Page 55 of Fervency Love

“Happy birthday, dear.” It’s Mom. Right. It’s my seventeenth birthday today. “May you be brave in whatever you do. May all your dreams come true, may you reach for the stars and find joy in life and satisfaction with what you are given. It’s the only way to get the most out of life. I love you.”

“Thank you, Mommy. That was sweet.”

“Wait, now it’s Dad’s turn,” she says and passes the phone.

“Hi there, pumpkin! All the best to you for your birthday! Happiness, health, and God’s grace to you!”

I thank him and wait for Lucius.

“Hi, sis. I wish you a great boyfriend, luck in your high-school exams and at college, and stuff. Whatever you’d like, really.”

After all those wishes I can finally hang up. I always feel weird whenever everyone’s attention is focused on me. Like whenpeople wish me things for my birthday. I never know how to deal with wishes. I prefer to be the one giving things to others—be it a good word or material gifts.

Seventeen years! Wow! What a great age. Seventeen is my favorite number!

“Abbs! Have a great birthday!” Vicky says, giving me a brief hug and kissing me on the cheek. “Can we grab something to eat? What do you have in the fridge?”

“The only thing I got is ham, cucumber, and tomato. I can make us sandwiches. That okay with you?”

“Sure. I’ll make tea.”

When we finish eating breakfast and talking about what we’d like to do today, it’s nine. Vicky needs to go, so I kiss her goodbye. I shut the door and I’m left alone again.

I think I’d like to pamper myself today. I turn the water on and when the bath is half full, I step in. My body immerses in pleasant warmness. I relax, thinking about my Ve. That’s so unexpected. To think that I’d had enough of everything connected to relationships when he showed up out of the blue to turn my world upside down and change me. As the water cools, I wash myself and leave the tub. There are some more birthday wishes over the phone, a cousin drops by with a rose, and finally, I go to Grandma’s for dinner. Her homemade hash browns with mushroom sauce are the best! At some point, Grandma says she’s going to sleep at my place tonight. That gets me thinking. She has to have some bigger plan—she’s left me alone before, and now, exactly on my birthday, she decides to pay me a visit? I can’t really refuse if I don’t want to raise her suspicions. That would be the end of everything.

I go back home at five p.m. Still no news from Ve. He isn’t going to stand me up, is he?

Well, whatever, I’m going to prepare. I straighten my hair and put on a bit of eyeliner. I don’t have to think long about my outfitfor today—I settle on a tight-fitting, faux-jeans zip-up sleeveless shirt. Add to that a pair of off-white pants and sandals, and that’s that. I’m in the middle of fastening the strap on my left foot when the doorbell rings.

It’s him, my beloved, with a red rose in his hand. I fall into his arms and kiss him passionately as soon as he crosses the threshold. He grabs my ass and lifts me up. My legs wrap around his waist in response. He carries me inside and slams the door shut behind him without breaking our kiss. I feel my back press against the wall and decide to let the moment carry me. It’s blissful. God, I missed him! I didn’t even know how much. When finally we draw back, out of breath, I hear his sexy voice.

“Happy birthday, Abby!”

He gives me another hug and offers me a rose. He looks so good! He’s wearing loose jeans and a two-colored blue polo shirt. I love that look!

“I have something for you,” he says, sporting the most gorgeous smile on Earth.

“What’s that?”

“Open it.” He hands me a package. I feel awkward.

Ripping open the wrapping, I reveal a velvet sapphire-colored elongated case. An interesting choice of color. One of my favorites. I open the box and stare dumbfounded. There’s a breathtaking, thick spiral-shaped chain inside. Tiny beads are lodged between the ridges of the helix. The whole thing is silver and very shiny. It must have cost a fortune! Where did he get the money? It doesn’t feel right.

“Don’t you like it?” he asks, instantly growing gloomy.

“Ve, it’s beautiful!”

“So what’s the matter?”

“Honey, you didn’t have to! It must have cost you an arm and a leg!”

“Don’t you worry about that. You’re worth a lot more to me.”

“It’s the most beautiful gift I’ve ever got. Thank you!” I throw myself into his arms, kissing him tenderly. “Help me put it on?” I smile and pass him the necklace.

“With pleasure. It suits you,” he says, turning me to the mirror.

I look at myself appraisingly for a moment. The thing really is gorgeous. I touch it and feel love.

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