Mistaken Love

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ONE YEAR LATER

  It has been a world wind of emotions and a lot of hard work but thing are back on track. My business has taken off and I am financially independent. I don't waste my time thinking about Hector anymore or how much he hurt me. As far as I'm concerned that was just a lesson I learned to never make that mistake again and I had done a great job avoiding all men.

 My landlord Mr Tomas has called to say he was on his way up for dinner and wanted to talk about my apartment, which has me a little nervous. There are rumors going around that someone has been trying to buy my building, now that the neighborhood is cleaning up it is prime real estate. I don't want to move! Even thought it's not in the best shape, this building has a lot of potential and could be the most beautiful on the block. I'm hoping Mr Tomas isn't giving me notice to vacate. He has always been such a sweet man to me, treating me like a Granddaughter. I always made sure he had dinner every night and he now is the only man I wanted to be around. 

  "Come in Mr Tomas!" I yelled to the door that I had left open. "The food is almost ready so I hope you're hungry!"

 "What's on the menu tonight?" Mr Thomas yelled back at me as he walked into my apartment. 

  Mr Tomas and his wife had bought the building in the fifties right after they were married. Back then it was a very big house!  Mrs Thomas had fallen in love with it and dreamed of filling it with a bunch of kids. Soon  after they moved in Mrs Tomas had passed away in a car accident, leaving Mr Tomas bitter and heart broken. He soon split the house up into a small four unit apartment complex and it soon became to much for him to handle. Falling more into disrepair every year.

  "Beef stew!" I responded as he walked into the kitchen where I was setting our places at the table.

 "I guess that will have to do!" He grumbled. 

Laughing to myself because I knew Beef stew was his favorite and he would probably eat the whole pot by himself. "Well it better be! I'm not cooking you anything else."I teased. "How about you just sit down and eat this before you really piss me off! My voice threatening but in reality I could never be mad at him, I had grown to love this crabby old man so much and I would do anything for him.

  After dinner Mr Tomas and I sat on the couch old Westerns movies and veg for the rest of the night. "Well I decided to move closer to my younger sister and her family in Washington! " Mr Thomas said, his words were cut up by him trying to not cry. "I would have gone back years ago but I figured you needed me around here for awhile longer." 

I couldn't hold back my tears but I was at a complete loss for words. "What do you mean? Why? When?" So many question flew out of my mouth my sobs. 

  Grabbing my hand he softly said, "I sold this place last month and I'm leaving tomorrow. I didn't have the heart to tell you before because I don't want you sitting around missing some old man like me. You have been the best thing in my life since my dear Edna and I love you for that. You are my best friend kiddo!" 

   I am crying so hard I can't breath and I can't control myself. "I don't want you to go! Can't I just be selfish and beg you to stay? What am I going to without you?" 

"You are going to be strong and move on!" He said pulling my chin up to look at him. Seeing the hurt in his eyes I had to lie to him. I can't make this harder on him. I love him to much.

 Taking a deep breath and looking my sweet old friend in the eyes,  "Your right Gary, I'm going to be fine! I'm just worried about you. Who is going to put up with Your Mean Ass!" I say jokingly giving him a wink.

  Walking Mr Tomas to my front door for the last time and giving him a final hug, I knew I would never see him again and I almost broke down again. I didn't want to let him go! "I almost forgot! This is for you." He said placing a yellow envelope in my hand. " Take care of yourself, My sweet girl!"

 I bawled like a bawled like a baby the first week Mr Thomas was gone and forgot all about the envelope he had given me until I found it in the couch cushions. I had spent days there after Gary left and it must have gotten lost in it. Tears swell my eyes as I look down on the yellow envelope remembering my dear friend. I already miss him so much. Opening it up to find a thick stack of papers and began to read the top. 

 Mr Thomas had given me the Deed to my apartment with a note "I love you kid!"