Chapter 67
CHAPTER SIXTY-SEVEN
ELENA
I stood there speechless as I stared out into the pitch blackness of the city with a sea of stars twinkling at me.
“Have a seat.” Orion ushered me to a stool and swiveled the telescope to align with my position. “See what you discover.”
I looked at him, a man who had completely changed my life and my heart. “You shut off the lights to the entire city for me?” Tears welled in my eyes, sliding down to my face.
I couldn’t stop them from coming. No one had ever done anything of this magnitude for me. I could only imagine the work that had gone into this evening.
“I’d shut off the entire world for you, Sunshine.”
I would never ask him to do that. I would never want him to do that. But to know he’d do anything for me made me love him even more.
A surge of emotion swirled in me, taking my joy to new heights. As I floated back to Earth, practicality and concern rose on me.
I gripped his arm. “What about the hospitals? What if someone’s having emergency surgery? What if someone’s giving birth?” My eyes widened. “What about the nursing homes that need constant energy to support their residents? People need the pharmacy, don’t they? What about the police force? Crimes could increase. Slingshot, you need to turn the lights back on!”
He laughed. “I’m sure the city will be fine for the next half-hour. Or even an hour. I’ve made arrangements. Don’t worry.”
“You have?” I couldn’t stop all the scenarios spinning in my head.
He tipped up my chin. “This is why I love you so much. You care about people. I knew you’d react this way, so I’ve made certain the hospitals were well aware and provided them with extra generators for tonight. The elderly homes, homeless shelters, and any place that needed extra attention for this mini blackout would be fine. Nothing is going to stop me from shutting down the city for you. I want you to see the stars at their best brilliance.”
“This is why I love you even more. You understand me.” Love filled my heart, and I reveled in it. “I’ll be selfish for thirty minutes.” I didn’t sit, but stood while looking into the telescope. “Wow. The vastness of space is extraordinary. What constellation is this? And what’s that space object? Is it a planet?” She veered back with curiosity gleaming in her eyes.
“It’s an undiscovered constellation from the Andromeda Galaxy. Let’s name it together.”
“What? Are you sure?” I looked into the telescope again and then back at him with furrowed eyebrows. “Is that possible? I mean, I know it’s possible to discover new constellations, but is it that easy?”
He kissed my head. “It is with the right equipment. I told you I have the best technology to see into space. There are so many things out there we haven’t even touched upon. It’s something I’d like to dedicate more time to explore. I’d love to do it with you.”
I embraced him. “That would be amazing. Then I can share that knowledge with the world. Musepaper readers can be the first to see it. What’s the process to name a constellation?”
“We have to submit it to the International Astronomical Union in France. I know some people there. There won’t be a problem. Besides, when they see what we’ve discovered, they’ll want to know about my telescope.”
“I don’t really know what to name it.” Excitement coursed through me.
“What are your thoughts on Taraxacum for the constellation name? The English will be Dandelion. It’s like Canis Major and Greater Dog, Corvus and Crow, and Cygnus and Swan.”
I looked at him, understanding what he was doing. “The dandelion means that much to you?”
“It’s you —my sun, moon, and stars. You taught me that.”
I didn’t know how much happiness I could feel in one day, but it overflowed in me.
“Do we get to name the stars that make up the Dandelion constellation?”
“Absolutely. We can take our time with those.” He walked me over to the window and pointed to the starry sky. “Constellations are merely Earth-based interpretations of a two-dimensional star pattern in a celestial sphere. They’re just perspective.” He took my hand, lifted my index finger, and traced a heart-shaped pattern of stars from the glittering display. “That could be Orion’s Heart for Elena.”
“Or Elena’s Heart for Orion.” I looked at him, my heart wanting to burst. “I can almost hear the stars cheer for us.”
“The stars speak to a heart that’s open to listen.” He kissed me on the forehead. “When you’re with me, I hear the stars speak in a love language no one can understand but us.”
I pressed the side of my face to his chest, listening to his heartbeat. “I can hear your heart. And I love its voice.”
His eyes gleamed at my imagination. “Madame Sarcasm has her own asteroid now.”
“What do you mean?”
“That space object you saw earlier? That’s an asteroid I recently named, dedicated to an amazing woman who has captured my heart and soul.”
Amused, I asked, “Don’t they have to be cool names? Like ancient gods, goddesses, or something?”
“No. It can be anything. There are over twenty-thousand asteroids already named. Some have people’s last names, some are countries. Mine is Madame Sarcasm, and she exists in a galaxy beyond the Milky Way. I love her with all my heart and soul.”
