"Thanks.""I've always admired your work ethic, Bernard," Carla continued, pausing to flash me a bright smile. "You're ambitious and dedicated, just like me. It's one of the reasons why we work so well together.""Don't you mean worked?"Carla inched closer, and her expression turned serious. "I mean work. We still work well together, Bernard. You and I closed that deal together the other week.""That was mostly you."Carla threw her head back and laughed. "Don't be so modest.""I'm not."Carla lowered her head and stared at me through hooded eyes. "You know, I wasn't sure if you were going to give me a job, but I'm glad you did. I've missed you."I took a long sip of my drink before setting it down. "You didn't miss me, Carla. You and I weren't a good match in spite of what people think."Carla shook her head. "We were. It just wasn't the right time, but it's been years, Bernard. I think it's time to try again.""What?"Carla inched closer and placed her hands on my shoulders. "I sti
Rachel“We need to talk,” Bernard said when I opened the door the following day. He lingered in the doorway, a determined gleam in his eyes until I stepped back. Wordlessly, Bernard followed me into the apartment and let the door fall shut behind him.“Ron, it’s time for breakfast,” I called out over my shoulders. “Hurry up, or we’re going to be late.”“Are you going to say something?”“What do you want me to say, Bernie?” I folded my arms over my chest and stared at him. “Because I honestly have no idea what you want me to say.”“You know that Carla and I are not together, much less re-engaged.”“Do I? I don’t even know what I know anymore.”Bernard covered the distance between us, his eyes never leaving my face. “You know that I care about this family, and I want to be a part of it.”“Can I have ice cream for breakfast, mommy?”I swung my gaze away from Bernard and took a step back. “No, sweetheart. We’ve been over this before. Ice cream is bad for you. You can have cereal, though.”
Bernard ran a hand over his face and blew out a breath. "Rachel, I don't know how many more times I can tell you this, but Carla isn't the problem here.""What is the problem?""You haven't even noticed how stressed I've been lately with everything that's going on at work," Bernard continued as if he hadn't heard me. "And you haven't even tried to make things better. Instead, you're just standing there accusing me of things I didn't do. I don't understand why you're being so inconsiderate and insensitive-""I'm inconsiderate and insensitive? You're the one who is letting people, including your ex-fiancé, think that I'm your housekeeper. Because that's what you really think of me, isn't it?""I don't know what you're talking about."I let my hands fall to my sides and stepped towards me. "Yes, you do. I agreed that we should keep it private because I thought it would be better, but I never thought about what it meant to you. You and I both know that we weren't meant to happen. If it wa
Rachel"I know it doesn't seem like it now, but things are going to be okay."I blew my nose before tossing the tissue into the bin. "How? How are things going to be okay?"It had been days since my argument with Bernard, and I felt worse and worse about it with each passing day. Not only had he not spoken to me directly during our interactions, but he was also careful to leave a wide berth of space between us when we interacted. Sitting across from him during our meals was a slow form of torture, and I hated every minute of it.But I had no idea how to make things better.Nor was I sure I wanted to.I couldn't be the only one fighting for us.More and more, I was beginning to wonder if Bernard regretted bringing me into his life. Wanting to be a part of his son's life was one thing. Getting involved with me, the mother of his child, was another, and I had ignored every warning sign and the voice in my head telling me it was going to complicate things.Why hadn't I just listened to my
BernardBeing around Rachel was hard.Especially when I had to keep my hands to myself and pretend like the space between us wasn't killing me. Over the past week, I had done everything I could to respect her wishes, even keeping our conversations strictly about Ron, but I didn't know how much more I could take.And I had no idea how to make things better.How was I supposed to when she wouldn't even look at me?In the mornings, she didn't linger over breakfast anymore and instead ushered Ron out the door as soon as he was done. In the afternoons, she sat as far away from me as possible in the car and didn't say a word until Ron got into the car and filled the silence. However, dinners were much worse. Gone were the warm hugs and bright smiles she gave me when I got home from work. Instead, they were replaced with a stiff greeting and a nod in my direction.I had well and truly messed things up.Why couldn't I seem to make her happy?Over the past few days, I had considered going to h
Bernard"I won't be gone long," I told him, pausing to ruffle Ron's hair. "And I'm sure you're going to have a lot of stories to tell me when I get back."Ron looked up at me. "Do you have to go?""I'll be back soon," I repeated with a small smile. "While I'm gone, you be good for your mom, okay? Don't give her a hard time.""I'll try," Ron replied. He threw his arms around me for a hug, and I held him to me, inhaling the fruity scent of him. A short while later, when he squirmed and drew away, I let him go. Slowly, I rose to my feet and watched him dart back into the apartment, brushing past Rachel, who stood in the doorway.I still hadn't been able to win her back.And the divide between us felt stronger and wider than ever.But I wasn't giving up.I couldn't."I'm sorry about the timing," I began, pausing to shift from one foot to the other. "I wish this was coming at a better time. I tried to postpone it."Rachel pushed her hair out of her face and cleared her throat. "It's okay.
Bernard"Bernard, I wasn't expecting you-"I pushed past him and stepped into the apartment. "Don't. We both know why I'm here."My father lingered in the doorway, his drink in his hand. A moment later, he shrugged and shut the door. Then he finished off his drink and set it down on the table by the door. He turned, so he was facing me directly, and said nothing."How could you? Carla, really? I guess I shouldn't be surprised, considering what you've tried to do in the past.""Everything I've done has been in your best interest," he replied without missing a beat. "I know you can't see it now, but both my company and Carla are your future. Everything else doesn't matter."I narrowed my eyes into slits. "That's as far as you're concerned. Why is it so hard for you to believe I can make a good life for myself? Why are you so desperate to have me come back to the company?"He straightened his back. "Because it's where you belong.""I don't belong with you," I hissed. "I don't even want t
"There was a note on her bedside table. Do you remember her screaming and yelling at me the night before she died?"I paused. "Yeah, it was something about you and her friend...Deborah."My father scrubbed a hand over his face, and his expression turned solemn. "She thought Deborah and I were having an affair. She flew into a rage when she saw us together, and I had to hold her back before she hurt Deborah."I searched his face, bile rising in the back of my throat. "Were you?"He shook his head. "Your mother is the only woman I've ever loved and the only woman I will ever love.""Why are you telling me all of this now?""Because I had no idea you blamed me for her death and that you carried so much of it around," he replied with a frown. "I know you and I don't see eye to eye, Bernard. We haven't for a very long time, and I know that's my fault.""You tried to destroy my company."He winced. "I know, and I know I can't change what I tried to do. All I can do is apologize.""You expec