Real Love

by Tracy Reed

  “I’m sorry.”

  He walked past her and into the kitchen, opened the refrigerator and took out a bottle of water. He took a few sips and placed the bottle on the counter. “Do you know what time it is?”

  She looked at her watch. “I’m sorry, but I couldn’t sleep.” She started mumbling to herself. “I should have stayed home, but then it would have been…that quiet was annoying…I should have just…but then the voice…oh, man…I…maybe that wasn’t the voice I thought it was…what am I doing…this is insane.”

  “Are you talking to me?” he interrupted her one-sided conversation.

  “What do you want from marriage?”

  “What?”

  “I mean, how would this marriage thing work?” she asked.

  He fought hard not to smile. “What are you talking about?”

  “What I mean is…how would it work?”

  “I’m not quite sure what you mean.”

  “I do wanna get married, it’s just I don’t know…I mean, you said…I don’t want some strange guy rubbing my feet, but I’m not sure if I’m ready to get married. And I would miss seeing you every day and I know Winnie would be upset if she couldn’t see Simon.” She managed to spit out what she was feeling.

  He sat down and looked at her. “I want—”

  She interrupted him again. “I’m not ready for the whole picket fence thing or a duplex and children, do you even want kids?”

  “Yes.”

  “Oh, okay, I can do one maybe two.”

  “Uh-huh.” He nodded.

  “I mean…I should have gotten some gelato.”

  “What are you talking about?” She walked over to the window not saying a word. “Ky…Ky…” He walked over and turned her toward himself. He lifted her chin and her face was wet with tears. “Baby.”

  “I don’t know what to say. The voice didn’t tell me what to say, it just said go.”

  “What are you talking about? What voice?”

  “The voice that told me to come here.” She started crying harder.

  He wrapped his arms around her patting her back, trying to calm her down. “Shhh, tell me what the voice said.”

  “It just kept telling me to come here. I know you want to get married, but I’m not sure if I can be everything you need. I know you’re way more than everything I need, but I don’t need as much as you do and I’m trying to catch up, but I’m not there yet.”

  He tried not to laugh at her confession. “So let me get this straight. You want to get married, you’re just not sure when.” She nodded. “And the voice, told you to come see me?”

  “Yes. I asked God to send you someone, because you were ready and deserved to have everything you wanted. I told Him, I’d be fine, just take care of you first.”

  “Maybe that’s why the voice told you to come here.”

  “I don’t think so.” She pulled away and walked into the kitchen.

  “Why?”

  “Because I told God you needed someone who would take care of you and Simon.”

  “Like you do?”

  “And love Him, like you do.”

  “Like you do?”

  “I asked Him to please make sure she’s beautiful.”

  “You did?”

  “Yeah. You’re a fine man, inside and out and you’ve been faithful in keeping yourself and you should be rewarded with a beautiful wife.”

  “Uh-huh. What else did you ask God?” He sat on the stool next to the counter looking at her as she continued.

  “I asked Him to please let her like me and Winnie, because I…we couldn’t bear to spend the rest of our lives without you and Simon.”

  He wanted to laugh at her, because she had just described herself. Kyla was everything he had asked God for. He had been patiently waiting for God to answer his prayer. Although he had been tempted early on in his walk, he had stayed true to his commitment to God. Even though he cared about Leticia, it wasn’t love.

  The day Kyla walked into his showroom, he was immediately attracted to her. She was beautiful and he couldn’t help staring at her. He was mesmerized by her curvy figure, thick legs, beautiful smile, seductive laugh and dark brown eyes. Every time she spoke, it was like listening to an angelic chorus. And she smelled like a sweet, spicy garden. The first time she touched his arm, he felt a surge of energy.

  Physically, she was everything he wanted. It wasn’t until he got to know her, that he realized, they weren’t on the same page. He loved God and she didn’t. He was celibate and she wasn’t. He was a recovering alcoholic and she loved champagne. He knew the only thing possible was friendship.

