A test of Love - Navaura Campbell (best management books of all time .txt) 📗

he heard her reach the last steps, he asked, "Did I wake you?"
She smiled, "No. I came down here to get my stuff." She went past where he sat on the couch, to the edge of the sofa, where her blazer and purse was sitting. She grabbed the bag and put it over her shoulder. Hearing laughter come from the screen, she glanced over at the television. A young woman stared back at her, dark black hair down to her waist and charcoal gray eyes vibrant. "I think I'm going to love this man for the rest of my life." She stated into the camera.
"How do you know you're going to be with Patrick for the rest of your life, Anita?"
The young Anita Williams glanced at whomever was filming the footage and smiled sweetly, like she had a secret. "Because I just know that if I'm not with Patrick, I won't be with anybody. He's my sun, my moon, he's the stars that light my path, the reason I breathe."
Denise glanced back at Jordan shock across her features. "How did you come by this footage?" She inquired. Jordan stared at the screen, "I grew up in this house Denise."
"You never told me you had tapes of your mother's younger days."
"I didn't know they were even here till last week, when I was cleaning out the attic."
"How many of these does she have?" Denise inquired, taking a seat next to him.
"Quite a few. This was a shot during her sophomore year of college by a girl named Deborah."
"Really?"
"Yeah. They went on a camping trip, all the students for a three day nature hike in one of her geology courses and Debra here, brought a recorder."
Denise raised both brows, "Wow."
Jordan sighed, "Wasn't she beautiful?"
Denise smiled, staring up at a young Anita. "She was gorgeous."
The girl filming the video, Deborah asked Anita one last question, "What would you do if you and Patrick ever did split up?"
Anita laughed in the camera. "That's not a possibility."
"Why not?"
"Because he loves me more than life itself."
"What makes you so sure?"
"Because I know my man."
"What makes you think he won't go off and be with another woman when you least expect it?"
Anita sighed, pointing toward the south. "Look."

The camera moved and they were greeted with image of beautiful trees and grass. When the camera rested on a group of people talking, the person working the camera called out the guy named Patrick. Denise stared as a man glanced up from talking to two guys within the group. She felt her breath catch in her throat, and her heart beat speed up. His eyes were the exact same color as Jordan's, long curly hair framing his features, along with a trimmed beard. His eyes twinkled as they looked into the camera, "What do ya want lass?" He inquired in a thick Irish accent. Denise felt her heart slam into her chest, overcome with an emotion she couldn't quite name. The girl behind the camera giggled, "Anita Marcellus says that you and her are going to be together forever, and that you would never leave her."

Denise watched, stilled as Patrick stood up amongst the group, his frame, tall yet muscular, much Like Jordan's and the red wavy hair made him stand out amongst the other guys. His hair hung at his shoulders. But when his gaze went to Anita who stood at least twenty feet away from him, his green eyes darkened to a rich green Forrest color. Denise almost swooned at the passion she saw in them. He laughed and walked over to Anita. Picking her up in his arms, he said, "She's right. I love this girl with my life."
Deborah, the camera girl heaved out a sigh and said, "Anita you are so lucky girl."
Anita, who's dark olive complexion was feverish due to the happiness she radiated. Her arms around Patrick, she laughed, "That I know."

The camera was suddenly flipped. A girl with copper toned hair, eyes a deep opal color and cheeks that looked as if they had a rosy glow to them smiled into the camera. "There you go folks, Anita Marcellus and Patrick Williams will be together forever." She paused, smiled and sighed, "That's our latest edition of love in the works with me, your host, Deborah Carson. Have a great night." Just like that, the camera went blank.

Denise sat on the couch silent, not sure as to how to respond to the video. Jordan just got up and pulled the tape out of the VCR. Sighing, he turned the light switch on located next to the television. Light flooded the dark room. Putting the tape back in its case, he grabbed another one and opened that one. When he did, he inserted it into the VCR. Turning out the lights, he came back and sat down on the couch. Denise swore he came and took the seat closest to her. The screen in front of them went from blank to a white screen. In orange letters, it read, NITA GIVES BIRTH. The camera turned and the girl with the copper colored hair and deep opal colored eyes began video taping again, "Listen folks, in case y’all don't know, Anita Williams is my Aunt. Of course, because of her marriage to my uncle Patrick Henry Williams and I am about to tape their birth. The last time I'd recorded Uncle Patrick and Aunt Nita, they were getting married. Now, Anti Nita's about to give birth to a boy. Her first child of hopefully many."
Denise felt him inch a little closer to her and put his arm around the couch where her head rested. Pulling herself in to meet him, she laid her head on his chest, to feel his heart racing a mile a minute. She put her hand up to his chest and sighed. In return, his hand began rubbing her shoulder. In silence, they sat and watched the documentary in front of them.

