by D. Camille
“Hi Daddy!” she said taking her seat. “Hi Isabelle.”
“Good morning Isis.” Isabelle smiled at her sister.
Milton beamed. “Good morning baby girl! Don't you look beautiful today?”
Isis blushed. “Thank you Daddy.”
“Is that a new dress?” he asked.
Isis smiled. “Yes, compliments of the best Daddy in the world.”
Milton laughed heartily as Isabelle picked up her menu again.
“Only the best for my best girl,” he said picking up his menu.
Isabelle smiled behind her menu. Isis had always been their Daddy's favorite and he had no qualms about showing it. Isis had always been the bubbly, happy affectionate type while Isabelle was more reserved and studious. Isabelle had been closer to their mother, a woman who had been a kind and loving soul deserving of much more than the likes of a Milton Martin.
Her mother's family had been wealthy and when her mother met Milton Martin, he had nothing. Although he had amassed wealth throughout the years, he'd started by marrying Iris Whitney. Milton Martin could be a kind and caring man but he was extremely selective about whom he chose to bestow those courtesies upon and unfortunately, Isabelle was rarely one of them.
When Iris had died, she'd left all of her inheritance to Isabelle with the instructions for her to care for Isis. That had been totally unnecessary because Milton provided everything for Isis, including her car, apartment, tuition and credit cards. Isabelle on the other hand never received anything from Milton, which suited her fine because she paid her own bills with the money she earned.
“What are you getting Isabelle?” Isis asked.
Isabelle sat her menu down. “I think just a salad. I had big breakfast.”
Isabelle smiled as she thought back on her breakfast this morning. Ray had awakened her around ten a.m. with breakfast in his bed. He'd sat a tray on her lap filled with all sorts of delicious food.
“Ray, you didn't have to do all this!” she said sitting up in the bed.
“I told you I would serve you breakfast,” he said sitting on the side of the bed.
She smiled at him. “I'm having lunch with my father in a few hours.”
“I remember.”
She looked at him. “You don't care for my father do you?”
“Not at all.” He touched her face. “Now his daughter is a different story.”
Isabelle blushed.
Ray picked up a fork and scooped up some of the fluffy eggs on the plate.
“When Sage was little girl, after our parents died, I would make her breakfast and take it to her room to feed it to her,” he told her.
Isabelle listened intently. “How old was she when your parents died?”
“She was five. I was ten.”
Isabelle looked surprised. “You were making her breakfast at ten?”
He nodded. “She was my Baby Goddess and I'd promised to always take care of her. I refused to let anyone else do it.”
“That's very sweet. You love her very much.”
He nodded and brought the fork to her mouth and continued. “She had stopped eating when she finally realized our parents weren't coming home and I was the only one who could get her to eat her food.”
Isabelle opened her mouth and accepted the offering. After she'd chewed and swallowed she asked, “How were you able to get her to eat?”
Ray smiled and looked down at the plate before looking back at Isabelle. “I would make up stories for her about the food. Once I told her that all the food on her plate was a family and they all wanted to meet up again inside her stomach, but she had to eat all of her food so the whole family could be together.”
Isabelle smiled and Ray fed her another portion of the food.
“So she ate all of her food. Then later she came to me so excited. I was glad to see her so happy because she had been so sad. She dragged me to the bathroom where the toilet contained her little excrement with remnants of her food. Then she looked at me with those big brown eyes and said, 'Look Sun God they all met up together!"
Isabelle's hand went to her mouth as she began to laugh. “Oh my! What did you do?” she asked.
“I told her to let the meeting take place in private next time.”
Isabelle looked at him. “You're very incredible. You amaze me.”
“How do I amaze you Isabelle?”
“With your heart, with your mind, with your beauty,” she told him.
He scooped another forkful of food and brought it to her mouth and she accepted.
“You amaze me Isabelle. I believe there's an Isabelle Martin other than the one you allow us to see.”
She swallowed and smiled. “Maybe one day you will get to meet her.”
He smiled. “I am very much looking forward to it.”
“Isabelle?” Isis called her name for the third time and Isabelle looked up and saw the waitress waiting for her order.
“I'm sorry. I'll just have a Caesar's salad please.”
Milton looked at his daughter and shook his head.
“Your sister was telling us about her play Isabelle while you were daydreaming.”
“I've been to Isis' play Daddy. You're the one who hasn't attended.”
“I'm too busy working paying for new dresses,” he told Isabelle.
Isis smiled. “It's fine Daddy. I know you'll come when you can.” She patted her Daddy's hand.
Isabelle wanted to go back to her daydream but forced herself to focus on her father and sister. Their food arrived a short while later and Isabelle began to pick around her salad. She thought about the lettuce, croutons and parmesan cheese meeting in her stomach and laughed out aloud.
“Would you like to share Isabelle?” her father asked.
Isabelle looked at her father. “No. You had to be there.” Isis raised a brow at her sister.
“So what is this about you and that Ray Parker?” her father asked.
Isabelle sat her fork down. “This is not up for discussion Daddy.”
“I have to question your taste in men Isabelle.”
