by Liz Turner
Her hands shaking, Celeste accepted the roses and set them on the table beside her. Suddenly, she leaped up from her seat and threw her arms around William’s neck, sobbing. “I can’t believe this is happening,” she cried. “I’ve been dreaming of a day like this for so long. I just can’t believe it’s actually real!”
“I’m still having a hard time believing it myself,” William said, gently brushing her hair back with his fingers. “Your eyes are just as beautiful and bright as I remember.”
“And you’re just as sweet,” Celeste said. She stared at him for a moment longer and then furrowed her brow. “But how did you know I’d be here?”
“That would be the hooded figure pretending not to be eavesdropping from the booth behind us.” William nodded toward Maya.
The girl giggled awkwardly and then lowered her hood as she and Celeste turned to face each other.
“Maya?!” Celeste said.
“I may have overheard you talking to Miss Potter about him the other night…”
Celest looked at Dana. “And you roped her into it too?”
“Me, roped?” Dana waved her hand dismissively. “You know full well I don’t get roped into doing anything I had no intention of doing in the first place!”
“Yeah. It was a mutual effort,” Maya said. “She was gonna do it anyway, and I knew she’d need my help to figure out social media if she was gonna get anywhere with it.”
“Not only that,” William said, “but the two of them raised the funding for this entire trip. And they donated a large chunk to my mother’s medical bills too.”
The elation on Celeste’s face slowly faded, understanding dawning on her. “Oh my goodness! You’re the son of the woman they had the bake sale for last weekend… How’s your mother doing?”
“Unfortunately, she passed that very same day,” William said. “Perhaps God granted my mother her dying wish by sending these two angels to work miracles in her son’s life, just when I felt the most alone.”
“Miss Potter,” Maya said, nudging Dana with her elbow, “he just called us angels.”
“Well, he’s not wrong.” Dana winked.
“I’m sorry,” Celeste said, “I appreciate everything you’ve all done, I really do. And I understand this is a difficult time for you, but I have to know…”
“What is it?” William asked when Celeste’s voice trailed off.
“After all this time—why didn’t you look for me? I was sure you were dead, or a liar, or had no feelings for me at all. Why didn’t you ever look for me?”
William sighed. “Honestly, I thought I was protecting you and my mother,” he began. “The last day I saw you, I was called back home after my father drove my mother to insanity and it nearly killed her. I knew then that you deserved to find a man who wouldn’t have to run home and play mama’s boy every time his family did something dysfunctional. Someone as bright as you didn’t deserve to be forced into my family’s darkness.
“A few months passed, and I couldn’t stop thinking of you. I almost searched you out then, but not even ten minutes after considering it, my no-good father called me, asking for money. I changed my mind again, this time refusing to subject you to my family because I knew my father would feel no shame in doing the same to you. I never wanted my father to become a grandfather to any children of mine. I would have hated to see how he would’ve treated them. So I decided it was best I just stayed single.
“A few years later, I disowned my father entirely and started going by my mother’s maiden name. Once he was out of our lives, I thought I might finally build a life of my own—start a family and be happy. But my mother became completely dependent on me. She had lost her mind in most ways, and though I considered seeking you out again, I didn’t want you or my mother to feel I wasn’t supporting your needs. I was afraid that would make me just like my father…
“All this time, I’ve told myself that if I kept thinking of you, maybe you’d be drawn toward me and one day I’d happen to run into you at a mall, the beach, a coffee shop… I know how silly it sounds, but in my prayers most nights, I’d often try to make a deal with the Lord that if I happened to run into you, I’d take that as a sign from Him that I need to make a move.
“Eight years passed since then, and it never happened, of course. Just know that I never stopped thinking about you. I’d look out for you every time I went out—walking down the street, in the barber shop… Everywhere I went. Then, two weeks ago, I got a Facebook message from a woman I’d never met, asking if I knew you. They asked if I’d come here to surprise you, but I told them I didn’t have the money and that my mom was in her final weeks of life. Even though I couldn’t stop thinking about you and the offer, I knew it was unrealistic.
“But when I told my mother about the phone call, she seemed happier than I’d seen her in years. She told me I should go, even if it meant leaving her for a little while.” He paused and smiled sadly. “All she wanted was for me to bring her back a souvenir.
