Apollo, p.25
Apollo, page 25
Tom loved her. She loved Tom. However, Tom didn’t fulfill her emotional cravings. He was a good friend. According to a book she read recently on perceptions of love, she realized that kind acts of service were not at the top of her list when it came to what made her feel loved, it was actually at the bottom. Quality time and loving words were at the top of her list, and neither of these she received from Tom. Despite it all, she loved Tom, and she considered him a good friend if not her best friend.
She found him sitting on the couch watching a football game, and she took a seat next to him. Almost simultaneously, they turned to each other and apologized. Kim grabbed onto Tom’s hand and held it in hers.
“You want to talk about your day?” Tom offered.
“Not really. Hope you didn’t want to watch the game.” She smiled mischievously as Tom indicated no and then she flipped through the DVR-recorded episodes until she found a show they both liked.
The remainder of the evening was pleasant and non-confrontational, but Kim’s growing disinterest in Tom was disturbing, and she didn’t know what to do. She considered divorce but found their finances were tied together in such a way that concluded they simply needed each other’s income to survive. She owed quite a lot, and most of the bills were in her name because her income was higher than Tom’s. There was no way either of them could live apart, much less divorce. Still, a future of more unhappiness seemed daunting to her. She wasn’t that strong, and she couldn’t do it. She couldn’t continue living a lie, but how could she reclaim her freedom when their finances were a mess?
She battled with the idea of divorce because of its costliness as well. She couldn’t believe how much attorneys were charging for a divorce, contested or uncontested. Plus, she genuinely liked Tom, and she feared divorce would change their relationship. Cerebral Tom might continue plugging along like nothing happened but for emotional Kim, it would be next to impossible to continue their friendship without weeping all the time at the way things ended.
No heart. All brain.
“That was cruel, Kim,” she muttered under her breath, but it described him. He was a wonderful caretaker and an even better errand boy. Tom would do anything you asked him to do, but that was it—you had to ask him and in detailed, sequential steps. She wanted much more: romantic words, passionate kisses, warm and loving embraces. She longed to feel alive again. She wanted to say she loved Tom and feel it deep down in the hidden, unused depths of her soul.
Kim urged Tom to pursue marriage counseling, but he didn’t see the point in it. When she discussed it further, he put an end to their conversation and said he wouldn’t do it. It was his final say and her last hope.
In the meantime, Kim craved someone to feed her fire and to be immersed in the passionate flames with the one meant for her. She missed fun and adventure. Where oh where was this man, the better half of her heart and her twin flame? If she found him, she’d throw herself into his arms and immerse herself within him so that the two became forever one.
Tom deserved happiness and to find the one meant for him. His list of admirable traits included: hard-working, reliable, practical, steadfast, honest to a fault, kind, a gentleman in every sense of the word, chivalrous, and always willing to follow through with what needed to be done, but only if you painstakingly told him what to do. Kim paid all the bills and for the most part, organized both their lives. Kim organized all the weekend outings and experiences, chores such as grocery shopping, and all of Tom’s friends were originally Kim’s.
Kim lay beneath the sheets, trying to picture the handsome man on her favorite TV show she just watched. She closed her eyes and pleaded to heaven for a solution, to help her feel happier about her relationship with Tom. A lone tear streaked down one cheek onto her pillow. She softly cried into it with Tom lying next to her, but he didn’t notice her tears.
He never did.
Please, she begged God in a silent prayer. If I am to stay with Tom, please help me to be satisfied with him. I want to be happy again, please. She prayed for what seemed like the second time after an eternity, but it was fruitless, no one was listening. She glanced over at Tom, unaware of her desperate plight. Tom snorted in the middle of his soft snores, probably dreaming about attending a ball game. She huffed, grabbed her pillow, and stalked out the door, heading to the couch in the middle of the living room, unable to spend another second next to Tom. She sighed as snippets of the last ten years of her life with her husband flashed across her mind, and she closed her eyes, praying for a reprieve with sleep.
The next morning, she walked into their library and grabbed a reference book. She sat on the edge of the ottoman and looked into the kitchen at Tom with a long sigh. Was this it? Was this all she got? Was this all she had to look forward to? Wasn’t there anyone else for her, or was Tom it? She repeated this last question several times in her mind, seeking some sort of sign to direct her. Seconds later, she gave up with a shrug of her shoulders, doing a double-take when she thought she heard something.
“He’s good for now.”
Who said that? Did she hear it, or did she officially go nuts… because normal people didn’t hear things?
Feeling a bit silly but wanting to know nonetheless, she closed her eyes, concentrated, and asked, “Until when?” There was no response.
Several weeks passed before Kim decided she had enough of the tedious routine. It was time to do something different and fun; it was time for a vacation. One of the few things Kim and Tom had in common was their love of travel. She half dreaded going with Tom, but he was better than no company, plus he was very good with directions—a trait not gifted to her. Tom was like a human GPS. He could drive anywhere and not get lost. Kim, on the other hand, only had to turn a corner to become confused. If it were up to her to drive, they’d never make it to their destination. She could read a road map, yes, but maps didn’t immediately tell you if there were one-way streets like a GPS would.
