by BWWM Club
And knowing that their eldest son was being a rebel would give them ammunition. Especially his family. Toby's relationship with them had been strained for several years despite efforts to get them to like Simone. They had just about accepted the children but the comments made Toby squirm.
Maybe it was that. They had visited Toby's brother Mike for a barbecue and his new girlfriend Candace had made a few off-handed racist comments about Carl, who had been innocently talking to a neighbor's daughter, who went to the same school. Carl had been visibly upset about it. It had been some weeks ago but Carl was still grumpy about it.
"Morning, Carl."
All he got in response was a grunt. Carl didn't even turn around. Toby sighed. The teenager who had been the chattiest person on the planet had done a complete turnaround and it was strange.
They ate in silence for a while before Toby broached another subject he had been trying to get Carl to talk about for nearly two weeks now.
"By the way, Carl, did you get your report card sorted? Did you get the coffee stains off it?"
"I haven't got it, okay?"
"Why not?"
Toby tried not to raise his voice but Carl's disrespect towards him was testing Toby's patience. Carl pulled his earphones out and stood, leaving the TV on. Even at a distance Toby was slightly intimidated by his size. A short lad until he was fifteen, Carl had shot up suddenly. Now he towered over Toby's five-eleven as he topped six-three easily. Normally he was a gentle giant but with the hump he had been carrying for a while he was a little scary.
Toby didn't like that feeling. He wanted his son back.
"I just haven't, Dad." Carl didn't look at them as he picked up his bag and slung it over his shoulder. "I'm off."
He passed by them on the way to the front door, ruffling Nick's hair as he went past. Even with his current mood, he didn't take it out on Nick and Craig, especially Nick. He showed the most affection to his baby brother. It was at Toby and Simone had aimed his animosity.
Toby winced when he heard the front door slam. Simone looked pained, her coffee cup halfway to her lips. Toby sighed and reached for a slice of toast.
"I hope this isn't over a girl. It sounds like she's not worth it."
Simone smiled.
"Girls like guys fighting over them."
"Did you like it?"
"No." Simone put her hand on his thigh and Toby felt his body stir. "And you didn't have to fight anyone."
If the children hadn't been there Toby would have leaned over and kissed her. But seeing the glare Craig was giving them he decided against it. It was embarrassing enough when they got caught kissing but it was worse when their middle son kept telling them off.
*****
Simone pulled the car up to the curb outside the school. Waving at the teacher standing at the school gates to marshal the children into the grounds, Simone looked back and grinned at her two younger sons.
"Have fun at school, guys."
"When is school ever fun?" Craig grumbled as he unbuckled himself. He tried to hide a yawn but failed.
Simone bit back a smile and a teasing scolding about staying up until past midnight when he had school the next morning. Craig had got a PS4 for Christmas from his grandfather and he was addicted to it. Even Toby had problems getting him to put it down when he was engrossed in a game. Simone had gone in to Craig's bedroom several times the night before to tell him to go to bed but she heard the games going again the moment she closed the door. Toby had told her to leave it and Craig would figure it out on his own that staying up late was a bad idea.
Simone was worried his good grades would slip due to lack of sleep but she trusted her husband. Nevertheless, she made a mental note to find the PS4 when she got back and hide it where Craig would never think of looking for it.
"Don't forget my basketball game, Mom." Nick said loudly as he opened the door.
"I haven't forgotten. You're going to smash the other team, aren't you?"
"You betcha!"
Nick hopped out the car, nearly slamming the door on Craig as he slid across the seat.
"Nick, you little shit!"
Simone gasped.
"Language, Craig!"
"Well, he is." Craig grumbled.
Nick laughed.
"Sorry!"
Simone rolled her eyes.
"Get going, the pair of you."
Craig muttered something under his breath and exited the car, slamming the door behind him. Simone shook her head with a smile as she indicated to pull out and moved into the traffic. She loved her kids, although she had to admit a slight favoritism for the middle child Craig, who matched her mannerisms almost to the tee when he was fully awake. Carl and Nick took after their father but Craig was more like Simone. At twelve, he was maturing into a teenager and a young man and was starting to drift away from Simone's side to do things on his own.
Simone missed it and dreaded the day when Nick would start doing the same. She loved spoiling her children and husband; her world revolved around them. But Simone had been brought up to let people spread their wings when they wanted to. Toby had been taught that but in a more restricted regime. Simone's was the opposite and her lifestyle she had drilled into their children.
As Simone pulled up at an intersection and waited for the lights to change, she thought about how everything had been for her and Toby in the last twenty-seven years since they first met in their freshman year in high school. Toby had been walking down the hall with his friends and Simone had been at her locker. They zigged at the same time and Simone had dropped her books everywhere. Toby's friends had laughed at her but Toby had apologized and picked up her books for her. Despite his pals jeering at her because of her skin color, he hadn't said a bad thing about her and the moment he smiled at her Simone knew she had been caught.