  Then something happened. The Voice as she called it, spoke to him and told him not to abandon his friend. He heard the voice again the day she surprised him at church and was fellowshipped in as a new member pledging her life to God. He wasn’t sure if he was imagining it. When he walked out to the foyer to congratulate her, he heard the voice say, “Now she’s ready.” They have been together ever since.

  Tonight, however, she threw him for a loop. He knew she was scared and the only way to make her face her fears was to agree to her absurdness. Now here she was, pouring her heart out, and afraid to admit she wanted the same things he wanted.

  “Seems you and God had a long talk.” She turned around to face him. “Did it occur to you that maybe me and Simon don’t want some other woman coming in here and taking care of us?”

  “What?”

  “Maybe we like the way things are going. Maybe we like spending time with you and Winnie. Simon and I consider you and Winnie to be family, and you don’t just go replacing family because you’re a little nervous about the unknown.”

  “But I…”

  “You know, if we got married, we could make our own rules.”

  “Really?”

  “Yeah, we could do whatever we wanted. If we didn’t want kids, we wouldn’t have ‘em.” He gently stroked her shoulder.

  “You just said you wanted kids.”

  “Only if you want ‘em. I mean that’s if we were married.”

  “I wouldn’t deny you a child.” She wiped her cheek.

  “Okay, so, we’ll have a son.”

  “A son?” she questioned.

  “Yeah, your mom said, having a daughter that looks like you wouldn’t allow me much sleep.” He joked. “Or we could get another dog.”

  “Or both.”

  “And if you don’t want a duplex, we can stay here. The point I’m making is, it would be our marriage and we would make up the rules along the way.”

  “What about Chris?”

  “What about him?”

  “He’s your best friend and…”

  “I’m looking at my best friend.” He kissed her.

  “When would you want to get married?”

  “Whenever you wanted.” He wrapped her up in his arms. “When the time is right, we’ll get engaged and when you’re ready, we’ll get married.”

  “And we can make our own rules?”

  “Yes.”

  “Okay.”

  “Okay?”

  “When you feel the time is right to get engaged, my answer will be yes.”

  He kissed her and looked at the clock. “It’s after three, get into your pajamas and I’ll make up the sofa.”

  She went into the guest room and he went down to his bedroom. He picked up a couple of pillows off his bed and a couple of blankets from the hall closet. He also picked up the black ring box and went back out to the living room and made up the sofa.

  When Kyla came out of the bathroom, Sean was standing in front of the sofa.

  “Are you sure you want to sleep out here? My bed is much more comfortable and I can sleep out here. That way if Jordan and Zoë come in they won’t disturb you.”

  “Thank you baby, but this is a very comfortable sofa. I’ll be fine. Besides, I have to get up early so I can pick up Winnie.” She walked over and wrapped her arms around his waist and kissed him.

  �
��Okay, if you insist. I’ll tuck you in.”

  “Tuck me in?” She giggled.

  “Yeah.”

  “Babe, I’m a big girl, I can tuck myself in.”

  “Okay.” He kissed her on the forehead and started walking away. “Good night.”

  “Good night.” She turned off the light and carefully walked back over to the sofa. She sat down and placed her head on the pillow and banged her ear on something. “Ouch!” She popped up, feeling around to see what she’d hit her head on and heard something fall onto the floor. She stood up and stepped on the object. “What the—” she yelled as she fell backwards onto the sofa. “Sean,” she called out. She reached down onto the floor feeling for the hard obstruction as her eyes adjusted to the darkness. She picked up the small black box and opened the lid.

  Sean came running into the living room. “What’s wrong?” he said as he turned the lights on. He looked over at Kyla sitting on the sofa staring at the open ring box.

  “What’s this?”

  He walked over and sat next to her. He took the ring out and placed the box on the coffee table. “The voice said now was the right time to get engaged.”

  “It did?”

  “Yeah…and I always do what the voice says.”

  “Me too.” She blinked and a tear rolled down her cheek.

  He gently wiped her cheek, took her left hand and placed the ring on her ring finger. She held up her hand admiring the beautiful ring.

  “It’s beautiful…our own rules?” Repeating Sean’s marriage promise.

  “Our own rules.” He kissed her and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close.