She stopped writing their itinerary and sighed heavily. Tom can’t be it for me, right? There has to be someone else. Her breaths escalated as panic struck. The walls closed in on her at a frightening pace. Her heart picked up several extra beats. No. There has to be a different future for me!
She shook her head to clear the dark cloud oppressing her and blew out a breath of air. Retrieving her pad of paper and opening up several travel books, she continued mapping out the plan for their five vacation days.
Three weeks later, at five-thirty in the morning, they packed their car and headed to their new destination.
New Orleans, Louisiana.
CHAPTER TWO
Aeron observed the twenty-one-year-old college student set up her event in Jackson Square. No, he wasn’t a stalker, although on second thought, maybe he was. Stalkers eristic tendencies came with the job description for a guardian angel as watching and protecting his charge was his first and foremost duty.
Kayla was clever, unique, and creative. She was also warm, kind-hearted and caring but then, he was likely biased. Kayla’s traits were ones he’d welcome in a companion. That is if he could ever catch one.
Finding a female was never the problem but acquiring the right one. Well, there was the rub.
The list of traits Aeron searched for in a mate was not unreachable; they included several common, unremarkable attributes. However, that wasn’t enough for him. He wanted more. He sought a woman with a fiery spirit and intense passion; someone lively, opinionated, strong, exuberant, and fun. He wanted someone with a sense of adventure and spontaneity. His perfect female wouldn’t be entirely good but not entirely bad either. A mixture tipping slightly more toward positive than negative. His grin widened, picturing the challenging, spitfire of a woman he craved and longed for. Wherever she was, she hid herself well. If he found her, he’d never let her go.
It had been centuries since he considered the idea of a serious relationship with anyone, angel or human being. But as the days flew by, he found himself once again giving into serious contemplation, craving the companionship and feel of a woman next to him during the quiet hours he spent alone. After spending too many nights with only himself for companionship, he decided he was ready to search for his intended, once again. The one he often pictured in his mind and the one his soul craved—she had to exist. There was a mate for each angel. If she was out there, she had to hide because Aeron’s plans for her weren’t all angelic.
Aeron was eager to learn about his one and invite her into his private world. If she accepted him, he’d give her anything she craved, including himself, repeatedly, until their nights were filled with carnal pleasure, and she was fully satiated with his love. He’d do anything for her. A foreign tightening to his pants made him adjust his stance. Had it been that long? He recalled the warm feel of a woman in his arms and sighed. What he needed was a special someone to love, share his life with, and bring joy fully and completely. Whoever his intended mate was, she was in for a treat. He was more than ready for her to enter his life and make it complete but for now, his focus lay elsewhere.
Aeron flew behind a nearby pillar, intent on continuing his work. Unnoticed by prying eyes, he quickly changed into a solid white T-shirt, black pants, and comfortable shoes. Seconds later, he stepped away from the pillar and into Jackson Square amidst the bustling crowd of tourists and residents. He glanced across at several vendors selling their wares in the open market. Searching further, he found his charge perched atop a sturdy stool, posed, with an open picture frame surrounding her lovely face. She stood still while a tall bucket in front of her beckoned donations from passersby.
Aeron glanced up at the sun shining high in the sky and figured it was closing in around noon. His charge was safe, his stomach was empty, and he itched to explore the busy streets before dark. A five-dollar bill materialized in the palm of his hand. He dropped it into the pail with a wink to his charge before he veered off in the opposite direction.
Trotting across the street, amidst jazz music from a local band playing in the background, he mouthed a quick prayer that the line was short today. A weakness of Aeron’s was good food and the well-known Café Du Monde sold the best tasting beignets and chicory coffee he’d ever known, but the line into the café grew as the hours ticked by in the day. At the busiest times, the line was known to wind out of the café’, around the corner and down the street. Still, people waited patiently, regardless of how long the line snaked back. Aeron glanced over at the crowd outside the café and found today proved no different. The line was extremely long. As he crossed the sidewalk and made his way past several individuals to get to the end of it, a voice caught his attention. It was accompanied by laughter and the most radiant smile he’d ever seen. He turned to view the starlet and bam, ran right into several ladies waiting their turn. A considerable amount of hollers and yelps ensued. Bodies swerved left, right, and down but he caught them all with amazing speed, righting them and taking off before anyone questioned how no one was injured. It was an impossible feat for a human being. Thank goodness he wasn’t one. The last thing he wanted was to injure people due to a momentary lapse of attention.
Aeron came for beignets and coffee, but what he found was sweeter and even rarer. He whipped his arms around him, surrounding himself in the invisibility barrier, and peered around the café wall at the object which caught his attention previously. He found the beauty looking down at her food, cutting into a beignet before bringing the delicious morsel to her lips and opened them. Aeron swore he saw the golden gates of heaven cleared and free as she plunged in the fork holding the savory item and then licked her delightful lips to indicate her enjoyment. Thunderous gods. He tamped down the tightening to his pants and swallowed back the dryness lodged in his throat, wishing her decadent lips were on him instead of the sugary substance. This female was impeccable. She was ravishing, incomparable, a radiant diamond among the crowd of people. Who was she?
