To love is nothing. To be loved is something. But to love and be loved, that's everything. - T. Tolis

The lock turned and the door locked.

Tara walked to the end of the veranda and stood in front of a blue patio chair. The keys made a thumping sound as she hid the key beneath the leg of the chair.

She rose to her full height, and her mother's face suddenly flashed through her mind.

Anxiety rose in her chest as her thoughts drifted to her mother.

Worry washed through her as she thought about her mother's weird behavior in recent times.

She had become evasive and skittish. Even with Tara's questioning, she jumped in fright at every sound. And she spoke less.

Her mother was hiding something, and she wondered what it was.

As she climbed down the steps, she said a quick prayer asking God to take care of her mother.

She pulled the taxi door open and stepped in; she exchanged pleasantries with the driver.

The car engine vibrated to life, and the car zoomed out of the gate.

The wind blew on Tara's face from the open window. Her eyes followed the shapes of houses, trees, and people that they sped past. A smile split on her face as a coolness washed over her.

The shadows of the outside world blended into each other. Her mind flew to her mission of the day.

She was taking the last step to have healed wounds.

She was taking a leap to set things right.

"Excuse me, ma'am!" A voice jolted her out of her thoughts.

"Yes?" Her eyes drifted to the driver's face.

"We will soon arrive at the estate gate," he announced and turned back to face the road.

"Okay; thank you!" She shifted in her seat and her eyes drifted back to the window.

"Please stop the car!" She suddenly proclaimed a few minutes later.

Her body lurched forward as the car screeched to a halt.

"What happened, ma'am?" The driver turned to face her with furrowed brows.

"Thank you; I will take it from here," she declared and picked up her bag.

"Let me take you to the estate. It would be a long walk from the gate to your final destination," he asserted as his frown deepened.

Tara shook her head. "No! It's okay; don't worry." She dug out her purse and brought out some money and handed it to him. "Thank you!" She pushed the door open and stepped out.

The slamming sound of the door rang in her ears as she whirled around.

Her trek to her destination began.

She halted at the estate gate and waited as they did the normal security check. A slight smile formed on her face as the pedestrian gate opened for her.

She sauntered through and continued her journey. Her eyes remained focused on the road. She drained out the noises of the activities going on around.

Her shoes made crunching sounds on the concrete floor of the sidewalk. She turned right onto a street and marched on.

She pondered on the words she will say, and what she will do to set things right.

Suddenly, a sharp pain surged through her feet, and her feet throbbed. Sweat broke out on her face.

She stifled a groan and pressed on. However, a pain formed in her lower abdomen. And for a minute, she regretted not allowing the taxi to drop her.

However, her regrets didn't last long. She straightened her spine, raised her head, and continued her trip.

She convicted herself to fulfill her aim alone. And she would not relent until the end.

Sweat rolled down her face, and a groan escaped her lips every now and then.  The pain at her side seemed to increase with each step.

After a few more miles, she stalled in front of a formidable black gate. The gold-painted handles glistened under the sun.

As she stared at it, nervousness crept on her and she clutched her bag straps.

With a shaky hand, she rang the bell and waited for a response.

Her heart pounded as light footsteps drew closer.

Something creaked, and an eye peeked through the peephole.

She watched the peephole and held her breath as the gate squeaked open.

Her shoulders relaxed a little as the solemn face of a security guard greeted her.

"Good afternoon! How may I help you?" He asked coldly.

Tara stiffened and muttered, "I would like to meet Mr. Philip Angelo." Her heart fluttered as she said his name.

Curiosity danced in his eyes "And who might you be?"

Tara swallowed. "A friend of his."

"Give me one second," he said and slammed the gate shut.

The straps of her bag dug into her palm as she waited. Her heart pounded as seconds passed.

Did Philip find out she was here?

Did he not want to meet her?

Various thoughts ran through her head, and her fear increased.

Finally, the gate reopened, and the security guard appeared. "Come in!" He opened the gate wider.

She swallowed and crossed over the threshold of the gate.

"Thank you!" she muttered and strolled away.

Her eyes roamed around the compound and stopped on the white duplex with grey window trimmings.

She breathed in the soft citrus scent of the hibiscus plants dotted around.

Her breath caught as she stopped in front of a huge steel door. She rang the doorbell. Her palms grew sweaty as she waited.

Suddenly, the door swung open, and much to her shock, a female face appeared.

Her throat went dry as she stared at the lady in amazement

Who is she? She wondered.

"Oh, my goodness! Hello, you must be Tara!" The lady beamed at her. "Please come in." The lady stepped to the side.

Tara licked her lips and whispered, "Hello, good afternoon!" She forced out a smile and stepped into the house.

A sense of nostalgia hit her as a familiar woodsy scent wafted through her nose.

"Please come with me!" The unknown lady declared with a thick Italian accent and led her to the living room.

Her eyes touched every object they passed. Her eyes stalled on a medium-sized photograph of a younger Philip holding a trophy. He was dressed in a red jersey and spotted a cheeky grin.

"That was the day they made him the captain of his college basketball team and the day he won the most valued player award."

