The Perfect Man
Part II
I composed myself and replied to his email then I texted Tamara and Anna with the news.
GIRL! You won’t believe who just wrote me an email DONOVAN DANIELS from highschool! He’s so fine! I think I’m going to die!
When he called me I didn’t know how to act but I played it cool. I found that he now lived in Orlando and had risen the ranks as an accountant in a major firm. His company was sending him to Dallas for a few days and his only day off happened to be the day before I started my new job.
We emailed each other back and forth recounting old times and laughing at how different we were 15 years ago when we first met. I admitted that I was nervous to meet him because my crush never ended but he assured me that everything would be fine. With every email and ever conversation he affirmed my belief that he was indeed…damn near perfect.
So off I went to Miami with Donovan on my mind. I enjoyed a short weekend with my boys and before I knew it I was on my way to the airport to catch my flight back to Houston where I had left my car. Everything went screwy when I got to the airport.
First, I realized after 20 minutes that I had been standing in the wrong line the whole time Then I stood in another line and was told that I was in the wrong line AGAIN. Then the woman at the desk of the third line told me that there were no direct flights scheduled for Houston at that time and to check the other airlines.
So I went up and down looking for the airline. Finally a woman helped me and told me that my flight wasn’t a direct flight. It was a connection that flew to Orlando and then on to Houston.
By the time I got all of that straightened out I ran up to the terminal and barely made the flight.
When I was seated the captain made an announcement. The airport will be closing shortly due to bad weather but we have been approved for take off.
Our flight was short, only an hour to Orlando but we had few rounds of turbulence which shook the plane violently. The captain came back on with an announcement: We have arrived in Orlando however, the wind gusts are too high for us to land. We will be in a holding pattern for a bit and if the winds do not die down then we will divert to Tampa to refuel and wait for clearance to fly back to Orlando. We apologize for the inconvenience.
Immediatly my spirit jumped. You are going to fly into Orlando and you will miss your flight to Houston. There will be no more flights out and you will see Donovan tonight.
Oh shit! My heart began to hurt as we parked in Tampa and refueled before heading back to Orlando.
Once the plane landed I rushed to meet my connection but the lady at the counter said, “You missed your flight. The next flight to Houston leaves in the morning at 8:45am” She printed out a ticket for me and I cringed.
Did I make this happen with my imagination or did God speak this to me? I’m scared. I’m so in tune with God now that I know things BEFORE they happen. I’m so scared. What does God have for me in Orlando? Why does He want me to see Donovan when we had already planned to meet in Dallas?
Trying desperately to go against what I knew would happen, I called up Anna to see if she could come get me so that I could spend the night with her. I called her phone 3 times and she didn’t answer. I texted her as well.
I sat down in the terminal, my hands shaking. I looked at my phone. Fuck! I called Donovan’s number and he didn’t answer. I left a message. “Um…Sorry to disturb you but I had a connecting flight in Orlando and I missed my flight to Houston. Could you…maybe let me stay at your house tonight? My bestfriend Anna’s not answering her phone.”
Five minutes later my phone rang and it was Donovan. “You’re stuck at the airport? No problem, I’ll come get you,” he said. “Hey Ashley! Go straighten up the guest room for my friend. I’m going to pick her up now.”
Ashley?
He mentioned having a girlfriend but he didn’t sound too excited about her. He did say that he planned to propose to her but again…he didn’t sound too enthused so I brushed it off.
“Wait for me at the baggage claim and I’ll be there in 20 minutes,” he said and hung up.
I almost choked. Not only am I going to be staying at Donovan’s house, I am about to meet the woman who will soon be his fiance.
I can’t do this.
I called Kim and she made me laugh by saying, “Girl, he may be fat and ugly. You never know. What if you see him and he’s not so perfect anymore? God’s divine will can not be stopped. There’s a reason He wants you to see Donovan. I can’t wait to find out why!”
“I’m scared Kim! You know I really liked him for so long. I don’t want to be a distraction to him or a hinderance to his relationship and I don’t want my feelings hurt.”
“Girl shut up! This is exciting. Now Ima let you go but you HAVE to text me as soon as you get into his car. All you have to do is put in a number from 1 to 10 to tell me what he looks like.”
I laughed. “You crazy! I’ll do it.”
“Aight girl.”
