“Have you seen my black sneakers?”
Paige walked straight into the living room and picked them up. “They’re in the living room where you left them last night, Max!”
“Thanks, Mom.”
“You’re welcome.”
This was a long running routine with Max and Paige. After the divorce Paige had spent extra time with her “beautiful baby boy,” a moniker that he’d outgrown now that he was darn near seven feet tall. Outside of Bliss, Inc., Paige focused all her attention on Max and it was going to be a real adjustment for her once he began Cornell in August. The mere thought of it made her tear up. Then she felt the vibration of Max as he bounded downstairs.
“Good morning, Mom.” He kissed her on the cheek.
“Good morning, beautiful child.”
He went into the living room and retrieved his sneakers. Once he sat down he noticed the scones on the table. “Mmm, scones.” He polished one off in two bites. “You made these this morning, Mom?”
“Yes. I got up even earlier than usual, so I decided to make them. Take as many as you want and whatever is left I’ll take to the office.”
Max grabbed six scones. “This should tide me over until break.”
Paige couldn’t help laughing. “Just until break time?”
He flashed his megawatt smile. “I’m a growing boy.” He stood up.
“I’ll say. I think you’re over a foot taller than me now.”
He kissed Paige on the forehead. “Yep, and you still call me your little boy.”
“What do you expect? I am the woman who brought you home from the hospital. You were so little I was scared to death of you.” Paige sat down at the breakfast table.
“You were scared of me? You’re not afraid of anything, Mom.”
“That may be true for most things in my life, but you were a different story. There you were, just a tad over five pounds, and I was convinced you’d break if I picked you up. Your grandparents helped me bathe and dress you. I had a C-section and you were nursing at the time. It was a bit overwhelming.”
“They stayed here for a while, right?”
“Yes. I had a lot of complications when I was pregnant so everyone stuck around, thank God. I remember your Grandpa Chase was nervous about picking you up, too.”
“Gramps was nervous?” He was floored. Max had always known his grandfather to be a brave and tough guy.
“Sure he was. When your Aunt Siobhan and I were born we were over eight pounds. In fact, your aunt was nine pounds, so he was used to big babies. Yet there you were, this teeny little thing that weighed the same as sugar and flour.”
Max laughed. “That’s hard to imagine now.”
“Tell me about it.” Paige shook her head.
Max looked at the clock. “I better get going. I have to tutor Cynthia before calculus this morning.”
“She’s still having a hard time with math?”
“Yeah. She seems to have a block when it comes to the subject.” Max grabbed his car keys and kissed Paige again. “See you later, Mom.”
“Okay, sweetie. Have a good day.”
Paige watched as he got into the car and pulled away. I know he thinks he knows everything, but he still hasn’t figured out that Cynthia isn’t having trouble with math anymore; she just wants to spend time with him. I can’t say that I blame her. He’s good looking, intelligent, and sweet, if I say so myself. Paige packed up the rest of the scones. Soon he’s going to be breaking hearts at Cornell. She sighed.
Once Paige went to the shop it was business as usual. She began to arrange vendor interviews for the Klein/Smythe wedding…until she had her first disaster of the day.
Panicked, Daisy walked into Paige’s office.
“Paige, we have a real problem.”
“Regina, I’m going to have to call you back. Thanks.” She hung up the phone.
“What’s wrong, Daisy?”
“It’s Diana Henderson.”
“What’s wrong? Did something happen between her and Bill?”
“No. Something happened to her hair.”
Diana walked in. Her hair was frizzy and as big as eighties hair. She was crying.
Paige played down her reaction. “Oh, dear, what happened?”
Diana was hysterical.
“You poor thing.” Daisy patted her back. “The best I can figure is it’s a curly perm gone wrong.”
Paige rubbed Diana’s shoulders. “It will be okay. We’ll think of something.”
“Thank you,” she wailed.
Diana’s wedding was that very evening.
