“You were right. She is nice.”

“Told ya.”

“Why did you lie?” Amora asked me.

“I don’t know. I guess I wanted her to feel comfortable having you around. It would have scared her if she knew I don’t know you from Adam.” I tried to explain. “Here, this will be your room.” I didn’t give her the chance to judge me for lying to my mom.

“Okay. Thanks Roman. For letting me stay here.”

“Thank you too for making my mom happy. Quick question though, how long have you been in town?”

“Almost a week. You already know that”

“Where have you been sleeping?”

“At the motel like you told me to that night but I ran out of money. If you hadn’t called me, if you hadn’t agreed for me to stay with you, I would have slept on the streets tonight.” She laughed as she said I would have slept on the streets. What was funny about Sleeping on the streets?

“You are running from something, are you not?” That had to be it. That was the only way I could understand her situation.

Amora smiled. “Are we not all running from something?

Goodnight Roman.” She tiptoed and planted a kiss on my cheek. I shuddered. I was not expecting her to kiss me. In a very short span of time, I became closer to Amora than I was to anyone. It felt like I already knew her and she already knew me and then I felt it again. Calmness.
                    _____________________
I woke up the next morning with a very bothersome hunger in my stomach. I quickly brushed my teeth and began walking to the kitchen. I had to fix myself something to eat, maybe a bowl of cereal or an apple or anything as long as it was edible.

I got to the kitchen and Amora was already there. She had her back turned and she was cooking something because the entire kitchen smelled of food, delicious food and it made my belly rumble some more.

I didn’t speak. I just stood and watched her back and I noticed how her brown curly hair poured down her neck to her upper back. If it were now, I’d totally think she was Pocahontas. Then my eyes strayed to the straightness of her back and to the rise of her buttocks. Damn, that was some fine ass right there. Then she suddenly began swaying her hips and humming a tone. I laughed inside. If only she knew I watched but then she did.

“Are you going to stand there gawking at me all day?” She asked without turning.

Oh my God! The guts of this woman and her mouth.
“Amora. Good morning.” I said sheepishly. I felt embarrassed that she knew I stared at her body and I hoped she didn’t think I was a pervert but to be fair, I warned her.

“Good morning to you Roman.” She finally turned. Amora’s beauty was weird. You’d think you’ve seen it all and then you notice another minute part of her that is absolutely beautiful and that morning I noticed how perfectly structured her jawline was. She’d totally look amazing in photos.

“Cooking?”

“Yeah. I’m sorry I barged into your kitchen but I woke up this morning terribly hungry.” She said.

Thank goodness it wasn’t just me and I was glad she was cooking.
“No its okay. Carry on. I’m hungry too. I actually came down here to fix something to eat for myself and mom.”

“What about me?”

“Oh. Yeah, I totally forgot you were here.”

“Jerk.” She said and rolled her eyes.
“What? I only signed up to letting you stay here, not feed you.”

Amora made a pout with her lips and I knew she felt bad for what I had said.

“Hey. Hey. I was kidding. It was a joke. As long as you’ll be here, the kitchen is yours.”

Amora forced a smile down.
“Hey. Is that a smile I see there? Come on, let it out, I know you want to.” And she smiled and then my breath stopped, -not literally though because if that were to happen, it would mean I would die.- So my breath stopped, even the hunger that growled in my stomach ceased and then a peace like such I’ve never known before came upon me. It was like her smile radiated from her face to my body and flowed through my system, amending all that was wrong with my mind and my heart.

I looked away from Amora the second I noticed my mouth was opened. I didn’t want her to think I was gaping at her.

“Hey. I’m sorry about last night, breaking down on you like that. I’m not usually like that, it’s just…”

“You are going through a lot and I can perfectly relate. You could always come to me if you need someone to talk to, even though you don’t deserve it.” She said and crossed her hand on her chest.

“Why do you always think you know what I deserve and what I don’t? This is about me…”

“Slamming your door to my face? Yeah.” She completed my statement.

“Are you ever going to forgive me for that?” I said laughing. “In my defense, you creeped me out. I mean who just walks up to your door and says they want to move in with you?”

“I asked for a night.”

“Let’s say the situation was reversed. Would you let me spend the night in your home if I just walked up your door and asked?”

“I would have first given you a listening ear and then allow you stay for the night.”

“Wrong. That’s way too much trust. That kind of trust can get you killed. But, I’m sorry. I’m sorry I slammed the door to your face. But wait, why did you pick my house that night?”

