“Clarissa says it’s hard too because you hate her mom now.”
At that, Korey flinched. “I don’t hate Cindy.”
And the last person he wanted to think he hated Cynthia was Clarissa. He would love to take on more of a fatherly role with his daughter in the future—if she would allow it. He had missed so many years and milestones. He didn’t want more of them to slip away. But his relationship with Clarissa was complicated at best, and he didn’t want anything making it even more complicated—like her believing he hated her mother.
“But you’re mad at her mom, though?”
“Of course I’m mad, Jared! The woman dumped me to marry some rich guy, then lied for almost twenty damn years about who was the father of her baby!” He tightened the tie knot, making Jared wince. “She dragged me around Las Vegas for two days and didn’t say a damn thing about the fact that she thought you guys were brother and sister! I mean, who does that? She lies as a reflex! Cindy is a lying, manipulative, money-hungry, coldhearted b—”
“Pops, you’re choking me,” Jared squeaked, reaching for his throat.
“Oh, I’m sorry!” Korey exclaimed, dropping his hands as Jared tugged the knot open and gasped for air. He reached for Jared’s collar again. “I can fix—”
“No!” Jared held up his hand and stepped back with widened eyes. “No, I got it, Pops! Thanks.”
Korey grimaced.
After Jared finally regained his breath, he eyed Korey. “I don’t know, Pops. You said you don’t hate her, but that all sounds like hate to me.”
“I don’t hate her, Jared!”
“Hate” wasn’t the right word. He was furious at Cynthia. He was disappointed that every time he lowered his guard and bothered to trust her, it inevitably came back to bite him in the ass. He was hurt that she could take his love and squander it so casually, even after all these years.
Hurt—yes! That was the right four-letter word in this instance. Cynthia Gibbons knew how to hurt a man, how to rip his heart and his ego to shreds. Korey felt like the world’s biggest fool for letting her do it to him again, even though he should have known better. Twenty years had passed, but he still was none the wiser.
She was just the wrong bet, he told himself, like that twenty-thousand-dollar spin on the roulette wheel back in Vegas. She always has been.
Korey shook his head. “You don’t understand, son. You’ll see what I mean one day when—”
“I get older?” Jared sucked his teeth. “I hate it when old folks say stuff like that! Trust me, Pops. I’m old enough to know what I’m talking about. You hate Miss Gibbons, but she doesn’t hate you. Clarissa said her mom is strung out over you, and Miss Gibbons doesn’t get strung out over just any dude!”
Korey flopped back into his lounger. “Strung out? Uh-huh. When pigs fly,” he muttered before raising his beer bottle back to his lips.
“I’m serious, Pops!” Jared adjusted his jacket collar and sat in the chair facing Korey. “Clarissa said the lady cries every night! Miss Gibbons tries to mask the sound with Sade and tired jazz music, but Clarissa can still hear her. She said it goes on for hours. It’s really depressing.”
Korey stopped mid-sip and frowned. Crying for hours?
“It’s really messed up,” Jared continued absently as he stared at the television screen. “Clarissa said she’s never liked any of her mom’s boyfriends, but she hopes her mom finds one soon so she’ll lighten up, so it will distract Miss Gibbons.” Jared sucked his teeth again, this time at the game replay on the screen. “Oh, snap! How’d he miss that shot?”
Korey slowly lowered his bottle back to the end table, his beer now forgotten. Cynthia wasn’t really that torn up, was she? She certainly wasn’t that torn up over him!
“But you heard Jared,” the annoying voice in his head insisted. “Why would Clarissa lie? She said she heard Cindy crying, didn’t she?”
Korey furiously shook his head.
No, he told himself, no, I’m not falling for this again!
There was no way that Cynthia Gibbons was shedding any tears over him. Maybe she was crying over the years of child support she’d have to pay back her ex once he discovered he wasn’t Clarissa’s father. That’s probably it, Korey thought with a snort. If Cynthia had to take a hit to her wallet, it would certainly make her start weeping. But she wouldn’t shed any tears over a man. That wasn’t her style.
