by Dwan Abrams
“You must be Bria.” She had the most pleasant-sounding voice with a slight Spanish accent. She shook Bria’s hand. “Nice to meet you.”
“You too.”
Kerryngton then introduced her to Alexis.
“Hi, Alexis. You’re even prettier than your pictures.”
Alexis blushed. “Thank you.”
Bria handed her the gift she had gotten for her. The little girl opened it up and her face lit up. “Thanks. How did you know I wanted these games?”
“Your dad told me the games you already had. I figured if I was your age I’d want these games in my collection too.”
“Can I go play these? Please, Daddy?” she begged.
He tousled her hair. “Go for it.”
“Yay!” She ran up the left staircase to her room.
“Have fun!” her mom called behind her. She directed her next comment to Kerryngton. “Call if you need to, but I know you won’t need to.” She lightly kissed Kerryngton on his lips before lifting her right hand and wiggling her fingers. “Tootles.”
Bria couldn’t believe she had been bold enough to kiss Kerryngton right in front of her face. What kind of mess? She didn’t care how amicable their relationship was; that right there was not cool.
Kerryngton locked the door behind her. He acted like that wasn’t awkward.
Bria wanted to say something, but she didn’t want to come across as an angry black woman. And now wasn’t the time. His daughter was in the house. Instead, she said, “Your daughter seems really sweet.”
“That’s my baby. She’s a good kid.”
They went into the family room where one of Kerryngton’s housekeepers served them cold drinks and refreshments. Bria settled into the comfortable sofa. She plucked a grape from the vine and stuffed it in her mouth.
“Don’t eat too much.” He squeezed her slender thigh. “You’ve got to save some room for dinner. Speaking of dinner, do your parents eat seafood?”
“They’re from Florida. Of course they eat seafood.” She sounded so matter-of-fact.
“I’ll let my chef know. You’re in for a treat.” He left her for a moment while he conferred with the chef. He came back and said, “I want to go swimming.”
“I’m ready to go now.” She pulled her hot pink bikini out of her purse.
“I see you teasing me.” He grinned. “You can change wherever you want. I’ll tell Alexis we’re about to go swimming.”
“Don’t forget to put on your trunks. I’ll meet you at the pool.”
Bria went to the bathroom just off from the family room and changed. She applied sunblock on every area of exposed skin. She then removed the ponytail holder from her hair and allowed her locks to cascade down her back.
After she inspected herself in the mirror she placed her purse and clothes on the sofa in the family room and headed to the pool with her sunglasses in hand. She stretched out on a pool chair until Alexis and Kerryngton joined her. Alexis waved at her before jumping right in the water.
Kerryngton stood next to her and blocked the sun. “Looking good,” he told her.
Her eyes landed on his bare chest. His pecs were looking right, and his stomach had enough ripples to grate cheese. She removed her sunglasses to get a better look. “So are you.”
“You know how to swim, right?”
“Like a mermaid.”
“Let’s go.” He grabbed her hand and helped her to her feet.
They got in the water and splashed around. Alexis floated on her floatie until her daddy tilted it over and caused her to plummet into the water. She started screaming and laughing. Bria swam a few laps and enjoyed watching Kerryngton play with his daughter. Their interactions seemed effortless and organic. Kerryngton grabbed three water guns and handed them out. The three of them took turns squirting each other in their faces. They laughed hysterically.
Three hours later they decided it was time to get ready for dinner. Bria showered in one of the guest bathrooms. The same hairstylist who had come over to do Alexis’s hair washed and styled Bria’s. She offered to do Bria’s makeup too, and she let her. She had Bria’s face looking like a glamour model. Her eyebrows were arched and shaped just right.
When she stepped into the bedroom she was prepared to put back on the casual outfit she had previously worn. To her surprise, Kerryngton had laid out a black Versace dress.
