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I giggled.
“Why do you look so sad, Elle?”
“I told you. I’ve missed you. I know that you think it was easy for me to just walk out the way that I did, but it wasn’t. It was a hard decision that I felt the need to make.”
“And now?”
“Now, I’ve come to realize that I made a hasty decision without thinking things through. I panicked, and I, of all people, know that it’s never a good thing to respond in a panic.”
“Mmm.”
“What does that mean?”
“Just that we all do things we regret.”
“Have you? Recently, I mean.”
“Yeah. I’ve had a lot of regrets, starting with you walking out that door. But I also regret that I didn’t send a definitive message that you weren’t to be fucked with.”
“And have you sent a message?”
The devious look in his eyes, the chuckle he released, and the way he winked hit me deep down below.
“I’ll see you tomorrow, beautiful.”
We ended the call, and finally, I could sleep.
Casimir
“Has my guest arrived yet?”
“No, sir, Mr. Perez.”
I nodded. “Okay. Please alert me when she arrives.”
“Yes, sir, Mr. Perez.”
I walked past the reception desk and headed out of the large double doors. After I passed the bird sanctuary, I headed down the wooded trail for another couple of minutes before I came to a clearing. I smiled at the fairy lights strung through the trees, which created a canopy all its own. A white linen tablecloth-covered table stood in the middle of the clearing to the right of a large fountain with hydrangeas blooming from the top. A vase of cherry blossoms and two single candle tapers were the only table décor: simple but elegant.
Blue orchid blossoms bloomed all around us. There were large planters of various plants further away from our table, and benches where visitors could sit and enjoy the view.
My phone buzzed, and I checked the message before I set it down again. I leaned back in my seat, stretched my legs out, and crossed them at the ankles and closed my eyes.
I listened to the trill of the birds, the sprinkling of the water at the fountain beside me, and finally, the reassuring clicking of heels coming down the paved sidewalk.
I continued resting with my eyes closed as I thought about all that I had gone through to bring me to this day. My life was almost destroyed because I had submitted to someone else’s vision for my life. Thankfully, I met a woman who opened my eyes and made me want to take control of my life again. I learned a valuable lesson. This life wasn’t all about money or pleasing someone else, but it was about being the best person we were for the space and time we were in.
“Hi.”
“Hello, beautiful,” I greeted and opened my eyes.
Giselle wore a long orange and white floral print dress, and her hair was a beautiful cloud that made a halo around her face. She held her wild poof of hair back by a rhinestone headband.
I stood and held her chair out for her and pushed her in again after she sat down.
“I was excited when you told me to meet you at the botanical garden. Never in a million years would I have expected this,” Giselle declared and waved her arms around her.
“A private, intimate dinner so we can talk about us,” I replied.