Black Coffee (Tara's Dream)|Dearest Diary, - Book 1 (unedited)

XVII

“May I come in?” Troy's voice wafted through the doorway and I groaned as I raked my hair in frustration.

“What do you want Troy?” I asked pushing away the pile of work before turning around to have better view of him. He began a slow walk towards me and I found my tired eyes squinting as they took in his appearance. He still had on that snug, crisp white shirt from before, now rolled up at the sleeves and tucked into a pair fitting grey slacks. Browns moccasins peeked from under his trousers and his silky, dark brown hair looked tousled, the result of being handled one too many times that day.

“So?” I prodded as he drew closer, close enough that in was able to catch a whiff of his shampoo. He smelled of conifers, pine corns and what I believed is a hint of sandal wood?

“I spoke to your mum.” He told me as he grinded to a halt right in front of me.

“And?” I asked impassively, not keen on offering him the extra seat that David had just recently vacated.

“She told me about that little spat you had with my mum.” I didnot correct him or tell him that it was not little, neither was it just a simple spat. Spats didn't involve two point five million Kenya shillings or legal ramifications just because of a simple surname.

“She did?”  He nodded as he leaned back his weight against the edge of my desk. Like I had said, there was really no telling what went on or through my mother's head. One would have thought that this situation had embarrassed her, but it didn’t look like it. Instead, she continued to prove that like the wind, there was really no telling where she'd blow next.  "What exactly did she tell you?"  I asked him now curious.

“About the money and the insults."

"Nothing else?"

"No. Is there anything else?" Of course, there was. Mother had left out that very important detail of the lawsuit. I didn't know why, but every once in a while she did that kind of thing and always, it was with good reason.

"Nothing important." He did not look convinced and I guess because of that he continued to regard me suspiciously. I held on to my guns though and after a while my patience was rewarded after he chose not to pursue it.

"Fine." he replied, a pained look forming on his face. "I'm really sorry, Attara. For my mum and for everything. I got upset and behaved badly on account of what Shea told us..."

“Why?” I cut him off, already gearing up for what was coming next.

"What?" he asked as he scrunched up his brows in confusion.

"Why? Why were you upset?" I asked him, the tone of my voice very stern. "Despite what Shea may think, we are not together, together." He grew quiet as his viridian eyes searched out mine.

"You were finally talking to me, were so much nicer and we had a moment..."

'That you initiated."

"So you don't feel..."

"Troy, I've already told you before. I forgive you and I hold nothing against you. However, I am not ready for anything like that, just yet. Right now I need to heal and get my life together, okay?" He nodded looking so despondent that I actually felt sorry for him.

"Is this about what my mum said?" I let out a sigh of relief, grateful that he was courteous enough not to bring in Davis into our conversation.

"No. This is about you and me. No one else factors in that equation except for Bri."

"Really?" He asked as a grin formed on his once forlorn face.

"Really. However, I don't like it when you blatantly disrespect my friends and scare away their very innocent children, especially when it is very obvious that the culprit is none other than your very own precious daughter Briella!” he took in my statement and slowly his grin turned into a pout.