Redesigning Happiness

by Nita Brooks

  She placed her hand on his damp cheek. Rubbed the growing stubble on his jaw. “We’ll get through this together.”

  His shoulders shook, and he crushed her against him. “I love you so much.”

  Yvonne squeezed him tight. Seeing the relief in his eyes, after he’d arrived so broken, turned on a light inside of her. The pain of Natalie’s lies wasn’t gone, and she’d have to call on every saint in heaven to not strangle Natalie the first time she saw her, but she would no longer let the lies of the past overshadow the light of their future. She would spend the rest of her life making sure no one ever got the opportunity to manipulate and hurt her family ever again.

  Chapter 31

  Yvonne, Valerie and her mom visited Richard in D.C. later that year for Christmas. Michael had a new drone and was showing Richard and Jacob his new toy in the backyard. Sandra and Rochelle were debating if Denzel Washington or Idris Elba was sexier. Yvonne looked up from the glass of wine she was pouring at Valerie, next to her in the kitchen.

  Yvonne shook her head. “Can you believe them?”

  Valerie chuckled and shrugged. “I don’t know. Mom is making a good point. Denzel is more likely to make you hot just from a conversation. Idris only has swag.”

  Yvonne bumped her sister with her shoulder and grinned. “You’re stupid and wrong.” She handed a glass of wine to Valerie.

  Valerie took the wine. “Hey, I’m just contributing to the conversation.” She looked around. Some of Richard’s things were packed in boxes stored in the corners. “When is he moving?”

  “After the New Year,” Yvonne said with a nervous grin. “He wants to spend the holidays with Nadia. Give her an entire year to get used to him living in Atlanta before the next holiday.”

  “When is he going to tell her?”

  Yvonne held up a hand. “When the time is right. Not before.” Just the idea of telling the little girl broke Yvonne’s heart. She and Jacob loved each other. They were so proud to have a sibling. Damn Natalie’s lies for taking that away.

  Thankfully, her sister changed the subject. “Is he seriously thinking of investing in a coffee house?”

  Yvonne’s shoulders relaxed with the new, more promising topic. “He is. That and a few other things. For the first time, he’s been able to invest in things he really has an interest in, and he’s enjoying it.”

  Richard had always been a lover of spoken word poetry. She’d met him at a poetry night all those years ago. When he learned about a coffee house that catered to poets and other artists that were struggling, she hadn’t been surprised when he’d decided to take an interest in the property.

  “Well, if he needs a broker, I’m his girl. Plus, I like that space. It’s a great venue for events. Hopefully, he’ll make it work.”

  Yvonne crossed her fingers. “I hope so.”

  “Then you can give your favorite sister a discount for events?” Valerie leaned her head on Yvonne’s shoulder.

  Yvonne wrapped an arm around Valerie’s shoulder and hugged. “Haven’t even made an offer and you’re already asking for a discount.”

  “You know it!”

  The doorbell rang. Yvonne shook her head and headed toward the door. Valerie had been throwing out the “favorite sister” comments a lot more lately. At first Yvonne had thought her sister was being funny. Now, she was pretty sure Valerie was being deliberate.

  Yvonne and Sandra had grown closer. They talked a lot more than she talked with Valerie, mostly because Valerie was always busy brokering deals and selling properties. She and Yvonne had never been the talk-on-the-phone-every-day type of sisters, but they loved each other. Once Valerie found out that Yvonne spoke with Sandra almost daily, mostly because Sandra called her more often and asked Yvonne to do stuff with her, Yvonne had gotten the impression Valerie was feeling like her territory was being infringed upon.

  For a second, she wondered about getting Richard to answer the door, but reminded herself he’d said his house was her house. Besides, Richard was having too much fun playing with the drone out back.

  She opened the door and her gaze met Natalie’s. Yvonne’s smile slowly melted away. Natalie’s eyes widened, and her lips pressed into a thin line. Yvonne squeezed the doorknob. This was the first time they’d come face-to-face since she and Richard reunited. Yvonne still wanted to snatch her hair out for the pain she’d inflicted on her life, but she didn’t.

  Yvonne lowered her gaze to Nadia. “Hey, Nadia,” she said with a grin. “Jacob is out back with your dad. They’re playing with a drone.”

  Nadia’s bright eyes sparkled, and she jumped up and down. “Ohh, can I go out back, too?”

  “Sure thing, sweetie. My family is in the kitchen.”

  Nadia turned to Natalie and gave her a hug. “Bye, Mom.”

  Natalie hugged Nadia back. “I’ll be back in a few hours.”

  Richard mentioned Nadia coming by today. She was supposed to come with his mom. Not Natalie. Yvonne watched Nadia run in, and a few seconds later heard her voice speaking to her family.

  She turned back to Natalie. “Natalie, we don’t have to like each other.”

  Natalie flipped her hair over her shoulders. “Thank God for that.”

  “But, we have to be civil for the sake of the kids. I personally will never forgive you for the lies you told. The part you played in keeping Jacob from his father. How you lied about Nadia.”

