Page 83 of Beyond our Forever

Angelique and Jacques also hug her. Jacques takes from the inside pocket of his jacket, a red square box that he holds out with a smile. She thanks him with two kisses, in the French way and the four of them head toward the exit.

“Mom?” she asks, realizing where we are, waiting for them to come closer, his eyes wide as saucers. “But what are you doing here? I thought… you said…”

We all burst out laughing, her brothers and the Henrys were all our accomplices, we wanted to surprise her and, judging by her face, we have succeeded.

“Did you think we were going to miss it, Princess?” Bruce says to her before hugging her.

“But you were on that cruise celebrating your anniversary.”

“We were,” my husband says, filling the smiling face of kisses that will always be his little one, even if she is already twenty-six years old. “We arrived last night, just in time to celebrate with you today, love.”

“This is incredible,” she whispers, who now comes into my arms.

“As you are,” I whisper in her ear.

My daughter has graduated from her master with honors, she’s a psychologist, more than that, a therapist, a soul doctor. Ava has spent the last few years getting ready thoroughly in the field and I, well, I couldn’t be more proud. What? Do you want to know what has become of us all these years?

That afternoon, during the tornado, our house was half destroyed, but we emerged from that pantry strengthened. Shaken, but more united than ever, we had resisted the onslaught of the storm, literally and metaphorically, we were together, ready to fight, because many more challenges would come. Only from then on we faced them differently.

At first it was a struggle. After much thought, we decided the best thing for us would be to go to therapy, get someone to teach us ways to communicate, to guide our path. After a few months, we graduated and from there, we have walked on roses. Yes, yes, with thorns and all, but the outcome has been worth it, every second.

Emilia and Mikel’s relationship turned out to be another problem. On the one hand, Mikel remained stubborn, claiming it was mutual agreement, but with the laboratory tests and the word of Emilia, who broke after one interrogation session, we found the truth. Nothing happened that night, however, the damage was done and they were found guilty in court.

It turns out that Mikel had a history as a sex offender, so he moved here to Indiana, although the conditions of his parole didn’t allow it. Emilia, well, the one who called herself my friend was a useful pawn in his game, because she was rotten inside, full of jealousy for our happy life.

“Why did you do it?” I asked her the first, and only, time I went to visit her. I had told her I forgave her, I did that more for myself than for her. I would start my future without burdens.

“Because I wanted what you have,” she replied just before getting up from the table to ask the guard to return her to her cell.

As it was a minor offense, she was only held for thirty days, although more than two years on probation. I have not heard more about her and I hope it stays that way. The further away she is, the better I will feel.

On the other hand, Angelique and I did become great friends, true friends. I even discovered the reason why she was with Bruce the day Emilia saw them at the mall. They went shopping for the gifts that Bruce left at my door. It turns out Angelique was his co-conspirator.

My Hulk wasn’t going to sit idly by while I slipped out of his fingers. Over his dead body.

My children have grown, each taking a different path. Aaron is a civil engineer, Noah, an architect, like his father. My three men founded one of the fastest-growing construction companies in the state, their reputation flourishes day by day, so much so that they have started some projects outside Indiana.

And me? Well, I keep writing on my blog, but now I only do it weekly, because I’m extremely busy with other things. I’ve become a recognized author, to my credit more than twenty-five books, the first was a compilation of the stories I wrote on my blog. The others have been of various topics, but always inspiring other women, who, like me, are lost within themselves. Because it’s never too late.

“What are you thinking about?” Bruce asks, hugging me from behind.

“About what has happened in the last few years,” I answer honestly.

“Are you happy?”

“With all my body and my mind,” I answer, looking into his eyes. “That’s why, love, I fight for you every day, so this doesn’t die, because I want it to continue to grow. I fight because I love you. I fight because our spring lasts more than three months.”

“May it last forever,” he adds, kissing me in his second favorite place. My neck…

“Day after day.”

At night, I go to our hotel room, alone. Bruce has stayed at the bar with the boys and Jacques, talking about their next project. The four of them talking about plans could a real danger, but it will give me the time to take a long bath and relax for a bit. After flying for nine hours, I deserve it.

Our suite’s living room is almost dark, only lit by a lamp in one corner. I go to the room to find a black box on the bed, on it a note written this time in a handwriting I know too well.

Wear it for me.

I lift the box, finding wrapped between black tissues a delicate set of dark red lace underwear. The bath is quickly dismissed, I’ll have a quick shower. Knowing my knight in shining armor, he will come through the door any second now looking for his reward.

---