Into the Light

“How about not have lunch with your ex?”

“We didn’t have lunch! And she’s not my ex! I slept with her one time like a billion years ago, way before Nikki. I ran into her downtown and she asked me to join her for a coffee. She drank coffee and I had a green tea. End of story.”

“You ordered a green tea? Maybe that’s why you’re in the doghouse, for being such a pussy.”

“Fuck you, Edwards, hurry up and get pretty boy on the phone.”

“Hang on a sec.” I hit conference and dialed Eric’s number; he answered almost immediately.

“Okay, here’s Eric,” I announced.

“OMG guys! Are we having a three way? This is so hot, it’s like one of my wildest wet dreams,” Eric squealed.

“Dude, keep your tiny Tim to yourself. I reiterate – I’m all about the pussy,” Rocky said.

“Rocky, that is so racist, just because I’m half Asian doesn’t mean I have a tiny Tim. In fact, I have a medium Tim, apparently not as big as some.” Eric coughed as he said it.

“Can we end this disturbing penis talk? Listen, I need you both to watch Charlotte on the weekend while I’m gone.”

“Why? You think she’s gonna run off with that Baker dude?” laughed Rocky

“Oh snap!” Eric snickered.

“No I don’t th

ink that, but I don’t feel comfortable leaving her alone.” As if I would think that!

“Damn, this was not the three-way I envisioned. Okay, well I’ll take the night shift…”

“Eric, no taking her to any clubs, you understand?”

“Dude, talk about possessive. We got your back, Edwards. Now let’s go before tiny Tim starts charging us by the minute.”

“Rocky, as if I would ever charge for phone sex. Mind you…”

I hung up the phone, the two of them could enjoy their random conversation, I had better things to do – yes, I needed to devour every inch of Charlotte before my flight took off tomorrow.

…

I remembered the first presentation I did in front of a whole auditorium of business associates, investors and political parties - I was a nervous wreck, but within the first minute I found my footing and never looked back.

I sat on the sofa that belonged to Mark Mason, cautiously watching him in case he pulled out an assault rifle from behind the recliner he was sitting on. He made me feel unwelcome, his resistance to my request to meet with him only confirmed one thing - I had a hell of a lot of persuading to do.

“I hope you didn’t come into my home to tell me the reason why you are here is because you want to marry my daughter,” he threatened.

FUCK!

“With all due respect, Sir, I did come to ask for that, but not before you have heard me out.”

“What could you possibly have to say that would make me believe that you could take care of my daughter? Did you invent some sort of time machine so you could erase all the pain you caused her?” He paused, allowing me to speak, but for some reason, I hesitated. “I didn’t think so.”

Here it goes… C’mon Edwards, one man, you can’t wimp out.

“I love Charlotte. I always have since the moment I came back that summer, maybe even before. I was a kid, and I made the wrong decisions and hurt everyone around me, but mainly the one that mattered the most. I can’t erase that, and to forgive myself took years of destructive behavior. But in the end it was Charlotte’s forgiveness I needed the most. I don’t know who is looking down on me, but I thank my lucky stars that somehow, something brought us back to one another. She is my life, and I want to give her everything she desires. Perhaps I’m not asking you for your permission as such, because let’s face it; Charlotte will do what she wants to do, anyway. What I am here for is to reassure you that Charlotte will be taken care of. Aside from financially, I would move heaven and earth for her. Pain inflicted on her is pain inflicted on me. She deserves her happy ending, and I want to be the one to give it to her. I love her; you know, the painful type of love, the one where I know that I would not be able to exist if she didn’t love me the same way.

“I will do everything in my power to give her the life she deserves. All I ask in return is that you support us on this journey, because without your support, Charlotte won’t feel whole, and I cannot let that happen. I cannot watch her experience hurt and pain, not if I can help it.”

He grazed his beard with his hand; just like my dad, he had a poker face. What the hell was he thinking?