CARA

“Somehow I love putting Liam on his toes. You can call me weird, I don’t mind. I understand that he is simply asking for a harmless outing to make up for how he previously treated me, to make things right, and to make the few remaining moments we have together special. I ponder for a few minutes while staring at Liam, 

"Liam has always been a really sweet soul and the softest person you can meet but acts so tough . I break the silence with a long, stretch, very audible sigh.

“Liam you do not have to look gloomy, I’m sorry I reacted the way I did . I over reacted .” I say giving him my puppy-eyed expression while focusing on his eyes. 

“I just want to make you happy and see you happy for the longest of times” he says looking like a kid his mom took candy from . I I approach him and smile as I hug him. He brightens, and I am relieved. 

“Is that a yes then?” He asks me with the nicest smile. 

“It most certainly is,” I reply, extending my hand to shake his and signalling that the business is settled and sealed. He gives me a handshake before bringing me in for another hug. This time, we both remained motionless. I was near to tears because I didn't want this hug to end. my eyes were close as we hug each other so tight .  I’m certain Liam’s were too.  If one of us doesn't take the brave step to pull away, we both wouldn't let each other go for the rest of the day. After pushing myself to say something I do not want to, I finally say, 

"That's enough, Liam." 

What will this enjoyable outing entail, Liam? I ask with curiosity. If I told you about it, it wouldn't be as cool and you wouldn't look forward to it; I'd much rather show it to you.”

"All right, all right, I already get it. I yell, You don't want to be a spoiler!". 

 “Thank you for understanding, he murmurs as he bows like a perfect gentleman asking for a dance . I stand there smiling , my phone rings and Liam knows for certain That Frederick is the one calling.  He heaves a sigh that says “OMG it’s him again, can’t he just keep his distance for goodness sake’s !!!!”.  Do not let this bother you Liam , Frederick is just a good friend , I promise. He’s absolutely nothing to get worked up about. He’s not a threat to you. Put your mind at rest and come take your drugs and let’s find something fun to do in this moment Mr Fun-man.

He lightly grabs my hand and whispers, "Let's walk upstairs. I'd love to show you something." I follow him behind, his hands still in mine. He takes a number of keys out of the drawer at the left side of the door to the room we were about to enter.  

“Where are you taking me to mystery man , After watching for a long in silence and with attention, I ask at last. We're about to enter, so you'll see everything. Don't ask questions that will spoil the surprise, Cara. 

I instantly close my eyes when he asks me to do so since I'm quite interested in learning more about the surprise that is taking so long. As the door slowly opens, I can hear it creaking. That door has not been opened for who knows how long—probably for a number of years. 

Eventually, he adds, "Open your eyes." The tone of his voice indicates that he is excited. I'm utterly speechless when I open my eyes.

He lit up a few candles as I take my time to process the view before me. The room slowly becomes engulfed with a fruity smell. I love the way they smell; Berries peaches and all.

 “This is the most gorgeous view I have ever seen I think out loud . That whole roof , walls and windows of the room was made from glass so I can see the sky , trees and other buildings perfectly from anywhere in the room. There is a small fireplace to the right. How come I never saw this side of the house from outside? I was have underestimated the size of this house.

“Liam, this is truly beautiful.” I say amazed and enthralled by how stunning the space is. Through the window, a soft breeze in the evening wafted in. After opening the glass doors and selecting a carpet from the side of the room, Liam begins to dust them clean. 

“I used to lie here with Fiona. We would enjoy and observe the beauty of the surrounding landscape. Fiona made a wish to have a lovely young princess three times after seeing a wishing star, and a few months later, Laura arrived. I apologize for bringing up Fiona in a few of our chats.”

“It's okay, I completely understand how it feels to lose someone so dear to you. The pain never ends.” I respond.

"Enough of the gloomy moments, let's make the most of tonight and spend quality time together," he says, sniffling. 

"I want to be deliberate about making you happy going forward. I want to do my best, I might still mess up a few times, I know my attitude stinks sometimes, but I'm willing to try.”

I can tell from the tone of his voice that everything he just stated was genuine. 

“Thank you so much, Liam; all of this means a lot to me.”

I congratulate him with another kiss on the cheek. This is the happiest and finest night I've had in a very long time. I'm ready to give Liam another chance. We start to think back on some of our enjoyable childhood experiences. 

"Liam, are you expecting anyone?" I inquire after hearing the doorbell. 

“Yes, I am, I bought two boxes of pizza, two cups of milkshakes, a box of chocolates, and some grilled chicken," he replies as we ascend downstairs to pick up everything he ordered from the delivery guy. 

“When and how did you manage to do that?”

“When you were gazing at the view. Thank God for online diners.”

We release our grip on one another, and gather everything he ordered, he grabs my free hand, and we proceed back upstairs. He is well aware of my preferences, therefore he understands just how to make me feel special and cherished.

I'm grinning so wide right now that I feel like I'm floating in space. 

I put out my hand and say, "You're the sweetest, come right here and have a bear hug." 

He hastily approaches me while grinning ear to ear like a  child being given candy. I hold his hands, draw him in, kiss his cheek, and give him a bear hug.

The route you’re going down, Cara will bite you in the rear. There will never be a relationship between the two of you as long as his father is still alive. Keep your mind clear of emotional haze. I choose to ignore my inner critic

and continue to enjoy the moment.