Chapter 17
MAUREEN
Gosh, I miss him…
That same thought went through her mind repeatedly as the days wore on.
It had been almost two weeks with no word from Eli.
Sidewinder – eh, Bode – had come by twice to check on her, and so had Harley.
She had been to ‘girls’ night’ with the ladies from Flyboys, but she felt like an outsider.
They were trying so hard to reach out, to include her, to offer a hand in friendship – but she wasn’t one of them.
Eli had decided that when he left and effectively cut ties with her…
and no matter what her heart said, that was what her brain told her.
You couldn’t love someone if you didn’t talk to them.
You couldn’t have a relationship if there was no trust or discussion between you.
She had finally written him an email, breaking down and giving in to the emptiness… only to have the email bounce back.
Talk about a sign from God there… sheesh.
A knock on the door interrupted her thoughts. Getting to her feet, Maureen answered it and hesitated. A delivery guy was standing there, sweating buckets, and kept looking around nervously, holding one of those fancy ‘Edible Arrangements’ concoctions.
“Seriously?” Maureen said flatly, fighting the glimmer of hope that seemed to flare to life before she quelled it.
“Hand it over,” she ordered the guy and took the arrangement in her hands.
“You know how freakin’ expensive these things are?
I would have rather had a free email than a bunch of fruit on overgrown toothpicks. ”
“I’m just the delivery guy, ma’am…” he squawked, holding out the clipboard. “Can you sign this?”
“No, you know that?” Maureen began unloading on the poor man as soon as she realized that the delivery was nothing but melons.
No strawberries, no grapes, just a bunch of melons – but the only ‘melon’ she wanted was on the other side of the planet, avoiding her.
“If this is his lame version of an ‘I’m sorry’ – it’s not going to work.
All you guys think you can just waltz in, looking all cute and sexy… ”
“Ma’am?” the guy yelped, backing away awkwardly.
“You don’t get to do that, you know?” Maureen growled, stepping forward and shoving her finger into the stranger’s chest. “He comes here, shows up in my life completely perfect from top to bottom – and then poof. I hate that. You cannot show up - kiss me, poof me, then ghost me – and then fruit me!” she wailed, breaking down as she sank to her knees in the grass helplessly.
“He’s gone… he’s literally fruiting me from the other side, and I can’t take it. ”
“Oh gosh – are you saying that your dude is dead?!” the man exclaimed in horror, looking around again for anyone to help him from the obviously hysterical woman who was descending into madness quickly. “You need serious mental help, lady…”
“I knowwww!” Maureen wailed, collapsing in the grass.
“I’m all about signs lately – and I think I need another one.
It would be the ultimate sign from God if I put my forehead right into a sticker patch for the pain I’m feeling right now, or maybe dog poo because this stinks – or even maybe a fire ant mound, because… ”
“I wish you wouldn’t.”
Maureen dragged in a breath as she sank her fingers into the grass, sobbing. I’ve lost my mind, and now I’m imagining him… or I’m dead. Maybe I’m lying in the yard, expiring, with a fruit bowl made up of only melon pieces. “I liked the strawberries too, you know…”
A boot appeared in the distance as she closed her eyes again – hallucinations…
Hearing the crunch of the grass, she realized that it was probably beyond time to start running the sprinklers at night, and lay there letting her mind wander.
If this was a hallucination or a mental break, she wasn’t quite sure she wanted it to end.
No, she would simply exist here, lying in the grass, with the fruit that was sure to bring flies, ants, and other critters… and she didn’t care.
“Are we doing this?”
“I hear you, but I can’t see you…”
“It’s because your eyes are closed.”
“And it’s because you are a sexy figment of my imagination.”
“I have those.”
“Figments? Or imaginations?”
“Both – maybe. What kind of figment are we discussing? The purply thing at Disney, or is this a dirty reference?”
“See – and that’s how I know you aren’t my Eli.”
“How?”
“Well, he doesn’t make dirty comments toward me. He’s got a broomstick eternally stuck up his cute bum.”
“I see.” Eli chuckled softly from nearby. Was he in the grass beside her - or another clue that she was hallucinating? “He does indeed, but someone once told him this was a safe space – and that he could say whatever was on his mind.”
“That hussy was cray-cray…”
“I happen to think she’s incredible,” he whispered. “And guess what?”