Bria held up the dress and the hem hit the middle of her thigh. She touched the delicate lace that formed the neckline, sleeves, and hem. She put on the dress and the form-fitting sheath accentuated her hourglass figure. A pair of golden Christian Louboutin pumps were perfect for accenting, not overtaking, the simple silhouette. He seemed to have a thing for labels. Everything he bought her was name brand and expensive. She wondered if he was trying to buy her. If so, she wasn’t for sale.
Twenty-seven
Bria checked her watch and realized that her parents were set to arrive in half an hour. Kerryngton had already sent his driver to get them. She set her purse and clothes on a chair and went into the family room where Kerryngton had just inserted a CD into the CD player. Some seventies music started playing. Although she wasn’t born in the seventies, she always thought that era had the best music.
“I love this song,” she beamed as “Darlin’, Darlin’ Baby (Sweet, Tender, Love)” by the O’Jays piped through the surround sound system.
“I figured your parents would appreciate the musical selection. I have every seventies hit.”
Her eyes got big. “Not just them. I appreciate it too. I’m going to have to borrow your collection.”
He looked at her with admiring eyes. “You look so sexy and fine.”
“Thank you so much for the dress and shoes. They’re gorgeous.” She modeled the outfit for him. “You’re spoiling me.”
“I enjoy spoiling you.” He pulled out a small box from his pants pocket and placed it in her hand.
She opened the box, and her jaw dropped. She removed the teardrop diamond earrings. “They’re beautiful.”
“Just like you.”
She thanked him and inserted the earrings in her pierced ears.
“Daddy,” Alexis said as she entered the room, “there’s a good movie coming on Disney. May I please eat my dinner in the theater?”
“You can, but you have to at least come down to meet Bria’s parents. Got it?”
“Okay.” She handed him a bottle of pink nail polish. “Please paint my toenails for me, Daddy.”
He chuckled. “Sit,” he told her as she took a seat and propped her small feet on his lap. Bria couldn’t believe her eyes as Kerryngton applied two coats of polish to the little girl’s feet. How sweet was that? she wondered. She liked seeing that side of him.
“Thanks, Daddy,” she said as he tightened the cap on the bottle.
He leaned over and kissed her on the cheek and sniffed the air. “Something sure smells good.” He followed the pleasant scent coming from the kitchen to see how dinner was coming along.
Alexis gave Bria a snotty look and whispered, “Don’t think you’re going to take my momma’s place. He belongs to us.”
Bria couldn’t believe this child had turned on a dime. What happened to the sweet little girl she had been playing with all afternoon? The child looked like the devil’s spawn with the distorted expression on her face.
“I’m not trying to take your mother’s place,” she spoke calmly.
“Good, because they’re going to get back together, you know.” She sounded matter-of-fact.
“Come on in here,” Kerryngton called from the kitchen.
Bria had lost her appetite. She felt like calling her parents and telling them not to come over. Out of respect for Kerryngton she didn’t go ham on his kid. She went into the kitchen as he requested. The chef had prepared steamed lobsters with garlic and melted butter on the side, salmon, broccoli, and baked potatoes.
The chef took a momentary break from his preparations to speak to them. “The sirloin steaks are stil
l marinating. Mr. Kruse, I know you like your steaks medium-rare and Miss Alexis doesn’t like steak at all.” He looked at Bria. “How do you prefer your steak?”
She gritted her teeth. “Medium-rare for me too.”
He nodded. “Thank you. I’ll wait until the other guests arrive before grilling the steaks,” he told Kerryngton. He removed two bottles of wine from the refrigerator. “I got a bottle of red and a bottle of white wine from the wine cellar. I thought it would be a good choice for the meal.”
Kerryngton looked at the labels and gave the chef a thumbs-up. “I agree.”
The chef also removed a large salad and chilled appetizer from the fridge.
Alexis said, “Daddy, may I fix my plate now, please? My movie’s about to come on in five minutes.”
The ultimate manipulator, Bria thought. Just then they received notification that Bria’s parents had arrived.
“In a minute,” Kerryngton told her.