I stood nervously on the curb when he called to tell me he had just entered the airport. I told him where I was and almost died when this beautiful ass Chrysler 300 pulled up in front of me. You know I love those cars!
Then when he stepped out of the car, I believe I had a mini orgasm. ~faints~
He was so fine! Finer than I had ever seen him before. He had gaines weight but I love it when men gain a little weight it makes them more snuggly.
He greeted me with a hug and I pulled down my hat to cover my eyes because they were full of stars. He opened the door for me and I climbed into his car just like my freshman year in college.
I whipped out my sidekick and input Kims number to text her.
10.
ARE YOU SERIOUS? she wrote back.
I’m speechless dawg. He is fine as hell!
I didn’t know what to say. My mind was racing. He’s so damn fine! He looks so manly! Fuck! I’m going to his house! I’m going to meet his girlfriend. Fuck!
“So tell me about this chick Ashley.” I tell him.
“Well, she’s a good woman. I met her about a year and a half ago and I realize that she’s perfect for me.”
We chat about a lot of other things on the ride back and when we pull up to his house I’m impressed.
Inside I’m screaming: I can’t believe I am going to sleep inside of DONOVAN DANIELS house! I wanted to break out and do the doo doo brown!
But I didn’t. Instead I walked bravely through the garage door into his home. A woman seated on the couch rose to greet me and I gave her the once over.
Hmmm…This chick looks like her name should be Jane Doe. She looks like every other chick on the street.
I looked over at him. Naw…This can’t be who he was talking about.
She smiled at me and asked if I was hungry. HELL YEAH!
While she fixed a plate of food for me Donovan led me upstairs to the guest room. He gave me fresh towels and showed me the bathroom and then gave me a slip of paper with the password to his wi-fi because he knows I am addicted to the internet.
I joined them both downstairs just as my plate was ready. I sat on the couch and Ashley sat next to me as I ate.
I wanted to hate her. I really did. I just couldn’t… her spirit was too brilliant. She reminded me of me. She asked me a few questions about myself and how I knew Donovan but I couldn’t even respond so he did by saying, “We went to highschool and college together.”
Then she told the story of how they met. Her tale was one that was very familiar.
She had been hurt in the past by so many men that she would curse any man that walked into her face. She was so through and so bitter that she was often sick because of her anger. Then on January 1, 2006 she prayed and asked God to send her the right man for her THAT YEAR because she didn’t want to have all of this anger on her heart anymore.
“On January 12, 2006, I met him,” she said and motioned toward Donovan who was sitting quietly at the dinner table playing around on his laptop.
I felt a pain in my heart.
“At first I was not paying him any attention because I was still angry. but he told me that he was in financial planning and I asked for his help so I gave him my number and he said he would call. It took him a week to call me but finally did and our conversatios just clicked. He mentioned that he baked and I told him that my birthday was coming soon so he offered to bake for me.”
The pain in my heart intensified.
My mind was about to blow up. My thoughts raced.
He baked a cake for you?
Donovan Daniels baked a cake for YOU?
“Girl…It took me 4 months to finally admit that I was in a relationship with him because I was so afraid to be hurt again,” she said. “But until I let go of the anger from my past relationships, I couldn’t receive who God had for me.”
It took you FOUR MONTHS to decide if you wanted to be with Donovan Daniels?
Are you fucking kidding me?
I felt it about to burst out of me. I knew the tears were coming.
“Excuse me,” I said. “I think I’m going to throw up.”
She stood up with concern as I bolted upstairs and closed the door to my room sobbing uncontrollably. “What the fuck is this God? I don’t understand. I always knew he was a good man. I always admired him. Why didn’t he ever see me the way I saw him? Why didn’t he ever like me?”
I cried and cried, trying to keep my voice low.
“I don’t understand God. Why is everyone getting married and I have yet to even meet a man who would admit that he LIKED me? Am I that unloveable? Why is Kim having to FIGHT men off of her and I still don’t know what it’s like for a man to even be interested in being with me? I don’t get it. Please just tell me what’s wrong with me so I can fix it? Why did you bring me here to see this God? Why did you do this to me?”
Suddenly there was a soft knock on the door. I stood up straight and wiped my face. I walked over and turned the knob. Donovan stood there looking down at my and stepped back to allow him inside.