  “I like that.”

  Chapter 64

  THE ELEVATOR DINGED AND THE door opened. Jordan and Zoë exited into the living room and were stunned at what they saw. Sean and Kyla were wrapped in each other’s arms, sitting up asleep on the sofa.

  “What the—” Jordan quickly covered Zoë’s mouth.

  “Shhh.” He picked up his petite wife and carried her into the guest room.

  “Ooooh….ooooh.”

  “Honey, please lower your voice.” They started changing clothes.

  “What do you think happened?” Zoë asked.

  “I haven’t got a clue.”

  “What kind of watch dog is Simon, he didn’t even bark when we came in?” Jordan started toward the door. “Where are you going?”

  “I’m going out there, wake ‘em up and find out what happened.”

  Zoë jumped in front of the door. “Not without me you aren’t. Let me finish getting dressed.”

  “Well, hurry up.” She slipped her T-shirt on and fluffed her hair. “Are you ready?”

  She picked up her sweater and slipped on her shoes. “Yeah, let’s go.” He started to open the door and she stopped him. “Okay, what’s the plan?”

  “I don’t know Zo. I thought I’d go out there, shake Sean, and just start talking.”

  “Okay, but first, I need coffee.”

  “Tell you what, I’ll deal with Sean and Kyla and you make some coffee.”

  “Okay.” They quietly opened the door and walked out to the living room and stood in front of the coffee table, waiting to see if Sean and Kyla would wake up. Zoë slapped Jordan’s arm.

  “What the—”

  “Shhh…” She tipped her head towards the sleeping couple.

  “What?” Jordan mouthed. He walked around the coffee table and looked closer at the sleeping pair before hurrying back to his wife. “She’s wearing the ring.”

  Zoë pulled him into the pantry by his shirt. “Okay, whatever happened here ended with her wearing the ring.”

  “Okay, this is what we’re gonna do.” She was searching the pantry. “Zo…Zo…what are you doing?”

  “I’m looking for coffee. You know coffee calms me.”

  “Would you focus? Let’s find out what happened and then we’ll get coffee.”

  “You promise?”

  “Yes, now let’s go.” They walked back into the kitchen.

  Zoë spotted the coffee canister on the counter. “Coffee… yes!” She handed the canister to Jordan.

  “Go sit down.” He turned the hot water pot on and Zoë sat in the chair facing the sofa, watching the sleeping couple. Jordan made a pot of coffee and poured Zoë and himself a cup. “Here you go.”

  “Thank you.” She took a long sip. “Now I’m ready.”

  He walked over and popped Sean on the side of the head.

  “What the—” Sean opened his eyes as he rubbed the side of his head. Jordan walked back and sat next to Zoë. “Jordan…Zoë…” Simon jumped up and started barking. “Simon, be quiet.”

  “Now he barks,” Zoë said sarcastically.

  Sean patted Kyla’s arm. “Babe…babe…” She shifted and smiled before opening her eyes.

  “Good morning.” She reached up and started to kiss Sean when she was interrupted by the sound of a throat clearing and Simon’s barking. She looked around and staring back were Jordan and Zoë. “Oh, crap.”

  “Good morning, sunshine,” Zoë said smiling. “Coffee?” Sean started to get up. “Let me.” Zoë walked back into the kitchen. “How do you take it?”

  “Black,” Sean replied. She poured two cups and came back into the living room and handed them each a cup.

  “Thank you,” Kyla replied.

  “Thanks,” Sean said before taking a huge sip.

  Zoë looked at Jordan and they looked back at Sean and Kyla. Simon trotted off and came back with his leash. “Hey boy, let me get dressed and I’ll take you out.” He stood up.

  “No you don’t.” Jordan stood up and confronted his little brother.

  “Excuse me?”

  “Sit down.”

  “What time is it?” Kyla asked.

  “Ten-thirty,” Zoë replied.

  Kyla stood up. “Oh crap, I was supposed to pick Winnie up thirty minutes ago.”

  Zoë stood up and followed Jordan’s move. “Where do you think you’re going, Missy?”

  “I need to go home and get Winnie.”

