The Prayer Part 3 by Andrea DiMaggio

Oh I love to hear you say my name…

“Mr. Stuart…Cal, do you have a moment…in private?”

“Cal, do you have some time to talk?”

“Cal…Mr. Stuart, can I speak to you?”

Maeve had practiced her request over a dozen times at home, and at least seven more on her ride to work. She was going over the same thing in her mind, and still wasn’t settled. She wasn’t shy, actually. She just worried that the subsequent conversation would go nowhere, leaving her “unrequited,” as they say. She had admired Cal Stuart from the first day she laid eyes on him when he joined the Guidance Department staff last fall. How could such a lovely woman not fall in love with the sweetest, kindest, and most noble (Yes!) person she had ever met? Now, nearly eight months later, with the end of school only weeks away, she feared that the summer hiatus would cool off their relationship, such as it was, so she prepared herself to “lay all her cards on the table.” Surprisingly, she wasn’t really gambling, since what she wanted was not only within her grasp, she would come to be amazed at how much of what she wanted would be hers, because, as some might say, she was in the right place at the right time.

“Maeve…do you have a moment?” Cal said, abruptly but happily interrupting Maeve’s thoughts.

“Of course, Mr. Stuart.” She regretted the “Mr. Stuart" even as the words left her mouth. She wanted to say his name, but she continued having a problem with that. To be honest, she really wanted to say, “Of course, darling,” but that wouldn’t really be appropriate, or would it?

“Do you mind coming into my office; this isn’t the place; I’d really rather speak to you in private.” Her biggest fears were about to come to pass, she thought. She was expecting the big “letdown,” and her eyes actually started to mist up in anticipation of the rejection that was never going to take place.

He closed the door behind him and said, “I need to speak to you about something in private, and I didn’t want to risk being overheard.”

“Well, at least he’s considerate; he doesn’t want to embarrass me,” she thought, until he continued.

“I want our relationship to go further, but I can’t,” He paused; allowing her to anticipate that he no longer could see her for some reason. But he said,

“I can’t continue our relationship unless you hear what I have to say. If after you hear me out, I will understand if you no longer want to see me.” He was a little nervous, and he was making his own assumptions about her as well. She helped alleviate his anxiety somewhat by nodding with an understanding expression. She had taken the opportunity to dry her eyes with her sleeve when he looked down to compose himself.

“It’s okay, Cal, go ahead.” She said it softly, and put her hand on his arm and rubbed it in the same fashion as she did after the dinner party at Gina’s months ago. It had the same effect; it was wonderful. Cal swallowed and said,

“I have a secret that only my sister knew about, and I am trusting my instincts about this; I think you are a person…I know you are a woman of character, and you’ll keep my secret, even if you choose to end our relationship.” The suspense wasn’t killing her, but it wasn’t doing her any good either, so she said,

“Whatever it is, you can trust me.” She wanted to add, “I love you, sweetheart,” but held back.

By now, his own eyes had misted up. He was confident in whom he was, even if she rejected him, so he finally said,

“I want you to know I love you Maeve; more than anyone I have ever known, and I want to spend my life with you, but you need to know that I have another name.” She looked at him with a puzzled expression, until he finally said,

“My other name is Annabeth; Annabeth Constance Stuart. I have another side of me; an important part of who I am; She’s been around since I was a teenager, and she was my sister’s best friend. Nina is…was the only one who knew about her until now.” His eyes teared up at the memory of his late sister. Maeve’s eyes misted up once again as she felt the grief and loss he bore.

“She is as much part of me as my love of jazz or painting.”

“She likes Jazz!!!” Maeve thought.

“Annabeth loves the same people I love and she wants to help teens just like I do because she’s me…” He had He almost winced, as if he expected her to hit him with the notebook in her hand. The silence only lasted a few seconds, but it felt like an eternity to both of them. Maeve looked at him, trying to imagine a “her” instead of a “him” standing there. She reached over once again and rubbed his arm. She glanced back to make sure that the door to the office was still closed. Turning again, she smiled with a smile that you may have seen from your sister or your girlfriend; a smile that says, “Is that all?” or “Was that what you were worried about, silly?” The kind of look that doesn’t whisper; it shouts acceptance. A look that says “What secret?” A look that ultimately said, “I love you,” just before she actually said it out loud.

“I love you…darling.” (There, she said it, finally!) She kissed him on the cheek quickly and walked back and locked the door. “I love you,” she said again, and kissed him…her…oh, you know they weren’t confused at all, even if this author is. Imagine both of them having the same delightful smile and laugh that Arwen has in “Return of the King” except that it’s Eowyn kissing Arwen!” Moments later, a knock came at the door followed by,

“I know you two are in there,” Gina said with a laugh. “Should I get some Kleenex or an engagement card?” Actually, she probably could have done right if she brought both.

Cal and Maeve walked hand in hand on the boardwalk at Virginia Beach. They had taken a few days off to talk and pray. They stayed at a nice hotel right on the beach (separate rooms, mind you, they were from the old school, as they say.) Maeve turned to Cal and kissed him lightly on the lips, almost a sisterly kiss, which was actually appropriate in a way, after what he had shared with her the week before. She had struggled over a sleepless night, wondering if it was wrong of her to be so accepting of Annabeth, having only spent an evening with her a few nights after the “revelation.” But what she realized, which came from finally determining for herself is that what she wanted and needed came first finally, and she said,

“If that’s who you really are, darling; (there’s that word) then I love her, too. Some might find that some women are all too quick to accept the femme side of their loves, almost unrealistic some might say. But there are those absolutely special women and men that are completely loving and accepting. The Greeks have a word for it, agape’, which means to love without expectation. Actually, most successful relationships function in that manner, whether or not they know the word for it. We call it love.

Cal looked at her and smiled, and his eyes began to mist up. He went to reach into his pocket, but he realized he’d left his windbreaker at the hotel, and he’d have to give Maeve his gift that evening. But Maeve surprised him. She reached into her own pocket and pulled out a small jewelry box similar to the one Cal left back at the hotel. Looking around to see if anyone was coming, she smiled at him and kissed him on the lips, but not in any way a sister would kiss her sister, if you follow me. And she wasn’t looking out for people out of embarrassment. She was anything but embarrassed. She just didn’t want some roller- blading teen or senior citizen tandem bikers to interrupt them. She got down on one knee and grabbed Cal’s hand. She said, without giggling, as you might have expected, but sincerely and as romantically as ever has been said,

“Annabeth Constance Stuart….will you do me the honor of marrying me and making me the happiest woman in the world? And she said yes.

The restaurant was not crowded, but still held enough diners that more than several people took notice of the couple sitting at the window. The blond wore a stunning royal blue one-shoulder jersey gown. Her neck was adored with a simple gold chain with a small cross. Her hair was pulled back with a broad ribbon that matched her gown, revealing simple rose-shaped studs. Her left hand held a glass of Pino Grigio, which went well with her Roast Vermont Lamb. She held her lover’s right hand with her own. Her redheaded lover had the Wild King Salmon, and her own left hand held a glass of Pinot Noir, which she had just finished sipping. She wore a black silk strapless number, and her jewelry matched her lover's, but in silver. She wore her hair up, which revealed a neck graceful enough to rival Grace Kelly. Both women wore matching diamond rings and bands, and equally matching smiles. The stunning couple turned heads, a remarkable feat considering they were at the “Upstairs at the ‘21’” restaurant in Manhattan. They paid their fellow diners no heed. They were on the second night of their honeymoon, after all, and they were having the time of their lives, as some might say.

"I Love Being Here With You" - Peggy Lee and William Schluger 1961.

Next: Dancing in the Dark