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

Carrine put on her jacket and glanced up at her room mate. I'm going to grab something for dinner. I was going to invite you along, but that's ok. I'll see you later." By the time she'd finished this little spill, Carrine's voice had gone from very angry to a soft self pitying tone. She grabbed her car keys and opened the door. Going out into the hall, she locked the door behind her. Neema stood there feeling confused. What if it hadn't been Carrine who'd sabbotaged her vehicle?
Chapter Thirty One

chapter 30:

Carrine Brachman was easy enough to find just by researching the internet, however, there were extensive fees for any of the information that was offered, so knowing that she refused to pay for information on anyone she could get for free, Denise clicked out of the webpage and turned her attention to her school books that were lying ontop her desk. Pulling out the one for her college math course, she opened it to the page they'd been working on in class. She had two days to get the work done because in two days she, Neema and Jordan were leaving for Chicago. She was really exited because she'd finally get to the truth of who Carrine Brachman really was.


Jordan shoved his clothing into his bag anxious to leave. They were to leave for chicago in an hour and a half. He'd kept putting off the packing thing because he figured he could pack everything with his eyes closed since he'd taken the trip out midwest so many times. Sighing, he grabbed a pair of shoes and tossed them in along with his clothes. He was bringing two pair of sneakers. Light gray Jordans and the pair he wore now, Black and White Nike High tops. Grabbing everything and his keys on the way out, he rushed toward the front door. Just as he entered the hall way, he noticed kwan was coming toward his direction. "What's up?" He greeted the young man. kwan paused outside the door, "I was coming over to invite you to a frat party this weekend, but I can see you are really busy. About to take a trip?"
"Yeah, Denise, Neema and I are going up to New York to visit the family."
"Neema too, huh?" Kwan smiled while mentioning her name. Jordan narrowed his eyes at him, "You know I only have one woman, man, don't even go there."
"Hey, you said it, not me." Kwan laughed.
"I'm just letting you know. I don't do that double dating thing. I can barely handle one, let alone two."
"I heard that. I thought you would be interested in the frat party."
"I would if I was going to be here, but I'm not, so I'm heading out." Saddling his luggage over his shoulder, Jordan walked with Kwan down the stairs toward the front entrance. Once they exited the building, Kwan offered to hold the luggage while Jordan opened the trunk. Once the luggage was inside the trunk the two men went their separate ways, with Jordan agreeing for them to hang out after the new year.
"Denise, you got that Destiny's Child C.D.?" Neema inquired of the c.d. that she swore that she'd sat down on the desk fifteen minutes earlier.
"I already packed it girl, chill out." Denise stated, zipping up the last suit case she had. Neema had brought one big one with her, while Denise had brought three small ones. "Jordan's going to be here any minute now, so you got all your stuff?" Neema asked, pacing the room back and forth, now that she wasn't going through Denise's desk. Denise stared at her with a raised brow. " Girl, what are you so nervous for?"
Neema brought her hands up to her face. "I always get nervous when meeting new people." Denise sighed, "Well, look at it this way, you're not the one marrying Jordan so you have nothing to worry about."
Neema glanced up at her, "I don't know these people and they don't know me De, all they know is that I'm a third wheel."
Denise giggled at this and shook her head. "They will probably be just as welcoming to you as they were to me, including his uncle, who happens to not like me by the way because I am black. He may even suggest that you and Jordan get together instead of me and him. I don't even want to tell him that Jordan and I are engaged because he may want to kill us then."
Neema stopped pacing and looked over at her friend, "I think you are being a little too dramatic at the moment Denise. It doesn't change the fact that you and Jordan are in love and you will be getting married. I couldn't get Jordan to notice me even if I tried. That man only has eyes for you. I'm kind of envious because you guys are only twenty years old and feel the way couples usually feel in their thirties and forties. It's really sweet. That's something that doesn't come by for many people, so in reality, you guys have something that's extremely, extremely rare. Who would be able to say that they've gone through half the stuff you two have and still come out strong? Not too many people your age."
Denise sighed, "I know, Neema, but how long do you think we will last? How long do you think this will last?"
