My Destiny

by Adrianne Byrd

“Hello,” the stranger greeted in kind, and then excused herself without any further ado.

  Destiny poked her head around the door and smiled at her mother, Adele. “It’s about time you got here.” She looked around. “Where is Jasmine?” She referred to her mother’s feline.

  Adele jutted a finger at the woman who had just left the apartment and was now banging on the door across the hall. “A friend of yours?”

  “Not hardly. Come on in.”

  Adele crossed the threshold into the apartment just as the door across the hall jerked open.

  “Gina.”

  Adele and Destiny turned toward the startled male voice in the hallway.

  Gina pushed her way into Miles’s apartment, yelling at the top of her lungs.

  Miles poked his head out into the hallway and his gaze swept toward Destiny and her mother. He gave them an embarrassed smile. “Good morning, ladies.”

  “I knew it!” Gina’s voice reached a new octave.

  Miles rolled his eyes, and then ducked back into his apartment just as the sound of two women’s voices filled the hallway.

  Adele turned toward her daughter.

  Destiny could only shake her head. “Please don’t ask.” She shut the door behind her mother, but they were still able to hear the commotion across the hall. “How ghetto is that?”

  “You told me not to ask.”

  Destiny shook her head determined to put all thoughts of her philandering neighbor aside, but failed. “That man is something else.”

  “He is a handsome devil. I’ll give him that much.”

  “And milking it for all it’s worth. I’ve been here less than twenty-four hours and I already don’t like him.”

  Adele looked at her daughter with a spark of curiosity. “Is that so?”

  Destiny frowned. “What?”

  “Nothing.” Her mother shrugged, and then moved past Destiny to head for the kitchen. “I sure hope you have a pot of coffee on. I’m ready for a caffeine fix.”

  “A caffeine fix? You’ve been watching too much TV.”

  “Agreed. Which is why I intend to go on a seven-day

  vacation and I want you to go with me.”

  “Come again?” Destiny followed her mother into the kitchen. “You know I can’t do that. I just started a new job and have been handed my first case. I can’t just pick up and leave right now.”

  “How do you know unless you ask?”

  Destiny plopped her hands on her hips. “You’ve got to be kidding me, right?”

  Adele threw her hands up as if frustrated by some unknown burden, but she remained mute to whatever was troubling her.

  “What’s wrong, Mom?”

  “Nothing’s wrong. Can’t a mother want to spend time with her daughter if she wants? I hardly see you anymore. And since your father passed way, the house...”

  Destiny watched the shift of emotion on her mother’s face. “What about the house?”

  Adele’s transformation was nearly complete. Twice before Destiny had seen this fragile, almost vulnerable side of her mother. The first time was when she’d learned of Adam’s death, and then again as she stood beside her husband’s casket.

  “The house is so empty...and haunted.”

  Startled, Destiny blinked; sure she hadn’t heard her correctly. “What do you mean haunted?”

  Adele gave an embarrassed laugh and shook her head. “I don’t mean I see ghosts roaming around the house or anything like that. I just mean...” She shook her head and took a deep breath. “I have memories in every corner of that house. Some good ones and some bad.” She lowered her gaze, suddenly fascinated by her hands.

  Destiny’s heart went out to her.

  “It’s funny,” Adele went on to say. “I always thought I’d cherish those memories. Now, I dread whenever I turn a corner—afraid one day I’ll see your father standing there.”

  “Or Adam?” Destiny asked.

  Adele’s head snapped up. Her gaze locked with her daughter’s. Before she could speak, tears shimmered and trickled over her lashes.

  “Oh, Momma.” Destiny embraced her mother as if she was a fragile child. “Sometimes I feel as if I’m haunted by them, as well,” Destiny confessed. “Why don’t you put the house up for sale? There’s no need to keep putting yourself through this.”

  Adele pulled out of her daughter’s arms and shook her head. “I considered it, but for the same reasons I dread the memories, I love the house. Your father and I have always loved it there. If I were to sell it now, I’d feel like I was betraying his memory.”