“Tell Clarissa not to worry about Cindy,” Korey said. “Her mother knows how to bounce back. Nothing keeps that woman down. And tell her that I don’t hate Cindy. I don’t ever want Clarissa to think that.”
Jared stood from the couch. “Tell her yourself. Tell her at the party tonight.”
“An engagement party isn’t the time or the place for a conversation like that, son.”
“Then when is the time and place, Pops?”
Korey opened his mouth to reply, but clamped it shut. It was pointless. He wasn’t going to any party, especially one Cynthia would attend. He didn’t care how much Jared argued with him.
He watched as Jared walked toward the front door. The young man grabbed a set of car keys from a hook on the wall.
“All right, I’m out, Pops,” Jared proclaimed. “And I’m taking the Taurus.”
“Fine,” Korey said, returning his attention to the television screen. “Make sure you don’t leave the tank empty this time. The damn thing was on E after the last time you took it! And don’t lose your cell phone again, either. Oh, and be back by—”
“Midnight.” Jared rolled his eyes and opened the front door. “I know. Clarissa said she has to be back by then too.”
She better be back by then, Korey thought. No daughter of his would be out into the wee hours of the morning.
At least Korey didn’t have to play the role of the protective dad and give Jared a lecture about treating Clarissa respectfully. That was the one perk of this whole debacle. He had raised Clarissa’s boyfriend and taught Jared everything he knew. Jared was a good kid, a kid that Korey had no qualms about dating his daughter.
“You guys have fun tonight!” he called after Jared.
“Bye, Pops!” Jared then shut the door behind him, leaving Korey to the soft murmur of the television and relative quiet of the empty house.
For the next thirty minutes, Korey tried to return his attention to ESPN and tried to enjoy his beer, but he could do neither. Instead, Jared’s words kept nagging at him.
Was Clarissa really that worried about her mother? Did Clarissa believe his feelings toward Cynthia were affecting his relationship with his daughter?
“Well, you haven’t really talked to Clarissa since this whole thing came to light,” the voice in his head argued. “Why wouldn’t she think that you aren’t talking to her because you hate her mother?”
But that couldn’t be any further from the truth! He wasn’t avoiding Clarissa. He was just as confused about how to handle this as the kids were. He wanted to reach out to Clarissa, to tell her that he was here for her to talk to if she wanted, but he wasn’t sure how to approach her. They had been virtual strangers a few months ago. Now they were father and daughter and, to make matters even more thorny, Clarissa was dating the boy Korey had raised as his son. There was no road map on how to handle any of this, but Korey was willing to try. He was willing to come as close as he possibly could to making things right for all of them.
“Then tell her all of that, Pops,” he could hear Jared urge in his head.
Korey grimaced again and glanced at the clock on the living room wall, wondering if he still had a copy of the invitation to the engagement party.
“Where are they having this damn thing anyway?” he grumbled.
An hour later, Korey stepped into Le Bayou Bleu, feeling like he had unwittingly parachuted behind enemy lines. The restaurant was filled with people, and among the crowd he spotted a few of the Gibbons girls. They were hard not to notice. The sisters were some of the most attractive women in the room. One Gibbons girl in particu
lar strode toward him with a wineglass in her hand. She wore a gold silk, one-shoulder cocktail dress and turquoise-and-diamond bracelet and earrings that gleamed off her dark skin, making the tall, regal beauty look like a modern-day Somali queen. When she saw Korey, a grin spread across her face.
“Oh, my God!” Dawn exclaimed. “You actually came!”
He frowned. “You guys didn’t want me to come?”
“No, it’s just . . .” She waved her hand and shook her head. “Never mind. I’m just surprised, that’s all! Cindy was sure you wouldn’t show up. She is definitely gonna pee her pants when she sees that you’re here!” Dawn looped her arm through his and turned to guide him toward the onyx bar, where more than a dozen people stood. “Let me take you to her. She’s holding court by—”
“I didn’t come to see Cindy.” He tugged his arm out of Dawn’s grasp. “I was going to find Clarissa and maybe give my congrats to the happy couple. That’s it.”
