in mine and link our fingers together before resting our hands on my thigh.
The MC who happens to be Sam starts the evening with a brief update on what the evening is all about and as I listen to him, I realize how fortunate these children are going to be. I’ve got everyone who’s always had my back here with me and I can’t wait to start this beautiful project. I’ve yet to meet them since the government and the CWA are working on it. I look forward to meeting all the twenty beautiful faces that will benefit from this and knowing that I have the woman next to me working alongside me, makes it all incredible and amazing at the same time and not to mention the many friends I have here tonight rescheduling their day for me, for this noble cause makes me speechless.
“And now, ladies and gentlemen the time that we’ve all been waiting for has come, this man needs no introduction, not that he’s all handsome but I can say he’s down to earth, very passionate about his work, the people who work for him call him the best boss. He’s very private but not anymore.
“Tonight, this young, aggressive, innovative and focused man who has managed to get me hooked to my phone making my life easy has gone a step further into making this world a better place and I can testify that that was one of those amazing times of my life. Last week we got to join him in the street cleaning and feeding the poor but I can say that’s about to change when you get to hear about his idea and how far he wants to take this initiative program that has seen him have many sleepless nights.
“May I now welcome the man who has managed to creep into my life, my best friend and my brother, Mr. Taylor Smith!” The crowd erupts, clapping their hands as I stand up but pause before I can take a step. I lean down and give Hope a heart-stopping kiss that leaves her breathless. I know what I’m doing, making a statement for all to see especially Hope. I want her to see that she’s all mine. The reason why there can never be another for me and in a room full of women whose fathers would like me to make their daughters my lifetime partner, I still choose her, and I would do it again and again. Over and over again and that I don’t have eyes for another and her lips will be all I’ll be able to taste as I say my speech.
I gaze down on her one more time before walking up to the podium, her taste lingering on my lips.
“I think you’re the one who crept into my life” I say to Sam jokingly. I would never trade my brothers for anything in this world. We may not be related by blood but they’ve stood by my side ever since the Smith family adopted me and made me one of their own. I gained their trust, their friendship, and t
his special bond we have where we’re no longer friends but brothers. I hug him tightly before taking the mic from him. “Thank you, Sam” I say before roaming my eyes around the room, smiling at everyone as my heart beats so loud that I can hear the blood being pumped all over my body. “I want to thank each and every one of you for finding time out of your busy schedules to fit this noble event in your calendars. This…” I start to say as I look around the room, emotions clogging my throat and I let my eyes land on the one person who has come to mean something… no, everything to me and I smile when I find her smiling at me and everything that I was feeling fades away, clearing my mind. I feel like she’s cheering me even when she has no idea of what I’m about to say.
“As few of you all know, I’m a man of few words that’s why I’m a Guru in the IT world where coding tends to be our language and concentration becomes our way of living. So, tonight, I won’t stand here and bore you all with my speech since I intend to make it short before I have you all yawning.” The crowd laughs. “I’ll just say a few words and let you all decide if you’ll have my back so we can make the world a better place.” I add before taking another look at my woman. Every time I do that it feels like I’m seeing her for the first time and yet I’ve managed to see her as often as I can since the first time I saw her. I clear my throat ignoring the hard on that is threatening to push against my tuxedo pants.
“This event means everything to me and it’s my way of saying thank you for the things I’ve been through in my life. I know how it feels to have nothing, to have no one come your way but I’m lucky or rather blessed to have my family.” I pause, my eyes searching for the woman who has been there since I was sixteen. “My family is here and I owe it all to them, to my mom, Patricia, for being patient with me, for making sure I was well fed, and the countless times she has kept me on the right track. I love you to the moon and back mom.” I wink at her as she blows me a kiss from where she’s seated next to Hope. “To my sister Rita, you need to forgive me baby girl for being one tough brother and for every man I’ve threatened to beat down if they thought they could take you for granted or even thinking of looking at you.” Rita has this smile on her face that I love seeing on her. She’s not a simple person to deal with and I can say that it took me longer to win her trust. She let me take the role of her big brother the minute she put her guard down. The world I grew up in wasn’t easy especially for young girls like her. They were a prey for any man who wanted to have their way with them, some fell into prostitution and others it was drugs and unplanned pregnancies. I wanted to be that brother who would protect his sister from this cruel world.
I was her protector.
“To my brother Leo, man no words I get to say today will ever come close to how indebted I am to you. You are what one would wish for in a big brother. Thank you for saving me, having my back, supporting me and above all, for being you, your generous heart as you go out of your way to support and help others. That my brother, means the world to me and I wish dad was here today to see the men we’ve become. If it wasn’t for you, God knows where I’d be right now.”
I take a moment to look at my brother as we share unspoken words between us, saying what no words can say with our eyes. I have a special bond with him and I know ever since he came back home he hasn’t been the same man I used to know. I don’t know what changed or what happened to him when he was a way and no matter how much I try to reach out to him, he shuts me down saying all is well.
“To Sam and Mark, I don’t know where I’d be without you guys. We’ve become inseparable even with our busy schedules and different careers, we still manage to see each other all the time. Your tremendous support only tells me that your hearts are as big as mine. Thank you for walking this journey with me.”
