He had been eager to get to court early this morning so he could see her. He’d already determined from her businesslike demeanor last week that she was the type of person who was punctual, so he’d planned to arrive with enough time to introduce himself and maybe even talk a little before the court opened session.
But he had gotten off to a late start. He was used to rising at the crack of dawn Monday through Friday because people’s trash had to be picked up early. But after working from sunup to sundown every day last week, getting up early for the roof repair job Saturday morning, celebrating the festivities of Jamel’s birthday party later that evening, and then spending all day with his son yesterday, Jerome was beat. When he hit the snooze button on his alarm clock at 6:00 a.m., he didn’t realize that he’d actually hit the off button instead.
When he awoke to the sound of a loud scream, he looked at the clock and jumped out of bed in a rush. It was one of the few times that living in a noisy neighborhood had proven to be an advantage, because if it hadn’t been for the young couple yelling back and forth in the middle of the street outside his window, he would have probably slept for another couple hours. He quickly showered, dressed, and sprinted to the metro station to catch the train.
Now, as Jerome crossed the street, headed to one of the eateries near the courthouse, all he could think about was how much he wanted her. “Erica Stanford,” he whispered to himself.
He walked inside the restaurant and thought about the fact that he was getting ready to go out on a limb, but he had to trust his instincts. His gut told him that getting her lunch was the right thing to do. At first, he was hesitant, because even though she hadn’t been wearing a ring, that didn’t mean she wasn’t attached. But after observing and talking with her, he was 99 percent sure that she didn’t have a boyfriend. And the way she responded when he asked her what she was doing for lunch convinced him even more. When she said she was going to spend her lunchtime working, there was a loneliness resting in her voice, which told him there was no one special in her life to help fill her time.
Jerome walked up to the counter and scanned the menu board. He’d never eaten at Au Bon Pain, but judging from the large crowd, he knew the food must be good. He found what he wanted; then he tried to figure out what Erica might like. He wanted to take care of her, and this was his first step and opportunity to show her that he could, regardless of his station in life. He knew that everyone shared the same basic needs, and food was one of them. Everybody had to eat.
I need to get her something that’s healthy and tastes good, Jerome thought. There were so many choices, and with what seemed like a hundred different bread selections, getting her a sandwich was going to be more complicated than he’d thought. After careful consideration, he settled on the same turkey sandwich and vegetable soup that he’d ordered for himself.
He knew she was up to her neck in work, so he wasn’t going to take up her time, especially when there’d be other opportunities for that down the road. So for now, this was a way to break the ice and let her know that he was interested in her.
His legs couldn’t carry him fast enough as he hurried across the street back to the courthouse. If it were not for the fact that he was ready for love, Jerome would have been scared shitless by the feelings that were commanding him at will. But that wasn’t the case, because he was more than ready. He was complete. He was sure of who he was and what he wanted. And as he stood in the security line to reenter the building, he hoped that Erica was ready, too.
Five minutes later he was back in the jury room. He saw Erica with her phone pinned to her ear and her eyes glued to her iPad. Without saying a word, he removed her sandwich and soup, a napkin, and a bottle of water from the bag, sat them in front of her, and then turned to walk away.
“I’ll call you back,” Erica quickly said to whomever she’d been talking to. “This is for me?” she asked with surprise.
Jerome stopped and turned to face her. “You have to eat, right? I hope what I got you is okay.”
Erica looked at the food before her. “You didn’t have to do this.”
“I wanted to.”
He saw her smile turn into what looked like a soft blush, which made him smile in return. Damn, this woman is sexy.
“Why don’t you join me?”
“That’s okay. I know you have work to do. I just didn’t want you to have to do it on an empty stomach.”
“Jerome,” she said softly as she smiled again, “maybe I wasn’t clear. I would very much like for you to eat lunch with me.”
Her quiet, yet forceful invitation both startled and charged him. He hadn’t anticipated her wanting him to eat with her, and from the beginning he hadn’t wanted to disturb her work, but he wasn’t going to turn down this opportunity, either. He smiled, walked over to the table, and took a seat beside her.
“This was really thoughtful of you,” Erica said, taking a bite of her turkey sandwich. “Au Bon Pain is one of my favorite places.”
“Good. I’m glad I made the right choice.”
She smiled. “Me too.”
They shared an easy laugh between them as they dug into their food. Jerome was glad that he’d trusted his instincts, and as he sat beside Erica, sharing what he knew was the first of many meals they’d enjoy together, a profound realization came to him. Finding Erica and knowing that she was the one wasn’t a coincidence. It was fate.
He had initially deferred his jury duty summons a month ago because he’d been working to finish the kitchen remodeling job, which led to the job he’d done last weekend. He almost laughed to himself when he thought about the fact that his busy life had actually cleared a path for the woman in front of him.
“I needed this,” Erica said, breaking Jerome’s thoughts. “If you hadn’t been kind enough to get me lunch, I probably wouldn’t have eaten anything until I finished with work later tonight.”
