Page 56 of Benga's Rise
The President that’s cool watches like this is something he’ll remember. I like them all, but this one is smart and watches everything.
“We could probably trade stories all night, but we have a dinner we need to get to. Thanks for letting us drop in and the tour, Brother. You’re doing a great job.”
Cort nods. “Thanks, Major. Before you go, can I have a minute?”
“We’ll meet you on the chopper, Brother.” The cool President walks out and the rest of their entourage follows. They all throw chin. Cort takes Major to the Prospect office and closes the door.
I wait almost exactly five minutes and the door opens. Major shakes my hand but looks concerned. “Safe flight, Major.”
“Thank you, Raid. I’ll see you at the meeting.”He walks out without looking back.
“He’s in,” Cort says from behind me.
“Thank God we won’t have to do this again.”
“Yeah.”
The helicopter takes off and Leo comes running to watch.
~*~
Lorelei
Raid is Raid. I thought him moving me from or to the chair would be awkward after what I said to him, but he’s talked and acted like Raid always does. Cort said he loves me and L.. How can he love someone so obviously broken? He left last week so me and L. would be comfortable. Cort says that shows me it’s true. I guess it does.
Of all the things that have happened, it was Cort apologizing to his Officers that made me see how damn screwed up my thinking was. He should have gotten rid of the guy that caused his Officers so much grief. The guy was like Peter and Cort ignored it all just like I did. He lost everything. I guess that’s where I am. The good thing is he came back stronger and smarter. I can too. I feel like I have been getting stronger, but I think I’m just seeing everything differently.
L. deserves a hell of a lot more than a roof over his head. I’ll make sure he has the people to go with that. When I told the therapist my new plan and how I got to it, she smiled. She thinks I can do this too.
I have shit to deal with, but Iwilldeal with it. I am dealing with it and I’ll do that with L. in a place that’s comfortable for him. He deserves it. We talked together and I apologized just like Cort did. I didn’t hold anything back and made sure he saw that I made some stupid decisions, but it ends now. Sharing him is hard, but I can do this.
One of his new rules is not to be left home alone and he loves it. Peter was in the house, but he didn’t talk so L. was pretty much alone. I keep pushing how we got here away and focus on where we need to be. I don’t even know where that is, but I know it’s not where we’ve been.
“How do you feel?” Victory asks.
I’m a little embarrassed. I’m supposed to be meditating. “Determined.”
She smiles taking the crystal. “The crystals are powerful. Leo should be done soon. Let’s get some tea, I brought a new herbal that will relax you.”
I just smile. I’m pretty relaxed now. She’s been on the floor while I’m still sitting in the chair. “Who helps you wash and dress in the mornings?”
“A CNA. My insurance covers me for another month. She’s here for an hour every morning. I can dress for bed and even in the morning, but she helps me wash so I’m not inadvertently putting pressure on my leg. She does my hair too. It’s kind of nice.”
“That is nice, you deserve it.”
I deserve it. After all I’ve done. I push that away. I deserve it. “I do. Thanks, Victory.”
She laughs. “You’re more open and sure of yourself. It’s good to see you moving forward.”
Pushing the wheels, I roll to the kitchen nodding. “I was thinking I don’t know where we need to be, but it isn’t in the past, so forward is the only direction to go in.”
Freedom smiles at me from the table. “Good. That’s exactly where your head should be. I’m pushing forward too. I bought the studio in the village.”
Good for her! “Congratulations! I’m glad we’re working the forward thing together. It’s a little scary, but I know I can do this. You probably have it all figured out.”
“Nope. I’m a little nervous, but I know this is what I want. I’ll keeping working to get there.” She surprises me.
I wouldn’t think Freedom gets nervous about anything.Victory told me things were strained with her and Hade. She’s still moving to make her dream come true. I can do this. L. is so happy, I’m happy and even Raid is happy. He tells us at dinner, like every night.
