The Improbable

by Tiara James

  Weeks but I surely hope you’re doing better than the

  Last time I saw you. So you know, this past month has

  Been tremendously difficult for me. I feel as if I need to get

  Away to start a new chapter in my life so that I can be happy

  Again. This is nothing against you, if things were to go my way

  I would still be with you but I know that you’re dealing with issues

  Of your own. Today, I am scheduled to leave on a plane to a new

  Destination where I will start with a clean slate. I will miss you dearly

  As you know you’re the absolute love of my life. I never wanted things

  Between us to end this way as I wish I could have your input on

  My new journey and hear all that you’d have to say about it. However

  Even though I didn’t discuss it with you, I know you’d be proud of me and

  Wish me well. I wish you nothing but the best and I want you to know

  The love between us will never die no matter how long we’re apart.

  I will never forget you my love. I hope you do the same.

  Forever yours,

  Eva-Marie

  It felt as if someone had cut off my oxygen supply. My eyes had doubled in size, my heart rate doubled in pace, and I was now standing up staring at the letter on my desk in complete and utter shock. I shook my head slowly and scanned over the letter once more. No! It couldn’t be true! I looked around frantically, desperate to know what I could do in such a situation.

  “Sir, I told you I’m going to have to check and see if you have –” My secretary’s voice sounded worried as she argued with someone outside my door.

  “I said I’m his best friend I don’t need your permission, lady!” Timmy yelled at her and barged into my office.

  She looked to me with a helpless expression. “I tried to –”

  I held my hand up. “It’s fine.” I nearly blew up on her because I didn’t know how else to express my anger.

  “I told you,” Timmy smiled tightly at her before slamming the door in her face. We caught sight of each other and stared with confused looks on our faces. He looked as if he’d just got done running across the country and I’m sure he was wondering why I was damn near hyperventilating.

  I began to grow angry. His girlfriend was best friends with Eva and he was going to act like he didn’t know Eva was leaving? “Did you know? Did you!” I shouted, picking up the letter and throwing it back down on the table.

  “Know what?” Timmy’s eyebrows furrowed and he held his hands up defensively.

  “That Eva’s leaving town! I just read the letter!” I exclaimed.

  His eyes widened. “That’s what I just raced across town to tell you! Kate only told me this morning!”

  I shook my head, “No! I have to get to her, I’m not letting her go! When does her plane leave?”

  Timmy looked down to check his watch quickly. “About forty-five minutes. We still have time brother, I’m here to help you.”

  “Get me to the airport. Now.” I growled.

  After making sure I had absolutely everything I needed from my office, Timmy and I bounded to the elevator and bolted through the lobby. I threw Timmy the keys to my car, trusting him to weave through traffic at record speed better than myself. With every passing minute it felt as if I was dying because I feared I wouldn’t make it in time. I couldn’t let her go. I wanted her in my life forever! I wasn’t quite sure if my plan was going to work but she was worth the try. She was worth everything. Timmy was quiet and focused with his mouth pressed into a straight line as he artistically maneuvered his way through the other cars on the road. I nearly fainted when we ran into traffic on the interstate. You’re not going to make it, a negative voice in my head told me over and over. I refused to believe it. I had made it too far to give up and let go! I would do every single thing in my power to intercept Eva-Marie from the plane that was going to only-God-knows-where.

  “It’s right off of this next exit, brother. You’re going to make it. Trust me.” Timmy assured me.

  His words only calmed me down slightly. It had been at least twenty minutes, she had to be on the plane at that point! I nervously pushed my hair back and looked around at the stationary traffic. Timmy noticed me about to die in the passenger seat.

  “You’d better be glad you’re a cop,” Timmy shook his head and looked around nervously. He turned out of traffic and began driving along the shoulder of the highway! I checked my watch and saw that we still had about ten minutes but it only felt like two! I patted my pocket to make sure I still had what I needed. Finally, we took the exit and were immediately introduced to the bustling lanes of the airport. Numerous cars honked and yelled at Timmy as he cut across the lanes to get close to the curb.

