Once Upon a Friendship

Except grab her up and kiss her senseless for the rest of their lives. Which would be more taking, when he’d just promised to give.

“What?” he asked her. “What do you want from me?”

It was a plea. Not an accusation.

“Forever, Liam. I want forever. Can you give me that?”

He understood then. Confessing wasn’t enough. It had to be followed by action. Sometimes immediately.

He hadn’t planned this part yet. Had figured it would be months—at least—down the road. If ever. And figured he’d be prowling around in the dark like a hungry bear while he waited for the time to be right...

“I’m probably going to be richer than sin and insist on having my shoes shined, but I promise that I will spend the rest of my life fixing the fill valves on your toilets.”

He heard the words and panicked. Then grinned. “That didn’t come out right,” he said.

Marie was sniffling somewhere off to his right.

“I think it came out perfectly,” Gabi said, still standing there looking up at him.

“I do, too,” Marie chimed in.

“So, you’ll marry me?”

“You haven’t asked me yet. But don’t worry, Liam, there’s plenty of time for that.” Gabi was smiling as she wrapped those lovely arms around him. “As your attorney I’d advise you to make it soon, though. Life is too short to waste.”

“Way too short,” Marie chimed in.

Feeling as though he was ready to climb a mountain in his bare feet, Liam gathered Gabi close, holding her in his arms for the very first time. It was better than anything he’d imagined it could be. “You still advising me, Gabi?”

Her nose crinkled as she pretended to think about that. “You said you never wanted to lose what we had...”

Liam laughed out loud, lowered his head and touched his forehead to Gabi’s.

“Kiss her, already,” Marie said. “Don’t worry, I’m outta here.”

Because his friendship with the girls dictated it, Liam did exactly as he was told. But he stopped as Marie moved past them toward her room.

Hooking her arm, he pulled her into their hug.

“We’re going to be a family forever,” he said, looking at both women. “I swear to you on everything I am, have ever been or ever will be, we’re Threefold. Just one of us will be switching apartments as soon as I can make the arrangements.” Marie was crying. But she nodded. And smiled, too, wrapping her arms around the two of them.

“I think we should do it quietly,” Gabi said.

“Move rooms?”

“No, get married. We don’t want to bring any more vengeance, or press, down on us.”

“We could put something together by next weekend,” Marie said. “Go down to the courthouse. I’ll be your witness. And figure out something for afterward. We should have some music. And flowers...”

There were still shadows in Marie’s eyes. Some hard changes ahead for her as she adjusted to living alone. But the love in her heart came through loud and clear as she chattered.

Gabi listened. And nodded.

And Liam finally trusted that what he’d wanted all of his adult life had been there, waiting for him, all along.

Love.

A sense of belonging.