Loves Redemption (24 page)

However, as she sat at the table watching him deftly crack eggs in the small metal bowl,

while maintaining a running commentary on the importance of putting
just
the right amount of sour cream in a Denver omelet, she knew it was an unfounded fear.

His love for her was obvious in his every interaction with her. Maya admitted to herself it was more than fear of meeting his family holding her back, it was the uncertainty of what it would
mean
to him to meet his family.

She came to a decision as she sat at her kitchen table, the sun shining brightly through her pretty yellow curtains. She allowed it all to fall off her like the dead weight it was. She decided instead, to take a chance and believe she was worthy of someone truly loving her. She walked quietly behind him, and placed her arms around his waist and hugged him tight.

“Hey what’s that for?” He placed the pan on the back burner before turning around and

hugging her in return.

“Nothing. I’m looking forward to meeting your family.”

“Oh really? And what brought on the sudden change?”

“No sudden change. Maybe more like a dawning realization.”

“Oh yeah? Of what?”

“That I love you, and I’m happy you want me to meet your family,” she told with a catch

in her voice.

Her declaration of love was met with stunned silence, before Mark let out a loud whoop.

Before Maya knew what hit her, he had picked her up and her legs automatically circled his

waist.

“Breakfast can wait!” he said, nearly running with his small burden hanging on and

laughing at his reaction.

He closed the bedroom door with a resounding thud and gently tossed her on the bed. He

landed lightly on top of her, kissing her frantically, as he demonstrated how important her words were to him, taking away any lingering doubts she may have had.

* * * *

“I had a wonderful time with his family, Dal. It was obvious, despite their obvious

wealth, they’re involved in each other’s lives; they really cared about one another.”

Maya knew there was a wistfulness in her voice, but she had always longed to be apart of

a family like Mark’s. One that loved each other, and wanted only the best for the other.

Dalia walked across the room from where she’d been listening to gather her small friend

into her arms. “
Sesute
, I am so happy to see you have found love with this man. Of course his family would love you, why would they not? What is there not to love? You are very good for their son, and he is good for my little sister.”

No sooner was she releasing Maya from the tight embrace then a knock sounded on

Dalia’s door. “Hello. Is anyone in there?”

“That may be our new grad student, I will go and see. If so, would you like for me to

bring him in?” she asked.

“Please do, Dalia.” Maya picked up the file folder that contained the information Dalia

had already gathered on the graduate student and skimmed over his resume. Maya could hear

Dalia greet the visitor as she walked into her office.

Soon after, Dalia appeared at her door with a young man standing beside her. His head

came to Dalia’s shoulders, which made him roughly four inches taller than Maya.

As Maya greeted her visitor, she briefly took in his appearance, from the wide smile

crossing his small features to the tightly clasped hands he’d placed in front of his body. His large brown eyes were framed by lashes long enough to make any woman envious, and his lips were a natural light shade of pink.

Smiling in return, Maya shook the student’s hand. “Hello I’m Dr. Richardson, it’s nice to

meet you Mr. Smith.”

“It’s wonderful to meet you Dr. Richardson, and please call me James.”

“James it is then,” she said with a small nod before continuing. “And please most of my

interns, as well as the residents, call me Dr. Maya.”

She motioned him to have a seat with a wave of her hand. Seating herself, she looked up

from the file she’d picked up to begin their interview.

“James I’d like to start by allowing you to tell me anything about yourself you’d like,

including your area of study and what interested you in the social services arena. I don’t really conduct these interviews in any type of formal way so please feel free to speak as openly as you feel comfortable in doing,” Maya began the interview as she sat back in her chair and reached for her pad and pen.

“Yes, ma’am. I started graduate school a few years ago and had to stop for personal as

well as financial reasons, and I’ve only recently returned.” As he began talking, a fleeting look of sadness crossed his face. “I’m currently employed by the police department in human relations.

As a state employee not a police officer,” he clarified.

“Do you enjoy the work you do with the police department, James?” Maya asked after a

short pause.

“Very much so. The people I work with are wonderful, and one of my supervisor’s was

very supportive of my return to graduate school.”

“James, how did you first hear about Imani House, and what interested you in doing your

internship with us?”

“I only recently saw you on television speaking about Imani House and the work done

here. After I learned more about your programs, I was really impressed. I’ve always been

interested in working with this particular population, and only recently returned to school in order further my education in counseling.”

“It’s very rewarding for me to work with the men and women at Imani House who

benefit from all of our programs, especially those in need of counseling services,” Maya agreed.

“When I looked over your resume I noted you have some experience in counseling at a teen

emergency center, what was that like for you?”

Maya listened as the young man eloquently spoke on what it was like for him to be able

to help youth who were experiencing some of the same types of problems he’d experienced as a young person.

Without being prompted he continued to tell Maya how he’d been mistreated as a child

and adolescent. “Dr. Richardson, this was one of many reasons I decided to study psychology and counseling.”

“Do you feel this is a good reason to go into the field?” Maya asked in a carefully

unbiased tone.

James’s eyes darted sharply in her direction. Maya caught the disquieting look cross his

features before it was as quickly erased; making her wonder if she’d imagined it.

“I don’t believe it would be if it were the only reason. However, it’s not my only reason.

Before I decided this was something I wanted to do as a career, I sought out counseling myself.

A professor once advised, before anyone enters into social services, or any counseling

profession, they should first receive therapy to help them resolve any issues they have. I took that advice to heart and it helped me a great deal. I have a real desire to help other people who’ve fallen by the wayside for one reason or another to get back on the right track.” With a gentle smile he explained.

