Take A Chance (Running Into Love)

by Nicole, Annalisa

  “Yes, hello. Is this Ms. Emery?”

  “No my name is Mrs. Conner, but I was Ms. Emery years ago. Who’s calling?”

  “Ma’am you don’t know me, I’m Willow’s boyfr… I’m a friend of Willow’s, my name is Asher. She’s told me about you. She doesn’t know I’m calling you. I thought, well I thought I would help her along and find you for her.”

  “Willow? Oh I have prayed for this day. How is she? Is she well? Can I talk to her? Where is she?”

  “Mrs. Conner…”

  “Please call me Judy.”

  “Judy, I’m not sure how much information I want to give you. I can assure you she’s happy. I won’t lie. I was concerned about the fact that she didn’t have any family here for her.”

  “What do you mean, for her? Has something happened?”

  “Judy, I’m trying not to betray her trust here by giving you information that should come from her. I was hoping to get confirmation that the possibility of reconciliation was something you were open to.”

  “Asher, I have waited twelve years for this phone call. Yes, absolutely I want to see my daughter again.”

  “I’m glad to hear that, I’m so glad to hear that. She’s been worried you wouldn’t want to ever see her again, after how she left.”

  “She’s my daughter, and I love her. I’ve always loved her, it’s killed me all these years that I couldn’t find her. I know I didn’t always do right by her as a child. I have come a long way since then. After Willow left I put myself through college, I own my own hair salon. I got married and have turned my life around. Please. When can I talk to her?”

  “I want to tell her all of this, I need some time. I need to make sure the timing is right. I know she wants to talk to you, give me a few days. I want this to work out for the two of you. I’ll call you back by the end of the week.”

  “OK Asher, she’s really alright? You have me worried, I just want to talk to her, tell her how sorry I am for everything. Tell her I love her.”

  “She’s doing great, I’ll talk to you later, bye.”

  “Bye Asher, thank you so much for calling. Bye.”

  The next few days go pretty much the same. Willow has been staying the night at my house every night. We go into work and leave together. We eat all our meals together, walk the dog at night. Our passion for each other hasn’t changed either, if anything we have grown stronger. With each day closer to Friday, I can tell she is getting nervous. It’s Thursday, and I want to do something nice for her to ease her mind. I think I should tell her about her mom, tell her that all her fears of being rejected are unfounded. Her mom misses her just as much as she does. She’s due here any minute for lunch. I’ve made up my mind it’s time to tell her.

  Chapter 18

  Willow

  Knocking on his office door, I don’t even wait for an answer. I just walk in knowing he’s expecting me. I stopped by Charlotte’s desk to pick up the take-out she ordered. Placing the containers on his desk, I wait for him to get off the phone. With a smile and wink it only takes him a few more minutes.

  “Willow, before we eat, I want to talk to you about something.”

  “OK shoot, what cha got for me?”

  “I hope I did the right thing here, first let me start by saying I love you. And if this blows up in my face Amelia and Aiden will never let me hear the end of it.”

  “You’re scaring me, what is it Amelia and Aiden know?” What does he have to tell me? He’s not going to ask me to marry him at the office is he?

  “I’m just going to come out and say this.” Oh God, he is going to ask me to marry him. Be cool, Willow. Let him get it out before you jump him saying yes, yes, yes. GOD yes!!

  “I contacted your mother.”

  My face went from grinning so bad it hurt to falling to the floor in half a second.

  “YOU DID WHAT!” I shout.

  Standing up so fast I knock over the chair. What is it with me and knocking over chairs?

  “Why would you do that? You had no right to just go and do that!” Oh my God, Amelia knew about this too? Tears stream uncontrollably down my face. I need to get out of here. I can’t even stand to be in the same room with him. I can’t even go tell Amelia I’m leaving, she knew too, and didn’t tell me. I rush out of the room, running to the elevator, stabbing the down button repeatedly.

  Asher runs after me shouting, “Willow, please wait.”

