“What if Mr. Manchester wants you to work on a case against Ryan?” Karlie asked. “Would you still do the internship?”
The two had met up for brunch so Brian could fill her in on his visit with Professor Grayson. They both had been busy with schoolwork and Karlie with wedding planning.
Brian drank his orange juice. “I don’t know.”
Karlie’s eyes were troubled. She hadn’t touched her bagel since he told her about his visit with Professor Grayson. “You can’t do it, Brian. You can’t be the one to go against my father and expose him if what he’s been accused of is true.”
“Ryan was about to lose millions. Jackson Higgins’ death was a little too convenient.”
“He killed himself.”
Brian shook his head. “I don’t believe that for one minute. The man had a wife and a young child. He had every reason to live.” He lathered his waffle with a huge dollop of butter.
“Just because you have a reason to live, doesn’t mean you want to,” Karlie shot back.
Her pointed words struck Brian’s heart. He ate his waffle while he remembered. He had been that person once. It seemed like a lifetime ago. If it weren’t for Tiffany Knightly, he didn’t know where he would have ended up. Brian had been self-destructive before the now-deceased singer welcomed him into her home and her heart. But he was long past his chain-smoking, bike-speeding days.
Brian briefly touched Karlie’s face. “I was one of those people so I can relate. But look at me now. I’m blessed to have you in my life and because of you, I accepted Christ as my Savior.”
She smiled. “I think my mother would’ve been proud.” She finally took a bite of her bagel.
He tilted his head. “Do you think she would’ve approved of our relationship?” Brian reached over, swiped the cream cheese off her chin, and ate it.
“I know so.” Her eyes filled with sadness. “I wish she were here.”
His heart constricted. Brian wiped his mouth on a napkin. “I can’t imagine what it must be like not having your mother around. As messed up as mine is, I’m glad she’s here.” His cell buzzed, a text from Patricia. “Speaking of the devil…” his voice trailed off when he read the contents.
“What’s she saying? Will she make it tonight?”
Brian shook his head.
Karlie’s shoulders slumped.
Karlie had arranged for Myra, Patricia, and Merle to go with her to select her gown. Brian was supposed to go with Neil and Ryan to choose their tuxedos.
“She’s going to Europe with Tim. Some special case.” Brian’s tone held a slight trace of bitterness. He clenched his jaw to squelch the old resentment threatening to surface. His parents were always too busy to make his affairs a priority.
“I’m sure it’s important,” Karlie said, taking a drink of ice-cold water. “Or she would be here.”
“Stop making excuses. She’s not the only neurosurgeon in the world.”
“She’s the best.”
Brian gritted his teeth. “To everyone but me.”
Karlie patted his hand. “I know you’re her world.” She sighed. “I need some more girlfriends. I wish you and Jamaal weren’t my only best friends. Now Jamaal is out of the picture.”
Jamaal Weathers had been Karlie’s boyfriend up until a few months ago when she learned he had failed to keep their vow of celibacy. Brian cringed when he thought of the other man. Jamaal felt Brian had stolen Karlie from him. Their friendship ended with a fight that went viral on YouTube. Brian didn’t feel guilty or as if he had stolen Karlie. Jamaal hadn’t treasured the gift of Karlie, but Brian would for the rest of his life.
“He’s transferred to Columbia University. The last I heard, he was enjoying Harlem,” Brian said. And Harlem girls, too.
She pushed her empty plate to the side. “I guess I’ll wait until Tanya comes next month to go dress-hunting.”
“How is she?” he asked. Brian had dated Karlie’s best friend, Tanya in high school. They had shared an intense relationship before Tanya moved to Florida. Both agreed they didn’t want a long distance romance and had moved on.
“She’s good. She’s enjoying her twins, Malcolm and Martin. You know she’s a civil rights activist?”
Brian chuckled. “That’s my girl. A fighter through and through.”
