I Got You
Chapter 12: I Got You
“I’m so sorry, my love.”
Ira was tucked into a corner near the bathrooms as far away from the gala she was attending so she could be to speak to her wife privately. Tawan had messaged her yesterday that the meeting had been postponed so she did not have anything to report. Ira knew something was wrong because she expected her wife to be upset about yet another failed attempt to present the hard work her and her team had worked on.
Luckily for Tawan she was quick to reassure her that she would call her tomorrow and they would talk about it, especially once she had some time to think about it.
“I don’t even know why I’m surprised,” Tawan muttered, a rueful laugh escaping her. “Everyone keeps telling me that he isn’t going to change. That I need to just leave and let him clean up his own mess. But do I listen? Nooo.”
“Tawan,” Ira sighed and leaned her back into the wall. “Everyone, myself included, can tell you what to do all day because it’s easier than actually having to do it. But its your decision to make at the end of the day, so you have to do what you think is best when you think its best.”
It was quiet for a moment and Ira wondered if she had lost connection even pulling her cellphone away to check.
“Tawa-“
“I thought you were going to tell me to quit,” Tawan mumbled into her ear, sounding very disarmed. “I’m honestly shocked.”
Ira laughed and she joined in. “Well, I think being here has made me realize a few things,” she surmised, staring at the intricate art on the ceiling in thought.
Tawan sighed into her ear. “And what are those things?” She asked, starting to relax.
“That I trust you to do the right thing when the time is right,” Ira answered almost immediately.
It was true and it was something she wished she had told her when they were last together in person in hopes that she would have that to lean on with her away right now. As she explored the city yesterday with Mali, she found herself sitting on a bench in the Louvre starting at the walls of the centuries old paintings and sculptures that surrounded her. She was suddenly hit with the realization that though everyone told her she should take this opportunity, in the end she had to see it for herself and take it.
She had to have the faith in herself to do it.
Tawan was very supportive and she encouraged her the most to take on this opportunity, but she never pressured her to go back to work. She wanted Ira to see if for herself the way that she saw it for her. If Ira were to go back to modeling, it would have to be her decision to ultimately make because she never wanted her to regret it. Ira would never be able to thank her enough for how her approach helped shape her belief in herself to do this.
Now, she simply wanted to return the favor to Tawan so she could experience this elation.
“Tawan?” Ira asked, looking at her cellphone quickly again.
“What did I ever do to deserve you?” Tawan breathed into her ear.
“I trust you and I know you will do what you need to do when the time comes,” Ira said confidently, her tone comforting with the most faithful love.
“Yeah,” she sighed again, taking a dramatic pause. “If I don’t kill him before then.”
They both burst into laughter at how both serious and not serious she sounded. The bubble of tension they had been in as Tawan recounted to Ira how her day was yesterday was suddenly burst and they felt themselves relax even more. Tawan knew this was what she needed, so she decided to divert their conversation to the twins.
Ira wanted to protest to continue this conversation, but she could tell her wife needed to release some more with her in her own way.
“Since the meeting was cancelled and I could tell everyone was at their breaking point, I sent everyone home for a half day. I took the twins out of school early and we went to see a movie. I just wanted to spend time with them,” Tawan informed her.
“I bet they had fun. I wish I was there with you guys,” Ira smiled.
“We’ll plan a family day when you get back. I promised the twins I would spend more time with them and stop missing things,” she repeated.
As much as Ira wanted to assure her that she was under no pressure to flip a switch overnight, she was also selfish in wanting to take advantage of getting more time with her wife. She desperately wanted for them and their family to do a trip together, somewhere out of country if possible, so that they could reconnect and unwind far away from their daily responsibilities. Ira had planned on talking to Tawan about it when she got back, so to hear this shift in tone from her gave her confidence.
“I can’t wait,” Ira said softly, smiling the same. “I can’t wait to get back home to see you guys. I miss you.”
“We miss you more,” Tawan said in a light voice. “But we will be seeing you soon. Keep having fun until then. Okay?”
Ira nodded as if she could see her. “Just until Saturday,” she agreed.
“Just until Saturday,” Tawan repeated her. “I love you and I will let the kids know you love them when I get them ready for school.”
“Thank you,” Ira said softly at the thought of them. “I love you. You call me when you have rested and have time.”
“Deal,” Tawan told her. “Bye, babe.”
“Bye, my love,” Ira said back and kissed the receiver.
Ira locked her phone with a tight smile, wishing that Tawan was with her simply only to be having a good time to distract her.
She sighed and made her way back to Mali who was chatting with a few men and women that Ira remembers seeing at the show on Saturday. Mali noticed her heading back into the venue and beckoned her over to introduce her to the group. Ira's eyes widened slightly at Mali telling her, as she shook hands with them, that they were representatives for brands ranging from Ralph Lauren to Versace to Gucci.
Mali gave Ira one more look and sneakily mouthed to her to do her thing. After the conversation she just had with Tawan and her need now more than ever to retire her wife, she instantly plastered on her best, brightest, most beautiful smile that oozed her charm.
Ira talked about her journey back into modeling, the jobs she had the last few years, and her family life as it was her favorite journey to discuss because of the longevity and attachment to her now. She had them eating out of the palm of her hand as they drank in her storytelling mixed with her innocent beauty and commanding presence. The more she shared, talking with her hands and making them laugh occasionally, the more confident she felt and was rewarded with the look of fascination from her audience.
“That…,” Ira said, reaching for some water from a passing waiter while pointing at herself, “was my best work.”
Mali laughed so hard she threw her head back. "Yeah, I don’t think you need me anymore,” she half-joked and watched her drink.
The group, who had many other people and other brand representatives to meet before it got too late, had dispersed later than they were supposed to because Ira had them so enthralled.
“You set it up like always,” Ira reminded her and took another drink.
Mali smiled as they exchanged a low high-five before looking ahead to crowd watch while Mali gave her last minute updates on who she had met. With only a few days left, the guest list to these events started dwindle down but were still rotating in and out random brands. It always felt like the were being introduced or discovering on their own a new brand they had never heard of before.
That was Ira’s dream - to do a lot of work with starter to smaller brands to help with their awareness. She valued these connections more because the bond had the potential to expand farther than just contractual obligations.
Ira was only halfway listening to Mali, nodding along as she stared off into the crowd thinking of something else. She felt like she had more than networked and connected with enough people to keep her busy with work for a few years. Ira felt she had came, she saw, and she conquered her goals for this trip which was to do good in the show, make some meaningful connections with the team, and put herself out there to anyone who wanted to listen.
With the way Mali was rambling in excitement every time she mentioned a brand they had talked to, she felt that confidence grow.
“I need to talk to you about something,” Ira butted in and turned to her suddenly.
“O-okay,” Mali stuttered, a little startled.
Ira looked around the room, making sure no one was coming towards them to talk, then grabbed Mali’s wrist to lead her back to the bathrooms.