The butler let Mr. and Mrs. Murray inside, and Kerryngton and Bria hurried to the foyer to greet them. Bria smiled when she saw how good her parents looked—fashionable and youthful. She gave them hugs and introduced them to Kerryngton. He shook her father’s hand and kissed the back of her mother’s hand.
“I see where Bria got her beauty,” Kerryngton smiled.
Mrs. Murray chuckled and took her hand back. “Your home is spectacular,” she said as she looked around the room.
“Thank you, ma’am.”
Kerryngton gave them an abbreviated tour. Rather than taking them on the upper and lower levels, he only showed them the main level. They ended up in the kitchen with Alexis and the chef. Kerryngton introduced them to Alexis who was well-mannered and pleasant. Nothing but the devil! Bria thought. She could tell the little demon had snowed her parents too.
Kerryngton explained, “Alexis won’t be joining us for dinner. She wants to watch some Disney movie.” He turned his attention to his daughter. “You have permission to take your plate to the theater.”
“Thank you, Daddy.”Alexis fixed her plate with a sample of everything except the steak and lobster.
The chef went over the menu with Mr. and Mrs. Murray and asked them how they preferred their steaks.
“Well done for me,” Mr. Murray said. “I have to cut back on red meat, though.”
“The salmon and lobster are plenty for me,” Mrs. Murray answered.
The chef announced, “Fantastic. Dinner will be ready in five minutes.”
Since it was only the four of them they ate in the breakfast room instead of the formal dining room. The chef placed the appetizers and salad plates on the table. He filled their water glasses and offered them wine. Kerryngton and Bria drank white wine while Mr. and Mrs. Murray drank sweet tea.
“I like your choice of music,” Mrs. Murray said. “You’re playing all of my favorites.”
“Mine too,” Kerryngton said.
Bria half expected her parents to get up and do the dance The Swing or start Chicago steppin’ at any moment.
“Kerryngton, Kerryngton,” Mr. Murray said. “I’ve been wanting to meet the fella who whisked my daughter out of the country.”
Bria traced the brim of the crystal wineglass with her finger, hoping her dad wasn’t about to say something to embarrass her. He wasn’t usually embarrassing, but this was an unusual situation.
“You have a lovely daughter,” Mr. Murray complimented.
“Thanks. She’s my pride and joy.”
“Just like Bria is my pride and joy.” He looked him in the eyes. “My wife tells me you and Bria are dating.”
“That’s correct.”
“She also tells me you’re in the music business.”
Kerryngton nodded his head.
“Then you’re no stranger to fast women and fast living.”
Kerryngton cleared his throat. “Afraid not. I have a past, and that’s exactly what it is, the past.”
“I’m sure that a man with your looks, wealth, and status has women throwing themselves at your feet.”
“Yes, but—”
“What do you want with my daughter?”
Kerryngton stroked his moustache, then looked at Bria. “I want to marry your daughter.”
Bria had to catch her breath. She wasn’t expecting him to say that. She attempted to conceal the shocked look on her face.
Mrs. Murray spit out her tea and covered her mouth. Bria handed her some napkins.
“Are you all right?” Kerryngton asked.
“Yes. It just went down the wrong way.” She dabbed her mouth, looked at Bria, then back at Kerryngton and said, “You two haven’t known each other very long.”
Kerryngton went on to tell them about his parents and their marriage. He said, “Bria is a special woman. She’s too special to just date. She deserves to be a wife, my wife. I can date her when I’m married to her. I don’t see the point in drawing things out to please other people when I know what I want and how I feel.”
“How does your daughter feel about this?” Mrs. Murray asked.
“Truthfully, my daughter doesn’t dictate my decisions. She’s my child, and she knows her place. She trusts me not to place her in harm or danger. Alexis wants me to be happy, and if I tell her Bria makes me happy, she’ll be happy for me, for us.”
“Where’s Alexis’s mother?” Mrs. Murray wanted to know.
Kerryngton told them about his ex-wife, why they divorced, and their relationship now.
“I see.” Mr. Murray furrowed a brow. “How old are you?”