  “Look out for any signs of her,” He told me.

  And so I did, I kept my eyes peeled, looking through the faces on the inside and outside of the building. Face after face, I saw no one that indicated she was there. Not her mother. No Kate. No Yvonne. No Sarah. No Rita. No one. A part of me dreaded the thought of being too late. I was getting fed up easily, time was not on my side!

  “Just pull over, I’ll get out and go inside.” I snapped at Timmy.

  Timmy parked the car on the curb. “I’m coming with you.”

  It felt good to be on my feet; sitting in the car made it feel as if I wasn’t doing all I could do to get to her! Now, it was time to make sure she didn’t make that flight! Timmy and I burst through the doors of the airport and looked around.

  “You see anybody?” I asked.

  “Uh,” Timmy whirled around. “Down there! There’s Kate!”

  We dashed down to Eva’s group of friends who were all gathered around Mary. “Where is she?” I asked immediately, ignoring their gasps.

  “Oh my God,” Mary covered her mouth in awe.

  “You’re only seconds late.” Kate sighed and shook her head. “We just finished arguin’ with the check-in clerk who wanted to pull the negro card on Eva-Marie. All was well after I told her my daddy had a part in this airline. Any who, you just missed her. She’s on her way down to the gate...I’m sorry, David.” She looked at me with an expression full of pity.

  “How long ago?” I demanded.

  “Only about two minutes.” Kate told me.

  “You still have time,” Mary put her hand on my shoulder and looked me in the eye. She nodded, “Go.”

  Feeling as if I had her blessing, I took off toward the stairs. I didn’t know if I they were all following. I didn’t know if I would make it in time. I didn’t know if Eva would want to speak to me.

  All I knew was that I was doing everything I could to get my Eva-Marie back.

  41. Just Like a Dream

  I was officially on my own.

  After I had said my goodbyes to my mother and best friends, I was off to the gate all by myself. When I arrived at my gate, they instructed me to wait and for that I was thankful, I needed time to get my thoughts together. I was nervous, oh Lord I was so nervous! Such a big part of me wanted to turn around and run into my mother’s arms and tell her I’m not ready to go off to live on my own and leave her and daddy behind. Yet, I knew that life wasn’t meant to be lived going backward. So forward I was going to go. I looked out the window at the planes and sighed.

  “Last boarding call for flight 260 to Montreal.” A voice announced.

  My heart dropped to my stomach. It was time to go! I exhaled loudly, trying to ease my nerves, and stood up to gather my bags. Looking around the airport, I smiled to myself. Goodbye Illinois. Goodbye family and friends. Goodbye David. Until next time.

  “Passport and boarding pass please,” The gate agent held out her hand.

  I handed her the papers.

  “Enjoy the flight,” she smiled tightly as she handed them back to me.

  “Thank you,” I nodded at her and began to make my way toward the plane. My heart ached, I felt like I was leaving so m
uch behind. Are you really making the right decision? I thought to myself. Why did I have to pick that moment to second guess my decisions!

  “Eva!” I heard a voice in the far distance call.

  My eyebrows furrowed and I paused abruptly. Was that…? It couldn’t be. There was no way it was him. I believed my mind was playing tricks on me to get me to stay. I have to go, I forced myself to turn around and keep walking.

  “Eva!” The voice shouted again.

  In that moment I knew my mind wasn’t fooling me. It was really him. It had to be! “David,” I breathed.

  Looking toward the plane and back toward the gate, I thought maybe going backward just that once would be worth it. I dropped my bags and bolted back toward where I had just came from. Where was he?

  “David!” I called, looking around frantically.

  “Eva!” His voice came from somewhere behind me.

  Instantaneously I ran toward the sound of his voice. I was full-on sprinting throughout the airport not caring about who I bumped into in the process, all I cared about was getting to David! I pushed myself to run faster as I desperately searched for his face in the crowd of moving people.