  Seeing he’s getting too close, I rush to the stairs, clanking down the steps in my heels, sobbing hysterically. I don’t even have my car here, I need a cab. Opening the doors, Simon is standing at the curb leaning on the car reading the paper.

  “Ms. Emery, is everything OK?” he asks concerned.

  “Simon, I need to go home, can you please take me?”

  “Yes Ms. Emery, right away. I’ll take you to Mr. Wellington’s.”

  “No, take me to my home please.”

  “Yes, Ms .Emery.”

  Just then the phone rings over the stereo system, I just know that it’s Asher.

  “Hello, Mr. Wellington,” he answers.

  “Simon, is Willow with you?” Asher asks.

  “Yes sir, she has asked me to take her home.”

  “OK, good, Willow sweetheart, please just let me explain,” he says, directing the conversation to me.

  Shaking my head, Simon eyes me in the rearview mirror. Burying my face in my hands, I cry softly.

  “Um, Mr. Wellington, Sir. Ms. Emery is not able to talk right now.”

  “What do you mean she can’t talk, is she alright? Is she feeling OK?”

  “I’m not sure, Sir. She just asked me to take her home.”

  “Alright, I’ll take a cab. Willow, when I get home we are going to talk about this, you have to let me explain.”

  “Mr. Wellington. Ms. Emery asked me to take her to her house.”

  “Alright, Simon after you take her home, please come back to the office and pick me up. Willow, I’ll be over as soon as I can. Please sweetheart, just listen to me it’s not what you think. Please let me explain.”

  Shaking my head, I know there is no stopping him, if that’s what he wants to do. I don’t have to hear what he has to say or let him in.

  Running into my condo, slamming the door, I just want to scream. I’m so mad. Lucy oh no, Lucy is at Asher’s. I have to sit in this condo all by myself without my furry friend to cuddle with. Stripping my clothes, I start a hot bubble bath. Grabbing a bottle of wine and a glass, I sink in the hot water, sobbing quietly to myself.

  A banging at the door startles me, but he can keep banging all night, I’m not letting him in. He had no right to call and talk to my mom without my permission. I can hear him still banging on the door begging, pleading for me to open the door. Not going to happen, there’s no way I’m letting him in.

  After a few glasses of wine the banging stops. Getting out of the tub, I put on my soft pink bath robe. I tip toe to the front door, and look out the peep hole. I see Simon waiting in the car at the curb. But I don’t see Asher anywhere. A soft thump thump comes from the bottom of the door. Asher must be sitting against the door. Another thump, I think he’s banging the back of his head on the door.

  It’s been hours, Simon is still sitting in the car. Poor Simon, I didn’t mean for him to have to wait in his car like this. Asher is still sitting against the door. Now I’m starving. Since we never got to eat lunch, and since we have been eating at his house, I don’t have much food in my house. I left the office without getting my purse, so I don’t have my cell phone, and stupid me doesn’t have a house phone.

  After a few more hours, Simon is gone. I think Asher is too, but I’m not going to open the door to find out. Lying on the couch in the dark, my doorbell rings. Checking the peep hole, it’s a delivery guy. I’m not falling for it. I’m starving and I could rip into whatever he has in those bags. But I’m not opening this door. A soft knock and an equally soft voice from the delivery man, “Ma’am, I’ve been instructed to lea
ve these bags at the door for you and to tell you he’s not here and to please call him. Whatever all that means. So, I’m going now. Enjoy your dinner.”

  I wait a few minutes after he leaves to see if it’s a trick, and that Asher is really not here. Nobody seems to be out there. Cautiously opening the door, I grab the two bags and slam the door locking it behind me. Inside one bag is Chinese food, the exact same order we had the first night we ate dinner. In the second are my purse and a card. I throw the card on the coffee table and dig into the food. Not only do I eat my order, but what he ordered too. My cell phone is chirping every few seconds alerting me to a text. Finishing both helpings of food, I dig my phone out of my purse. I have twenty seven missed texts. Scrolling through them most of them are from Asher, I ignore those. A few are from Amelia, begging me to please call her. There is even a text from his mom, who I didn’t even know had my number. I feel bad for ignoring the ones from his mom and Amelia, but I just can’t talk to anyone right now.

