“Yes, he was supportive,” Kenyatta agreed.
“So, obviously he’s trying to make things work. Don’t throw it away over some foolishness … or because of some guy.”
Kenyatta looked away from her mom, faking nonchalance. “And why would you say that?”
Adele sighed. “Brad mentioned that he thought your boss was coming on to you.”
Kenyatta’s eyes darted back to her mom. “What? When did he say that?”
“Before he started washing the dog with your Daddy. He said Malcolm came to your room and seemed disappointed to see him there. He’s worried he may be losing you.”
“I told you before. There is nothing going on between me and Malcolm,” Kenyatta replied, knowing her voice wasn’t convincing. After the scene in Malcolm’s office, she could no longer deny there was something between them.
“Mmmhmm, I’m sure there isn’t,” Adele groaned.
“Why do you sound like that?”
Adele sat up. “Because I’ve been where you are, remember? And I’ve seen Malcolm. That man is too fine for his own good. And I’ve seen the way you look at each other, and don’t try to deny it. I’m not stupid,” she said in a haunting, rushed whisper. “Just remember that it’s easy for some men to go out of town and think they can have a quick fling with any woman that’s with them. I’m glad Brad showed up to set him straight.”
“There was nothing to set straight.”
Her mom looked doubtful. “Whatever you say, but remember what I told you. Don’t throw away the good thing you’ve got for some fling with your boss that won’t go anywhere.”
“You don’t have to worry about Malcolm, Mom. He may not be my boss much longer.”
Concern replaced her mom’s frown. “Why, what happened?”
If you only knew, she thought.
“Nothing bad. It’s the reason I came. I’ve got an offer to start up a new branch of a national engineering firm here in Columbia. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do, and I’m finally getting the chance.”
“That’s great, Kenyatta!” her mother exclaimed. “My baby owning her own company.” She chuckled as she warmly patted Kenyatta’s cheek.
Kenyatta laughed. She didn’t know if her mom’s sudden enthusiasm was because of the job, or because she’d be rid of Malcolm, but that made it no less contagious. “Not quite, but very close. It’s not set in stone. I’m still considering it. I want to talk with you and Dad since he started his own law firm. I figured you both might have good advice for me before I made a decision.”
“What advice would I have for my sunshine?” Harold Copeland’s booming voice interrupted them. He was soaking wet and carrying the dog, which had its tongue hanging out of its mouth. His delighted expression belied his fifty-six years.
“Hey, Dad, I see you’re in seventh heaven.” She nodded at the dog.
Her dad’s chest swelled with pride. “Check him out, Ken,” he said, using her childhood nickname. “He’s small now, but give him a few weeks, and he’ll fill out. Did your Mom tell you Brad found him and brought him to me?”
“She did,” she said as she turned her attention to Brad. “I thought you hated dogs?”
“They’re still not my favorite,” he said with a shrug. “But the last time we were here, your dad kept talking about wanting one. A guy at work was looking for a home for this one, so I figured what the hell.”
He leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. “I missed you today.”
Her parents exchanged a look and then smiled at the two of them. If Brad wanted to secure his position with her parents, he had wholly succeeded.
“I’m sorry I didn’t call you today. I had to get an ordinance on Malcolm’s desk before the end of the day.”
Brad’s mouth tightened. “And how is Malcolm?”
Kenyatta frowned. “Fine, I guess. We barely spoke, and he was gone before I left,” she lied.
Brad had never asked her about Malcolm before. She noticed her parents exchanged another look, and it dawned on her that Brad had brought his concerns to both of her parents. She was annoyed but knew she definitely needed to leave H20 before any more people began to question her relationship with Malcolm.
Brad visibly relaxed. “Well, that’s good. Other than that, how was your day?” He sat in the chair beside her.
“Well, it started out pretty mundane, but then something really exciting happened.”
“Oh really, like what, sweetie?” her dad asked while he patted the dog with a towel.
“My coworker Jeremy just inherited some money, and he’s going to purchase a local engineering firm then sell it to a national firm as its local branch. He wants me to work with him and run the office.”
Her dad looked up at her. “That is an interesting turn of events. What do you know about this Jeremy?” he asked.
“They don’t get along at all,” Brad said. She glared at him, but he avoided her eyes.
She turned back to her dad. “That’s not true. We do the same thing at H20, and we’re both good at what we do. We sometimes butt heads on projects, mostly because we’re both stubborn. In the end, we always find a resolution, and the projects we collaborate on are better than they would have been.”
“What’s his offer?” her dad asked.
“He’s offered to make me partner and double my salary. He said it’s because we work well together and, besides him, I’m the best planner at H20.”
“Hmmm, and what do you think about that?” he asked.
“That it would be a great opportunity, but I’m hesitant to leave my current position. It is a gamble to leave and start a new firm that may not be successful.”
She hesitated and noticed that although her father was still drying the dog, he was keenly listening to her. It was a trick he used in the courtroom, appearing to be distracted while soaking in everything around him. It often led the opposing side to doubt his abilities until he tore their case apart by dismantling every argument.
