"Please, understand that I'm trying to do the best thing for all of us."
"Answer my question, Alyssa," Drake said in a demanding voice.
"I...I... just please don't call me again, Drake. If you love me, then prove it. Otherwise, let me get on with my life, a life with David. You have been divorced for several years now. Why do you want to pursue me now?"
"In all honesty baby, Weston and Denise told me how happy you were with your life there. I didn't want to come into your life and turn it upside down. You don't know how hard it was for me not to come there and claim what I know that God made just for me. The ink wasn't even dry on my divorce papers, yet all I could think about was being with you again. Hell, to be honest I would have been with you even if I wouldn't have been divorced. I restrained myself, because Denise made me promise not to hurt you again. She wanted me to leave you alone, so I did. But, when I saw you at her funeral all the bets were off. I knew I couldn't stay away from you any longer. Alyssa, if you never trust anything I say, you can trust this 100%. I have never loved any other woman but you!"
"This is all too much, Drake."
"I'm going to give you some time to think about what I said. Just know, I will not give up on us until you can convince me there is no love in your heart for me."
With tears streaming down my cheeks, all I could do was nod, even though he couldn't see me. After a few moments of silence, he said, "Good night, baby. I love you and I look forward to the day that you will be in my arms again."
Hanging up the phone, I crawled into my bed and hugged my pillow for comfort. Saturday morning, I was up bright and early. I jumped into doing my washing and weekend cleaning. After cleaning the apartment from end to end, I began to clean my fridge. I really needed a few groceries, so I pulled on my favorite old faded jeans and pulled a shirt over my head. I ran the comb through my relaxed hair before putting on socks and sneakers. Grabbing my purse, I headed out the door and walked to the corner grocery market that wasn't too far from my apartment. I lived in a neighborhood where everything was convenient and that made it plausible for me to walk to some of the places I liked to go. I could even walk, when the weather permitted, to the Park Slope Elementary School where I worked. When the weather was bad, I would take the short ride on the public transit.