Come Share My Love (40 page)

     “So what are you going to do about your little situation?”

     “I’m trying to decide if I should call her or not or just wait until I get back to try and see her.”

     “I still think Braxton had the right idea.  Ask her out here for the fourth of July.”

     “That may not be that easy.”

     “Why not?  She like you, doesn’t she?”

     “More than she’s willing to admit, I suspect.  Beside she had promised her cousin that she would come but after our trips to Jamaica she may have changed her mind.  She may think it’s a waste of her time.  Or maybe, too soon to be spending a weekend in my presence, with my family.  We haven’t established any kind of relationship.  Not yet.”

     “Can Mama V say something to you without you taking offense?” he nodded his head and she continued on.  “If you think she’d feel that way, why be bothered in the first place?”

     “I guess I really don’t feel that way.  It’s more like I’m thinking what if this happens, what if that happens.  I think I’m more nervous than anything and I don’t want to be rejected.”

     “Rejected?  I know women don’t feel that way about my baby.  There are too many women after you.”

     “But they’re not the right woman.”

     His mother nodded.  “And you think this woman is the right woman?”

     “I really believe so.”

     “So you really like her?  Maybe even more than like her?”

     “More than you’ll ever know.”

     She rubbed her hand across his.  “Well son, I hope everything works out.  If this woman can’t see what she could have with you then it will be her loss.”

     “You’re being biased mom, but thanks.”  He kissed the hand he was holding.

     “Bias has nothing to do with it.  Ask anyone and they’ll say the same thing.  Just try to get her out here.  She may surprise you.”

     “I’ll do my best, mom.”

     “That’s all I ask.  You deserve a happily ever after.

     A few more weeks passed without Shyla hearing from Zackary.  She had left a couple of messages of her own but they were not responded to.  She could almost feel how Zackary must have felt when she hadn’t returned his calls.  Again her work became more important than her life.  If Zachary didn’t want to be bothered with her she didn’t care.  She didn’t want to be bothered with him any longer either.  Kemah had stood by and watched her friend almost work herself to death.  She had had enough, she couldn’t take anymore.  She decided it was time that she got involved.

     “Dr. Trellis?”

     “Zackary this is Kemah.”

    “Hi, Miss Kemah long time no hear.  How have you been?”

    “Good but not great.”

    “Good but not great,” he repeated.  “What does that mean?”

Kemah sighed.  She called and reached him so she couldn’t back out now, but how was she going to tell him that Shyla was in love with him without it all blowing up in her face.  She hadn’t really wanted to get involved but it seemed like the only way.  She wasn’t opposed to getting into anyone’s business if it was for the right reason.

     “It means your girl is driving herself into and early grave and about to take me along for the ride.”

Zackary jumped to his feet.  “What’s wrong? What’s happened to her?”

     Maybe this wasn’t such a bad idea.  Zackary was definitely concerned.

     “Kemah what’s happened?”

     “Nothing has happened, yet, but she’s working herself ragged.  She misses you and what you two could have had.”

Zackary calmed down.  His heart was racing way too fast.  “Why don’t I believe you?  The last time we spoke she told me off.  She ignored my calls.”

     “I seem to remember you ignoring her calls, too.”

     “What was I supposed to do Kemah?”

     “Try giving her another chance.  Zackary she does care about you.  More than she’s willing to admit.  I’m sure you already know this.  She may not show it the way you would expect her to, but she does care.  Right now she’s upset because you haven’t returned her calls.”

     “Then you know that makes two of us.  Of course I didn’t mean to hurt her but men hurt too.  She doesn’t care how I feel.  She’s the one who ran off.  I can’t, no, I won’t keep this up.  Do I give her chances until I’m blue in the face or until she decides that we are not what she wants?  It seems like she’s already done that.  It’s pretty painful.

     “I know some women think men don’t hurt but we do.  They always want to call us dogs but what about the women who treat us as though they can run a game on men and we just take it?  Do you know what they say about men that are like that?”

     “Shyla’s not like that.”

     “I’m not saying she is.  I’m just saying that all men aren’t dogs and I resent being treated like one or like my feelings don’t matter.  I’ve had my share and I’m not ashamed to let it be known nor do I have the desire to go through that again.”

     Kemah heard the anxiety in his voice.  She knew that he had been through some things because of what Shyla had told her but she didn’t know the impact of it all.  She didn’t want Zackary to let go of his feelings for Shyla because of what had happened in a previous
relationship.  Just as Shyla shouldn’t treat him a certain way because of her ex. Kemah thought back to the man she dated in college.  She loved him.  Still loves him if she could be honest about it.  She herself should have moved on.  She knew that he had and yet she still loved him.  Maybe one day she would find the right man to love, until then she wanted to at least see her best friend happy with the man she loved.

     “Zackary I understand what you’re saying, but don’t let go of your feelings for Shyla because of the hurt someone else inflicted on you.  I know it only makes you miserable.”

     “Sounds like you’re speaking from experience.”

     “All too well,” she replied.  “I’m still in love with the man that broke my heart and that was almost seven years ago.  Until I can get pass that I haven’t allowed myself to get involved with another man.  Shyla had some problems in a relationship and she’s reluctant to go back in there and try.  I think it also has a lot to do with my situation.  The difference between her situation and my situation is that Shy isn’t in love with another man.  She’s in love with you and if you ever tell her what I said, it’s me and you in my backyard.  Understand?”

     “Yes Miss Kemah.  I understand quite well,” he chuckled.  “I’ll tell you what.  We have a five day weekend coming up for the fourth of July.  Shyla and her cousins were invited months ago to come to my parents place in Napa.  At that time she agreed.  She may have changed her mind since then but I think I know how to get her there.”