Maureen was about to respond, but then she heard something – another voice. A flurry of other voices, just as confused as she felt… and nearby.
“What are they doing?”
“I think it’s sweet.”
“My brother has sunk low… get it? He’s on the ground floor.”
“She misses him…”
“She loves him – and we all know what that feels like…”
“You do not love Archangel…”
“Oh heck no! Are you insane? She! She! She – being Maureen… not me.”
“He loves her…”
“Madly…”
“I freakin’ love these moments, Pookie.”
“I know you do, Snickerdoodle – which is why I’m recording it.”
Maureen opened her eyes and immediately met soft, gray ones that were so full of hope and love that she sighed – and sniffed. “We have are surrounded by a very nosy audience.”
“We are,” Eli responded tenderly. “So you love me?”
“I might like you…”
“I like you a lot too…”
“Enough to psp-psp-psp me?”
“Only if you marry me,” Eli chuckled. “We’re not going to have anyone psp-psp-psp-ing in our home that isn’t married… says the broomstick implantation.”
Sitting up, she smiled tearfully at him, wiping her cheek of tears and any pieces of grass. “The melon thing was sweet – but expensive.”
“You have no idea,” Eli smirked tenderly and reached for the melon lying in the grass nearby.
He quickly plucked a few pieces of melon from the center of it – and then withdrew two simple wedding bands.
“Would you do me the honor of becoming my wife, putting up with me for years on end, listening to me ramble about anything or nothing at all, and fill our hearts with little children who deserve two parents that are fully committed to each other – and giving them a safe place to grow up in a home full of love?” Before Maureen could say ‘yes’ – a child ran over and threw himself into Eli’s lap.
He looked so discombobulated and disjointed that it was beyond sweet.
“Did she say ‘yes’, Uncle Eli?”
“Not yet, Austin,” Eli chuckled, giving her a sheepish and apologetic smile. “I just asked her to marry me when you joined us.”
“I’m excited,” Austin announced, clapping his hands together as he stared at Maureen with stars in his eyes. “She’s so pretty.”
“I think so too, buddy,” Eli replied tenderly, giving her the warmest smile as they both sat there in the grass – him in his uniform and her in her scrubs.
It was the strangest proposal, the most genuine one, and definitely ‘them’ to the core.
Everything about their relationship wasn’t normal, and frankly – she wouldn’t have it any other way.
“Should I say ‘Yes’, Austin?” Maureen whispered, teasing them both. “He can be awfully finicky sometimes.”
“What’s that mean?”
“Picky…”
“Hey,” Eli grinned. “I’m right here, you two.”
“He’s picky,” Austin agreed, smiling. “He makes a face when I want to play cars or ‘Monster’.”
“Because you use your fingernails…” Eli chuckled, smiling at her indulgently as if to say, ‘This could be our life together’… and she loved this idea.
Austin made a face that sent several adults watching nearby into fits of laughter – just as Bode crowed out proudly, “That’s my boy!”
“You should probably say ‘Yes’,” Eli prompted. “I’m getting a little nervous, and the wheels are already in motion.”
“Oh?”
“Romeo is bringing a wedding cake from the bakery because Dixie is taking care of India, who has a cold… and Paradox just pulled up.”
“The same Paradox that married your brother?”
“Is that okay?” Eli asked nervously, his eyes holding hers. “I just want you for my own – and I never want us to be apart again.”
“What about the Air Force? You’re stationed in Afghanistan and…”
“Not anymore,” he interrupted, smiling. “I’m here – for good.”
“Oh, Eli,” she whispered in hopeful understanding and disbelief.
Her heart swelled in her chest with comprehension.
He chose her over his career, over everything else.
No one had ever put her first, chosen her happiness above all – but Eli had, and he was here to make her his wife.
“You’re… here? You picked me – us? Are you sure? ”
Oh yes – she was sobbing now, having a full-on breakdown because her stiff-lipped, rule-abiding, sneer-giving, snooty flyboy…
was choosing her. He was choosing her above everything, and it showed.
His eyes were full of emotion, knowing what this meant to her, and he wasn’t backing away but doubling down with his next words.
“I will always choose us – every single time. I’m miserable without you near me, and I can’t function in a world where I cannot talk to you. I need you, Maureen… so will you please, please say ‘Yes’?”