“Oh.” Dawn’s smile faded. “Well, uh, Clarissa is around here . . . somewhere. I think I saw her and Jared over there a while ago.” She pointed off into the distance. Her brows furrowed as she leaned toward him. “Are you sure you don’t want me to take you to Cindy?” she whispered. “I know she’d really, really love to see you, Korey.”
Korey clenched his jaw. “No disrespect, Dawn, but I think I’ll pass on that one.”
Dawn released a slow, deflating breath, then nodded. “Sure, I understand. Like I said, Clarissa and Jared are around here somewhere. Can I get you a drink, though? Would you like some wine or champagne?”
He shook his head. “No, thanks. I’ll just look for the kids, if you don’t mind.”
He could feel Dawn’s eyes on him as he walked away and crossed the restaurant, easing his way through the throng of well-wishers. Dawn had looked disappointed when he had said he had no interest in talking to her sister, but he was just being honest. If he managed not to cross paths with Cynthia the entire night, that would suit him fine. Clarissa was his objective—not her mother.
Korey looked around him, searching for his daughter while admiring the restaurant where Stephanie Gibbons and her fiancé were holding their engagement party. He knew Lauren, the youngest Gibbons sibling, was the head chef here, though he had never eaten at the restaurant.
It was an impressive space, with its rich mahogany wood paneling and sumptuous semicircular booths decorated with cream-colored fabric embellished with a navy blue damask pattern. In addition to the small pendant chandelier over each booth, an oversized chandelier cascading with crystal hung over the onyx bar. Across from the bar was a live band that played soul music, though, to be honest, Korey could barely hear the band above the banter and laughter around him.
Korey squinted and peered at the crowd again. He finally spotted Clarissa and Jared several feet away, dancing near a group of dining tables. Korey walked toward them and lightly tapped Jared on the shoulder, making Jared turn around. The young man’s eyes widened when he realized who was standing behind him.
“Pops?” Jared shouted over the music. “What are you doing here?”
“Mr. Walker!” Clarissa cried, looking at that moment like her mother and every bit as beautiful. She cringed when she realized what she had called him. “I-I mean, Dad . . . I-I-I mean, Korey . . . I-I . . .” Her shoulders slumped as her words faded. “I’m so sorry. I’m still not used to this.”
Korey chuckled. “Don’t worry about it. Can I cut in for sec, son?”
“Oh, yeah! Sure!” Jared nodded, stepping away from Clarissa. “I’m gonna get something to eat. I’ll be right back.”
Clarissa nodded.
As Jared walked away, disappearing to the buffet table, Korey and Clarissa stood awkwardly on the makeshift dance floor, staring at each other. Korey finally held out his hand to her as the band began a few bars of another song—a slow one. It sounded vaguely like a Smokey Robinson tune.
“I don’t know if I have the same skills as Jared, but I’m a decent dancer, if you want to give it a try,” he said to Clarissa, making her smile.
“I’d love to. Thanks for asking.”
She took his hand and placed her other hand on his shoulder. They began their first father/daughter dance under the low lights of the restaurant. After a few minutes, Clarissa leaned back to look up at him.
“I’m surprised you’re here. Jared said you weren’t coming.”
“He was right. I wasn’t—at first. I changed my mind, though. I wanted to have the chance to talk to you.”
She raised her brows. “Talk to me about what?”
“About everything that’s happened, about finding out I’m your . . . well, you know, your father. I haven’t done a great job of communicating with you, and I’m sorry about that.”
“You don’t have to apologize.” Clarissa shrugged. “It’s okay. I know it’s complicated, especially considering how you feel about my mom and—”
“Let me stop you right there. How I feel about your mother has nothing to do with my relationship with you, and I want you to know that.” He stepped back from her. “Look, I’m here for you in any way you want me to be. If you want me just to be Jared’s dad to you like before, I’ll do that. If you want me to be that wisecracking old man down the street who you go to for advice, I’ll do that too. But if you really want me to be a father to you, I’d be honored and more than happy to do that.” He held up his hands. “I’m not trying to replace your real dad, the one that raised you, but—”
“There isn’t much to replace.” Clarissa’s eyes drifted to the hardwood floor. “My dad has been doing his own thing in Chicago with his other family for years. We barely talk. I see him every once in a while. That’s about it.”
