“I’m sorry,” she said. “This is a lot to take in.”
“If it’s a problem, I can decline the offer. I haven’t accepted yet.”
She responded too fast. “No, it’s not a problem. It’s just such an odd coincidence.”
“I know. I wanted to jump at the opportunity, but I was worried about your response, which is why I wanted to see you before accepting. I was on the verge of rejecting it when I got your reply about lunch. If you have reservations, I will back out. Just say the word.” He held his hands up in retreat.
“No. Don’t be silly. Take the opportunity. It’s just such an odd coincidence.”
“You said that already.” He studied her face again. She could probably relax more if he stopped staring at her so intensely. It made her uncomfortable and want to hug him at the same time.
“I know. No, it’s okay. Congratulations.” She held up her water glass in a mock toast.
“Are you sure about this, Miss Goode?”
“I am. Really. Take the job. It’s fine.” Oh boy. What am I doing?
“Okay, I’m going to take your word and presume you’re being honest with me. I’m supposed to start August first, so this is your last chance to change your mind.”
She nodded her approval, water glass still in the air. As if on cue, the waitress came back with their food, and they moved on to lighter topics about mutual acquaintances and running shoes. For a few minutes, it felt like old times.
As Anaya wiped her mouth with her napkin, Jeff leaned forward.
“Now, can I ask you another a question?” His face was ripe with resolve.
“Cool,” she said. Anything would be easier than talking about them working together. And the flutters in her stomach had mostly calmed. “Shoot.”
“Why did you break things off the way you did?”
Anaya’s heart pounded in her throat. “Wow. You went there.”
Jeff shrugged. “You don’t have to answer. But I’ve always wanted to know. Why the abrupt cut off? You didn’t respond to my texts or emails. You just disappeared off the face of the earth.”
Anaya stared at her water glass. This day was bound to come. She couldn’t hide from him forever. “That was the best I could do. I was grieving my mom and grieving what was left of us, and I just needed to get away.”
“With no good-bye? No explanation?”
She met his eyes. Are you kidding me? Do you know the hell I went through? “To be honest, I went to your office one day to talk to you, but I chickened out in the parking lot.” She lowered her eyes. “I thought if I saw you, I wouldn’t have the nerve to break up with you.”
“I see.” He ran his finger around the rim of his glass. “I never expected you would run off like that.”
“It was hard, but that’s what I needed to do.”
“You hurt me,” he said.
“I know,” she said quietly. “But I did what I had to.”
“You hurt me,” he said again, and she saw the pain in his eyes.
“More water here?” The waitress refilled their glasses and left.
“Did I ever hurt you?”
He was full of loaded questions today. She stared at him for a minute. The Jeff she had dated was good to her but had never openly talked about such intimate feelings. It was one of the things that drove her crazy. She always felt like he was hiding something.
“Yes. You did.”
“How?”
She took a deep breath. After all this time, she finally had the opportunity to tell him the truth. “Do you know how it feels to love somebody so much and not be able to have them when you want or how you want?”
“It wasn’t one sided, Anaya,” he said readily.
“But I was hurting, and the more time we spent together, the worse it got.” She felt her phone vibrating.
He leaned in closer to her. She could smell his cologne. “I loved you and I risked a lot to spend time with you.”
She tilted her head, feeling an ember of anger ignite. You risked a lot? I can’t wait to hear this.
“I was late to meetings, I missed events. I even cancelled classes to spend time with you. Did you know that?”
And how would I have known that? “You never told me anything. Why didn’t you tell me any of this?”
“I didn’t want to lose you.”
“Why didn’t you just say that?”
“Because I didn’t know what I was doing.” He sat back, exasperated. “I was in a bad place when I met you. I had a failed marriage with a crumpling façade of happiness. I just did things based on my feelings. I did everything I could to spend time with you.”
She nodded slowly but didn’t speak.
“At the expense of everything else in my life.”
“And I left you hanging.”
“And you left me hanging,” he said.
“I’m sorry. I guess we both had to do what we thought was best.”
“I suppose. Are things better for you since you left me?”
