by Té Russ
Then he stood and pulled her up with him and he had his way with her up against the shower wall, before they finally washed each other, got dressed and rushed out of the house.
He knew his aunt would give him hell for being late, even if it was just a few minutes. But every time he glanced over at Maya, and remembered his early morning treat he thought it was well worth it.
Chapter 15
"To Lena..."
Everyone held up their glasses of mimosas as Bobby began his toast. They were all sitting around a table at Fuller's, and had just finished a wonderful breakfast that Bobby and LeAnn had put together. Just as Xavier had predicted and Maya had warned him about, Aunt Lee was not pleased that they were late. When she asked what took so long, Maya blushed and Xavier cleared his throat, both of them avoided her eyes.
She then shook her head, and told them to go and help finish getting breakfast ready.
"Today, we will celebrate in a huge accomplishment for you, earning your Master's degree. You have worked hard over the last few years and we are so proud of you. I'm sure your parents are just as proud," Bobby said with a sad smile. "Here's to Lena and the bright future she has ahead."
"To Lena!" everyone shouted toasting their glasses.
Xavier watched as Lena gave a forced smile and took a sip of her drink. He'd noticed that she'd seemed unusually quiet and stoic. He figured today of all days she would have been perky and jubilant. His big brother protective instincts kicked in and he was determined to figure out what was bothering her. He leaned over and whispered in Maya's ear, "I'm going to go and talk to Lena."
Maya nodded. "You gonna go see what's going on with her?"
"You noticed?"
"How could I not? She hasn't been like her normal upbeat self this morning. Go," she pushed.
He kissed her on the cheek and got up.
Lena turned toward him when he reached her.
"Let's go for a walk," he suggested.
Lena swallowed the rest of her mimosa in one large gulp and stood.
He held the door open for her and when they were outside, he linked his arm with hers and they began to walk down the sidewalk.
Once they were a couple of blocks away from the bistro, they found a bench and sat down.
"What's wrong?" he asked point blank.
Lena was quiet for so long that for awhile Xavier thought she wouldn't answer.
"I was offered a job after I graduate," she said quietly.
Xavier perked up. "That's great! I didn't even know you'd applied to any jobs."
"Yeah..."
"Why don't you seem very excited?"
"It's a very great opportunity, but...it's in New York."
"New York?" he asked surprised.
Lena nodded and leaned back against the seat.
"I don't know what to do Xay. On one hand I can't imagine passing up such an amazing job. I mean this is what I've been working in school for over half a decade for. But then on the other hand, I've never been anywhere outside of California. I feel like it would be a complete culture shock. And plus I wouldn't get to see you or Uncle Bobby or Aunt Lee all of the time anymore."
Xavier rested his elbows on his thighs and clasped his hands together, trying to figure out something encouraging to say to his baby sister.
"You know Lena, I wish I had the right words to calm all of your fears, but I don't. But what I do know is like you said, you've worked your ass off to get here. All I can say is you have to follow your heart. You'll figure out what the right decision for yourself is. And if that decision takes you away from California, then we all will support you and rack up a lot of frequent flyer miles."
Lena laughed and lifted her head to the sky and Xavier watched as a tear crawled down her cheek. "I wish Mom and Dad were here."
Xavier swallowed the large lump in his throat and sat up so he could wrap his arm around Lena's shoulder. "Me too, sis. Me too."
They sat in silence for a long time, then Lena sighed and said, "We've got to get out of here so I can get to the auditorium for the ceremony."
"Are you okay?" he asked, as he stood as well.
"Not really," she admitted. "I'm still scared as hell, but like you said, I'll figure it out, and that's good enough for now."
They started walking back to the bistro.
"If I do move, at least you'll have Maya here to take care of you," Lena teased.
Xavier threw his head back and laughed. "Yeah, at least there's that."
Lena stopped and grabbed his arm. "Seriously though, Xay. I'm glad the two of you were able to work things out."
Xavier couldn't help but smile at the thought of Maya. "So am I. I can't imagine life without her."
Lena's eyebrows came together as she looked at her older brother. "You've got something up your sleeve."
He pinched her nose the way he used to when they were little and started walking again.
"Xay!" Lena called out. "What have you got planned?"
"Nothing for you to worry about at the moment. Today is all about you and your graduation."