Korey’s face fell. “I’m sorry to hear that.”
She shrugged again and finally raised her dark eyes. “It’s okay. I’m used to it. It hurt my feelings when I was younger, but not so much anymore. You get over it.”
“But you shouldn’t have to ‘get over it.’ I won’t do that to you, Clarissa. If you want me to be there for you, I always will be.”
“Thank you.”
“I mean it,” he said emphatically. “I’m always here.”
“I believe you, Korey . . . and I appreciate it.”
“And maybe someday next week I could stop by. We could have lunch or something.”
“That would be nice.”
“What? You aren’t dancing anymore?” Jared asked between bites of deviled egg and caviar.
Korey turned to Jared, shaking his head at the young man, who was smacking his lips. “No, I think we’re done. You can have your lady back now.”
“That’s good,” Jared said as he licked his fingers and focused on Clarissa,” because your mom told me to come and get you. They’re about to do the toast to your aunt.”
“Oh, okay, I’ll be right there.” Clarissa looked as if she was going to walk away, but then she stopped. She suddenly turned, grabbed Korey’s hand, and squeezed it affectionately. “You’re going to stay, right?”
Korey paused. He hadn’t planned to stay. He had already done what he came here to do.
“At least stay for the toast,” she said, noticing his uncertainty. “Please?”
Korey gradually nodded. “Sure.”
He followed the young couple back across the restaurant to the bar. As they neared it, Korey spotted Stephanie Gibbons—the bride to be—talking with another woman. Cynthia’s sister Stephanie was still as pretty as Korey remembered—though a little plumper. Stephanie’s arm was wrapped around a tall, dark-skinned man, and she was beaming as she broke away from her conversation and gazed up at him. Korey assumed the man was Stephanie’s fiancé. Beside Stephanie stood Yolanda Gibbons. Shockingly, the older woman’s smile seemed genuine. Jared had mentioned that Clarissa’s grandmother hadn’t been too happy with Stephanie marrying a man like Keith, one the older woman felt was beneath her, which didn’t surprise Korey in the slightest. If a guy wasn’t a millionaire,
then Yolanda would never consider him good enough for any of her daughters. But he was surprised to see Yolanda happy today.
I wonder if someone slipped something into her drink, he thought sarcastically.
Next to Yolanda were Lauren and a muscular guy who nearly towered over her. Korey recognized that guy instantly. That was Crisanto Weaver, the former football star and likely future mayor of Chesterton. Korey had heard good things about him.
He scanned the crowd again, wondering where Cynthia was. Finally, he spotted her. She walked hand in hand with Clarissa toward the rest of the family. When he saw her, he felt a sharp stab to the chest that was all too familiar.
Damn, he thought. Of course, she looked gorgeous. Would it have been too much to ask for her to look bad tonight—just a little?
She probably had half the single men in the room salivating.
Cynthia wore a simple black cocktail dress that was cut low in the front and flowed around her hips. The hem stopped just a few inches above the knees. She was wearing her hair down today, letting her blond curls cascade around her shoulders. Her makeup and jewelry were understated, but she still shone like a lighthouse beacon in the room.
“Hello! Hi, everyone!” Dawn’s voice said over the loudspeaker as the band finished its last few notes. A tall, light-skinned man stood behind her, motioning for the band to stop playing. He then whispered something into Dawn’s ear and kissed her cheek. She nodded and tapped the cordless mike in her hand. “Hey, everyone! Over here! If I could have your attention, please?”
The clamor in the room died down as Dawn waved frantically from where she stood near the band.
“Thank you, everyone, for coming tonight to celebrate the engagement of my sister, the indomitable, sexy, and oh-so-fabulous Stephanie Gibbons—”
Stephanie did a little hip wiggle and blew a kiss to everyone in the room, causing uproarious laughter from the crowd.
“—and her handsome and ever-so-patient fiancé, Keith Hendricks!”
Keith pumped his fist into the air, making the audience break into applause.
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