  “But you have to do something.”

  “I am,” Adele said, wiping at her tears. “I’m taking a vacation and I would like for you to come with me.”

  Destiny pulled away. “I can’t do that. I mean I wish I could, but I simply can’t.”

  Adele drew in a deep breath and nodded in understanding. “Still off to conquer the world?”

  “Just determined to make a difference.”

  “Are you sure that’s all?”

  Their leveled gazes locked.

  Destiny knew her mother didn’t understand her motivation to redeem the Brockman name so she did the only thing she could. She lied. “I’m sure.”

  Chapter 4

  Violet Stafford couldn’t wait to introduce her new friend, Adele Brockman, as her new bridge partner to the rest of the girls. She was sure they’d love the intriguing widow as much as she.

  Violet had met Adele last month at a charity auction and they’d immediately hit it off. After comparing stories, they’d discovered they knew some of the same people and had at one time or another traveled in the same circles. It was a wonder they hadn’t met until now.

  What fascinated Violet were Adele’s stories about her daughter. She sounded positively delightful; smart, pretty and, most of all, single. If only Violet could somehow manage to get Miles’s mind off family curses and whatnot, and concentrate on settling down and giving Violet what she longed for—grandchildren.

  The doorbell rang and jarred Violet out of her thoughts. She set down the glass pitcher of iced tea and rushed to answer the door.

  “Adele,” Violet exclaimed with outstretched arms and a heartfelt smile. “I’m so glad you were able to make it.”

  Adele entered the house and accepted Violet’s embrace. “Your directions were great. I had no trouble finding the place.” She pulled out of her friend’s arms and took in her surroundings while Violet closed the door. “What a lovely home you have.”

  “Why, thank you. This place was a labor of love for me and my husband—along with our son, of course.” Violet’s smile faltered when she witnessed a strange shadow cast over her friend’s eyes. “What is it? Did I say something wrong?”

  Adele waved her off. “Oh, no. Don’t be silly. Are the other girls here yet?”

  “No. You’re the first to arrive. May I take your jacket?”

  “Sure.” Adele slid out of the tailor-made jacket and handed it over. “Now I want you to be patient with me. I haven’t played bridge in quite some time now. So I’m warning you, I may be a little rusty.”

  “No problem. I’ll make sure I tell the girls to take it easy on us.”

  They laughed.

  “Come on, I’ll give you the grand tour,” Violet said.

  “Lead the way.”

  The tour of the house only took a few minutes and Adele adored everything she saw. She even said she and Violet shared the same taste when it came to decorating.

  “So, did you finally mention to your daughter the trip we talked about?” Violet asked when they returned to the living room.

  “Yes. In fact, I saw her this morning. I even tried to get her to travel with me.”

  “She didn’t want to go?” Violet asked, amazed.

  “It’s not so much that she doesn’t want to go, but that she can’t right now.”

  “Oh, I’m so sorry. I thought it was a great chance for you to get away.”

  “I didn’t s
ay I wasn’t going.”

  Violet brightened. “Well, that’s great news.”

  “I want you to come with me,” Adele announced with an uplifted chin.

  “What?”

  “Why not? You told me your son was busy with his career, and that you had a lot of time on your hands. So why can’t we both go off to Belize?”

  Violet blinked, and then thought about it. There really wasn’t a reason why she couldn’t go. In fact, when was the last time she went on a vacation? “You know, you just might be on to something.” She glanced at her watch and wondered what was keeping Miles. She wanted to introduce him to Adele. If she liked him, which Violet held no doubts that she would, then Violet would suggest, quite innocently, of course, that their children meet.

  Violet hid a slight smile. It really was a good plan now that she thought about it. She glanced at her watch again. Now, if she could just get her slothful son to show up.

  * * *

  After a morning of dealing with his ex-flame’s shenanigans, Miles was finally free to check out the leak at his mother’s

  house. The life of a player wasn’t as easy as some rap stars made it out to be—but it was damn close.

