Chapter 14

The next morning found the pair sitting together at the dining table in the kitchen, gazing out the window as they finished their meal of fish and grits, courtesy of Ororo's paternal grandmother's southern upbringing.

"Now that was good eating," Logan said pushing his plate away and leaning back in his chair, rubbing his stomach.

"Thanks," Ororo replied, standing and grabbing his plate along with her own.

"So what do you want to do today?" he asked, hearing a car door closing.

"Something I really don't want to do," she replied, turning to face him, drying her hands on a kitchen towel, "I need to clear out my voicemail. Damion called fifty million times yesterday and left just as many messages. Then I will probably call him back and be in a bad mood for the rest of the day. Why do you ask?"

"Well, I don't think you need to make that call," Logan said, taking a subtle sniff to confirm what he thought.

"Why you say that?"

"Because he's outside," Logan said, getting to his feet and heading to the foyer.

"Whose outside?" Ororo asked, tossing the towel on the island and following Logan out the door.

"You are kidding me right?" she said, just as he opened the door. Damion stood on the other side, holding a large vase of flowers and a small smile.

He wasn't kidding, Ororo thought, looking at Damion in disbelief.

"I'll go and finish cleaning the kitchen. Call if you need me," Logan said, his tone expressing his dislike of the uninvited guest.

"Yeah, you do that," Damion said, nastily, stepping into the house.

Logan stopped and turned to face Damion. "Just so we're clear bub, you lay a hand on her, she'll be the last person you'll ever touch," Logan told him.

"You know, I'm getting very tired of these damn threats. I make one mistake and everyone has something to say about it," Damion said, shutting the door, "And if I do, what is it to you? You her bodyguard or something?"

"Yeah and I don't make idle threats," Logan said, a slight growl in his throat.

"Logan. Please," she said, touching his arm gently.

"Today's your lucky day, Damion," Logan told him before looking at Ororo.

"This won't take long," she told him, giving him a small smile.

"I won't be far," Logan replied, glancing back at Damion before heading into the kitchen.

"So, this is where you've been hiding," Damion began as he got closer, "Here, I brought you these."

"Why are you here?"

"You never answered your phone and you didn't return my calls," he replied, walking past her to place the flowers on the coffee table. Taking a seat, he looked up at her expectantly.

She stood watching him, her arms crossed in front of her. "That doesn't explain why you're here."

"Ororo, you of all people should know that when I want something I get it," he replied cryptically. He didn't realize his mistake until Ororo gave him a small smile.

"So that's why you did it," she replied, taking a seat across from him, in lawyer mode, "You made the decision at some point that regardless of our relationship, you saw someone you wanted and had to have her. Correct?"

"It wasn't that simple," he replied, "It was a mistake. I wasn't thinking clearly."

"No, you were thinking clearly. You knew exactly what you were doing and you thought that you wouldn't get caught. You had what you want, your cake but you had to have your ice cream too. Now you're upset that you can't get what you want from me. So upset, that you will show up unannounced wherever I am, with little regard to the feelings of the people at the location at that time."

"You are extremely lucky that you didn't get hurt or worse showing up here today," she told him.

Getting to her feet, she looked down at him. "But you did me a favor," she told him going over to him and taking his hand, encouraging him to stand, "Because now I don't have to return your call."

"And," she continued, ushering him to the front door, "We are done. Take your ring back and as soon as I return home, I will pack all of your things and mail them to you. I have no need to see you or talk to you ever again. So, with that said, do not come to my home or my parents' home uninvited again. If you do, the police will be called and you will be charged with trespassing."

"Ro, don't do this," Damion pleaded, as they stood in the foyer.

"And why not? You showed you didn't care about the relationship when you stepped out of it and did what you. Why shouldn't I do this? You started this, Damion, and now I'm finishing it."

"It's not over until I say it's over," Damion said, angrily, "You haven't seen the last of me."

"It's time for you to go, before you say or do something you'll regret," Ororo said opening the door for him.

"No, you're going to regret your decision, I promise you that," he said, closing the distance between them.

"That's it, bub. Time to go," Logan said, startling Ororo who didn't realize he was so close.

"Get your fucking hands off me," Damion told Logan as he grabbed him and pushed him outside.

"My pleasure," Logan said, pushing Damion toward his car, "Now, get the fuck out of here."

"I'll be seeing you soon, motherfucker," Damion said, menacingly, walking around to the driver side of the car, "This isn't over by a long shot?"

"You okay?" Logan asked her when he joined her at the gazebo fifteen minutes later.

"Yes," she said, her trembling voice betraying her. At least I'm controlling my gift better, she thought as she wiped a tear from her eye and looked out at the sun reflecting on the surface of the lake, "Thanks for your help up there."

"Don't mention it. I'm sorry I didn't end the conversation earlier," he told her.

"No, it was time for it to happen. But the craziest thing about this whole thing is that I'm eerily content. I'm actually relieved to be out of the relationship," she said, turning to look at him with teary eyes, "It doesn't make any sense. I love Damion and was in love with him but I didn't like the person I was while I was with him. I allowed him to mold me to fit him and not accept me for me."

She roughly wiped her eyes, and continued, "But like my mother told me whenever I was having a hard time with something – there's a silver lining to every cloud." She turned to face him and put her hand on his cheek, "And you're my silver lining. Thank you for helping me to begin the process of finding myself again."

She leaned down and kissed him gently on the lips. He responded and wanted to deepen the kiss but she pulled back, breaking the kiss. She looked him in his eyes and kissed him again before pulling away and starting back to the house.

"I'm going to my room for a while. Dinner's on me tonight, okay?" she asked, looking over her shoulder at him.

"Looking forward to it," Logan replied, nodding his head.

"So am I. Dress to impress?"

"Your wish is my command," he replied, bowing, making her smile.