An envelope arrived a week after his name was cleared and record wiped clean. “Open it,” I said watching him tap it on the countertop.

“I’m scared, Sophia… What if they did it before my probation was over? It’s the only interview I’ve had, and I want it so badly.”

I pulled on the envelope, “I’ll open it then,” I said.

“No,” he said tearing open the envelope. He read the pages without speaking and I couldn’t tell by his face what they contained.

“Well?” I asked.

“Wow,” he said with a look of disbelief, still staring at the papers.

“What?” I asked. He was making me crazy.

“It shows no criminal record of any kind… It doesn’t even show an arrest,” he said as he stared at the pages.

“Does that mean you have the job? Did they search Florida?” I said still shocked by the news.

“Yes, I’ll be hired. The FBI did the search, and they looked everywhere in the United States—driving record and criminal,” he said, a smile creeping across his face.

Kayden dropped the papers lifting me into his arm. I laughed as he turned in a circle kissing my face. The excitement radiated off him and became infectious. “I can’t believe it, Sophia. I have a job—finally a job. I can feel like a man again,” Kayden said. Tears of joy formed in his beautiful green eyes.

“You’ve always been a man, Kayden, my man… You’ve never changed in my eyes. When I need you, I’m sure you’ll be there to help me and protect me. That’s what people do when they love each other. We’re a team, and you’ll never be alone again,” I told holding his chin so he could look into my eyes.

“I love you, Sophia. I don’t know what I did to deserve such a wonderful woman in my life,” he said as a tear slid down his cheek.

My heart melted with his words. I kissed his lips, wrapping my arms tighter around his neck. Kayden had been lost for months—always there for me physically, but his mind was elsewhere. He needed a purpose in life.

“Kayden, I’m blessed to have you in my life. You’ve definitely brought excitement and new experiences,” I said into his shirt. I thought about all the possibilities that he had now; it meant that he could go back to New Orleans. The thought of losing him caused my stomach to twist in knots. Would he go back to that glorious city and the work he loved so much, or would he stay with me and start a new beginning?

“Kayden, you know that means you can go back to NOLA and your old job. Do you want to go back?” I said to him as I backed away so I could see his face when he answered.

“Sophia, I’m not going anywhere. I can’t be without you for a couple hours, let alone weeks. How could you even think I could just pack up and leave you behind?” he asked as he stroked my cheek with his hand, looking like I just stabbed him in the heart.

“I know you loved that job and you miss New Orleans. I just thought maybe.” His finger touched my lips stopping me from finishing the rest of the sentence.

“Yes, I love New Orleans and maybe we can move there someday, but you’re my home, Sophia. I need to be with you. I want to be with you. I need you to sleep in my arms each night and make love to you each day,” Kayden said as he stepped closer, embracing me in his arms. I exhaled not realizing I held my breath waiting for his answer.

“I just want you happy, Kayden. I want you to be at peace. I know you’ve struggled with happiness over the last few months,” Concern and worry filled my voice and the feeling nearly suffocated me. He had become my world… We did everything together. I don’t know if I could even function without him anymore. Could I go back to evening web chats and text messages as the main form of communication? I didn’t want to find out the answer to that question.

“I’m staying, Sophia. End of discussion. I’d never leave you. You’re the most important thing in my life,” he whispered against my lips before he kissed me. My knees grew weak from the passion and emotion he conveyed with his kiss.

Moving On