Another loaded question. But just because he was being so open didn’t mean she had to be.
“Things are good. How about for you?”
“Things are great,” he said, self-assuredly. “I stopped focusing on the wrong things. Yes, people know my marriage failed, but I’m free. Free to be happy and free to enjoy my children and my success.”
Anaya choked on her water. So he’s divorced.
“Yes, she got half of my money and is now spending it with someone else, but the façade is over, and I’m a better person for it,” he said. He shrugged. “It’s over.”
“Any regrets?” Her curiosity was getting the best of her.
“One.”
“What’s that?”
He looked at her. “That I didn’t do it sooner.”
Holy hell.
ELEVEN
Anaya had been planning Roscoe’s sixtieth birthday party for months and when it was time to finalize the venue, she decided there was no place like home. Thanks to a great local catering company, the Goode dining room looked nothing short of amazing. No detail was left unattended. Dimmed lights and soft jazz set the mood in the dining area, and the DVR was queued up in the living room for Ava’s boys. The rented gold tapestry from ZayZay’s draped the dining room entryway and gave an elegant but warm feel, and the décor was festive but not fussy. The guest list included the pregnant, the hearing impaired, and the ill-behaved. With that many people sitting at the table, Anaya wanted to keep it simple. She also did her best to place the name cards strategically to avoid too much conflict, but there was no such thing with this family. The first to arrive was her mother’s younger sister, Marie.
“Well, Anaya, look at you!” Marie gushed as Anaya opened the door. “Stunning.”
“Thank you, Auntie,” Anaya replied, taking Marie’s jacket. “Where is Uncle Allen?”
“Allen will be along later,” Marie said dismissively, scanning the room. “Where’s Roscoe?”
Anaya pointed up the stairs. “Finishing getting ready, I guess. He’ll be down soon.”
Aunt Deb and Cousin Marguerite arrived next. The doctors said it was a miracle Aunt Deb survived the car accident last year. She had suffered inner ear damage and a head injury that caused rapid onset dementia. Now, the fiercely independent former world traveler had to outsource even the smallest tasks. It took some convincing to get her to move from her own home in Healdsburg to the luxury independent living condo complex in Walnut Creek, which was much closer to the rest of the family. However, she didn’t let her injuries stop her from keeping a close eye on her finances and telling salacious stories.
“My sweet Anaya.” Deb grabbed Anaya’s face and kissed her cheek. Anaya cringed. Deb was notorious for leaving make-up stains, and Anaya’s tan sheath was in danger.
“Marie.” Deb hugged Marie with noticeably less enthusiasm. Anaya knew her mother had been Deb’s favorite niece, while Marie was her least favorite. Aunt Deb was the younger sister of Marie and Anita’
s mother who died when Anita and Marie were young. Aunt Deb stepped up as a grandmother figure through the years and didn’t hold back on giving money, or her unsolicited opinions to her nieces. Among many other things, Deb never approved of Marie’s nose job and lip fillers.
“Hey, Auntie.” Marie wasn’t such a great fan of Deb either. She always resented that Deb took a greater liking to Anita and Anita’s children.
“Hi, Cousin Marguerite,” Anaya said. “Thanks for picking up Aunt Deb.” Marguerite only picked up Deb if Deb’s driver wasn’t available, which was becoming increasingly common lately. Her driver was one of the kids from their neighborhood, who took her on errands after school, on weekends, and sometimes to evening events. But he was a senior now, and his social calendar was filling up.
“Of course,” Marguerite said. As she hugged Anaya, she whispered, “You owe me.”
“I read my charts the week before my car accident.” Deb took off her cape, sending her salt-and-pepper dreadlocks swinging. “And it said something was going to crash. I reinvested some of my tech stocks thinking it was going to be the stock market, not my car!” She floated into the living room in a colorful robe and clinking jewelry, leaving the scent of incense behind her.
Marguerite followed Marie to the wine, and Anaya was about to head back to the kitchen when Deb grabbed her arm.