“That was the last time I heard my mother speak. The next morning, she stopped responding… I can’t help wondering if she stopped fighting death because she wanted me to live… A week later, I called to tell Maya and Miss Potter that my mother had passed, and that I finally understood that leaving you alone for all these years had been wrong. That’s when they told me that they’d arranged a bake sale for my family and had raised enough to calm all my fears.”
By this point, tears glistened in all four of their eyes and they sat in silence for a long while.
As brave as William’s words had been, Dana felt the intensity of his grief filling the air. She was no stranger to loss, in her old age.
What a rollercoaster the last week must have been for him, she thought.
“I know what it’s like to lose a parent too,” Celeste finally said, “and I’ll be here for you through it all.”
“Thank you,” William whispered. “I only wish I could’ve been there for you too.”
“Don’t worry. The last fifteen years have been lonely for me, but I still had my mom and some great friends who helped me through it. The hardest thing to deal with was just having no idea how to find you…And well—I couldn’t admit to you back then how I felt, so naturally, I didn’t talk to anyone else about it… My biggest regret was that I hadn’t even bothered to learn your last name before you disappeared that day…
“And I had my own things to deal with too. I lost my father and felt guilty for moving away from my mother around the same time I lost contact with you. I had some financial drama, and I’ve struggled here and there with depression. But after talking to Miss Potter about how I felt about you a few weeks ago, I realized I’d held all these emotions in for too long; the loneliness and regret was almost unbearable… I don’t know if it’s changed me from who I was then, but if you’ll let me, I’d like to find out together.”
“Of course,” William said softly. “But like you, there is one thing I’ve regretted not doing for the last fifteen years…”
William sat on the seat beside Celeste, put his arm around her shoulders, and kissed her delicately on the cheek. Without giving it a second thought, Celeste put her hand on his face and turned to kiss his lips. After gazing into each other’s eyes for a moment, they rested their foreheads together and smiled wide.
Maya provided a loud and exaggerated round of applause. “Woo!” she yelled. “About time!”
Dana shook her head and chuckled.
“What? I’m not allowed to be excited?” Maya said, grinning.
Laughing at Maya’s commentary, William stood and extended his hand to help Celeste to her feet. As William guided her up from the bench, Dana could practically see the sadness leaving both of them; Celeste no longer had a distant stare and William’s eyes had momentarily unclouded from their grief.
“This is exactly what I do this job for,” Dana whispered to Maya.
Maya smiled. “Thanks for letting me in on it.”
“Well, who
better for the job than a young and dedicated detective?” Dana nudged Maya’s shoulder and smirked.
“We’ll see about that.” Maya looked down at her hands.
Dana furrowed her brow. “Why? Did this experience make you change your mind about becoming a detective?”
“No…” Maya said, still staring at her hands. “It’s just that you’re the first person to ever believe in me like you have. What if I can’t do it?”
“You can. You have the skill set, the drive, and you learn quick,” Dana said. “There’s absolutely no reason you should give up on yourself! Just look at those two. It took them fifteen years to get where they are, all because they let fear and doubt get in the way, even when it was completely unwarranted. I don’t wanna see you go that same route, young lady.”
“Okay, I guess you’re probably right…”
“No, I am right.”
“Miss Potter, I have a confession.”
“And what’s that?”
“Everything I just said—everything I just did—it was all an act to get you to compliment me!” Maya laughed. “But before you react, let’s look at this like an evaluation, in case I need you as a reference one day. I used no lies, no unethical means, I didn’t do anything illegal… I think I did a pretty good job, don’t you?”
“You punk,” Dana said, laughing. “You’ve learned well!”
“Miss Potter, would you mind if I leave my truck parked in your driveway for the day?” William interjected, walking toward their table. “You see, this wonderful woman has just agreed to go on a date with me. She might even be able to show me around town the way I once did her.”
“She might.” Celeste smirked. “It sure would take me back to when we first met.”
“Sure,” Dana said. “Leave the truck for as long as you need. Have fun!”
Celeste giggled, and William extended his arm to her. As the couple headed for the door, Dana and Maya admired the peace and bliss of the moment. With sunlight spilling through the open door, the couple wrapped their arms around each other and disappeared into the light.
Dana was glad to see Maya’s first experience with detective work be so fulfilling.
“You know,” Maya sighed, “it’s good to see a happy ending every once in a while.”
“It sure is,” Dana agreed.
*** The End ***
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