Choose Wisely (17 page)

I sat my bag on the floor, watching her as she took everything in. The room was very cozy. It had big French doors that faced the river. The decorative
fireplace had large candles sitting on top. I plopped down on the king size bed and turned on the forty inch flat screen.

             
I flipped through the channels. I really wasn’t interested with what was on cable. I wanted her in my arms. I wanted to make love. I strolled over to where she was still standing. I placed my arms around her waist, kissing her neck.

             
“Are you enjoying your surprises?”

She turned to face me.

              “Yes I am. I have one question why did you bring me here?”

My heart sank. Maybe getting the room was a bad idea. I thought.

              “Don’t you like the room?” I asked.

She placed her arms around my neck.

              “Of course I do. But this place is romantic,”

             
“What’s wrong with that?”

             
‘Baby I told you how I feel. I don’t want to have sex until we’re married.”

I sighed, removing her arms
from around my neck, placing them close to my heart.

             
“I thought you knew me better than that. I didn’t get this room just for sex. Remember a few years ago. You said you had never been to a bed and breakfast. Tonight I wanted to show you that I do listen to what you say to me,” I paused, looking into her big brown eyes.

             
“From here on out I want to be the man that makes all your dreams come true,”

She took a deep breath and exhaled.

              “Sweetie thank you for all of this. I can tell you put a lot of thought into it,”

             
‘You’re welcome. As long as you’re happy my job is done,”

             
“So what do we do now?” She asked.

I grabbed my bag off the floor and was about to dump contents on the bed.

              “You better not have any kinky stuff in there,” she laughed.

I threw the bag on the bed and gave her a peck on th
e forehead.

             
“You know what before you get to see what goodies I got in here. I’m going to start a fire,” I ginned, turning on the electronic fireplace.

She tried to sneak a peek in my bag. I
raced over and playfully tackled her down on the bed. She brushed her lips against mine. I welcomed her kisses and gently touched her breast.

             
She quickly removed my hand. I sat up, pulling her arms so she could sit up to.

             
“I’m sorry I got carried away,” I admitted.

She touched my cheek gently l
ooking over her shoulder.

             
“It’s okay. Why don’t you show me what’s in the bag?” I forgot the bag was still sitting behind us.

             
“You really wanna know what’s in there don’t you?” I teased.

             
“Yes I do!” She stated reaching for my bag.

I stood snatching the bag off the bed.

              “Okay here you go,” I handed her a medium sized pink box, with a red bow.

She eagerly opened the box, and pulled out a short white, silk chiffon jacket. It also included a lace baby doll nightie. I found it online at Lace & Silk.Co.Uk. She held the short nightie up to her body.

              “You want me to wear this?” She giggled.

             
“Yes. I will even run your bath water for you,”

She rolled her eyes.

              “You’re a mess!”

I strutted to bathroom to get her water ready. I shouted over my shoulder.

              “I know,”

I called her when her bath water was ready. She entered the bathroom and rushed me out the door. I pulled out the rest of the items in my bag. I prepared her final surprise for the night.

              Sandy stepped out the bathroom and I was speechless. She looked like an angel in her all white nightie. I was truly blessed. Despite all my sins my Father still loved me. I was going to make her my wife. There was no doubt in my mind.

             
I walked over to her, kissing her sexy lips.

             
“Are you ready for your final surprise?”

She followed me over to the bed. I moved to the side so she could see.

              “Wow really?” She smiled.

             
“Yes really, are you ready?” I asked.

She sat on the bed giving me a devilish look.

              “You ain’t ready,” she stated.

             
“Okay whatever you say,” I said sitting across from her.

Spread across the bed was all of our favorite childhood games. I smiled to myself thinking of endless fights we had playing these games as kids. To say we were
competitive would be an understatement. We decided
Trouble
, would be the first game of the evening.

             
“Thank you for all of this,”

             
“Anything for you, I hope this proves to you, that it’s not just about sex with me. We’ve known each other way too long for me ever to disrespect you that way,”

She leaned over and kissed my cheek.

              “I’m glad you said that. Now let’s get this game on, so I can show you whose boss,”

             
“Girl you can show me whateva you want!” I grinned.

             
I rolled over to find Dontae still sound asleep. I couldn’t believe he’d planned such a wonderful evening for me. My life was perfect. I was graduating today, and I was back with the man I loved. I didn’t think we’d ever get back to this place. Thank you, Jesus. There was nothing better than the power of prayer. I thought.

             
I eased out of bed so I wouldn’t disturb him. I checked the time it was still early. My graduation wasn’t until one o’clock. I was too excited to go back to sleep. I picked up my cell phone. I had one miss call from my father. I pressed the code on my phone to retrieve his message. He said he wanted to see me before my graduation. I made a mental note to stop by his house before I went home.

             
Dontae rolled over patting the side of the bed where I had slept. He looked up to find me smiling at him.