“You work a lot of long hours, huh?”
“You have no idea. I work harder now than I ever did when I worked for someone else.”
“So, what is it that you do?”
“Have you ever heard of Opulence?”
Jerome thought for a moment, then shook his head. “No, can’t say I have. But I like the name.”
“Really?” Erica smiled with what he could see was curiosity in her eyes. “Tell me what you like about the name.”
“It sounds . . . I don’t know . . . rich, real classy.”
She nodded her head. “Opulence is a bath and body care boutique, and I own it.”
“Get outta here.”
“Yeah, I do. We specialize in high-end body products that make your skin feel and smell amazing.”
No wonder she smells so good. Her smooth skin looked soft to the touch, and he couldn’t wait to do just that.
Erica leaned over, reached into her large handbag, and handed him a postcard-size flyer. “This is my baby. She’s five years old.”
Jerome looked at the sleek advertisement. To say that he was impressed was an understatement. He knew that Erica had to be an accomplished woman in whatever she did, but he had no idea she owned her own business. From what he could see from the four different snapshots featured on the flyer, her boutique was first class all the way. Being a craftsman, he recognized quality in design when he saw it. He studied the elegant exterior of her store, with its intricately carved mahogany and glass front door, and the expensively packaged products sitting on the custom-made shelves inside. She had a successful and thriving business.
“This is real nice.” Jerome said. “I’m very impressed.”
“Thank you. Some days it’s a headache, but honestly, I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world. It’s my dream, and I’m living it.”
She was doing exactly what he wanted to do: start his own business and live his dream, too. Jerome knew there was a reason he’d been attracted to Erica beyond her physical beauty and the light in her eyes. It was the passion inside her that he’d connected with. It was the s
ame passion that rested inside him—the desire to achieve, be his own boss, live and pursue his ambition on his own terms.
As Jerome watched Erica eat, he had an incredible urge to remove her soupspoon from her mouth, lean into her, and kiss her berry-stained lips. He’d finally met someone who was exactly where he wanted to be, and the thought made him feel more confident than ever that this was fate.
“So, Jerome, tell me about yourself,” Erica said.
Jerome hesitated for a moment. He felt that neither his story nor his life was nearly as interesting as hers. And besides, he wanted to know everything about the woman who’d invaded his mind, and he wasn’t going to let another minute go by without learning as much as he could about her. “Let’s stick to you right now. I find you very interesting,” he said with honesty.
Erica blushed again. “Really? You think I’m interesting?”
“Yes, I do. And I want to know more about you.”
Jerome ate his food and listened as the most exciting, beautiful, and genuinely sweet woman he’d ever met revealed pieces of who she was. He asked questions, and she didn’t seem to mind answering them.
The more he asked, the more she shared, and the more she shared, the more he fell into complete rapture over her wholesomeness and gentle strength. He thought everything about her was new and refreshing, from her approach in business to her approach in life. He was used to people with an edge—hard, tough, streetwise folks who had to be that way in order to survive. But Erica was none of that. Her view on life was optimistic and hopeful, and he admired that approach because it made him feel that anything was possible, including love.
He could also see that he’d been right about her romantic status. Except for when she talked about her family, each time she spoke of her personal life, it was with a singular focus. He wondered when her last serious relationship was, how long they’d stayed together, and if anyone was trying to date her now. He knew that a woman as fine as Erica wouldn’t stay single for long. She probably has her pick of men at the country club, he thought, because he was fairly certain she belonged to one.
Her background was almost foreign to him. He knew that people like Erica, black folks in particular, existed. But until engaging in conversation with her, sharing a turkey sandwich and vegetable soup, he’d never met anyone who’d grown up in the type of affluence she had. Gated communities and private schools were make-believe worlds for rich white people he’d seen on TV when he was growing up. But for Erica, it was the way things were. No big deal.
Another thing he found nearly unbelievable was that she came from a two-parent home, and from what he could piece together, she and her brother had the same mother and father, who were still married to each other. Most people in his circle were lucky if they knew the identity of one parent, let alone two, and if they did know both their mother and father, it was almost guaranteed that only one parent resided in the home.
Jerome was both fascinated and slightly intimidated the more Erica spoke. It was clear to him that she was a woman of means, position, and growing power. Her expensive-looking clothes and the classy way she carried herself said it all. He knew that she easily made ten or more times the money he earned from his regular job and his side construction projects combined.
Even though the thought intimidated him, Jerome refused to let it scare him away. Running scared had cost him so much in his life. Part of the promise he’d made to himself several years ago was that he wouldn’t let fear keep him from the things he wanted. He wanted Erica, and he was going to do what it took to be with her.
“Tell me what it’s like to run your own business,” Jerome said.
Erica moved her empty container of soup to the side and tilted her head as she took a deep breath and smiled. “It’s a combination of sun and clouds. Some days it’s like heaven shining down on me, and some days it’s completely chaotic with no rhyme or reason.”