"Xavier!"
"You'll find out soon enough, let's get back to the bistro," he said, ignoring his nosy little sister.
When Lena's name was called and she walked across the stage to receive her degree, Maya stood with Xavier and his uncle and aunt and cheered along with them at the top of her lungs. She watched Xavier out of the corner of her eye and remembered their conversation a couple of months ago when she'd mentioned how proud he must be of his little sister and her upcoming graduation. Now the moment had arrived and she got to see that pride on his face up close and personal.
She imagined that he would be just as proud, if not prouder when their own children graduated.
Wait a minute! Maya thought suddenly. Our kids? Where did that thought come from?
She shook her head and cursed Eva in her mind. It was all her fault for planting thoughts of marriage and the future in her head. She thought of their conversation they'd had about Xavier proposing and them getting married much sooner rather than later. Then she thought about how Eva had been right about every other prediction about Xavier.
Sure Eva had been on target with everything else, but a proposal? So soon?
"Maya?"
She blinked and realized that Xavier was staring at her with concern filling his eyes. "You okay?" He ran his hand up and down her arms and her body relaxed instantly.
No one could soothe her soul the way Xavier could.
"I'm fine," she replied.
He smiled and as always she was lost.
"I'm going to go and get Lena so we can take some pictures," Xavier said. After he kissed her quickly, he began to wade through the crowd to find his sister.
As she watched him walk away, she realized there was no other man for her. She loved him with every part of herself, and she had no doubt about his love for her.
So it didn't matter when he proposed; it could be five days or five months. Whenever he finally asked her to be his wife, she wouldn't hesitate to say yes.
Xavier smiled thinking about the last time he put up the sign that said "Closed for a Private Event". It was when Maya came to Wined & Dined for the first time. He was amazed at how that had felt like a lifetime ago, but at the same time only felt like yesterday. Love had a way of throwing paradoxes like that around.
He turned and watched as Maya stood with his sister talking and laughing. He switched his focus over to Lena and sighed. He couldn't believe that she may be moving to New York. As much as he hated the thought of not seeing her meddling self every day, he'd meant what he said during their talk that morning about her following her heart.
Xavier looked at Maya again and when she turned, locked eyes with him and smiled, he decided it was time for him to listen to his own advice and follow his heart as well.
"Today was so great," Maya sighed, as she followed Xavier into his house.
"Yeah," he agreed. "It was." He watched her as she kicked her shoe
s off at the door, a habit of hers that she did whenever she first came in.
"I can't believe Lena may be moving. How do you feel about that?"
Xavier ran his hand across his head and leaned back to stare at the ceiling.
"I'll miss her. But she's got to do what's best for her. Honestly, I think it will be good for her."
"Really?"
Xavier nodded. "Sometimes change is good. Shaking things up, do something out of the ordinary, it keeps life interesting."
"I suppose you're right."
"I'm glad you feel that way," he murmured, "because I was thinking...maybe we could shake things up a bit too."
"What do you have in mind?" Maya's eyes danced at his proposition.
He walked over to the wall and moved a picture to reveal a safe. He opened it and pulled out what appeared to be an old jewelry box.
He walked back toward her and guided her to the sofa. Once they sat down he took a deep breath.
He opened the box and Maya felt the air leave her lungs when he pulled out a ring and held it up.
"My father gave this to my mother. When they passed away I found that they'd left this ring in this box and in my father's will he'd instructed me to give this ring to the woman that I knew, without a doubt, was my soulmate. This is the first time I've taken it out since I discovered it."
Her heart began to pound as his words registered in her mind. He'd never shown the ring to anyone, not even Darby.
"My parents were one of the happiest couples I ever knew. I told you it was love at first sight for them."
"I remember," Maya's voice quivered, and she felt her eyes tear up.
"The moment I laid eyes on you Maya, I felt a connection with you that I've never felt with anyone else. And I know I'll never find it with anyone else. You are my soul mate. Will you accept this ring? Will you become my wife?"
She couldn't believe it! He was proposing. And his words were the most beautiful, soul-stirring words he'd ever heard.
Xavier must have thought her shocked expression was hesitation, because he continued on with, "I know we've only been dating for a short time, and it's probably insane for me to already be proposing, but you're it for me baby and–"
"Yes."
He stopped his spiel and looked at her.