  Lying down on the couch tears just pour from my eyes, I didn’t even know I had that many tears to cry. The card on the coffee table is burning a hole in my vision. Placing my foot on it, I shove it off the table. I fall asleep alone in the dark silently hiccoughing.

  Asher

  I never would have thought Willow would have reacted like she did. Hearing Simon tell me she wanted to go back to her house, I knew it wasn’t a good sign. Banging on her door, I pleaded for her to open it and talk to me. After hours of not even a sound from her, I had to let Simon go home. Dropping me off at my house, I got in my car and went back to the office to talk to Amelia. I had rushed out of the office so fast after Willow that I didn’t even tell anyone I was leaving.

  Back in the office, Amelia was already aware that Willow took off upset, and that I ran off shortly after. Sitting in her office, I told her everything that happened.

  “Asher, I hate to tell you I told you so, but I told you I thought this was a bad idea.”

  “I honestly didn’t think it was a bad idea. Her mother was so open and willing to get back in touch with Willow.”

  “Honey, she hasn’t seen or heard from her mom in twelve years. I know she’s not seeing the bigger picture here, but right now she thinks you betrayed her.”

  “I tried to explain, she wouldn’t hear me out. Can you talk to her for me please?”

  “I’ll text her Asher, but I think the best thing right now is to give her a little space.”

  “The results from her testing are tomorrow morning, and she is supposed to have her port taken out. She can’t go through all that alone.”

  “Asher, I’m sorry. I don’t know what to tell you about that, I don’t even know where her doctor is. She had chemo treatments next door, but her doctor’s office is somewhere else.”

  “She didn’t even eat lunch, and it’s getting late. I don’t think she has any food in her house.”

  “Her purse is here, why don’t you order her some food and have her purse and dinner delivered. And, Asher, take my advice and give her some space to think. I know that’s going to be hard. Hopefully, she will talk to me and I can explain for you. Even if she doesn’t want to see you, I’ll see if she’ll let me go with her to her appointment tomorrow morning.”

  “Thanks sis, I’ll go drop off her purse and order her some dinner from a restaurant. If you talk to her, let me know right away.”

  Getting a hug and a nod from my sister, I make my way to the Chinese restaurant with instructions on exactly what to do. Heading home, I feel like an even bigger ass when I realize Lucy is at my house. She doesn’t have her dog there to make her feel better. After a quick walk and putting some food down, I can’t just sit here. I head to my parents’ house.

  With my head hanging, I knock on the door. Mom answers, she doesn’t even ask what the problem is. She wraps me in a tight hug bringing me into the house, pours me a glass of milk, and tells me to spill. I tell her the whole story. She said the same thing as Amelia. Giving her Willow’s cell phone number, I make her promise she will try to talk to Willow too.

  Headed home, I crawl into bed, with Lucy curled in the crook of my stomach. Today did not turn out like I had hoped.

  Chapter 19

  Willow

  Still sleeping on the couch, I drift into a dream. I’m sitting on a beach, the warm sand between my toes, the loud thunder of waves and the smell of salty air is whipping through my hair. A shadow shields the sun in front of me. Turning my head to look what it is. A beautiful blonde with long curly hair stands behind me with yellow roses in her hand. I stand immediately turning in her direction to face her.

  “You’re Olivia?”

  “Yes, I am. Willow, it’s nice to finally meet you.”

  “What? How are you here?”

  “I was coming to Ash in his dreams for a while. He was so heartbroken after I died. I knew he would never be able to move on, on his own. I encouraged him to open his heart to you. I know you are his soul mate. He is such a wonderful man, Willow. I know you think he hurt you, but that’s not how it happened.”

  She takes my hand and says, “Willow, he only contacted your mom to try and protect you. He wanted to know ahead of time if she was willing to talk to you. If she wasn’t open to talking to you, I know he would have done everything he could have to keep you from that pain.”

