No More Waiting, She Chooses Love

She really had the nerve to say it. Facing her beaming smile, I returned a polite one, "I disagree."

"Don't like Allen?" She asked boldly.

I replied just as openly, "Right, I don't. Besides... if I were to marry Allen, I'd have to call you and Ernest 'junior' which would be like lowering my own status."

"Ha!" Yolande laughed heartily again, "True that."

"If I were ever to consider marrying into the Clark family, I'd rather go for your brother. Sure, he's a bit on the older side, but the man's loaded. Plus, he won't outlive me, so all his wealth would end up mine. And the best part, you and Ernest would have to call me 'senior'," I laid my petty thoughts bare.

"Love the way you think, but first you'd have to deal with my sister-in-law, and then get past Shirley Travis," Yolande was surprisingly well-informed about her brother's complicated affairs.

I didn't want to continue this pointless banter, so I got straight to the point, "Ms. Clark, I know you mean well trying to set me up, but Felicia's life doesn't need managing by others."

"Then go after what you want. Like, if you still have feelings for Ernest, why not fight for him?" Yolande seemed genuinely interested in my love life.

"He's not worth the fight," I clarified my stance.

feel like you're not really in love with Ernest. If I were you, and I loved him, I wouldn't care about any

kind of desperate

for a few seconds, "Felicia, if Ernest leaving had a valid reason, if it was all an act for my sake, could

overhearing a conversation between her and Ernest before the competition. Could there

I shouldn't pry, as it would reveal my true feelings, but I couldn't help myself, "What

think it's best to let him explain

Always with the suspense.

stood up,

I passed by Dustin's room and noticed his

went over to close it for him and saw

two empty tie boxes and discovered

better of me, and I picked it up

a long time. The first page mentioned the day arrived at the Wagner family's home, with just

were sparse, often months apart, and always

his feelings for me, it contained his grievances