My Heart Lingers (A Hearts of Misty Mesa Story): BWWM Interracial Romance by Brandi Boddie Page A
Authors: Brandi Boddie
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didn’t want their son to date a girl who might steer him in the wrong direction. They constantly hinted, even in her presence, that he would do better to find another young lady in college.
But Cole had adored her. He saw through her flashy, attention-getting ways to the caring and sensitive girl on the inside. Though they were so young at the time, Kyra knew even then he had her heart. However, she had been too frightened to tell him about the baby, unsure of what he would think or how his family would react to news of their son getting a black girl pregnant. So she kept it to herself, refusing to see or talk to Cole. She let him leave for Georgia Tech without another word, not even a phone call or a letter to say goodbye. The effect of her choice pained her every time she thought of it.
“Have you seen anybody from your old school?” asked Mrs. Banks.
Kyra shook her head as an ache went through her chest. What was wrong with her? She was in her hometown for less than an hour and already she was rehashing old memories that were better left buried in the past. She hadn’t seen Cole in a decade. No doubt he was working in some highly prestigious corporation on the East Coast, happily dating or engaged to a gorgeous blonde. Maybe he even started a family. He probably didn’t remember Kyra’s name.
“You should look up your friends from back in the day,” Mrs. Banks suggested. “My daughter Gracie is out of town promoting her artwork, but some of the other Crestfield High alumni are still around.”
Kyra managed a little smile. Her family’s neighbor was only trying to be helpful in welcoming her back to Misty Mesa. She shouldn’t feel so prickly. “It would be nice to catch up with them, Mrs. Banks, but I only have two weeks to get the house in shape for the realtor. I’ll be leaving afterwards.”
“Ah, too bad. Well, the husband and I are next door if you need anything. Maybe we can have dinner together before you go.”
“That would be very nice. Let’s plan for it. Thank you.” At least she’d have one positive thing to look forward to during her time home.
Kyra grabbed her two suitcases from the trunk of the car and wheeled them towards the front porch. She considered all the work she’d have to complete in the upcoming days. There were final appraisals to schedule and cleanings to conduct. She muttered as she was forced to step over one of the porch swing’s chains haphazardly tossed on the steps. Didn’t the last people who lived here know anything about maintaining a home?
Her parents rented out their house once they moved to Florida, but weren’t exactly stringent when it came to enforcing rules on their tenants. The last tenant who occupied the house had been lax on cleaning and maintaining the fixtures, according to her mother when she told Kyra over the phone.
Kyra used her key to open the door. She didn’t know what took her by surprise more, the empty space of the living room or the trash littering the floor. It looked like the last occupants had a party and didn’t bother to pick up after themselves before taking off. She wrinkled her nose. The room smelled like old Chinese takeout and beer.
Kyra continued on into the kitchen, where the floor was streaked with muddy footprints the tenants made in the course of moving out. She made a note to stop at the store later for cleaning supplies. She needed to make a run to get groceries, too. If she was going to be in town for a while, the fridge needed to be stocked with something other than ketchup packets and a half-empty bottle of flat soda. Getting this house in shape was going to take plenty of work. Too much work to have time to think about Cole McCrea, wherever he was.
***
The grocery store in town got a great upgrade in Kyra’s absence. Taken over by new management, it boasted a new and expanded salad bar and a line of organic foods. Kyra pushed her cart slowly along the produce section, deciding on what vegetables to
But Cole had adored her. He saw through her flashy, attention-getting ways to the caring and sensitive girl on the inside. Though they were so young at the time, Kyra knew even then he had her heart. However, she had been too frightened to tell him about the baby, unsure of what he would think or how his family would react to news of their son getting a black girl pregnant. So she kept it to herself, refusing to see or talk to Cole. She let him leave for Georgia Tech without another word, not even a phone call or a letter to say goodbye. The effect of her choice pained her every time she thought of it.
“Have you seen anybody from your old school?” asked Mrs. Banks.
Kyra shook her head as an ache went through her chest. What was wrong with her? She was in her hometown for less than an hour and already she was rehashing old memories that were better left buried in the past. She hadn’t seen Cole in a decade. No doubt he was working in some highly prestigious corporation on the East Coast, happily dating or engaged to a gorgeous blonde. Maybe he even started a family. He probably didn’t remember Kyra’s name.
“You should look up your friends from back in the day,” Mrs. Banks suggested. “My daughter Gracie is out of town promoting her artwork, but some of the other Crestfield High alumni are still around.”
Kyra managed a little smile. Her family’s neighbor was only trying to be helpful in welcoming her back to Misty Mesa. She shouldn’t feel so prickly. “It would be nice to catch up with them, Mrs. Banks, but I only have two weeks to get the house in shape for the realtor. I’ll be leaving afterwards.”
“Ah, too bad. Well, the husband and I are next door if you need anything. Maybe we can have dinner together before you go.”
“That would be very nice. Let’s plan for it. Thank you.” At least she’d have one positive thing to look forward to during her time home.
Kyra grabbed her two suitcases from the trunk of the car and wheeled them towards the front porch. She considered all the work she’d have to complete in the upcoming days. There were final appraisals to schedule and cleanings to conduct. She muttered as she was forced to step over one of the porch swing’s chains haphazardly tossed on the steps. Didn’t the last people who lived here know anything about maintaining a home?
Her parents rented out their house once they moved to Florida, but weren’t exactly stringent when it came to enforcing rules on their tenants. The last tenant who occupied the house had been lax on cleaning and maintaining the fixtures, according to her mother when she told Kyra over the phone.
Kyra used her key to open the door. She didn’t know what took her by surprise more, the empty space of the living room or the trash littering the floor. It looked like the last occupants had a party and didn’t bother to pick up after themselves before taking off. She wrinkled her nose. The room smelled like old Chinese takeout and beer.
Kyra continued on into the kitchen, where the floor was streaked with muddy footprints the tenants made in the course of moving out. She made a note to stop at the store later for cleaning supplies. She needed to make a run to get groceries, too. If she was going to be in town for a while, the fridge needed to be stocked with something other than ketchup packets and a half-empty bottle of flat soda. Getting this house in shape was going to take plenty of work. Too much work to have time to think about Cole McCrea, wherever he was.
***
The grocery store in town got a great upgrade in Kyra’s absence. Taken over by new management, it boasted a new and expanded salad bar and a line of organic foods. Kyra pushed her cart slowly along the produce section, deciding on what vegetables to
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