Page 47 of Tino

He just chuckled and walked down the road with me, both of us looking around the empty road as we neared the station. It seemed like a lifetime ago I’d been here, and on some level, I guess it was. I wasn’t the same man I’d been then. When I’d walked my first steps on Sutiner, I’d wished to one day get a job doing art, paintings more specifically, or my sketches, but paintings were my dream. I’d been all about surviving this world without magic. I was now one of the leaders in the council of mages, painting as a hobby, which I actually preferred. My art was my escape from reality when the responsibility of our job got the better of me. I even had my own room just for painting. It had been a gift from the others and had a huge window facing our backyard which was a forest with the mountains in the back.

“You’re smiling,” Xari teased. “Guess that means I did good, then.”

I wasn’t about to tell him I was looking forward to painting again, since he seemed so proud of himself. “So good. Thank you for taking me back here.”

“Anything for you, baby.”

The station came into view and I had to stop myself from skipping the rest of the way. I really hoped Jerry still worked there, and I felt like I might break inside if I’d missed my opportunity to say goodbye for good.

“Looks like it’s open,” Xari said as we entered the parking lot. “Want to go in alone first?”

“Why?”

He shrugged. “I don’t want to ruin this for you, and I respect it if you want to talk to him alone.”

“But why would I do that?”

“I don’t know!” he sounded exasperated. “My mom told me to give you some privacy so I’m trying to do that!”

I laughed. Of course, Leah had meddled. Even after telling her several times that I liked having Xari glued to my side, she still feared her son could be too much in the end. Like I’d ever grow tired of having my sexy man next to me. But I loved that she worried. It justmeant she wanted us to stay together forever. It was hard to explain to them that the whole soulmatch thing made the thought of not being with him unbearable. But they’d never truly understand, and we all got that.

“I want you next to me always,” I said, pecking his cheek before entering.

Jerry was reading the newspaper and seemed deep in thought as we stepped closer to the counter. I suddenly got all nervous.

I cleared my throat and when Jerry’s eyes met mine, all my worries faded away. His smile was instant and before I even had time to say hi, he moved around the counter and had me in a big bear hug.

“You came back!”

I laughed. “I promised I would.” I smiled widely.

He chuckled. “You never know. You could’ve found a new job somewhere and then all of a sudden ten years would’ve gone by. I actually believed it wouldn’t be less than five years until there was a chance I’d see you.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, I thought you’d see the world, then come back maybe needing your job back. I’ve been looking forward to hearing aboutyour adventures while we eat our sandwiches at lunch.” I had to fight the tears that tried to escape. If I didn’t have another calling in my life, then the life Jerry was painting sounded perfect. A part of me wished a simple life was in the cards for me, but I also knew it wouldn’t be enough in the end. I needed to feel more needed, wanted. I loved being one of the leaders, not because of the power, but because I could feel important for once. The mages were depending on all of us to make our world a better place, and that would always be something I was proud to give them, to work hard for every day. But still, the simple life would’ve been amazing too.

“That sounds perfect,” I said, wanting him to know that I would’ve liked that future too. “But I actually got a job.”

“You did?” He finally let me go and gave Xari a kind smile. “Both of you?”

I nodded. “We got offered a job in Belu for five years, and after that we’ll travel a bit more.” Belu was a country far from this one, they even spoke another language, and since most of that country was desert, Jerry would know I most likely couldn’t be reached by phone. It was my first thought when I had to tell him I’d gotten ajob. I also knew I wouldn’t be able to just visit whenever I wanted. But every five years? That I could do.

“You’ll be gone for five years?”

I nodded. “And then we’ll visit again.”

Jerry touched his neck nervously. “I fear my mom might not be here in five years.”

“Oh.” I hadn’t thought about Betty being that old. She seemed so young.

“Why?” Xari asked for me.

Jerry sighed. “She got cancer.” I gasped. Now I had to see her.

“I’m so sorry, Jerry. Can you take us to her? I want to see her, especially if it’ll be the last time I have the chance.”

“Sure. She’ll love seeing you again. She’s working, not even cancer can stop her,” he smiled, but it was forced now.