“I’m feeling wonderful vibes, Anaya. Anita would be so pleased. Venus reigns tonight, and this decor—c’est magnifique! You are going to make a wonderful wife to Carl. Just like my sweet Anita was to Roscoe.” Deb looked at Marie and frowned.
Anaya nodded and smiled, then headed to the kitchen. Deb followed, and Marguerite and Marie appeared a moment later, with glasses of red wine in hand.
“Auntie, I heard what you said. Don’t set women’s suffrage back by letting this girl think she has to be in the kitchen to keep a man.” Marie scowled.
After checking to make sure the oven was preheating, Anaya leaned against the sink and watched the three women.
“I didn’t say that, Marie. But you make a good point. These young gals like to think cooking and cleaning ain’t important, but it is. Men don’t want to eat out all the time, and they don’t want to live in no nasty house.”
“That’s why there are housekeepers, Auntie.”
“Well, Marie, we see how well that served you, huh? Where is Allen, anyway?” Deb looked around the kitchen theatrically, as if trying to spot Allen.
“I don’t know if Allen and I are going to make it.” Marie’s tone was casual as she flung back her braids.
“Say what now?” said Marguerite. She popped a mini cheese quiche in her mouth and spoke as she chewed. “You and Allen are the perfect couple. If you guys don’t make it, there’s no hope for the rest of us.”
“Marguerite, there’s no hope for you because you won’t stop eating,” Deb said. “Now Marie, what’s going on with you and Allen?” She sat down at the breakfast table.
“We’ve grown apart,” Marie admitted, sipping her wine.
Marguerite’s eyes widened, and she popped another quiche in her mouth. Deb sat on the edge of the chair, looking outraged, and raised her forefinger high in the air.
“Check the charts? I’ll have you know I check the charts every single day. Don’t talk to me like that.”
“Grown apart, Aunt Deb. I said, we’ve grown apart,” Marie repeated in a louder voice.
“Grown apart?” Deb repeated in shock. “Lord, Marie. You are going to lose a good man. There’s always someone prettier and smarter out there who is looking for what you have. Don’t let your husband go. Y’all remember your Uncle Farley, don’t you?”
Everyone remembered Uncle Farley; Aunt Deb wouldn’t let them forget. Anaya saw Marie roll her eyes.
Marguerite excused herself to pour more wine, and Anaya went to the fridge to pull out more appetizers. At the rate Marguerite was going, the quiches would be gone soon.
“He was a good man, that Farley,” Deb said even though she’d lost most of her audience. “Gave me anything I wanted. But I was young and thought I was fine with my big legs and little waist. All the men flirted with me, and I flirted right back. Yes, I did. Deb ain’t gonna lie to you. But one time, I took the flirting too far.” Deb looked into the distance. “Farley found out and moved on. Married Glenda, that hefty virgin from across town who made lemon pies with the lightest, crispiest crust I’ve ever tasted. But I didn’t care because I was having fun and living my life. Farley was nice, but he was boring. Same old routine, same old moves in the bedroom. You know what I’m talking about when they put your legs—”
“Yes! Aunt Deb,” Marie interrupted. “We get it.”
“Well, I dated a little after that, but nothing permanent. Nobody I could marry. Men play a lot of games, you know. They will use you if you aren’t careful. Just want to get in your panties and lick on your breasts.” Deb nodded and Marie gagged. “And all that time I thought I was living, I didn’t think about the time I would get old. Now I’m all alone. Went through breast cancer alone, knee surgery alone, and now I’m living my golden years by myself. Farley and I were supposed to travel the world. Now he’s traveling with big-boned Glenda, and I’m over here recharging my bullet batteries every couple of weeks and looking at Marie make the same foolish mistake. Your lunar house is in shambles, Marie, I can feel it. Has anyone seen my purple fingernail file? I brought it over here right after Clinton’s inauguration.” Deb walked out of the kitchen.
Marie finished her glass of wine. “She is the most inappropriate person I know, but that freaky old ham might be right. Maybe I’ve got some thinking to do.” She helped herself to more wine.
