Sweet Sessions (Sweet Treat Series Book 3)

by Jamallah Bergman

  “How did you know all of that?” Charles asked who looked just as shocked as the rest of us.

  “My ex-girlfriend was also an AKA, so she told me all about it.” He smiled.

  This statement had me looking over at Aunt Reva who was still awestruck by what just happened.

  “So you have dated a black woman before huh?” She looked directly at me when she said this.

  Oh yes, I knew what she was thinking.

  Don’t even think about getting with that boy!

  “Alright everyone, dinner is ready.” Mom popped in with a smile on her face and an apron around her waist.

  “Great, because I am starving.” Aunt Reva quickly got up and made her way ahead of my dad and Charles.

  Anthony got up along with me and smirked. “Round two has been won by yours truly.”

  Lord help us all.

  When I say that Mom literally threw down on Sunday supper, I meant that, from the heart, because she LITERALLY killed it. Garlic Roasted Chicken with Vegetables, Butter Steamed New Potatoes, Okra and Tomatoes along with my Mom’s famous yeast rolls with homemade honey butter and for dessert. She made homemade Banana Pudding and her Buttery Pound Cake. My God to say that I was completely stuffed would have been the understatement of the year but man it was a good feeling.

  Then Anthony couldn’t stop praising my mom for her food which of course made her extremely happy. Before we went back to sitting down in the living room after we had finished our supper, Anthony told everyone, “I will be right back, I forgot something in my car,”

  I sat over on the loveseat.

  Charles sat on the edge of the couch nearby and he whispered to me, “I think Reva is starting to like her but of course it’s a bit too soon to be thinking that its true or not.” He chuckled.

  I wanted to elbow him, cause I did NOT think any of this was funny.

  When we heard the door open again, and saw him coming into the living room, he made his way over to my mom and dad with what looked like a CD case in hand.

  “Well what is this?” my Dad asked.

  “I had wanted to bring you both a gift since you were so nice to invite me to your church as well as into your home for supper. So I decided to bring you this token of my appreciation for having me here today. I hope you enjoy it.” He handed the case to my mom.

  She was smiling at it and then up at him as he came over and sat down next to me. “What is that?”

  “You’ll see.” He gave her a wink.

  Mom handed it over to Dad who went to put it into the CD player. Once he hit the button for it to play, I was shocked when I heard my voice starting to sing my parents favorite song Summertime. Looking over at him, Anthony was smiling and when he looked over at my parents, they both were gazing lovingly at each other as he took her by the hand and kissed it. It was always sweet seeing my parents being affectionate with each other. Sure, most kids would have wanted to gag when they saw their parents all cuddling and kissing one another. I had always enjoyed their showing of affection. I often times even was envious of them when I got older as I had yet to find a love like theirs.

  “You sound beautiful baby,” my dad told me still smiling at my mom as I saw him get up with her hand still in his as he took her in his arms and began to dance. All along, they kept staring into each other’s eyes, swaying slowly to the music while I continued to sing.

  “I can’t believe you did this for them,” I told him, still watching my parents dancing.

  “Well, I thought that since you said this was their favorite song then it might be nice that they could have a copy of it, something they can have to listen to always. It seems they like it.”

  I looked over at Charles who was still watching over me and Anthony while Aunt Reva had been watching my parents with a smile on her face like the rest of us.

  It was around eight before Aunt Reva and Charles left but Anthony didn’t leave until about a little after nine which my Mom was sad to see him go, even though I had caught her yawning off and on. “You will have to come back by and have dinner with us again sometime. I can say that we’ve enjoyed you so much with us today.” My mom told him while he held her hand at the door.

  “Again, I thank you both for having me in your home this evening and getting the chance to meet and talk with you both. I really had a wonderful time and I plan on having some of this pudding tomorrow for dinner, heck I probably will end up having it for breakfast. I wish you both good night.”

  My mom gave him a big hug while dad shook his hand.

  Pressing the button on his key bob, we made our way towards his car. I began yawning because I was growing tired from all that I had eaten earlier.

  “Dinner got you too huh?” He smiled.

  “Yeah Mom sure knows how to make a good meal,” I told him as he opened the car door. “So tomorrow we will get back to work then huh?”

  “That’s right, but I have to say that I think this demo will be the best I’ve made so far.” He nodded.

  “Oh really, I would have thought that with all of the others you’ve done over the years, that mine would be just one of the many.”

  “Not really, I think out of all the ones I’ve done, I only have five that I really loved, and so far yours is one of those five. I’ll see you tomorrow, same time.” At that moment, he brought out his hand for me to shake it and when I did, he ended up kissing it instead to which I couldn’t help but laugh a bit by this display. He got into his car as I waved when he pulled off down the street. It wasn’t until I got back in and passed by the living room when I heard, “He’s a very nice fella.”

  Looking over I saw my dad sitting in his chair with a contented smile on his face. I knew he was full and happy from not only the meal but by what had happened earlier when they danced. “That he is.” I leaned up against the side of the opening into the living room. “I wasn’t expecting him to do that tape though, that was a big shock that’s for sure.”