“I can imagine. It must be very intense.”
“Yes, it can be. But I honestly have to say that even with the mess and headaches I’m dealing with right now, I still love what I do.”
“What are you dealing with?”
Erica told Jerome about the dilemma that the flaky, unreliable graphic artist had caused, and that she was short staffed and needed to find a new salesperson quickly.
“I’ve decided that if I have to go with my old packaging, I will,” she concluded. “Nothing is going to keep me from getting my products into those swag bags for Fashion Week.”
Jerome looked at the flyer again, paying close attention to the colorful products displayed on her boutique’s shelves. “These are the jars you’ll have to use, right?”
“Yep.”
“They look nice to me. I know you want to have something different to go along with your new product, but I guarantee you, once those people use that new body butter you talked about, they won’t be thinking about the design on the jar. All they’ll want to know is how they can buy more.”
Erica leaned back in her seat and smiled. “Thank you for saying that, Jerome. You just boosted my spirits more than you know.”
“I’m just speaking the truth.”
There was a slight pause before Erica said, “You’re not just throwing me lines to make me feel good, are you?”
Jerome shook his head and became serious. “I wouldn’t do that, Erica. I’m telling you what I believe is true based on what you’ve shown me. I know you got skills.”
“Oh, you do?” she said with a girlish laugh.
Jerome returned her laugh with an intense stare. “I’m good about stuff like that. Plus, the fact that you gave a young brother with no experience an opportunity tells me a lot about you.”
“I’m not so sure about that. Giving him a chance was a big mistake, because look at me now.”
“I don’t think it was a mistake.”
“Really?”
“No. What you did was give someone a break, just like someone gave you a break when you were just starting your business. You went out on a limb to pull somebody up. You gave this guy a chance, but you can’t shoot his jump shot for him. He messed up a great opportunity, but who knows? He might just come through. And even if he doesn’t, you’re gonna be just fine. The positive energy you put out there when you tried to help him is gonna come back to you twofold.”
“Wow, that’s very insightful.”
“Like I said, I’m just speaking the truth.”
Their conversation continued to flow like water, gently and with ease. Jerome was excited that Erica seemed to be enjoying his company just as much as he was enjoying hers. He could tell she was a genuine person by the way she looked him squarely in his eyes when she spoke. He liked that about her and thought it said volumes about her trustworthiness. He knew shady people had a problem with eye contact.
Things were going great when suddenly they were interrupted by Erica’s buzzing phone.
“You need to get that?” Jerome asked.
Erica didn’t even glance in her phone’s direction. “Nope. I’m talking to you. Whoever it is can wait.”
Jerome sat back in his chair, trying to control the big grin that was about to burst at the edges of his lips. He had been turned on last week by her body-hugging red dress and sexy high heels, and then again today by her black skirt, which outlined her curvy hips, and the soft white blouse that fell gently against her breasts. But nothing she wore either day was more sexy to him than the words she’d just spoken. She was into him, and it turned him on. But he tempered his excitement and fought to keep his voice even as he spoke. “You sure? I know you’re a busy woman with a lot goin’ on.”
“I’m sure.”
“It could be that designer you’ve been waiting to hear from.”
Erica let out a small laugh.
“Did I say something funny?” he asked with a smile, not sure if he really had.
“No, it’s just that, well, I’ve been waiting for that message to come through since last week. But at
the moment, I’m not really concerned. I recently made a promise to myself, and somehow I know it will all work out.”
“I know exactly where you’re coming from. I did the same thing.”
“It’s exciting and scary, isn’t it?”
Jerome nodded. “I guess you could say that. But in my case, it was necessary. I had no other choice.”
“Sounds deep. Have things worked out for you?”
“Better than I could’ve ever imagined.”
“Well, then, that gives me hope.”
“What promise did you make?” he asked.
Erica smiled but didn’t answer his question. “We’ve talked about me this whole time. Now it’s your turn. I want to know about you.”
Just then the door opened and Ms. Maude came walking in with two other jurors trailing behind her. Jerome felt relieved. He wanted Erica to know who he was, but he also wanted time to think about how he would explain his life to her, since a lot of it was still unfolding.
He was sure that she’d never dated anyone like him. He didn’t have a degree, let alone a high school diploma. Given that she owned her own business, he was pretty sure that she owned her own home, too. When he thought about the two-bedroom apartment he rented in a dicey neighborhood, tucked inside a questionable part of town, he wondered what she would think. Would she feel like she was settling if she started dating him?
Jerome felt that Erica was open-minded and kind, but he wasn’t blind to the fact that their differences, and in particular his lifestyle, might be too much for her.
For the first time in his thirty-five years, Jerome’s emotions were so up and down that he didn’t trust what he might say next, so he decided to shut down their conversation. “Looks like our time is up. We’ll have to go back into the courtroom soon.”
Erica wagged her finger playfully. “You’re not getting off the hook that easily.”
Breaking All My Rules Page 10