Chapter 14
Victor was at Dulles Airport two hours before Fantasy’s flight was due to land. He had been in DC for the past five days and had already met with a specialist at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center. At his request, Victor had repeated a few tests and done some additional testing. There were tests done that he understood and others that he couldn’t see having any correlation to what was going on with him. He was assured that they were all necessary, and that everything together would give the doctors an expert view of his situation. Then they would know how much damage his kidneys had already sustained. They’d also know if any other organs were affected. With all that concluded, they would establish a plan of action.
He asked up front for a few uninterrupted days. He was given approval and reminded to take it easy. He would be taking it easy the minute Flight 2530 landed, with one passenger in particular making her way toward him.
Victor hadn’t budged. Other than going to the bathroom, which was an absolute necessity, he would be planted right there in a seat facing the terminal she would be exiting. He looked at his watch a thousand times. Just as his legs were getting numb, he saw commotion coming from the gate and quickly stood up. He was dressed in jeans and a red polo. Considering the fact that he was always in uniform and military gear, this was a switch. He wasn’t sure what to wear; a suit was too much, his uniform was too over the top, so he decided that cool and casual was the way to go. Victor nervously brushed from his pants invisible lint or whatever he thought he saw, and wondered if he should have worn the striped polo shirt. Not knowing what to do with his hands, he rubbed them over his short hair and then down his face. There was a light bead of sweat on his lip. If she didn’t come through the gate soon, he just knew he would pass out.
Then, he saw her.
She was looking down into her bag. Even from a distance he knew it was Fantasy. From where he stood she looked good. Victor sat down, afraid that he would fall down. He breathed in and out slowly, and again he stood up.
Two tall guys the size of linebackers moved out of the way and she came into full view. Just then she stopped searching in her purse and looked up, and she saw him. He watched her intensely as a smile came over her face. It seemed so bright. They must have been thinking the same thing and on the same wavelength, because she was dressed in jeans and a blouse.
Victor felt a tear and reached to wipe it away before she got closer. He even turned his back and wiped it real good, hoping it would stop by the time he turned back around.
He tried to wait for her to get to him but it didn’t seem to be happening fast enough. With his eyes still fixed on Fantasy, Victor started walking toward her.
It was if no one else was in the airport. He navigated through the crowd, which wasn’t an easy task because the place was packed and as busy as ever.
Finally, when the distance between them closed and they stood directly in front of one another, Victor looked at her and grinned so wide his face felt like it would crack at the corners. He reached for both of her elbows and looked down at her. “Fantasy, I can’t believe I’m looking at you. It’s so good to see you.”
“It’s great to see you, Victor. You haven’t changed at all,” she said.
“You haven’t either. But you look more beautiful than you did before, if that’s possible.” Hoping it wasn’t too forward, he bent down and lightly kissed her cheek.
Fantasy closed her eyes the minute he came toward her. She didn’t think that he was going to kiss on the mouth, but she knew that his soft lips were going to brush against some part of her face. He smelled so good and the scent of him enveloped her. “Thank you for the wonderful compliment, and happy birthday. You don’t look a day over . . .” She stopped, put her finger over her lips, and looked up, as if she was trying to remember.
“The jokes start, huh?” He laughed. She could always make him laugh. “Thank you.” He beamed, still impressed that she remembered. Victor had moved his hands from her elbows to her hands, and he just held on with the same big grin on his face.
For the first few minutes, she didn’t say anything, and then she spoke. “Victor, you are still so goofy. Let go of my hands and let’s go get my bags. I don’t think you want our visit to be spent here in the middle of the airport.” She removed her hands and pulled the tote farther up on her arm.
“You’re right.” He was still smiling. “Here, let me get that for you.” He reached for her tote and held it in his hand. As if by impulse, he placed his hand on the small of her back, and the two headed toward the baggage claim area. “Before we start our visit, can I say one thing?” They had walked only a few steps, and he stopped and looked down at her.
Fantasy was thinking as they walked together that he’d seemed so much taller then. But then she was much shorter. He still towered over her, but only slightly. “What do you want to say, Victor?” She was so totally amused with him. He had always showered her with attention, and, being with him only for a few minutes, she could see that trait had not changed.
He put the tote down and pulled her into his arms. “It’s not so much what I want to say as it is what I want to do.” His lips touched hers and she tasted so good. He couldn’t believe the feeling that flowed through him. The bonus was that she kissed as well as she always had.
Fantasy received his warm kiss and kissed him back. They shared the same kiss and it ignited the same feelings. It was a totally clean kiss and yet it held so much passion. When he removed his lips from hers, she cleared her throat. “Well, thank you for telling me that.” She looked around quickly and noticed that a few people looked at them as if they should get a room. There were also a few others who smiled, likely thinking that they were a couple who had not seen each other for a very long time.