“Okay, I know what we can do. Come on, Diana, we’re going to get this fixed. I know just the place. Daisy, we’re going to Magdalena’s. Tell everyone if they have to reach me my cell is on.”
“Okay. I’ll be right there.”
“Good.”
Paige drove Diana over to Magdalena’s as quickly as she could. Thank God she takes walk-ins, she thought to herself.
Magdalena herself was from the Dominican Republic. She walked over to Paige right away.
“Paige? Oh my, what’s the matter?”
Diana was still crying.
“I think we have a perm gone wrong here and her wedding is tonight.”
Diana practically shrieked.
“Oh, you poor dear.” Magdalena rubbed her back.
“I think she needs a Dominican deep conditioner and a big and loose curly set.”
Magdalena touched her hair. “I think you’re right. I’ll have Mary take her right away.”
“Thank you.”
Mary came over and took Diana to the sink. Paige sat down in the waiting area.
“How about you, Paige? Would you like a wash, set, and blow?” Magdalena asked.
Paige looked at her watch. “Sure. Why not? I’m here for the duration.” Not to mention I have a date tonight. She smiled at the thought.
Paige went back to the sink next to Diana.
She tapped Diana’s hand. “I’m getting my hair washed and conditioned, too. I’m right by your side.”
“Thank you, Paige.” Diana sounded relieved.
Paige felt bad but Diana had broken the cardinal rule: Never make any drastic changes to your hair before the wedding.
A little more than an hour later the happier bride-to-be sat in front of the stylist’s mirror. Tears came to her eyes.
“Oh, my God. You don’t like it?” Mary asked.
She wiped her eyes. “I love it. Thank you.” She got up and threw her arms around Mary and then Magdalena.
“You had me worried there for a minute,” Paige sighed.
“Paige, thanks for bringing me here.” She kept touching her hair. “I can’t believe how soft my hair feels.”
With the day saved, Paige decided to head home early. Once she was home she picked through her closet, trying to figure out what to wear for that evening. Paige stopped when she heard her son and ex come in.
She went downstairs. Joshua was dressed casually.
“Hey, Paige, I didn’t think you’d be home. Are you playing hooky today?”
“No. I just decided to come home early. You’re here to pick Max up for the weekend in the city, right?”
“Right.”
“Hey, Mom.” Max kissed her on the cheek.
“Hey there. Do you have all your stuff packed?”
“Almost. I have a couple of things in the laundry room.”
Joshua clapped. “Okay, then let’s hop to it.”
From the corner of her eye Paige saw some movement outside the window. When she looked closely she saw Bill Sheraton. “It looks like someone recognized your car.”
“Bill?”
“Indeed.”
Joshua met Bill before he could knock and the two men walked back towards Bill’s house.
Paige began to make coffee.
“Mom!”
“Yes, Max!”
“Have you seen my iPod?”
“It’s in the top left-hand dr
awer of your desk!”
“Thanks, Mom!” he shouted.
Just as she pressed the grind button she saw Tara pull up in front of the house.
“Oh joy, what does she want?” Paige groaned.
Paige walked over and opened the door before she knocked.
“Oh hi, Paige.”
“Hi, Tara. What can I do for you?”
“I know Joshua said he was coming here to pick Max up and I needed to see him before I leave. I have to get to Republic Airport for the flight to the spa.”
“I see. Joshua just went over to the Sheratons’ place.”
“I already went next door but he wasn’t there. Susie didn’t seem to know where they went.”
“They probably went for a little walk. I’m sure they’ll be back in a couple of minutes.”
“I just thought that this being a neighborhood watch and all someone would know where they went.”
Paige fought the urge to roll her eyes in front of her. “Yes, we do have a neighborhood watch, which means they watch your place when you’re not home. They don’t tail you.” She paused. “Would you like to come in for a cup of coffee?”
“Thank you, but no.”
Paige saw Bill and Joshua coming up the street. “There’s Joshua.”