“I don’t know. I told myself I was going to pick the house in the middle. So when I entered the street and saw five houses in that row, I just walked to one in the middle. Plus I always thought three was my lucky number till you slammed that door to my face.”

“And you didn’t try any other houses.”

“Nope. I took it that the people in the town were not friendly from what you did, so I took your advice and found a motel. I wanted to save the money I had but I spent it all in the motel.”

“Now you are making me feel really bad and guilty. I’m sorry Amora. Friends?”

“Can I say no?” She teased.

“Of course not, you are staying in my house. You have no choice but to be friends with me Amora.”

“Right. Friends then.” She giggled. She smiled. “Here. Sit and eat. I will take these upstairs to Nicole.”

“I should come with you.” I protested.

“No Roman. Eat. I will handle this.”

Few minutes later she came downstairs with my mom slowly walking in front of her. I jerked up from my seat and rushed to my mom’s side. I looked at Amora, questions in my eyes.
“She insisted on eating with you.” She said.

“It’s okay Roman.” My mom said.

That breakfast that morning, was the best and most memorable breakfast of my life. It was the first time in some long that I had breakfast with my mom.

“And he is terrible dancer just like his dad.” My mom told Amora as we ate.

“I’m good at various other things.” I said in defense struggling with the laughter in my throat.

“Like what?” Amora asked.

“Ulm…” I searched my head for an answer. “I’m good at negotiating. That’s why I’m the best lawyer in town.” I felt proud and I looked at Amora hoping she’d be impressed but rather she said, “Is that all? You said various other things. I was hoping the list would be a little lengthy.” She was teasing me. I scratched my head unable to find words to say.

“He is a terrific swimmer. You should see Roman swim. You’d think it was what he was born to do.” My mom came to my rescue. She remembered. She didn’t forget. I loved to swim. I say loved because I’m an old man now and I can’t really do it anymore. I loved the sand on the beach. I loved the sea. I loved the foamy waves and most of all I loved watching the sunset. It was beautiful. The orange sunset and it’s reflection on the sea. It was magical.

“That’s right.” I said.

We talked some more and laughed even more, Amora and my mom ganging up on me most of the time. It was amazing and for the first time in a long while, I felt like I had a family and it made me feel whole.

Very little things matter in life. Things like family, love, friendship, companionship. Sure money is good. It can get you a vacation in Paris or a nice house near the beach or a fancy car but that cannot measure up to the fulfilment you get from having people to share laughter with, to share amazing memories with or even to share the very bad times with. Beautiful breakfasts, a stroll in the park, laughter. These little things matter. I realized it that morning at breakfast and I could give up everything just to have breakfast with my mom and Amora every morning.
                 _______________________
I was excited to get back from work. I wanted to see Amora, to have a conversation with her again, like the one we had in the morning. So I closed up from work earlier than usual.

“Hey Roman.” She rose up and placed a light perk on my cheek.

“How was work? Were you able to save people today?”

“Save people.”

“Yeah. Isn’t that what lawyers do?”

“I think you mean defend.” I said.

“Alias save.” She said and shrugged.

“Amora.” I said and sat on the couch and she sat with me. “Your sense of humor. I like it.”

She blushed. “Er…thank you?”

“How’s mom?”

“She’s asleep. We talked a lot today. I’m growing fond of her already.”

“That’s good.” I said. Really good, I thought. “Your name. Amora. What does it mean?”

“Love?”

“Love. Huh. I see. It suits you.”

“How?”

“Well, you look very Amora-ish. It sounds like the name of an angel.” Shit, I thought. That sounded like a pickup line and it was dumb and I wondered what she thought of me.

“Are you calling me an angel?” She asked grinning. “Well, I too could say you look very Roman-ish. Like a god.” Thank God she didn’t think it was a pickup line.

“Whoa. Roman the god. I like it.” I joked. “How was your day Amora?”

“Okay. I got bored though when Nicole slept off. I’m glad I packed up some of my books with me.”

“What book is this?” I asked and took the book she held. “Stormfire. Christine Monson.” I read out loud. “I think I read this book about a year ago. It’s a good read.”

“I know right? The Liam guy is such a character. To think that he lied to Sean and Catherine that they were siblings making them believe they had an incestuous relationship?” Her eyes shined with excitement as she spoke. I’ve never seen a person get that excited over a book the way Amora did.

“I hate that Sean raped Catherine. And shaving her hair and giving her to his mistress who locked her up just because she married his brother Liam was just too much.” I said, giving my own thoughts on the book.

“But he loved her.”

“Yeah. Their love-hate relationship is intriguing.”

