It seemed as if even Mother Nature agreed with Theo’s choice to go forward, giving us a warm sunny day instead of the common springtime clouds and showers. I was able to find Fourth of July–themed plates, napkins, and decorations online, and had them shipped priority to get here on time. Theo and I shopped for all the foods that one had on Fourth of July, and Anna and I prepared them. Hamburgers, hot dogs, potato salad, coleslaw and pasta salad were just a few things on the menu.
We invited Kate and Theo’s aunt, a few of their cousins, Jo and David, and Anna and her sister. The most special guest of all for Kate and for me was DeAndre. Turned out he was going to be joining Louis in London for a work conference the following week, so they left to come a few days early to be part of the celebration. The smile that was on Kate’s face when she saw him enter the backyard was worth a million dollars. I made sure to capture it in a photo. One I would have printed out to put in her trunk and another framed for DeAndre.
I was so happy to have a little alone time with DeAndre as Louis was off talking to Theo and David. He was a reminder that although I loved being here with Theo, Kate, and Thomas, I still missed home a lot too.
“So, do I need to ask the obvious?” DeAndre raised an eyebrow.
“And, what would that be?” I broke off a piece of my burger and popped it in my mouth.
“You know…are you and Mr. Handsome over there officially a couple?”
I dropped my gaze to the ground and smiled.
“And don’t you even think about lying to me. I saw him with his hand on your waist earlier, and the way he looks at you…girl!” He used his hand to fan himself.
“Umm...” The truth actually was, I didn’t know how to classify our relationship. Yes, we loved and cared for each other, but we really hadn’t had much time to cover the details of where we exactly stood with one another or what the future held for either of us. Not without good reason, though. Kate had been the number one priority as she should’ve been. “Yes, I mean, at least I think we are.”
“So, did you…” DeAndre smirked.
“DeAndre! You know, a true lady never kisses and tells.” I was certain my embarrassment and the expression on my face gave him his answer.
“You did!” he exclaimed, getting the attention of a few other guests.
“Shhh.” I placed my finger over my lips. The last thing I wanted was for Theo to find out I was discussing our sex life like some smitten teenage girl talking about her first love.
“I don’t understand then. Where is the doubt coming in?”
I took a sharp inhale, hating that there even was uncertainty in my mind when it came to Theo. He was truly the perfect guy, and in different circumstances, any hesitation I was feeling about the two of us would be nonexistent. “I just don’t know. I guess I’m really not sure how he’s feeling about us. Am I just someone here to help him get through this?” I immediately hated myself for even asking that question, wishing I could take the words back. I knew I was more to him than that. He had proved it to me time and time again, but once again it was my own self-doubt creeping in. “I didn’t mean that. I know I mean more to him than that. I guess the main thing is, he lives here, and I live…in a tiny little suburb not far from New York City.” I gave DeAndre a good chuckle over my precise geographical location.
“Okay, I’m just gonna tell you straight up. If you really want to make it work with him, none of that should matter. Not geography, not the color of your skin or your sexual orientation, not because he comes from a rich white Southern family and you come from a poor black one in the city…none of it! What happened to that girl in the bakery who gave me the lecture about love and happiness having no boundaries?”
I nodded. The truth was it was much easier for me to give advice to others about going after their happiness than it was for me to follow it.
“Just think about it, okay?” DeAndre proposed gently.
Taking my hand, we strolled over to Kate, who was in her garden, sipping on a cup of tea. We took a seat on each side of her and began to reminisce about our trip. Theo joined us a few moments later, sitting beside me with his arm around me, causing both Kate and DeAndre to smile at the sight of it.
On a warm sunny afternoon in England, we relived those ten days that brought us all together, creating the moment we were in. From trekking through several different countries in record time to the special magic of the Christmas markets. It was then that I had forged out the special relationships with the people sitting beside me. Then that I realized the world went on spinning even when there were times you felt as if you wanted to jump off it. Then that I realized it’s not the amount of time you know someone that matters, but the level you connect with them. Then, after thirty-four years of living, that I had found some of the best friends I could’ve ever asked for. The 30th of May would now always hold a special place in my heart. It would be a date I’d look back on as the years passed by and always remember with deep fondness in my heart. A date
