CHAPTER 20

Tempe was intensely at work on her novel when the phone rang.

"Hello?"

"Hi Tempe, It's Seeley. I just wanted to call to say Hi and see how you're doing."

"That's sweet. Thank you. Actually I am doing great. I wrote two chapters for my book today and just started on another one."

"Can I read it?"

"For the 10th time, NO! Not until it is published."

"Not even if I …" He whispers into the phone things that are only meant for Tempe to hear.

"No, not even if you do that." Tempe could feel the blood rushing to her face and needed to change the topic FAST.

"Did you and Parker have a good day?"

"Great day. He only asked me five times today about when he was going to see you again."

"Just tell me when and where and I will there. I really enjoyed last night."

"We did too. I have to go. Parker is ready to get out of the bath now. Good night Tempe."

"Thank you for calling and good night."

She packed up her laptop, put it at the door. Although she was nervous about seeing Dr. Wyatt, she also was anxious. Can he really help ME? With that and the thought that Seeley would be with her, she climbed into bed and turned out the light.

"Good Morning Dr. Hodgins and Dr. Addy. Is Angela in yet?" Tempe asked.

"Yes, she is," Jack said pointing to her desk.

"Thanks."

"Hi Ange."

"Hey Tempe."

"Say, are you free for lunch today?"

"Sure. What time?"

"11. I have an appointment at 2."

"Sounds good. Where?"

"Just the diner," and Tempe went to her office.

The morning went by what seemed very slowly and for the first time in years, Tempe was counting the minutes until lunch.

"You ready? Tempe asked Angela as she strolled by her desk.

"You bettcha." Angela grabbed her jacket and the two of them made their way to the diner.

"Beautiful day," Tempe announced as they walked down the busy street.

"Yes it is. OK, enough of the small talk. I NEED to know how the date went!"

The waiter took their order and as soon as he was out of sight Angela grabbed Tempe's hand and said, "DETAILS."

Tempe took a deep breath and blurted out:

"He rented a limo, took me to his favourite restaurant, the opera, swimming and hot tubbing at a hotel which we spent the night at. Are those enough details for you?" Tempe asked as she smiled and raised her eyebrows at Ange.

Angel was speechless. "WOW! That's some first date."

"Yeah, it was very WOW!"

"Oh Tempe, I am so happy for you. Booth is a great guy and anyone can see how much he cares for you just by the way he looks at you."

"He told me he loved me. He said I didn't have to say anything and I didn't, until the next day. I told him I love him too." Tempe's voice was starting to break up as she spoke.

"That all sounds so wonderful, so why are you getting all weird all of a sudden?"

"My appointment today is with Dr. Wyatt, a psychologist.

Seeley is going with me. He feels that I need to see someone about my family abandonment issues because he doesn't think we can have a relationship and future unless I learn to let people into my life and keep them there."

"He's right Sweetie. We've been friends for what, 10 years? And you still have difficulty letting me in. Imagine what he (Booth) is thinking. I get close to her; we start to move along in our relationship and poof! She changes her mind and tosses me out. Booth may be a rough & tough guy on the outside but I have seen him look at you. He has a big, loving heart. He just doesn't want to get hurt … again."

"He said we owe it to our relationship to always be honest with one another. I don't want my honesty about being abandoned as a child and not being able to love and keep people in my life, to ruin what we have … what we can have," Tempe said as her wiped a tear from her cheek. She had never felt this kind of love before. It was real and forever. She knew Seeley would never leave her. She just had to get to a point where she could say the same.