by Regina Hart
“Of course I’d be faithful to you.”
Peyton’s heart raced. She drew several steadying breaths. “Who’s with you, Bruce?”
“What?” His voice was blank.
“It’s Leila, isn’t it?”
“What makes you think that?”
Peyton could barely breathe. “Is she giving you head while we’re on the phone?”
“That’s ridiculous! I resent—”
“Save it.” A wall of fatigue fell on her. “She’s welcome to you. I want a real marriage, one that’s based on mutual respect and love.”
Bruce barked a laugh. “Love is a fairy tale. You’re too old to believe that myth.”
Just thinking about Darius’s kisses made her toes curl in the fuzzy slippers. Her thighs trembled; her core grew damp. If Bruce had never experienced what Darius’s embrace had made her feel, she felt sorry for him.
“I want my pulse to race and my head to spin. I want fireworks. Most of all, I want to feel secure in the knowledge that my husband’s penis will never know anyone else’s mouth.”
“There’s nothing going on between Leila and me.” Bruce rushed his words as though he feared she would disconnect the call in seconds, which is exactly what she wanted to do. “We need to have this conversation in person. We can’t end our engagement over the phone.”
“I just did.” She pressed the END button to disconnect the call.
Peyton had just taken her second step toward reclaiming her life from her well-meaning but misguided parents. Her first step had been moving to Trinity Falls.
What was next?
“Ms. Helen, why do you keep looking around like the government is spying on you?” Darius tucked the elderly lady’s frail hand more securely into the crook of his arm.
He’d escorted his friend into the Heritage High School gymnasium Friday night. The gym had been converted into a banquet room in honor of Dr. Kenneth Hartford’s retirement from Trinity Falls University after almost thirty-five years.
“I’m looking for someone, if you must know.” Ms. Helen tipped her head back to frown up at him.
Her petite frame was draped in an oversized, thick scarlet sweater and slim black denim pants. Her black boots had modest heels and pointed toes. Sterling silver jewelry adorned her ears, neck, and wrists. Her snow-white hair was pinned back in a neat chignon.
“I’m your date.” Darius pressed his hand to his chest. He wore a purple turtleneck sweater under his gray jacket. “It’s not very flattering for you to look around for other men.”
“It’s definitely an ego boost to arrive on the arm of the handsomest man in the room. But you’re far too young for me, Darius.” She patted his forearm with her free hand.
“Ouch.” He released her arm and faced her. “I still don’t understand why we had to get to Ken’s retirement dinner so early.”
“I thought you wanted to give him your regards.”
“I do.”
“Well, if we’d arrived fashionably late, his throng of admirers would have made that nearly impossible.” The former university professor adjusted the strap of her purse on her shoulder. “Now, let me mingle while you go find Ken.”
“Fine.” He kissed her forehead. “Try not to break too many hearts.”
“Go find a single woman closer to your own age to spend the evening with.” With that directive, Ms. Helen blended in with the neighbors who crowded the gym.
Darius went to pay his respects to the man of the hour. He navigated past the circular dining tables, which were covered in stiff white linen and set for eight people each, similar to the setup for Quincy’s going-away party.
Darius found Kenneth’s reserved table. Quincy, who’d traveled from Philadelphia for tonight’s banquet, was already with the retiring professor. The two men sat at the table reserved for the guest of honor. Once the event officially started, Kenneth would share the reserved table with the university’s president, vice presidents, division chair, and chair of the board of trustees.
The retiring TFU professor looked exactly like what he was: an older gentleman who’d spent his entire life in academia. Average height, thin, and bespectacled, Kenneth was wearing the requisite corduroy jacket with elbow patches, white shirt, and dark pants.
“Congratulations, Ken.” Darius shook the professor’s hand.
“Darius, thanks for coming.” Kenneth’s brown eyes twinkled with warmth and welcome.
“Thanks for the invitation.”
“Of course. Of course.” Kenneth released Darius’s grip to spread his hands. “You’ve always done such a wonderful job, covering the university for the newspaper. How could I not invite you?”