  “David!” I cried.

  Once I spotted him running toward me with just as much need in his stride, my eyes didn’t let go of him. Not once. We closed the remaining distance between us and embraced each other tightly like we’d hold on forever! I locked my arms around his neck and he held onto me. As soon as my body came in contact with his, it was as if I could breathe again. I closed my eyes as I breathed in the scent I thought I would never smell again. As his strong arms held onto me, I savored the feeling and remembered when I thought I’d never feel safe in anyone’s arms again. David planted kisses on my forehead and on my cheek before pulling me back to get a look at my face and bringing me in for an eager kiss on the lips.

  “Oh David, I missed you so much.” I breathed, looking at him with wide eyes.

  “I’m so glad I caught you. I couldn’t let you go.” He said, out of breath and looking at me with worried eyes.

  “I’m glad you caught me too,” I said in a quiet voice.

  “I called, I showed up at your door and I got nothing. Then today I finally get your letter in the mail…telling me you’re leaving!” He said in disbelief.

  “I had to do it for me…I thought you’d never come back, David.” I told him.

  David shook his head and set me down. “I told you, I’d never give up on you. I meant that.”

  “I’d never give up on you either and you know that. I told you what we have would never die.” I assured him.

  “And I plan on making that statement even truer today.” He said.

  I furrowed my eyebrows. “You’ve got me. I’m staying, David what do you mean?”

  “Eva, in these weeks without you I only made it harder on myself by turning down your support. Even back when we first met I found it hard to think, I found it hard to function without you. This time apart has only made it clear that I need you in my life. It’s not possible for me to live without you, that’d make as much sense as the world trying to survive without the sun. It simply just….can’t…happen.” He was looking at me with awe in his eyes.

  I smiled giddily like a little girl and looked down, extremely flattered by his words. “I feel the same without you.”

  “Eva, the love between us,” He shook his head. “It’s stronger than anything I’ve ever felt before. It was strong enough for us to take a chance and go against society’s rules. It was strong enough for us to go against our own parents. It was strong enough for us to see past each other’s faults. And now, I’m hoping – I’m praying – it’s strong enough to last for a lifetime…and even past the day we die.” David knelt down on one knee and presented a small white box from his pocket.

  My heart dropped to my stomach. I heard the gasps and squeals of my friends and my mother who had just caught up. The moment was surreal, I had to blink multiple times to make sure I wasn’t dreaming! “What’re you saying, David?” I asked in a small voice.

  A grand smile graced his handsome face. “Eva-Marie Noel Hutchinson, I’m asking if you would want to spend the rest of your life with me. Will you marry me?”

  The words dancing off of his tongue sounded as if they’d come straight from heaven! A lump formed in my throat resulting in me only being able to nod my head and croak the words, “Of course I will.”

  David opened the box, revealing a beautiful, glistening ring. He took my hand and slid the ring on my finger.

  I covered my mouth, trying not to burst out sobbing even though I had tears running down my cheeks! The tears weren’t falling because I was sad, my tears were the product of the pure joy my body was radiating with! David and I had come a truly long way and no matter what had come up against us, it was heartwarming to know that we’d overcome it all.

  David rose and planted a soft kiss on my lips before picking me up and spinning me around. “You don’t know how much you mean to me,” He said against my lips.

  I giggled and rested my forehead against his. “I think I have a good idea.”

  He furrowed his eyebrows. “I just have one question.”

  “Mmhmm?”

  “Where in the hell were you going?” He asked.

  I laughed at myself as I thought of where I would’ve been going to live. “Canada.”

  “Canada?”

  “Canada.”

  “Why?”

  “You question the one you love?” I challenged with a teasing smile.

  He rolled his eyes and set me down, kissing me on the forehead. “That’s my girl.”

  I looked up at him through my eyelashes. “As I always will be.”

