“You look pretty,” I say as we walk towards the town car.
“Thanks so do you,” She says. “Hey I want to apologize for the way I acted when we first met. I was out of line,” she says looking me in the eye.
“I understand that you were protecting your brother. Let’s just go hang out and forget about it.”
“Sounds good,” She says. “Just one question,” She says stopping a few feet away from the car. “Why the hell does your driver have a gun?”
“My driver has a gun because your brother is insane.” She seems to accept this as a logical response. The drivers name is Deon and he is as big as a Mac truck.
“Hello Mrs. Bradley,” He says before opening the car door. “I’ve been instructed to take you to the Montage Beverly Hills this evening.”
“Where exactly did these instructions come from?”
“The instructions came from Mr. Tucker Bradley.”
“Really he ditches me for my daddy then expects me to come running. I don’t think so.”
“Take us to Roscoe’s Chicken and Waffles on East Broadway please.”
“Are you sure you want to do that? Your family is probably somewhere waiting for you.”
“They’ll all be fine,” I say sinking into the seat.
“Okay Roscoe’s it is.” Shauna’s says. We ride in silence for a few seconds until Shauna’s phone starts to chime. She takes the phone out and turns away from me slightly before reading the message. “Are you sure you don’t want to go to the hotel?”
“After waffles,” I say taking out my own phone to see if anyone’s remembered my birthday. “Not even a call from my grandma Bess,” I say. She’s never missed my birthday. Of course she thinks I’m eternally four years old. She gives me pink fluffy pajamas every year.”
Shauna smiles, “I think that’s a commonality with all grandmothers. My grandmother still sends Tucker and me matching Christmas sweaters every year.”
“I can’t wait to see that,” I say laughing. “He has them all hidden in the closet at the guest house. He’ll never let you see them.”
Shauna’s phone ring’s again and I pull out my phone hoping that someone called. I can tell that Shauna is watching me. “Are you alright?
“Yeah I’m fine,” I say trying to smile. Deon double parks the car in front of Roscoe’s and opens our car door. I turn to face him, “You don’t have to follow us Deon unless you’re planning have chicken.”
“I could eat,” He says lifting his shoulders. Shauna and I look at each other surprised. “Let me park the car and I’ll meet you inside,” He says turning to leave.
*****
Dana rearranges the table settings in the ball room. She directs the wait staff to take the buffet food back to the kitchen to be reheated. She buzzes around the room making sure the gifts are arranged perfectly and Leila’s favorite flowers are on the table. Tucker is pacing the floor on his cell phone. He looks frantic. “Where is she,” he grumbles into the phone.
“I am trying to get her there. What was I supposed to do she wanted waffles.”
“Shauna there are about a hundred people in this place and they’re all are looking to me to get her here.” Shauna excused herself after her cell phone rang for the tenth time. She’s standing in a stall in the bathroom trying to figure how she got roped into getting Leila to her surprise birthday party. Her sister was supposed to make sure she got there but she got tied up with the kids. Sarah vanished with God only knows who. Everyone else was so busy planning the party that they forgot all about making arrangements to get the guest of honor there. Shauna called Mike after leaving the gym and took him up on his offer to come down to LA. She was planning to warn Tucker about his ex-girl friends. But as soon as her plane landed her text box was filled with messages pleading with her to stop and pick Leila up on the way to the party. No one told her exactly how she was supposed to get her there.
“Alright I’ll figure something out,” she says before disconnecting the call. She marches back to their table quickly. “Mike just called me and said there was some type of emergency. We really have to go,” she says feeling terrible about lying. Leila pays the check, pulls Deon away from his huge plate of food and they rush out the door. She asks a million questions about the nature of the emergency and tries unsuccessfully to contact her family. Shauna keeps her responses to Leila’s questions as vague as possible on the thirty minute drive from Long Beach to Beverly Hills.
_____
We pull up in front of the hotel and Shauna, Deon and I step out. Deon hands the keys to the valet and follows us inside the lobby. The structure of the hotel has European-influences. The lobby is filled with paintings, set drawings and original costume designs from 1930 Hollywood film classics.
This hotel is absolutely beautiful. It has arched doorways and shades of green lighting that complement the architectural details. I would love to sit and appreciate the building but my heart is racing. Shauna showed up out of nowhere. We were out having fun when suddenly an emergency occurs. She said she has no idea what the emergency is but we had to get here right away. The whole thing sound suspicious. I head towards the front desk but Shauna stops me and directs me to a back room. “Wait,” I say stopping in my tracks. You have to tell me what’s going on. You said there was an emergency. You’ve been turning away from me hiding text messages; what’s going on?”
“You have to follow me and you’ll find out what the emergency is,” she says giving me a look that suddenly makes me realize what’s happening. Shauna nods and smiles before turning to rush down the hall with Deon and I following closely behind her. She pushes open double doors and we step into a pitch black room.