“I do have money saved to cover me in case things were to go sour,” she assured him.
Brad sat straighter. “What money?”
“I’ve been saving money since college. I’ve saved two years of my salary, so if I needed it, I would be covered until I found another job.”
Brad’s eyes bulged. “Two years of your salary! Kenyatta, are you crazy?” He scowled. “What about our future? Do you know what we could do with that money?”
Her head snapped back as she held up a hand. “Excuse me? It’s my money, and I can do whatever I want with it.”
“Do you plan to be so quick to give up any plans of a life we could build together, whenever you get a whim?”
“A whim? You’re crazy. This is the opportunity of a lifetime, and I should consider it seriously.”
Brad shook his head. “This is a royal waste of time and money. You want to start a business at the same time we’re getting married. What about starting our life together? What about children?”
“Who said anything about having children right away? Remember, it was you who brought up the idea of us waiting a year or two before trying. If we happen to have a child before then, I could handle a family and the job.”
“Spoken like someone who has never run a business,” he mocked. “Do you really think you’ll be able to do both? This just sounds like another excuse to postpone our plans.”
“You mean your plans … ”
“Now that’s enough,” her dad’s voice boomed. They both jumped and turned to face him.
“This is a big decision, but ultimately the decision is yours, Kenyatta,” her dad preached. “Brad is right. It takes a lot of time and potentially a lot of money to cover expenses; if things don’t work out it will be hard starting a business and a marriage at the same time.”
Kenyatta started to reply, but her dad held up his hand to stop her. He turned to Brad. “But marriage is a partnership, and if one of the partners has a dream, it takes both to pursue it. Otherwise resentment will creep in and things will go downhill from there. I think you both should take some time to discuss this before you decide.”
They were silent for a minute before Brad spoke. “Your father is right, Kenyatta. Marriage is a partnership, and the consideration of both people’s dreams is important. I see that you don’t want to consider the fact that ever since I met you, it’s been my dream to marry you, have children with you, and take care of you for the rest of my life. I’m not trying to hold back your dreams. I just want you to include me in them.”
Kenyatta could say the same to him, but chose to remain silent. This wasn’t something she planned to back down on, but there was no need to continue this argument in front of her parents.
“I’ll talk with you tomorrow.” Brad stood to leave. “Mr. and Mrs. Copeland, have a good night. Don’t forget about the Fire Marshal’s Ball next weekend.” He glanced at Kenyatta. “It will be a very special night.”
Kenyatta looked away. After what she’d done with Malcolm earlier, she didn’t want to think about her promise to sleep with Brad after the ball.
Brad turned to her dad. “Enjoy the dog.” He pulled out his cell phone and made a call as he marched off the porch and around the house.
“Kenyatta, go after him,” her mom encouraged.
“Why should I? He’s never going to change. It’s always, ‘Stay at home and have babies for me.’ This is a great opportunity, and all he can think about is that I won’t be at home barefoot and pregnant.”
“I wouldn’t say that,” her father said. “Your announcement was a surprise. Call him tomorrow, and you can talk about it after you’ve cooled off.”
Her mom stood up. “Kenyatta, you’re going to drive him away when all he wants to do is take care of you. If it feels too good to be true, then it probably is.” She walked into the house without waiting for a response.
Kenyatta took a deep breath knowing her mom wasn’t only referring to the job. Everything between her and Malcolm felt so right, but the way he spoke to her this afternoon proved it was unbelievable. He didn’t really want her; he only wanted to sleep with her.
She turned to her dad. “Do you think I’m being unreasonable for wanting to continue my career? Is it really such a bad idea?”
Her dad patted the dog’s head. “No, it’s not a bad idea, Kenyatta. I’m actually proud of you and will support you whatever you decide. You’ve always been destined to do great things, and the fact that you don’t want to sit back and give up everything you’ve worked for shows your strength of character. If you start the business, it’ll be tough and it will take a toll, no matter what’s happening in your personal life. So you need to come to some type of agreement with Brad before making a decision. If you were single, I’d say go for it, but you promised to marry him. You’ll need your husband’s support to do this. It will affect his life, too.”
Chapter 19
Kenyatta spent Friday night thinking about Jeremy’s job offer and her last encounter with Malcolm. The more she thought about Malcolm, the more she recognized the blessing that was Jeremy’s offer. It was just the reason she needed to leave H20. She didn’t want to end up in a desperate situation like her mom, and starting the branch with Jeremy would prevent her from making a huge mistake. She didn’t feel strong enough to resist him on her own.
A Saturday shopping trip to pick a dress for the Fire Marshal’s Ball with Carol and Angie was just the diversion she needed. The Ball was a fundraiser for the city’s fire department, and all of the bigwigs in politics and business attended. It used to be one of the highlights of Kenyatta’s year. She’d attended before meeting Brad and always enjoyed the occasion, but now that Brad’s mother wanted to show off her soon-to-be daughter-in-law, her enthusiasm had dampened.
