Chapter 16 A Private Conversation #2
“Professor Martin? Really?” Greg shook his head. “Quoting him to me here,” he said with a chuckle. “I never liked his classes.”
“He made a good point, Greg. Why not follow this advice?” David encouraged.
“Maybe you’re right,” Greg replied and took a swig of his coffee. “I’m going to need to be out of sight for a while today. I’m meeting Carry at ten-thirty.”
“Greg?” Tessa replied with worry in her voice. “Are you trying to date both women while you are here after publicly agreeing that you are seeing Veronica last night?”
“I have to speak with Carry. We have some things that we have to work through. I still am filled with joy the moment I see her, and she still makes me feel safe,” he replied.
“Veronica makes me feel alive, but Carry makes me feel safe. Worst part is, Erica still stirs feelings inside me of belonging.”
“Sounds like you are still torn on where you want to be,” David softly spoke as the waitress walked up. “Morning miss.”
“Good morning. I’m Tina, and I’ll be your waitress today. I see that William already brought you coffee. Are you ready to order?”
“Greg?” Tessa said. “Do you know what you want?”
“Sure. Pancakes with three eggs and that turkey sausage you’ve got me hooked on since I got out of the hospital.”
“We do have turkey sausage available,” Tina confirmed. “And for you miss?”
“We’ll both have the cattleman’s omelet with full veggies and hash browns.”
“Very good. I’ll be back shortly with your orders and more coffee.” Tina spun and moved quickly toward the kitchen.
“Now, tell us what happened last night,” Tessa urged him.
“Veronica and I had a wonderful meal upstairs in the rooftop dining room, then we took a stroll on the roof itself, gazing at the starry filled sky and the bright full moon. Then we stopped at her room for a glass of wine and more conversation.”
“That sounds rather intimate,” David said cautiously.
“IT was,” Greg started to blurt, but pulled his voice back under control. “We were connecting so well, then things started to advance beyond what either of us were expecting. We both were feeling deep desire for the other, to truly be together. And I nearly let it happen.”
“Nearly?” Tessa shot in with a look of panic.
“Just like on Sunday,” Greg confirmed. “But when I pulled back and told Veronica about Sunday, she wasn’t as angry as I would have expected. If I had stayed, I know we would have crossed that line.”
“And are you ready to cross that line with Veronica like you did with Erica?” David asked.
“Hey now,” Greg protested. “Erica and I were engaged and hoping that her being pregnant would solve the approval of her father.”
“I know that,” David gently replied. “But are you ready for that kind of relationship with Veronica?”
“Ready,” he said slowly, “no, I don’t think I’m ready. That didn’t stop me wanting it,” he realized aloud. “Am I susceptible to that now?”
“You engaged in sexual intimacy with Erica, but she’s not in your life now, and you are probably missing what you once had,” Tessa said softly, placing her right hand on Greg’s left arm.
“Think about it brother. You’ve tasted the feeling of being completely one with a woman.
It has given you that desire to be completed, and now, you have multiple temptations in front of you. ”
“Not you too? Professor Dinklage? She always warned us about getting started.”
“And after allowing myself to be fully one with David, I understand her lessons. I find myself desiring him at different times of the day. I didn’t have that before, and with this pregnancy, my desires are in overdrive,” she said and smiled brightly at David.
“What? Really? C’mon you two. Get a room,” Greg protested.
“Sorry, my friend. But Tessa is right. I have felt the same things since we took our relationship to that level. That’s why we understand what you are actually going through.
It’s not just physical desires. You are being pulled on by multiple forces at the same time – physical, emotional, mental and spiritual.
You feel incomplete at the moment, and you aren’t sure how to complete yourself, or whom to complete yourself with. ”
“Are you saying that my weakness around Erica and Veronica came from crossing that line with Erica originally when we were engaged?” Greg said shaking his head. “How is that possible?”
“It’s how God made us, brother,” Tessa assured him. “We were always designed to complete each other in ways we don’t understand until we actually do that.”
“And exactly where is the owner’s manual for that?” Greg protested.
“In the Bible, Greg,” David said soft but firm. “Christian Academy Prep gave us more than a basic education. They prepared us for so much more than we ever realized. You’ve said it yourself on countless occasions.”
“So true,” Tessa confirmed.
