Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 69025 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 345(@200wpm)___ 276(@250wpm)___ 230(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69025 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 345(@200wpm)___ 276(@250wpm)___ 230(@300wpm)
“Please give me a sign, Damon. Tell me that I have your blessing.” Brandi waited, hoping to see a star twinkle or some unusual celestial arrangement, but there was nothing. She was torn because she cared very deeply for Rodney, and she supposed she loved him, but her feelings for him didn’t come close to what she shared with Damon. To be fair, she told Rodney the first time he proposed that she couldn’t imagine loving anyone as much as she loved Damon, but it didn’t seem to have bothered him.
It was Rodney who made her realize that Damon would not have wanted her to go on that way. As Damon’s good friend and partner, Rodney had become a fixture in their lives, but after Damon’s death he’d taken more upon himself. He came to dinner every night, went to all the kids’ school functions, and took them on outings. After six months, he’d proposed. Brandi had been taken aback because not only was it too soon, but she’d never thought of Rodney romantically. So, she refused him. Despite her rejection, he didn’t stop being a part of their lives, and Brandi appreciated that.
It was one weekend when the kids had been with their grandparents that they had drifted into a real relationship. Brandi wasn’t even sure how it had happened, but she realized that she could do a lot worse. Rodney made her laugh, he was good company, and he was a very attractive man by anyone’s standards. If she were to be completely objective, Rodney drew more stares from women than even Damon had.
Some may have even called him a pretty boy, but Brandi usually preferred dark-skinned black men to Rodney’s golden-brown skin and hazel eyes. She had nothing against light-skinned men, but Brandi found something very sensual about running her fingers along smooth coffee-colored skin.
Despite not being her type, Rodney made her feel good about herself again. He gave her the strength to move on with her life and for that she loved him. He asked her to marry her quite a few times, but something always made her say no. The last time, however, followed a night of partying and too much champagne. She’d woken up to find herself naked in bed with him. It was only when the twins burst in on them asking questions that she realized the enormity of the situation. Rodney had been very calm about it, reminding her that she consented to be his wife the night before. To drive the point home, he’d lifted her left hand to reveal the large diamond she wore.
There was no turning back. She made her bed, so to speak. Despite her one slip up with him, Brandi asked him to wait until they were formally married before they went to bed again. He had not been happy about it, but reluctantly agreed. From that moment, Rodney insisted that arrangements be made immediately, but Brandi wanted to give the children some time to adjust to the idea, so they compromised, deciding to wait at least a month to set a date.
She cared deeply for Rodney, but Brandi couldn’t help but think she was betraying Damon’s memory somehow. Some of Damon’s family hinted as much, but most of her friends and family were supportive. Rodney was a good man. She should have been counting her blessings, so why these doubts?
Furthermore, Brandi was a little annoyed with him. He sprung this surprise engagement party on her, but she figured his heart was in the right place and it was hard to be mad at someone who spoiled her incessantly. Her thoughts strayed back to Damon. Was it possible to be in love with two men when one of them was dead? She searched the stars again, but there was still nothing.
Rodney didn’t leave her alone. Instead, he stood behind some bushes listening to everything she said. She was still hung up on Damon. It tore him apart that no matter what he did, it always came back to Damon. If it was the last thing he ever did, one day he would be the only man she thought about. She needed a sign? He would give her one.
“Hey, Brandi, ten minutes are up.”
She turned around with a sheepish expression. “I’m sorry, I guess I wasn’t paying attention to the time.”
“If you give me one of those smiles, I can forgive you anything.”
“You’re a big flatterer.” She smiled at him.
“I’m only speaking the truth.” He pulled out his ace. “You know what? When I went back into the party, the strangest thing happened.”
“What?”
“I thought I saw Damon.”
Brandi’s eyes widened. “What are you talking about?”
“I know it sounds weird, but I think I caught sight of his spirit and he seemed happy. It was as if he was sending me a sign or something. Last night I even had a conversation with him.”