“I am so glad that you are here with me.” Victor was sincere in what he said. He realized that Fantasy could have easily said no, or somewhere in the days that followed her yes, she could have changed her mind. The truth was that Fantasy could have walked away and never opened the door. But none of that had happened. And she was standing there in front of him.
“Now we can go.” Victor picked the tote back up and they were on their way.
They navigated their way out of the airport and made their way to where the rental car was parked. Victor put all the suitcases in the trunk and clicked the doors open. Before she could even reach for the doorknob, he was there beside her, opening the door.
“Thanks.” She got in and placed her purse on the floor. She wanted to pull the mirror down just to see what he was seeing, especially since she had not had time to go to the restroom and freshen up. Hopefully she didn’t look that bad. The flight had not been that long. She did reach into her purse and pull out a stick of gum, and quickly placed it in her mouth.
Victor got in the car and put the key in the ignition. “You’re breath is okay. At least, it was when I kissed you a few minutes ago. Should I check it again?”
She laughed. Fantasy was glad that his sense of humor was still in full effect. “No, thank you. What you can do is feed me. Do you think you can handle that?” She looked around to see if there was some place close by, but of course all she could see around her was the spacious parking lot.
“Of course I can handle that.” Victor had figured she would be hungry. Being adamant about preparation, he already had a few places in mind. “My meetings are in DC, so I thought we could stay in the Tyson’s Corner area and just go wherever from there. I didn’t think you wanted to be in the heart of DC.” He paused. “I mean, I hope that’s okay. I didn’t even ask before I made arrangements.” He had started stumbling over his words as if he had just made a mistake or major error.
Fantasy touched his hand that was positioned over the gearshift. “Victor, that’s fine. I never asked because you told me to allow you to take care of it. I was just allowing you to lead. You know if you leave it up to me I’ll take over.” She smiled because their conversation was so easy. He may not have realized it, but she was paying him a great compliment. She never allowed anyone to lead her.
“Well, thanks for letting me lead.” He smiled.
Now that she was even closer to him than she had been in the airport, she noticed that he still had the slight gap between his two front teeth. It was as cute as ever. He had aged well and that was a good thing. Still, she could see life in his eyes and some stress moments under his eyes. Those were the moments when sleep hadn’t come easy for him and there was more to walk the floor over. It was all there, even the pain. She touched the place under his eye that held it tightly. Fantasy leaned her head to the side as she smoothed her finger over the place a few times until it softened a little. “That’s better.”
“It is better.” Victor relished her touch and knew his body responded to what she wanted it to do. She took his breath away. He was coming pretty close to hyperventilating and yet he tried to regain his composure. “I was thinking that since this was just lunch we could go to the Cheesecake Factory, and someplace fancy tonight.”
“That’s perfect.” By his selection of restaurants she knew he remembered their cheesecake nights. She had said it was perfect and, honestly, right at this moment everything was.
At the end of lunch, after sharing a slice of Godiva cheesecake, they walked out of the restaurant arm in arm. “Did you enjoy lunch?” He reached to wipe a little chocolate from the side of her mouth.
“Whoops. I thought I got that off.” She reached where his finger had been. “That’s embarrassing. You’d think I would know how to wipe my mouth.”
“It’s cute and, trust me, I didn’t mind at all. Fantasy, do you think it’s possible to freeze time?” More than just talking about enjoying themselves, he was talking about shielding this moment, this time away from the illness. If he could somehow avoid what would be coming up in the next few weeks, how wonderful that would be.
She thought about what he was saying for a moment and nodded slightly. “I think you can keep so much of the special time with you that it never stops. You know, when something feels good and when a particular time is right, it never has to end.” She slowed down and really looked at him from the side as he walked slowly beside her, holding her hand.
“You are absolutely right.” He pulled her hand to his lips and kissed it.
“So tell me, what’s next?” She was wired and slightly tired at the same time. It had only been three hours. “You know, we ate lunch a little later than the typical time so we likely won’t be hungry for a while.”
“I was thinking the same thing,” Victor responded. “We could go relax a while and then go from there. I reserved a two-bedroom suite; that way we can be together and not be together.”
“You think of everything.” Fantasy prayed that the temptation of having him in the next room within a suite could be endured. At least if he was across the hall or two doors down she’d be less likely to sleepwalk with a purpose.
“Is that arrangement okay? If not, I can get two suites.” Victor again opened the door of the car.
“No, that will be fine. I trust you.” She did trust him, but trusting herself was the real issue. She had not been with anyone in a very long time. And when she had it was prior to her renewed commitment to the Heavenly Father. She had vowed that the next person she slept with would be her husband. He would be hers to keep and she could enjoy all the thrills and joys of being husband and wife.
