Page 63 of Twenty-Three Years of Longing

Smiling I said, “Mr. Orion Moyer, I love you more than words can say, and plan on showing you when I see you.”

“Oh, that will definitely provide me some sweet dreams now,” he moaned.

I giggled and said, “Good night, Orion.”

“Good night.”

Slipping the phone in my purse. I had been so stressed today that my body actually hurt as though I’d gown to the gym and completed a boot camp workout. But once Orion said he loved me, my entire body relaxed. The weight of the day vanished. I no longer felt as though I was returning to Tabiq. I felt as though I was going home. And ‘at home’ is something I hadn’t felt, even as a child.

There were things we still needed to work out, like living arrangements, but that was going to take time. I wanted Orion to move right in, but I needed Joey to feel comfortable with that first. He might be stronger than I thought but this wasn’t just my home, I wanted him to feel like it was his too.

I knew Orion understood that. He’d always taken Joey into consideration, so I didn’t need to worry. The universe seemed to have a plan for Orion and me, and so far, I wasn’t complaining. I was going to continue to trust it, and let it guide our way because Orion’s vision for our future sounded very much like mine. And there was no way all this happened just by coincidence.

Although I could sit here and smile the rest of the day just thinking about Orion, I knew there was something very important I needed to do. I pulled out my car keys and headed out the door. I knew Joey wanted a little more time with his friends, but it was getting late. I wanted time with him too. Maybe play a little bit of video games, a board game or two, and have dinner.

But before bedtime, he and I needed to talk. If I thought I had things to tell him before, I got a lot more to say now.

I better pick up pizza and ice cream for dinner. Because I have a feeling, this is going to be a long night.

CHAPTER 19

Orion

The past month had been a whirlwind and I felt as though I could barely catch my breath. I was rushing between homes, and not giving Raya and Joey the time they needed. Granted, I took Joey out fishing, and bowling and he even got me to ride a bicycle again. Hadn’t done that since I was a kid myself. But during those outings, it gave us time to talk, to get to know and understand each other. And he might be only ten, but in some ways, he was very wise for his age. And when Joey spoke of Raya, I heard his protective tone. He loved his mother and wasn’t going to allow anyone, even me, to hurt her.

That was good, because I felt the exact same way about them both and I let him know that as well. After that chat, Joey seemed to relax and spent more time out with kids from the school. That meant more alone time for Raya and me.

We’d enjoyed our date nights, but goodness, dropping her back off at the house and not spending the night sucked. All I wanted to do was to make love to her all night and wake with her in my arms. The perfect way to start a day was next to her. Instead, we were stealing what little time we could. It was nice, but not ideal. I was selfish and wanted it all. And so did she.

Raya wasn’t complaining. She understood why I needed to be rushing back and forth to my grandmother's house. But I knew something had to give. Raya and I needed this time together and it was time to make a change. My grandmother was feeling much better which meant she was giving me a very hard time about my staying with her at her house. But she still wasn’t strong enough to live on her own. Finn was right. She might not ever be.

“Grandmother, your tea is on the table. Did you want to come and have some with me?” I asked.

“You don’t drink tea,” she stated. “If you are trying to get me to sit so you can tell me something else, I don’t want to hear, then you can forget it. I’ll stay right where I am, thank you.”

“I promise, this has nothing to do with you,” I said. “Now will you come and have some tea so we can talk?”

She took my extended hand, and I helped her up from the couch. When she sat at the table, she poured us each a cup.

“Now, what is so important or difficult to say, that you thought I needed tea first?” she questioned. “Is it about Raya? Because if it is, then my answer is yes. You should.”

I chuckled. “Not again.”

“Yes. I had a dream that you and Raya were married, and you were surrounded by several children. You know my dreams are never wrong,” she said.

I never believed that until I found myself crying at my grandmother's hospital bedside just like she had predicted. Now I heeded her warnings. Didn’t let them control my life but I didn’t blow them off entirely either. Part of me wanted to ask how many children, but some things should be a surprise, and no matter how many, Raya and I would love and welcome them all.

“That wasn’t what I wanted to talk about,” I said. Oddly enough it was something I planned on doing at a later date. Even had the engagement ring.

“Are you going to tell me that she needs help with a fundraiser at the school? Because she came by earlier and already talked to me all about it. I’m going to get some of the ladies in the parent-teacher group to knit things for a sale. Can you believe how she is getting all the parents involved now? I think it’s just amazing what the two of you have been able to do with the school.”

“Thank you, Grandmother. She has some brilliant ideas.” And I’m smart enough to let her run with them.

“That she does. And as Vice President, you have also been able to rally local businesses for their support as well. President O’Connor was correct in choosing you to help her. It was too much for one person.”

Reesa had already known that, but what she didn’t realize was that she could balance work/life with help. We had a discussion earlier today about her not stepping down. She agreed to finish her term as president, but only if I continued as VP. That took the pressure off us both.

“Grandmother, I didn’t want to talk about work,” I said, needing to get to the point before she changed the subject again.

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