She wondered if the loss of her dear friend helped her release the discomfort and pain that Brandon had caused. Gwen took a moment to reflect on the relationship she and Brandon shared.
She began to think about a time and place when she
was to become his wife, but before the thought could form the phone
rang again.
"Hello!" Gwen answered sternly.
"Brandon I told you that I was not in
the mood for company right now.
What do I have to do to get you to
understand that?" She asked softly. I don't know. Maybe you're right.
What time can you come? I will be ready."
Gwen hung up the phone and got dressed. She removed a navy blue
pair of sweat pants and sweat top to match. She grabbed her baseball
cap and purse and awaited Brandon's arrival. She thought aloud, "what
am I doing going in reverse again? I know that Brandon is no good for
me. Is it that I need someone to talk to and I am denying that truth to
myself?"
While Gwen thought, Brandon pulled up to her home. Gwen
opened the door as Brandon parked his Navigator behind her Porsche.
"I see that you are still one step ahead of me huh?" Brandon said as
he walked up to Gwen and extended his hand to help her down the few
stairs.
"Brandon I will always be one step ahead of you." Gwen said as she
accepted the help.
"How are you holding up?" Brandon asked as he opened the car door
for Gwen.
"As good as can be expected I guess."
"Do you need anything? Groceries, a housekeeper, a trip out of the
country?"
"No Brandon, besides coming from you there must be something that
you want in return I'm sure."
"No not at all. A man can change you know?" Brandon said as he
closed Gwen's door.
"A man can change huh?" Gwen asked with laughter in her voice as
Brandon got into the Sports Utility Vehicle.
"Yeah, a man can change."
"So tell me Brandon," Gwen said looking directly in his face, "when
did you become a man?"
"That's cold. I have changed a lot since you. I'm not the young fool I
used to be. I understand that I was the problem in our relationship. I
guess accepting that responsibility opened up the flood gate to seeing
myself for who and what I was."
"Which is what?" Gwen asked as she listened to Brandon in disbelief.
"Selfish. I was a selfish man, who was committed to being selfish.
That part of me is gone though," Brandon said as he turned onto
Mullholland Drive.
"Tell me Brandon, how did this happen so soon?"
"I started reading and I came across this book by Deepak Chopra
called Knowing GOD, and that is what changed my outlook on life."
"I'll have to read that book," Gwen said, still in disbelief.