Her aura scorched him just like the sun’s rays burn through skin.
The pleasing female chatted up a man next to her. Aeron lowered his head, closed his eyes, and mingled his essence with hers just long enough to gain knowledge of her true self—the one she’d never admit to. His essence then boomeranged back into him. He was ecstatic with what he found. He searched for centuries for his match; a female he could proudly call his own with an independent, generous, loving beauty and a spitfire, rebellious nature. It seemed his search was over, for here she was, stunning, vibrant, and unquestioningly alive. What luck! Now all he had to do was introduce himself and find out who the man was beside her.
He formulated a plan as he watched them. Whoever this male was, she enjoyed his companionship. They were close; however, the male couldn’t have looked more uneasy or out of place. But the striking beauty next to him, Aeron noticed, had olive skin and looked Asian. There was something about her eyes; she looked part Asian, not full, but it was enough of a curious combination to cause her to stand out in a crowd.
She had dark-colored straight hair pulled back into a ponytail. Her mahogany-colored plastic sunglasses sat perched on top of her head, and she was smiling and laughing. There was a magnificent, vibrant energy exuding from her, and her aura was a blaze of colors. Aeron’s heart skipped a beat as he continued watching the female meant for him. She was gorgeous inside and out, and there was no mistaking her. His soul recognized her almost immediately. But the question remained. Who was the fellow sitting next to her and what did he want with her?
She was speaking animatedly now, her hands gesturing wildly to the man seated next to her at the table. Aeron unsheathed the invisibility barrier with a mere thought and crept around the line, heading toward the back of the café in search of an empty chair. There was one at a table that came with a lone female. Aeron groaned, contemplating whether it was worth his time to ask the female for the seat or conjure one up out of thin air and use that instead. Which would be easier? His experience with females was always unpredictable.
He drummed his fingers across his chin. Dragging around a wrought iron chair noisily around the café to where the woman of his interest sat would make too much commotion. He’d take his chances with the lone female. Unfortunately, Aeron’s friendliness came across as flirtations, but he’d brave it, for it was the fiery, dark-haired Asian woman who caught his eye, and he planned to make introductions somehow.
He veered toward the back of the café and swerved off to their left to where the lone customer with the long reddish hair sat.
“Good afternoon. Is this seat taken?”
The redhead lowered her newspaper, crushing part of it under several fingers with a huff. Her face softened when she found Aeron. She stretched up in her seat, straightening her back, and smiled wide with a glint of mischief in her eye.
“Why, no. I’m here alone. Please take a seat.” The metal chair skidded across the pavers as she pushed it out for him with a nudge of her foot from under the table.
“Thank you.” Aeron smoothed down his suit before he sat. He whipped his head toward the object of his attraction and found her. The Asian beauty sat near a dividing wall, but it was low enough where he could watch her profile and try to discern if she was a local or a tourist. As an angel, he was able to increase his hearing and dilute the conversations around him if he concentrated. The ability became an advantage during circumstances such as these, where there were many people in a condensed setting all chatting at once, surrounding him and now, a communicative female beside him tossed in for good measure.
“Chairs are hard to come by here.” The redhead giggled. Her glance never wavered and something in her eyes danced with excitement.
Aeron silently groaned. Unfortunately, angels possessed a certain allure. One of the angels called it sex appeal, explaining that it magnetically attracted human beings to them. Angels radiated their inner beauty. It was natural, and they couldn’t help it. Their love for humanity was a glow that attracted humans like moths to a flame. Most considered Aeron to be anywhere from handsome to gorgeous and he had received several propositions recently, but the truth was he wasn’t interested in the short-term or temporary with anyone. If he were involved in a relationship, it would have to be long-term and permanent.
The redhead chatted away, and Aeron became dismayed. Not wanting to hurt her feelings, he smiled and nodded where appropriate during lulls in her musings. He attempted to increase his hearing level to focus on the conversation of the Asian beauty, but the redhead kept jabbering. Annoyed, he asked if he could read a part of her paper, stating he had not had a chance to keep up with the local news. Her eyes narrowed, and she snorted. She handed the paper to him, said he could keep it, and then walked away.
“Thank God.” He blew out a breath of air he unwittingly held in, grinned at his statement, and looked up into the heavens, acknowledging his creator.
The Asian beauty placed an item of food into her mouth and licked the sugar off her lips once again. Aeron groaned. How could she continue torturing him like this? His gaze shot to her mouth, transfixed with the darting in and out of her tongue. Great gods, give me strength. She licked once more, her tongue caressing the side of her mouth before she ceased her incessant tormenting of Aeron. He closed his eyes and willed his heartbeat to return to a steadier beat. It had been a long time since he’d been with a woman and the thought of her underneath him, wanton and weakened with lust sent shivers through him.
He shifted focus and concentrated on increasing the hearing level of their conversation, rearing his head back in surprise when he found her admonishing the man at the table. He fine-tuned the levels of his hearing and tuned into her once again.