My heart palpitated when he showed me a website with all the asteroid names on it. Madame Sarcasm was listed amongst the letter M section. He gave me the sun, moon, and stars.
Emotions overwhelmed me. “This is the best gift I’ve ever received. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Now you have to tell me something. What’s the special ingredient in your dandelion tea? It’s been bugging me. I can’t seem to have enough of it.”
I laughed. “The special ingredient has been keeping you up at night?”
“It has.” He pouted. “No other tea has helped keep me calm. There’s something about this tea that just makes me feel good.”
I placed a hand on his arm. “Slingshot, have you heard of the placebo effect?”
A slow smirk crept onto his face as his eyes pinned me. “You’re kidding me.”
“The only thing in the tea is a dried dandelion flower with added honey. I told you about a special ingredient because I wanted you to believe there was something more in it.” I chewed on my bottom lip. “You’re not mad, are you?”
He shook his head. “I’m not mad, Sunshine. I’m in awe that you tricked me.”
“My grandmother used that trick on me when I was younger. I hated taking this herbal liquid for colds. She used to tell me it had a special ingredient from a magical plant. It would make me healthy and strong. No other kid had it but me. I believed her, and I hardly got sick during the winter months.”
“The placebo effect is powerful. It shows the potential of our mind and the mystery within it.” He tipped up my chin. “I fell into your trap.”
“Because you love me.”
“I’d fall into every trap you set for me.” He kissed me lightly on the lips.
“I didn’t mean to keep the truth from you. But I noticed the dandelion tea was helping you relieve stress, so I said nothing.” I tapped his head. “Your brilliant mind made the tea more powerful.”
“There’s still a magical ingredient in it. It’s called Elena’s love. Your dandelion tea is my sugar pill.”
“You’ll have an endless supply of it.”
“Dandelion tea is my favorite tea.” He wrapped me into his arms, looking down at me. “Your heart is like a dandelion puff—it seeds the world with love and hope.”
“I love it when you’re so poetic.”
“You inspire all the poetry that comes from me.” He tapped on my nose. “I’ve become a better man because of you. Whenever I see a dandelion, I think of you. I had my landscapers use dandelions in their floral arrangements around the island. And we won’t be using weed killers anymore. I’m letting the dandelions loose. Wild and free, just like my Sunshine.”
I couldn’t help but kiss him.
“By the way, my father would like to meet you. I’m thinking of having a gathering on the island before it gets cold. You can bring your mom too.”
“That sounds wonderful. How is your father feeling?”
“I didn’t get a chance to tell you, but he knew someone was trying to poison him. And so he played along and pretended to be in a coma. He gave me control of the company to lure out all the players who wanted to hurt him and me.”
“That’s wonderful to hear. I guess your father is just as cunning as you. Is your relationship with him better?”
“It’s getting there.” He touched my face. “He told me he’d always loved me. In order to protect me—his only son—he had to make it seem like he was disappointed in me. Get this: he knew The Condor was teaching me how to be a thief. My mom did too. Your father was friends with my parents.”
Wow. We were intertwined in a complex web with so many connections.
“They knew about you stealing?”
“Yes.” He beamed. “They knew my targets, and why I was stealing from them.”
“Your parents loved you in their own way.They were trying to love and protect you, but also ensure you’re well prepared for the cruel world.”
“Everything makes sense now.” He smiled.
I had something for him at home. “The city lights will turn back on soon. Want to come home with me tonight?”
“Is that an invitation, Madame Sarcasm?” His eyes twinkled in the dim light.
“It is. Since you gave me the stars today, I have some to give you as well.”
“Oh yeah? I’m intrigued.” He arched an eyebrow.
“I’ve bottled up some stars for you.”
“So you were busy catching falling stars for me?” he asked.
“Just like how you were busy exploring other galaxies to find our constellation.”
“It all started with Sassteroid, the name you gave yourself when you replied to my query.”
“It just popped into my head.” I patted his notch lapel, loving how he looked in a suit.
“You know what’s in Sassteroid?”
“What?” I looked up at him.
“Ass.” Smiling, he gripped my behind with his hands. “You were mine from the beginning. I was going to name the asteroid Sassteroid, but I didn’t want to share that with the world.” He squeezed my buttocks.
“I’m gonna make you see stars tonight, figuratively and literally.”
“I can’t wait. Let’s go.” He gripped my hand, and at that moment the lights returned to the city as though nothing had happened.
“Also, I heard I’m a character in your video game.” I grinned up at him. “When can I play it?”
“Let’s get home and we’ll play it, Sunshine.”