"Yes?" he said.
"I'll marry you," Maya said. "You're it for me. And I want to be with you, forever."
He pulled her to him and kissed her deeply then slid the ring on her finger. It was a perfect fit.
"It's so beautiful, Xavier," she exclaimed holding her hand up to get a better look at the ring.
"It looks good on you," he said, then he kissed the top of her hand.
Maya was engaged! She couldn't believe it. Eva had been right all along.
"When do you want to get married?" Maya blurted out.
Xavier stared at her for a moment then said, "Whenever you want, baby. I know how weddings are a big deal so if you need time to plan that's fine with me."
"But you don't really want a long engagement do you?"
"What makes you say that?"
"Just a hunch," she grinned.
He smiled as well as he said, "Well, to be completely honest, if it were left to me, we'd be getting married in front of a judge tomorrow. I don't want to waste a single day, I want you to be mine completely as soon as possible."
"June twentieth," Maya decided.
"That's around a month and half from now," Xavier thought. "I can deal with that."
"So..." Maya said, moving into his arms, "a month and a half from now, we'll be husband and wife."
"June twentieth can't get here fast enough."
It was the last day of Spring and the weather was perfect. Maya felt like the perfect June bride as she peeked out of one of the balconies and watched as guest filled the seats down below in the field overlooking the vineyard at Russell Oaks. When Maya went to her boss and told him she was getting married and wanted to have the ceremony at the winery, he said yes without hesitation. Both Maya and Xavier had agreed that it was the perfect venue to declare their eternal love for each other in front of all of their family and friends.
Her father walked her down the aisle and her sister was her matron-of-honor.
As they recited their vows for one another they felt the love in each word.
When the pastor pronounced them as husband and wife, Xavier pulled Maya into his arms and gave her a kiss that she felt all the way to her soul.
After the beautiful ceremony, they took their wedding photos in the vineyards, and celebrated their reception in the wine caves.
It felt like they'd come full circle since their first encounter together. They still agreed to disagree on whether or not the wine caves counted as their first date, and they probably would for the rest of their lives. But it didn't matter, that day set them on the path that would lead them back here toasting to their union as one.
Later that night, they checked into the hotel they were spending the night in before flying out the next morning for their honeymoon. They were spending a couple of nights in Miami before sailing out on a two week cruise.
They sat on the bed facing each other holding gifts in their hands.
"Open yours first," Xavier urged.
Maya smiled and tore the pretty white wrapping paper off to reveal a sterling silver keepsake box.
"Xavier," she revered, gently brushing her fingers across the top.
"Look inside."
She lifted the top and inside were the tickets from their date on the wine train.
"Memory from our second date."
"First," she said, wiping a tear away.
The was also a flower inside. "It's from the magnolia tree," Xavier explained, "the one that was in your hair. I pressed it in a book and saved it."
"This is perfect." She knew eventually as the years went on, the box would become full of memories of their love for each other.
"Your turn," Maya said, eagerly. She couldn't wait for him to finally open his gift.
He unwrapped it and then opened the oblong shaped box. He sat there, awestruck.
"Where in the world did you find this?" he asked, pulling the '98 Chateaux DuBois out of it's box."
"It wasn't easy." Or cheap, but she didn't bring that up. The look on his face had made it worth every penny. "Now all three will be together."
"But you have the other one," Xavier said.
"We have the other one," she corrected, as she reached up and caressed his face. "The collection is complete now, just like I am with you."
He turned his face and kissed her palm. "This is a wonderful gift, Maya," Xavier said, before leaning over to kiss her.
Soon their gifts were momentarily forgotten and they got lost in each other for the rest of the night.
Xavier worshipped Maya's body and expressed his love for her in every touch, taste and stroke and she did the same. When they were finally spent, Xavier took Maya into his arms and they both reflected on how the last few months had turned out.
Neither would have imagined when they first met that they would end up where they were, but they wouldn't change a single moment and they looked forward to what the future held in store for them.
The End
Thanks for reading!
Published by Shanté Russ
A Spring Affair
© 2015, Té Russ
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. This book contains material protected under International and Federal Copyright Laws and Treaties. Any unauthorized reprint or use of this material is prohibited. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without express written permission from the author / publisher. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, even
ts or locales is entirely coincidental.
