Elijah and I had been living together in Albuquerque for six months, and things had been going well. But right now, he was late to dinner. This was something that I wasn’t used to. I had been in situations where dates had stood me up or left me sitting for a long time. But Elijah had never done anything that would make me think that he was that type of person. Unless there was very good reason, Elijah was always communicative and punctual. Just then, he arrived.
The energy in the room almost seemed to shift when he walked in. A hushed lull filled the room as I watched his large frame make its way from the front door to the table where I sat leaning against the wall. When I asked why he was late, he sighed and told me that he would tell me everything once he got to the restaurant. I nervously nibble on a dry piece of bread as I waited for him to walk in.
"Hello, gorgeous," he said, throwing me a toothy grin.
"Hello," I answered back.
"I am so sorry for leaving you sitting here like this. I thought that I was going to have more time...doing what I was doing..." His voice trailed off and he down as he scooted his chair up to the table.
"What were you doing?" I asked nervously. He was acting very distant, like he was hiding something. I didn't like it at all. The thought of what he was going to say (or maybe what he was not going to say) was making me feel physically ill.
"I was putting together the final details of our trip," he said.
"Where are we going? The cabin?" I asked.
We had been back to the cabin several times in the past couple of months. I felt like it was our saving grace as we adjusted to life in Albuquerque. Things had been great, but in trying to adjust to everything, we still had to remind ourselves that we were developing a whole new relationship. And with all the exciting things going on in our world, we made sure that we got back out to the cabin pretty regularly so that we could shut everything and everyone out, except for each other.
"No, not the cabin," said Elijah, shaking his head. "Somewhere else. Somewhere we're long overdue for visiting. At least one of us is, anyway.”
"You’re right,” I agreed. “What we need to do is head back to the cave since it's warmer now, so that we can relive that amazing night that we had. This time, we can do it without freezing our asses off. And now, since we're in committed relationship, we don't have to worry about fumbling around with condoms. We can try it bareback without anything holding us back. That sounds like an amazing trip."
“I’m talking about something completely different,” he said. “I mean, don’t get me wrong. I like that bareback idea and I definitely want to take you back to that cave. But there are some other outstanding issues to resolve first somewhere else maybe, don’t you think?”
His words bounced around in my head for minute and I started to go into a mild panic. I realized how he said that one of us was long overdue for a visit, followed by there being things to resolve, and it was only then that it all clicked in my head. He wanted to go to Iowa with me.
"Wait. Maybe we should think about this a little more..." I stammered, feeling immediately overwhelmed with thoughts of how going to Iowa was one of the last things that I wanted to do.
"I know that it seems hard. Trust me, when I first started to face my fears, I was scared. I wanted to run. But, I had you there to help me through that. And now you have me to be here for you."
I wasn't as confident as he was that this would turn out to be a good thing, but I went anyway. We packed up the truck and drove to Iowa. It was one of the best road trips that I'd ever been on. We stopped and took pictures whenever we saw anything interesting. There were so many street signs, statues, and wildlife that we got pictures of. It definitely was a trip that I would never forget.
Driving down the street where I had lived while sitting next to Elijah was surreal. I thought that my heart would beat out of my chest and my palms were so sweaty.
"We're here," Elijah announced as he pulled the truck to a halt in the parking lot outside my apartment building. I wasn't sure what I would find once I went inside. My father and I hadn't talked since I had left for my trip to Colorado. After that, I had just relocated to Albuquerque with Elijah. I made sure that all of the bills were paid at the old apartment, though.
"I haven't talked to my dad in over six months," I admitted, staring down at my hands folded in my lap shamefully.
"It's okay," said Elijah. "I'll wait here. Go and talk to him and I will be right here. If you want me to come in, I can do that, too."
I thought for a minute before responding.
"Let me go and see what's going on and then I'll let you know," I said. Elijah nodded.
I got out of the car, stretching the stiffness out of my legs and back. The walk down the sidewalk heading toward my apartment seemed more like a death march. I was almost certain that once I opened the door, I was not going to like what I saw.
When I walked up to the door of the apartment, I could hear the drone of the TV set. I couldn’t help feeling like Elijah should be with me. So, I leaned out over the balcony and nodded my head in a motion that signaled he should come up, after all. He quickly got out of the car and began heading in my direction as if he knew I was going to change my mind. We seemed to have secret ESP couple language like that.
Once Elijah was with me where he belonged, I took his hand. Then with my other one, I put my key in the lock and pushed the door open. The lights were on, but I didn't see anyone in the living room.
"Oh, you're home," said my father, walking into the room. He had on a button up white shirt and suit pants.
"Where are you going all dressed up?" I asked, surprised. My dad smiled shyly.
"Oh, I have a job interview,” he said, smiling proudly. “Your old dad is trying to turn his life around.”
“That’s wonderful,” I told him. “I’m so proud of you.”
“And I'm so glad to see that the relationship between your mother and I didn't ruin your chances at love,” he told me, nodding at Elijah before extending his hand to meet him. “I wasn't sure that I would ever get the chance to see you walk down the aisle, but it looks like all of that may change?"
My father looked at Elijah questioningly.
"Dad..." I said, beginning to fidget uncomfortably.
"Don't 'Dad' me, I'm just saying. It's a good thing. I am very happy for my daughter and her... boyfriend?" my dad said, a smile creeping up on his face.
"Yes, boyfriend," said Elijah. "For now, that is. If things keep going the way they have been, I have a pretty good feeling that you'll be walking your daughter down the aisle soon."
I hadn't expected to hear him say that, but it made me happy he did. He wanted to marry me. He had helped me reunite with my dad just as I’d helped him reunite with his SEAL friends. And we’d both found purpose in the veterans’ charity work. It looked as if I had gotten my very own happily ever after, after all.
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