Mike dropped her off at her room, then went to his to try and get some sleep. “Make your call and see if your cat can be taken care of, and you can stay a bit longer, okay?” he reminded her as he walked out the door.
“I will.” She smiled at him.
She dialed her parents’ number and waited for them to answer the phone.
“Hello Amanda, how is London? Have you gotten to see anything interesting? How is the seminar?” her mother asked rapidly.
“Hi Mom, London is cold and rainy. I saw Big Ben today, and will get to see more soon, but the seminar takes up most of the day, honestly. The seminar is very informative. How is Dad? Is Bow Tie behaving?”
“Your father is nervous about his operation that is coming up soon, but that’s to be expected. Bow Tie is great, your father loves having her around, and so do I. She’s such a cuddly kitty!”
“She’s no longer a kitty, Mom!” Amanda chuckled.
“Well, she’s got a ton of energy most of the time and moves around a lot more than your father and I!”
“So, Mom, I have a question to ask you.”
“Sure, what is it, sweetie?”
“I would like to stay a bit longer in London, and was wondering if you were willing to watch the cat for a bit longer?” Amanda was not giving any of the reasons behind her wanting to stay.
“You will be back in time for your father’s operation, right? I mean, just in case something happens, though I hate to think negatively about this. We have to face the fact that things do happen sometimes and people don’t always make it through once they go under the knife.”
“Oh, of course, Mom, I will only stay a couple weeks more, and I will be back before Dad has his surgery.”
Her mom paused. “So, what is your reason for staying longer?”
“I just want to be able to visit some more of the sights, and with the seminar, it is hard to get out and see things. If I stay a little longer, I can take a few tours and see some more things. You wouldn’t believe the amount of choices you have, there are so many things to see, and I’ll never be in this part of the world again,” Amanda explained, leaving out the fact that she had met a man.
“Yes, this is true. You know your father and I always wanted to travel and see the world. He got to a bit, being in the service and all. His stories always made me want to go and see different countries.
“But, then you came around, and we just couldn’t hop off and go places. After that we had the twins, and we put our traveling dreams on the back burner for good.”
“I remember Dad’s stories when we were growing up. It is one of the reasons I signed up for this seminar here in London. All of his stories do have a way of making you want to see more!” Amanda admitted.
Her mother chuckled. “He will be pleased to hear that. He always hoped you kids would be able to see more than just the United States. He said it made you more open-minded, and not as judgmental about other nations.”
“Yes, don’t think you know everything about a person from another country. You have never been in their shoes or visited their country. It could be more difficult than you could ever imagine for them.” Amanda repeated one of the lessons her dad had always told his kids when they were younger.
“Exactly. I always wished I could travel.”
“You still can, Mom. Perhaps after Dad recovers from this surgery, you can visit somewhere, anywhere,” Amanda said.
“We are thinking about it. We started to save money,” her mother admitted.
“Great Mom. Where are you hoping to go?” she asked.
“We would love to go on an African Safari, or maybe even to London. Scotland is a possibility, or even China. We haven’t decided on the location yet, as you can tell.” Her mom chuckled.
“I know it can be hard. Even just picking out what you want to see in a location. I was looking up places to see in London and trying to make a list. I had pages and pages before I finally decided, I’ll never be able to see it all. That’s why I called you, so that I can at least see a few more things!”
“Okay, honey. Let me know the new date of your arrival and the flight information. Unless Janice is picking you up. But, I would still like to know when you are coming back.”
“Thank you, Mom. I love you. Tell Dad I love him. Give Bow Tie a hug from me and kisses.”
“Will do, and we love you too!” her mom said.
She smiled and hung up the phone. She looked at the time, it was far too late to call Mike. So, she dialed Janice up.
“Hey chick! How is the romance going?” Janice answered the phone.
“Confusing, and wonderful.”
“Well, they often can be confusing. Anything new?”
“I think I’m going to stay a couple of extra weeks in London.”
“Really? Must not be too confusing!” Janice chuckled.
“He asked me to stay, so he could show me around, and have more time with me. What is confusing, is that I don’t get how he could feel the way he does, and so quickly.”
“Why wouldn’t he feel the way he does? I keep telling you how wonderful you are, maybe now you’ll agree with me!”
“But, he’s told me some things that make me believe he honestly could think that he loves me,” Amanda said slowly.
“Again, why wouldn’t he love you? Amanda, you just don’t realize how great of a woman you are. You’ve always been this way. It is one of the many reasons why you keep allowing that asshole Eric back into your life. You don’t need a loser like him, you are a strong and powerful woman, just realize it,” Janice preached.
Amanda laughed. “I know I’m strong, I would never have opened up my business if I didn’t know that. It is just that… I don’t know, I’ve never had a guy treat me this way. I know I deserve to be treated good; it is just odd when it finally happens. I’m questioning my sanity, am I really experiencing what I am? Or am I just imagining it? Does that even make sense?”
“Yes, it does. You’ve just dealt with Eric for far too long, and thought he was the only option you had. Then you went over there to London, found a guy, who realized that you are wonderful. He has shown you, and you just aren’t sure if it’s real. Tell me what he’s said to you,” Janice said.
“He asked me to stay longer, because he wants to be able to have more time with me. He doesn’t want this to end yet. He also said that we can make a long-distance relationship work, if we really want to. He’s talking about visiting Phoenix one day, he said that I changed his mind about soulmates and falling in love at first sight too.
“Take into account, the way he can play my body like a fiddle singing out a symphony, and he’s just the perfect package. That is what scares me! I can’t seem to find anything wrong with him,” Amanda admitted. “Though he has a slight issue with color blindness, but that’s nothing.”
