Page 82 of The Best Man: Unfinished Business
Chapter Fifty-four
Robyn
No matter how hard she tried to see it another way, even now, sitting in the parking lot of the airport, her only true regret was not giving Kwesi the full benefit of the doubt before he left.
Regret for not believing him when he tried to explain something so complex to her that it took almost two weeks of her own complexities with Harper to fully understand.
Kwesi said that he could hold love and connection in his heart for his ex, but also have simultaneous certainty that he did not want a future with her romantically.
Now that Robyn had experienced the roller coaster of Harper’s visit, that they’d made love even, she more than understood.
Their marriage was over and complete. She was certain about Harper, and thus, surer than ever about Kwesi.
He’d given her the space and time she’d requested and had kept in touch while he was away.
He’d shown her kindness and consistency, everything she’d asked for.
So, she’d been counting down the days until he returned.
He told her that he’d be taking a chauffeured car from the airport, but Robyn planned to surprise him with a different welcome.
She stepped out of the car into the daytime sunlight and straightened her skirt.
She adored the beautiful Ankara cloth prints; this one she wore today was a Nsu Bura print, which resembled the ripples that formed on the surface of water, mimicking how a single drop reached out farther beyond itself creating cascades of effect into the distance.
Robyn loved this print, with meaning as deep as the well it was named for.
The future was this—ripples of changes into the distance from a single point.
There’d been many moments like this for Robyn, but Mia’s call and Harper’s visit set into motion a set of decisions that needed to be made. She couldn’t wait to share with Kwesi.
Butterflies filled her belly as she walked up to the terminal, heading to arrivals.
If she timed it right, she’d catch him just as he was coming out through customs. She fidgeted and touched up her hair with nervousness but soon fell into step with the energy around her, of tour guides bustling about and taxi drivers trying to secure their fares.
When she finally saw Kwesi’s face and his tall frame walking toward her, she pulled herself up on the tips of her toes, waving so that he could see her.
And his look of recognition, first of slight confusion and then pure happiness, was priceless.
Robyn smiled, feeling the happiness stretch across her face, up through her forehead, back to her ears.
He pointed her to her left, seemingly gesturing to where he planned to meet her on the other side of the throngs of family members, loved ones, and business associates also meeting their own arriving passengers.
To the side, Robyn noticed the well-suited man holding a white sign with Kwesi’s name onit.
Kwesi reached her quickly and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her in close to squeeze her tight.
She held on to him with her hands around his shoulder blades and cheek against his chest. She let her body sink into his, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still.
He felt so good, smelled so good, sounded so good.
“I didn’t expect you, Robyn,” he said as he finally pulled away from her. It was almost as if they were the only two people in the world, even within the buzz of the airport.
“I wanted to surprise you.” She gave him a smile, a genuine smile. “I’m just so glad you’re back. I have so much to show you.”
Kwesi laughed. “Well, will we be needing a car?” He turned to the driver standing patiently at attention.
“No, I brought mine,” Robyn said.
“Well, then,” Kwesi said, turning to the driver.
“Thanks, mate, I’d say you could just take off, then, I’ll be all set.
” For a moment the driver looked confused as if he didn’t quite know what to do.
Kwesi smiled good-naturedly and placed his arm around Robyn’s shoulders.
“I’m all yours, then,” he said, meeting her eyes.
“And I’m all yours,” Robyn said, reaching her arms around him and letting her head settle onto his chest as they walked in tandem into the great day ahead.