“Thanks.” She hurried over to him.
Paige watched from the door. Probably wants both platinum cards.
Max rushed into the kitchen. “Okay, Mom, I’m all packed.” Max put his bag on the floor.
Paige looked out the window to see Tara was gone. “Your dad is already outside. You might as well get in the car.”
“Okay, Mom.” Max kissed her on the cheek and then dashed outside.
Once they left Paige poured a cup of decaf. Matthew said dressy casual. I have a closet full of business suits. I hope I have something to fit the bill, she thought as she went upstairs.
CHAPTER 10
Matthew held up two ties in front of the mirror. “What do you think of these ties?” Matthew asked Prudence, who was sprawled out on his bed.
“What’s the matter, girl? Cat got your tongue?” he joked. “Sorry, girl, that was lame. I’m just nervous.” He looked at his watch. “Whew, look at the time. I told Paige I’d meet her at Penn Station.” He took one final look in the mirror. “So what do you really think, Prudence? Mrs. Hall isn’t home for me to ask her.” He held up one tie and Prudence meowed.
“Okay, this is the tie.” He petted Prudence. “See you later, girl.” Matthew dashed down the stairs to where Mrs. Hall was sweeping.
“Wow! Where’s the fire, Matthew?” She grinned.
Matthew pointed to his chest. “Right here.”
“Then get going, young man. You can’t let love wait.”
He gave Mrs. Hall a quick kiss on the cheek. “Thanks, Mrs. Hall. Prudence is upstairs.” He dashed out and ran to the subway station.
After getting there in record time Matthew paced in front of the LIRR waiting area. Within a few minutes Paige emerged from Gate 19. His face lit up.
“Hi.” She smiled.
“Hello.” Matthew kissed her.
“That was a nice greeting.”
“I thought so, too.”
“So what’s on the agenda for the evening?”
“I thought I would take you to one of my favorite places in Harlem.”
“Oh, okay. You know, I could have met you there. You didn’t have to take the train downtown only to go uptown again.”
“Then it wouldn’t be much of a date, would it? And make no mistake, this is a date.”
“I can’t argue with that.”
He put his arm out. “Shall we?”
She took his arm and they headed for the right train.
Matthew’s favorite place turned out to be Londel’s Supper Club. As the hostess seated them, Paige looked around. “This is a lovely place, and right in the heart of Striver’s Row.”
“Ah, a woman who knows her history. That’s quite a turn-on for a history teacher.”
Paige felt a little bashful. “I am a history geek.”
“Really?”
The waiter came to take their drink orders.
Paige looked the menu over. “Are you challenging the level of my geekdom?”
“Not really, but show me what you’ve got.”
“Okay then.” She put the menu down. “Striver’s Row has been home to Eubie Blake, bandleader Fletcher Henderson, and Vertner Tandy, who was one of the seven founders of Alpha Phi Alpha at Cornell University in 1906. He was also one of the first African Americans to graduate with a degree in architecture from MIT. He later became the first black registered architect in New York. How am I doing, professor?”
“You know your history. But do you know who else lives here?”
The waiter returned with their drinks. “May I start you off with an appetizer?”
“Sure. What would you like, Paige?”
She scanned the menu. “I’ll have the shrimp cocktail.”
“And I’ll have the spicy crabcakes.”
Once the waiter left Paige went back to their topic of conversation. “You were asking if I knew who else lives here, and I can’t say that I do.”
“Me. My place is just a few blocks away. Still close enough to be considered Striver’s Row.”
“Wow. So you like Georgian-style homes.”
“I think there’s something about the style that harkens back to the Gilded Age.”
“Me, too.”
Soft jazz filled the air. “This is cozy.” Matthew smiled as the candles on the table illuminated Paige’s face. “You’re beautiful.”
Paige felt a little embarrassed. “Thank you.”
“You don’t know you’re beautiful, do you?”