“It sounds like you may have really found the perfect match for yourself. You know, they do say that this happens. I know you don’t believe in it. However, people find someone who is almost their perfect partner, and they are able to live a long and very happy life together. Why question it? Why not just enjoy it, and see where it goes?” Janice stated.
“Yeah, this is what I’m trying to convince myself of, I just really don’t want to be hurt.”
“Stop thinking of it that way. Instead, think of it as a wonderful relationship, and one that you will enjoy from day to day. Don’t try to plan out every single move of the future, it will drive you crazy. Or should I say crazier than you already are!” Janice laughed.
“Very funny. I’m trying to think of it that way. He just says something that is so romantic from time to time, and I wonder if he’s just being this way to woo me, and in the end… never talk to me again.”
“Again, just enjoy it for what it is. If it ends when you leave, you at least had this wonderful month that you will always be able to look back on and smile about. Well, once you are over the heartache of missing him. That will be the hard part, if it happens.
“I don’t know the guy, so I can’t say how it will end, it may not. You may find a way to make it work. Come on, sweetie, try and think of it in a positive way. Don’t already act like it has ended. Please, just enjoy the time, and let each day fall as it will.”
“Yeah I guess that’s the best way to do it. I saw Big Ben today, then we went to Mike’s house. He has the most amazing and comfortable bed, and a Jacuzzi tub!”
“Oh nice! Sounds like you had a lot of fun.”
“I did, it was nice. We took a bubble bath and threw bubbles at each other and made a mess of his bathroom. But, he cleaned it all up and let me enjoy the tub. He really is such a sweetheart, kind and caring.”
“Sounds to me like you have fallen in love with this man. Isn’t love a wonderful thing!”
“Not when you know if in a matter of three weeks you’ll be leaving and will never see him again.”
“You will see him, if he has already talked about coming to Phoenix, he’s serious about this. It’s not a wham, bam, thank you ma’am thing. I know I’ve never met him, but, I have a good feeling about him.”
Amanda laughed. “Just a few days ago you told me you thought he was married.”
“I changed my mind, what can I say. After some more thought, and his explanation to why he did what he did, I think he’s truly a good guy.”
“Oh, I forgot to tell you. Some woman made a comment about me on the way into the seminar room yesterday. About licking his boots,” Amanda said.
“Yeah, and?”
“He basically told her that she should mind her own business, and that we were two grown adults. What we do with our lives is no business of hers. If she says anything else he’ll kick her out of the seminar.”
“That’s great! I really like this Mike guy! I say, enjoy the extra time in London. Don’t think about us over here, but just let him spoil you. Get to know each other, and it will all fall into place.”
“Yeah, I’m just going to throw caution to the wind. I’m going to enjoy my time with Mike, and if we can find a way, we will make it work. We just have to be serious about it, like he said.”
“Sounds like a very wise man. Of course, he has great taste in women! I’m so happy for you, just remember to use a condom from now on!” Janice laughed.
“I will, I love you, Janice. Thanks for the talk, it helped me out a lot. I feel better now. I am still nervous about the future, but I’m going to not worry about it as much as I used to. At the very least I’m going to try to do that!”
“He will keep you too busy, I’m sure, for you to think about it much. So, what all are you going to see?” Janice asked.
“I don’t know. There is just too much to pick from, really. I think I’ll defer to him to pick out the best things to see. After all, this is his town. He knows it better than me. I’m just excited to be able to have a little extra time with him.”
“That’s the spirit! I love you sweetie, enjoy the time. But, don’t forget to call me from time to time, and update me with what is going on. Am I still picking you up when you come back?”
“Yeah, if you could.”
“Sure, just let me know the new flight information.”
“I will, I’ll set them up tomorrow. It’s getting late here, and I have to get up early in the morning,” Amanda said.
“Okay, get some sleep. Love you, Amanda.”
“Love you too, Janice,” Amanda said and hung up the phone.
What Janice had said made a lot of sense. Amanda knew she liked to plan out each step of her life, but at times you weren’t able to do that. There were times you just had to play it by ear, and this relationship with Mike was one of those times.
Neither of them had known they would meet and feel so attracted to one another. It had just happened. His offer for her to stay a little longer hadn’t been part of the plan, but now it was an added option. She was going to take him up on it.
She enjoyed the fact that he wanted to spend more time with her and get to know her better. Amanda smiled, thinking of what Janice had said about someone finally appreciating her. Mike seemed to appreciate her, he gave of himself, and didn’t always take from her. Not like Eric had done to her for years. She sighed, she was happy, and it felt great.
Not that she hadn’t been happy in her life, but she had never been fully satisfied with it all, not like she was right now. She had a man, one that treated her like a queen, and she had a good career. She was learning a new way to make her career better, too. What more could she honestly ask for from her life?
Her eyes were feeling heavy from a full day of events. She laughed as she thought back to the bubble fight that Mike and she had in his big tub. He was so many things, wonderful, caring, sexy, sweet, and all hers. She couldn’t be happier than she was right at this moment.
She had traveled halfway around the world to find her soulmate, she was going to enjoy it while she could. She decided she would change her tickets the next day and stay an extra two weeks. Amanda was sure he would be thrilled that she had finally decided, and he wouldn’t have to keep asking her to change the flight!
Amanda fell back on the bed and let the exhaustion carry her away and was soon fast asleep. Her dreams were full of memories of the wonderful day with Mike, and the hope for the future that they might be able to have.