Back to Me

by Wanda B. Campbell

  She sat up and wrapped her arms around her body. She needed to go tonight. She needed something to counteract the depression threatening to overtake her. After dropping by the high school twice, Paige had yet to make contact with Seniyah. If the girl didn’t respond to the messages she’d left with the school counselor soon, Paige would be forced to drop by her home uninvited.

  A smile escaped as she fingered the lime-green dress with purple trim lying on the bed. It was beautiful and looked fabulous on her. She was sure Sergio-Xavier would love the way the cut accented her figure and the way the length provided an ample display of her legs. She hadn’t forgotten his preoccupation with her legs; she’d just never called him on it.

  New determination fueled her steps back to the bathroom. “I am going to this party,” she told her reflection, then once again reached for the make-up bag.

  Thirty-five minutes later, Sergio-Xavier rang her doorbell. “Hey, you look handsome. Come in,” Paige greeted. “I just need to grab my purse and coat, and we can head out.”

  She was halfway down the hall before she realized he hadn’t returned the greeting. He hadn’t said anything. She retraced her steps to find a grave expression veiling his face. “Is everything all right?”

  His rapid blinking coincided with the sideways movement of his head. “I’m good. Just a little anxious, that’s all.”

  “Hasn’t your family heard you play the sax before?”

  “Of course.”

  “Then why are you anxious?” She had an idea but wanted him to confirm it.

  Instead, he looked down at his watch. “It’s a thirty-minute drive. We should be going, just in case we run into traffic.”

  “Sure. Give me a minute.” She accepted his response for the avoidance tactic it was, and went to retrieve her purse, suppressing the disappointment she felt over the fact that he had not complimented her. “I don’t need his approval,” she grumbled once inside her bedroom. “I know I look good.”

  When she returned, his grave expression had been replaced by the smile she’d come to adore. His arms held her coat wide open for her to step into.

  Paige appreciated the gesture but wanted more. “Thank you,” she said before turning her back to him.

  “You look absolutely stunning,” he whispered in her ear. His lips were so close to her neck, the hairs in his mustache tickled her skin, causing her to jump. She stepped away from him with one arm hanging outside the sleeve.

  “Thank you. I’m glad you like it,” she said once the coat was securely fastened. She looked up and found his eyes fixed on her lips.

  “Oh, I more than like it, but we can discuss that later.” In lightning speed, sheer pleasure disappeared and anxiety returned. “Let’s go.”

  “Lead the way.” She locked the door and followed him to a car she hadn’t seen before. “I didn’t know you had one of these,” she said in reference to the black Bentley coupe. She climbed in the passenger seat.

  “Paige, there are many things you don’t know about me, but I have a feeling that might change soon,” he said before closing the passenger door.

  Paige didn’t guess what he meant while watching him walk around the front of the vehicle and get in on the driver’s side. She didn’t care. She’d gotten her thrill for the evening.

  Chapter 22

  Awestruck, Paige surveyed the Windsor estate home. She had seen homes like this before but had never had the privilege of listing one. From her estimation, the European-style custom home was at least ten thousand square feet and sat on five acres of land. On the mile drive from the private road turnoff to the parking stalls, she’d admired the beautiful landscaping, the pond, and the rows of fruit trees that framed the perimeter of the property.

  “Wow, this is beautiful. I would love to see this place in the daylight,” Paige said.

  “Good. Next time we’ll come and hang out for the day. Maybe go horseback riding and then have a picnic or take a swim. You can swim, can’t you?”

  “Huh?” Paige turned to find him staring at her. She hadn’t realized she’d uttered the words out loud.

  “Can you swim?” he asked again.

  “Yeah, sure.” The rows of high-end luxury vehicles with personalized plates distracted her. So did the armed security officers roaming the grounds. Theoretically, Paige understood Sergio-Xavier was from a wealthy family, but how deep the wealth ran had eluded her until now. Tonight she’d be surrounded not only by doctors and lawyers, but also by CEOs of multimillion-dollar companies.

  He opened the passenger door after retrieving Lizzie from the trunk and extended his hand to Paige. “Shall we?”

