Page 62 of Spring Showers
He put a finger over her lips. “I already know.”
“You do? How?”
“He told me, though I didn’t know he was talking about you at the time. And I don’t blame you for not saying outright what happened. There you were, forgiving him and moving on, and I was thinking the worst about the whole thing. I don’t know how you did it, forgiving him, but I understand why you felt like you needed to. You’re strong, Thandie, and you must know that none of it was your fault.”
“All I did was love him. He was the one who didn’t show up. He was the one who called from Vegas to say, and I quote, ‘I just can’t.’ I mean, who does that?” she said. “I suppose there was a part of me that always knew we weren’t good together. He’s a taker and I’m a giver. He sees his career as the pinnacle of what life has to offer, and I see the beauty in the world around me. And it’s enough for me.” She held Grant’s hands. “After the last few days with you, something stirred in my heart that showed me who I really am, and I know I’m worthy of true, real love.”
“And I know I have so much love to give. If you’ll have me?” Grant leaned in to kiss her, but held back just a breath away from her lips, as though he were waiting for an answer.
“I will have you, Grant Goldie. Today and tomorrow, and the day after that, and the day after—” He stopped her sequence with his lips pressing against hers. She could feel him smiling through their kissing, and she tried not to giggle at how cute he was.
Clapping came from somewhere nearby and interrupted their kiss. Thandie paused. “Do you hear that?” she mumbled while their lips were still touching. “Clapping? Crying?”
“I’m just so happy,” JB’s voice sounded from Thandie’s phone, still sitting on the dashboard inside the car, and Thandie covered her mouth with the back of her hand.
“Who is that?” Grant asked.
“I totally forgot. That’s my friend JB. She’s been on the speakerphone this whole time.” Thandie stepped around to the driver’s side with heavy boots weighed down with sticky mud. “I’m so sorry, JB!”
“I’m not,” she said and sniffled. “That was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever heard.”
Grant came around the car. “Hi, JB. I’m Grant.”
“Grant Goldie, I know. Pleasure to meet you,” JB said. “Congratulations, you two.”
“Thanks,” Thandie said. “Can I call you later?”
“Does this mean you’re not going home anytime soon?” JB asked as Thandie was about to hang up.
“I think I am home,” she said and disconnected the call.
With her feet planted in the mud, and her hands around Grant’s waist, they kissed again. This time with a tenderness that comes from two people who understand the journey to healing that she and Grant shared. They had both weathered storms, and now they could grow a new and beautiful life together.