Saturday, 4pm.

I spent nearly an hour scanning my last website about how to play an effective game of poker. Oliver was to pick me up any minute to head

over to Ramon's, and I really wanted to be up to speed since they have all taken this so seriously!

So relieved and excited to join Norman, Rita, Joe and Ramon in this gathering that they used to surround Oliver with while I was gone.

And I'm looking forward to seeing Ramon's condo!

5pm.

Oliver picked me up right on time, of course. But we were not quite on time for our evening. At the front of the condo, Oliver stopped,

grabbed my hands and had me look straight up at the rooftop.

"What do you see?" he whispered into my ear. I tried to concentrate on what I was looking at, but, honestly, having Oliver standing so close,

holding my hands...lots of new emotions and feelings were swirling.

In the falling dusk I could see the outline of some kind of outdoor lights just coming on at the top of the roofline.

"It looks festive," I offered.

He confided to me that that was where he decided that he needed to take action; where he and Norman stood and talked and he felt

compelled that night to make a plane reservation to leave for D.C. to try and find me!

This was emotional for me. I wasn't expecting that. I searched his eyes -there was something there- so dear to my heart. All I could do was

wrap my arms around him and hold him close. "Thank you for coming for me..."I managed to choke out, I think.

That's why we were late. And the last ones to arrive. But we didn't mind...

11pm.

Well, this was a night! Ramon's place is just like Ramon- unexpected and different at every turn-colorful, masculine and quasi-sophisticated!

Rita pointed out all the photos to me of Ramon in his various occupations. And he had a story for each one! We never would have gotten to

the poker game if Joe hadn't started shuffling the cards and calling everyone to the table.

There was enough food to feed a small army direct from Cafe Ramon. I was quite amused to see a six pack of Yoo-Hoo's amongst the adult

beverages for someone's pleasure...

Oliver had tried to prepare me for Rita's seriousness about the game, but this was the most fascinating part of the night! (Other than Oliver

occasionally rubbing my arm and smiling at me. He told me later he had to keep touching me to make sure I was really there.)

Joe had a warm smile every time I looked up and he later told me that he was so relieved to see the light return to Oliver's eyes. Wasn't that

sweet?

We had a great time! I even won a hand...almost! Norman was button-busting proud of Rita's prowess and Ramon was regaling us with

stories of bullfighters, pearl-diving and his mother's cooking. Even Oliver seemed more relaxed and at ease than I've seen him...and he had

some stellar poker hands himself.

But the most fun was interrupting the last game to watch an action movie with all of us piled on Ramon's vast black velvet sectional. By the

time it was over, Ramon and Joe were off to the side in serious conversation about some woman, I think. Norman was fast asleep on Rita' s

shoulder while she was texting her mother about an upcoming visit... in an RV?

I have missed this family so much. "But most of all, I don't ever want to miss you, again," I decided to whisper to Oliver. As I leaned over to

kiss him, he held up his discarded hand! A royal flush! (But he made it up to me at my front door.) I think I am going to like poker nights.