Bared Souls - Ellie Wade Page 0,103
Alma and I stare out toward the empty parking lot, exhausted and humbled.
I turn to her when I hear a sniffle and see tears cascading down her cheeks. “What’s wrong?”
“We did it, Leo. We did it. You and I, we made it happen. Our dream. We did it,” she repeats herself, sentiment thick in her voice.
“I know. It’s pretty surreal.” I wrap my arms around her, and she hugs me tight.
“I’m so proud of us. We’re going to save all the little Leos of the world who don’t have anyone to save them,” she cries.
I let out a soft laugh. “Well, let’s start with this city and expand to the world at a later date. One project at a time.”
“Deal,” she says.
We lock up and get in the car to drive home.
Inside the car, Alma asks, “Are you happy, Leo? Like truly happy?”
“Absolutely,” I say, preparing to pull out of the parking lot and onto the main street. “Why are you asking?”
“I just want to make sure I’m there for you and that I’m being a good wife. We’ve been so busy the past two months. I simply wanted to check in.”
I put the car into park and turn to my wife. “You make me happier than I’ve ever been every single day, just by being you. Never doubt how perfect you are for me or how much I love you. Okay?”
“Okay.” She smiles, and my chest aches at how incredibly beautiful she is, inside and out.
“You’ve changed my life, Alma. I’d have been gone from this world years ago without you. I know it. You saved me in every way possible and gave me this incredible life. I am thankful for you every second of every day.”
Tears fall from Alma’s eyes again, this time for a different reason. “I’m grateful for you every second of every day too. Thank you for loving me.”
“You’re easy to love. I should be thanking you.” I chuckle as I shift to drive before pulling out onto the street.
“Someday, I hope you realize just how easy you are to love too.” Alma smiles and squeezes my hand.
I might never believe that, but as long as Alma loves me, the rest doesn’t really matter.
FORTY-NINE
Alma
Radio turned high, windows down, I drive home from tutoring at the Lair. My hair whips around behind me to its own beat. As I extend my hand out the driver’s window, the warm sun and air feel good against my skin. Driving with open windows to good music is one of my favorite things. It doesn’t get much better than this.
Leo and I have been running the Lair for almost a year now, and it’s been an inspiring journey. We work so hard and come home exhausted every night, but it’s given us so much. The relationships we’ve built with these kids are priceless. I get to come home from work each day with gratitude in my heart, knowing that I’m making a difference in someone else’s life. I can’t save the world, but I can love a child and maybe save them. When they grow up and have children, they’ll raise them with a legacy of love and not hurt. They’ll break the cycle of pain. It’s a positive ripple effect, and it’s important.
People loving people will save the world. I know it.
Pulling into the driveway, I spot Ethan’s car and smile. He hasn’t been over for a while. It will be good to see him. I park the car and check my phone to see if I have any missed texts from Leo. I shoot him a quick text.
Hey, Ethan’s here. You heading home soon? Love you. xx
I’m anxious to see how Leo’s day has been. I’ve called him several times today with no response. That happens sometimes when he’s working off-site conducting home visits with some of our troubled youth. It’s important to check in on our kids at their homes to make sure they’re getting all of their needs met. These visits often go in a direction of their own. Leo never knows what he’ll find. Sometimes, the family is short of food, so he buys them groceries. He’s entered homes that weren’t fit to live in and had to hire a cleaning crew and get furniture delivered. Other times, he might walk into something that needs a government agency intervention.
I enter the house to find Ethan sitting at the table with his head in his hands. His face is red and wet from tears.
“Ethan,” I gasp.