Tierra laid her head on Qu’s lap, while he sat on her sofa. They were enjoying watching movies together. She was so over joyed that she had found love. She couldn’t be happier that it was in the arms of one with whom she already trusted.
Qu began to go with her to her therapy appointments, interested in learning what he could do to help her deal with the affects her rape still had on her. Hearing the way someone had hurt her, broke his heart every session. But knowing that she kept it to herself and moved on, showed him her inner strength. So much about her he now understood better.
It had been a treacherous six months, with many ups and downs. But at least all ended on a good note. It was now New Year’s Eve and in a few hours they would be going out for the first time as a couple. Qu was having a small intimate dinner party at his house, and it would be the official unveiling of them to the public. He told his event planner that everything needed to be perfect. He promised he wasn’t going to micro manage her though at Tierra’s insistence. She was paid to put the evening together and he was leaving things in her capable hands. After all, he had a nervous Tierra to deal with. So they were relaxing for a bit, before it was time to get ready.
“I’m so glad you didn’t let me walk out that banquet hall,” Qu admitted.
“Really, so if I didn’t call you back, you would have just walked away?”
“Probably.”
“Hmmm, I see.”
“What’s that mean?”
“Well, why not fight for me, if you loved me?”
“I didn’t want to press you. I just wanted to let you know how I felt.”
“You’re a mess, you do know that, right?”
“Oh really, I’m a mess? I’m not the one who screamed at the top of her lungs in the middle of Vito’s event.”
“Oh wait, really? You’re going to go there?”
“Yup.”
“So not fair. If I didn’t scream, you would have just walked out my life.”
“Not your life. Never your life.”
Tierra reached up and pulled his head down to hers and their lips reached out to each other. Their sweet gently kiss however, was interrupted though by a knock at the door.
“Damn…” Tierra began.
“Watch your mouth lil lady,” Qu smiled. “I’ll get it, why don’t you go ahead and start getting ready. We both know you’re going to need the extra time,” he playfully slapped her ass as he walked off towards the front door.
“See, there you go, why you starting?” she asked, and walked down the hall into her bedroom.
“Good evening, I have a package for a Miss. Rodriquez.”
“Yeah, I’ll sign for it.”
“I’m sorry sir, it must be delivered to Miss Rodriquez only, says so right here on the package,” the young man pointed to a reference on the large package.
“Ok hold on,” he replied rushing down the hallway mumbling, to grab Tierra.
“Why can’t you sign for it Qu?” Tierra asked wrapping her belt around her bathrobe tightly.
“The man said he has to deliver it to you!”
Tierra opened the door, to see a young man in a UPS uniform standing at her door.
“Miss Rodriquez?”
“Yes.”
“I need to see your I.D. miss to confirm your identity.”
“What’s in this package a million dollars or something?”
“I don’t know Miss, I just follow instructions.”
Tierra picked up her purse off the hall table, removed her license from her wallet and showed it to the young man. He looked at it, then at her, and then compared the names on the package to her I.D.
“Ok. Here you go, have a nice night.”
“Thank you.”
Qu closed the door and Tierra took the package into the kitchen and sat it on the counter.
“What is it?”
“I don’t know Qu. Should we open it now?”
“After all you just went through to get it, you better open it now.”
“Is this something from you?” she said her eyes beginning to twinkle.
“No, I swear this isn’t my doing.”
Tierra pulled where it said ‘to open pull here.’ on the back on the package. She turned it upside down and the contents spilled out onto the table: a letter, a set of keys, and a business card.
She picked up the letter and began to read. Qu picked up the keys and began to check them out. Then he looked at the business card.
“NO!” Tierra yelled placing her hand over her mouth. She dropped the letter and it swayed back onto the countertop.
“What baby, what happened?”
“Mr. Baxwell… he’s, he’s gone,” she formed him, tears starting to run down her face.
“What do you mean gone?” Qu said, reaching for the letter.
“He passed away this morning and…”
“,and what baby?”
“I’m officially in charge of B.E. effective immediately!”