Right after we soared to our highest heights, we descended and crashed to our lowest lows—but not before his air became my breaths, not before his earth became my ground. His flames were my fire, his thirst was my water, and his spirit?
His spirit became my soul.
Then, we prepared ourselves for goodbye.
“I didn’t think it would be this hard,” I whispered, hearing Graham’s footsteps behind me as I stood in Talon’s bedroom, where she slept peacefully. The idea that I wouldn’t be there to watch her grow up made my chest ache more than ever.
“You can wake her,” Graham told me as he leaned against the doorframe.
“No.” I shook my head. “If I see those eyes of hers, I’ll never be able to leave.” I wiped away the tears that fell from my eyes and took a deep breath, trying to face Graham. As we looked at one another, we both wanted nothing more than to stay together, to be a family, to be one.
But sometimes what one wanted wasn’t what one received.
“Your taxi is here, but I can still take you to the airport,” he offered.
I had finally taken the leap and cashed in all the coins from the negative jars I’d collected over the years. I was taking the trip to Europe that Mari and I had always dreamed of. I had to get away, as far away as I could, because I knew if my heart was still on the same continent as Graham, I’d find my way back to him.
“No, it’s okay, really. It’s easier this way.” I placed my fingers against my lips, kissed them, and then placed them on Talon’s forehead. “I love you more than the wind loves the trees, sweet girl, and I’m always here for you, even when you don’t see me.”
As I took steps toward Graham, he moved in closer as if he were going to hug me, to try to take away my grief, but I wouldn’t allow it. I knew if I fell into his arms again, I’d beg him to never let me go. He helped me carry my luggage out of the house and loaded it into the car.
“I won’t say goodbye,” he told me, taking my hands in his. He brought the palms of my hands to his lips and kissed them gently. “I refuse to say goodbye to you.” He released his grasp and walked back to the porch, and right as I went to open the door to the taxi, he called my way. When his lips parted, he said, “What’s the secret, Lucille?”
“The secret?”
“To your tea—what’s the secret ingredient?”
I narrowed my eyebrows and bit my bottom lip. My feet started walking in his direction. The closer I got, the more steps he took toward me. When we stood in front of one another, I studied the caramel color of his eyes, a color I might never see again, and I held that sight close to my heart. I’d remember those eyes as long as I could.
“Tell me what ingredients you think are in it, and then I’ll tell you the final one.”
“Promise me?”
“Promise you.”
He shut his eyes and began to speak. “Cinnamon, ginger, fresh lemons.”
“Yes, yes, yes.”
“Hot red peppers, sugar, black pepper.”
“Uh-huh.” I breathed out, chills running up and down my spine.
“And peppermint extract.” When his eyes opened, he stared at me as if he could see a part of me that I’d yet to discover.
“That’s all correct,” I said.
He smiled, and I almost cried, because when he smiled, I always felt at home.
“So, what is it?” he asked.
I glanced around the area, making sure no one was within earshot, and I leaned in closer to him, my lips slightly grazing his ear. “Thyme,” I told him. I stepped backward and gave him the kind of smile that forced him to frown. “Just give it a bit of thyme.”
“Thyme.” He nodded slowly, stepping farther away from me.
“Sorry, ma’am, but I can’t wait here all day,” the taxi driver called after me.
I turned to him and nodded before looking back at Graham, who was still staring at me. “Any final words?” I joked, nerves rocking my stomach.