The distance to the hotel was rather short. They talked some, but mostly they were still in awe of each other’s company. For some reason, Victor was extremely nervous. Maybe he should have reserved two suites, but his only thought at the time had been to be near her as much as possible. He had no desire or intention to scare her by coming on too strong. He considered the time since he’d picked her up at the airport, and hoped that nothing he had done so far had pushed her away. His desire was to show her how much he loved her. There had to be a way to make her see that even when he was too dumb to realize it, it had been there. In essence, Victor had chased a pipe dream. He had tried to make things right and his wife had ended up caring so little about what he offered her. He didn’t even think Sonya ever thought about nor considered what he had lost.
“Are you okay?” Again, Fantasy rubbed along his face, this time near his temple. She slowly caressed Victor’s temple with her index finger, as if it was the most natural thing and not new to her at all. She wasn’t even looking at him as she did it. Her eyes focused straight ahead, yet it seemed she knew his body so well her finger touched the exact spot it was supposed to.
“I’m fine. Why do you ask?” He glanced over at her as he pulled into the parking lot of the hotel next to the valet service.
“Just wanted to make sure. Victor, I really am okay with the arrangements you made. And we will be just fine, I’m sure of it.” She smiled to reassure him. Fantasy wasn’t trying to read his thoughts or feel him on that level, but that’s what happened when she was really in touch with someone. Her nana said it was discernment and a gift from God.
Victor didn’t know how she had just read his mind, but that was exactly what was on his mind. For a moment it freaked him out a little because she came up with that just as she was rubbing his temple. “Tell me later how you did that.”
“There’s nothing to tell.” It was her turn to ponder. She wondered what Victor would think if he knew she had only had one lover since him. And she wondered what he would say or think if he knew that she was practicing abstinence. It wasn’t like someone practicing the violin or the guitar. And on top of that, she was a grown woman. She knew she would have to tell him eventually. Fantasy had not considered disclosing it before because it was all a plan. The plan didn’t include him getting close enough to smell it. It was vulgar, but true.
“Well, let’s boogie, lady.” He opened the door just as the bellman loaded her luggage onto a cart. Victor told him to go directly to the bay of elevators since he was already checked in.
“Have you been enjoying your stay?” The older gentleman asked Victor.
“Yes, I have. I’ve lived in this area but this is actually my first stay at this hotel. It’s very nice.” He looked around the elevator like it was his first time in it.
Fantasy smiled. He had always been a conversationalist. He could strike up a conversation with anyone who would stop long enough to listen or pause as if they were interested.
“Well, we think so too. All the comforts of home. Actually better than home. Is this a special occasion for you two?”
“Guess you can say that. We are rekindling a twenty-one-year-old flame. I wanted to do so in a very special place and I believe this is it.” Victor reached for Fantasy’s hand.
Again she smiled. They were walking down a long hallway and it seemed they would never get to their suite. She was taking in the sights along the way. They had passed two men coming out of a room grinning a little too hard. Then there was a young girl who looked like she was in high school and had no business being in a hotel without a parent.
Fantasy tried to look impressed. She was sure that Victor wanted to impress her and indulge her with surroundings he thought she wasn’t used to. He likely thought she didn’t do five stars. His thinking was her fault, because she hadn’t told him the truth about what she did, even after she’d altered the plan. It seemed that time got away whenever they talked. There was so much to share. Now she honestly didn’t know how to fix it. That was just one thing that she would have to make right. Hopefully, he wouldn’t insult her or assume that she was outside her element. Truthfully, she was a little too sensitive for that.
“That sounds so romantic,” the gentleman said.
Victor slid the card key into the slot and opened the door wide. He moved to the side and allowed Fantasy to enter first. Once she was in he moved slightly for her bags to be brought in. Once everything was in, he continued to make a little small talk as he gave the bellman a tip and closed the door behind him. He walked in to find Fantasy looking out the window at the lavish landscape and the DC skyline in the distance.
Surrounding her throughout the suite were beautiful arrangements of live flowers, and the room smelled heavenly. It seemed that she was not the only one who used oil warmers. She didn’t recall telling him that little bit of information.
“I hope the flowers are not overdoing it. They didn’t come with the room.” Victor stopped talking. He hadn’t meant to say that and hoped it didn’t offend her. By the time she turned around slowly and narrowed her eyes at him he knew it was too late. He wasn’t sure how she lived. They had never talked about it, but he knew that she worked in the sales department of the local paper, and, hence, probably didn’t make a lot of money.
“Thanks, Victor, but I didn’t think they did.” She walked around with her arms folded and glanced at the floral arrangements he had selected. They were nice, but not exactly what she would have picked out. She could have easily burst his bubble, identified each flower in each vase, and told him which flowers should have really been paired together to create a balanced arrangement, a floral combination that wouldn’t be too heavy in smell, as so many often were. “You did a great job and I appreciate your effort.”
“I didn’t mean to insult you at all. That was not my intention. I was just pointing out . . .” He stopped again. “How about something to drink?”
“No thank you.” She shrugged it off and decided to busy herself with something else. “If you don’t mind, I’m going to unpack and shower. I know that I wasn’t in the air that long, but I’d really like to freshen up.” Before he could respond she was out of the room.