  “Well, I can tell you that he did well and you did beautiful as always baby. I really can’t wait to hear the demo he does for you.”

  Walking over to him, I bent down to kiss his forehead as he took my hand and kissed it.

  “Headed for bed?” he asked.

  “Yeah, I’ve got to rest my voice and mind before heading into work. Don’t stay down here too long.”

  “I won’t Butterbean, I promise. Sweet dreams.”

  “Sweet dreams.” I made my way upstairs as I passed by my parent’s room, watching as my mom was getting her gown from behind the door of the bathroom. She always hung her nightgown on the back of the door when she had taken her bath in the morning and would put it on after she took a bath at night. She was very religious about doing that which growing up I found odd but as I got older, I found this useful myself because I had picked it up when I would wear the same pajama top for a day or two before I would put something else on.

  “I’m headed for bed.”

  “Alright, sweetheart.” Fixing her gown, she gave me a hug and then a kiss on the cheek as she looked at me. “I think he’s a keeper.”

  “What?”

  “He’s most definitely a keeper sweetie, if he asked you out on a date. I would go for it in a heartbeat.”

  “You know you are crazy momma, I love you to bits, but you are crazy.”

  “I saw how he looked at you when we were eating, when you both were talking at the dinner table and especially while you both were sitting in the living room. I could see it in his eyes how much he admired you.”

  I really didn’t want to believe what my mom was telling me but when I knew she was telling the truth, I would notice that playful twinkle in her eye. You would think that it was just the sun in her eyes casting off a twinkle but of course, that wasn’t the case.

  I saw that twinkle….she isn’t lying.

  Before I could say anything, she said, “Just head for bed sweetheart, just think on it for a while and eventually, you will see it for yourself.” Giving me another kiss
but this time on my forehead, she shooed me out of her room.

  For the rest of that week, I couldn’t get what my mom had told me that Sunday evening….

  Just think on it for a while and eventually, you will see it for yourself

  So that’s what I did while I worked and when we did our sessions during the week. I would watch his mannerisms while I sang even though when I would be singing, I rarely looked at him, or what he was doing. But this time I did, and I could see him watching me intensely with a smile on his face which made me feel kind of shy, a feeling that I hadn’t felt in years. I would notice this throughout our session time, how he would look at me with eyes of admiration.

  After redoing about three of my songs that week, on Friday we ended up just chilling around his loft while he played some Miles Davis. I was sitting in his living room when he brought over a tray with some tea for me and coffee for him along with some shortbread cookies he told me had gotten from a local bakery. “So how much longer do we have until the demo is done?”

  “Actually we are coming into the home stretch with this really, I think after I go over some of the songs again and listen to them, then we should be done. If not, then I’ll let you know for sure but really and truly I think we are almost done.” He took a sip of his coffee while I grabbed a cookie, dipping into my tea and taking a bite. “How are the cookies?”

  “Delicious, really buttery too, you should dip it into your coffee,” I suggested.

  So, he took it and dipped that cookie into the coffee and ate it. “Damn, that is good.”

  I chuckled while taking another sip. “So what do you have planned for Saturday?”

  “Well, just like I told you, my friend has something going on and I plan on taking you there. A friend of mine told me the exhibit is amazing and I should know because my friend, she does beautiful work. She was always artistic when we were growing up, me with my music and she with her paints and clay.”

  “I can’t wait to see her work. It’s been a long time since I’ve been to an art exhibit.”

  “So I’ll pick you up at say around six and we can have dinner if you like.” He ran his fingers through his hair.

  I watched him and had to admit his hair always looked amazing. “I’d like that.” I smiled “And I live over at Garden Hills Condos at Apartment C eighteen. You can call me on my cell and let me know and I can come out.”

  “No we don’t have to do that. I’ll come and pick you up myself.” He gave me that dazzling smile of his.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Since we were going to this art exhibit, I decided to just wear something simple for the evening since I knew it would be a warm one. I decided to wear a Bohemian shirt made by a friend of mine who made eclectic clothing. I loved it so much and often wore it when I went out. I paired it with black mini skirt and a pair of black block heel shoes. I wore my hair up and off my neck and a pair of medium gold hoop earrings. I looked myself over in the full length mirror, making sure that my top was straight along with my hair which I had touched up at least about ten times already.

  But you should have seen how I had been acting earlier. When I woke up that day, my main intention was to figure out what I had planned to wear tonight. Well, I can say that what normally took me usually an hour literally took five and I had everything that was in my closet on the floor, on my bed, basically everywhere. When I was trying to figure out about wearing my hair and that lasted all but three hours to figure whether I would wear it down or up. I almost fell asleep in the tub because I felt like I had worn myself out from looking for a simple outfit to go out with a friend.

  But why did it feel like this was a date to me?

  Nah…it’s not a date at all. Stop worrying about it geez.

  As I sprayed some perfume along my neck, the doorbell rang which jolted me for a moment. Gathering up my purse, I made my way towards the door. “Who is it?”