Chapter 23
That damned old man is always looking out the window she thinks as she watches from her parked car a block away from Leila’s house. Between him, the body guards and the constant traffic in and out of the house she hasn’t been able to get close to Leila. When she hired the guy to attack Leila at Tyler’s party she hadn’t anticipated Leila fighting back. She pulls her cap down over her head and sinks into the seat. She’s prepared to sit there all night if she has to. She managed to get into the house once but someone came home before she could do any damage. She had to sneak out the back door to avoid being spotted. It won’t be easy but I’m going to get you she says to herself. ‘She knows he was mine she says out loud. That black bitch walks past me with her nappy hair and smug look as if I don’t exist,” she says to the empty car. She watched Leila get into the town car that should have been for her. She watched Leila wrap her legs around Tucker in the hall. She listened outside Leila’s dorm room as they made love loudly. “I can’t believe Tucker let her come between us,” the woman says starting to cry. She brushes away her tears and takes out her cell phone to call Tucker.
_____
I guess I knew they were going to plan something but I didn’t expect a party of this magnitude. The lights turn on in the expansive room and everyone I know jumps out and yell surprise. Even though I know its coming I still scream like a crazy person. Deon unsnaps his gun holster when my family starts walking towards me. They don’t seem to notice. I touch his arm and whisper. “They are very unstable people Deon. I’m not sure what you’re supposed to be protecting me from but if you pull that gun out they will band together and rip you apart.” Deon swallows hard, re-snaps the holster and stands next to me watching everyone. My mom is the first one over. “Happy birthday baby,” She says giving me a bone crushing bear hug.
“Did you do all of this?”
“I had plenty of help from Pookie and Tucker. He’s a good boy,” she says starting to tear up.
“Oh mom don’t cry,” I say hugging her and fighting back my own tears.
“I’m fine baby. I’m just so proud of you.”
“Thank you Momma,” I say kissing her on the cheek before she moves aside to make room for my daddy.
> He bends down and kisses my forehead. “Happy birthday baby,” he says.
“Thank you daddy, how long have you known about this.”
I feel guilty when he says, “Not much get’s past me. They started planning it before you arrived. Tucker chose this hotel.”
“Daddy I have to tell you something,” I say feeling my armpits prickle.
“Tucker and I had a long talk at lunch today,” he says rubbing my hair. I avert my eyes. He kisses my head again and walks away. He’s a man of few words. I almost never know what’s going on in his head.
I twirl on my heels to look around the room. Everyone I love is here. They all come over hug me and wish me happy birthday. My aunt Clara walks over and squeezes my butt, “That big ass white boy must be putting it down. You done came back here with grown woman hips.”
“How are you auntie,” I say moving her hand away from my behind. I see Tucker in a corner talking to Mike so I excuse myself. Wanika and a couple of my cousins are standing a few feet away staring like women on the hunt. Tucker and I make eye contact. I comb through the crowd stopping to hug nearly everyone in the room on the way. Tucker moves towards me but Wanika blocks his path before he’s able to take two steps. He watches me while talking to her.
“Why were you ever friends with her?” Keisha asks. I didn’t even notice that she was standing near me.
“I have no idea,” I say walking towards Tucker. He excuses himself and cuts through the crowd. My heart still flutters when he flashes those dimples at me. He takes my hand and pulls me away from the crowd.
“I think my dad knows were married,” I whisper to Tucker as we walk. He doesn’t say a word. He just smiles and continues to walk across the room. Music starts playing and the room gets dim. I notice that everyone in the place is watching us. “Tucker what’s going on,” I ask as he stops in the center of the room. He turns to face me and clears his throat.
“I asked your father for permission to marry you today. Of course he already knew we got married in Vegas.”
“I swear no one in this family can keep a secret,” I say looking around the room.
“That doesn’t matter,” he says bending down on one knee and pulling out a giant diamond ring. “I love you more than I’ve ever loved anyone in my life. Something was missing before I met you. You make me laugh. Sometimes you make me crazy but I can’t imagine not having you by my side. Leila Bradley will you do me the honor of becoming my wife.” He pauses for a second, “again.”
I smile through my tears and nod yes continuously. He slides the ring on my finger. I bend down to kiss him then look around at all my friends and family. Everyone, even Wanika is smiling and offering congratulations. Tucker picks me up and hugs me. Through the corner of my eye I see someone who looks completely out of place. She’s the only one in the room who isn’t smiling. In fact the woman looks enraged.
Chapter 24
Pookie is standing in his kitchen sipping coffee and reading the note that Nickie conveniently left taped to the kitchen counter.
“Are you going to email her?” She asks making him jump and spill the hot liquid all over the front of his robe.
“You scared me,” he says dabbing at the coffee stain with a napkin. “I didn’t know you were awake. How was your date with Mike?” Mike and Nickie danced and talked throughout the night. After the party he dropped her off at Pookie’s house. Pookie assumed she came to his house because she didn’t want Mike to know that she is living on her sister’s couch.
“It was ok. He talks about himself a lot. I had to tell him that I wasn’t interviewing him so he should talk to me like a human and not a prospective client.”
Pookie’s eyes widen. “Really, you said that.”
“Don’t act so surprised. My days of bending over backwards to please a man are over. I’ve been thinking about all the men I’ve dated over the years. I was feeling like a victim because they all treated me badly. Then I had one of those,” She snaps her finger. “What does Oprah call it, light bulb moments.”
