Chapter 224

Chapter 224
QUEENIE’S POV
The rich aroma of coffee filled the kitchen. I sat on the couch as she slowly sipped from my favorite mug as I went through the magazines on the side couch. 
Anton stood in front of the mirror. He was carefully knotting his tie. He was dashing in his Navy blue seat and brogues. He looked like a model in a fashion magazine rather than a CEO of a fortune 500 company.
His movements were quick and precise.  It was a sharp contrast to how the chaotic pattern my thought process has been weaving since morning.
I set my cup down and cleared my throat softly. "The court date with CPS is in two days time." I said with a more hesitant voice than I wanted it to be. "I just... I hope everything goes well."
Anton caught my gaze through the mirror. His expression softened, and he walked over. He ran a hand over my hair in a comforting gesture.
"It will," he said firmly. "Don't stress about it. I’ll handle everything. All you need to do is be present."
I let out a dry laugh. "I don't know what I would do without you."
"I pray we will never have to find out," Anton said as he leaneddown to kiss me gently on the forehead. "Stay calm, alright? Trust me."
He gave me one last reassuring squeeze on my shoulder, before he grabbed his briefcase and headed toward the door.
"I'll call you later," he promised before disappearing.
I stared after him for a few moments. My heart was threatening to burst with the affection and nerves that had tangled up together.
I picked up my phone from the counter. I had been thinking about something I said I was going to do. I wanted to place acall to Anton’s grandmother. I wanted to tell her about the engagement, hear her opinion and feel her warmth once more.
I was about hitting the dial button before I paused. What the hell am I doing? We hadn’t officially announced it to anyone yet.  Telling her isn’t my place. That’s for Anton to do if he wants her to know about it .
“Queenie,” I called myself, “ you had better keep it in your pants.”
Maybe it was better to wait a little longer. Soon Grandma, you will get the good news too.
I sighed and set the phone down. I brought out my files.
Now is a good time as any to get some work done. After all, it’s not getting to get done by itself.
I was determined to get some work done but before I could even open the first folder, my phone buzzed loudly against the countertop.
Logan.
My eyes blinked severally. I had completely forgotten about him these past few days. What could he possibly want or did something else happen.
I hesitated before I picked up the call.
"Hello?” My eyes darted around the room.
"Hey, Queenie," Logan’s familiar voice came through. "How have you been?"
"Good," I replied said cautiously. "Busy, as usual. You?"
"I have been good too," he replied. 
There was a slight pause. "Actually, I was hoping we could meet up today. I have something important to discuss and it’s not suitable for a phone call."
My frown deepened as worry etched its lines on my face . "Is everything okay?" I dragged the question..
"Yeah, nothing bad. On the contrary ," Logan said quickly. "Just... something urgent I think you’ll want to hear."
I bit my lip as I did some thinking. I wanted nothing more to curl up at home today and just lazy around after doing a bit of work but when has life gone the way we planned it, besides Logan sounded serious.
"Alright," I said finally. "Where should we meet?"
“The Hermes Café.”  He replied. A slight pause. “ What time works for you?”
I thought about it for some seconds before I blurted out “ How does the next two hours sound?” 
“ It works for me. See you then.”  He replied coolly and hung up.

I arrived first, I chose a quiet table by the window. I drummed my fingers lightly against the table. Needless to say my nerves were in shambles.
Minutes later, Logan walked in. A wide smile appeared on his face as soon as he saw me. He walked over.
"Thanks for coming," he said as he slid into the seat across from me.
"It's no big deal," I replied politely and sat straighter.
Logan’s gaze softened as he looked at me. "You look great, by the way. Happy."
I chuckled dryly. "Thanks," I said, brushing off the compliment. 
"So... what’s this meeting about?" I asked with raised eyebrows.
“ Hold on. It’s better if I showed you.” 
He reached into his bag and pulled a thick file from it. He slid it across the table to me.
I blinked at it, then looked back at him. I was totally clueless about what was in the folder.
Logan…what are you really up to here? I don’t need more complications in my life. Lord knows I have enough to last me for a lifetime.
"What's this?" she asked cautiously.
"Why don’t you open it and see for yourself." Logan said. There was a hint of a smile on his lips.
I flipped it open and pulled out the papers. There were small doses of nerves in my system. My eyes darted across the top sheet  and I froze completely. 
My eyes bulged completely. 
This couldn’t be real. Is it ? What am I reading? Approval letter.Approval... for her clinic.
My hands trembled of their own volition as I flipped through the pages. The words I read had a hard time sinking in. I still doubted the words I was reading.
"I…" I swallowed hard. I was having a hard time forming my thoughts .
"Is this real? Tell me I’m not dreaming". I looked at him with eyes that were almost filled with tears. 
Logan chuckled. He leaned back casually in his seat.
With a wide smile he said, "Very real. You’re looking at the official approval for your clinic. Congratulations."
I stared at him completely stunned. I couldn’t even move. I took some moments to regain my composure. 
"But... how? I am trying to wrap my head around this. I’ve been at this for months. The paperwork, the board meetings, the panel evaluations... They always insisted I still had hurdles to cross."
Logan shrugged, like it was nothing. "I have a few friends on the board. I called in some favours and here we are."
I shook my head. I was still having a hard time processing it. 
I shook my head vigorously "That’s not possible. They’re incredibly strict. 
I…" I cut myself off. I was overwhelmed by emotion. "I don’t know what to say. I still don’t know what to say."
"The details don’t matter," Logan said, his voice easy. "The point is, you can go ahead now. Your clinic dream has finallybecome a concrete reality."
I felt tears sting the corners of my eyes. I blinked them away quickly, not wanting to make a scene.
"Thank you," I whispered. "I... I can’t believe this."
He smiled warmly. "You’ve worked hard. You deserve it. I hope you make all your dreams come true."
I clutched the file against my chest for a second. I was trying so hard to steady my breathe. I could hear my heart pumping in my ears.
I was almost scared it would burst of my chest with the frantic pace it was thudding.
"I don’t know how to repay you. How do I ever repay you?"
Logan chuckled. " I have an idea.”
I leaned forward with keen eyes. “ Alright. I’m listening. Hit me.”
“You can buy me lunch. That'll be enough."
I laughed through my tears. "Deal."
I flagged down a waitress and ordered   lunch for us.
I was barely able to sit still while we waited for our meals. Every few seconds, I would glance down at the file again to check and read the document again to check if I hallucinated what was on the file.
Logan chuckled at one point. “ You know what’s on that document isn’t changing to another thing right?” 
I blushed a bit. “ yes I do. I just can’t help myself. I was told it was impossible and now it’s in my hands.”
As the food arrived, Logan studied me thoughtfully.
"You really love this," he said as he pointed to the file.
I nodded with a smile so wide my cheeks began to hurt. "It's not just about me. It’s about giving back. I just want to help people.."
"You’re going to change lives," Logan said simply.
"That’s the goal," I whispered. My chest swell with hope and excitement. "I want to do it right."
"You will," Logan said. He raised his glass in a mock toast. "To new beginnings."
"To new beginnings," I echoed and tapped my glass against his.
We ate and talked. The conversation flowed naturally. 
But deep down, my mind was racing ahead . I could already envision the walls I would paint, the patients that would come in , and the life I would finally start building.
I thought about Anton,  Junie and the future that I could see beginning to form in front of me. It was brighter and bigger than anything I had dared to imagine for herself.
For the first time in a long time, I felt like maybe, just maybe  things were finally falling into place.