The old, familiar knot in Kenyatta’s stomach returned whenever she thought about the wedding. Part of her believed making up with Brad in Florida was a good thing. All of the reasons for them to stay together — the stability and familiarity — were legitimate. Yet the other part of her couldn’t ignore the passion between her and Malcolm. Could she honestly live her life without that? Malcolm’s words struck a nerve. If she stayed with Brad — for whom she felt no desire — would it be easier for someone else to come along and tempt her later? Would she eventually end up like her mother and sleep with another man because she craved the attention? She dismissed the thought before it could take hold. She had more self-control than that. She ignored the voice inside her head asking where her self-control was on Friday.
She wasn’t good company during the shopping trip, but fortunately, Angie and Carol didn’t comment on her lack of enthusiasm. She guessed Carol was taking to heart her request to keep her opinions to herself. After finding the perfect sapphire dress for the ball, Kenyatta said goodbye to Carol and Angie and headed home. She was pulling into her driveway when her cell rang.
Surprisingly, it was Brad. Usually after they argued, he’d recruit their mothers to call, and give her a day to calm down. She’d taken comfort in believing she’d have time to clear her head.
She got out of the car and answered the call.
“Hey, baby, I just wanted to call and apologize for yesterday.”
Kenyatta almost dropped the phone. “You’re sorry? What brought this on?”
He laughed. “I know I don’t usually do this, but I’m sincere. Kenyatta, I meant what I said in Florida. I love you, and I want us to work. If you really want to take this job, we can work things out. I want to marry you.”
Kenyatta looked around for the Candid Camera. An apology was the last thing she thought she’d ever hear from Brad. Her mind began to sound its usual, overly analytical alarms. His understanding and willingness to compromise should be comforting. She should have been ecstatic there wouldn’t be a reason to break her engagement, but she wasn’t any of those things. Instead, Malcolm’s words forcing her to compare him to Brad haunted her.
She gave herself a mental shake. She could make it work with Brad if she got Malcolm out of her head. “Do you really mean that?”
“Of course I mean it. Why wouldn’t I? I love you, Kenyatta, and I can’t wait to be your husband.” He paused for a second before continuing, “I can’t wait to show you, fully, how much I love you.”
Kenyatta knew he was referring to the night of the Ball. Instead of feeling excitement, she felt a panic she could no longer deny. She couldn’t avoid it if she married him.
“Are you still there?” he asked.
“Yes … yes, I’m here. I’m just … surprised, that’s all. I didn’t expect to talk to you today.”
“Didn’t expect to, or didn’t want to?” Disappointment colored his tone.
“No, no, nothing like that. You just never call me the day after an argument,” she replied.
“That’s not true. I called you after you tried to break off our engagement. I call you when I’m worried you may be slipping away from me. I’ve worked too hard to show you how much I love you to just let it all slip away.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
He sighed into the phone. “It just means I’m not giving up on us without a fight. What’s wrong? I call to apologize, and get the third degree. I’m starting to think you don’t want us to work.”
“It’s not that. I told you, I’m just surprised.”
“What are you doing tonight?”
“Nothing. I just left Angie and Carol. We bought dresses for next weekend.”
“Well, if you bought a dress, then I know you aren’t planning on breaking up with me before next weekend,” he joked.
She laughed tightly. “No, Brad. I lo — um care too much to do tha
t.” The words practically choked her.
“Good. Michael and Joi want to meet us for dinner tonight. How does that sound to you?”
Shaking her head to clear her thoughts, Kenyatta focused on what he’d just asked. She wasn’t in the mood to go out, but since she had no other plans, she saw no reason to refuse.
“Sure, that’ll be fun.”
“Great, I’ll pick you up at seven. Bye, doll.”
Kenyatta stared at her phone in bewilderment. The entire conversation was weird, but she wasn’t used to Brad admitting he was wrong. But he had done just that. In his own way, he admitted he was wrong the night before. She made up her mind. She wanted and had to take the job with Jeremy. If Brad was sincere she could make things work … without Malcolm to distract her.
Chapter 20
Malcolm caught the basketball Jared passed to him and spun, landing an elbow in the chest of the guy guarding him. His opponent fell to the floor. Unfazed, Malcolm continued to the basket and dunked the ball. The guy jumped up from the floor and rushed him.
The guy pointed at Malcolm. “What the hell is wrong with you?”
Malcolm stepped to him. “Hey, man, if you can’t play with the big boys then take your ass home. Play and quit complaining.”
“What?” The guy moved forward.
Jared rushed over and pushed Malcolm away. “Come on, man. That was game. Let’s go.”
“Yeah, take him out of here before I get mad,” the other guy said. He backed up as he spoke, contradicting his bravado.
Malcolm pushed against Jared. “I don’t give a damn about you getting mad.”
Jared looked to Devin for help, who quickly ran over and grabbed Malcolm’s other arm. “All right, that’s it. We’re leaving.” They both ushered Malcolm from the gym.
“Malcolm, what the hell is wrong with you, man?” Devin asked when they got to the parking lot.
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