by Mz. Robinson
Although, she was asking me a question, I knew telling her “no” was not an option. “Of course I do.”
Flashing me a huge white smile, she batted her eyelashes. “Perfect,” she said. “Let’s go sit in the family room.”
***
Five minutes later, the two of us sat side by side on my parents’ sofa drinking iced tea and discussing my mother’s latest shopping adventure in Paris.
“You have to take Octavia soon,” she said. “She would love it.”
“Yeah, that’s definitely on my to-do list,” I said.
“It better be,” Mama ordered. “Only the best for Whitmore women.”
“Speaking of Whitmore women,” I said, “when was the last time you seen Grandma?”
The mere mention of my father’s mother turned my mother’s pleasant expression sour. My mother and Grandmother Whitmore were like vampires and werewolves—natural-born enemies who hated the scent of the other. “She made an appearance a week ago,” Mama said, “her and that wretched best friend of hers. What’s that old bat’s name?” she asked, tapping her nail against her lips. “Bitchnese, Bitchatrice, Bitchtilla?”
“Bernice,” I said, shaking my head. “Her name is Bernice, Mama.” To say Mama’s dislike of my grandmother flowed over to her friend would be an understatement. My grandmother and Bernice were like two peas in a pod, and they were both on my mother’s shit list. Mama’s and Grandmother’s hatred for each other went as far back as the day my father met my mother and fell in love. My grandmother accused my mother of being manipulative and cunning and said she wanted my father merely for his money. On the contrary, Mama said she didn’t want Daddy at all at first, money or no money. She was single, beautiful, and the object of many men’s affections. However, much like my desire to win over Octavia, Dad was determined to have Mama, and once he showed her how a real man can love and hold his woman down, Mama fell for him too. Her love of designer shoes, clothes, and expensive trips came much later.
“That’s right. Bernice.” Mama giggled slyly. “Anywho, the two of them flew in to see your former whore perform,” she said, referring to Nadia.
I wasn’t in the least bit surprised that my mother referred to Nadia as a whore. She had always let it be known that she didn’t care for her and thought she was nothing more than a gold-digger. I had explained time and time again that Nadia had never truly asked me for anything and that she was passionate about her career and talents, but Mama’s response each and every time was, “Give her a moment, and she will eventually come begging. She’s a gold-digging whore, Damon, but a smart one. Trust me, one day, the truth will eventually reveal itself.”
To this day, it still amazes me how people turn against each other. Believe it or not, there was a time when Mama actually liked—or at least tolerated—Nadia. When Nadia and I first met and began dating, my mother actually allowed her to stay at their home while she visited during the summer. Nadia worked for us for a short period of time out of our L.A. office for Nomad Investments. Mama and Nadia got along well back then, and I thought Nadia had earned a guaranteed spot in our family and might someday be my bride. But then Mama flipped the script and turned against her. I think when she found out that Nadia was connected to Bernice, it left a sour taste in her mouth. I’ve discovered that in life, it doesn’t matter how good of a person you are; it’s human nature to be judged and to judge others by the blood they carry and the company they keep.
“They saw her show last week?” I asked. “The production with Tyler Perry?” I was surprised to hear Mama say that my grandmother had gone to see Nadia’s show the week before. I specifically remember Nadia stating that she was going to be performing in Atlanta that week and that one week only.
“DJ, you know I don’t know or care who, what, or when, when it comes down to that girl,” Mama said, sucking her teeth, “except when it comes down to my baby boy.” Eyeing me suspiciously, she paused. “You are staying away from that trash, aren’t you?” she asked.
“I haven’t touched Nadia in a very long time, Mama,” I said honestly, conveniently leaving out the fact that I had seen her just hours earlier.
“But you’ve spoken with her,” Mama stated without hesitation.
“How did you know?”
“A lioness always knows when her cub is in danger,” she said, shaking her head.
“Nadia is neither a threat nor a danger to me.”
“Not alone,” Mama said, rising from the sofa. I watched as she walked over to the window then looked out, seemingly lost in her thoughts. “However, along with the two bitches of the East egging her on, she could be a problem.”
I meditated on my mother’s words. “Our conversation was innocent,” I said, joining my mother at the window. “You have nothing to worry about.”
“Innocent?” she asked. “DJ, you and I both know that conversations with old lovers are rarely innocent, especially when said lovers have a hidden agenda.”
“And what do you think is on Nadia’s agenda?”
“The same thing that has always been on it,” she said, looking over at me. “Money.”
Chapter 14
Octavia
“Good morning,” Kelly greeted me as I entered the kitchen. He stood at the kitchen island dropping pancakes onto a plate. I admired the fact that he was managing pretty well with one arm.
“Good morning, Kelly.” I smiled, and walked over to Jasmine, who sat in her high chair, feeding herself Cheerios. Her curly hair was neatly pulled back into two pigtails, and she was already dressed. I was pleasantly surprised and a little relieved, due to the fact that I was already running late for work. Kissing her forehead lightly, I inhaled the scent of fresh baby lotion. She giggled lightly, then flashed her big brown eyes at me and smiled. Despite the fact that I was running on less than four hours of sleep, it was one of the busiest days of the week at my restaurants, and I was late, which was a sure sign that my day was going to be a rough one; nevertheless, all seemed right in my world the moment my daughter smiled. “Where is Ms. Contessa?” I asked.