Tara jumped in her spot, and her heart raced. She whirled around to face the lady who had crept up beside her.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you." The lady chuckled.

"It's okay!" Tara muttered.

The two women stared at the picture in silence.

"Those were fun times." The lady broke the silence. "We were all happy," she whispered with a hint of sadness.

Tara turned to face her and watched longing and pain gleam in her eyes.

Her curiosity increased at the identity of the girl.

"Are you okay?" She asked the lady.

The lady blinked rapidly and dabbed her eyes. "Yes, I am!" A smile reappeared on her face. "Let's go!" She turned to go.

Tara caught one look at the picture and ambled after the lady.

"Here we are!" The lady exclaimed, "please have your seat." She gestured to the white L-shaped couch that took up most of the space. It was dotted with bright yellow cushions.

Tara smiled and crossed over. She sat down stiffly, with apprehension dancing in her body.

"Just a minute. Let me get Philip." She sent her a smile and walked off.

Tara wrung her fingers as her nerves itched in unease. She stared at the blank screen of the Plasma TV that hung on the wall.

She sat up straight as a familiar voice drew nearer.

"Oh, come on, now! Tell me who it is!"

"Nope, I am not doing that; it is a surprise."

As the voices drew nearer, Tara's heart pounded faster.

"Why do you have to be so secret—" the voice stopped. "Oh my word, Tara!"

Hearing Philip's voice brought forward a flood of emotions.

She jumped up and swung to face him. He still looked the same way as the last time she saw him on TV.

However, there was a difference. His eyes shone brighter than they ever did.

"Tara!" He breathed out as he drew closer. "I can't believe it! You are here!" A huge grin spread across his face.

Seeing Philip's charming smile made the tension flow away from her body. A glimmer of hope washed over her.

The duo gazed at each other as their eyes told the stories their mouths couldn't say.

The clearing of a throat broke their trance. Philip chuckled; Tara broke eye contact and flushed bright red.

"So, Tara, I believe you have met my sister," Philip remarked with an enthusiastic voice.

"Your sister?" She looked up at the two of them with furrowed brows.

"Yes!" He grinned. "Tara, this is my sister Sofia." He pointed to Sofia. "And Sofia, this is my friend, Tara."

Tara smiled and said, "It is so nice to meet you."

"Oh, trust me, the pleasure is all mine." Sofia beamed. "You are prettier than Philip's description." She laughed.

A tint of pink appeared on Tara's cheeks. "Thank you!" she muttered. "You are beautiful as well," she asserted.

Looking closer, she noticed a slight resemblance between her and Philip. They had the same facial structure

"Aww, thank you!" Sofia grinned. "But I am sure you find my brother the most handsome of all guys, don't you?" She smirked with a mischievous glint.

Another blush appeared on Tara's cheeks and she flickered her eyes away.

"Oh, come on, Sis. Let her be." Philip chortled.

Sofia huffed. "Fine! I will leave you two alone!" She turned to go, then stopped and faced them with a mischievous grin. "However, don't do anything naughty." She raced off and her laughter trailed after her and rang out in the house.

Tara and Philip stared at her retreating figure with red faces.

Soon silence fell on them and the house.

"She is something else, isn't she?" Philip chuckled as he turned to face Tara.

"Yeah, she is sweet." Tara grinned.

"Well, she kinda got it from me." He smirked and puffed up his chest.

Tara snorted. "I don't believe it!" she laughed.

"Pffft, do you want me to prove it?" His eyes danced with mirth.

"No, thank you!" Her eyes gleamed with laughter.

"Hmph! Next time then." He winked.

Tara laughed out loud and Philip followed.

"Anyway, what would you like to have?" Philip asked after their laughter died down.

Tara smiled and whispered, "Nothing. I am okay!"

"Nope, that can't happen! You can't visit me without having at least a glass of water," he asserted. "I will be right back." He smiled and walked off.

Tara sighed and strolled back to her seat. She sat down and clasped her hands on her lap and thought of her next step of action.

"Yes, here we go!" Philip appeared with a tray with two glasses and a chilled carton of juice. He placed the tray on the glass center table and filled both glasses.

"Here, have this!" He handed her a glass, and he came round and took a seat beside her.

She accepted the glass and inhaled the familiar smell of fresh oranges.

Being near him was both unnerving and endearing. Her face flushed red, and she took a sip of the juice.

She relished the coolness that flowed down her throat. It gave her a push of energy to say what she needed to say.

Their eyes connected as she looked up.  A sensation flowed in her stomach as the mood changed.

An emotion shone in Philip's eyes as she looked at him. "It is nice to have you here." He smiled softly.

Her cheeks turned pink, and she looked down briefly. "Yeah, I wanted to talk to you," she said as she looked back up at him.

An unreadable expression crossed his face. "Oh? Okay!" He stretched over and dropped his glass on the tray. "I am all ears." He sat up and faced her. A strained smile appeared on his face.

Tara looked away as uncertainty rose in her mind. All the words she had rehearsed flew away and her mind went blank.

Her eyes flickered to Philip, and she caught him still looking at her. She looked down into the yellow liquid and heaved a sigh.