Maya smiled in return, and nodded her head in silent agreement with his previous

professor. She’d known of a few young counselors and social workers who’d either broken down in front of the client or had been unpleasantly surprised at the feelings a client’s issue had stirred within them.

They finished the interview, and Maya was satisfied James would make a nice addition to

Imani House. She walked around her desk to extend her hand to him.

“Welcome aboard James, I think you’ll enjoy your internship at Imani House just as

much as we’ll enjoy having you here with us. Dalia will help you to fill out the rest of your packet. Usually Dr. Tomas has helped the student with the University’s end of the paperwork.

I’m sure he was able to do so before he left for Guatemala for the summer?” she both stated and asked.

At his nod she continued, “Great. Make sure Dalia has all of your paperwork. Once it’s

filled out, she’ll bring it in for me to sign. She’ll also set up your schedule. Do you have any questions for me, James?”

At the door he turned toward her. “No Dr. Richardson, I don’t have any questions for

now. I want to thank you for accepting me as an intern here at Imani House.” There was heartfelt gratitude in his voice.

“If you have any, my door is always open. And please feel free to call me Dr. Maya.

We’re not too formal at the House.”

“Thank you, but I’d prefer to call you Dr. Richardson. I admire and respect you, and I

wouldn’t be comfortable calling you by your first name.”

“Whatever you’re more comfortable with is fine with me. There are a few residents who

call me Dr. Richardson also.” Maya had opened the door to her office, and waited for Dalia to hang the phone up before she spoke.

“Dalia, James is joining our intern staff. If you start his paperwork, the two of you can set his schedule.”

With that, she left them and returned to her office. As she reopened the door to walk

inside out of the corner of her eye she saw the new intern staring intently at her.

Maya raised her eyebrows in silent question, and a wide smile spread across his small

face, before he turned his attention to Dalia. Smiling in return, Maya went inside her office and gently closed the door behind her.

“Mark is on the second line. I’m leaving for the night, Maya. Do you need anything

before I go?” Dalia called out to Maya through their open connecting door.

“No, I’m fine. Have a good night, Dal,” she said, before turning her attention to Mark.

“Hi sweetheart, how did everything go? And are you back in town?” she asked the

questions back-to-back and laughed. Mark had been in Austin for the last few days investigating a lead.

“Actually, I walked into my house only a few minutes ago. It seems like we haven’t seen

each other for a lot longer than the three days,” he said with on a sigh. “I tried to call you at home first. What are you still doing at the House? Busy today?”

“Yes you could say that. We have a new resident today and her boyfriend slash pimp

didn’t take very well to her entering the program and decided to follow her here to ‘convince’

her to leave.”

“What do you mean ‘convince’ her? Was there trouble? Are you okay? What about the

other ladies?” he demanded, his voice more alert.

“It’s okay, Mark. Walter and I were able to convince the guy to leave peacefully.

Everything’s fine. He didn’t get farther than the front foyer,” she sought to reassure him, mentioning one of the guards she employed for light security at Imani House.

“Damn it. Hold on for a minute,” he said and within minutes she heard the slam of a

door.

“Mark, what are you doing?” Maya asked in resignation. She knew the answer when the

powerful sound of his Expedition engine roared to life moments later.

“You know what I’m doing. I’ll be there within twenty minutes. Oh and by the way, my

brother called, the one who wasn’t at dinner last week. He and his wife have invited us over this weekend for dinner. They want to get the chance to meet the woman dad can’t stop talking

about.”

“Oh really?” Maya asked trying to sound nonchalant with the apparent compliment.

“You made a great impression on dad. And of course Mom raved about how pretty and

smart you are. Coming from mom that’s no small compliment, because according to her I’m the most handsome and of course smartest man in the world,” he boasted.

“Well, yes, of course you are,” she answered, tongue -in-cheek, playing along.

“So if I’m the most handsome and smartest man, I would need an equally smart and

beautiful woman. Until Saturday, mom didn’t think such a woman existed until along came Dr.

Maya Richardson on the scene proving her assumption wrong,” he finished with mock

seriousness.

Finally, Maya laughed out loud. As their laughter had subsided she heard a noise in

Dalia’s office, and assuming Dalia had returned she asked her to close her door on the way out.

When Dalia didn’t answer, Maya stood to investigate, when Mark sidetracked her.

“Have I told you today that I love you?”

Sitting back down in her chair, she looked at her watch before she answered. “Not in the

last few minutes, no you haven’t. I love you too.” She automatically smiled.

After initially declaring her feelings to him, she found she enjoyed saying those three

simple words. She felt complete in a way she couldn’t define whenever they exchanged “I love yous.”

She had never given much thought about the emotional connection of being in love with

someone. But now she was in love, and the love was returned, she knew she would never be the same again, no matter what happened in the future.

She had gone from being emotionally bereft, to being connected to someone on all major

levels; mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and physically, something she never had experienced.

“I love you too, baby. I should be there in short while. Will you be done for the night or

do you need to finish up?”

“I’ll be ready to leave by the time you get here.”

A few more minutes of light-hearted talking between the two lovers occurred, some of

which made Maya laugh and blush at the same time before they hung up, both eagerly

anticipating seeing the other.

Maya heard another noise in Dalia’s office and got up to investigate. She stopped short

when she came across the new intern stooping to pick up a manila folder with its contents spread out on the floor.

“James, I didn’t know you were in here. Can I help you with something?” She

automatically bent to help him pick up the fallen documents.

“Hello Dr. Richardson. I came in to drop off my paperwork for school. I didn’t think you