“How could you say it in the first place?” Her voice faded for a moment.
“Hello…hello… Gladys, are you still there?”
“Yes I am. Edward I don‘t give a hoot about your money. You know I couldn‘t care less. If you were testing me with those gifts, I will return them to you. There are things that matter more to me like family, and friendship and love…”
“I know and I‘m sorry I said that. I gave you the gifts because I wanted to.” Edward didn‘t know where those hurtful words had come out from. He could only guess it was his deep-seated distrust rearing up. And frustration had been riding his back like mad for a while.
“And that is why I collected them, because they come from you. On the sex, I haven‘t said no sex ever, I just asked for time to be more comfortable with this relationship...”
“Baby you don‘t have to repeat yourself.” The problem was that he was so attracted to her that the more quality time they spent together, the more he hoped they could move farther in their relationship. The time with her friends at the restaurant was one of such times.
“Edward, I‘m also attracted to you, so trying to prevent or put a stop on our lovemaking is also difficult for me. I will be unrealistic if I think or say nothing should happen but I don‘t want us to be carried away when we‘ve not planned for the outcome.”
“I understand Gladys. Trying to hurt you on something we‘ve already discussed was stupid of me. Please forgive me and let‘s forget about this. Deep down I believe you love me but sometimes I get lost in my past. When nobody wanted me…”
“I love you Edward, if nothing else please believe that. I try to bear your background in mind but you have to understand. I see these rich boy-poor girl stories in the pages of newspapers and you say they don‘t matter. So to hear those words from you…”
“Darling, please forgive me. I never meant them.”
She blew her nose. “OK I forgive you but I want to know how YOU feel.”
“I‘m sorry I hurt you.”
“Apology accepted but that doesn‘t answer my question. I mean how do you feel about me?”