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“No, I just made a decision,” I said, looking him in the eyes.
He put his head down for a brief second and then looked back up at me. “So there’s absolutely nothing I can . . .”
“No, Randy, please. I think you should go,” I said sternly, cutting him off.
As he got up and walked towards the coatrack his head was hung low in sadness; and what usually was his outstanding posture bore a striking resemblance to the shape of a hunchback. I walked ahead of him and began unlocking the door.
“Take care,” I said.
He went out the door and stood there. Why this man was a glutton for punishment, I did not know. Slowly I began to close the door, looking at him in utter confusion.
“I love you,” he mouthed silently, with the tears continuing to come down.
I shut the door and went back to Miles and the rest of my gin.
The next two weeks were absolute hell. Randy kept calling, leaving whining messages on my answering machine and filling up my voice mail at work every day. He sent flowers, candy, and gifts, begging me to come back to him, and it drove me up the wall. To make matters worse, he looked up Phil’s number and called Saundra, sobbing and pleading for her to talk to me. That was a big mistake, I was starting to feel sorry for the guy but calling my sister to complain when we weren’t even a committed couple just did not make sense and it made me furious. I had to deal with Saundra’s reprimands for days.
Chapter 23
SAUNDRA
What goes around comes around, and one of these days Asha will get her comeuppance. I just hope that her face doesn’t need radical reconstructive surgery after it happens.
I told Daddy about Asha’s latest adventure over breakfast one morning.
“I’m so afraid that one of these men is going to hurt her.”
Daddy took a bite of his buttered toast and chewed it thoughtfully before answering. “Don’t worry, sweetheart. Someday she’ll meet the right guy and change so fast it’ll take your breath away.”
Since I’d totally given up on the engagement party idea, the tension had been erased between me and Daddy.
“But in the meantime . . .” I persisted.
He shrugged. “Just keep praying for her.”
I nodded and scooped up a melon ball.
Daddy grinned mischievously. “Hugo and I bought you a wedding present.”
“So soon? What is it?”
“Remember that reception hall you crossed off your list because it was too expensive?”
Yero and I had checked it out a week ago. It cost $250 per person.
“The Crystal Palace?” I whispered.
“Yup!”
“Oh, Daddy, you shouldn’t have. That’s way too much money.”
“Hugo and I are going to split it. So it’s all yours, sweetheart. We paid for one hundred people and an open bar. What do you think of that?” He grinned broadly, looking very pleased with himself.
I rushed around the table, grabbed his face with both hands and kissed him squarely on the forehead. “I think you’re the most wonderful father in the world.”
Daddy coughed to hide his emotion. “Go on now! Call Hugo and thank him, too!”
Chapter 24
