Made to Love: Carmen and Cooper's Story (18 page)

“
I need to see Cooper again, but
one on one. Somewhere public, maybe he won’t be as cruel and tell
me to leave.”

“
That will be easy. I will tell
him to meet me for dinner and you go instead. He will be on his
best behavior in public. I am going out of town for the next four
days. When I get back you will receive a text from me, once the
plan is in motion.”

“
Thank you, Beverly and have a
safe trip.”

“
Don’t thank me, just name one of
your children after me,” she laughs.

“
I have to get Cooper back
first.”

“
You will.”

We hang up.

Wednesday afternoon, Marcia frantically calls
me to ask if I can bring her a pair of cotton panties and her black
pencil skirt. Apparently she miscalculated her menstrual
cycle.

The floors at
A. Werts
have
recently been polished. The sound of my black boots can be
heard echoing off the walls as I approach the front
desk
.
I stick out
like a sore thumb, especially since I am wearing a simple black
sweater with light denim jeans. My boots are below my knee covering
the skinny bottoms of my jeans. I chose a leopard belt since it
matches well with my scarf. My long wool black coat makes me look
straight out of the Matrix, except for the animal print.

The receptionist shows she is not pleased with
my appearance. Her name is Mika. She is a young Asian woman, with
short black hair. Mika asks who I am here to see. I inform her that
Miss Marcia Davis is expecting me. She looks doubtful.

After calling Marcia, she smiles and says,
“Miss Davis is waiting for you.”

No shit. She proceeds to tell me where
Marcia’s office is, but I cut her off since I already know where I
am going. Walking down the corridor I pass many meeting rooms, all
the outside labels read occupied. Finally I reach the section
separated especially for the advisors. There are several small
offices encircling a large portion of the floor. Marcia is sitting
at her desk. Upon seeing me, she grabs the items from my hand and
disappears into the ladies room. I sit at her desk and look out the
window.

A voice says, “Marcia, where are you with the
Brown account?” I know and love that voice—it’s Cooper. Turning
around to face him, he looks up from the paper he was
reading.

Cooper frowns. “Carmen, what are you doing
here?”

God is he so fine. “Marcia needed
my assistance, so here I am. How are you?” He turns to walk away.
Nervously I say, “Cooper, please wait.” He stops and turns around.
I know I only have a few seconds before he tells me to leave.
Rising from the chair, I ask “Can we talk?” He shakes his head no,
now I am standing in front of him. “Cooper, please.”

“
I am busy. Don’t have time for
you to waste.”

His face is firm. Before I can stop myself, I
stand on my tippy toes and kiss him. At first he doesn’t react then
pushes me away. He looks conflicted. Cooper then kisses me, his
mouth hard on mine, our tongues embracing. My hands are around his
neck and his are on my butt. He lifts me up and pins me against the
wall. Oh, I just came. The kissing is intense and I don’t want it
to stop. But as quickly as it started, it ceased. Cooper puts me
down, something is wrong.

Looking at me with confusion, he declares “I
have moved on, so should you.” He walks out of Marcia’s
office.

With the kiss we just shared, it’s
evident he hasn’t moved on.

Chapter
Thirty-One

During my workout, my phone receives a text.
Normally I would ignore it, but my gut tells me to check it out.
It’s a message from Beverly.

Beverly:
Meet Cooper tonight at Legacy Grill. Be there at 7. Good
Luck.

Me:
I
will need it. Thanks again.

I have exactly two hours to get ready and
there. I shower quickly and looking at my body in the mirror, I
have lost some weight. Hopefully things work out for us, because I
need some loving. As I look at my heart shaped Brazilian; I
remember how Cooper loved kissing that spot. No time for
daydreaming. After applying moisturizer over my entire body, I
spritz Pink perfume over my wrist and then dab my neck. The scent
is pure and clean. Hopefully my black lace panties with matching
bra will be seen tonight. Once my makeup is immaculate, I put on my
new black dress that has lace embroidery in the front. Sliding my
black tights up my silky legs, I then buckle my Mary Jane
multi-color python pumps to give my wardrobe some color.

My hair is going to be worn down
in its natural wavy state. With only thirty minutes to spare I rush
to the door where I put my long black wool coat on and retrieve the
new red Dooney & Bourke purse Marcia gave me. I’m so nervous
getting in the elevator, it feels like perspiration is about to
take its toll, though the weather feels like negative two degrees
outside. My hands are shaking while inserting the keys into the
ignition. I wish I would have purchased the automatic starter, it
is so cold. I rub my hands together through my black leather gloves
while the car warms up. Tonight is the night and everything has to
go well. I have hope we are going to make it work; after all, he
kissed me not long ago.

Putting the car in drive, I get to Legacy
Grill in no time. My body tenses when I see Cooper’s black Mercedes
flash by me. He steps out in a fitted leather jacket with light
denim jeans; some sort of pattern is on the back pocket. It reminds
of the True Religion emblem, they hug his ass well. I lick my lips
and think about my hands all over him. When he turns around, I see
underneath the jacket is a light gray dress shirt, with a black
vest over top. He doesn’t catch me peeking so I watch him from a
distance for a little bit longer. Prior to walking into the
restaurant, I observe Cooper through the window. He sips Scotch and
looks at his watch. The watch I bought him. This makes me
smile.

It’s now or nothing. Taking my coat off before
he sees me, I place it on the chair.