It certainly wasn't easy expressing how they felt; Toby was white and Simone was black and there was a clear divide in ethnicities back in the late eighties. Dating a different race was a definite no-no.
But Toby had decided he didn't care. They had become friends and after spending their freshman year dancing around each other, he had asked her out. Simone had accepted and they had been virtually inseparable ever since.
Even with the racial tension, Simone's friends and family supported them. Her friends had no qualms with Toby and allowed him to join them at lunchtime and in class while her parents and older sister thought he was a lovely boy and perfect for her. She had come to rely on them a lot during her teens.
Toby's friends and family, on the other hand, thought differently. Simone couldn't count the amount of times she was beaten up by Toby's former friends and the police didn't do anything. All of them thought Toby had lost his mind and called her all sorts of names. But Toby had turned his back on them, choosing to stand by his girlfriend.
Toby's family had been even worse. Toby had tried to bring her home to introduce her after they had dated a few weeks but his mother started calling her every name under the sun the second she saw Simone and his father had told Toby to end it or end up being homeless. Toby had chosen Simone and moved in with Simone's family with his things, her family welcoming him without question.
Separate bedrooms, of course. They were both told in no uncertain terms they were to sleep separately until marriage; that was the only rule.
It was in their senior year that Toby asked her to marry him. That had been a no-brainer; the yes had come out of her mouth before he finished proposing. Marrying the week after they graduated from university, everything had been great. They had been even better when Toby sold his software company at the right time fifteen years ago for billions and they were able to live the life of luxury. It wasn't what Simone had signed up for but she wasn't complaining. At least she could make sure her kids got what they wanted. They were her priority.
Them and Toby. Money didn't mean a thing if she didn't have them.
As the lights changed and Simone put the car into drive, her cell phone
bleeped in its holder slotted onto the dashboard, speaking in its computerized voice.
"Incoming call from Maria."
Simone turned the car into the next street, heading towards the community center where she was taking an art class.
"Answer call." Then after the bleep to say it had been picked up. "Hey, Maria. You're up early."
"I have good reason, sis. That package you ordered has arrived."
"That's great."
Simone had been waiting for weeks for that order. It had to be specially made, which was fair enough, but it was getting close to the big day and Simone wanted it now.
"Not really. It woke us up too early." Maria yawned. "Now the kids have gone to school in a grumpy."
Simone laughed.
"Never. You're the one in a grump and because of that you think the kids are."
"Not true." Then Maria backtracked. "Not really. But you could've told me it was coming at the crack of dawn."
"I didn't choose the date or time, Maria."
"Do it next time you want me to take a parcel, please. And send it to your house this time."
"You know why I couldn't have it delivered to us. It would have raised suspicions." Simone gave the car behind her a glare as it roared up close to her back bumper. The car immediately backed off. "You haven't told Toby about this, have you?"
"Of course not. I said I wouldn't." Her older sister sounded unsure. "But are you certain you should be doing this cloak and dagger stuff? I know you want it to be a surprise but you know Toby doesn't like them."
Simone did know. Toby was an impatient person. It had taken a lot to stop Toby from dragging Simone to the nearest courthouse to be married. But he knew her parents wanted a proper wedding when they were able to look after themselves so he waited. It had been an agonizing wait for him but Toby had done it.
"But I want it to be a surprise this time. This date is special and a surprise makes it even more special."
Maria sighed. Despite the ten-year age-gap they were close and Simone couldn't ask for a better sister. They never kept any secrets and Maria had been the one to suggest something special for Toby. Simone had taken it on board and set things in motion. Now they needed to keep it quiet, which was easier said than done.
"I hope you know what you're doing, Simone. Toby loves you to death but he's going to go ape if he thinks you're doing something suspicious. He could think you're cheating on him."
Simone laughed. It was ludicrous.
"He's been with me long enough to know I would never do that."
"Don't be so sure. Men are more insecure than women, don't forget. And Toby's had a lot thrown at him regarding you."
That was true enough. Toby's brother was the worst. He had tried so many times in twenty-seven years to split them up. To Simone's chagrin Toby did his best to maintain a relationship with his brother when their parents wouldn't talk to him. It was his choice but Simone wasn't happy.
She glanced at the clock. If she didn't hurry she was going to be late opening the center up.
"I'd better get going. I'll pick the package up this afternoon."
"I'll be here all day."
"Cheers, Maria. End call."
Simone couldn't stop the smile as she turned onto another road towards the community center. This was going to be a big surprise for Toby and he was going to love it. She knew he was.
She just needed to keep quiet until the big day.
Chapter 2
"Can I ask you something, Toby?"
Toby lowered his glass and looked at his friend lounging in the chair opposite, his muscular legs clad in white shorts stretched out in front of him.
"Sure, what is it?"
"How the hell are you still smiling these days?"
"Excuse me?"
Emil Girdwood shrugged.
"You've been married twenty years. You shouldn't have anything to smile about."
Toby couldn't help but smile. He shouldn't smile; Emil had got divorced the week before for the fourth time and he was in a bad mood about marriage. This game of squash they had just played had been his way of trying to take his mind off his fourth wife taking his money and walking away, threatening alimony in spite of the fact they didn't have children.
