"I don't know which is worse" Myana said, running the bright purple polish over her toenails. - "This year, or the last three to four years."
"What do you mean?" Karla asked.
"You" She swirled the brush in the purple nail polish and started with the little toe on her left feet. "Last three or more years,after you broke up with Sanders, you moped around looking all despondent and glum. And after then, you hadn't been in any relationship not until early last year, around April I guess. With this Andre Lewis guy."
Karla laughed. "Last three years and now isn't much better is it?."
"Not that I can see. Listen,I understand how much you miss Andre. He's a really good guy. It isn't any wonder you fell in love with him." She paused,then continued - "The thing is,he won't be away too long,June is right around the corner, we're in may now. It's surprising how time really flies."
She sighed,then continued again. "And well,from the little you've told me, it's obvious the guy's crazy about you too. It could be worse."
Karla folded her arms and leaned against the back of the sofa. - "I didn't know it was possible to love someone as much as I do Andre. I didn't love George Sanders even half as much. I miss him so terribly."
"If the number of times he phones you is any indication,then I'd say he feels the same way."
"He works so hard." Karla sighed.
"Oh darling,I Know. Don't worry Karla,he'd be back in a few weeks." Myana assured her friend.
Karla sighed deeply. - "But Myana - " She paused,not sure how to continue. "What if we don't end up together?" She asked finally.
"How do you mean?" Myana drew closer and sat beside her friend.
"I mean...I'm talking marriage Myana. I don't think Andre would want to marry someone like me? He's never mentioned anything like that."
Myana held Karla's hands tightly in hers. - "It's okay Karla. Perhaps,Andre needs more time to get himself together. And who wouldn't want someone like you?. Hey girl,be reasonable" She said finally with a chuckle. - "That's by the way. By the time Andre returns, I'd be out of here."
"Why? But Myana,you don't have to leave, really. I mean,this is your home too. You could stay as much as you want."
"I wish I could girl,but I need to go back to the Airforce academy. You know how my dad could be sometimes."
"Oh yeah. That's true." Karla replied reluctantly.
"Don't you worry Karla,you'd be fine,trust me. I'd try my best to visit as much as I can okay?"
"Okay"
Karla was so grateful. It was all she could do not to weep. It was the stress,she decided. This tendency to be overly emotional.
"Have I told you how glad I am you're my friend Myana?" Karla said finally after a brief silence between them.
Myana smiled. - "Think nothing of it"
"I mean it Myana. I don't know what I could have done without you these couple of weeks."
Myana grinned. "Oh Karla, C'mon."
The phone pealed just then,and Karla leapt up to answer it on the off chance it was Andre.
"Hello" she said breathlessly.
"Hey Karla."
"Hello Andre"
"I would have phoned sooner,but I had too much to do. Hope you're okay?" Andre asked.
"Yeah,I'm okay"
"Good." He paused,then continued. - "I'd fly down a Saturday morning in two weeks." He blurted out at once.
Karla felt her heart jump in her chest. She couldn't hide the excitement on her face.
"Oh Andre!" She screamed exultantly. - "But what about your schedules? You're done with everything?"
"No. But I don't care what it takes. I'd be in Las Vegas in two weeks."
This time, all Karla could do was cry. She couldn't help it. Andre was coming back in two weeks. It was even sooner than she expected. - "Oh Andre" she sobbed. "Thank you."
Andre chuckled. "For what? Hey sweetie, it's okay alright?" He sucked in a breath. - "I'd be with mom and dad in five days. I have something important I need to see to with them."
"Oh okay" Karla giggled softly. - "Send my warm regards to them when you get there okay?"
"Yeah,sure."
Quiet butted against quiet. They had discussed everything they wanted to discuss. Yet, neither of them was willing to break the connection.
An hour later,Andre decided that this was probably a stage most men go through at some point in their life. He'd spent the better part of an hour on the phone with Karla, and they had spoken more than an occasional word between whispered promises and deep sighs. They had talked about a lot, especially how stressed out and miserable they both were the past few months,and had ended up doing a lot of heavy breathings.
When it was over however, Andre was feeling a whole lot worse physically than he had been before he phoned.
Two weeks more....
He promised himself. He could wait to see Karla,and perhaps tell her how much she meant to him finally.