“
You are late.” He says while
looking at the menu.

“
Hi, Cooper.” Utter shock and
confusion is written on his face.

“
Carmen, I’m supposed to be
meeting my mother, but for some reason I think you two planned
this.” He motions for me to sit down.

“
Yes, she told me you would be
here tonight.” I say taking a seat.

“What can I do for you?” He can do
a lot for me, especially
to
me.

“
Why can’t you forgive me? Why
can’t we move on?”

“I told you the other day that I
have moved on. What didn’t you understand?” 

The waiter asks if Cooper wants another Scotch
and he orders me a martini and clenches his jaw.

“
Don’t be quiet now, Carmen, you
have gone out of the way to know where I am. So talk.”

“
If you have moved on, why did you
kiss me? We both know you felt something.”

He chuckles, “I kissed you out of pure
boredom.” He is being an ass.

“Really, Cooper? You don’t have to
be an asshole. I am trying and you aren’t. I know I fucked up and I
have begged for your forgiveness. Hurting you was the biggest
mistake of my life but you keep being heartless. If being with me
isn’t what you want any more then honestly tell me.”
God please let him just love me
again
.

“
Carmen your actions have caused
these consequences, you should have thought about this before you
said unforgiveable things.”

I love him, but I am no one’s punching bag.
Enough is enough.

Sighing and fighting back the
tears I state “I am sorry things cannot be reconciled between us. I
can’t keep doing this; you will always be the love of my
life.”

The tears threaten to escape.
Leaving my coat, I run out of the restaurant. Damn it’s cold but
there is no way I am going to let him see me cry again. As I jump
into my car, I can hear Cooper yelling my name. I slam the door and
start the car. Since I am upset I double check the road before
pulling off. All clear. I can’t wait to get home. I am freezing.
Out of nowhere I see lights coming towards me. BANG! God it hurts
so badly. Cooper is running towards me. I try to say his name, but
nothing comes out. There is only pain, am I dying?

Cooper, my love.
Then everything goes black.

Chapter
Thirty-Two

Cooper

Oh my God, Carmen.
“Someone call 9-11” I am screaming at the crowd.
I reach Carmen’s car her eyes are weak. “Stay with me, baby. I love
you.” She gives a blank stare and closes her eyes. “No.”

Following the ambulance to the
hospital I call Marcia. She becomes hysterical as I tell her what’s
going on. Giselle takes the phone from her and promises that they
will call Carmen’s parents.

The Williams’ are such nice people
and this is going to drive them crazy. They have already lost one
daughter and now Carmen. No, I will not think that way.
Carmen,
my
Carmen
is a fighter. She will pull through she has too. Why was I such an
ass to her? Yes she broke my heart, but all should have been
forgiven once she declared her love for me.

She poured her heart out on Christmas. The
other day at the office we shared a kiss, that can’t be the last
time we kiss. I couldn’t get over my hurt and she may be fighting
for her life.

Waiting to hear something kills
me. They will not give me any updates because I am not her husband.
That will be changing real soon. Marcia runs into the ER, I wave
her over. Her eyes are puffy and her hair is everywhere.

“
Where is she?” she
asks.

“
I don’t know they won’t tell me
anything.”

She frowns, “This is bullshit. I am going to
get answers.”

Before she walks away I ask, “Did you call
Christopher and Candace?”

“
Yes, they are on their way. It
was the worse call to have to make. Why did this happen? I can’t
lose her.” She begins to cry and I embrace her.

Giselle approaches us. Marcia sees
her and they hug.

Marcia says, “Now I need to get answers.” The
two girls walk away holding hands.

Fifteen minutes later Marcia and Giselle are
back.

“
Cooper she isn’t in critical
condition, but she is banged up real bad. When she wakes up she
will be in pain. She has a concussion and two fractured ribs.
Carmen should be able to go home in two days.”

A sense of peace fills me up.

“
Thank God. Wait, how did you guys
find this out?”

Giselle says, “When we put our minds together,
nothing can stop us.”

Marcia says, “She loves you so much. She only
wants you to forgive her.”

Looking Marcia in the eye, “I know and I love
her too. I am going to spend the rest of my life proving
that.”

They both say, “You better.”

The Williams’ arrive and they are
told the good news. Christopher finds the doctor. Candace is crying
tears of joy. “Cooper, thank you for being here. I am relieved that
she will be okay. My heart couldn’t bear burying another daughter.
She hugs me. “Things aren’t perfect in any relationship, but you
always have to be willing to fight for the ones you love. Try to
work things out because time is a precious gift,” she says. I tell
her that I love Carmen and we will make things work.

Christopher comes back and kisses his wife.
Their love is inspirational. Christopher informs us that Carmen can
have visitors. The girls take off.

“
Come on Candace,” he grabs her
hand.

They start walking away. “Aren’t you coming?”
he asks.

“
You guys go first. I have a lot
of making up to do.”

He smiles. He places his arm around Candace
and they go to see Carmen. I stop at the gift shop before arriving
to the room Carmen is located in. I phone my parents to let them
know what has occurred this evening. They say that they will be
here tomorrow. I purchase a dozen white roses, fully
blossomed.

Turning the door handle, I step
inside her let them know what has occurred this evening. I catch a
glimpse of her and I want to go pick her up and embrace her. This
is entirely my fault.
How could I have
been so stupid?