  He stepped outside of his condo and heard the door from across the hall open. He turned in its direction with a ready smile and wasn’t the least bit discouraged when he was met with a stern look of disapproval from his new neighbor, Destiny.

  “Good afternoon,” he greeted.

  Destiny sighed, and then belatedly returned his greeting with a great show of disinterest.

  Miles resisted the urge to laugh, to do so would probably further irritate the woman. His gaze swept over her attire, a simple white blouse and black slacks. His brows furrowed in curiosity. She’d brushed what he knew to be her long mane into a straight, tight bun that sat neatly pinned at the nape of her neck.

  There was something about the way she carried herself that said “hands off” to the casual observer. It was that same quality that intrigued him.

  “I want to apologize for what happened this morning,” he said. “Gina told me she got our condo’s mixed up.”

  Destiny finished locking her door and turned with a tight smile. “Perhaps I should post a sign on my door directing your harem to the right address.”

  This time Miles did laugh. “A harem? Hardly.”

  Destiny shrugged and strode past him in the direction of the elevator bay.

  Miles caught a whiff of Channel No. 5 as she passed. A classic. He smiled as he followed her. “You know. I’m starting to think we got off on the wrong foot,” he suggested as she continued to walk away.

  She pushed the down button for the elevator. “Oh, I don’t know. I suppose our meeting was pleasant enough,” she replied without making eye contact.

  “Then how come I get the distinct impression you don’t like me?”

  His direct question threw her, but she smiled in kind, and then treaded lightly. “I never said that I didn’t like you.”

  “So you do like me?” He moved closer and she stepped back.

  “I didn’t say that, either,” she answered, cautiously.

  “Then what are you saying?” He made sure he kept his gaze leveled and his expression serious.

  The elevator arrived and she looked relieved at the sound of the bell. However, the emotion faded when he stepped into the elevator behind her.

  “Mr. Stafford,” she said in an impressive, diplomatic voice. “I don’t know you, so I’m hardly in any position to tell whether I like you.”

  He laughed. “That’s B.S. and you know it.” He punched a button on the panel and the elevator jerked to a stop.

  “Excuse me?” Her eyes widened in alarm.

  He held up his hands. “I don’t think either of us should get off this elevator until we settle this matter.” He smiled seductively at her. He was at the top of his game and felt he’d win an invitation to her apartment for a cozy dinner and perhaps more by the time they reached the lobby.

  “Have you lost your mind?” She turned to the panel on her side of the elevator and pushed for the lobby. The elevator descended again.

  Miles pushed another button and once again they stopped. He smiled at her spark of irritation. She was quite beautiful when she was angry. Fleetingly, he wondered if she was a hellcat between the sheets. “So, were you and your girlfriend pulling my leg yesterday or are you two really an item?”

  “My relationship with Lu Jin is none of your business,” she snapped.

  He moved toward her. “I think you two were pulling my leg.”

  “So what if we were?”

  “I knew it.” He inched closer.

  Her gaze narrowed as her hands went to her purse.

  He faltered. “Now wait a minute.” He held up his hands again, suddenly sorry for what seemed moments ago a humorous game.

  A small canister slid into the palm of her hand. Relieved it wasn’t a gun, Miles stepped toward her, seeking a different avenue to placate her when her arm extended toward him and, before he could say anything else, she sprayed.

  Pain, unlike anything he’d ever felt before, ripped through his head. He fell to the floor with a cry of alarm that turned into a wail. His eyes were on fire. Had she blinded him for life? He rubbed fiercely at his eyes, but the more he rubbed the worse it got.

  The elevator descended while he writhed on the floor. He wanted to yell at her—worse, he wanted to wring her neck; but all he could manage to do was wail endlessly.

  A bell rang and the elevator doors slid open.

  “Have a nice day, Mr. Stafford,” Destiny said above his cries and stepped out of the elevator.