Evidently Emil's mood was too much and he wanted to take a pot shot at Toby's marriage.
"When you're married to someone like Simone, Emil, you certainly have something to smile about."
Twenty years next month they would have been married. Twenty-seven years and three months altogether. It had been an amazing twenty-seven years despite the aggravation from his family and former friends and their many attempts to split them up over the years. He hadn't spoken to his parents since Carl was a baby and his high school friends turned their backs whenever they saw him. Back when he had sold his company for billions at the right time, they had flocked around him hoping to get some of the cash because they were 'friends'. Then when they discovered he wasn't going to favor them at all they had disappeared again.
Toby didn't need them. They weren't worth his time.
Emil, on the other hand, was worth his time. They had met at university and gone into business together. Now both had more money than they needed and spent their days at their pace. Emil splashed his money on women and expensive trips to the Caribbean. Toby spent his on his family. They had differences about how to spend the money but their friendship was solid, even with Emil's constant womanizing and bed-hopping.
Emil looked envious, glowering as he looked over the tennis courts below them from their position on the terrace.
"You have certainly got yourself a good woman."
"I certainly have." Toby tried to stop his chest from puffing out with pride but failed. "I wouldn't change her for anything."
"Why can't I find a girl like her?" Emil gave Toby a sly, hopeful look. "Can I borrow her?"
Toby laughed.
"No way. You've 'borrowed' several wives off their husbands and married four of them. You're not doing that with Simone."
"I've been meaning to ask you about that. How are you still friends with me with my lifestyle?"
Toby had wondered about that. Emil was shameless with women and didn't care if they were attached or otherwise. Toby often got snide comments about being friends with a man who ruined marriages but Toby knew the real Emil. When you saw the real Emil Girdwood, it was worth it.
"I've smacked your head against a wall enough times." Literally as well as figuratively. "But why can't you find a woman who's single to marry?"
"Why?" Emil shrugged and sipped at his beer. "I just don't find single women attractive."
"Liar."
Emil loved all women. Tall, short, curvy or skinny, red, brown or black-haired, he wasn't fussy. Ethnicity wasn't an issue, either; his last wife had been Japanese. But he was right; he was drawn more to women who were unattainable.
They didn't stay unattainable for long once they had Emil's charm hit them. It made it easier to fall for the charm with Emil's handsome looks. Tall, muscular and jet-black hair, he was the epitome of tall, dark and handsome. Women swooned all over him even when he wasn't working his charm.
Simone was probably the only woman who hadn't succumbed to it. Her and her family. Maria simply laughed at his attempts and their mother swatted him, playing up to his flirting but keeping her hands to herself. Emil was a big hit with Simone's family.
"Maybe that's what Simone's doing." Emil said slyly, a dry smirk spreading across face. "She's sleeping around to make the marriage more interesting."
Toby stiffened. This felt like a replay of the conversation he had had with his brother the week before. Another attempt to say Simone was only with him for his money. Toby had ignored it all but after nearly thirty years he hated it. And Emil knew this.
He jabbed a finger at his friend.
"Don't mess with my head, Emil. You know Simone would never do that. Just because you're in a bad mood about your divorce doesn't mean you can take me do
wn with you."
"Sorry." Emil shook his head. "But I'm still wondering what a beautiful woman like her is doing with an old git like you."
"You are a bastard today."
"I know." Emil finished the rest of his pint, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. "Speaking of bastards, are you still going ahead with your lunch date with Mike?"
"He is my brother and it's best to keep the peace with him."
Toby wasn't looking forward to it but Mike made things difficult until Toby gave in. So he gritted his teeth and got on with it.
"But he's nasty. I don't know why you do it."
"Neither do I." Toby pressed his fingers to the bridge of his nose. "I don't understand his motivation for having lunch with me when all he wants to talk about is Simone cheating on me and only with me for my money because that's what black women do. But it's better to keep him sweet."
"You just talk to him because he's the only person in your family who does." Emil pointed out. "Your parents haven't spoken to you in nearly eighteen years. Your brother and sister are only talking to you when they want money, hoping you'll give them a chunk." He sighed. "I was playing golf the other day and your father was playing with an old friend of his. He called Simone a gold-digger and the things they both said about her made our ears burn."
Toby swallowed back the anger. His father was even worse than Mike and it hurt that the man he had looked up to as a kid refused to have anything to do with him. All because of Simone.
"I made my millions after Simone and I got married. She's no gold-digger, Emil, unless she's psychic that was going to happen."
"I still worry about it. I love both of you and I don't want either of you hurt because of those people."
"If my parents don't want to be involved then they're missing out on their grandchildren growing up, not me." Toby shrugged. "We've got Simone's parents. That's all we need."
"If you say so." Emil glanced up at the sky. "But something's telling me a storm is coming and someone is going to be saying 'I told you so'." He held up his glass. "Fancy a refill?"