“Mr. Greeze is in the hospital? I hope he is okay,” she said.
“He’ll be fine. He had so much to say about you. It’s funny. He believes you were a…dreamer. Someone who wanted to travel the world. And yet, you hate to leave the house.”
“That was a long time ago, Kyleigh. I’ve changed.”
I reached across the table and said, “Mom, I don’t think you have. I think you are just afraid of still…dreaming. It’s okay to want to explore the world. There’s nothing wrong with that.” I reached into my bag and took out a rectangular box. “This is for you, Mom. Happy birthday.”
“You didn’t need to get me anything. You already do so much for us,” she said.
“I’d give you the world if I could, Mom, but this is all I can do.”
I watched as my mom opened her present. She pulled out the book - a worldwide travel guide. She started to flip through the pages, stopping to look at some of the photos. “This is…perfect. Thank you, Kyleigh.”
“You’re welcome, Mom. If we can’t leave Tabiq, we might as well enjoy learning about other places.”
She put the book down and said, “Just because I wasn’t able to leave doesn’t mean you have to stay.”
“Mom, I have a job here, you’re here. Where on earth would I be if not here?” I asked.
“Ireland,” she said.
Of all the places in the world.
“Why Ireland, Mom?”
“Because I’m there,” Liam said from behind me.
I was so startled by his voice that I fell out of my chair when I spun around. He rushed to help me back up.
“Liam. What are you doing here?” I asked. I told you, my parents won’t accept us.
“I came to talk to your parents. They had a lot to say,” he said.
Oh, I am sure they did. Probably nothing good, either.
My legs were shaking, and I asked, “Would you like to sit down?” I didn’t wait for him, because I wasn’t sure my legs were going to hold me much longer.
Liam took a seat beside me. Then, my dad entered the room and went to sit beside my mom. Were you two out together?
I hadn’t seen Liam in a few weeks, and this isn’t how I ever imagined us connecting again. I’m so confused. Finn said he was here for a meeting. What does that have to do with my parents?
“I guess there is no need for introductions, is there?” I asked. He shook his head. “Then maybe you can explain what you’re doing here.”
“I didn’t like the way things ended with us. I know what you said, but it didn’t feel right to me. My back was up against a wall. You never responded to my text, so I was forced to take matters into my own hands.”
“You’re here because I didn’t tell you that I miss you too?” I asked.
“Do you miss me?” he questioned.
Like oxygen.“Yes.”
He didn’t say anything, so I asked, “Is that really why you came all this way? Just to ask me if I miss you?”
He shook his head. “I already knew you did. But I needed to speak to your father first.”
“Before what?” I asked.
Liam reached over and took my hand into his. Looking me in the eyes he said, “Kyleigh, I left before I could tell you everything I needed to. But I haven’t been able to concentrate on anything since. You have shaken my world like a snow globe. Nothing has settled back into place. The harder I try, the more I realize what is missing. It’s you. I love you, Kyleigh. I know I’m not a Tabiqian man, and that this is your home, but none of that changes the fact that you have my heart.”