  “I would do it again,” Natalie said with a lift of her chin. No sign of remorse in her features. For the first time, Yvonne noticed how beautiful Natalie was. Flawless skin the color of desert sand, wide soulful eyes, the perfect cupid’s bow mouth. Combined with a tall, curvy frame that would be hard pressed to look bad in any outfit. So much beauty hid such an ugly heart.

  “I did what needed to be done,” Natalie said.

  “By lying to Richard about me.”

  “Yes. Richard would have run back to you in a second. I sacrificed too much to let that happen.”

  Her sacrifice? She’d lied and manipulated everyone, and she had the nerve to talk about her sacrifice? Forget ugly heart, the woman had no heart. “You hurt him in a way I don’t think you’ll ever understand, and because of that, I will never trust you.”

  Natalie crossed her arms over her chest. “He should have asked.”

  “Don’t give me that. He shouldn’t have had to ask.”

  “What do you want with me?” Natalie’s voice became defensive. “You got the ultimate prize. Not only did you get fifty thousand dollars, but you’re back with your boy toy. You should be happy.”

  Yvonne stepped out of the door and onto the front step. She took a measure of pleasure that Natalie stepped down one. “You don’t get it. That money will never replace the years Jacob lost with his father. The pain Nadia will feel when she’s old enough to learn her mother lied to her. Being with Richard isn’t a jackpot. He’s a good man. He loves his kids and he tries to do what’s right. I love him, and I will protect him from letting you ever hurt him, my son, or your daughter like that again.” She took a step forward. “Let this be a warning. If you use Nadia to hurt him you won’t have to worry about Richard, because I will come for you. Richard fights fair. I won’t. Don’t make me come for you. It won’t be pretty.”

  Natalie raised her chin. She glared at Yvonne with anger, contempt, and a trace of fear. Good, because Yvonne meant every damn word.

  The door opened behind her. Natalie’s gaze went behind Yvonne. She quickly turned her features impassive. “My daughter wants to be here, otherwise, I’d tell you two to go to hell.” She turned and scuttled off the porch.

  Yvonne knew Richard must be behind her. He didn’t say anything until Natalie got in her car and drove away. His strong arm wrapped around Yvonne’s waist and pulled her against his front. He kissed her temple. “Thank you.”

  “For what?”

  “That.” He pointed toward Natalie’s retreating car. “I appreciate it. Even if I don’t need protection. I can handle Natalie.”
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  “I know you can, but I want her to know that I’m not letting you face her bitterness alone.” She turned in his arms and met his eyes.

  “She isn’t going to make this easy.” He shifted from one foot to the other. Regret in his gaze.

  “Maybe, maybe not. But we’ll get through it because our kids are depending on us.”

  “You sure you’re okay with that?”

  “If anything, the past few months have taught me that I can handle having a blended family. We may not be conventional, but I wouldn’t change a thing.”

  He relaxed and rested his forehead on hers. “I love you. I can’t believe we made it back to each other.”

  Neither could she. Even when she’d stepped into his office and he’d said he wanted his son in his life she hadn’t thought they’d be back together. Now, she couldn’t imagine not having him in her life.

  “I’m glad we did.”

  He lifted his head. A wicked sparkle in his eye. “I also have a surprise for you later.”

  “What?”

  “Our mothers have agreed to watch the kids. I’m taking you to open mic night tonight.”

  She grinned and squeezed him. “Does that mean you’re going to get on stage and try to blow me away?”

  Richard tossed his head back and laughed. His eyes were bright with happiness when they met hers again. “We’re just going to listen . . . but I may be working on a poem to read to you.”

  Yvonne drew back. “Seriously? You’re writing a poem for me?”

  “I’d do anything for you and our kids. Including write bad poetry.”

  Yvonne wrapped her arm around his neck and kissed him. “I don’t care if it’s bad, but I reserve the right to duck under the table if it’s too cheesy or about to make me cry.”

  His laugh filled the air and he hugged her. “Then be prepared to duck under a table.”

  The sun sparkled off the engagement ring on her finger. Yvonne’s heart nearly burst. This was how joy was supposed to feel. Not how she expected. Not how she’d pictured, but that wasn’t the point of happiness. Happiness may not always be perfect, but who needed perfection anyway?

  A READING GROUP GUIDE

  REDESIGNING HAPPINESS

  ABOUT THIS GUIDE

  The suggested questions are included to enhance your group’s reading of Nita Brook’s Redesigning Happiness!

  Discussion Questions

  1. What were your first thoughts of Yvonne when you met her?

  2. Did you agree with Yvonne and Nathan’s reasons for waiting? Why or why not?

  3. Did you agree with Yvonne’s decision to take the money and accept Richard’s father’s terms?

  4. Should Yvonne have waited longer before introducing Jacob to Richard? Why or why not?

  5. How does Yvonne’s sense of abandonment play into the decisions she makes?

  6. What do you think of Yvonne’s relationship with her mom? How does that relationship affect her choices?

  7. Did you think there were warning signs about Cassidy early in the story?

  8. Should Sandra have revealed her connection to Yvonne earlier?

  9. Were you #TeamRichard or #TeamNathan and why?

  10. Should Richard have asked Natalie about Nadia when she told him she was pregnant?

  11. What did you think of Richard’s decision to keep Nadia in his life? Were you surprised that Yvonne was okay with his choice?