Page 24 of Owen's Heart

Aunt Mildred has already thrown her hat in to help me get Rania back. Besides hunting Chantel down and giving her a piece of my mind, how else can I convince Rania that we were meant to be together?

“I got it!” A devilish grin spreads across my face. A plan is forming in my mind. I pick up the phone and make a few calls until I get the phone number of the one person I think can come to town and make a difference.

“Hello, Janae, this is Owen.”

“Hello, Owen. Is everything okay? My mother told me that you called her and asked for my number.”

“Yes, I did. Sorry to bother you like this, but this is important.”

“What’s going on?” Janae sounds concerned, rightfully so since I have never called her before.

“As you know, Rania is back in town,” I begin.

“Yeah, she called me and told me she was coming back to help her aunt. Is everything okay with Mildred?” Janae asks.

“Yes, she’s healing and will be back to work in a few weeks.” I make a mental note to call Mildred to check on her when I end this call.

“Good. Then, what’s the problem?” Janae asks.

“Me and Rania. We’re the problem.”

I explain everything from the day that the misunderstanding with Chantel’s picture happened to Chantel reemerging and showing up at Mildred’s Café. I even tell her about Melissa and the women I’ve been with since Rania.

It’s been years since I have been with Rania. I don’t owe anyone an explanation for my life, but I feel compelled to tell it all to Janae. I want her to know that there have been no true ties to any other woman since Rania.

“If you love Rania so much, why sleep with Chantel, the girl that broke y’all up?”

“At the time, I would have done anything to get Rania out of my system. I couldn’t have her, and it hurt like hell. I was so bummed the night I had sex with Chantel. I was just doing something to feel anything other than the hurt. The entire time I was with her, I thought of Rania,” pours out of me. “But as I said, I never cheated when we were together. I didn’t mess up until she left me.”

“I guess in a twisted way, it sounds like you really love her.”

“I do—a lot. More than you will ever know. Can I let you in on something that I have never shared with anyone else before now?” I ask.

“I don’t know. Should I brace myself for madness?” she half-joked.

“No, just listen to this. It’s a song I wrote for Rania.”

Janae gasps, showing her shock. “You wrote a song for our girl, Owen? Aw, how sweet.”

I begin to sing the lyrics of Sometimes Rania.

Sometimes Rania,

I lie awake thinking

No, not thinking…

Wondering if I affect you

The way you affect me

Sometimes Rania,

I wonder if you miss me

The way I miss you

If I cross your mind

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