Darius nodded at Quincy before returning his attention to the older professor. “Not much longer now before you’re on the beach.”
“No, it’s not.” Kenneth gestured toward the empty seat beside him. “Join us. Next week is Thanksgiving. Finals are the week after that; then I’m on my way to Florida, hopefully before the first real snowfall.”
“Trinity Falls won’t be the same without you.” Darius lowered himself onto the red padded folding chair, placing the older gentleman between Quincy and him.
“Kind of you to say.” Kenneth inclined his head.
Darius grinned at Quincy. “I’m surprised Ramona let you out of her sight.”
“She went to find someone.” Quincy smiled like a man in love.
Kenneth gestured toward Quincy with his water glass. “I was just telling Quincy how good you made me look in the article you wrote for today’s Monitor.”
Darius shook his head. “You made yourself look good.”
“Thank you.” Kenneth folded his hands. “I’m looking forward to my retirement, but a part of me is worried about the future of the history department.”
“Why?” Darius poured himself a glass of water from the pitcher in the center of the table. He offered the other two men a refill. Both declined.
“Most of my colleagues don’t have the interest or drive to grow our department’s programs.” Kenneth sighed. “Although I do have some hope for our newest professor, Dr. Peyton Harris. She shows promise.”
Kenneth was right. With that lady’s drive and determination, she’d make the history department the envy of the university.
“Someone will step up to lead the department.” Quincy stared into his glass of ice water.
Kenneth shifted in his seat to face the younger professor. “I’d hoped you’d be my successor, Quincy. But that was before you left TFU to teach at the University of Pennsylvania. Although I’m happy for you, to be completely candid, a part of me was disappointed.”
Darius frowned as a shadow moved across Quincy’s brown features. “Best-laid plans, Ken. But Quincy couldn’t turn down an offer from Penn.”
“Penn’s a big adjustment.” Quincy dragged his right hand over his clean-shaven head. “It’s very different from TFU.”
“Nothing worth having comes easily.” Darius tossed back some water. “You’ll make the transition.”
“Didn’t you sign a one-year contract?” Kenneth waved a dismissive hand. “That’ll be over at the end of the spring semester. And I’m sure TFU will take you back.”
Something more was bothering Quincy. His coal-black eyes were clouded. His sharp brown features were tense. Darius wanted to ask his childhood friend what was on his mind. But this wasn’t the time or place.
Darius wiped condensation from his cool glass. “You’ve only been at Penn three months. You need time to adjust.”
“I did my graduate studies there.” Quincy shrugged his shoulders, clothed in a purple knit sweater Ramona must have bought for him. “I knew what to expect.”
“But now you’re a member of the faculty.” Kenneth shook his head. “That’s different.”
Quincy stared across the room, appearing deep in thought. “I miss the flexibility of our academic department.”
“TFU’s a much smaller university, which allows it greater acade
mic collaboration and creativity.” Kenneth sipped his water.
Darius struggled in the role of devil’s advocate. He didn’t want to give Quincy reasoned arguments to remain in Philadelphia. Darius wanted his friend to come home. But was he being selfish?
He made himself focus on Quincy. “When you were deciding whether to leave, you said Philadelphia would give you access to historical research.”
“Suppose Ramona doesn’t like Philadelphia? She thought she’d like New York, but she hated it there.” Quincy’s gaze pinned Darius. “What if she hates Philadelphia?”
Darius frowned. “You’re borrowing trouble, Q.”
Quincy dragged his hand over his bald head again. “I’m wondering if I’ve made a mistake.”
“Ramona will join you in January after Doreen is sworn in as mayor.” Darius leaned into the table. “That will give you both five months before your contract ends and you have to decide if you want to stay at Penn or return to TFU.”
Kenneth offered Quincy a persuasive smile. “At TFU, you’re the big fish in a smaller pond.”
“You’re my friend.” Quincy eyed Darius. “I thought you’d want me back in Trinity Falls.”
Was Q joking? “Are you sure you have an advanced degree?”
Quincy scowled at him. “Why are you always questioning that?”
