Her Heart's Desire

“Oh?” she said excitedly. “What is it?”

Ivan decided to just plunge right in. He never liked beating around the bush.

“It’s time you evaluated your options, Debra. I know it’s been an extremely difficult time for you, and I agreed to help you through this transition period—”

“Yes, you did, and I’m grateful for your financial help, Ivan. I don’t know what I would have done without it. You’ve been kinder to me than I had any right to expect, all things considered. I want you to know how thankful I am for your kindness.”

“You’re welcome. I’m glad I could help, but when I did, we discussed it being a temporary measure to help get you on your feet. Have you been looking for employment?”

“Yes, of course I have. I have a few possibilities lined up, but it’s a slow process. I don’t expect to hear anything for a while, but I’m going to keep looking.”

“To help with that, Debra, I’ve asked a local company that we’ve done business with in the past to give you a call regarding an interview. The job isn’t guaranteed, but they are definitely interested in your coming in for an interview. The rest is up to you. You’ll have another thirty days of financial support from me, but then it will end. My hope is by then you’ll have received good news on the job front and will be starting a new chapter in your life.”

There was a long pause before she said, “Thank you, Ivan. Your support has meant the world to me. You don’t know how much.”

“You’re welcome. Be expecting a call early next week. Let me know if you get the job, and good luck.”

“I…I’ll be sure to do that,” she replied. “Good night, Ivan.”

Ivan said goodbye and hung up. He set the phone down, and then leaned back against the pillows.

Ivan felt good about setting an end date to his helping Debra. He wanted to sever all ties with her before anything cropped up that would cause problems between him and Tiffany. Her happiness was paramount, and though she said she was okay with the help he was extending to Debra, Ivan was smart enough to know that he didn’t want to push his luck. It was his hope that his relationship with Tiffany would continue to progress and move forward.

She represented his future.

Now it was time to bury the past and be done with it.

Chapter 12

“Why do you have such a problem picking out clothes?” Milán posed the question while she lounged on Tiffany’s bed.

Tiffany glanced over her shoulder. “You’re not helping.”

“It’s a date to go bowling, not a black-and-white ball.”

“I still want to look good,” Tiffany said. She held up two outfits and shook them in front of her.

“The one on the right,” Milán offered.

“You’re wonderful. That was my favorite, too.”

“So tell me again what this is about?”

“A few members of Ivan’s class are on a bowling team. They invited him to play a game after their practice tonight, and he’s invited me to go with him.”

“That’s cute,” Milán replied. “But you don’t bowl, do you?”

“Not really,” Tiffany said from the bathroom, “but it doesn’t matter.”

She reappeared wearing a pair of white denim shorts and the pink Girl Power T-shirt that Ivan had given her. She spun around. “How do I look?”

“Lovely. So are you meeting Ivan there, or is he coming to get you?”

“He’s coming here. He always insists on coming to get me. Ask me how long it’s been since I had to fill up my gas tank. The man is a perfect gentleman. He comes to get me, drives me wherever we’re going, brings me back home and sees me to the door.”

“It sounds as if it’s getting under your skin a bit.”