Isis sat watching the pair. She knew how heated things could get between Isabelle and their father.
“If you do not drop this Daddy, I will end my lunch now,” Isabelle told him.
Milton turned to Isis. “Isis, tell your sister to stop chasing after unsuitable men.”
Isis looked at her sister then at her father. “That's not my place Daddy.”
Isabelle smiled at her little sister.
“Is it my place to pay all of your bills Isis?” her father demanded and Isis looked away.
Isabelle frowned. “Don't be mean to Isis because she didn't agree with you.”
“Don't tell me how to talk to my daughter!”
Isabelle removed her napkin from her lap and placed it on the table. “Isis I will talk to you later. Enjoy the rest of your lunch.” She stood and walked out of the restaurant.
*********
Ray sat on the third floor of his office building going over the package again that had been left for Trent. As he'd expected there were no fingerprints. There was a note attached containing a poem. When his FBI contact arrived in a few days, they'd go over it line by line to decipher it.
Ray thought back to his morning with Isabelle. She'd slept in his bed and he'd awakened her with breakfast. He'd fed her and they'd talked like...a couple. Ray didn't do couple stuff. However, he had this morning and it had felt...good. He'd talked about his sister and his childhood, two things he never spoke of with a woman.
She'd looked so sexy sitting there in her underwear letting him feed her. He'd wanted to taste her so bad. He still had to keep his promise he'd made to her in the car last night and he was ready to go down when it went down.
Isabelle had watched him with those big brown eyes and he'd been mesmerized. She'd also asked him about the Temple.
“Do you also sleep in the bedroom downstairs?” she asked.
“That one is for entertaining and
this one is for sleeping,” he explained.
She smiled. “Is that where you will entertain me?”
“I will entertain you wherever you like.”
“I'm looking forward to what we discussed in the car last night,” she whispered.
He smiled. “So am I Belle.”
“I should get ready to go so I won't be late for my lunch.”
He nodded and she sprang off the bed to retrieve her dress. Ray laid back against the bed and watched as she slipped into the garment and fastened it. She turned to find him watching her.
“I think my shoes are downstairs.”
“I think you should sleep in my bed more often.”
Isabelle blushed. “I will if I'm invited.”
“Consider yourself invited then.”
Ray ran a hand down his face. This thing with Isabelle was taking on a life of its own. He was supposed to be directing this, but it seemed that he'd lost control of the wheel. He didn't invite women to sleep in his bed. Not the Temple bed and damn sure not his sleeping bed. However, that's exactly what he'd done this morning without any provocation.
Isabelle hadn't asked to sleep in his bed. Hell, she hadn't even asked to come back to his house. But he found that he wanted her there. He wanted her in his house. He wanted her in his bed. Damn. He wanted her. Not a good look right now.
Ray finished processing the last of the package and put everything away. He had to stay focused on Salvador Esteban. He'd made his first move and now it was their turn. The match was on.
*********
Trent awakened thinking about Callie Jones, specifically about kissing Callie Jones. He sat up and allowed the covers to fall to his waist. Bringing his knees up, he wrapped his long arms around his legs.
“Callie Jones, what have you done to me?” he asked the empty room.
He had been so sure that no one could compare to Isis. She had been the girl of his dreams and he'd promised himself that he would be worth her heart. Now he wanted Callie's heart because last night when she'd shown so much care toward him, she'd taken a part of his heart. Even though she had torn into his ass in the process, it didn't matter because he'd felt her emotions behind it. Then he'd kissed her and she'd kissed him back.
“Urrr...Callie.”
She'd been at the movies with another dude and that had him in his feelings, so much so that he'd wandered off distracted at the theater. Even though he'd been there with Isis, it still bothered him seeing Callie with someone else. Instead of being less confused he was even more so this morning.
Do you really care Callie, he wondered.
Callie was fine as hell, sexy and smart. She could probably have any dude she wanted and Trent wondered if she really wanted him. She'd given him every indication that she did but he still didn't know for sure. Callie said no games but could he believe her; what if she was just playing with his head? Trent dropped his head into his hands.
Now Isis seemed to want to give him some play. Could he go back on all the things he'd said to her now? Isis was beautiful and classy and she still made his heart jump; he'd fallen for her the first time he'd laid eyes on her, but was she really taking him seriously or was she simply trying to keep him from seeing Callie?
“I need a sign Universe,” he whispered. Sage had told him that whenever she really wanted something, she would ask the Universe and she'd get it, so he figured why not. “I really need to know who I can trust my heart to and be happy.”
Trent sighed and climbed out of bed. He went to use the facilities before heading downstairs to eat breakfast. He met Sean in the hall downstairs and they greeted each other.
“I'm taking Lily to breakfast this morning,” Sean told him.
“Cool. I'll check you out later.”
Sean studied his brother. “Still thinking about what we talked about last night?” Sean asked him.
“Yeah.” Trent rubbed his head.
“It will all work itself out. Trust me.”
Trent nodded and Sean patted him on the back.
“I'll see you later,” Sean said before heading out of the door. “Stay focused.”