“She’s excited for us,” Karlie said. Tanya had learned of their relationship along with the rest of the world through YouTube. Her cell rang and she picked up.
Brian thought he heard Ryan’s voice. He noted Karlie’s disappointment and zoned in on her words.
“Oh, okay. Yes… Yes, I understand… Okay, I’ll let him know.” She ended the call.
“What was that about?” he asked.
“Ryan can’t make it tonight. Something’s wrong with his fiancé. He’s on his way to the hospital.”
“There will always be something. Always.” He rubbed the stubble on his chin. “And who is this mystery woman? It’s like he pulled a fiancé out of thin air.”
She tapped the bridge of her nose. “I think he said her name was Melanie or, was it Megan? I’m not too sure.”
“Never heard of her.”
“Ryan’s on a good path. He’s even involved in a project at church to help future young entrepreneurs. Every Tuesday night, he meets with them for an hour to give business advice.”
Brian bit back the jealousy, reminding himself Ryan was not his real father. Yet he was upset that Ryan was now willing to help other young men when he had been too busy for Brian as a child.
His face must have mirrored his thoughts because Karlie said, “I think he’s trying to make amends for how he was with you. He loves you. You know that, right?”
A waitress came and gathered their plates then discreetly left the bill.
Brian gave a brief nod. When would the hurt of his past diminish? He realized it was something he needed to put before God in prayer. Brian didn’t want any old baggage to destroy his new future. He remembered the Bible verse that said if you put new wine into an old bottle, it would burst. Brian knew that was a possibility if he wasn’t able to reconcile his past.
“That’s why I don’t think you should accept this internship,” Karlie continued. “I know you’re angry at Ryan, but I don’t think you’d be able to betray him in any way.” Her gentle tone registered with his heart.
However, another part of him felt Ryan had to pay for his sins. His ‘father’ needed to do some reaping for all the bad sowing he had done.
“It’s not about betraying him. It’s about the people he has hurt and stomped on then left without an afterthought. It’s about his business ethics and practices. Innocent people suffer while his bank account grows exponentially.”
“I understand how you feel, and I’m not trying to make light of your experience as a child. I’m not condoning what Ryan may have done. But why does it have to be you to seek retribution? You’re doing God’s job. I choose to believe God is more concerned about saving a soul than making him pay.”
“Some souls cannot be saved.”
Karlie’s eyes widened. His words hung between them. She drew back in her chair. Her eyes glistened. “I can’t believe you would fix your mouth to say that. The man you’re callously dismissing is my father. He’s always going to be in our lives.”
“He was my father first,” Brian pointed out. “I know him better than you. There’s no changing him. His lips might say he loves God, but his heart is far from Him.”
Her eyes flashed. “Then I’ll be the God he sees. I didn’t give up on you, and I won’t give up on Ryan.”
Brian looked at the determined tilt of her chin and knew this argument was futile. He took several bills from his wallet and tossed them on the table.
“I don’t want Ryan coming between us,” he said. “I love you. I want to be with you. Ryan doesn’t factor into this equation. I’ve forgiven him but forgiveness doesn’t mean I’m going to open myself to him to face the same abuse.”
“You think that by keeping him at a distance, you can keep your heart safe? It’s impossible,” Karlie said. “You already love him. Love doesn’t die that easy. That’s why you’re so mad. Deep down, you hate that you love him. No matter how evil you think Ryan is, you love him. You’re too stubborn to admit it.”
Karlie’s words pierced his heart, but he refused to acknowledge their truth. Brian jutted his jaw and ignored the plea in her eyes. “If I get that internship, I’m taking it.”
“And you absolutely should. Just don’t involve yourself in Ryan’s case if that becomes a factor. That would be a major conflict of interest.”
Oh, but that conflict was of major interest to him.
Karlie changed the topic to discuss wedding venues, and Brian went along with her though the internship possibility swirled in his mind.
Brian needed to know if the man he had emulated for most of his life was a murderer.