48. Chapter Forty-Eight
Chapter Forty-Eight
Come What May
RAFA
St. Stephenshire
Rafa listened to the Backstreet Boys on the drive back to St. Stephenshire to rid himself of the onslaught of chatter in his head.
In three hours, he arrived at the familiar cobblestone walkways of his favorite autumn town.
He parked his car in front of Willow’s Web, feeling strongly that he couldn’t go to her empty-handed.
“Oat matcha latte to go, please,” he said and offered his card.
Not long after, Willow came into view wearing her apron. “Rafa?” “Long time no see,” she said and noticed his order of matcha latte. “You visiting?”
Rafa smirked, “Yeah.”
“You remember Baron?” she said, pointing to a gentleman seated at the bar.
Surprised, Rafa offered a grin as Baron approached and shook his hand. “Yeah. You visiting too?” Rafa asked. “I thought you were working with Harmon?”
“I’m staying with Willow for now, and she makes a really great pumpkin pie,” he joked. “My apprenticeship with Mr. Moon ended; he’s in the Philippines now. He went straight there after his stint in Budapest.”
Rafa gave Willow a look. “I see.”
“One oat matcha latte to go for Rafa!” called the barista. Taking the hot drink in his hand, Rafa waved goodbye to both of them.
Before he reached the café door, Willow called out to him. “She’s at the cottage, Casanova.” Rafa turned around and looked back at her. She shrugged and smiled, mouthing good luck.
***
Rafa parked near Sal’s cottage in the same spot as always. He took a few deep breaths.
“It’s fine, you’ll be fine. You just want to see how she is…
” he said to himself, feeling nervous, and got out of his car.
The air was cool and crisp, and he felt the soil and gravel underneath his feet crunch as he walked toward the cottage.
His heart pounded wildly; he was afraid he’d get a heart attack right then and there and die on the spot. How tragic and comedic would that be?
From afar, he could see Sal resting on her cushioned wicker chair, asleep, with Kimmy on her lap. She was back. She was home. The little spark of hope became stronger as he paced closer to her.
Slowly, he positioned himself near her and pulled the blanket further up her chest. With the small movement, Kimmy meowed affectionately, rousing Sal from slumber. When she saw Rafa, she jumped slightly. “Oh!”
Rafa took a few steps back. “I’m sorry. I…”
“Rafa?” she rubbed her eyes. “You’re here…” she said as though she had been waiting for him the entire time.
“Yes, I’m here. I thought you were with Harmon?” he said, controlling himself from holding her.
Sal sat up for a minute in silence. Rafa waited patiently until she said, “It didn’t work out. I knew something was wrong, so…I came back here. I want to focus on myself and what I want.”
“Do you want to be alone? Is that why you didn’t tell me you’re back?”
Sal blinked and took a deep breath. “Well, I wanted to reach out, but what right do I have? Besides, I felt it was more important to have time away to think about what’s best for me. Have you put some thought into what’s best for you too?”
Rafa leaned against the porch railing and nodded.
“Yes…but I’ve been a mess without you, if I’m being honest.” He paused, wondering if he should say it, but then realizing that he didn’t know how this conversation would end, said it anyway lest he keep it to himself forever.
“You know, I came here because I had this compulsion to see you and say thank you.”
Sal frowned. “Thank me? For what?”
“For helping me…turns out it feels good to lean on others from time to time. My siblings taught me that; you reminded me of it.” He looked down at his feet.
“Asking for help, and not doing everything for everyone, doesn’t make me less of a person.
” He looked up and met her gaze. “It’s made me rethink my priorities in a relationship and what I truly want for my life too. ”
Slowly, he walked over and sat next to her. He held her hand with some reservation, but when Sal gently placed her hand on his cheek in response to his touch, the familiar scent of her skin was intoxicating. He inhaled deeply. “Can I spend the day with you?” he asked.
Sal nodded. “Of course you can.” She leaned over and rested her forehead on his, hand still on his cheek. “For now, this is enough. Just you and me flowing through the motions together.”
Rafa steadied his breathing and lifted her chin so their eyes met. “Come what may?”
Sal held his gaze and whispered, “Come what may.”
As the autumn wind blew and their cats softly purred, their lips touched, and suddenly they felt less alone.
THE END