Trent made him some breakfast and cleaned his plate before heading up to his room to get dressed. He had stepped into his closet when his phone rang. Walking over to the nightstand he glanced down at it and his heart did somersaults before he picked it up smiling.
“Hey Callie.”
“Hey baby, I called to check on you before I went to work.”
He smiled. “Thank you Callie.”
“I have to make sure your head is on straight. I won't be there to help rescue you today,” she teased.
“My shero.”
Callie laughed. “You know it.”
Trent quieted. “I should buy some new clothes today,” he hinted.
“Boy do not come to my job! Your brother already bought everything in the store anyway.”
“What if I want to see you?” he asked.
“Then ask to see me.”
“Can I see you today Callie?”
“I have to work until three.”
“I'm free all day,” he told.
Callie paused. “What are we going to do?”
He smiled again. “Whatever you want Callie.”
“Hmmm...let me see...” Callie trailed off.
Trent laughed. “You want to watch an Indonesian film?”
“Hell nah...”
“I thought you said you wanted to check it out?”
“I lied.”
He laughed harder. “I thought you kept it one hundred?”
She laughed too. “I do, but I wasn't trying to knock your Wonder Woman's boring ass thing she wanted to do.”
“Yeah, I bet your old dude doesn't even know where Indonesia is located,” Trent cracked.
“You mad?” she asked imitating him.
Trent smiled again. “Where would you like to go Callie?” he asked bringing the conversation back around.
“What do you like to do Trent?” she asked.
Trent looked confused. “Like what?”
“Like anything. What do you like?”
Trent thought about it. “Uh, I like to go to...the library,” he answered honestly.
“The library?” she questioned.
“Yeah, I like the being in the quiet and around all the books.” What Trent didn't say was that when he was homeless in Atlanta he spent many days in the library as a safe haven.
“Okay baby, let's go to the library.”
Trent frowned. “For real?”
“Yeah, you said that's what you like. I can read too, you know.”
Trent smiled. “Yeah, I know.”
“So I'll call you when I get off,” she told him.
“Cool. I'll see you later Callie.”
“Bye baby,” she said.
Callie disconnected the call and Trent stared at his phone. He'd never told anyone his affinity for the library. To be honest, he'd thought Callie would laugh at his confession, but she'd asked him what he liked and then agreed to do it... for him. He smiled and went to his closet to find a T-shirt and some sneakers.
Chapter 22
Carolyn looked up as Sean entered her room. Her bags were packed and waiting next to the door. She smiled at him as he crossed the room to her.
“Hello Ma.” He kissed her cheek.
“Hello Sean. Thank you for coming for me today,” she told him.
Sean smiled. “I'm not the only one.”
Carolyn looked confused then turned as the door opened and both Trent and Jordan entered. She felt a welling of tears in her eyes as they approached and both kissed her.
“Oh my, I didn't expect this!”
They all smiled down at her and she felt her heart melt. Trent and Jordan grabbed her bags as Sean escorted her out the door. Dr. Williams was waiting for her at the exit.
“Hello Carolyn,” he greeted before looking at the men. “Looks like you have quite the committee here to take you home.”
> Carolyn beamed. “Yes I do. I didn't expect all these handsome men today.”
“Remember what we discussed,” he reminded her and she knew he was referring to letting them love her their way.
She looked at them all again. “I will.”
Sean shook hands with the doctor and thanked him for his help then led Carolyn to the waiting car. The driver relieved Jordan and Trent of the luggage as they climbed in after Sean and Carolyn. She looked across the seat at Jordan and Trent.
“Thank you both for coming for me.”
Jordan spoke. "We're glad that you're able to come home. Everyone is looking forward to Sean's wedding and having you there.”
“Thank you Jordan.” She smiled at him and turned to Trent as he took her hand.
“I just want my mother to be happy.”
She looked at him then his brothers. “I am. I truly am today.
Carolyn sat back in her seat. “So tell me what's been going on while I was away?” she asked.
All three men looked at each other before Sean spoke, “Nothing much.”
Carolyn recognized the look they'd all given each other. It was the same look Sean and Jordan would give each other when they were younger. The look that meant they were into all sorts of things.
She smiled to herself.
“Good. I guess I can hear about the wedding plans then.”
Sean launched into a discussion about the upcoming ceremony as they continued the ride to her home. Carolyn was anxiously anticipating the affair after hearing the excitement in Sean's voice. She was happy that her son had found someone to love.
At her home, they all exited the car and walked her into the dwelling. Carolyn immediately headed to her garden and was shocked to find a table set up for dining on the patio. In addition to the beautifully set table were Lily, Sage and Diamond. Carolyn's steps faltered as she stared at them.
“Welcome home,” Lily and Sage said in unison.
Carolyn's hands went to her mouth and the tears cascaded down her cheeks. It had been a long road and she hadn't been sure this day would ever come. Everyone's eyes misted slightly watching her happiness.
Lily and Sage both came over with smiles on their faces and hugged her gently.
“I don't...I have no words. That you all would do this for me,” she whispered in awe.