  Paige hesitated, suddenly feeling insecure. “Not yet.”

  Sergio-Xavier misinterpreted her apprehension. “Sweetheart, don’t worry. My family won’t bite. They will ask a ton of questions, though.”

  “What if I don’t fit in? I’m not exactly on their level.”

  He reached in and took her hand. “You’re doing it again—judging people before you meet them. Not all wealthy people are arrogant snobs. We’re saved, remember? If you weren’t on my level, you wouldn’t be here. Just remember Psalm one-forty-one, three, and you’ll be fine.”

  “Okay,” she said and stepped from the car. “Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips,” she whispered when Sergio-Xavier placed his right index finger on an electronic screen and then entered the home.

  They stopped in a foyer that was larger than her living room. After setting Lizzie against the wall, Sergio-Xavier helped Paige remove her coat. Paige admired the marble flooring and crown molding while he hugged and greeted the housekeeper, who collected their coats.

  Sergio-Xavier’s firm hand resting on the small of her back and urging her forward cut short her admiration of the home’s interior. “Come on. I’ll show you around.”

  Paige latched on to his arm and walked through what seemed like a maze of rooms and then into a room, one she didn’t know whether to call a great room or a ballroom. Vaulted ceilings and soft natural colors gave the room an expansive look. The room contained a grand piano, two fireplaces, a bar, two sixty-inch, wall-mounted TVs, and a dance floor, along with leather furnishings. The buffet took up an entire wall.

  The people milling about the room were a true representation of California’s diversity. The Simones came in all shapes, sizes, and colors. The African American heritage dominated, but Caucasians were also prevalent. In terms of ethnicity, the French and the Latinos were well represented. From a quick scan of the crowd, Paige learned that while the Simones lived well and drove well, they didn’t wear their money on their backs. The majority of the people in the room had on simple clothing with little or no flashy jewelry.

  Paige recognized Pastors Reggie and Julia; her idol, Marcus, and his family; and Sergio-Xavier’s cousins from church, but she didn’t recognize the plump, fair-skinned woman with long, dark, curly hair rushing toward them with open arms. The man trailing behind her was an older version of Sergio-Xavier.

  “My baby!” The woman exclaimed and wrapped her arms around Sergio-Xavier’s neck.

  “Hey, son!” The man joined them in a group hug.

  Paige stood back, admiring the affection Sergio-Xavier and his parents shared. It reminded her of her own family, except Sergio-Xavier kissed both his mother and father on the cheek.

  His mother faced Paige, practically beaming, and elbowed her son in the side. His father stood beside his wife, wearing the same grin Paige had come to love. Paige chuckled at the not-so-subtle hint.

  Sergio-Xavier chuckled too. “Mom, Dad, this is my broker and friend, Paige McDaniels. Paige, these are my parents, Stephan and Teresa Simone.”

  “Happy anniversary. It’s nice to meet you.” Paige extended her hand, but Teresa knocked it away and gave her a bear hug. His father did likewise.

  “Welcome to our family,” Teresa said in English. Then she turned to her son and said in Spanish, “Hijo, ella es muy hermosa. Ya era hora que encontra
ras a una persona digna de tu amor y respeto.”

  Paige cringed, remembering what Sergio-Xavier had told her about what his mother had said about the last woman he brought home.

  “Ma!” Sergio-Xavier exclaimed.

  Teresa waved off her son’s concern and took Paige by the arm. “Come on. Let me introduce you to everyone.” She steered Paige away before she could telepathically plead with Sergio-Xavier for help.

  “You’ll be fine,” Paige heard him call after her.

  With each step, Paige silently recited Psalm 141:3 and at the same time wondered what Teresa had said about her.

  Teresa finally came to a stop in the eat-in kitchen, which was the size of Paige’s living room, kitchen, and formal dining room combined. “Everyone, this is Paige, Serg-X’s girlfriend,” Teresa announced to the room filled with women.