Anaya heard the sound of the door opening and went out to the front hall again. There was Uncle Riley, looking like a million bucks in a three-piece navy suit, and his girlfriend Troy, looking like a buck fifty in a plaid skirt, knee-high socks, and a green beret. Troy was a good four inches taller than Riley and had a peculiar fashion sense. It was a cross between Hannah Montana and Grace Jones, but somehow Troy made it work. Riley and Troy were going strong despite early speculation from her family that Troy was going to be a short-term fling, like most of Riley’s female friends.
“Uncle Riley, Miss Troy.” Anaya took Troy’s coat.
“Hey, niece. It’s looking good in here.”
“Yes it does,” Troy said, holding on to Riley’s arm.
“Thank you, guys. I wanted it to be nice. Help yourselves to anything you want. Daddy will be down shortly, and the food will be out soon.”
She turned to put Troy’s coat in the hall closet and saw Roscoe coming down the stairs. “Good timing, Daddy! Almost everyone is here.”
He smiled and kissed her on the cheek. “Everything looks perfect, baby.” He went into the living room to calls of “The man of the hour!” and “Happy birthday, Roscoe!”
Just as Anaya had finished hanging up Troy’s coat, the door opened again and Catie waddled in three steps ahead of Antoine and Carl, who was looking absolutely scrumptious in a maroon cashmere sweater. He was carrying the bottles of wine Anaya asked for. Anaya’s heart fluttered, even after all this time. Handsome and compliant.
“Hey girl. Where can a pregnant woman find a place to sit?” Catie and Antoine were color coordinated in black and white. She looked around appreciatively at the decorations. “And dang, you dressed this place up nice! You and Sophie can start a business in décor.”
Anaya laughed and ushered them in to the living room. When she returned to the hall, Carl was waiting for her.
“Hi beautiful.” His lips tasted like marshmallows.
“Hi yourself, handsome man. Thanks for bringing these.” She took the bottles and he followed her to the kitchen. By some miracle, it was empty, and as soon as she sat the bottles on the counter, Carl hugged her from behind.
“You look beautiful in that dress,” he whispered in her ear. She turned and kissed him slowly, and he pulled her closer.
“I love you,�
� he said. “You’re doing a good thing tonight. Your mom would be proud of you, you know that?”
“Thank you, babe. And thank you for coming by earlier to help. I couldn’t have done this without you.”
“Anything for you.”
She gave him another kiss. “Now, go mingle with my family. I’ve gotta start bringing out the food.” She wiped lipstick from his lips and sent him on his way.
Anaya heard the front door close and walked out to see Sophie and a guy she’d never seen before. He was exotically handsome, if a bit nervous looking.
Just as Anaya was about to walk over and introduce herself, Aunt Deb bumped into her, asking about a bottle opener she’d lost. By the time Aunt Deb finished with her detailed description, Sophie and friend were mingling with the rest of the family in the living room. Anaya would have to meet him later—she needed to start serving the food.
The moment she placed the last dish on the table, Ava and her brood poured through the door like a flood. Hezekiah and Jeremiah were tugging at that same toy dinosaur from the other day, and Joshua dangled on Ava’s hip like a luxe bag. Joe held up the rear carrying a diaper bag, a plastic bag, and a rocker for Joshua. Anaya thought about helping, but where would she even begin? She stood back and watched the madness unfold.
While everyone else mingled, Ava tried to stop the boys from wrestling for the dinosaur and set Joshua on the floor to roam around. Joe gave hugs all around until his cell phone rang and he walked outside to answer it like he was single-handedly solving world problems. When he returned, Ava called him to handle the brewing fistfight over the innocuous dinosaur, but Joe didn’t hear her—at least, he pretended not to as he talked with Troy.
As Ava untangled Joshua from Deb’s robe, Hezekiah finally snatched the toy from Jeremiah and took off, running straight into a side table and knocking over a vase. Joe looked up briefly from his seat on the couch, but he didn’t say anything. Anaya walked over and righted the vase, which luckily, had not broken. Hezekiah continued running around the living room with Jeremiah on his heels.
Never Too Soon Page 9