Still

22.

Chapter Twenty Two

Maia's eyes were fixated on the beautiful pool before her. She'd been mesmerized by it ever since she'd arrived at the place. Truly, the entire home was more than beautiful - breathtaking even. There were homes that people lived in and then there were homes that you just felt that people should just look at and only visit.

The soft breeze from the wind blew her hair into her face. She narrowed her eyes, not only taking in the scenery, but the moment. These were the best moments that she'd had in a very long time. She was isolated from everyone. She didn't have much access to any electronics. She narrowed herself to thirty minutes of screen time a day. Most of her day was spent in solace, reading books, painting, swimming, and listening to music. She'd even written a few things.

"Maia?" The woman's voice said softly behind her. Maia didn't have to turn around to know whose voice it was. She had gotten a bit familiar with the woman. She'd extended the olive branch to come to her just for escape purposes. In the beginning, Maia was hesitant. Lately, no one had been doing her any favors. Everyone wanted someone different from her, but this woman seemed different.

Heaven Jacobs took position next to Maia, looking at the water herself. For those that knew her story, they knew that pools had been the one thing that traumatized her. Years ago, Heaven had to tragically endure her daughter drowning in a pool while Heaven was in a sleep aid induced slumber right next to the pool. The moment nearly cost her not only her marriage, but her own life.

"It took me so long to start appreciating bodies of water again," Heaven confessed to her. "For so long, every single thing reminded me of her."

"How'd you get over that?" Maia asked her. She'd remembered the story of the Jacobs family. Not only did they have the recollection from the media, but Heaven ended up writing a book to tell her own truth. In her book, she detailed her dealings with Quincy from when they first met to recently. She let people in on how much her husband hated her.

Heaven thought about the question for a moment. Every time someone asked her, it was as if her answer would change. She knew the answer like the back of her hand and it was simple, yet a lot for some people. "Time," Heaven answered. She turned her attention to Maia, taking in the younger girl's beauty. "Time is the healer of a lot of things. Some people want to rush the process, but it's not a process that should be rushed."

Maia looked over to her, looking over her attire at the moment. She had a peaceful aurora, donning a simple maxi dress, similar to Maia's. Her maxi dress was much looser, covering up her widened hips that she thanks her three year old twins for.

"Walk the path with me," Heaven encouraged, nodding her head to the path that traveled around her Los Angeles backyard. Maia silently obliged, walking next to her. "I brought you here for a reason, A'Maia," Heaven spoke.

"And what's that reason? You have yet to explain that to me," Maia responded.

Heaven paused for a moment and smiled. She looked before them. Truthfully, she could walk this trail with her eyes closed. It was the most peaceful thing that she could ever do and one of the reasons that she'd begged Quincy to purchase this home. "Your story touched me. I saw myself in you."

"Is the only similarity falling in love with your best friend?"

Heaven smirked at her slight dig. "No," she replied. "Q never truly saw me as his best friend when we were in high school. I was more so like the girl that he just couldn't get rid of, but he kept close because he felt a way about me and didn't want anything to happen to me."

"But, you loved him."

"Sure did," Heaven replied. "Stupidly too."

Maia thought about the moment she fell in love with Jourdan. "I could never say I fell stupidly in love with him," she whispered.