Spontaneous - Brenda Jackson [61]
And she had finally been able to move beyond the issues she’d had with her father, although she was taking things one step at a time. After hearing about what had happened to her mother after Edward’s arrest made national news, he had shown up in Shreveport while she was there.
Louis Cannon’s appearance had drastically improved since she’d last seen him, and she could tell he was trying to take control of his life. He’d shared with both her and her mother that he hadn’t taken a drink in over three years and was active in his church and had remarried. She was happy for him.
And she was also happy for her mother, who now had Mr. Bennie in her life. They, too, were taking things one step at a time. But Kim was convinced Mr. Bennie was the person her mother needed.
The elevator came to a stop and the door opened. Immediately, she could hear Terrence talking in a loud voice to someone on the speakerphone. She had taken a few steps toward his door when she recognized the voice of the person Terrence was conversing with. And when Terrence said her name, Kim stopped walking and listened.
“Hey, man, I hear what you’re saying but I think you’re wrong for not letting Kim know how you feel.”
“I couldn’t do that,” Duan said in a voice filled with anguish. “I couldn’t tell her that I love her so much I ache inside just thinking about her. She wants to go to med school. She’s always wanted to go and someone took that dream away from her once. I won’t be the one to take it away from her again.”
“She can still go to med school, Duan. That’s all I’m saying. When two people love each other, they can work through anything. The two of you can even have a long-distance relationship.”
“She tried that before with a guy and it didn’t work out so that’s not an option. Besides, I’m not even sure she feels the same way about me. Our time together may not have meant as much to her as it meant to me. She never gave me any indication that she loved me.”
Duan paused for a moment before continuing. “Look, Terrence, I didn’t call to lay all this on you. It’s my problem. I just wanted you to know the reason why I won’t be coming to Sherri’s birthday party next weekend. There is no way I can see Kim and not give away how much I want her. How much I love her. And I hope you understand.”
Tears clouded Kim’s eyes as she began backing away from Terrence’s office door. She returned to the elevator and pressed the button that would take her back down. Her heart began filling with happiness at the thought that Duan loved her. All those times they had been making love and not just having sex. He actually loved her and wasn’t telling her for fear of coming between her and her dream of attending medical school.
Didn’t he know he was now part of her dream and that she had a chance to have it all with him? Apparently not. So she intended to be the one to tell him and she wouldn’t waste any time doing so.
“You’re through with your meeting with Terrence already?”
Kim blinked, realizing the elevator door had opened and Debbie was standing in front of it, staring at her.
“Oh, no. I just got an emergency that I need to take care of. Let Terrence know I’ll call him later to reschedule our meeting.”
“All right.”
Kim quickly headed for the exit door, pulling her car keys out of her purse. She would drive herself to the airport. Destination? Atlanta, Georgia.
18
DUAN RECALLED the conversation he’d had with Terrence before leaving the office. Maybe his brother was right and he should let Kim know how he felt.
To anyone who didn’t know Duan, he probably appeared to be a calm, cool and collected guy. A man defined by