Story Continued...

One afternoon Wes was in the yard pulling weeds when Chef drove up in front of the house. It was around three o’clock and it was a little to early for him to be returning home from work. 

“Everything O.K?” Screamed Wes from across the yard, “you are home a little early!”

“Yea. Yea. Everything is o.k. Just thought I would take the rest of the day off.”

“Is that so,” I said chiming into the conversation.

“Yea. I think I am going to head up to visit my sister for the weekend. You guys be o.k here by yourselves?” he asked. Wes and I stared at each other from across the yard and with a smile he turned to Chef and said, “We will be just fine.”

It had not been an hour until Chef was back in his car and making his way up north. I knelt down next to the garden bed I had been working on for the entire day and simply continued my work. The hot summer sun was beating down on my back and I could feel it frying my skin. Overwhelmed and exhausted I slowly stood up and looked over at Wes who was diligently constructing his water-fountain for Chef. “I am going to head inside and start making dinner. Get out of this heat.”

“Why don’t you just go upstairs cool, off and take a shower,” he said to me as he stood up and admired his accomplishments thus far. “Don’t worry about cooking tonight, I will get it.” Smiling, I nodded and turned around and made my way inside. I went to the kitchen sink and washed my hands clean and than prepared my bubble bath in the back room.

An hour had passed as I sat there enjoying my solitude. The hot water had me feeling faint and the lavender smell of the bubbles had begun to make me nauseous. Feeling as though it was time to get out and enjoy my time with Wes, I head a knock on the door. Quickly wrapping my towel around me, “Who is it?”

“It’s Wes hun, I just wanted to see if you would be ready in like ten minutes for dinner?”

Surprised, I said, “yes,” and than quickly made my way to my room to get ready. Pulling out my best clothes from the closet and throwing them on I than braided my hair and threw it back into a loose pony. Grabbing my make-up bag I plastered some bronzer on and diligently did my eyes, making them POP. Misting myself down with the new perfume Wes had gave me I looked in the mirror one last time and made my way downstairs, where Wes had been waiting.

He stood nervously in the corner of the dining room. The lights were dimmed and the candles flickered, casting shadows across the room. The smell of Italy lingered in the air. “Please sit,” he said escorting me to the side chair that he than pulled out.

“Thank you,” I said looking up at it, “Thank you for everything. It is all so beautiful.” The table was set for two. Four candles lined the surface and fresh flowers from the garden stood as the center piece. It was just breath taking. Wes nodded and headed back into the kitchen where he turned the music down low. A few minutes later he brought back a huge bowl of speghti and a tray of garlic bread. He set them on the table and then reached for my napkin and put in on my lap. Handing me the spoons he said, “dig in before it gets cold.”

Hungry I threw some meatballs and speghetti on my plate and began eating. Wes and I did not talk to much, we kind of just looked at one another nervously- uncertain as to where or what we were to do after dinner. Eventually I found myself with a bottle of wine by myside resting in his lap on the front porch.

“Beautiful night,”

“it is,” I said. The cool summer breeze sent chills down my spine and I reached behind for the blanket which was folded over the swing. Wes took it from me and gently covered me.

“I told you I am doing better,” he finally said.

“You are,” I said turning my head back to look him in the eyes. He squeezed me hard and held me there for a few seconds.

“I messed up hun, I know I did. I lost everything I had, and now that I have the one most important thing back in my life, I promise you, you will never see that old Wes again.”

Certain and believing in his words I took his hand that was sitting in my lap and brought it up to my face and kissed it. “I love you,” I said.

“ I love you too. I am sorry,” He said back.

“It is ok, let’s just put it in our past and move forward to fixing it from here out,” I said.

“Sounds good,” he said bending forward pressing his lips to my forehead. “I love you.”

I smiled and slowly picked up my blanket and walked inside. Before closing the door, I turned around and said, “I love you too. I am sorry it is just cold out. Want to go upstairs?”

Surprised he jumped up and quickly ran in snatching me as he ran by and shutting the door behind him. “Of course,” he breathed out, running up the stairs with me over shis shoulders. Laughing he threw me on the bed and started tickling me. I pushed him away for a second and took a breath. Everything was perfect. I had made no regrets of leaving everything behind for this one chance that Wes might change. And he did, and I saw it in his eyes that this was how it was going to be forever.