Prelude to kisses

Chapter 34

She was floating, the air was soft around her. She could stay here forever, she thought. But slowly her eyes peeled open, and she was pulled out of her sleep back to reality. It took a moment for her to collect her thoughts and realize where she was, the memories from last night came back and she felt bad for burdening Mahita. She opened the door to her room, walking to the kitchen; the smell of coffee hit her. Mahita was standing at the stove frying eggs while Marvin sat at the table with a book in front of him. He was already in his uniform, his bag packed sitting on the chair next to him.

"Hey there little man", She greeted him, settling into her chair.

"Hey, you up. How do you feel?" Mahita turned to her, a look of concern on her face.

"As good as new", she assured. "I'm sorry for worrying you".

"When have you ever. Hey, Lee called. He..."

Just then, a knock came at the door, "That must be him", Mahita finished.

"I will get it", Marvin ran to the door and came back with Lee in tow.

He looked younger than the last time she saw him, which was a little over a week ago. Cleanly shaven, a neat blue suit with a white shirt underneath adorned his small frame, "I hear you almost died last night", He said, making his way over to hug her. He had a male scent that clung to him and something else. Something entirely him, she couldn't explain it.

"You can't get rid of me that easily".

They chatted over the breakfast table before Mahita's brother came to get Marvin for school, "I have three hours before I drive to the airport, which means an hour with you ladies before I go home and get my bags. What do you say I treat you to lunch?"

"You don't need two hours to go get your bags but sure, let me take a shower first". Jackie teased.

When Jackie had gone out of the kitchen, Mahita studied Lee for a second. His eyes shone, but she could see some hesitance there. Over the last few years, they'd become pretty close, she could read him now. "It must be hard leaving Zandaya here".

"Oh man, where do I start?"

Mahita waited patiently as he gathered his thoughts before he spoke again, "I feel like I'm leaving a part of myself behind. She's been with me for the last three years to the point I don't know whether or not to leave the house unless she tells me to".

Mahita laughed, she could relate, maybe a little too well than she'd liked. She knew this part about him too, that he was a romantic, "We should have moved in together while we still had the chance, why did I refuse?" he asked Mahita.

Mahita laughed again, "Because you want to marry her first", she offered.

"Yeah, but that doesn't do anything for me now does it. She tells me to go but I know she'd love if I stay. I don't want to burden her later when I realize I should have gone, because I want to go. But I also want to stay here with her", He ran a hand over his face in distress. The man was on the fence and for the first time she had no idea what to tell him.

"Me and my first girlfriend broke up over long distance. I was in school and so was she. I was too broke to visit whenever she wanted, I guess she couldn't do it anymore. I'm scared that's what will happen with Zandaya. I'm I crazy for thinking that way?"

She could only sit there and listen, after all she'd opened a can of worms fully aware of what she'd find there. She knew Lee didn't really expect an answer to that question, deep down he knew all the answers to all those questions, "You guys ready?" Jackie came out, purse in hand, in jeans and a t. shirt, "Before we go, I have a meeting at twelve, so I'm going to take my car".

"Not a chance, you can take a taxi to your meeting. I want to spend the rest of this hour with you guys", Lee said.

"You're such a baby. You're acting like you're not coming back when you're only going to be away for two years". Jackie teased.

They sat down in a coffee shop down the street from where Jackie and Lee used to work. The one he'd taken her the morning after she'd kissed him. They both remembered, but neither mentioned it, they realized it was too much. Two years apart felt like an eternity, she'd never been apart from him ever since they met years ago. It was crazy to think, they'd both basically built each other up without even realizing it. They'd cheered each other on, lit each other's candle when it went out, loved each other unconditionally. Between them was a bond that two years couldn't destroy right? She questioned silently as she sipped her tea.

They kept a light chatter. Listening to Lee talk about his plans made it all seem bearable. She could let him go for two years, let him teach abroad and become a world-renowned naturopathy. Let him go and see the world and stay here waiting patiently for his return. And when he came back, she could hand him over to Zandaya and let her make a husband and hopefully a father out of him. It felt simple when she thought about it. It was a plan, carefully written with all the details there. The only thing missing was a manual on what she was supposed to do with herself when she missed him. Where she was supposed to go for advice and brotherly protection. The plan seemed perfect on paper until it was actually time to live it and most of all live through it.

"I will marry Zandaya and divorce her when you come back", Jackie joked as she hugged him goodbye.

"Keep her safe yes, marry her, an absolute no. I'm the only one allowed to do that".

"You sure you don't want me to take you to the airport?" Mahita asked into his chest.

"No, my wife will take me", he told them.

"Look at him bragging", she said as she gave him a final hug and watched him get into his car. They watched the car drive away. Their eyes stayed glued to the road long after he was gone. It seemed all they could do in a moment like this.