     “How?”

     “Essence, of course.”

     “That’ll do it.”

     “You’re welcomed to come to Kemah.”

     “Sorry doc, but I already have plans.  It’s time I took up offers to go out with a few decent people.  I can’t continue to just put my life on hold because of my unresolved feeling for some man who has probably married and have about ten kids.”

     “Ten kids?  Wow, that’s a lot.”

     “I know but when we talked about marriage and starting a family we decided on ten kids.  I don’t think he’d give up that dream for anyone.”

     Zackary could feel her feelings through the phone.  He silently hoped and prayed that she found her happiness.  Kemah was good people.

     “Kemah I hope you have luck finding that special someone.  You deserve it.”

     “So do you and Shyla.  You promised me once that you wouldn’t give up on her.”

     “I did promise and I haven’t given up.  I may talk a lot about being hurt but what I want most in the world is for Shyla and myself to become a family.  I don’t plan on stopping until I reach my goal.”

     “Well you go on head, big boy.  I’m happy for the both of you.  Make sure I get the first invitation for the wedding,” she laughed.

     “You know you’ll be helping to address them.  That’s one of the jobs of the maid of honor.  Your day will come Kemah.  We’ll have you married off in no time.”

     “From your lips to God’s ear.”

Just then the door opened.  Shyla peeked in.

     “Hey, my partner has just stepped in and she doesn’t look at all too happy.”

     “I wish I could see her.”

     “Don’t worry you’ll get your chance soon enough.  Anyway, I’ll talk to you later, and keep me posted.”

     “I will.  Thanks.”

     “Bye.”

     “Bye.”

     “Who was that?”

     “Just a friend.”

     “A friend Kemah?  Holding out on me?  Anyone I know?”

     Kemah winked.  “Maybe.  What’s up?”

     “Lunch.  Aren’t you hungry?”

     “Starving.  You’re actually going out to lunch today?”

     “Kee, please.  I need a rest from this place.  I love my business but I’ve been here too damn long.”

     “I’m surprised to hear you say that, but happy to say the least.  What’s the weather like out?”

     “It looks hot so don’t put on anymore clothes.”

     “Where do you want to go?”

     “Any place where we can stay a couple of hours.”

     Kemah nodded.  “Oh yeah.  You really want to get away.  This is good.  Let’s drive to Red Lobster.  They take forever to bring your food but it’s delicious.”

     “I’m up for that.”

     They head off to lunch and end up taking the rest of the day off for themselves.

C
hapter Seven

Some months later

     “Felton isn’t here.” She practically yelled when she snatched open the door.  Shyla wasn’t in the mood to deal with Zackary Trellis today.  She had tried for weeks to reach him but her phone calls went unanswered.  For someone who claimed to have feelings for her he sure had a weird way of showing it.  After 3 weeks she completely gave up.  She was more angry than hurt.  She had let the hurt melt away gradually but it still bothered her some.  Still she felt the electricity that ignited within her each time she saw him.

     “That’s cool.  I came to see you anyway.”

     “Me?  How did you even know I would be here?” she turned and looked towards the kitchen door where her cousin Essence had disappeared.

     “Oh, I have my sources,” he said with a smile.  “Now, are you planning to invite me in or do I have to stand out on the porch for the rest of my stay?”

     “Sources, huh?  Sounds like you’re being a stalker to me.”  She moved aside letting him enter the foyer.  Her first thought was to let him stand outside, he deserved that if nothing else, but she wasn’t a bitter woman and she didn’t have the authority to turn anyone away from Essence’s door.  If anything she wanted to see what was so important that he had to track her down at her cousin’s house.  After all, he had decided that he didn’t want to have anything to do with her.  He had to get all the messages that she had left for him.  There was no good reason for his secretary to keep them away from him.  This should be interesting.

     “Lady I am no stalker.  I don’t have to stalk anyone,” he said smugly.

     She arched her brow turning from him walking away.  “Is that a way of saying you get what you want?”

     “No. it’s not that.”  He walked further in closing the door behind him and taking off his jacket.  “I’m just saying that I don’t have to stalk anyone.  I just wanted to see you.  I know that you had been trying to reach me while I was out of town and when I got back I wasn’t able to get back to you right away.”

     “Right and it took you 2 months to get back to me?  How very noble of you, Mr. Trellis.” 

     He pulled her by the hand to face him.  “I was busy, Ms. Wilkes.  I’ve only been in town three weeks and most of that has kept me in the operating room.”  She tried to pull away but he pulled her back to face him.  He stood only inches from her lips.  And he spoke softly.  “And for the record, if I got what I wanted we would not be standing in the middle of your cousin’s, my best friends, living
room.”  He inched closer.  Her first thought was to make him feel as vulnerable as he was making her but she knew it would only back fire.  She wasn’t in the same league as the men that she met.  She finally made it up in her mind that she would back away but her feet wouldn’t budge.  He stood only inches above her looking down into her upturned face with his next words.  “We would be laying in my bed taking each other to pleasures that neither of us has ever experienced.”  She took in a sharp breath.  She tried to hold on to her composure but the closer he was the more it was fading.  If he got any closer she would fall at his feet.  It was a good thing that he was holding on to her because the floor was just waiting for her.  She never doubted for a minute that they would soar to heights neither of them had ever experienced if and when they made love.  She almost wished they were at his home because then he could help release some of the tension that had been building up inside of her since the trip.  But as it stood she was upset with him, regardless of his reasoning.  He could have made an effort to contact her when he was off duty.  He still had to get home.  There was no excuse in her book and she made it known what she thought of his remark.