As Right As Rain

by J. M. Maurer

  I pull up a blanket and curl into a ball, hoping I’ll find a way to put all the broken pieces back together.

  I won’t lie. Making it through January without Eli was rough. So I know going to the café on Valentine’s Day will more than suck. But with only a couple days left before I head back home to Oklahoma, I decide it’s time to say a few goodbyes. I will miss the café, and I’ll definitely miss Stacie and Vinnie.

  Determined to make it through the day, I slide into my side of the booth like I always did with Eli, shift my sight up and across the table, and meet Stacie’s green eyes. She offers up her beautiful smile, clearly aware I’m still an emotional wreck.

  In the months since Eli first brought me here, Stacie has become my family away from home. And because of how close our friendship has grown, leaving Cleveland feels a lot harder than I expected. I peer back at her through a well of moisture, attempt a smile of my own, and then watch in silent sadness as she leans forward and pushes a box of tissues across the table.

  “Thanks for meeting me for lunch and for all the love and support you’ve given me these last few months.”

  She taps my hand. “We love you, Makayla, and wish you the world. But just so you know, you better come back often and visit us.”

  “I’m sure I’ll come back,” I tell her, even though I’m not sure I will. I have grown to like Cleveland, but with so many memories of my relationship with Eli, it’ll be hard for me to return. “You know, you’re always welcome to come visit me.”

  “I’ll keep that in mind. I’d love to see Oklahoma. It’s not all that far from Texas, right?”

  At the mention of Texas, my shoulders drop. I know exactly where she’s going with this. She’s curious and wants to know what’s going on between Eli and me.

  I toss her a wavering smile. “Yes, Oklahoma is a lot closer to Texas than Cleveland is, that’s for sure.”

  “Have you heard from Eli?”

  I shake my head and lift a tissue from the box. “No. Not lately. He texted last week after I left a message telling him I was moving back home. He congratulated me on my new job and said he’d be in touch, but I’m starting to think I might never hear from him again.”

  “Nonsense. He’s in love with you. I don’t know how you don’t see it.”

  “Well, whatever you think you see, with the distance between us, things between Eli and me are… complicated.” I flick my gaze to the window and hope he’s okay. I want him to enjoy Houston, but I also pray that he hasn’t long since forgotten the special connection we have.

  “Maybe he’s just busy with work,” she offers, her tone confident and soothing.

  I turn back and meet her sad smile. “There’s something hitting me hard about leaving, you know. I guess being here gives me a sense that I can still feel him in a way. I don’t know. What’s wrong with me? I guess I just really miss him.”

  “There’s nothing wrong with you. You love him. Of course you miss him,” she says matter-of-factly, then straightens a finger as if telling me to wait. With ease and excitement, she scoots out of her seat. “I know just the thing to cheer you up. Wait here. I promise I’ll be right back.”

  I try to match her enthusiasm, but there isn’t anything except Eli that can lift me out of my funk. When she returns with the notorious bowl in her hands, I toss her a sideways look and immediately voice my objection.

  “Thanks, Stace, but not today. I don’t feel like having cake.”

  “You can keep crying if you want, Makayla, but I’m leaving it just in case.” She lowers the bowl and places it on the table directly under my face. “There’s a mess I need to clean up in the kitchen, but I’ll come back as soon as I’m finished. Go on. I have a feeling that right there is going to make you feel better.”

  She turns to leave, but I stop her mid-stride. I need to let her know what else I’ve got on my mind.

  “I appreciate everything you and Vinnie have done for me. Without you two, I’d have left Cleveland a long time ago.” I force a smile, grateful for my adoptive family who took me in and fostered me like one of their own, yet upset more than ever that Eli’s gone and hasn’t been a part of it.

  As Stacie moves to the kitchen, I turn inward and reluctantly stare down at the bowl. And like a moth to a flame, I lean forward to take a closer look at its contents. To my surprise, it isn’t The Makayla. It isn’t even cake. For some reason, inside the bowl sits a perfectly packed ball of snow.