***********
"I've talked with your brother, Jason about controlling the family business,since you have no intention of doing so." Darwin Lewis McCabe was saying. Andre sat on the couch and gazed into nothing. As always,his thoughts were fifteen hundred miles to the south with Karla. He barely heard his father.
In less than a week,he'd be with Karla. The last few months had been the purest form of torture. He lived for the time he could phone her. Because she had performed in the last show of the night,like she had earlier included in their phonecall yesterday,he couldn't reach her until after ten. And more often than not,they spoke until past midnight. Andre didn't want to think about the phone bill. Not that it mattered. He would have gladly paid a thousand times whatever the long distance fee was for the opportunity to talk to Karla.
"I and your mother are making plans towards an open house,here in the family house." Darwin announced. He beamed at his wife Claire and smiled.
Claire returned the smile. - "It's going to be a big one Andre. It'd have everyone present for it. Our relations and really close friends in general." She paused,then continued. - "We're saying late June or first week of July, what do you think?"
Andre didn't utter a word.
"You're coming aren't you?" Darwin asked.
"Oh,for the open house?" Andre replied reluctantly, jerking out of his spiralling thoughts.
His parents exchanged glances. His father, Darwin looked at him as if he expected something dangling from the side of Andre's nose. - "What else did you think we meant?. I don't think your mind is here Andre."
Andre shrugged.
"What's with you lately Andre Lewis?" Claire asked abruptly. She came closer and sank into the couch just beside her son. His mom Claire was nothing if not direct.
"What makes you ask?"
"Oh well, something doesn't feel right? Ever since you got here, you've been nothing but lost apparently." Claire chuckled softly.
"Is there something son?. Tell us." Darwin chipped in at once.
Andre weighed telling his parents the truth. A part of him was willing to share his recent intentions towards Karla.
Marriage....
Getting married to Karla was nothing to not be proud of. After all, he loved her,so deeply. The past few months had been miserable for him. Adding to the fact that he found it difficult to think straight, almost in everything. Karla seemed to occupy a really huge space in his mind.
"Mom, Dad. I'm getting married." Andre blurted out at once.
Darwin burst out laughing.
"Are you serious Son?. You're getting married?" Claire interrupted immediately. - "To whom?"
"Karla. Her name's Karla." He replied. - "I love her mom,and I have intentions of marrying her. I just don't know how to go about it." He admitted truthfully.
Suddenly feeling uncormfortable,he got up from the couch and started pacing.
"Oh Andre,this is great news!" Claire exclaimed.
Darwin's eyebrows shot to his hairline. - "I see" he cleared his throat properly. - "Do you think she might want to marry you too Son?" He asked finally.
Andre tossed his hands in the air. "I don't know dad, partly yes and - "
"Partly No?" Darwin completed.
"Maybe"
"So where did you meet her?" Darwin asked again.
"Vegas."
Darwin's mouth thinned. "Don't tell me she's a shoe girl" he ordered.
"She's an actress,and well - "
A muscle leapt in his dad's jaw. "Don't say anything more. Not a single word, understand?. I have a feeling I don't want to know more than what you've already told me."
"C'mon Darwin. Don't you think you're being unnecessarily unfair?. I don't see how him getting married to Karla should be a problem. You're not the one getting married,and besides,they love each other. That's the most important thing." Claire said, rubbing her husband's arm gently.
"You love each other, don't you?" She directed to Andre.
"Yes, I really do love her." Andre replied softly. His voice tightened at the response. His mind jumbled. Truly,he loved Karla no doubt. And she loved him too. He sensed it. Every moment they were together. And even the way they talked and shared deep secrets. He wanted a lifetime thing with her and hoped she wanted the same thing.
"Okay son,if you think she's all good for you,then go for her. Your mom is right. You love her,she loves you, that's what matters. We'd be entirely glad to receive whoever you intend to spend the rest of your life with." Darwin assured his son. He stood up and braced his son's arm tightly for emphasis. - "If you haven't made any move towards her just yet,now is the time son." He concluded finally.
Now, Andre couldn't help but smile. It was all he could do. He was grateful about his parents. Glad he had told them his intentions. Happy at their approval. His parents were always good at being wonderful and even tried all they could to support him in every way they could.
"Thank you so much mom and dad,for all you do." He said finally, feeling the need to hug them.
"You're always welcome, Son."
**********