  “It’s me Anthony.”

  I opened the door.

  He stood there with a long stemmed red rose in his hand and a look of shock when he saw me standing there. “Wow!”

  I smiled but eventually, ended up giggling by his reaction. “Glad you like, that’s sweet of you to bring me a rose.”

  “Well, let’s head to the restaurant, I made reservations for us.”

  Closing the door behind me, I followed him towards the parking lot and to his car as he opened the door for me.

  O.K…..this has to be a date right….because he gave me a flower. Then we are having dinner too. Jesus Mel, don’t go mental.

  I didn’t realize that he had made reservations to one of the most expensive restaurants in town….Classico. This was the type of restaurant that if you wanted a table for tonight, you would have to call in about two months in advance. Usually, when you order something from a restaurant and you end up coming back and ordering the same thing. This is not what would happen when you went to Classico because every week, it would be something completely different.

  “I can’t believe you got reservations to Classico. How the hell did you do this?” I asked when the valet had opened the door for me as I got out.

  When he came over and we walked our way towards the entrance, he didn’t answer my question.

  We were met by a maître d who kind of looked like Reese Witherspoon. “Hello and welcome to Classico, do you have reservations?”

  “Yes, I have a reservation under the name Stone for two.” He then looked over at me. “And as far as your question as to how I got reservations for this place…” We continued walking through the candlelit room, further towards the back as we made it to our table. He pulled out the chair for me to sit in then went and sat down across from me. “…Let’s just say that the guy who is the head chef owes me a huge favor.” He smiled as the girl handed us our menus.

  Looking over it, I was shocked at the prices because honestly, an appetizer would be the same amount as if you were getting two and this wasn’t even for the damn salad. “How in the hell can you afford this?”

  “Don’t worry about it. Just order something that you’ve always wanted to try,” he told me, still smiling brilliantly at me then gazing down at his menu.

  I ended up ordering Ossobuco served with a very delicious risotto while he had ordered Spaghetti alle vongole which I couldn’t help from time to time picking some of the clams from his plate. We had a blast doing that though. “Next time I plan on ordering this that is when that next time will be.”

  “Well, you are more than welcome to join me whenever my friend gives me the chance to come and enjoy a free meal. He doesn’t mind if I bring a friend.”

  “Oh really, you got it like that huh?” I joked.

  “Not all the time, only at this place do I have it like that. I just do a lot of things for people and of course, I get paid in return for the help.”

  “It must make you feel good to be able to do so much for others.”

  “Sometimes it does. Can I ask you something?”

  “Sure.” Taking my glass of white wine, I knew I should have waited for him to say what he was going to say first before I even took that sip.

  “Why hasn’t anyone snatched you up yet?”

  I literally choked and began coughing to catch my breath, waving my hand over my face to get some air coming to it. Eventually, I calmed myself to where I took a quick sip of water and I looked over at his concerned face and gave him a small smile. “Don’t ever do that again.”

  “Do what? I didn’t expect you to almost lose a lung by me asking you why you haven’t got someone in your life yet.”

  “I was just shocked that you asked me that. I mean that’s kind of personal you know.”

  “I think at this time in our relationship that we’ve gone past the being shocked moment.”

  Relationship? “True you are right, we are past that point, but I’m just not interested in getting with anyone right now. My music is my main priority right now. Also, the last relationship I had really didn’t go that
well, too much arguing over what he wanted me to be in the relationship which was basically subservient to him and his needs and for me to put mine on the back burner.”

  “That’s not right. He should have been more supportive of you.”

  “He did at first in the relationship but after a while, he got pretty demanding and I got tired and aggravated with his ways, so I left him. But I have family and friends, so I’m content with that.” I took another careful sip of water.

  Anthony gazed softly at me almost like he was admiring me for what I just said.

  This made me a bit uncomfortable but I still played it off like it was nothing.

  Just think on it for a while and eventually, you will see it for yourself.

  Stop that momma.

  The art exhibit was being held at the Collection, a high end art gallery that sold art made by local artists. They would have exhibits every two weeks and would often bring people from two towns over. Tonight was no exception because Anthony had to go around the block at least twice to find a good parking spot.

  The atmosphere inside was filled with excitement and merriment as the people were talking and admiring the many paintings lining the walls.

  “Do you want something to drink? I think they are serving champagne?” Anthony asked me.

  “Oh no, I’m fine thanks, where is your friend?”

  Taking me by the hand, we made our way through the crowd of people. Even as people were bumping me as I continued on behind him, Anthony held my hand for dear life. I had to admit I liked how his hand felt in mine. It was strong yet gentle. Honestly, I didn’t want him to stop.

  When we came into a clearing, he didn’t let go of me. “Hey Ashley.” He waved over towards a couple who were engaged in conversation until he had shouted out the woman’s name.

  She had to have been in her fifties at least and wore a flower shawl around her shoulders which were bare in her black dress that went below her knee. She was in excellent shape I had to admit but it was her hair that stood out besides what she was wearing. It was long and silver along her shoulders and down back. “Anthony!”