My emotions are everywhere, my eyes are wet and there are things I want the world to know about me but that’s not how I want Hope to find out about my past. I’ll have to work on my words and have this conversation later with her since I want her to know the man I am, withholding nothing.
“This night couldn’t have happened if I was the one in charge as you all know us men we need everything planned out for us and that includes what we’re going to eat because if allowed, some of us will live on fast food alone.” The crowd laughs. “God knows I couldn’t have pulled this one out on such a short notice and so I’m going to thank one special woman who has managed to keep my office in order for as long as I can remember. Not just my office, but my brothers too. Cecilia, you’ll always be our girl, the one woman who has managed to keep us on toes and I’m so lucky to have you in my life and still get to call you my friend.” With that said, she stands up and presses her hand on her chest, tears in her eyes and mouths, “thank you” to me.
I look around the room and my eyes land on Leah. I once thought I loved her and I almost said the words but now I can tell I never knew what love was until I met Hope. She has managed to turn me into this man I’ve come to love. She makes me so happy and complete.
“As some of you know, I managed to find myself one gorgeous woman who is capable of driving me insane but has stolen my heart.” I look at Hope. “I’m so lucky to have her in my life, to have her work alongside me in this noble cause.” She blows me a kiss, smiling as she wipes the tears in her eyes.
“Every month for the last few years, we’ve been holding a street cleaning event where we get out of our busy schedules, my brother forgets he’s the best lawyer in town, Mark forgets he’s the best in the construction world, the man who likes buying companies forgets that he doesn’t have to keep up with the stock market for a day and my company and I forget who we are as we get our hands dirty, keeping the purlieus clean and interact with the less-privileged, get to know about their needs, arrange medical camp where they get free medical check-up and the women from our offices cook and eat with them.
“We’ve come up with a plan on how to make their lives worth living where we can hire them to do farm work, feed the world as we raise their living standard. We’ll build affordable houses for them, pay them a decent salary that will see them taking their children to good schools and see them grow as a community and I can bet we’ll be eliminating problems that are about to happen when we don’t do this and when I say problems I mean, drugs, insecurity, and many more.” They all know what this world has turned into. If it’s not people killing each other, it’s our children joining the Al-Shabaab or God knows what.
“We need your support in all this and I know we’ll make a difference in every child who needs love, for every homeless child lying on the streets wishing and hoping for a miracle. For every family that has no idea where their next meal is going to come from.”
I fight the emotions and the tears threatening my eyes when I think of my past. When I used to live with my mother, the things she sacrificed so I could go to school, better my education even if we were forced to survive on a one day meal not sure if we’ll have something to eat for the next day.
“This is something personal to me because I know what it feels like not to have. I know it all too well and this means the world to my girlfriend, Hope.” I smile at her wishing I was there to wipe the tears running down her face. “Let’s make a difference for the less-fortunate, for children like the five-year-old Kelly who has no place to call home and no parents to protect her from this cruel world. Let’s make a difference in this world we’re living in. The world we want to call home for our future generation. Let’s all stand in the gap and make this world a better place for each one of us whether poor or rich.”
“Thank you.”
With that said, I walk down the podium as everybody stands up clapping their hands as I shake hands with people I never thought I would ever be possible to talk to. I can’t believe the faces I’m seeing here tonight. The CEO of one of the sort after housing developments in the country, a man who’s next to impossible to find or even schedule a meeting with because if he’s not in Mombasa bringing up hotels, then he’s out of the
country bringing up another project that will lock the world. Mr. Nicholas Garcia. The man owns the countless developments and seeing him here is such an honor.
I walk towards the man and I see a smile spreading across his face.
“Hello Sir” I say once I’m standing before him extending a hand.
“Hello to you too, Sir.” He says back.
“Please, call me Taylor” I say to him.
“And you can call me Nick.” He’s not an old man and I can tell he’s older than me by a few years, his jet-black hair is combed to the side with some stray strands falling on his forehead. His piercing blue eyes makes him look younger especially when he smiles, he has an intimidating look and his heavy built body suits him well.
“Such an honor to meet you, Nick. You’re a hard man to find.” I laugh. I guess my heart is doing its own dance since as much as I’m in my own social class, we have people like Nick who are in a totally different class of their own. Not only is the man filthy rich, he owns several companies and I believe Mark and Sam would be glad to meet him someday.
“The honor is all mine. When I saw the invitation on my desk this morning, I couldn’t resist. I had to reschedule everything so this can fit on my calendar and just like you, this event means more than words could ever tell but that’s a story for another day.” He says placing a hand on my one shoulder and squeezing lightly. “We live in a fucked-up world and I don’t envy our future generation but, we all need someone like you to push us so we can make a positive change to the world we’re living in.”
“I guess we have to start somewhere” I say to Nick.
“And you can bet that you have my support in this a hundred percent. I’ll let my office contact yours and see how we can go about it and take it from there.” Will his office contact mine?
Damn!
I want to hug the man already the minute he says those words and I still have countless hands to shake, people to talk to before I go in search of my girlfriend. Girlfriend? Did I even realize I had said that before when I was on the podium? Is she even ready to be my girlfriend?