“I can’t say that I’ve thought about it that much.”
“Spoken like a true beauty, inside and out.”
“Thank you again. You keep this up and they’re going to need a crane to get my head through the door.”
Matthew laughed.
“Tell me, how many women of color have you dated?”
Matthew looked surprised. “Wow, you don’t pull punches, do you?”
“Not when it comes to things like this.”
Matthew thought for a moment.
“Oh, don’t tell me you’ve lost count,” Paige teased.
“No. It’s just something I never really think about. I’m interested in the woman, not their skin color.”
“So you’re an enlightened man.”
Matthew sipped his water. “I guess you can say that.”
“How have your parents taken to your enlightened attitude? If you don’t mind me asking.”
“I don’t mind. My parents are pretty open.”
“So you’ve dated black women before.”
“No, I haven’t.”
“But you said…” Paige sounded confused.
“You asked me about women of color, and I have dated women of color before.”
“Now you’re splitting hairs. You know I meant black women, too.”
“So what’s the difference if I never dated a black woman before?”
“In case you haven’t noticed, some people are more likely to have a problem with black and white interracial dating.”
“Why should they have a problem?” he asked.
“I honestly can’t answer that, it’s just the way things are.”
“Then it’s high time someone changed it and I am up for the job. Are you?”
Paige thought a moment. “Yes.” She answered softly.
“Good. Then how about we stop talking about this subject and just enjoy our evening together.”
“Okay.” Paige smiled warmly.
With the thought tucked in the back of her mind, Paige enjoyed dinner with Matthew. The music of the night carried them away. Soon they found themselves outside Matthew’s place.
“So here we are.” Before Paige could say a word he took her in his arms and kissed her. Even thoug
h it was a cold winter night, things heated up the instant they touched.
Matthew unlocked the door and led Paige upstairs.
Anticipation rushed through their bodies as they peeled one another out of their clothes. When Matthew caressed Paige’s neck with his lips, she melted under his touch. They fell onto the bed. Paige teased him with soft kisses all over his body. Matthew hungered for more but he stopped.
“I just want to look at you. I’ve been dreaming about this ever since that night.”
“You have?” Unconsciously Paige tried to pull the cover over her nude body.
Matthew stopped her. “Don’t cover up. You’re beautiful.”
Matthew outlined her body softly with his fingers. “You are what a woman is supposed to look like. Your body is so soft and supple in all the right places.” Matthew kissed her breasts. His hand gently traced her curves. Then he kissed her stomach. Paige was rendered nearly breathless by the feel of his strong hands on her skin. Every inch of her body tingled with anticipation. Then Matthew lightly grabbed her butt. “You’re so firm. I bet you could bounce a quarter off your beautiful posterior with ease.” He smiled.
“Don’t tell me you have a quarter?” Paige smiled.
“I don’t need a quarter.” He had a mischievous grin on his face and he quickly squeezed her butt.
“Oh my, you’re doing the Mr. Whipple test,” Paige laughed.
“Just like him I couldn’t help myself.”
Before Paige could say another word he turned her onto her stomach and kissed her from her thighs to her ankles. Paige was electrified.
He gently turned Paige onto her back again. Paige ran her fingers through his soft wavy hair and down his muscular back. His hazel eyes held her in a trance as he came closer to kiss her lips. In an instant their bodies were intertwined and the pleasure pulsed through them like a spring waiting to burst forth. Eyes locked, Matthew and Paige moved to the syncopation of their beating hearts.
A little later Paige said. “Matthew, can I ask you a question?”
“Sure, baby.” He kissed her forehead.
“Were you robbed? Or do you subscribe to the less-is-more school of thought?”
He laughed. “I know it looks like I was robbed. I just haven’t had the time to think about decorating. Besides, I think the place needs a woman’s touch.”
“Is that your way of asking if I would like the job?”
Bliss, Inc. (Indigo Love Spectrum) Page 10