  * * *

  “Heavens. I just don’t know what’s keeping that son of mine,” Violet said abruptly, interrupting the idle chatter among her bridge group.

  “Oh, I didn’t know you were expecting Miles today,” Leona, Violet’s oldest friend, said. “I know it’s been a while since I’ve seen him. How is he liking everything at Mortensen and Foster?”

  “Fine, fine. He claims they’re keeping him busy.” Violet smiled despite her growing frustration.

  “Mortensen and Foster?” Adele asked. “Is your son a lawyer?”

  Violet perked up. She may have to sell Adele on Miles without her having the opportunity to introduce him to her. “Oh, yes. He’s a brilliant attorney. I’m quite proud of him.”

  Another shadow fell over Adele’s features, but vanished just as fast.

  “It’s amazing how much we have in common,” was her reply, but there was something that wasn’t being said. Violet was sure of it.

  “Didn’t you say your daughter was a lawyer?” Kathleen, another old friend of Violet’s, asked Adele, joining in on the conversation.

  Adele perked up. “Yes, I did. Actually, she’s starting a new job with Phillips, Anderson and Brown on Monday.”

  The small group of women exchanged impressed looks.

  “Is she married?” Leona asked.

  Violet shifted. Leona’s affluent son had just filed for his fourth divorce and Violet could already see the wheels churning in her friend’s head.

  “No.” Adele’s smile hinted at something. “Not yet anyway.”

  Violet’s spirits plummeted. “What do you mean?”

  “Well, an old friend of mine has a son, Jefferson Altman, who has expressed interest in meeting Destiny. So we’ve arranged a way for the two to meet tomorrow.”

  “Oh?” Violet gave her a half smile, but felt like kicking herself. Someone had already beaten her to the punch.

  “I think it’s quite exciting. I never played Cupid before. I just hope they like each other.” Adele laughed. “Of course I also hope Destiny is compliant. She can be a bit stubborn when she wants. She inherited that trait from her father.”

  The girls laughed, everyone except for Violet. The small voice in her head told her that she may be down, but she was definitely not out. All she needed to do was pray that this Jefferson Altman and De
stiny wouldn’t hit it off. Be patient, Violet—just be patient.

  Chapter 5

  It should be against the law to subject people to visits to the emergency room, Miles thought bitterly. In less than two minutes, the staff deemed his case a nonemergency, so he and Wes waited—and waited—for a doctor.

  “Cheer up.” Wes chuckled and slapped Miles hard across the back. “At least we know now you’re not going to be blind for life.”

  Miles’s jaw clenched. Three hours ago he’d been convinced otherwise. He had no real memory of how Wes was called to his aid, but at the time, he’d been grateful.

  “So when are you going to fess up and tell me what happened between you and your next-door neighbor?”

  “I would think that was obvious.”

  “How about the events leading up to her whipping your butt?”

  “Yeah, right,” Miles snapped.

  Wes swiveled in his chair and faced Miles. “Any time a woman leaves a man withering on the floor and crying for his momma—he got his ass kicked.” Wes laughed. “I swear I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t seen you with my own eyes. I can’t wait to meet this chick.”

  “Go to hell, Wes.”

  Wes snapped his fingers. “I bet she’s the butch in the relationship.”

  “What?” Miles shook his head at the direction the conversation had turned.

  “A butch,” Wes said again. “You never heard of that term?”

  “Enlighten me,” Miles said, wanting to hear what Wes would say.

  “Well, don’t quote me on this, but I heard in lesbian relationships there’s always a masculine and feminine partner. The masculine is referred to as the butch.”

  “Where do you get this stuff?”

  “Hey.” Wes shrugged. “I hear things.”

  Miles rolled his eyes. “What’s so bad is that you repeat them.”

  “Whatever. I wasn’t the one who just got beaten down by a woman. Do you know what a thing like this could do to a man’s reputation?”

  Miles turned toward him. “You know there is one good thing about being at the hospital.”

  “What’s that?”

  “When I beat the hell out of you, you won’t have far to go for medical care.”