“I’ve got your coffee,” Tina said as she approached the table.
“Your meals will be ready shortly.” She poured more coffee into each of the cups, then set the pot down in the middle of the table.
“I’ll be right back.” She eyed Greg for a moment then smiled.
“Aren’t you the boyfriend of Veronica LaFayette? ”
“I guess so,” Greg muttered and dropped his head.
“Is there something wrong?” Tina asked without hesitation.
“No,” Greg muttered. “I just didn’t sleep well.”
“I’m sorry. Is there anything the hotel can do to help?” Tina asked with concern.
“Actually,” he said as he lifted his head.
“I know the media and paparazzi need to be here, but those girls who are demonstrating the scents need a short break from them today to prepare for the rooftop shoot at noon. If you could find some way to keep them back before the shoot, it would really help.”
“Not a problem. Marco will take care of it. I’ll let him know Mr. Garrelson. You just don’t worry about a thing. I’ll inform Marco and then be right back with your entrées.” She spun and moved so quickly that the air moved around her.
“That was an unexpected blessing,” Greg admitted.
“What just happened?” Tessa asked.
“I need privacy to speak with Carry before the shoot, and that’s what she just gave me. She’s just made sure that I can meet her without interruption or prying eyes.”
“Greg,” Tessa said cautiously. “Are you sure about this? Carry is one of the sweetest girls you have ever known, but the way you were with Veronica last night tells me that there’s more there with her than meets the eye.”
“I have to find out,” Greg started then paused.
He gulped some coffee while David and Tessa waited for him to continue.
“I have to know if everything with Carry was me not wanting to be alone, or if she really had touched my heart as deep as I felt she had. I’m not going to push her away from my heart if there’s even the remotest chance that she is the one who actually keeps my heart more than safe, but nestled in love and affection.
Mary said that I held onto that night before Denver with Erica in my mind because I felt like I was whole that night, which is why I went nearly insane after I lost her.
My mind didn’t know how to handle that kind of loss, and my heart was in shreds.
” Tessa leaned in and patted his left arm with her right hand, but remained silent.
David just nodded in acknowledgement. “If Veronica and Carry hadn’t both shown up when they did, how would I have handled things?
I mean, did it take them both to pick me back up out of that bottle? ”
“I wondered that myself,” David said with a tentative voice. “They are both intelligent and beautiful women, but they have different qualities. Did you need them both to get your feet back under you?”
“I don’t know, David. That’s why I have to pursue this with Carry. I can’t risk having the regrets later on. Veronica told me to make sure that I had no regrets.”
“Veronica told you what?” Tessa said with shock.
“She said that she understood about Carry, and she wasn’t going to fight a ghost later on. She’s been patient and understanding in a way that leaves me feeling like I can be safe with her. That’s why I have to find out if this is the way Carry feels.”
“I have your entrées,” Tina announced as she neared the table. “Your omelets and the pancakes and eggs,” she called out as she put the plates on the table. “Marco will have the floor cleared between ten and eleven-thirty. Please let the girls know that I really love how they present Veronique.”
“Would you like to come to the photo shoot?” David asked.
“Really?!” she said with glee.
“Absolutely,” Tessa confirmed. “Miss Carry whom you know as Miss Vanilla Rose, the face of Veronique used to work for David and Greg before she started modelling for Veronique.”
“You know her personally? She’s the greatest!” Tina squealed in joy. “Can you introduce me to her?”
Greg looked up intently, getting Tina’s attention. “I’m going to introduce you to each of them. We know them all, and now so will you.”
“That’s the greatest thing to happen to me,” she said as she leaned down and hugged Greg. “Thank you so much.”
“No, Tina. This is thank you for taking such good care for our girls,” Greg said with a smile. “I’ll meet you at the rooftop at eleven-forty-five.”
“I won’t be late,” she said. “Thank you again. I can’t wait to tell Marco.” Before anything else could be said, she sprinted back to the kitchen calling, “Marco!”
“That girl has spunk and energy,” Greg observed. “Shall we pray?”
They prayed for the blessing of the meal and the events of the day, then began to eat their breakfast. The conversation finally shifted to normal work items and the sites they planned to see before the concert.
Tessa filled Greg in on the dining experience the night before, and how David had found the dance floor for them to tango on.
Once they finished, Greg confirmed he’d checked in back at home.