  Glistening under the café lighting, the snow has melted just enough that a tiny red ribbon is peeking out at the bottom, resting in some slush. Allured by its strangeness, I reach in and snatch the ribbon between my thumb and forefinger. My mind goes in every direction as I try to discern what exactly is in front of me.

  Puzzled, I tug against the ribbon and give the ball a little jiggle, loosening the snow enough that it breaks apart with a splash. Holding the ribbon, I stare down at a small plastic bag at the end. Even more interesting is a piece of paper zipped inside that appears to have been folded several times. A part of me can’t wait to remove it from the bag while another part of me struggles to settle a sudden rolling in my stomach.

  As the seconds pass, the feeling grows intense. Unpleasant waves of heat ripple along every nerve ending from my head down to my feet. Confused, I finger the bag and bite down on my lower lip. There’s only one way to find out what’s inside.

  I fight the flutter in my abdomen that is moving in like the highest of high tides, and poise myself to accept whatever is tucked inside. Pulling out the piece of paper, I unfold it and reveal a slew of words written on one side.

  Scanning down to the bottom of the page, I suck in a breath, rise from my seat and twist around, my knees digging into the cushion and my hands clasping onto the booth. My gaze goes frantic, roaming left and then right in a desperate search for the one man I love with all my heart.

  But despite getting my hopes up, I can’t see Eli anywhere.

  Disappointed, I plop back down and set my sight on the piece of paper in my hand. My skin burns in anticipation. My heartbeat is racing. I draw in a cleansing breath, letting hope move through me. Expanding my lungs to capacity, I blink to clear my watery eyes and will my heart to slow its beat.

  Inhaling a subtle scent of flowers, I settle into my seat, focus on the writing, and read the note.

  My dearest Makayla,

  I’m sorry I haven’t kept in touch as well as I know I should have. I’m hoping that once you hear what I’ve been up to that you will forever forgive me.

  I also want you to know that I don’t blame you for what happened that night after the snowball fight. Though what I do blame you for is making me miss seeing you in that atrocious hat of yours.

  I also miss the feel of your lips warming mine. I miss your smile, your touch. Even more than that, Makayla, I blame you for making me fall in love.

  I’ve never felt this way before. Quite honestly, you’re all I’m able to think about these days. And trust me, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking lately. So much so that all my thoughts keep bringing me back to one thing. I’ve been heartbroken, truly shattered since leaving you behind in Cleveland.

  More than anything, I wanted to ask you to come with me and start a new journey at my side. But frankly, I got scared. I’m not afraid to admit it, and I think when I explain why, you’ll understand. I needed to know I’d made the right move and that I could take care of you if you agreed to let me.

  What I want more than anything is to have you in my life forever. You know I told you this as I wrapped my arms around your soft skin and held your body tightly against mine. I know you’ve seen the truth of that statement deep within my eyes. Because, Makayla, our love is eternal and the best is yet to come.

  We’re meant to be together. There’s no other way to say it. Without you at my side, my life is incomplete and my soul is freezing. Please come outside so I can tell you these things in person.

  Eli

  xoxo

  He’s her
e?

  Outside?

  I move out of the booth so quickly my hip slams the edge of the table. I cringe in pain, but in no way will it keep me from pushing forward. Needing to be with Eli, I spring toward the exit.

  Stacie shouts from somewhere behind me, “Take him home, M. He’s been outside for the last half hour.”

  I blow her a kiss over my shoulder and push through the door. As I step out onto the sidewalk, freezing drizzle wets my hair. Then I see him. The man I love. He’s got his arms wide open. I can tell he’s as excited to see me as I am to see his perfect smile.

  I rush to him, but my feet find a thin patch of ice. My boots lose their grip and my arms move in awkward circles as my legs come out from under my body. Then, like a bowling ball striking the ten pin, I slide in with the grace of a giraffe on skates and take Eli down.

  He laughs for a moment and it’s such a beautiful sound. Thankfully he’s not hurt, and tells me so as he moves to help me up. I waste no time brushing myself off. I need him close, and draw him to my chest.