  “I don’t like him like that,” Paige said, trying to correct her, but Teresa talked over her and went around the room, making introductions. Within seconds Paige had met over thirty women, including the Simone matriarch, Grandma Ana. Halfway through the introductions Paige realized everyone was hugging her and ignoring her extended hand.

  “You catch on quick,” Teresa said once Paige stopped offering her hand.

  “Have a seat, baby.” Grandma Ana patted the empty chair beside her.

  Paige thought Grandma Ana looked pleasant enough. Even in old age the woman’s ebony skin glowed and her smile was welcoming. Paige let her guard down and sat in the chair. Before she could scoot the chair in, she realized she’d grossly underestimated Grandma Ana.

  “What I want to know first is, do you really know Jesus, or do you just attend church?” Grandma Ana began. “My grandson is a minister, and he can’t be tied down to a woman who doesn’t know Jesus. In fact, this whole family believes in the Jesus, born of the Virgin Mary, who was crucified on the cross, buried, and was resurrected on the third day, and is now seated at the right hand of God. Now, we don’t judge nobody’s spiritual beliefs, but if you don’t believe in Jesus, let us know now so we can pray the devil out of you, or pray you away before you officially join the family.”

  “I love the Lord. I know Jesus very well. Probably better than most of—” She left out the rest of what she was going to say as the scripture she’d been silently reciting raced through her head. “You don’t have to worry about me, because I don’t like Sergio-Xavier like that. We’re just friends.”

  “Uh-huh” echoed throughout the room.

  “So, how did you meet my son?” Teresa asked from behind her. “Was it at the food bank? What attracted you to him? It was that dimple, huh?”

  Paige turned to find not only Teresa waiting on the edge of her seat for the answers, but also everyone else.

  “Sergio-Xavier was referred to me by a mutual friend for real estate services. While he does have a cute dimple and an adorable smile, I’m not interested in Sergio-Xavier outside of business,” Paige informed them.

  “We don’t need to ask about your real estate business, but we would like to know about your family,” an aunt stated. “Where are you from? Do you have children? Do you want children? What are your views on divorce? Because we don’t advocate divorce in this family. We believe in sticking together and taking care of our own, but we need to know who you are first.”

  “Where do you stand with giving back to the community?” another aunt added. “You’re not a snob, are you?”

  Paige sighed and lowered her head and rubbed her temples, hoping to send the message that their questions were too much and unnecessary. Her plan failed. When she raised her head, all eyes were focused on her.

  To keep her voice from trembling, Paige slowly shared her family dynamics and then went on to answer every question. However, she wasn’t so sure if she was lying or not when she declared she wasn’t a snob.

  “So how much longer do you think the two of you will date?” Teresa asked. “We have a big family, and we need time to plan the wedding. Along with your parents, of course.”

  Paige stood from the table but didn’t raise her voice. “Just in case I wasn’t clear before, I’ll say it again. I don’t like Sergio-Xavier that way. We’re just friends.”

  “Girl, sit down,” Tara said as she barged into the kitchen with Staci and Lashay in tow. “If you say that long enough, you might believe it. If you didn’t like him, you wouldn’t have been mean mugging me at the food bank until you found out I was his sister.”

  The women laughed.

  Paige gasped and slumped back into the chair. She hadn’t meant to be so transparent.

  “You’re a bit uptight,” Tara continued, “but we’ll work the kinks out before the wedding. I will love you like a sister and will treat you as one, but if you mess over my brother, I’ll pistol-whip you with my gun and then repent.” Tara patted her shoulder. “So how many children do you and my brother plan on having?” she asked as if she hadn’t just threatened the woman.

  “I told you . . . ,” Paige began.

  “You don’t like him like that!” the crowd exclaimed in unison, finishing her thought. Then they laughed in Paige’s face.

  “Is everything all right in here?”

  Sergio-Xavier’s interruption was the distraction Paige needed, but the reprieve was short-lived.

  “Boy, get out of this kitchen and go on back in there with the men,” Grandma Ana ordered. “We got Ms. Paige covered. Tell your grandpa and your daddy to get you straight.”

  Obviously, he was used to this craziness, because Sergio-Xavier left without saying a word.

