Watercolored Pearls by Stacy Hawkins Adams

Author:Stacy Hawkins Adams
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: fiction, romance, womens fiction, african american fiction, young adult books, christian fiction, inspirational fiction, african american authors, black authors, contemporary woman
Publisher: Stacy Hawkins Adams

23

Hello. D. Haven Interior Design. Derrick speaking."

Hearing his voice made her realize how much she missed him. It was after five on a Friday. Erika had expected his voice mail to pick up, although she still would have likely stumbled over her words.

"Hi."

"Hello?" Derrick obviously hadn't heard her.

She said it louder. "Hi."

This time he seemed puzzled. "Yes?"

"It's me, Derrick. Erika."

His silence made her wonder what he was thinking.

"How are you doing?" she asked.

"I'm fine, Erika. Heading out the door. What's up?"

Weeks had passed since their morning meeting in Richmond, and they had been handling business-related correspondence through Gabrielle. Today, however, Erika needed to talk to him herself. She hadn't forgotten the number to his private line.

"I wanted to say hello. And let you know I passed the exam."

"That is great news, Erika. Great news. Congratulations." His voice softened, and she could tell his enthusiasm was sincere. "How does it feel?"

She smiled and held the cell phone closer to her ear.

"The day of the exam? I was terrified. When the results arrived in the mail today, elated. You're the first person I called."

He didn't respond.

"So . . . what have you been up to?"

She wanted to kick herself for not being able to think of something more clever.

"I should be asking you that, Erika."

She heard the strain in his voice and knew he was wondering whether she had made a decision. Derrick wasn't one to play along. He had told her where they stood, and he wasn't going to get caught in the middle.

But she didn't want to talk about Elliott right now. This was her moment with him. "I'm still praying about what to do, Derrick."

His short laugh almost sounded like a bark. Erika heard the hurt.

"God does answer, you know," he said. "We have to be listening."

Someone must have entered his office. Derrick covered the phone so that his words were muffled. She couldn't hear what was said or to whom he was speaking.

"Hey, that's great news about the exam," he said when he returned his attention to Erika. "I'm proud of you. I've got to run. Have a good weekend."

With that, he was gone.

Erika laid the cell phone on the bed next to the pile of mail and wept.

God, is this what you want me to do? Ignore howl feel about him?

She had planned to ask Derrick to meet her next week when she traveled to D.C. for Charlotte's promotion celebration. His response just now had been her answer. She covered her mouth with her hand so that Aaron, who was watching cartoons in the next room, wouldn't hear her sobbing and come running.

She wanted to believe that her heart wouldn't lead her wrong, but hadn't it taken her down a dangerous path the first time, with Elliott? This time, she was determined to use her head. She also intended to do it God's way, and everything she read during her personal Bible study time told her to be patient and long-suffering, to yield to what God wanted, not her own desires.

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