"First, I would like to apologize for being distant lately and not answering your calls." She looked at him.

Philip gave a small smile. "It is okay! I understand you had some things to sort out."

Tara nodded and broke eye contact as she struggled to construct her next words. The sides of the glass dug into her hand as she held it tighter. She flinched as pain struck her palm.

"What would you like to talk about?" Philip's voice drew her back.

She stared at him and exhaled sharply. "I would like to talk about us."

Her heartbeat beat faster as her eyes watched Philip's reaction.

"Ah, okay!" He squirmed in his seat and suddenly jumped up. He walked to the middle of the room and faced her.

She watched in unease at his behavior.

"What about us?" He asked tightly and rubbed his neck.

She caught an emotion dancing in his eyes, and she wondered if it was fear.

Suddenly, the couch grew uncomfortable and her throat clogged up. The glass clanked on the tray as she dropped it. Her legs shook as she stood.

She rose to her full height and faced Philip from across the room.

"I would like to give us a chance," she whispered. Her hands trembled as she spoke.

"What?" Philip breathed out with wide eyes. "You want to give us a chance!" He exclaimed.

Tara nodded slowly as her uncertainty grew. "Isn't that what you want?" Her voice cracked as she asked,

"Oh, yes, I definitely want that!" He cried out. A grin slowly spread across his face. "I will be the happiest man if that happens." He drew closer as he spoke.

Tara smiled as her doubt eased a little. She wouldn't have been able to tolerate it if he didn't want her anymore.

With only a few steps between them, he asked, "What changed your mind, if I may ask?"

A smile formed on her lips and she proclaimed proudly, "I was freed from the chains of my past." Her smile grew as she spoke. "And I wanted to start afresh."

"Yes, I am so happy to hear that!" He proclaimed with joy and rushed forward.

Her heart swelled with happiness, and tears of joy filled her eyes. She didn't resist when he clasped her two hands.

Red splashed on her cheeks as he placed a kiss on the back of each hand.

"I am the happiest man right now!" He gave a toothed grin. He cupped her face and gazed into her eyes. "Thank you, Tara, for giving me a chance." His eyes brimmed with affection.

She shook her head and whispered, "Thank you, Philip, for not giving up on me." Her eyes gleamed with appreciation.

The couple gazed at each other with joy-filled eyes.

Suddenly, a breeze blew, and everything changed.

Tara's breath caught as the expression in Philip's eyes became intense. His eyes turned to a darker shade of blue and gleamed with a new light.

He came closer and whispered, "Can I say something, Tara?" He cupped her other cheek.

Consumed with too many emotions to speak, she nodded her head.

With his two hands on the side of her face, he whispered, "Je t'aime, Tara!"

Tara stilled as his words rang in her head.

HE LOVES ME!

His breath blew on her face and she did nothing to stop him as he went on speaking.

"When I met you for the first time at the school's Christmas event, I admired you for the care you showed the little boy."

"When I saw you at the orphanage, I grew to respect you for your impact on the children's lives."

"And over the weeks and months I have known you, I have grown to love you for your strength, for your courage, for your compassion, and your stubbornness, even if it kept us apart." He smiled. "I love you, Tara."

Tears streamed down her face at each word he uttered. Her heart was full of emotions she had never felt before but was love what she felt.

He rubbed his thumbs over her cheeks and wiped away her tears.

A breath escaped her lips, and she opened her mouth to speak.

"Philip, I—" He placed his finger on her lips and shook his head.

"You don't need to say anything if you don't want to." He smiled. "I just wanted to say what I felt. No pressure."

She gazed at him as his eyes shone with love for her. And she asked herself...

Do I love him?

If love was to always want to be by his side.

If love was to want to be with him in his happiness and sorrow.

If love is to always pray for him,

If love was to always think about him.

Then, yes, she loved him.

With that revelation in mind, she whispered through tears, "Je t'aime, Philip!"

A huge grin split on his face. "Are you serious, Tara, or are you just saying it because I said it?" His smile fell with the last sentence.

"No, Philip, I may just have realized it, but I truly love you too!" She beamed at him through tears of joy.

Philip's face shone with ecstasy, and he pulled her into his arms and held her tight.

Tara welcomed his warmth, and she snuggled closer to him.

Thank you, Jesus, she said in her mind.

Outside, the sun shone brightly, and it cast a glow on the couple through the windows.

It signaled the beginning of a new story and a new beginning

                       ★★★★★★★

Oh, my word, Philip and Tara said the L word😁They finally confessed their feelings❤

I am totally joyful about it.

What about you?

And yes, we met a female Angelo for the first time 😂

What do you think about Sofia?

So moving on. . .

Our Question Of The Chapter is: What emojis have you been using a lot lately?

Well, I have used 😁❤😝😂🤦‍♀️🤷‍♀️🤭🙃😔😕😏 a lot in the last couple of weeks! XD.

They always seem to express my feelings most time 😂

And yesss, we have one more chapter to go before I click the complete button🎉🎉🎉

Praise God! 🙏😁

Don't forget to vote, comment and share.

Until next time, don't forget to use emojis😂❤