Chapter 58
58
P ari and Melvale took a cab into Manhattan and soon Pari was walking alongside Melvale to her appointment with Dr. Merrill. Her heart was beating faster than normal, and she knew Melvale was only trying to protect her, but doggone it if she didn’t want a little privacy again. He wasn’t going to accompany her into her appointment, was he?
“Penny for your thoughts, Kitten,” he said next to her.
She looked at him and smiled anyway. Yes, she wanted a little time to herself. It was how she recharged. But he was so handsome, and nice, and kind, and… oh, who was she kidding? Kitty was right about him. “How long have you known Kitty?”
He gave her a sidelong glance. “Seems like forever. She’s quite the woman.”
“But… you’re not compatible?”
“No, not in the way that counts.” He winked at her.
Pari frowned. “What way is that?”
He stopped and looked at the number over the door of her therapist’s building. “This is it.” He opened the door for her.
“Melvale,” she said, not budging. “What way?”
He sighed then gave her a gentle smile. “The boyfriend/girlfriend maybe it could become something more way.”
“More?”
His eyes lit up with a combination of affection and admiration. “More.”
Her heart stopped. Oh goodness! Did he have feelings for her? Real honest to goodness feelings ? Pari gave a nod as her eyes drifted to the sidewalk. Why else would Kitty be worried she might hurt him?
Pari stepped into the building, her heart in her throat. The last thing she wanted to do was hurt Melvale. But could she trust him enough not to hurt her?
They took the elevator up to the fifth floor. “I’ll be right here, Kitten,” Melvale said after they entered the doctor’s office. He sat in a chair in the waiting room and picked up a magazine.
She stared at him, as if seeing him for the first time. Pari had no idea what drew him to her, she only knew that Kitty had opened her eyes, and she was beginning to see Melvale as something more than a heartbreak waiting to happen.
“Miss Lindir?” the receptionist called. “You can go in.”
Pari nodded, her eyes still on Melvale, as a smile began to form on her face.
Melvale smiled back with a warmth in his eyes that threatened to melt her into a puddle.
“Miss Lindir?” the receptionist repeated.
Pari faced Dr. Merrill’s office door. For all she knew, this could be the last time she ever saw her therapist. She stepped into the office, took a seat in her usual chair, and her smile broadened.
Dr. Merrill finished writing something in what looked like a day planner. “Well, Pari, how did the last two weeks go? Anything exciting happen?”
She swallowed hard and glanced at the door. “Yeah, you could say that.”
Dr. Merrill’s bushy eyebrows shot up as he looked at her. “You’re smiling.”
Pari’s heart picked up again, but not because she was nervous or afraid of what painful reality the good doctor might uncover in their session. But because there was a man in the waiting room, who’d been waiting for her in more ways than one. He wanted to get to know her. It was the reason he wanted to date. Melvale had been trying to get close to her on her terms. Doing things a human would do. But he wasn’t…
“Pari?”
She gave Dr. Merrill a silly look. “Sorry. I… don’t know where to begin.”
He smiled. “I take it something good happened this week?”
She nodded. “I… made some new friends.”
His smile grew. “Well, I’m glad to hear it. Tell me about them.”
“They’re friends of Hal and Raina’s.”
“Did you find them?”
“Yes! Or rather, they found me.” She relaxed in the chair and brushed her bangs to one side.
“You changed your hair,” he pointed out. “I like it.” He looked at her a little closer. “Your tattoos…?”
“I got rid of them. And… got a new look.” She plastered on a smile.
He smiled back. “It’s a good look, Pari. Does it make you feel better?”
“Oh, yes. You have no idea.” She bit her lower lip. If only she could tell him of all the strange and wonderful things that happened to her over the last two weeks.
“Tell me about these new friends of yours, and about Hal and Raina.”
She didn’t dare get into what really happened, he’d ask too many questions, so she stuck to what she could say.
“They tried to contact me but couldn’t. They finally showed up at my apartment. They… went home. But wanted to say goodbye to me first.”
“Well, now, that is good news. I’m sorry you went through all that worry for nothing, but considering the circumstances, I can see how things could get discombobulated.”
She nodded. “I met their friends who are also here visiting, and they stayed with me…”
“Oh, Pari…”
“It’s not what you think,” she said, almost coming out of her chair. “They’re all very nice, and we had a great time. We’re having a Christmas in July party tonight before they… leave.” Her face fell.
“Pari, what is it?” Dr. Merrill asked.
She met his wizened gaze. “They… asked if I’d like to come with them.”
“Are they from the same place Hal and Raina are?”
She nodded. “I need to make a decision.”
“Can your Uncle Al get along at the shop okay without you for a time?”
“I think so. Yes.”
“Can you afford the trip?”
She thought of her time shopping with Melvale. “Yes. I’ll be fine.”
“Well then, it sounds like a wonderful idea. Will Hal and Raina be there?”
She smiled and nodded. “Yes.”
“And you trust them?” Dr. Merrill asked. “And what about your uncles? Do they trust them? Have they met these people?”
She smiled as she thought of what Uncle Al said about Melvale. “They do.”
Dr. Merrill rested his hands on the desk and gave her a sage nod. “Is there anything stopping you from going?”
She looked him in the eyes. “No, not really.”
“But?” he prompted.
Pari bit her bottom lip as she pondered her own disbelief. It was still there. Kitty helped her see some things, but it’s not like she was a new woman overnight.
“Pari,” he said gently. “If everything checks out, then have yourself a little adventure. There’s nothing wrong with that. Don’t let fear and your insecurities keep you from living life.”