  Paige continued fielding questions from newly arrived cousins and aunts until Teresa announced it was time for the entertainment. Before heading back into the great room, Paige made a vow to apologize to Mother Scott and First Lady Drake. They were nowhere near as nosy as the Simone women.

  “How are you holding up?” Sergio-Xavier whispered in her ear from behind while she visited the buffet table.

  Paige started to sneer at him but then relaxed. “Honestly, I get where your family is coming from, but they have the wrong impression about us.”

  “And what impression is that?” he asked, reaching for a strawberry.

  “They think we’re a couple. Oh, before I forget . . . What did your mother say in Spanish about me?”

  He ate the strawberry before answering, and Paige knew he was stalling. “You don’t want to know,” he said finally.

  “Yes, I do.”

  “I’ll tell you later, I promise. Now eat.”

  Watching his back retreat, Paige wondered if he had set her up to be the laughingstock of the party. She didn’t have time to dwell on it; Teresa called her name and waved her over.

  “Sit next to me,” Teresa ordered. “You’re going to enjoy this. Alexis can really sing, and Serg-X isn’t bad, either.”

  Denying Teresa’s request would be useless, so Paige sat down. She’d indulge her now, but she was never coming back to any address where the Simones took up residence.

  By the time she finished feasting, it was time for Alexis to sing. Paige had to admit the six-year-old performed “Because You Loved Me” remarkably well. Paige doubted if most of the adults knew all the words to the song. Alexis received a standing ovation, and her father, uncle, and grandfather all gave her roses.

  “That is one spoiled child,” Teresa remarked. “The man who gets her will have a lot to live up to.”

  “I’ll be right back,” Paige said when Sergio-Xavier approached the microphone with Lizzie in hand. In record speed she tossed her trash and relaxed in the seat before he began playing.

  “This song is dedicated to my mother, from my father. Happy anniversary, Mom and Dad.” Sergio-Xavier said before he began playing.

  “You better play, boy,” someone yelled out.

  The first note Sergio-Xavier played of “When a Man Loves a Woman” sent Paige sliding to the edge of her seat, with her hand over her heart and her mouth agape. Sergio-Xavier told the truth. He made that tenor saxop
hone talk. She tuned out everything and everyone around her and concentrated on the fine man producing the magnificent sound. Every note sent Paige either moving from side to side or sliding forward, as if she were on a simulated ride. The first notes of the last stanza were so powerful, Paige slid off the chair and landed on her butt. She jumped up, hoping no one had noticed, but the snickers behind her were a clear indication she hadn’t moved fast enough.

  “It’s a good thing you don’t like my son. If you did, you might have fallen through the floor,” Teresa teased once Paige was seated again.

  Paige listened to the rest of the song with her hands gripping the sides of the chair.

  “Well, what did you think?” Sergio-Xavier asked when he joined her later with bottled water in hand. “Can I play or what? Before you conjure up a lie, I heard about your butt kissing the floor.”

  His smiled warmed her, and Paige couldn’t help but giggle. “I can’t stand you, and yes, babe, you can play. I loved you before, but tonight I fell in love with you and Lizzie.” Her giggles ceased when Sergio-Xavier choked on his water. That was when she realized what she’d said. Me and my big mouth, she thought, wanting to scream, but instead she turned away.

  Sergio-Xavier recovered and grabbed her hand. “Come on. Let’s dance.”

  Maybe he hadn’t heard the declaration, or maybe he didn’t care. Either way, Paige had to regain control of the situation.

  “I’m saved. You know I don’t dance,” she said, snatching her hand away. “I thought you were saved too.”

  He released her hand. “I’m not going to address you questioning my salvation. What’s wrong with dancing? We dance at every family gathering.”

  “That’s what heathens do,” she snapped.

  “For your information, everyone on the dance floor is a Christ follower, including your idol, Marcus.”

  Paige’s jaw fell when she spotted Marcus doing the Cupid Shuffle.

  “You fall out in high praise every time you turn on his CD. Would you call him a heathen?”

  Paige didn’t answer.