“Brody, there’s something I need to tell you,” Marianna told her son when she went to see him. They were standing in front of the courthouse. She had called him that morning to tell him that she needed to see him and he asked her to meet him there.
“What is it, Mother?” he asked. “You sounded like it was something very serious. Are you all right?”
“Physically, I’m all right but emotionally, I’m not.”
“Tell me what’s wrong.”
“I don’t know where to begin.”
“Just come right out and say it.”
“Kalisha is dating again.”
“Oh. Well, I guess that was bound to happen sooner or later. Is that why you’re so upset? Were you concerned about how I would react?”
“Brody, that’s not the worst of it.”
“What do you mean?”
“The man she’s dating is Professor Joe Warren.”
Brody stared at her. “You’re not serious.”
“Unfortunately, I am.”
“How do you know this?”
“Professor Warren told me himself. They have been dating since August 2017.”
“That’s just two months after she and I broke up.”
“Yes.”
“I can’t believe it. Kalisha and Professor Warren?”
“I couldn’t believe it either. I didn’t want to believe it but, it’s true. They are in a relationship.”
“But, he’s old enough to be her father and mine, for Pete’s sake.”
“Yes. That’s what infuriated and upset me and the fact that she used to be your girlfriend.”
“How could she do it?”
“It’s obvious that she didn’t really love you, Brody and as far as I’m concerned you’re better off without her.”
“I know you didn’t like her, Mother but I loved her and I would have gotten around to asking her to marry me.”
“Well, thank goodness that you didn’t. I’m sorry, Brody. I wish I didn’t have to tell you about her and Professor Warren but I thought it would be better if you knew.”
“I just can’t wrap my mind around it. It hurt like hell when Kalisha broke up with me and now to find out that it was because of Professor Warren.”
“Brody, try not to dwell too much on it. Consider yourself lucky and move on with your life. You have your career as a lawyer. Concentrate on that and then, when you’re emotionally ready to date again, do so. There are plenty of decent young women out there more deserving of you than Kalisha ever was.”
“Mother, I have to go.”
“So soon?”
“Yes, I’m afraid so. I have to get back to the firm.”
“All right, Honey.” She reached up and touched his face. “I love you.”
“I love you too, Mother. Goodbye.”
“Goodbye.”
She watched him as he walked away. He seemed more shocked by the news of Kalisha and Professor Warren than upset. Perhaps that was a good thing. Hopefully, now he would forget the past and move on with his life.
He was right about one thing. She had never really warmed up to Kalisha and it wasn’t because she was African-American. Maybe it was because she sensed that Brody’s feelings for her weren’t reciprocated and she was worried that he would end up getting hurt. It turned out that she was right.
Since her last conversation with Professor Warren, they hardly saw each other and when they did, they merely exchanged greetings. She missed their conversations and meeting for coffee but she couldn’t continue being friends with him. Every time she saw him, it was a reminder that he was the cause of Brody’s unhappiness. If it weren’t for him, Kalisha wouldn’t have broken up with him.
It still hurt that she could never have been more than a friend to him. Hopefully, she too would get over him and move on.
Notes to Women 