“Yeah. I think so too. I love that they lived happily ever after though. Wow Roman, I’m impressed. Didn’t think you read.”

“I’m a lawyer duh.”

“So?”

“I think most lawyers read, Amora.”

“Hmm. I see. Top three books. Let’s hear it.” She said hitting on her thighs. The way she got excited about everything made me excited.

“Ulm. Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights and of course Pride and prejudice. Yours?”

“Nice list. Stormfire, Sweet savage love and this other Eden.”

“Hmm. The romantic I see.”

“Who doesn’t love a good romance?”

I chuckled. “I think I should go check on my mom now.”

“Sure Roman.”
                _________________
“Mom, dinner is ready. Do you want to come down or eat up here?”

“No son. I don’t have an appetite.”

“Mom.”

“I’m okay son. Go on. Have dinner with Amora. I will see you in the morning.”

“Goodnight mom.” I perked her cheek.
                    _______________
“I guess it’s just the both of us.” I said as I sat in the dining room.

“What happened?”

“She doesn’t have an appetite.” I said frowning and Amora stretched out across the table and held my hand.

“Roman. Everything is going to be okay.”

“How? Amora she’s dying. I’m losing my mom. How is everything going to be okay?” I know I wanted to hear those words before but now they didn’t just make sense.

“What would you rather believe? Everything is not going to be okay?” Amora asked and squeezed my hand. “It’s the hope that things will eventually turn out fine that keeps us going. Have hope Roman.” She said softly and withdrew her hand. Hope. I had to have hope.

“And please don’t tell me you lost your appetite too. I won’t have that.” She frowned.

“I will eat only if you smile.”

“Here.” She fake smiled, exposing all the teeth in her mouth. “Can we eat now?”

“That was not a smile. That was a face you made but it will do. Good thing I’m hungry and you are an excellent cook.”

Then she smiled. A real one this time and her cheeks colored. I noticed how she reacted each time I gave her a compliment, the reaction was priceless and it made me feel good that I made her feel that way.

“You think I’m an excellent cook?” She asked, avoiding my eyes. Wait, was she shy? Hilarious.

“Absolutely. You’ve got to be the best cook I know. You actually cook better than my mom but don’t tell her I said that. She’d kill me in my sleep.” I whispered and Amora burst out into laughter.

“Don’t worry. Your secret is safe with me.” She whispered back.

“Seriously, I can’t remember the last time I had such good meals. FYI, I don’t cook, so I always ate out. Till you showed up. You are so spoiling me Amora.”

“Am I? So, what about your ex girlfriend. The one that dumped you in the bar.”

“How did you know I was dumped in a bar?”

“I was there. I witnessed the whole thing go down. That girl is mean.”

“Why are you asking about her?”

“Because you said you always ate out, so I was wondering if she never cooked for you.” She asked, perusing my eyes with hers.

“Well, she cooked but only on very special occasions. See, she isn’t that kind of woman. The kind that would sit home and cook. She is adventurous and liberal.”

“Liberal. What does that even mean?” Amora asked, spreading her hands.

“Amora, the food is getting cold. Let’s eat.”
                        ________________
“I want to teach you.” Amora said after we were done eating.

“Teach me what?”

“How to dance. Nicole said you sucked at it remember?”

“Amora, you are not serious.” I said.

“I am. I’m pretty good at dancing and I want to teach you. Come on.”

“No…” Before I could protest some more, she pulled me by the hand, forcing me to stand. She took my hand and placed it on her waist and she placed hers on my shoulder and then she said her free hand into my free hand.

“Amora.”

“Shh.”
She began moving, swaying. I tried to follow her movement, to catch up but then I stepped on her foot.
“Ouch Roman.”

“Sorry. I tried to warn you.” I said smiling.

“Come on, you are not even trying. I really want to dance with you.”

“Okay. Let’s do this again.” I said.
I held her waist and her hand. As I held her hand, it molded into mine, just like clay and I felt like her hand belonged in mine. She began to take steps and I intuitively followed. We danced, swaying from one side to the other, moving our feet and soon we were moving around the room, dancing to no music. I locked my eyes with Amora’s and they smiled. I was going to fall in love with this woman. It was inevitable.

“See. It wasn’t that bad.” She said but I didn’t respond, I was mesmerized by her.
                       ______________
Derek should have come around. It felt like he was avoiding me. He was the only person I actually hung out with apart from Sally but since everything started to crumble around me, he just wasn’t there. I kept turning on the bed, unable to sleep.

Then the thought came to my mind. I remember I had promised my mom to tell my dad she was sick. So I grabbed the phone and called the number I had, hoping it was still functional. It went straight to his voice mail.