Melvale’s words from the other night came back to her. Hadn’t he basically told her the same thing, and more? Like, how he wanted to help her heal…
“Pari, I know going out of the country is a big trip, but if you can afford it, have friends to travel with, and they can show you their world, then what’s stopping you? If you don’t go, you might regret missing out on the chance of a lifetime.”
Her eyes widened at his words. “Regret.” She swallowed hard. “I’d hate having to regret anything.”
“Then don’t. If you’ve been offered a chance to have a fun trip to someplace you’ve never been before, then take it. Live a little.”
She smiled. “I… that is, one of them… I… went on a couple of dates with.” Her cheeks heated, and she sank a little in her chair.
“You did?” he said happily. “Why, that’s wonderful.” His smile quickly faded. “He’s not anything like Jeffrey, is he?”
She gave a vigorous shake of her head. “No, the opposite!”
Dr. Merrill sighed in relief. “Thank goodness. So, tell me about this beau of yours.”
She straightened up in her chair. “He’s tall, handsome, sort of a goof. Okay, Uncle Al thinks he’s weird, but really he’s just eccentric.” She smiled. “He’s into fashion. And he bought me…” She stopped. Pari didn’t want to tell him he’d purchased her half a wardrobe. “A nice bag when we all went shopping.”
Dr. Merrill steepled his fingers in front of him again. “Go on.”
“He’s a historian, and… speaks more than a few languages. He has… an exotic pet, and… he can cook…”
“Wow,” Dr. Merrill chimed. “He sounds like quite the catch. Well educated I take it?”
“Very.” Pari’s eyes darted to the door again. “And he’s protective, that’s another thing my uncle’s like about him.”
Dr. Merrill smiled. “You like him, don’t you?”
Her face softened as tears stung the backs of her eyes. “Very much. He… wants to date more.”
“Exclusively?”
She nodded. “He wants to be my boyfriend.”
He sat back in his chair and studied her. “Hmmm, and what do your uncles say about it?”
She laughed. “They already call him one.”
“But you don’t?”
Pari flashed him a guilty look and bit her lower lip again.
Dr. Merrill sighed. “What’s his name?”
She drew in a deep breath. “Melvale.”
Dr. Merrill smiled. “That’s an unusual name, but if he’s European, that explains it.” He leaned her way. “You do realize that Melvale is not Jeffrey.”
Her breath hitched. “Sure, I do.”
“Pari, I want you to say it.”
She swallowed hard and glanced toward the door again. “Melvale is not Jeffrey.” Okay, that was easy. “He’s the opposite.”
“Is he?”
She nodded. “You have no idea.”
“And your uncles approve of him, even though this could turn into a long-distance relationship?”
She nodded again.
“So, what’s holding you back?” he asked.
She let loose a laugh. “I… well... me.”
He nodded. “I understand how that would happen. Have you had a chance to speak to his friends about him?”
“Yes. Several.” She smiled thinking of Shona, Kitty, Kwaku and Zara. “They all speak very highly of him.”
Dr. Merrill smiled. “And so do you, it seems. So, when do you leave?”
She gave him a blank stare before a smile slowly formed on her face. “In a few days is my guess. They’ll take care of all the travel arrangements.”
“You’re going then?”
Her entire chest warmed as her decision locked into place. “I am.”
Dr. Merrill gave her a wide smile. “And you’re going because…?”
Tears she didn’t expect threatened, but she willed them back. They weren’t surfacing because she was scared out of her wits, but because she’d just made a huge decision. “Because… they’re my friends; I feel I can trust them. I can… trust Melvale.”
Dr. Merrill nodded. “How does that make you feel?”
Pari thought about it a moment then smiled. “Safe.” She sniffed and wiped at her nose. “Yes, safe!” Her heart leapt in her chest at the realization.
“Good.” Dr. Merrill sat back. “Will you continue to date him?”
Pari looked at her hands as Melvale’s face flashed through her mind. His goofy smile and mannerisms followed by the other side of him. Bondrah. Who had only ever tried to protect her.
She slowly nodded. “Yes.”
“Exclusively?”
Pari smiled at Dr. Merrill then looked at the door. “Yes.” Her smile grew as heat crept into her cheeks.
“So, you have a boyfriend,” he quipped merrily. “I hope to meet him one day.”
She grinned and bit her lower lip a moment. “He’s in the waiting room.”
Dr. Merrill started with surprise. “Is he? Well, how about introducing me?”
Pari was suddenly giddy. “Okay.” She giggled as she left her chair and went into the waiting room. “Melvale…”
He rose from his chair, towering over her, his eyes on the doctor behind her. “Pari?”
She couldn’t keep the silly grin off her face. What was happening? Pari turned to her therapist. “This is Dr. Merrill.”
Melvale extended his hand. “Dr. Merrill, it’s a pleasure to meet you.” He gave him a slight bow to boot.
Pari’s smile grew, if that was possible. “Dr. Merrill, this… is my boyfriend, Melvale.”
Melvale’s eyes grew wide, and he stood stock still for a moment before a slow smile curved his mouth.
Dr. Merrill gaped at him then quickly collected himself. “The pleasure is all mine, Melvale.” They shook hands, and Pari found herself inching closer to her “boyfriend.” She didn’t know what this was going to entail, only that something had changed. Something… big.
She watched as Dr. Merrill and Melvale spoke a few moments about her new friends’ travel plans and when they might be returning. Melvale told him they’d be gone at least a month if not longer, and that Pari would contact him to make her next appointment.
Dr. Merrill gave Pari a heartfelt look as she and Melvale prepared to leave. “I’m proud of you, Pari.” He leaned toward her. “Don’t let your fear rule you. Be present. Be brave.”
Pari smiled, shook his hand, and together, she and Melvale left the office.