Page 76 of Forever Endeavor

CHAPTER 23

Billie

With the limo following close behind, Billie drove her car to the farm. Sonny rode shotgun. He’d called ahead to give a flabbergasted Cal a head start on preparing for the meeting of a lifetime. The vehicles pulled into the yard, driving up to the house where Cal stood waiting on the porch. He’d freshened up with a clean shirt and shave, the color returned to his cheeks and the smile back on his face. Pumpkinhead bounded down the steps, tail wagging as he welcomed the visitors with a happy bark.

Sonny waved through his window. “I wonder what’s going through Cal's head.”

“Everything and nothing at once, I imagine. This must be so surreal.” Billie parked the car, shrugged off her seatbelt and threw open her door.

“Hang back a sec.” Sonny put his hand on hers. “You know, give them their privacy.”

“Don’t you want to know how this story ends? I sure do.”

“Hey, I’m as invested in this as you are, but we should at least let them say hello first.”

Billie peeked into the rearview mirror. Liona’s driver held open the back door as his passenger got out. She smoothed her slacks, straightened her cardigan, and fussed with the silk scarf around her neck. She looked nervous. The driver escorted her around the car, then stood back to let Liona continue up the walk on her own.

Time slowed as they inched toward one another. Cal stepped off the porch, his eyes fixed on Liona. She returned his gaze with a smile, closing the distance between them. He said hello first.

“Hello Calvin,” she replied softly.

“It’s wonderful to see you again.” He exhaled as if he’d been holding his breath for decades. “You don’t know how long I’ve been waiting to say those words.”

“I believe it’s been nearly forty years.” Liona reached up and tenderly pressed her palm to his cheek, perhaps to ensure he was not an apparition. “You are exactly as I remembered. Strong, handsome, and very tall.”

“The years have only made you lovelier.” He took her hand and brought it up to his lips. “I’d know your beautiful face anywhere, but it makes me happy to finally know the beautiful name that goes along with it. Liona.”

“You have crossed my mind a thousand times, Calvin, but never once did I dare to imagine I would stand in front of you again.”

“Only this time is much better than being ankle-deep in ice and slush.”

She tittered. “The mere thought of how close we came to freezing in that storm makes me shiver.”

Cal laughed along, before they both fell quiet again. “May I?” He awkwardly leaned in for a hug before stopping himself. “Would you mind if we…?” Liona opened her arms, drawing him into a long embrace.

Billie gripped Sonny’s hand on the car console. He squeezed her fingers. Even through the windshield, the power of Cal and Liona’s profound connection was palpable.

Liona looked up at Cal when they pulled apart. “I was very disappointed to learn that we were denied the opportunity to meet earlier today. The least I could do was come to you and ensure nothing prevented us from having this chance to speak. Do you mind if I stay? My driver can come back for me later.”

“Nothing would make me happier,” Cal said before nodding toward Billie and Sonny perched behind the dashboard. “Could my family also join us? If it weren’t for those two, we wouldn’t be standing here right now.”

???

Bernice served peach iced tea and melt-in-your mouth butter cookies on the porch as Cal and Liona reminisced.

“Calvin, I’m grateful you had it in your heart to continue searching for me,” Liona said.

“It was certainly in my heart, but it was Billie’s words that actually found you,” he admitted. “Not only is she a talented writer, but she thought of using that website to locate your whereabouts.”

“We had very little information to go on, but knowing what you mean to Cal, I thought it was worth a shot to find you,” Billie said. “I didn’t realize how quickly everything would spiral out of control once Fielder got involved.”

“Thankfully so, or else I might not have seen that photograph in the newspaper,” Liona reminded her. “I recognized Calvin immediately before I’d read a word of the article. Once I did, I contacted Mr. Fielder and explained who I was. When he asked for definitive proof of my identity, that’s when I remembered I’d held on to a photo taken that night.”

“I could never forget that stunning dress you wore,” Cal said. “But after all these years, there’s only one thing I need to know. Why? Why did you disappear so suddenly? Is it something I did? Did I say something to upset you?”

“Oh my, no Calvin. It was nothing you said or did. The way I left without saying goodbye has tormented me for forty years. I’m so sorry. If it’s any consolation, I immediately regretted leaving that night, or rather, not fighting harder to stay.”

“But what happened to you?”

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