“Hi dad. This is Roman. Remember me? I’m only doing this because mom insisted. She is sick. Mom is really sick and it would make her happy if you came around. If you get this message, please don’t be a dick. Do right by her.” I felt angry as I put down the phone. I didn’t want him around. Heck, I didn’t need to see his face again and I silently wished he wouldn’t get my message.
Then I thought of Nicole and it angered me that she needed him.

The sound from the kitchen woke me. I scrambled out of bed and went downstairs. Amora was in the kitchen and the entire place smelled of food as it always did whenever she was in the kitchen.

“Good morning.” She sang as she saw me. Then she walked to me and kissed my cheek. It became very normal, that Amora would kiss me good morning and kiss me goodnight. She stared at my eyes and I stared right back at hers and we stayed there for seconds.

It was then that I noticed the roundness of her eyes. They were a shade of blue and they were filled with compassion and innocence. It melted my heart and in that moment I wanted to taste her lips. With every strength in me, I broke the stare.

“Food. What are you making?”

“Pancakes and some scrambled eggs for Nicole.”

“Yummy. Thanks Amora.”
                        _________________
Mrs. Harris was a nosy woman. She knew everything about everyone and the things she didn’t know, she went to any length to know them. She walked with a cane because she had a bad leg and her hair was always in massive curls. Ironically, she died of a heart attack. I mean, her heart must have gotten exhausted from all that nosiness.

Mrs. Harris lived next door to me and my worst part of the mornings was faking a smile, waving at her and saying a good morning to her. It was unavoidable because she always sat in her porch, made me wonder if she slept there because she was always there.

So I came out of my house, my right hand already ready to wave at her and my lips already stretched in that fake smile but she wasn’t there. She wasn’t seated on her porch. I breathed a breath of great relief but I couldn’t relish in it for long because she walked out from the back of my car. What the hell? Was she waiting for me? As if she heard me, she said in that croaky voice,
“Roman. I was waiting for you.”
Good gracious.

“Good morning Mrs. Harris. Hope there is no problem?”

“Not at all. I just wanted to know if you are okay considering what happened.” She said leaning on her cane.

Since when did she care? I thought. Considering what happened. Was she talking about my mom or Sally?

“I’m fine Mrs. Harris. Thanks for the concern.”

“You are taking it really well then, Derek and Sally getting married? Is it because of the lady in your house?”

Wait. Hold on. Hold on just a minute. What in heaven’s name was she talking about? Derek and Sally getting married. Mrs. Harris had finally lost it.

“What are you talking about?”

“You don’t know? Sally is pregnant and Derek’s responsible and they are getting married.”
I knew Sally was pregnant, she told me but I didn’t know who was responsible for her pregnancy. Derek and Sally? No way.

“I really have go.” I said. I could feel hot air coming out of my nostrils.

“Okay. But wait,” Mrs. Harris whispered, “who is the lady in your house?”

“Bye Mrs. Harris.” I got into my car and I drove away.

I needed to talk to Derek. I needed to know the truth. I drove fast and I cursed under my breath whenever I hit the red light.

Finally, I was in the office. People looked at me like they had seen a ghost. I walked briskly into Derek’s office and I shut the door, -thank God he was alone.-

“Roman.” I could see panic explicitly written on his face.

“I’m listening.” I sneered.

“Let me explain.”

“I said I’m listening.”

“It happened just once.  We were both drunk and lost control of ourselves and then it happened. I regretted it, I wanted to tell you but I didn’t want to hurt you so I kept it to myself. Then she came over because she had a problem and wanted someone to talk to and then it happened again and I realized that I was in love with her and she felt the same way. So we started an affair. Roman I know you don’t love Sally and she doesn’t love you too so it doesn’t have to be difficult.”

“That gave you the right, to betray me?” I queried and before he could talk I punched him twice so hard in the face and he hit me back and soon we were both on the ground, fighting, hitting each other.

“You are a bastard. I curse the day I met you.” I yelled at him as I found a way to stand on my feet. Our staff was listening, I was sure of it and I prayed there were no clients in the building.

“Believe it or not, you are my friend and I didn’t plan to hurt you but I love Sally. I can die for her. Nothing or no one can make me stay away from her or my child.”

I gave Derek a cold stare and I walked out of the office. Our fight was going to make headlines for sure but I didn’t care. I felt blind and stupid, mostly blind because they had an affair for two years and I couldn’t see it.

I attended some meetings and saw some clients before driving back home with my body feeling like it was hit by a truck.