Chapter 20

CHAPTER 20

Mayson

Having someone like Bennett as a friend was much better than if he was an enemy. The guy had so many connections the finding out where Crystal lived was easy for him. But he also found her parents and I learned that she goes to see them every Sunday for brunch. I spent hours each day with them over the last two weeks, getting to know them, more about Crystal, and more importantly, answering all their questions they had about me, so they knew I wasn't here to hurt their daughter.

I understood why they insisted on getting to know me before entrusting their daughter with me. They had never heard my name before I showed up at their doorstep. The only thing they knew was Crystal had traveled on vacation and hadn't been the same since she came back. Now they knew why. She was broken hearted, and I was here to fix that.

I couldn't have done it on my own. It took a lot of convincing and help from Bennett and Zoey, but her parents finally agreed not to keep my presence here a secret, but also to allow me to steal her away for the day instead of my joining them for brunch.

Granted, I could've gone and saw her before this, but she lived at my mothers. I wasn't ready to deal with that. If I went there, this would be about a mother and son reunion. Although I wanted to see her eventually, just not now. I was here for one reason. Crystal.

The limo was parked directly in front of her parents' house. I was dressed in a nice suit. Had what I learned to be her favorite flower. Pink carnations and now all I needed was for her to come with me when I asked.

They said Crystal was never late, but to me, I was counting every second. I couldn't wait to see her again. Hopefully she felt the same.

Each time I heard a vehicle turning onto their street, my heart skipped a beat with anticipation. One thing I learned about the States was everyone had a car. Traffic was crazy here and I was glad I wasn't driving. Just being near Crystal again was going to be a major distraction. I never could've maneuvered the city streets safely.

I have no idea why she likes it here. It was busy, noisy and crowded. I would also need to add, cold. I hadn't stopped shivering since I landed two weeks ago. I'd take my tropical island over this any day. But if this is where Crystal wants to live, then I better get used to freezing my ass off, because I'm going to let a little frost bite come between us.

Several more cars passed by, but then I noticed one the right color. Could it be her? It slowed down and pulled into the driveway and parked. I wanted to open the door, run up to her and pull her into my arms. But that wasn't the plan. We needed to talk. Mostly me. Hopefully she as willing to listen.

She started up the walkway. Her parents were standing on the porch. Her mother raised her hand stopping her from going any further. This was my queue. I opened the door and got out.

They exchanged a few words, and then Crystal spun around, eyes wide open in disbelief. Then she looked back to her parents, who nodded and waved to me. It was their way of giving me their blessing. More than I expected. More than I deserved. Grateful, nonetheless.

She walked over to me and asked, "Mayson, what are you doing here?"

"I think I owe you a walk on the beach," I said.

I thought she would chuckle, or smile. But neither. Instead, she asked, "I mean here at my parents. Why are you here?"

"I wanted to meet your parents. Let them get to know me," I said.

"Great. Now you're all buddy buddy with them. From the look on my mother's face, you didn't just show up here today either. How long have you been in the States?" she questioned.

She wasn't going to like the answer. "Can you get in the limo, and we talk on the way?" She crossed her arms and shook her head. "Two weeks."

"Two weeks?" she said loudly.

I looked at her parents who were still on the porch watching us. I gave them a smile as though this was going well. It wasn't.

"Yes. Two weeks. There was a lot I needed to do before I saw you," I said.

"Obviously," she said sarcastically. "Do you even have a clue as to what I've been going through? This has been so difficult, and you didn't even call or text. Nothing. Just one day I turn around and find out you were here all along. I needed you, Mayson. Your mother needed you."

So, she wasn't as happy to see me as I had thought. But I wasn't giving up. I'd come here to fight for her forgiveness and her love, and that's exactly what I was going to do.

"I'm sorry. I don't know what you've been going through. I can only speak on my own behalf. It's been pure hell. But I would truly apricate it if you come with me and let me explain," I pleaded.

She once again turned to her parents, who nodded and gestured for her to go with me. It had been a wise choice to spend time with them. Best to have them on my side instead of calling law enforcement to have me removed.

"Fine. I will go. But for the record, you weren't the only one hurting you know," she said.

I nodded. "And for that, I'm very sorry. I'd like the chance to make up for that."

Holding the door open, I waited for her to slip inside. Once we were both seated, the driver pulled away from the curb. He knew where he was taking us. It was a place that her parents told me she would ask to go to every day she could during the summer. A beach not that far from where they lived now. Just about forty-five minutes. That was perfect. It would give me plenty of time to talk.

"Where are we going?" she asked.

"To the beach as I said. But until we get there, I thought I could talk. There is a lot I need to say. Things that I should've said that day you left, but I didn't know how."

"Mayson, I understand why you didn't see me off. I lied to you, and you were angry. I would've been angry too if you had lied to me. Well, I guess you're being her for two weeks and not saying anything could be considered a lie. But I don't want to get into a pattern of keeping secrets. If we learned anything from that day on the cliff it is that all they do is ruin things. Destroy what was once so...special."

"Is it destroyed? I mean, do you really believe that we can't get passed this?" I asked.