  He tightens his hold around my back and rests his cheek against the top of my head. “Nice exit,” he says, expelling what little air is left in my lungs. “I was beginning to think you weren’t coming out. What took you so long?”

  I squeeze even harder in an effort to match Eli’s strength. But his scent once again sets my soul on fire and starts doing all sorts of crazy things to my body.

  “What took you so long, and why aren’t you in Houston? You wouldn’t be freezing if you were still in Houston.”

  “Houston was cold. Without you at my side, I didn’t like it very much. In your arms, I could never freeze. So it’s probably a good thing I didn’t stay there very long.”

  I blink a few times to clear tears I know are streaming down my face, and then squint as a bright ray of sunshine peeks out from behind a cloud that’s still sprinkling rain. Holding Eli, I wonder if I heard him correctly.

  I scoot back from his hold and level my watery gaze up to his. “If you’ve not been in Houston, then where exactly have you been?”

  Eli palms the small of my back and gently nudges me forward. Once we’re back in the entryway of the café, he flicks his index finger into the air. “I’ll answer that in a minute. Wait here. I promise I’ll be right back. Don’t go anywhere.”

  A laugh escapes me as I remember him saying “don’t go anywhere” once before. Again, Eli, where on earth do you think I’d possibly go?

  He ducks outside, and in no time returns with a bundle of red roses clutched in his hand. “It’s Valentine’s Day, and I still have several flowers to give you before I’ve gone through the over four hundred thousand varieties.” He hands over the roses he must have dropped when I slid into him, his expression changing from endearing to serious. “And on top of that, I believe we have reservations tonight to a murder mystery dinner.”

  I smile, pull the roses close, and lean in. “With everything that’s happened, I assumed you’d forgotten about our date.”

  “Forgotten? I don’t ever want you to think that. It’s all I’ve been thinking about these last few weeks. I’ve been looking forward to this day.” He seems worried, but quickly moves past it. Then he dips his hand inside his coat pocket and draws out a small box. “I have something else. Do you remember the night I stopped talking and didn’t finish my sentence?”

  Remember? There hasn’t been a day since then that I haven’t given it a serious amount of thought. I nod, seeing a soft curl form around his lips.

  “I stopped short of finishing my thought, not because I didn’t know what was happening to me, but because I feared you might not be feeling the deep emotions that I felt. But you’re too perfect for me to let you slip right through my hands. I want you happy, Makayla. And I really want you to succeed in everything you do. But I can’t help but be excited that you’ve chosen to move back to Oklahoma.”

  He lifts the lid of the box he’s holding, showing me what’s tucked inside. A silver bracelet sparkles bright under the afternoon light. I reach in, clasp it with my fingers, and remove it from the black velvet it’s nestled in. Three charms dangle from the links: one an emblem for the University of Oklahoma, one for Ohio State, and the final charm an elegant blending of two red hearts.

  The thoughtful gift takes my breath away and makes me smile even more. Eli fastens it to my wrist, and after a moment of cherishing the glint of happiness in his eyes, I tap my lips to his cheek and pull him in for another hug.

  “I love it. Thank you, Eli.” I lean back, my emotions flipping from being thrilled to feeling confused, and then landing unexpectedly on sad. “I’ll cherish this forever. But… why are you so happy to hear I’m moving back home?”

  “Come on.” Eli takes my coat, my purse, and the letter he’d written from Stacie’s hands.

  I was too wrapped up in Eli to notice her behind the check-in stand until now. She grins from ear to ear. From the look on her face, she seems happy to have been listening in on our conversation.

  “I’ll tell you more on our way to your apartment,” Eli says. “Too much has happened. But don’t worry. It won’t be long before I’ve got you all caught up. It’s good news. I promise.”

  A surge of melancholy moves through me as I throw on my coat and bundle up. I’m way too impatient to wait for Eli to decide when it’s time to give me answers. I stop him outside the café and square my shoulders to face him. Before I get a chance to talk, he wraps me up and nuzzles his face into the crook of my neck. His whiskers tickle me as he releases a lusty growl and then opens his mouth to speak.