  Sobbing, I had no idea he was only doing it to make sure I didn’t get hurt. I never stopped to think about why he did it. “Oh Olivia, I’ve made a huge mistake.”

  “Willow, go talk to Ash, I know he’s worried about you. It was all a big misunderstanding. I have already said my goodbyes to him. I can’t come to him anymore. I know you love him, and he’s a good, honest, loyal, and loving man. He wants to talk to you. Go to him, let him explain.”

  “Olivia, thank you. I want you to know he talks about you all the time. I can feel the love that he has for you. You were his soul mate too, and you were the love of his life.”

  “Sometimes, God allows us to have two soul mates in our lifetime. I’m glad that he’s found you. Willow, he loves you, go to him. Forgive him. He was only doing what he thought was best for you.”

  “I will.”

  She places a yellow rose in my hand, and I wake up in the dark of my family room. I look down at my hand, I am holding one single yellow rose. I frantically grab my purse, jump in my car, and speed to Asher’s house. I bang on the front door, yelling for him to let me in. I can hear Lucy barking on the other side of the door. The porch light flips on, the front door is thrown open, and Asher is standing in the door way in only his boxer briefs.

  Barging through the front door pushing him to the side I say, “I need to see a picture of Olivia.”

  “Willow, what are you talking about?” he says, running after me concerned.

  I toss books to the floor from the shelves, rummaging through Asher’s belongings. I go room by room, leaving his belongings strewn all over the floor. “I need to see a picture of Olivia.”

  “Willow, why? What’s going on? Please sit down. I need to talk to you. I need to explain what happened today.”

  “Asher, just please, I need to see a picture of Olivia.”

  “OK, I have one in my night stand in my bedroom.”

  I run up the stairs, and pull the drawer clean out of the night stand, and dump the contents on the bed, I find a 5x7 photo of a woman with long blond curly hair holding yellow roses.

  “It was really her, it was really her. Oh my God, it was really her.”

  “Willow, what’s going on, what are you talking about? Please calm down, sweetheart, I need to tell you what happened.”

  “You don’t need to. She already did, Ash.”

  “What? Who did?” I can see the look on his face, because I’ve never called him Ash before.

  “Olivia did.” I open my hand, showing him the yellow rose. He looks at my hand then my face. Tears are streaming down both of our faces.

  “You don’t have to explain, I know everything.
”

  He crashes into me with a fierce hug, squeezing me so tight I almost can’t breathe. Pulling away slightly, he looks at my face, “Willow, I never meant to hurt you. I was only trying to protect you.”

  “Asher, it’s OK, I understand now. I’m sorry for overreacting.” He takes the photo and the yellow rose out of my hand, placing them on the night stand. With one swoop of his arm, the drawer and everything on the bed is knocked to the floor. Laying me down with a kiss filled with apology and love, he’s telling me with his mouth everything I already knew. Spooning in our ‘night time position’, he holds me tight. Lucy jumps on the bed and curls up at my feet with a sigh. Yes, I’m home, and it feels wonderful.

  Asher

  Waking the next morning, immediately my thoughts go to Willow running out and our fight. Panic sets in for just a moment. When I feel the familiar warmth of her body pressed against my side, I begin to relax. Her arm thrown over my chest, our legs a tangle of limbs. Then I remember last night when she came rushing into my house demanding to see a photo of Olivia.

  Glancing over to the night stand, the photo and one single yellow rose sits next to the lamp. I had hoped that I was really seeing Olivia in my dreams, but I knew it just wasn’t possible. This confirms that it had to be. Willow saw her too. Olivia talked to Willow and explained everything. Tears are running down my temples onto the pillow, the love that I feel for Olivia hurts so badly. My heart is being torn out of my chest all over again. But Olivia was right, there is plenty of room in there, because the love I have for Willow is right there too.

  Willow stirs in my arms. Placing a soft kiss in her hair, I say, “Good morning, sweetheart.”

  Looking in my eyes, she reaches her hand to the side of my face wiping away the tears. “Asher, what’s wrong?”