  Zoë looked at Jordan. “I’ve got an idea. Since Jordan and I are already dressed, we’ll take Simon downstairs. By the time we get back you two should be dressed, and then we’ll all go up to your place.” Kyla looked at Sean. “And then you two can tell us what happened and how that beautiful ring got on Kyla’s finger.”

  Kyla twisted the ring with her finger and grabbed Sean’s hand. “Uhm…”

  Simon started scratching at the elevator door.

  “What do you say? Remember, the longer it takes for you two to answer, the greater the chance of Simon’s relieving himself on these beautiful wood floors.”

  “We’ll be ready in twenty minutes,” Sean conceded.

  Jordan pushed the button for the elevator. The door opened and he, Zoë and Simon boarded and disappeared downstairs.

  “Oh my God,” Kyla sighed as she plopped down on the sofa. “Mrs. Banks must think I’m…”

  “Baby, everything is going to be fine. Just call her and tell her you had an emergency this morning and thought you’d be back by now, but you’ll be there in about an hour.”

  Kyla got her phone and called her neighbor while Sean got dressed. “Mrs. Banks, it’s Kyla, I’m so sorry. I had an emergency this morning and I thought I’d be back, but I’ll be home in an hour…are you sure…okay, I’m on my way…thank you.” She picked up her clothes and went into the guest bathroom to get dressed.

  “Babe, are you ready? Jordan and Zoë will be back any minute.” No answer. He called out again. “Babe.”

  She hurriedly came around the corner. “Honey, I need to get some bagels, muffins or something to take to Mrs. Banks and Hannah as an apology.”

  He took his phone out and pressed the preset number. “Hey, Butch, it’s Sean Prescott…I’m well, what about you…and the family…perfect…my girlfriend and I need to send some flowers to her neighbor, Mrs. Banks and her daughter, Hannah.” He looked at Kyl
a and she smiled. “About eighty-five dollars for the larger one.” She nodded. “And fifty on the arrangement for Hannah. On the larger one, the card should say, ‘I’m so sorry about the mix up this morning. Thank you for taking care of Winnie, Kyla.’ And on the smaller arrangement, the card should say, ‘Thank you for letting Winnie spend the night, Kyla.’ Charge my account and can you please get those over there within the hour…thanks man, I owe you…bye.”

  “Impressive,” Kyla smiled. “So is this how you’re going to handle every little crisis in our marriage?”

  “If I have to.”

  He walked over and scooped her up in his arms. “Not exactly the way I thought this morning would go.”

  “Really?” She smiled. He leaned in and gently grabbed her lips in between his, kissing her passionately. She pulled back and cleared her throat. “Uhm…is that how you thought the morning would go?”

  “Sort of. I thought I’d wake up, make breakfast for my fiancée and wake her with a kiss. Instead, my brother and sister- in-law are holding us hostage until we explain what happened last night.” They laughed. “I love you.”

  “I love you.”

  She pulled his face down to hers, kissing him and enjoying their private moment.

  The elevator dinged and they pulled apart. Simon trotted into the kitchen barking.

  “Ready?” Jordan asked.

  Chapter 65

  SEAN PUSHED THE DOOR OPEN and Jordan and Zoë followed behind with Simon leading the way. Kyla walked down to Mrs. Banks apartment and knocked on the door and waited for her to open it. A few seconds later the door opened and Mrs. Banks was standing in front of Kyla smiling.

  “Good morning, Kyla.”

  “Good morning, Mrs. Banks I’m so sorry about this morning. I hope Winnie wasn’t any trouble.”

  “Not at all. Thank you for the lovely flowers.”

  “You’re welcome. I promise it won’t happen again.”

  “Kyla, calm down, it’s okay.” She exhaled a little. “Hannah, Kyla’s here.”

  A few minutes later, Hannah came to the front door with Winnie following. “Hi, Miss Kyla.”

  “Hi, Hannah.” She bent down and rubbed Winnie’s neck. “Hi pretty girl, mommy missed you.” Winnie barked and wagged her tail as Hannah handed Kyla the leash. “Thank you.”