  42. Make it Complete

  May 1951

  It was the day before the wedding.

  I hadn’t seen Eva much because she and Mary were always busy with anything dealing with the wedding. Whenever I offered help…they ignored me. As a result, I took it upon myself to make a list of things that I had to get in order before the big day. Timmy tagged along with me to most of my pre-wedding errands but the last task, I knew was something that had to be done alone. I was going to speak to Percy.

  Of course, I’d gone with Eva when she visited him and broke the news that we were getting married. However, I’d never gone alone. I was a bit nervous but I knew what I was going to do had to be done in order to make the wedding the most special day of Eva-Marie’s life. Though Eva hadn’t spoke to me how she felt about not being able to have her dad walk her down the aisle, I knew it upset her. So while she was out with her mother and friends doing a last minute dress fitting, I made my way downtown to the jail.

  My palms grew sweaty as I waited for them to bring Percy out to the visitation room. I had no idea why I was so nervous to be around my…father in-law. Then I wondered if it could possibly be the fact that I was the one who threw him in jail…maybe that was it. I rose when the door opened.

  Percy relieved my thoughts of his secret hatred when he greeted me with a smile. “David, my boy. It’s always nice to see you.”

  I nodded at him. “A pleasure to see you as well, Percy.”

  “Have a seat,” He instructed as he took his seat. “I thought it’d be Eva-Marie comin’ to visit me. I know she’s got to be nervous…she’d just sit and talk my ear off.” Percy chuckled.

  I laughed lightly through my nose. “She’s out at her last dress fitting before tomorrow.”

  “Ah,” He rubbed his chin. “Tomorrow’s the big day.”

  I exhaled loudly, trying to keep my nerves from working themselves up. “That it is.”

  Percy nodded his head slowly. “Are you nervous, son?”

  I shrugged. “Oh I’ll be alright, it’s not me I’m worried about.”

  His eyebrows came together. “Then what’s the problem?”

  “It’s Eva,” I sighed. “She doesn’t say anything but I know she’s devastated you can’t be there.”

 
Percy pressed his lips into a straight line. “It breaks my heart every time I think about it, son.” He reached into his pocket and placed a photo on the desk. “I kept this from the time Ray came over to tell us who you really were.”

  I leaned in to get a closer look at the photograph. It was picture taken of the two of us from afar while I was in the water and she was speaking to me from the boat. I remembered the day perfectly – it was the first time I told her I loved her! The look of happiness in her eyes was irreplaceable. “I remember that,” I mumbled.

  “Now, son, I’ve never seen my daughter happier than the times she’s with you.” He smiled at me and shook his head slowly. “And it hurts to know that I can’t be there to hand her off to the new man of her life.”

  “Well that’s why I came here today,” I sat up straight and looked him in the eye. “I wanted to do you both a favor. I thought it was only right in my position as Chief of Police…to have you released for the wedding tomorrow so you can be there for her.”

  Percy was quiet for a few moments. He looked at me with disbelief in his eyes. “You would do that for me, son?”

  I nodded. “Anything to make her happy, sir. The wedding wouldn’t be complete without you.” I smiled. “So what do you say?”

  He reached his hand over the desk to shake my hand. “Count me in.”

  I grew excited, knowing Eva would be ecstatic to have her father at her wedding. Though I was upset I didn’t have the option to have either of my parents attend the wedding, I still felt peace about the situation. I didn’t let that get to me because my happiness came solely from making her happy. She was my life now.

  43. With a Smile

  It was the big day.

  It was the day I was getting married! The night before, I could barely sleep because my nerves were such a frazzled mess. In the past few days I didn’t get the chance to eat a proper meal because I had been so busy. While my hair and makeup was being done, Mama had set down a plate of cheese and crackers but I’d barely touched it. I was about to agree to a relationship that would last until the day I die. It was a bit much to process. Of course I was ecstatic that it was David that I was spending the rest of my life with, but it was still a lot to handle mentally. Forever.