Chapter 14:
Thanksgiving dinner was everything it was supposed to be, surrounded by loved ones and just being thankful for having them in your life. And as the question of 'What are you thankful for?' was passed around the table, Raya could only think of one major thing.
“I'm thankful for Taylor being my guardian angel and swooping down to save me right when I needed it,” she said with a smile looking at her best friend sitting next to her.
Taylor smiled back at her and gave her a quick kiss on the forehead, “I'm thankful to have you back in my life.”
“It truly is a blessing to have you back in this house,” Diana said.
“Thanks,” Raya said, “It feels amazing to be back. I had forgotten how much I loved this place. I've spent so many years just trying to get over the bad that I completely neglected the good. I'm almost kind of sad that I've lost so many years.”
“Well I think you've learned a very important lesson. The people who love you will always be here for you no matter what, but don't dwell on the past. Just look forward to the future. You're back at this table and that's all that matters,” Diana said in her loving way.
“You are absolutely right,” Raya said with a smile.
Raya had spent so much time being ashamed of her family and trying to run away from them and didn't even realize that even though they are blood related doesn't make them the only family she had. She had the Hanson's too. They were just as much her family as her sisters and mother were, if not more.
After dinner Raya had disappeared out onto the back patio as Taylor helped his mother clean up. He came looking for her a few minutes later.
“Here you are,” he said pulling his jacket around him tighter to shield him from the cold air, “Are you okay?”
“Yeah,” she smiled, “I just wanted to... look.”
“Look at what?” he asked taking a seat next to her on the porch swing.
“The sky, the moon, the yard...Tulsa. I missed it.”
“Do you remember sitting out here for like hours just watching the sun set and the stars come out?” Taylor asked.
“Yeah... it was great.”
They sat looking at the stars in silence for awhile. Raya cuddled closer to Taylor to stay warm.
“After you left I sat out here for so many nights looking at the sky, just thinking about you. Hoping you were okay. Wishing that you'd come back and sit here with me someday,” Taylor eventually said.
“I missed this place so much, and I didn't even realize it,” Raya said.
“Well I'm so happy that you came back. Happy doesn't even explain it...”
“Me too.”
“Will you please stay this time? Come back to Tulsa. Live with me.”
“I don't know if I can do that...”
“You know this is how it's supposed to be Ray. We didn't randomly find each other again for no reason. You and I are supposed to be together, I can't say that enough.”
“I know we are.”
“So then when we come back, move back with us.”
Raya sat and thought for awhile. Taylor was absolutely right. Those two were supposed to be together, they always had been. She had just let other things get in the way. But here they were together again and he had given her the second chance she needed. The chance to live the life she was meant to live. Taylor was her second chance. Tulsa was her second chance and there was no way she would ever lose either one of them ever again. As long as she had Taylor by her side everything was going to be fine.
“Okay, I will,” she eventually said. She was going to take her second chance.