Darius sighed. “It’s because I’m your friend that I’m asking you to give Penn a chance. I want you to be happy, Q. Don’t let fear hold you back.”
“What about you, Darius?” Kenneth asked. “The Monitor is a good paper, but have you reached your potential there?”
Darius’s lips curved in a half smile. “I’ve written for a big metropolitan daily. This small-town newspaper is exactly where I want to be.”
“Lucky us.” Ramona’s sarcasm came from behind Darius as she circled the table toward Quincy.
Darius’s gaze skipped over Jackson, Audra, and Ms. Helen, who followed in Ramona’s wake, to settle on Peyton. The little professor wore a pink sweater and a black ankle-length wool skirt. It wasn’t her Catwoman costume, but she was just as captivating.
Darius tore his gaze from Peyton to give Ramona a dry look. “Thanks for the kind words.”
“It was a weak moment.” Ramona stood behind Quincy. She rested her hands on his shoulders.
Quincy reached up and took one of her hands in his.
Peyton shook Kenneth’s hand. “Congratulations, Ken.”
“Thank you.” Kenneth took her hand in both of his. “I’m glad you could make it.”
Jackson and Audra also offered their well wishes to the retiring professor.
The pleasantries appeared to be too much for Ramona. “Come on, Ken. Everyone’s waiting for you to start the food line. I’m starving.”
Kenneth chuckled as he pushed himself to his feet. “Then by all means, let me lead the charge to the buffet tables.”
Minutes later, Quincy and Ramona led Jackson, Audra, Peyton, Darius, and Ms. Helen to an available table near the center of the gym-turned-banquet-hall.
Darius sat between Ms. Helen and Peyton. As it often did, the conversation among the seven friends hopped across different topics: Quincy’s first semester at Penn, Peyton’s first semester with Trinity Falls University, Ramona’s final days in the mayor’s office, Jackson’s renovation of Harmony Cabins, Audra’s latest songwriting contract, and Ms. Helen’s progress on her memoirs.
“I still haven’t found anyone to work on it with me.” Ms. Helen sliced into the teriyaki chicken breast.
Darius forked up the seasoned rice. “I don’t understand why you won’t let me work with you on your memoirs. I wouldn’t charge you.”
“That’s one of the reasons. I don’t want this project to be a favor. I want to handle it professionally.” Ms. Helen bit into the well-seasoned chicken.
Darius shrugged. “If you insist on paying me, I won’t say no.”
Ms. Helen slipped him a smile. “Let me think it over.”
Ramona plucked a broccoli spear from her plate. “I think you don’t want us to help because your memoirs are chock-full of steamy relationships. Am I right?”
Ms. Helen slid a look at Ramona. “You’ll have to buy the book to find out.”
Laughter rolled around the table before the conversation resumed.
“I’m looking forward to the end of my term.” Ramona refilled her water glass. “Don’t get me wrong. I’ve enjoyed being Trinity Falls’ mayor. But I’ll be glad when Quincy and I are once again living in the same city. Long-distance relationships suck.”
Love softened the mayor’s classic beauty. But Quincy’s expression seemed strained. Was he still stressing over Ramona’s reaction to living in Philadelphia? With a mental shake of his head, Darius returned to his meal.
The banquet’s agenda included speeches from university administrators, praising the professor and thanking him for his decades of dedication to the institution and its students. Kenneth ended the evening with a brief but moving profession of his love for the university, its students, faculty, staff, and Trinity Falls.
“I believe in Trinity Falls and in Trinity Falls University.” Kenneth cleared his throat and sipped some water before continuing. His voice was thick with emotion. “They were both founded on a simple principle: equality of opportunity makes a community strong. And as each community goes, so goes the nation.”
Kenneth waited for the applause to end before continuing. “It’s been my privilege to be a member of the university and of the town. I’m proud of my contributions to both and of the person into whom these experiences have molded me. God bless you all.”
The retiring professor earned a standing ovation. Darius glanced at Peyton to find her wiping tears from her eyes. He was close to tears himself.
