Wildest Dreams

33. Kendall

Pierre texts and says he’ll arrive tonight after midnight. I put on my best lingerie, a matching black silk robe, and light candles in every room. The house is quiet as I look out the front window and wait.

Finally, I see headlights.

I watch as Pierre pulls into the driveway, parks outside the garage, and comes straight to the front door without so much as getting his bags. I open it before he has a chance to knock.

When I see him, he takes my breath away. I let out a sigh, not of relief but of gratitude. I’m grateful for him, for my life, for how overwhelmingly lucky I am that this amazing human flew all the way across the country to be with me.

He grabs me around the waist and lifts me as he walks in. I wrap my arms around him and we kiss until we both need to come up for air.

“I can’t tell you how happy I am to be here,” he says, setting me down. He looks at me with such intensity that I feel like I could catch fire.

“I’ve been lonely without you,” I say.

He looks at me and shakes his head slightly. “I love you, Kendall. I don’t ever want to be without you again. I don’t know what it’ll look like, but I know in my soul we’re meant to be together. I’ll do anything to make this work.”

I bite my bottom lip. “That’s what I want too.”

He looks like a weight has been lifted from his shoulders.

“Thank you. I love you.” We kiss again.

“I love you, too.”

“Come on,” I say. “You must be tired. Let’s go to bed.”

“I’m on California time,” he says. “I’m not tired at all. But we’re definitely going to bed.”

I hold his hand and we walk to the bedroom. As I close the curtains to the window overlooking the Florablanca River, I see Bertha sleeping on the dock and smile.

THE END