             
“Good morning, handsome,”

             
“Good morning. Why are you up so early? Come back to bed,” He turned down the covers inviting me to join him.

I didn’t want our time to end. But I had a lot of things that I needed do.

              “Baby you know I have to get ready for this afternoon,”

             
“I know but a few more minutes won’t kill you,” he pouted.

             
“Dontae I really don’t have time for this. You know how important today is,”

He sat up and put on his t-shirt.

              “Of course I know how important today is. I just thought after last night, you would have a little more time for me,”

I couldn’t believe my ears. How could he be so selfish? This was my day. I worked really hard turning my dream into a reality. I thought he understood better than anyone.
I felt his negativity from across the room. Maybe he woke up on the wrong side of the bed. I had no idea what his problem was, and I didn’t have time to find out.

             
“I’m going to jump in the shower and get dressed. I hope by the time I return your attitude will be adjusted,”

             
“My attitude is fine. All I wanted was a little more time with you. I didn’t know that was a crime,”

I watched him get dressed and walk out the door. I had no idea what his problem was and I didn’t have time to figure it out. This was my day and I refused to let anyone ruin it.

              Once I got dressed. I made my way downstairs to the lobby. Dontae was sitting at a table eating and reading the newspaper. I made me a cup of coffee and grabbed an apple from the fruit bowl sitting on the counter. There was a nice buffet set up. But I was too excited to eat.

             
I sat at the table across from him. I wanted to say something. But my pride got in the way. I sipped on my coffee, waiting for him to speak. I couldn’t tolerate the silence one more second. I smacked the top of his newspaper startling him. 

             
“Are you going to say something?” I hissed.

             
“What do you want me to say?”

I sat staring at him. It was obvious to me, what he should say. He should be giving me an apology. I thought. This was one of the most important days of my life, and he was trying to ruin it
. If he didn’t know what to say I wasn’t going to waste anymore of my time. I stood glaring at him.

             
“I’m ready to go. Unlock the doors please,” I stomped off and headed to the car.

He strolled up to the car about five minutes later. We were silent the entire ride to my apa
rtment. Before I could jump out he grabbed my hand.

             
“I’m sorry. Today is your day and I don’t want to spoil it over something so petty. Go ahead upstairs and get ready. I’ll meet you there. Do you forgive me?”

I sat quietly, looking straight ahead. He leaned over his car console, and gently touched my cheek.

              “Come on baby. Don’t be like this. You know I’m not a morning person. I’m sorry,” he pleaded.

I turned to face him.

              “Fine Dontae, I forgive you. But the way you behaved was uncalled for,”

             
“I promise I’ll make it up to you,” he said, kissing me on the cheek.

I closed my eyes and sighed. I was still upset. I searched through my purse for my keys. I opened the car door and smiled. Anger was a choice, and I chose to be happy. If I was going to say I forgave I had to mean it.

              “I love you. Whatever you were going through earlier, it’s over. I’m going to enjoy this day with the people I love, especially you,”

I waved as he pu
lled off, then checked my phone if I was going to see Jason and my father before my graduation. I needed to hurry.

             
I stepped into the
Crown Plaza Hotel
elevator with Tyrone. He’d been staying there, whenever he was on business. He thought it would be best to get his things and check out to save money. He said he had some loose ends to tie up back in New York before he could officially move to Pennsylvania. I didn’t have a problem with it because I still had to break the news to my family. And honestly I wasn’t sure how they would react.

             
After putting all his things in the back of his truck, we drove to my father’s house. I needed to bring him, David’s suit. I ran up the sidewalk to my father’s door. I opened the screen door and walked in.

             
“Hey Daddy!” I yelled up the steps.

He said he would be right down. I heard my father walking down the stairs. He still had
on his slippers and robe. I was waiting to see my son come flying down the steps behind my dad. He was my father’s shadow, whenever he stayed with him.

             
“Where’s David?”

             
“He’s still in the tub. You know how that boy likes to play in the water,”

I nodded, my head because I knew all too well. I handed him the suit. He examined the items I gave him.

              “Where’s the boy’s shoes?”

I smacked my forehead, racing to the door.

              “I’m sorry daddy. I forgot them in the truck. Just as I was about to step off the porch I saw Tyrone walking up.

             
“Hey baby can you unlock the doors? I left David’s shoes in the truck,”

             
“Do you want me to go get them?” He asked.

             
“No that’s okay. Go and say hello to my dad. I’ll be right back,” I slid to the side so Tyrone could go in.

I snatched the shoes
from the backseat of the truck. As I was heading back to the house I heard someone calling my name. I turned to see who was calling me. It was Darius’s older brother Scooter.

             
“Hey Scooter!” I waved.

He held out his arms waiting for an embrace. I walked over and gave him a big hug. I hadn’t seen him almost four years. The last I heard he had moved to Texas with his fiancé.