Serving Time (The Valentine Law Series Book 1)

by Bailey West

  I opened my notebook and pulled out an artist rendering and passed it around the table. “I’ve purchased some land here in the city where I want to build a brand-new state of the art baseball stadium complete with a retractable ceiling and an attached shopping and entertainment area. This is a drawing of what I am proposing. I want to name the stadium Walker Memorial Stadium in honor of the first black MLB player, Moses Fleetwood Walker.”

  “Jackie Robinson was the first black man to play for an MLB team,” Roc corrected.

  “I thought the same thing too until I did a little digging and realized Robinson was not the first. He was the first to have a complete career, but not the first to play.”

  I waited to receive the drawing back before I continued.

  “I believe in family. I believe families should work together to achieve a common goal. I won’t deal with too many people outside of my business family or my natural family. That’s why you all are sitting at this table.

  I will offer all the current owners of the team a buyout amount. The men who own the smaller percentages will have no problem taking the money. They are not invested in making the team a success. They only see it as a business deal. I, on the other hand, am very invested in the team as a whole, not just for the financial gain. The majority owner will have a little ego problem and try to hold out. I think with the money we will raise as a group, he will have a hard time turning it down. We will make history by being the first all-black investing group to purchase an MLB team. I will put up sixty-five percent of the capital. We will divide the rest among all of you.”

  “Yes, that will leave thirty-five percent left for us to raise. I’ve looked at everyone’s portfolio, and that won’t be a stretch for any of us. I will formally present you with the exact dollar amount once we all sign the contract and agree to this venture,” Paxton said.

  “I have already spoken to Wesley Phillips, the current center fielder. He has agreed to come on and work in our front office to fulfill the rest of his contract with the team. As I started to say earlier, the lesser investors will be easy to pick off. The problem is going to be with the majority shareholder. Not because he doesn’t like money, but he’s afraid to see a black man win.”

  “He might as well get ready for it then. We are going to win,” Langston said.

  “Yes, we are gentlemen. Yes, we are.”

  Averie

  I requested breakfast after showering and getting dressed. Larry showed me to the office in the suite that was complete with a desk and a comfortable chair. I was looking at my calendar and realized the meeting Caroline scheduled with Trevor Bell was next week. I’m interested in finding out why she took it upon herself to meet with him.

  “Hello?” I answered my phone after seeing Mommy’s name on the screen.

  “Hi, sweetheart.”

  “Hi, Mommy. How are you?”

  “I’m okay. I would be better if I’d laid my eyes on you in the past month at least.”

  I hadn’t seen my parents since the dinner at their house where she asked me if I was gay in front of the family. I wasn’t avoiding her per se, but I didn’t feel like dealing with the pressure she put me under.

  “I’ve been working almost non-stop, Mommy.”

  “I know. Your father and I saw you on TV after you won the big case. We are proud of you.”

  “I know, I got Daddy’s emoji-filled text message, but thank you.”

  “How did your date with Doctor Timms go?”

  “Ummm, it didn’t go so well. We weren’t each other’s type.”

  I held my breath waiting for her to go into a whole diatribe about my dating life. She didn’t.

  “You said you’ve been working but you’re not working out of town, are you?”

  Somebody snitched.

  I told both my sisters I was going out of town with Samuel, but I also told them to keep it to themselves. No telling which one spilled the beans.

  “Are you going to tell me about him?”

  I really didn’t want to have this conversation with her about Samuel. I knew she was going to take this way too far and start asking about marriage and babies.

  “Averie?”

  “Yes, ma’am?”

  “I’m sorry for embarrassing you during family dinner. Sometimes my mouth gets ahead of me. I honestly didn’t mean any harm. I’m asking you to forgive me because I would love to hear about this new man in your life.”

  “Mommy, it was never a matter of me forgiving you. You don’t have to apologize for caring about me, but you take it too far. I’ve worked my behind off to make you and Daddy proud, but you don’t see that. All you see is me not having a man in my life. Do you know how that makes me feel? It makes me feel horrible.”

  “You always made me feel like the choices I’ve made in my life to stay home and raise you and your sisters and make a home for your father somehow made me less of a woman. Like somehow my college degree was wasted because I took pride in seeing my family succeed.”

  I sat up in my chair.

  “Mommy, what are you talking about? I’ve NEVER said that about you!”

  “You didn’t have to say it. I saw how you admired those judges you worked for. You talked about them non-stop. You thumbed your nose at having a husband and a family because of them.”

  I’d never heard her say this before. It brought tears to my eyes. They didn’t fall, but I was heartbroken that she felt like I’d disrespected or disregarded her.

  “I’m video calling you, hang-up.”

  I waited to make sure the call was disconnected then video called her.

  “Mommy, I need you to hear me and see me when I say this. I’ve never respected another woman more than I respect you. I’ve never loved another person more than I love you. I sincerely apologize if my actions, words or lack of words ever led you to assume I don’t hold you in the utmost regard. Even when you hover and go crazy mom or set me up on dates with losers, I don’t love or respect you any less.”

  She wiped the tears from her face.

  “Are you serious?”

