Forgive Me by Stacy Campbell Page A

were Aruba?”
    Victoria recalled her rehearsed speech. “Why? Why did you take the time to befriend me if you knew you were up to no good?”
    â€œIf I said I’m sorry, would you forgive me?”
    â€œI don’t know. That’s a tall order.”
    â€œAt least you didn’t say no. We’re making progress.”
    â€œWhy is this so important to you anyway? You have a wonderful husband and a good marriage, so why do I matter to you?”
    â€œBecause I was you some years ago.”
    â€œNot Carl?”
    Yvette shook her head vigorously. “No, Carl Hankerson is thelove of my life! I wouldn’t have been with him, though, if I’d allowed bitterness to get the best of me.”
    â€œWhat happened?”
    Yvette veered to the right and got off on Exit 235 toward Griffin, Georgia. She stayed in the right lane and clutched the wheel tighter. “I was a senior in college planning my wedding. I am not minimizing what happened to you, and I know a dating relationship is different than marriage, but back then, I couldn’t imagine my life without David Rinks. We grew up together. He was my high school sweetheart, and all I could see was him.”
    â€œDavid Rinks that attends our church?”
    â€œThe one and only. We were set to wed in July, my senior year. He graduated a year before I did and moved to New York for a job with IBM. I didn’t think twice when he thwarted my attempts to visit him. He told me to concentrate on getting out of school so we could be together. His mother and sister visited me at my dorm in Fort Valley, Georgia, and every Sunday, I enjoyed a soul food feast at their house.
    â€œOne Tuesday, I stopped by midweek, unannounced, to see my A-M-I-L—”
    â€œA-M-I-L?”
    â€œAlmost mother-in-law. She stood at the door, acting as if we were strangers. I had photos of mother-in-law dresses for her; my mother insisted she finalize her choice so they’d match. Before I knew it, a small child who was the spitting image of David ran past his mother and said ‘Mommy,’ then shrank back when he realized I wasn’t his mother.”
    â€œJared?”
    â€œYes. He was two, almost three at the time, and they’d hidden the child from me since his mom, Cynthia, birthed him. Of course,David called, begged, pled, and everything, but I knew I couldn’t walk down any aisle with him. How could I trust a man who looked me in my face and carried on a three-year betrayal? He said he’d made a mistake by having a one-night stand with Cynthia. He eventually stopped trying to get me back, married Cynthia, and somehow, our lives continued to intersect.
    â€œCynthia isn’t too thrilled to be around me, but we’ve built a cordial bridge over the years. Carl and I even gave Jared an awesome graduation hook-up this year. We promised not to share what it is, but let’s say he won’t have problems going back and forth to college.”
    â€œYvette, I had no idea you’ve gone through so much pain.”
    â€œHey, every smiling face isn’t happy. People mask a lot,” said Yvette. She swung a right on Lovejoy Road and allowed her truth to soak in.
    Victoria looked at her flawless associate. Even in sweats, Minimus shoes, and standing at five feet eleven inches, she exuded confidence. Yvette’s volleyball days were over, but men still approached her and asked if she modeled. Yvette’s sandy-brown, shoulder-length hair was pulled back in a ponytail. Yvette lived for Smashbox Camera Ready BB Cream, but today, Victoria admired her blemish-free, caramel skin. Beautiful inside and out, Yvette didn’t deserve to be treated the way Victoria had treated her. I’ve got to do better, Victoria thought.
    They arrived at McCurry Park, coasting into a space near the baseball field.
    â€œYvette, did I keep you from doing your business run?”
    â€œYou’re my business run. Let’s go walk off