Frank laughed and she noticed how his shoulders shook when he did it.
“Did you think I was incapable of staying away from the office?” he asked and pulled her in closer, nuzzling his face into her hair. Veronica giggled and tried to pull herself away from him.
“That’s the impression I got,” she admitted and when their gazes met again, she noticed the warmth and softness in his dark eyes. Frank looked content and happy.
“Well, I want to make it up to the girls for my absence yesterday,” he said and Veronica bit down on her lip.
“They’ll be so excited. They missed you all day,” she said and tried to break free from him again.
“As for you. Maybe a whole day with me and the girls, might help you make your decision,” he said, and leaned in to nibble her ears. Veronica felt her muscles stiffen. She had forgotten about that completely. She was so taken up with Frank’s happy demeanor that she’d forgotten about the decision she still had to make. Was that a sign? That an expensive diamond ring in a velvet box was lying on her dresser. Given to her by a guy she had been with since college…and she had completely forgotten about it.
“What are you thinking?” she heard Frank’s voice which snapped her out of her thoughts.
“That you’re making it harder and harder for me to make a decision,” she said, pursing her lips. She didn’t want to spoil their mood with serious talk, but she couldn’t help it now that he had brought it up.
“I’m only making my case,” Frank said, the smile still not leaving his face. He leaned in and kissed her on her cheek then, and Veronica felt a warm glow spreading through her body right after. That was the kind of kiss she wanted to be greeted with every morning. Did it matter what her parents thought?
“Well, you’re making a strong argument. We have to get out of bed now lazy bones. The girls need their breakfast on time, even if we are staying in,” she said and pulled away from him. This time Frank relented and she was able to jump off the bed.
She was naked still, and remembered how they had run up the stairs with their clothes in a bundle in their hands the previous night. It was a moment of madness and after they fell into bed in her room, they couldn’t stop laughing. She couldn’t remember the last time she had laughed that hard.
Frank was watching her. She could sense that he had his eyes on her back as she pulled out fresh clothes from the closet to change into.
“Veronica…” he called out to her, and she whipped around to look at him.
He was half-sitting in the bed, with his head propped up by his hands. His arms were folded behind his head and he was staring at her, not smiling any more. He looked handsome in the morning golden glow of the room. His hair looked just as scruffy as his beard now, but she didn’t care. She liked looking at him like this.
“What is it, Frank?” she asked, breaking the silence.
“I just wanted to reassure you that you can take your time with this. I know I was angry yesterday, but I’m not today. The decision is yours and I will respect it no matter what. I don’t want to come between you and your happiness,” he said in a somber voice.
Veronica nodded her head, already feeling like she was drawing closer to a decision. No matter what her parents planned for her future, and how much history she shared with Calvin, no body could make her feel the way Frank did. In just the span of four weeks, she had felt so many emotions for him. Turning quickly from lust to something more. She knew she couldn’t deny it any more. She was in love with him. He respected her and gave her space. He was everything she needed.
Veronica smiled at him and turned to go to the bathroom, aware now that she had been foolish to even think about this. To waste so much time. There was no two ways about it, as sweet as Calvin was being, she would have to find a way to let him down easily.
Veronica was in the den when the bell rang. Ashley and Kaitlyn were on the floor, trying to piece together another jigsaw puzzle with Frank. It had been a lovely day. The four of them had spent it by the pool, then ordered pizza in and spent the evening in the den playing games.
So when the bell rang, Veronica expected it to be the pizza delivery guy.
“I’ll get it. Must be the pizzas,” she said, getting up from the leather armchair where she was sitting. Frank looked up at her from where he was sitting on the carpet and she noticed that he had his brows crossed.
“It can’t be. The pizzas would have been collected and paid for by the security guard at the front gate,” he said and stood up. The girls still had their heads knocked together, trying to find the missing piece for one of the corners.
“So who do you think it is?” Veronica asked, a little confused by Frank’s suspicious look.
“Has to be a social call. Someone who the guards let through. I’ll get it, you stay put here,” he said and immediately smiled reassuringly. Veronica nodded and went back to looking at the girls on the floor.
She heard Frank’s slippers squeaking on the wooden floor as he walked down the foyer, and then she heard him opening the door. Even though she was trying to play with the girls, Veronica couldn’t help curiosity get the better of her and she tried to listen. She could hear two male voices and shrugged, assuming now that it had to be the pizza delivery guy. Who else would Frank keep at the front door for so long?
Then she heard the door shut and the sound of two pairs of shoes on the wooden floor. Veronica sat up straight in her chair, more curious than ever now. The footsteps were fast approaching, and they were coming towards the den. Frank was bringing someone in there, and Veronica smoothened her skirt and tucked in some stray curls behind her ears.
When the door of the den opened, she stood up and the two girls looked up in unison. Calvin’s nervous smiling face appeared at the door and he stepped in, followed by Frank.
“Calvin!” Veronica said, her hands dropping to her side.
He took a few more quick steps till he was in front of her. Calvin placed his hands on her shoulders and Veronica looked up at him.