Until My Heart Stops Beating by Tonya M Barber Page B

knuckleheads I ran into before I met your father.
                  Makeba laughed.
                  “I’m glad to see a smile on your face. Regardless of what anyone thinks or says, ultimately the decision to be with this man lies with you and if you care for him then it’ll be worth any battle.”
                  “Thank you mama.”
                  “I love you baby. Get some rest.”             
                  She kissed her on the cheek then left leaving Makeba feeling a whole lot better than when she came in and alot to think about.
                  As promised, the next morning she placed a call to Declan. Witnessing the sadness in his voice, she knew it was because of what transpired the night before.
                  “Are you ok?”
                  He couldn’t believe she was worrying about his welfare. He wasn’t the one that was mistreated and made to feel like he was invisible at a table full of people. It was her.
                  “Honey, I’m fine. I’m worried about you”
                  She chuckled. “Be honest, you’re worried that what happened is going to change things between us.”
                  Feeling exposed he cleared his throat. “A little.”
                  “It’s going to take a lot more than that to make me go away.’
                  Breathing a sigh of relief he replied, “Thank goodness.”
                  “You don’t have very much faith in me, do you?”
                  “Makeba, this is all new to me as well. I didn’t know how deeply this was going to affect you, affect us. I don’t know what I would have done if you had decided not to see me again. I can’t say if you did that I wouldn't have understood.”
                  “I can’t deny that I was hurt and bothered by that. I have never experienced anything like that before, not to that extent anyway. Look Declan it’s over now. I want to move past this.”
                  “So do I.”
                  Silence.
                  “Will I see you tonight?”
                  “Would you like to see me tonight?”
                  “Absolutely.”
                  “Then you will.”
                  “Good. I have to check up on a few things at Serenity so I’ll leave the room key at the desk. Can you be here by 1:00 pm?”
                  “Yes. Why?”
                  “I just want you to be here when I return, that’s all.”
                  “Will do.”
                  “ Thank you honey. I love you.”
                  “I love you more.”
                  “Until when?”
                  “Until my heart stops beating, Mr. Whitaker.”
                  He laughed then ended the call.
                  Two hours later Makeba stood in front of the guest service desk asking for key to suite number 623. A young, bubbly African American woman whose name tag read Stephanie, asked to see identification. She obliged her by retrieving her driver’s license from her purse and handed it to her. Once her identification was verified Stephanie got the attention of the bellhop. He approached the desk.               “Josh, this is Ms. Jones. Can you please take her bag to room 623?”
                  “No, that won’t be necessary. I can take it.”
                  “April, cover me for a moment while I escort Miss Jones to The Pamper Mill,” said Stephanie.
                  Confused, Makeba grabbed her bag and held her hand out for the key card but Stephanie pretended not to notice.
                  “Can you follow me, Miss