Moments after the banquet officially ended, Ms. Helen leaned past Darius to question Peyton. “Do you have a ride home, dear?”
“Yes, thank you.” Peyton nodded across the table. “I came with Jackson and Audra.”
“Oh no, dear.” Ms. Helen’s eyes widened. “Since it’s so late, you should let Darius drive you home. Your apartment is a bit out of the way for Jackson and Audra. Darius is closer. I can ride back with Quincy and Ramona.”
“Ms. Helen, you’re not riding home with Quincy and Ramona. You’re going to leave with the one you came with.” Darius leveled the elderly woman a look. Had she joined the Darius-Needs-a-Girlfriend Bandwagon? He stood from the table and assisted Ms. Helen from her chair.
The older woman reached up and patted Darius’s upper arm. “It’s too much trouble for you to drop off multiple people.”
Why hadn’t she considered that before she’d volunteered him to drive Peyton home—not that he minded. He’d considered making the offer himself.
“No, it’s not. I’ll take you home first.” Darius pulled her small hand into the crook of his arm to escort her from the gym. “Then I’ll drive Peyton home.”
After wishing their friends a good evening and collecting their coats, Darius escorted Ms. Helen and Peyton to the parking lot. Ms. Helen insisted on sitting in the backseat of Darius’s black Nissan Maxima, leaving Peyton with the front passenger seat. He closed and locked the car’s doors, trapping Peyton’s talcum powder and lily-of-the-valley fragrance inside.
The first stop was Ms. Helen’s home, where Darius escorted her to her door and saw her safely inside. Then he climbed back into his car and pointed his Maxima in the direction of Peyton’s apartment building.
Peyton shifted on her seat to face him as he pulled away from the curb. “You’ve had two weeks to think it over, Darius. Will you cochair the community center’s fund-raising committee with me, or will I have to get tough with you?”
CHAPTER 12
Had she really said that? Peyton tensed in her seat. What had gotten into her? She opened her mouth to apologize, but Darius’s response stopped her.
“That threat would be funny if the memory of you frog-marching me out of your office back in
August wasn’t still fresh on my mind.”
“I’m really sorry about that.” Peyton felt the burn of a blush rising from her neck.
“No harm done.” Darius shrugged. “My shoulder was better in a day or two.”
“What?” The interjection shot out on a breathless syllable. “I hadn’t realized I’d hurt you.”
“It was a minor injury. It wasn’t even dislocated.” Darius kept his eyes on the road. “And my back, well, that was just a twinge.”
The silence lasted a beat or two before Peyton spoke. “I think you’re making that up.”
“I am.”
She huffed a breath. “That’s not even funny.”
“Yes, it is.” Darius slipped her a quick glance before returning his attention to the road. “Quincy and Jackson got a good laugh from it.”
“You told them?” Peyton was scandalized.
“I told Quincy. He told Jackson—and God knows who else.” Darius braked at a four-way stop and looked at Peyton. “Quincy’s got a big mouth.”
Peyton covered her face with both palms. “Oh my word.”
“Hey, don’t worry about it.” Darius moved through the intersection. “At most, Quincy told Ramona, Jackson, and Ean. And they probably told Audra, Doreen, Megan, and Alonzo. I think Vaughn knows, too.”
Was that supposed to make her feel better? Peyton’s hands muffled her groan of abject humiliation.
“It’s not so bad.” Darius checked his mirrors before switching lanes. “I know it sounds like a lot of people, but it’s not even half of our acquaintances.”
“You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?” Peyton scowled at him.
“Very much.” He nodded solemnly.
Peyton crossed her arms. “Are you going to cochair the committee with me?”
“Yes.” His response was that singular rough word.
In her mind, Peyton was screaming, and jumping up and down in triumph. She took a steadying breath. “Thank you. I couldn’t do this without your help.”
Darius pulled into her apartment parking lot and turned off the engine. He turned to face her. “The community center is important to Trinity Falls. But whatever we decide to do for the fund-raiser, it needs to be quick. The town gets bored fast.”