"And that folks, is how you give birth. Thanks for joining us tonight. Again, this is Deborah Carson. Thank you for watching Love in the works and good night to all." Again, Jordan and Denise were greeted with a blank screen. Denise sat there staring at the screen tears running down her face, thinking about their lost child and then how happy Anita and Patrick looked when they held their baby boy in their arms. It was the most beautiful thing Denise had ever seen. Wiping her eyes, she pushed up off the couch. In a whisper she said, "That's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen."
Jordan stood up from his seat on the couch and said, "I agree. I'd forgotten how handsome my dad really was."
Denise laughed, grinning up at him, "You look just like him, just different hair and face shape."
"I have my mom's hair and face shape."
"I can see that."
Jordan smiled at her, "Speaking of hair, why'd you straighten yours?"
Denise sighed, "I thought it was time for a change in my look."
"Why? You were beautiful with your hair natural."
Denise put a hand on her hip. "I'm not beautiful with my hair straight?"
Jordan sighed, "No, you're beautiful either way, but I absolutely worship those curls."
Denise gave a smile, "Why?"
Jordan came and stood in front of her, once he'd put everything back in its proper place, "Because, they represented you and who you really are; individuality. I loved that."
Denise raised a brow, "Most guys don't like the natural."
Jordan shook his head, "I'm not most guys."
Denise felt a wave of dejavu. Him saying those words, brought her to the state of having been in the scene before. So, when he reached out and ran a hand down her face, tracing her features, she remembered. A deep release of breath and she absorbed the weakness she felt in her heart. The love she felt wash over her. His hands stopped and he smiled tiredly. "Good night Denise."
Denise swallowed, her throat parched, "Don't I get a kiss?"
He raised both brows. "A kiss?"
Denise nodded, "Yes, a kiss. I want one. Can I have one?"
Jordan cleared his throat. "Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"It's almost midnight, De-De, you probably are just tired."
Feeling slightly enraged, Denise grabbed Jordan and pulled him to her. Grabbing his neck, she pulled his head down till their lips met. The kiss was soft, leisurely." When it finally broke, she stood there her skin flushed and heart thumping hard inside her chest. He just stood there staring at her, his emeralds stormy. "Good night."
Denise smiled, "Good night."
He stayed there, lingering for a minute or two, contemplating, but decided against something and continued upstairs.

Denise tossed in bed, unable to sleep, unable to think of anything except what she'd seen in Mr. Williams eyes. She'd seen that look of utter adoration in Jordan's eyes plenty of times before. Seeing that look in his father's eyes made her regret all that she'd taken for granted with Jordan. Seeing how his mother was interacting with his father really touched her heart, making her wish she could take back all of the nasty things she'd ever said to Jordan. Wishing she could take back all of those times she'd been such a bitch to him, when all he'd done was try to love her. Feeling a tear roll down her cheek, she cried.

Jordan listened as Denise cried in the other room. He felt heaviness of heart hearing her cry. He didn't know what was wrong, but he bet it had something to do with the videos she'd seen. Sighing, he pushed the covers off of himself and went to the door, opening it, he walked out into the hallway. Knocking on the door, he called her name.

Denise sighed heavily and said in a small voice, "Yes."
"Are you alright, Denise?"
Denise sniffled, "I'm fine."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, I'm OK." She stated, her throat aching. She steady swiped at the tears that refused to quit running.
"Well, you know where I am if you need me." With that, Jordan turned away from the door and went back to his room. He got under the covers and stared up at the ceiling.

Denise brushed the last of the tears from her eyes. Staring up at the ceiling, she thought about how much she really did love Jordan, even after two years, she still was weakened at the knees. She'd never thought she'd miss him as much as she did now. Being in the room across from his. Taking a deep sigh, she whispered, "If I had a chance, I'd show him how much I love him, how much he really does mean in my heart. I love him so much. I'm sorry for all the stupid things I did. I'm sorry for taking him for granted. I'm sorry that I left when I shouldn't have. I should have stayed and loved him in the way I was supposed to." Sighing, she laid in the dark, wondering what he would do if she went into his room and kissed him, showered him with her love. Would he like it? Would he reject it? Did she even have a chance? Gulping, she sat there for ten minutes turning the idea in her head. Pushing the covers away from her, she climbed out of bed and went across the hall. Knocking on the door, she waited for him to answer. When didn't answer, she twisted the knob.
Chapter Twelve