grapes. “Yeah, girlfriend, it’s been a long time.”
Alexa took a sip of wine. “I know.”
“So how is Denver?”
“Same.”
“And your job?”
“Actually, it’s going quite well. I got a raise,” she proudly announced, holding up her glass for a toast. In her nine years at Marks-St. Claire, Alexa had been promoted three times. The most recent promotion was an upgrade to a corner office along with a staff in addition to a salary increase and heftier bonuses. “You are now looking at the managing editor of Mountain High magazine.”
“You go, girl!” Maya congratulated, touching her glass to Alexa’s.
“Hear! Hear!” Bryant joyfully added.
“Another toast is in order,” Maya continued. “Bryant is going into business for himself.”
“Congratulations!” Alexa said with surprise. She knew that Bryant worked in computers, but had no idea he was interested in venturing out into a business of his own.
“I can’t take all of the credit. D is taking the plunge with me. Since we are both handling some really good contracts, we figure we could merge forces, eliminate the middleman and bring in the bucks directly.”
He continued to discuss the plan, but his words fell on deaf ears. Alexa knew she heard him right when he said D. That was the nickname everyone called Darius except her. Her nickname for him had always been Darry. So, he was thinking about going into business with Darius.
Rather than comment about Darius, she continued conversing as if she hadn’t heard him drop Darius’s name at all. After getting up to speed on their lives, Alexa yawned, succumbing to jet lag and announced that she was ready to hit the sack. Maya showed her to the spacious bonus room located over the three-car garage that was accessible off of the kitchen.
Mirroring the rest of the grand home, the room was decorated with impeccable taste. The four-poster rice bed was elegantly decorated in sophisticated, camel-colored faux suede bedding. Paprika, butter- and coffee-colored pillows of the same material were neatly stacked against the headboard. Beyond a pair of shutter doors was the bathroom with separate garden tub and shower, which was also decorated in the same colors as the bedroom.
“Maya, this is gorgeous!” she said, eyeing the tub longingly. She looked forward to languishing in it amid lavender-scented bath salts.
“Actually I had you in mind when I decorated it.” Maya said as she stretched out on the bed. “I’m so glad you could come. I just wish it was you getting married.”
The look of disdain on Alexa’s face did not equal Maya’s glowing expression. “Keep wishing,” she smugly retorted as she leaned up against the dresser.
“Come on, Alexa, I know you want to get married and have some bay bays?” Maya chided.
Alexa raised her hands in surrender and walked away from her friend. “Maya, I’ve come to realize that what I want isn’t necessarily what I am going to get. If the Lord sees fit for me to have a family, He will bless me in His time. I’m not going to force things anymore.”
“Do think you were forcing things with Sean?” Maya asked, sitting up on the edge of the bed.
Alexa paused before answering. “Back then I probably wouldn’t admit it, but today—yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I thought I was ready for marriage and a family. You don’t understand the pressure that women my age have to endure. You and Bryant have been together since you were nineteen. If a woman is over twenty-five, and not married, or at least dating someone, people look at her as if something is wrong. Sean was a nice guy and I loved him as a person, but he really wasn’t somebody I could see myself spending the rest of my life with.”
“And you were willing to marry him knowing that’s how you felt?”
“Yes,” she admitted, taking a seat beside Maya on the bed. “I guess I was hoping that my feelings would change, but now my outlook is different. When I look at you and Bryant, I see something that I want in a relationship. You two are soul mates. You got each other’s back and the love and respect that you have for one another is apparent. Sean and I could barely live together without arguing.”
“Do you hate him for what he did?”
Alexa hesitated before responding, pondering the question for a few moments. She was more humiliated than anything. “I did at first, but I got over it when I realized that us breaking up helped me to understand what I really want in a man.”
“Which is?”
“I want a man who is not afraid of my success, who is my friend, who has my back, understands my dreams and encourages me to pursue them. I need somebody who can love me for me.”
“Sounds like a pretty special man,” Maya wistfully replied.
Alexa nodded. “I know. I also know that you don’t come across these types everyday, and this time I won’t settle for anything less.”
“Well then I pray that you find who you are looking for.”
A hint of sadness laced Alexa’s giggle. “No, I hope he finds me.”
Without comment, Maya leaned over and gave Alexa a tight hug. “I’m glad you came.”
“I’m glad I did,, too,” Alexa replied, pulling back. “Now go to sleep, blushing bride. We have lots to do in the morning.”
Chapter 2
The minute Maya and Bryant agreed to renew their vows, one of the first people Maya called was her friend Margaret Cade. Margaret owned an exclusive boutique, where she sold her original creations. Her styles were so popular that her list of clients consisted of several high-profile community figures and celebrities.
Alexa’s eyes widened when Maya stepped from the dressing room in a champagne-hued, strapless silk gown with elbow-length satin gloves. The skirt was long and fitted with a twisted knot in the back that gave it a bustlelike appearance.
“Well, what do you think?” Maya asked, noticing Alexa’s awed expression in the three-way mirror.
“It looks great on you,” the salesclerk commented.
Alexa nodded in agreement, “Maya, that dress is tight.”
“It is!?” Maya cried out in horror. “It’s a size six. I hoped that I wouldn’t gain any weight.”
Alexa and the young salesclerk looked at each other and burst out laughing at Maya’s misunderstanding.
“I’m sorry,” she apologized through her laughter. “You have got to forgive my sister. She’s been out of the loop so long she kind of lost touch.” She didn’t want to explain that tight was slang for nice.
Maya still wore a look of confusion until Alexa assured her the dress was just fine. The