  “Mommy! Come on! I had no career aspirations for years except to be a domestic engineer just like you!”

  She laughed through her tears.

  “I guess it was your time away in college that caused the disconnect. I just didn’t know where I fit in your life anymore and then I thought all the fancy ladies took my place. So, I focused on what they couldn’t focus on, and that was you having the family and the husband. I’m sorry.”

  “I understand and thank you for recognizing we’ve both played roles in our recent dynamic. I love you more than I could ever describe.”

  “I love you too. So, am I off punishment? Can I meet Samuel?”

  “Ugh! They told you his name and everything?”

  “I’m the momma. They can’t keep anything from me. Can you bring him to dinner next Sunday? I promise I will be on my best behavior.”

  “I will ask him, but I can’t promise he will agree.”

  “Is he there now? I could say hello.”

  “No, he’s not here. He had a meeting. I will ask him about dinner. I promise.”

  “Great! I will cook all my best dishes.”

  “Mommy you don’t have to impress him. I’ve got that taken care of,” I winked.

  “That’s your Father in you,” she laughed.

  We talked for a few more minutes then got off the phone. I didn’t know if Samuel was ready to meet my parents, but I guess it wouldn’t hurt to ask.

  I worked for a few hours and then laid back down to nap. I was trying to stay awake for Samuel, but I was beat.

  I felt someone softly kissing me. I opened my eyes and saw Samuel lying next to me. I looked at my watch and realized I’d been asleep for at least two hours.

  “Hey,” he smiled. “I was trying to let you sleep, but I got bored and came to bother you.”

  “You sound like the kid at the sleepovers who falls asleep last,” I laughed while I stretched. �
�How was your meeting?”

  “It was productive. How was your morning?”

  “Good. I didn’t get a lot of work done but I had a much-needed conversation with my mother.”

  “Is everything okay?”

  “Yes, it is now.”

  “Good. How are you with contract law?”

  “Rusty, I have an associate who handles that for me.”

  “I’m going to need to hire a good lawyer to draft these contracts for me.”

  “Oh, well, you need to keep looking because I am a great lawyer.”

  He climbed on top of me.

  “I can pay in more ways than one,” he kissed my neck.

  “Alright, alright. You’ve convinced me.”

  Samuel

  I went into one of the other rooms in the suite to get dressed for the evening so Averie could have the larger bathroom to herself. I had planned on taking her out to dinner and showing her around the town, but she informed me that she’d made plans for us for the evening. She instructed me to dress comfortably and wear athletic shoes.

  I dressed in a white and yellow polo shirt, dark polo denim jeans and wore my white high-top Giuseppe sneakers. I waited for her in the living room of the suite.

  She came out wearing a white crop top that showed off her mid-drift, a pair of light denim jeans which sat low on her waist and hugged her hips and a pair of white Puma sneakers.

  “Vee, where are we going, and will I have to hurt someone for looking at you in those jeans?”

  “We are going to have some fun. Larry helped me plan the evening and no, they can look, but you will be the one taking them off tonight.”

  “Facts.”

  She had a car waiting to drive us to our destination. We rode for about an hour before we pulled onto a dirt road and followed it to a clearing. It was a massive go-cart track complete with hay bales for walls and a stop and go signal. I hadn’t been to a go-cart track since I was a teenager.

  “How did you find out about this place?”

  “Larry suggested it. He said a lot of people from the city don’t know about it, so we should enjoy ourselves without the crowds.”

  I followed her to the small shed they’d set up as a ticket booth. The woman in the booth produced two wristbands for us to wear and then directed us to the safety instructor. The safety instructor explained the rules of the course and the safety measures we needed to take to ensure no one got hurt.

  Averie and I chose cars that were next to each other at the start line.

  “I want you to know that this ass kicking you are about to get is not personal,” Averie leaned over from her car and said.

  “The last time someone beat me in a go-cart was, never. No tears when you lose.”

  “Whatever, Valentine.”

  The guy standing between us counted down from three then waived his flag as the signal turned green. I slammed my foot on the gas and watched Averie’s car speed off ahead of me. I looked around realizing I hadn’t moved. The signal guy quickly moved to the back of my car and did something then told me to try it again. This time my car leaped forward. I looked ahead to see where Averie had gone. She’d already turned her second curve. It didn’t seem like I would have enough time to catch her before our three laps were over. I put the pedal to the metal and ended up right behind her. I would get close to passing her, but she would maneuver her car and cut me off. On the last and final lap, she made the mistake of taking the outside lane on a curve that allowed me the opportunity to get on the inside of the curve and drive past her. I beat her to the finish line by seconds.

  “You cheated!” She yelled as soon as her car came to a stop next to mine.

  “Cheat! How could I cheat when you had a full minute of driving before I even got started!”

  “Cheaters always have excuses, but that’s cool. Let’s do it again with no excuses and see who wins!”

  We raced two more times. She won one, and I won the other.

  After the last race, I helped her from her car.

  “Let me hear it, Patterson. Who is the better go-cart driver?” I cuffed my hand to my ear and leaned down towards her.

  “Fine, you are Valentine.”