Neema smiled and shrugged, "I know what you mean De, sometimes we can want all we want too, but that doesn't mean it will last. I don't know girl, but I do know that you and he got something that's real, tangible, something you both have struggled and fought to keep. That's what should be looked at. I can only imagine what you will go through as the years go by Denise. If this is any indication of what's ahead."
Denise smiled wearily, "Yeah, starting with his family."
Neema nodded in agreement, knowing this would be a challenge for the young couple. Furrowing her brows after a second or two, she asked, "How does your family feel about him, Denise?"
Denise inhaled a deep breath, "My mom and sister and step dad all think it's great. My sister believes that he's my "soul mate", and my mom loves him. My step dad too. However, my real dad hasn't met him."
"I thought you guys dated for two and a half years in high school?"
"We did."
"And he didn't meet your dad then?"
Denise shook her head no. "My dad lives clear across the country." Denise stated.
"And so does his family, De, but he still took you to meet them."
Denise nodded her head, "I know."
"So what's the problem? You scared to let him meet your father?"
Denise exhaled, "In a sense, because I don't know how he will respond to him."
"Has he ever made it known how he feels about white people?"
Denise bit down on her lip, her nervousness being shown through this. "Well, no but I'm not sure he will be too welcoming."
"Why not?"
"My dad's a traditionalist. He believes that the color lines shouldn't be crossed. He's always asked if I have met any handsome young black men in this town."
Neema cleared her throat. "Does he even know that Jordan is white?"
"We never got to that part because he's never asked."
Neema nodded her head again, "So, he has no clue that you are about to marry a white guy? When were you planning to tell him Denise?"
"I wasn't. I was just going to invite him to the wedding."
"Do you think that's fair, I mean De, he's taken a chance with letting you meet his family. What about him meeting yours?"
Denise sighed, "I don't want him to go through what I'm going through Neema. What if my dad and his wife act like he's not good enough? That would crush my heart and I know it would piss him off. He'd be hurt and what if he decided he didn't want to be with me because of it?"
Neema laughed at this. Denise narrowed irritated brows at her friend, "What the hell is so funny?"
Neema laughed until she couldn't anymore, leaving Denise frustrated. Neema looked at her and sighed, "You silly girl, if Jordan was going to leave you, he wouldn't be where he is now. He sure as hell wouldn't have taken you to meet his family. He sure as hell wouldn't have stood up for you to his uncle. He would have buried his head between his legs and left you to fend for yourself. I can't believe you don't see that he's in for the long hall. Why else would he take the time to be come back for you? Why else would he put a ring on your finger? That man is serious Denise. He's very serious about you."
Denise sighed, "I know, Neema."
"So if you know that, why are you sweating stupid shit. Take him to meet your dad and his family before you end up making a grave mistake. If they don't like him then they are just as shallow as his uncle is. It shouldn't matter that you are black and he's white. That's stupid. Too stupid."
Denise nodded in agreement, "You know what, you're right. I should just take him up there because they are not the ones who are going to be with him, I am and only I can decide what's right for me."
Neema nodded. "Yep, you are a grown woman, don't let no one else tell you you can't have your man, besides you love him just as much as he loves you."
A big grin came to Denise's face, "You're right."
Neema smiled at her, "Of course I'm right. If they don't accept him that will be their own fault, not yours and definitely not his."
Denise laughed. "You are so right, Neema." A weight lifted off Denise's heart. Opening her arms to her friend, Denise said, "You deserve some love for that one girl."
Neema laughed. "Alright now." As she said this, she went to Denise and wrapped her friend in a hug.
Jordan got to Denise's dorm and was about to knock, when he heard laughing and Denise say, "You are the best girl."
Neema laughed as he heard her say, "I know, I know." Going up to the door, he opened it and saw that the two girls were wrapped in a hug and both were laughing. Jordan smiled, "I must've missed a lot."
Denise and Neema turned toward him, their arms around each others neck, "Yep, a lot." Neema stated. Denise stared at him with a twinkle in her eyes. Letting go of Neema, she walked over to him and stood up on her tip toes. Wrapping her arms around his neck she leaned in close to him. "You know I love you, right?" Jordan smiled and in a teasing tone, he stated, "If I wasn't sure before, I stand corrected." The look in her eyes changed and for the first time sine he'd known her, Denise allowed him to see just how much she loved him. He stared at her speechless, the thudding began in his heart and made its way out to his blood stream. She sighed, "I love you Jordan Andre Williams, I always have and I always will and I'm thankful