“Gladys has asked me this same question. I don‘t know what love is, but it‘s clear to me that I have very strong feelings for her. The problem is this sexual frustration. I don‘t know whether it‘s clouding my judgment.”
“But there are other issues on which you guys don‘t agree. I remember that heated argument we had about organized religion and how some pastors scam their members.”
“For me, that was just a general debate. Still we‘ve talked about and are working through our issues. Did I tell you I dreamt about asking her to marry me? I know I toyed with asking Bisi, but it would have been for convenience. With Gladys, it definitely won‘t be settling.”
“You know, I often wondered why it took you till May to get together with her.”
“I made moves earlier on but it was clear from the first that she would be different from the other women. I backed out because I couldn‘t handle it. You saw me the day at your branch.”
“Yeah, I remember. It was obvious you were very attracted to her. And it‘s no different today; you still look at her that way.”
“Yeah, that was why I ended up pursuing her in spite of my misgivings. She moves me in ways no one else does. I wanted to experience that at least once. Now I‘m hooked.”
“Another question is how does she feel? The rumors have been flying among our friends and in the papers; don‘t you care?”
“You mean about her being after my money.” Edward stopped beside the heavy drapes at the netted windows and looked out on the pitch-dark night.
“You‘re a very wealthy man Edward, and she‘s not exactly rolling in it.”
“Gladys is not after my wealth. She loves me.”
Kanayo allowed the silence to go on for a while before he added. “If you are sure, then it may be time to ask yourself serious questions; to bail out or go forward.”
Edward rubbed a hand over his eyes. “I can‘t bail out now, Kanayo. Maybe I should have made plans from the beginning when I anticipated the possibility of feeling this way. The signs were certainly there. Sometimes I actually think I‘d ask ‗how high?‘ if she said ‗jump‘. Now I am confused and don‘t know the next step.”