Unexpected meeting

"Revean , I know this situation is unconventional and you will never have the freedom a woman your age should have, but I want you to be happy here and not hate being with me. do you know what I mean?".

"I know. You're grumpy, a control freak and you have a bipolar personality, so sometimes it's a little hard to know which Eliot I'm going to get, but I'm happy."

"That's not exactly what I meant, but I do appreciate your honesty."

Eliot leads me through the house and out into the backyard. The heat, even at this time of night, hits me. But it's not oppressive, because a gentle breeze blows over the desert. Eliot flips a switch on the wall and a light comes on, revealing a new caged area. In the center sits Luna .

"Luna." I run to her. "How?" I turn to Eliot .

"Apparently, she kept coming to the trailer, calling for you. I had her brought in and installed the cage today. I don't know much about how to care for her, or if this cage is okay because she's feral, but she's going to need some special care because she's going to have kittens."

"Kittens? She's pregnant. Luna , naughty girl." I laugh as I enter the cage and, taking her in my arms, I stroke her ears. She purrs loudly and calms down.

"She can come in the house. I don't mind. But I don't want her running around without the cage. There are a lot of wild animals that could attack her," Eliot continues to explain .

"I'll have to read up on what we need to do." I put Luna down and walk out of the cage to where Eliot is . "Thank you. I thought about her today while I was with all the big cats. I'm glad she's here. She was my only friend in Pharr."

"I know." Eliot strokes my face. "There's one more gift I have for you tonight."

"More? Eliot , I don't need all this."

"I don't buy things from you to get something from you in return, Revean . Please don't think that. I am a different person from the one who came to pick you up. I want to marry you and I want to have children with you because of who you are, not because I am your father's daughter . The hatred I felt for you is gone. I just feel..." Eliot places his hand over my heart. "I don't know if I'll ever be able to say the word, but I think you know what I mean."

Part of me is saddened that the growing feeling I feel for this man in front of me will probably never be able to express it out loud, but I know what his hand resting on my heart means, and that's all I need. He withdraws his hand, reaches into his pocket and pulls out his cell phone. He slides his finger to bring up a picture and turns the phone to show it to me.

"Everything is at the casino right now, but I'll have it brought here tomorrow."

I look closely at the photo. It's a laptop with books around it. The books are different veterinary modules.

"I don't understand." I'm confused about what it means.

"I've got you studying to be a vet. It's an online course with tutors to help you. I won't let you out of my sight to go to university. I don't trust the guys who will be there, but you can study what you want and tailor the later modules to the areas you want to specialize in. Alan has also said he will be happy to help you gain practical experience. He was impressed that you diagnosed the meerkat problem."

My head starts spinning. I can't believe what I'm hearing. This has been my dream my whole life, to study animal medicine.

"Is this for real?" my voice cracks.

"Yes. You're going to have to work hard. It's not going to be easy, but I know you'll get there. Who knows, when you make it, I might even buy you the Las Vegas Zoo."

"Okay, that's going too far! For now I'll settle for delivering Luna's kittens and taking care of them."

I take a step closer to Eliot and, raising my hand, cover his heart with my palm.

"Thank you. I'm glad my dad was a monster because he led me to you. I only wish," I look down and away, "that your mother hadn't been the price you had to pay."

Eliot is silent. His fingers twirl the ring on his left hand. A ring I know once belonged to his mother. He takes it off and, taking my left hand between his, puts it on my finger. It's a little big for me, but I understand the meaning of this gesture.

"Will you marry me?" It's not a question, it's a demand. It will always be a demand when Eliot wants something, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

"You know I can't say no." I lean forward and kiss him. "Let's go to bed and celebrate."

ELIOT

"What do you think he wants, Eliot?" Andrew's face is full of concern as we stride purposefully through the security unit.

"I don't know, but why now, just when Revean and I have finally got it all sorted out."

My hands have been clenched into a fist since I got the call this morning from Antonia , Revean's mother , who wanted to see me. I should have told her to go fuck herself. She's nothing but a junkie and a whore, but her message indicated she had important information about the past, so there was no doubt in my mind that I needed to hear what she had to say.

"Do you want me to come in with you?" asks Andrew .

I shake my head. "No, I can handle this on my own."

I remember Antonia from my youth. She was quiet, but I suspect Revean inherited her ability to curse from her mother's Mexican ancestry. Antonia could be very fiery when she got nervous.

We arrive at the door to Antonia's room. Andrew takes up a guard position by the door and I knock before entering the room. Revean's mother is sitting in a chair by the window, reading a book.

She looks completely different from the last time I saw her, when she was fucking a client in the trailer to get a dope fix. She no longer has greasy hair or dark circles under her eyes. She's no longer haggard and haggard. Her hair is shorter, pulled back in a ponytail, and she wears reading glasses.