Kerryngton chuckled. “I’m thirty.”
Mr. Murray grunted.
“Bria’s mature for her age, and I’m young for mine. We meet in the middle. Plus, I eat right and exercise. I’m in excellent health.”
The questions ceased as everyone seemed to be thinking about the conversation. They finished off their salads, and the chef cleared their plates. He followed up by serving them the main course.
Mr. Murray dipped the succulent lobster meat in warm, melted butter and stuffed it in his mouth. “I’ve heard you tell me how you feel about my daughter. What I want to know is how does my daughter feel about you?”
Every eyeball at the table was stuck on Bria. She felt as though a spotlight had been cast upon her. She chewed a piece of the delicious salmon, savoring the soft textured meat with a mild distinct flavor. She refused to let her parents intimidate her. What her father was really asking was: What’s up with Spade?
Twenty-eight
Bria put down her fork and said, “Ma, Dad, I know what you’re thinking. It hasn’t been that long since Spade and I broke up. You probably think this is some sort of rebound relationship, and everyone knows rebound relationships don’t last.”
Her parents nodded. “Keep going,” her mother encouraged.
“Well, I had a chance to speak with Spade while I was in London. In fact, he was there too, working on his music. Kerryngton is the CEO of the label that signed Spade.”
“Really?” Mr. Murray said, sounding shocked and amazed.
“Yes.” She then told them about Spade’s cancer diagnosis.
“I didn’t even know that,” Kerryngton said.
“Neither did I,” Mrs. Murray chimed in. “How is he?”
Mr. Murray wiped his mouth with a napkin. “Pumpkin, I have something to tell you.” He spoke up before Bria had a chance to tell her mother how Spade was doing.
“What is it?”
“Spade confided in me about his prognosis. He’s been keeping me updated on his tests.”
Bria felt a slow boil coming on. She steadied her breathing to take the lid off a full-blown explosion. “What?” She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. If her father had just told her what was going on, she’d still be with Spade today.
“Pumpkin, I’m sorry. He swore me to secrecy. I thought the two of you would work things out once you knew the truth. I had no idea you’d jump headfirst into another relationship so quickly.”
She h
eard her mother say she didn’t know about Spade’s condition, but after hearing her father’s confession, she didn’t know what to believe or who she could trust. She looked at her mother. Needing further reassurance, she asked, “Ma, did you know?”
“No, I didn’t. Your father didn’t tell me a thing.”
“Calm down, baby,” Kerryngton said in a soothing tone.
She wanted to tell Kerryngton where he could go with all that “calm down” mess. Her life had been turned upside down. She wasn’t about to calm down. Rather than being rude to him she requested, “Would you please give us a moment alone?” All the while she glared at her father.
“Sure,” Kerryngton said as he tossed his napkin on the table and left her alone with her parents.
She waited until he was out of earshot before saying, “Daddy, I know you said Spade swore you to secrecy, but you’re my dad.” She patted her chest. “Your loyalty is to me, not him. You know how devastated I was behind our breakup. You could’ve spared me a lot of heartache and confusion just by telling me what was up. How could you do this to me?” She tossed her hair out of her face. She could see the hurt look in her father’s eyes.
“I don’t have any defense.” He sounded somber. “I’m sorry, pumpkin. I thought I was doing the right thing by keeping his confidence. He didn’t have anyone else. It was never my intention to hurt you.”
She could no longer look at her dad because her feelings were so hurt.
“Sweetheart, I can only imagine how you must be feeling,” her mother said. “I pray that in time you’ll be able to forgive your father. He didn’t keep that secret to hurt you, I’m sure.”
Mr. Murray nodded his head.
“Bria,” Mrs. Murray continued, “I know you’re feeling some kind of way right now, but you’re going to have to trust me on this one. Slow down with that man in there. He’s not the one for you.”
“Yes, pumpkin,” her dad chimed in. “I get that you’re upset with me, but I agree with your mother. You don’t know him well enough to make that type of decision. What’s the rush?”