He closed the door and put his arm around me and once again…just like in college..I was crying on him. Stupid! ughh! I never act right around this man.
“Tee,” he began. “It’s okay. You know what? I am so proud of you. You inspire me and you have no idea how much.”
“That’s cool,” I said, trying to act like I’m okay. “I’m fly every day, all day! I’ma be alright,” I said and pushed him out of the room.
I sat on the bed and put my face in the palm of my hand.
I can’t hate her.
I can’t.
I can’t hate her so I have to bless her.
I walked quickly to the bathroom to wash my face and I walked back downstairs. I grabbed my plate and emptied it because my appetite had dissappeared.
I sat down next to Ashley on the couch and said, “I want to give you a blessing.”
“Ok,” she smiled and looked me in my eyes.
“From this day forward you will no longer walk in confusion. God has all of your days ordained and covered and He is walking with you. You are a blessed woman of God and your family will be blessed by your hand. Miracle after miracle will begin to happen in your life and the peace that comes with it will be amazing. God loves you and He is with you every step of the way in your relationship and in your search for your passion. Be blessed.”
She hugged me tightly and thanked me for blessing her.
I sat back and was relieved.
She really is a remarkable woman. I can totally see why he’s marrying her. I’d marry her if I could.
She made a drink for me and left me and Donovan on the couch to talk.
We chatted for a bit and then went to bed. The next morning when I woke up she was gone and he knocked on my door asking me if I had any clothes that needed ironing. I handed him a t-shirt and he gave it back to me after a few minutes.
He ironed my clothes! Wow.
He takes such good care of me. He always has. Ashley is so lucky!
We pulled out of house and headed toward the airport just talking and talking. Our conversation flowed so easily and we have similar attitudes about life. I always knew he was a good man.
I always knew it!
Before we arrived at the airport we made a detour to the bank. He went over to the ATM and when he came back he handed me a wad of cash.
“Thanks D!”
“No problem. God has blessed me to be able to do this. I want you to be able to do your thing.”
He always looks out for me.
Our flights were scheduled to depart 15 minutes apart from each other with him arriving in Dallas and me arriving in Houston.
We shared breakfast at the airport and chatted away, all the while he is reminding me that God has a special man for me.
“Tee, the problem is that you have not met any real men yet. A real man won’t be intimidated by where you’re going in life. A real man will be available and willing to help you get there. A real man won’t act in spite because you are blessed. When you meet that REAL MAN you’ll know. But he may not come in the form you expect him to.”
“Well, he better not be broke!” I said.
“Tee, he won’t be. You’ll be equally yoked. He’ll be just right for you.”
“I don’t want to talk about this anymore. I’m tired of hearing about how some man will love me one day.”
“Okay, then we won’t talk about it.”
“D, do you think we could have ever been together?”
“Tee, I think we work better as friends because where you are going in your life does not match up with where I’m going. I would stifle you and that’s not what you need. Ashley is what I need, she’s going to be a support for me in the way that I need. Even though you could probably do what she is doing, you wouldn’t be able to be all you can be. I wouldn’t want to be the cause of that.”
“Why didn’t you ever try to talk to me all those years?” I asked him.
“I thought about it. I thought about it that night when I took you home from the party. Remember I watched you grow up. You were a cute little girl back in highschool but when you came to college, I thought you were fine then. I wanted to holla but I just couldn’t. You were way too sweet and your spirit was so good that I didn’t want you to have to join the ‘I HATE DON Club’ that all of the other women in my life were a part of. I knew I wasn’t ready to give you what you needed so I stayed in your life just enough that you would feel comfortable coming to me when you needed help. You deserved better than what I could give you at the time. And even now…you deserve more than I could give you.”
“But why her? What is it about her?”
“Tee, I prayed for her. And she came exactly as I prayed. And what it boils down to is timing. When I met her I was at a time in my life where I wanted a serious relationship with a woman. She showed up at the right time.”
“Do you have any doubts about this marriage thing?”
“None. I just know that I can’t do anything to mess up what she and I have built for the past year and a half and I won’t, no matter what. That’s my shorty.”
I checked the time and stood up to clear the table.
“Have a safe flight. I’ll see you in Dallas,” he said and I gave him a hug before rushing to my terminal to catch my flight to Houston.