  “You’re everything I want. You are as sweet as they come. And smart. And caring. And… I love you, Makayla Reading.”

  I love you. Those are the words he had left unsaid. I couldn’t be happier as he pulls me in as tight as he can. It’s as if he’s putting the exclamation point on those all-important words. Another tear slides down my cheek as I loosen my hold.

  Leaning back, I find the golden-brown eyes I love.

  “I love you,” he says again, locking his sight with mine.

  My heart skips several beats before I tell him a secret I’ve known since day one. “I’ve loved you since the moment you mispronounced my name.”

  His lips curl into the largest grin I’ve ever seen on his face. “Oh, my beautiful snow angel, one day I’ll make sure that mispronouncing your name is never an issue again.”

  His eyes shimmer with love, and I start to wonder if he might actually be planning our future.

  “By the way,” he continues, “did you ever buy a new hat? I hope not because I have the most awesome Oklahoma hat. It’s a good thing I have it, because it’s been keeping me warm for the last couple of weeks. Honestly, I had no idea it got so cold in Oklahoma. But thankfully the most amazing woman I’ve ever met told me she needed to keep her cameraman warm.”

  My heart zips into overdrive and my head spins. “What? Did I hear you correctly? You’ve been living in Oklahoma?”

  He nods. “Turns out the guy I spent time with at the basketball game really liked my suggestions. He called while I was in Houston and after a second meeting, he offered me a job. Makayla, I can’t tell you how thrilled I am that you’re finally coming home on your own. I can’t wait to see you relaxed and happy, like you were when you took me home for Christmas.”

  A jolt of disappointment hits me like a kid waking up on Christmas morning to find out Santa didn’t come. I would have given anything to be back home in Oklahoma, celebrating his new job with him.

  “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “Why didn’t you tell me about Ed?” He raises a brow and watches intently as I think back to the night when everything fell apart. “I suspect you thought I’d end up in jail if you told me.”

  I nod “I feel…” I trail off, my words trapped within the tightening deep in my chest.

  Eli’s warm fingers lift my chin, leveling my sight with his. Then he cradles my face with his hands. “Just like you had you
r reasons, I had mine. I needed you to follow through with your dreams and go where you wanted to go, not follow me in fear that what happened before might happen again.”

  Like with Caleb?

  Now I know why Eli didn’t ask me to go with him to Cincinnati. I once thought following Caleb to Cleveland was the biggest mistake I’d made. Though now I know it wasn’t. And although I never voiced that belief to Eli, somehow he knew. Perhaps even from day one, when he sensed there was so much more on my mind than I’d openly let on.

  I take his hands and pull them to my chest. “It was never like that with you.”

  “I’m glad to hear it.” He reverses the hold and pulls my hands to his chest. “It was a huge risk on my part. I didn’t want to leave you. But my heart kept telling me things would turn out okay. That we’d be together again, because as much as you wanted to make a name for yourself, I wanted that for you too. I couldn’t ask you to give that up for me. Not in a million years. I love you, Makayla. Your dreams are my dreams, and I want all of your dreams to come true.”

  “I would have followed you, you know. To Cincinnati. To Houston. To Timbuktu. And for only one reason. I love you.”

  “I know. I heard it in your voice the night you called and left me the message. I feel it in the way you hold me, and definitely in your kisses. I see it in your expressions when you don’t even know I’m looking. There’s not a doubt in my mind that we’re meant to be together.”

  He looks at me for a long moment, his hands firmly clasped around mine, his eyes burning with love and affection and desire and so many other emotions I can’t even begin to process. And then he takes a knee.

  “I want the key to your heart. And I want your heart forever. I love you, Makayla, like there’s no tomorrow. I love you more than I ever imagined I could ever love. I might not have been able to get you to love Cleveland, but I don’t care where we are; I just want to spend the rest of my life enjoying the world with you at my side. Makayla Renee, let’s start our forever together. In Oklahoma. With you as my wife. Will you marry me?”