She looked up at me and said, "That will take forgiveness. Are you ready to forgive me?"

"I already have. Even that night, I had. I just couldn't get out of my own way and accept that just because the universe didn't get it right the first time, that didn't mean we weren't meant to be together." I reached across the seat and took her hand in mine. Thankfully she didn't pull away, but she wasn't holding mine in return. Not yet at least. "You said that you believed in soulmates. Do you still do?" She nodded. "I do as well. And I know who mine is. That is, you. Crystal you and I are meant to be together. All I need is a second chance to show you that. Please, let me show you how much I love you, and maybe you will be able to love me back again," I said, honestly.

Her fingers now entwined with mine. "You love me?" I nodded. "How? I broke your trust."

"Not really. When I thought back to it all, what you were trying to do was something beautiful for me and my family. It took Zoey to explain it all to me so that I fully understood. The same thing that makes you an excellent nurse is what brought you to Tabiq. Trying to heal what was hurt. The only problem was I was in denial about being hurt. I buried those feelings. It's how I survived all those years without my mother. And when I went to the resort that morning to see you before you left, I couldn't do it. It opened all the wounds from my past. I loved my mother, and she left. Now I found myself in love with you and you were leaving too. But the universe wasn't going to allow me to hide this time. Even the secret cave was not the same without you." Looking into her eyes, I said, "I wasn't the same without you. I don't care about what happened in the past. Baby, you are my future. That is if you can forgive me for waiting so long to tell you," I said.

Her eyes glistened. "Mayson, I would wait a lifetime if I had too. But I think a few weeks is much better because I don't know if I could have held out much longer. I love you so much that it hurt not seeing you. I just didn't want to bring you any more pain than I already had. How can I ever make it up to you?"

"You're a nurse. Don't they tell you in medical school that all you need to do is kiss it an make it better?" I grinned.

"What hurts?" she smiled.

All of me.

I pulled her close and said, "Let's start here." I claimed her lips and all the fears and worries I had, vanished. She melted into my arms. She told me she loved me. She forgave me. From here we can move forward. Together.

When we broke our embrace, she stayed against me, her head on my shoulder. "Mayson, what about your mother?"

"I will go see her. Not today. Today is about us. Tomorrow I will go and see her."

She looked up at me and asked, "Can you forgive her too? If not for her, can you please forgive her for me?"

"You are very protective of my mother, aren't you?" I asked.

"I am. She has shared so much with me. My heart goes out to her, and to so many of the women in Tabiq. She had a life that horror movies are made from. Unfortunately, it wasn't a script. It was her reality. And she needs you. She needs both of her sons," she said.

I needed to tell her. "Orion knows I am here for you, but I haven't told him about our mother. I wanted to see her first."

Crystal nodded. "I understand. Maybe if you had read the letter, things would've been different, but at least you're here now."

"Speaking about your purse, you must feel lost without your driver's license."

"That can be replaced. The letter can't," she stated. Reaching under the seat I pulled out her purse and held it up. "Where did you find it?" she asked with a look of utter surprise on her face.

"I told you the universe wants us to have a second chance. Would you believe me if I told you that the hawk dropped it in my brother's yard while I was there?"

"I would say that you're joking, but since we said no more lies, then yes, I believe you." She took the purse and opened it and pulled out the envelope. "The letter is still here. You can still read it."

"You might want to confirm everything else you had inside, is still there as well," I suggested.

"Nothing in more important than this," she said, handing the letter to me.

"Just double check, please," I prodded.

"Fine. But I don't care if a lipstick is missing." She opened the purse again and started to pull out things. Then her eyes peered closer into the purse and pulled out a long rectangle Tiffany box. Holding it up she said, "This definitely is not mine."

"I beg to differ," I said, taking the purse from her so she now only held the box. "Open it."

She looked at me and asked, "What is it?"

I laughed. "The best way to know is by opening the box."

Slowly she lifted the lid and then pulled out the 24-karat gold chain and heart shape pendant. She turned it over and, on the backside, I had engraved.

Crystal & Mayson.

The 24 Karat Kind of Love .

Her eyes watered, and she looked up at me. "It's...perfect. Thank you, Mayson. Can you please help me put it on?"

She handed it to me and turned so I could close the clasp. When she faced me again, it hung perfectly. "I have said the words. I love you. And now you have it in writing."

"Thank you for the gift, but it's still not the best thing you've given me. You trust me with your heart. And I promise, I will cherish and protect it always. I love you, Mayson," she said.

"And I promise to do likewise," I said. "Now, how about that walk on the beach?"

She shrugged. "I have a better idea."

"Please don't say go back to your parent's house and join them for brunch."

She giggled. "Oh, what I was thinking definitely didn't involve anyone but the two of us."

"You've got my full attention," I smiled.

"I thought so." She called out to the driver and gave her an address.

"Where are we going?"

"Someplace very private. And someplace not so cold for you. Your hands are freezing," she said.

"You in my arms is all I need to warm up," I said, pulling her to sit on my lap.

Thank you, universe. You at least got it right the second time.