“Ah ha moments,” Pookie says walking past her to sit at the table.
“Right, I had an ah ha moment. It occurred to me that all those men and boys I’ve dated treated me exactly the way I allowed them to treat me. If I had just once spoken up for myself things might have turned out differently.”
“Some men are ass holes no matter how much you stand up to them.”
Nickie pours herself a cup of coffee. “I know but I can’t allow myself to be some sadistic man’s prey ever again.”
“Well cheers to ah ha moments,” Pookie says lifting his coffee cup.
“And to new beginnings,” she says with a big smile. Pookie looks quizzical. “I applied to the English departments at NYU and Stanford. I got acceptance letters from both schools.”
“Oh my goodness,” he says placing his coffee cup on the table and reaching over to hug her. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I didn’t want to tell anyone until I knew which offer I was going to accept.”
“Well which one is it going to be,” he asks expectantly.
“I still don’t know. I would love to live in New York but it’s so expensive and I don’t know anyone there.”
“Girl if you want to go we’ll find a way to pay for it.”
“I’m thinking about accepting both offers and making my final decision later. School doesn’t start until January.”
“Well I’m happy for you no matter what you decide.”
“Thanks,” Nickie says grinning as she sips her coffee. “Enough about me let’s email Chris Callaway and find out the deep dark secret.”
“Nope,” Pookie says balling the letter up and standing to toss it into the trash. “This whole thing is just a weird coincidence,” He says. “I need to get ready for work. What are your plans for the day?”
“I’m helping out at Keisha’s shop and meeting Mike for lunch.”
“Okay I’ll call you later tonight,” He says heading back to his bedroom. Nickie waits until Pookie closes the door before rushing over to retrieve the note from the trash. She powers on the lap top and peeks over her shoulder for signs of Pookie. When the coast is clear she quickly types out an email to Chris Callaway.
*****
By the time Pookie he’s ready to leave for work Nickie is asleep on the couch. He sends her a text message reminding her to lock up when she leaves. He’s a block away from his apartment when his phone chimes with a new email. He reaches a stop light and quickly opens the email thinking it might be work related.
“I’m going to fucking kill her,” he says when he sees the message from Chris Callaway.
The note says, ‘I was so happy to receive your letter. I knew contacting you would be a long shot but I think it’s important for you to know the truth. I’ll meet you at 7:00 PM at Pete’s Coffee near your house. I will carry a red carnation so that you recognize me.’
“Important to know the truth,” Pookie says staring at the phone. A horn honks behind him and he tosses the phone onto the passenger seat before speeding off. He reaches the office a few minutes before his first staff meeting. He tries to block everything out of his mind and goes into work mode. His day is filled with one tedious meeting after another. His boss scrapped all of his ideas for the line of winter accessories. He has to rework the whole article. The day seems to drag on forever and his head is pounding. He has to take a working lunch which hasn’t left one minute to call Nickie or to cancel the meeting with Chris. Pookie walks out of his last meeting at 6:00. He sits in his car for a long time staring straight ahead. He considers just driving home but curiosity gets the best of him. He pops in his Blackberry earpiece and calls Nickie while he drives.
“I’m going to get you back for this,” he says instead of hello when she answers.
“What are you talking about,” Nickie says.
&n
bsp; “Don’t play dumb. If I have to meet this potential stalker then you need to come with me.”
“Mike and I are already here,” she says with a chuckle. “Don’t act like you don’t want to know who this woman is.”
“Whatever Nick, look for a woman holding a red carnation. I’ll be there in a few minutes.”
“Wait,” she shouts before he has a chance to hang up.
“What is it girl,” he says exasperated.
“Is Chris short for Christopher or Christen?”
“I have no idea just look for someone holding a red carnation,” he says and disconnects the call. When he pulls into the parking lot of the coffee shop he has a full-blown migraine and he’s in no mood to talk to anyone. He drags himself up the three steps to the coffee shop. Once inside he scans the room for signs of Nickie. He spots her right away at a table with Mike and another man. Pookie heads over and stands in front of the table. Nickie’s face lights up when she sees him. Pookie just glares at her completely uninterested.
“Jermaine this is Chris Callaway,” She says standing up and placing a hand on Pookie’s back. Pookie tries to hide his annoyance. He extends his hand and looks Chris up and down. He’s a short, muscular, fair skinned man. Pookie’s pretty sure he’s never seen the man before but something about him seems familiar.
“It’s nice to finally meet you.”
“What do you mean finally,” Pookie says. His expression is icy. He’s exhausted and he’s had enough of the whole ordeal.
Nickie interrupts. “Chris is Valery Callaway’s son,” She says.
“That’s nice,” Pookie says flatly.
Nickie continues with a serious expression, “Chris also believes he’s your younger brother.”
Chapter 25
Dana steps out of the shower slides her arms into a bath robe and stands in front of her mirror. She wipes the mist from the glass. She fixes her eyes on her reflection. Her eyes are not as bright as they use to be. She looks and feels every bit of her forty-four years. “Look at your face,” She says leaning forward and touching the crinkles on the corners of her eyes.
A Love Like This (Book 1) Page 19