  “That’s a good girl,” I said while pulling her in for a kiss before we walked to the car.

  We went to another location and played miniature golf then we played a super competitive game of laser tag.

  She obliterated me in laser tag, but I beat her at miniature golf. We shared a smoked turkey leg and a funnel cake on our ride back to the hotel.

  “I had a good time with you, Vee.”

  “You did?” She smiled. “I had fun with you too. Even though you cheat.”

  “Whatever. You’re a sore loser, and I’m good at what I do.”

  “You a’ight,” she smiled.

  “I’ve never gone on a date where my date paid. Thank you. I had a great time.”

  “So, you would let me do it again?”

  “Yes, I would. Let’s make what I said earlier our agreement. If I plan, I pay. If you plan you pay.”

  “Ok. What if it’s impromptu?”

  “I pay.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I beat you to the answer. You should have said, ‘if it’s impromptu, I will pay’ but you asked a question, and I gave you an answer. You know the rules, Counsellor.”

  “You’re right. You got me. What if one of us breaks the agreement?”

  “Then the other one will set the penalty. Can we shake on it?”

  “Let’s kiss on it. That will make it more official.”

  I laughed and pulled her closer to me in the back seat and kissed her.

  Averie

  I had so much fun with El yesterday. After his whole don’t challenge me on my manhood speech, I decided that I would treat him to a date. He didn’t complain or reach for his wallet the entire time. He thanked me. His reactions to things surprise me sometimes, but I like it. He’s not a typical alpha, rigid and tense. I mean he can be, but he bends some, allowing me to be me.

  My competitive streak is a turn off to a lot of men, but with El, he embraced it and challenged me. He didn’t let me win anything. I worked hard to beat him while it seemed like he did everything effortlessly. He actually gloated when he won. I can’t blame him, I would have done the same thing. I did an obnoxious celebratory dance when I won laser tag. He laughed and cheered me on. We smiled and laughed a lot and didn’t mention work or the law once the entire night. It was refreshing. Larry had dinner waiting for us when we returned then we both took showers and fell asleep. I’d planned on modeling some of my new lingerie, but I fell asleep waiting for him to finish in the shower and he must have been tired because he didn’t wake me up.

  I woke up the next morning and was greeted by his morning wood poking me in the back. I took that as an invitation and woke him up with some morning head. He reciprocated, and we both dozed off again.

  We got up a couple hours later and prepared to attend the Stars home game. I’d brought my Cardinals jersey to wear to the game.

  “Where do you think you’re going in that?”

  I looked down at my outfit complete with my distressed jeans and white Nike Air sneakers.

  “To the game?”

  “There is no way the girlfriend of one of the owners can walk into the ballpark with a Cardinals jersey on.”

  “The girlfriend?”

  “The girlfriend,” he confirmed.

  “When did I acquire that title?”

  “Probably the first night we had sex, and you kept telling me it was mine so, I claimed it,” he chuckled.

  “Shut up,” I hit his arm.

  “You don’t like that title, or it’s not mine?”

  “You know it’s yours and I love the title.”

  I can’t believe it, but I really do like being called his girlfriend. I’d never been into titles, but I want him to claim me the same way I want to claim him.

  “I talked to my Mom yesterday, and
she wanted me to ask you if you wanted to have dinner at her house next Sunday. I told her you were busy, but I would ask.”

  “Oh, now who’s getting introduced to parents?”

  “I mean, you’ve earned it,” I shrugged.

  “Yes, I’ll have dinner at your parent’s house.”

  “You didn’t check your schedule.”

  “It doesn’t matter. If there is something on my schedule, it’s canceled now.” He placed a quick kiss on my lips. “Now take off that jersey before you start a fight with one of these fans. You know they hate the Cardinals because they beat us in the World Series last year, four games to one. It was brutal. I, on the other hand, have been a Cardinals fan since I was born, so it’s bittersweet. I still cheer for the Cards when they are not playing us. They are my first team, but I root against them when they play us.”

  He went into the closet and came back out holding a black jersey with a silver star in the middle. The word “stars” was stitched in black through the star.

  “Here put this one on,” he handed me the jersey. I flipped it over and saw my last name in silver block letters with a large silver number one underneath. I hurried and removed my Cardinals jersey and replaced it with the Stars jersey.

  “Yes, that’s much better.”

  We arrived at the ballpark about thirty minutes before the game began. We were escorted to the owner’s suite by one of the ushers.

  People were milling around the room, drinking, eating and talking. Samuel introduced me to the majority owner and his wife. They seemed like friendly people. I met a couple of the other owners and their families. We all settled in our seats and prepared for the game to begin.

  “Do you know anything about baseball?”

  “Aside from the good peanuts and Cracker Jacks?”

  “So, that’s a no?”

  “That’s a solid no. I go to at least one Cardinals game every season, but I would be lying if I said I really knew what was happening. I cheer when everyone else cheers, basically.”

  “It’s not a hard sport to learn. There are rules but not nearly as many as football or basketball. The positions are straightforward, and there are really only nine players to keep up with the entire game. There aren’t a ton of substitutions except for the pitcher.”