“You should say ‘yes’,” Austin coached quickly with all the seriousness he could muster, nodding emphatically. “Uncle Eli really likes you – more than Mama’s tuna casserole.”
“Lunch,” Eli volunteered, chuckling as she gave him a shocked look. “You should lock your doors, darling. I walked right in and checked your appointment book to make sure you were free for the rest of the afternoon.”
Shaking her head in disbelief, she glanced at Austin and gave him a wink before meeting Eli’s beloved eyes. “Yes,” she breathed. “I will marry you.”
Eli’s breath escaped him just as a cheer rose from their friends. He urged Austin out of his lap and moved onto his knees, kissing her there in the yard for all the world to see.
“Is anyone else lookin’ at all that tongue-action and feelin’ dirty?” Bode exclaimed loudly. “Just me?”
“Broooo!” Inferno hollered drawing out the word as if to say, ‘I agree and it’s awesome!’ in one dramatic word - before he high-fived Bode who was standing beside him.
Eli and Maureen chuckled softly together, before melting into another tender kiss.
Hours later, Maureen lay beside her husband, marveling at the miracle that had occurred today. This morning didn’t start out so great. The milk had spoiled, her toaster burned her bagel, and she ran out of cream cheese… but boy-oh-boy did it turn around spectacularly.
She and Eli stood in the yard, holding hands, as they exchanged simple vows between them. Their yard was filled with people; there were so many, many hugs and well-wishes, before her new brother-in-law ushered them all away as a courtesy to the new couple.
“Y’all get outta here!” Bode hollered impishly, patting Eli on the cheek. “My bro still has his V-card at thirty-five years old, and I told him that if he doesn’t punch that card, it’ll rot off. Welcome to the Hall family, Maureen! Love ya, girlie!”
“Daddy, what’s a ‘V-Card ’?” Austin asked.
“We’ll go ask your mama,” Bode chuckled, scooping up the boy and backing away playfully. “She looks so pretty when she gets all feisty.”
“Feisty Mama!” Austin parroted – and winked conspiratorially.
“Oh my gosh,” Eli muttered, his face beet red – and Maureen picked up the wedding cake knife with meaning as she glared at Bode. She wasn’t exactly mad to have the crowd leave, but she could have done without all the crass comments or embarrassment poor Eli had tossed in his direction.
It had been one heck of an afternoon, she mused, smiling, and looked up toward Eli from his shoulder. “Your brother is a troll…”
“And a liar,” Eli volunteered grimly. “We’re gonna have to talk about being an example for Austin or our children, because, well…”
“We don’t want to raise little trolls,” she repeated, sharing a knowing smile with him.
“Nope,” he quickly agreed, rolling over and taking her with him. “This is a safe and peaceful place – and he brings…”
“Chaos?”
“Yeah,” he chuckled, nodding. “I don’t know how Flora handles him, but I’m so glad she puts up with him and they're happy.”
“I hope you’re happy?” she asked softly, brushing an imaginary piece of hair from his forehead.
He was always so polished, so handsome, so everything – so these rare moments really touched her heart.
In fact, it was the new wallpaper on her cell phone – that quick, singular photo she had taken of them when he visited last time.
His hair was sticking up in a few spots, and that surprised look had been priceless.
“I’m deliriously happy,” he murmured tenderly. “Do you know, when Bradford came to talk to me, I already knew I was coming home to you.”
“Really?”
“Yes,” he replied, his eyes open and vulnerable.
“I remember thinking that I couldn’t do this anymore.
I didn’t want to be there; I missed you so much, and was pretty sure you would think I was insane if I quit my job just to go hang around you for the rest of my life…
but before I could say something to get me thrown out like Bode – they offered me this spot, and I jumped at it. ”
“You would have left the Air Force… for me?”
“Darling,” he whispered thickly, leaning forward to kiss her and pausing just before their lips touched as his eyes held hers. “If you needed my last breath to survive – it would be yours.”
“If it were our last breaths, then I would be dead about forty seconds after you – maybe a minute,” she teased, but his words were making her emotional all over again.
“Good,” he said hoarsely. “Because I can’t live without you – and I wouldn’t want to spend eternity without you either. I love you, Maureen.”
“I’m so glad you’re here, Melon-head,” she teased tearfully, reaching up to close the distance between them. “Psp-psp-psp, my love…”
“’Bout time,” he chuckled, wrapping his arms around her.