Chapter 39: One Last Shot-Don

After a weekend of no responses to his text messages, calls, or gifts and the inability to get leave a message on Laura’s voice mail, Don had to find a way to meet with Laura. He decided to wait at her building in the limo at the time when she probably would return home in the evening after a full day.

She was a hard worker: playing in the orchestra, teaching music, and composing for and playing with the string quartet. He admired that about her. She was not the typical woman he was used to meeting who would find out about his wealth. Most women would expect him to finance their life with luxuries without having a purpose except being his girlfriend or mistress. Laura didn’t seem to expect that or seek to get a way to have him take care of her financially.

Don had almost given up when Laura finally arrived home. He jumped out of the limo and met her at her car, ready to open the door for her.

“Don. You scared me, coming almost out of nowhere. What’s up?”

“What’s up? I should ask you the same thing. I’ve been trying like crazy to get in touch with you. Why haven’t you responded to any of my attempts to get a hold of you?”

“Don, I didn’t mean to seem rude, but honestly I have had even less time than usual with all of the notoriety for the string quartet. Forgiven?”

“That depends. I need to talk with you. Seriously.”

“This isn’t really the best time to chat. I have an early day tomorrow and...”

“Laura, d*mn it, when don’t you have an early day? Even if the string quartet had not become an overnight sensation, you always had commitments. I just want an hour of your time...as your boyfriend.”

Her face indicated that she was ready to turn him down.

“Laura, please give me some time; work with me. How about 15 minutes? Let me talk with you for 15 minutes and after I have stated my case, I’ll leave you alone, permanently, if that’s what you really want.”

“Ok Don. Come on up.”

Laura realized that with Don’s visit, her time of keeping the guys at bay while she tried to figure out what to do was about to end. She would have to make a choice that would please one but displease the others. She braced herself for dealing with Don. At best she owed him an apology; and with that, he also deserved an explanation. She vowed that whatever happened in the next 15 minutes she would not be seduced by his charms.

# # #

“Have a seat, Don. Tell me what’s on your mind.”

“You are! You promised to be my girlfriend, what I thought would be an exclusive, monogamous, committed relationship, but you also promised the same thing to the others. What am I supposed to say? Why did you do that? Are you the real player that you accused me of being? What’s your agenda? Are you holding out for whomever has the most money?”

“Don, Don, Don. Hold on and slow down. Do you want to hear my answers to your questions; do you want an explanation; or do you just want to attack me with those questions then leave?”

“Originally, when I came over tonight I wanted to try one more time to try to convince you to be mine and mine only. Now, I just want your explanation and I’ll base my response on that. What you did was hurtful and you’ll have to come to terms with that with me and the other guys no matter whom you pick.” He stepped away from being close to her.

“You always say how much you love and care about all three of us, but love doesn’t hurt and love doesn’t lie or make empty promises to multiple people. At least the love that I want and expect doesn’t do that.”

“Don, please understand. Do I get a chance to respond?”

“Yes.”

“I never intended to hurt anybody. Each of you is appealing in your own way and that’s what makes the decision of one of you so difficult.”

“So, if we weren’t each so appealing, you’d be able to pick one of us? Is that what you’re saying? Well, I’m about to make your decision very easy mathematically. I’ll bow out of the competition for you and then you’ll only have two to choose between. That is, if...”

“If what, Don?”

“If you don’t respond by the end of the week, Friday. Don’t worry, I won’t call, text, email, shower you with gifts, or wait for you at your building just to have a 15 minute shot at trying to convince you to be with me only. I’ve done all of that and it still enabled you to choose all three of us. If you don’t know what you want after the experiences you’ve had with me and the others, there is nothing I could do to convince you any further. This is my last attempt to try to convince you to pick me.”

“How are you doing that, Don?”

“By reminding you that I’ve done it before and by standing on my past efforts, that’s how. I don’t know if I believe that any more of my huge efforts to woo you would make a difference either way. My fifteen minutes are almost up and after I say this I’ll leave.”

“Oh Don,” Laura pleaded, realizing how deeply he had been hurt.

“Laura, I met you first and I have always been honest and open with who I am. I think we balance each other out: fun and discipline. But I won’t share you while you date all three of us. I want a final answer and I’ll grant you the peace to arrive at it.”

“Don, I never meant to hurt you. I care about you...all.”

“Intended or not, Laura, you did hurt me and the others by not making a choice. You claim you care and you don’t want to ruin my lifelong relationship with the guys, but I’m telling you now: what you are doing hurts. I look forward to hearing from you by Friday. If not, you still have encouraged me to become a better man and I‘m grateful for that. I’ll just have to find someone who will appreciate that and for whom I am more than enough for them. What you are doing with all three of us just isn’t working for me any longer. That’s it.”

At that, Don walked to the door in silence with Laura following behind calling out to him, “Don, I’m sorry, please stay,” keenly aware that this might be the last time she would see him here period. He ignored her pleas and let himself out. His visit gave Laura a lot to think about and she wondered if the other two would also follow suit with their own ultimata.