“She’s in the laundry room,” Kelly advised me. “She ate then told me she had one more load to finish.”
“She made breakfast,” Kelly said. “Pancakes, Canadian bacon, scrambled eggs, and freshly squeezed OJ.”
“That was really sweet of her,” I said sincerely, “but I’m already late, and I’ve got to get to my office.”
“You’re the boss,” Kelly said. “You can never be late. Now sit.”
“True, but if I don’t get started early, it will take forever for me to finish my paperwork.”
Placing a full plate on the table, Kelly nodded his head. “Understandable,” he said, looking at me. “Now sit down.”
“I thought I was the boss around here,” I teased.
Pulling my chair out for me, Kelly laughed. “You are, but the boss does not always know best.”
“Well, if I’m going to eat, you have to join me,” I told him. “So grab a plate and pull up a chair.”
“You don’t have to tell me twice,” he said with a hungry-looking smile.
***
Not only was breakfast delicious, but it was just what I needed to get my energy level up. After enjoying our meal, the two of us sat talking and often laughing as Kelly told me stories about his childhood.
“Am I interrupting something?”
I was so engulfed in my conversation with Kelly that I hadn’t heard Damon come in. He looked stressed, but he was still fine in his green Ralph Lauren polo and creased khakis. In less than ten seconds flat, I was out of my chair and had my arms wrapped around his neck. To say I missed my man would have been an understatement. Smiling sweetly, I shook my head and answered, “No, not at all.” I kissed him, then chanted, “Welcome home, baby.”
Jasmine was also thrilled to see her father. She kicked her legs excitedly against her chair, singing, “Da! Da! Da!”
“Hello, princess,” Damon spoke to her. “Hey, beautiful,” he w
hispered to me softly while squeezing me tightly. Pulling away, he stared at Kelly. I watched as he walked over, lifted our daughter out of her chair long enough to give her a hug and a kiss, then sat her back down. He stood at the edge of the table, towering over Kelly with a look on his face that was as serious as that of a judge during a murder trial. “I don’t think we’ve met,” Damon said to Kelly.
“Damon, this is Kelly,” I said quickly. “Kelly, this is my husband, Damon.”
Easing back from the table, Kelly stood then extended his hand to Damon. “Nice to meet you, Mr. Whitmore,” he said politely.
I held my breath as Damon stared at Kelly for a second or two, silent and still. For a second there, I thought he was going to leave Kelly’s ass hanging, but he finally he shook his hand. “Call me Damon,” he said.
Exhaling lowly, I smiled.
“In that case, would you like some breakfast, Damon?” Kelly asked.
I could tell he was a little uneasy around Damon, but I assumed it was due to the stone-cold looks my man was giving him.
“Yes, I would,” Damon said, looking at me suggestively.
My kitty began to throb because we both knew what was on my husband’s mind.
Pressing his lips to mine, Damon kissed me like it was the very first time.
Kelly cleared his throat lightly and stepped away from the two of us. “I’ll be happy to make you a plate,” he offered.
“Thanks, but what I’m about to devour doesn’t require silverware.” Damon laughed.
I noticed Kelly seemed uncomfortable with Damon’s statement so I looked down at my wrist, checking my watch for the time. I had made time for breakfast, and now I would make time for my man. Another of my personal beliefs is that if you don’t make time for your man, another woman will, and I’ll be damned if I’d give another chick the opportunity when it comes to my Damon.
Chapter 15
Damon
Stroking Octavia’s naked back with my fingertips, I exhaled. The two of us lay buck-naked on top of our bed after two sweaty rounds of banging sex. Although I was sexually satisfied, I couldn’t seem to shake my mental frustration. I was concerned about the DNA test I had taken earlier. The testing center advised me that I would receive the paternity test results in the mail within two weeks, and I had given them my office address because I knew Octavia would never see the mail. Still, knowing I was concealing a secret from her—especially one of such magnitude—was eating away at me inside. I had lied to her before to protect her, but I had to admit to myself I was only keeping the secret from her to protect myself from losing her. To further add to the frustration, I knew if the results came back positive, I would have to break down and tell her about Donovan, and I was sure that would bring our relationship to a crashing halt.
“You’re awfully quiet,” she said, looking up at me.
“I’m sorry, baby,” I said, squeezing her tightly. “I was just thinking.”
“I know what you’re thinking about,” she said, “and don’t worry.”
“What do you mean?” I asked, confused.
“About Kelly, babe,” she said, propping herself up on her elbow. “I saw the way you were looking at him.”
I’ll admit when I first saw him in the kitchen with my wife and daughter, I thought I was going to commit murder for a second time in our home, but from the looks of the brother, someone had already put their foot in his ass. Surely, he wasn’t stupid enough to earn another one. “I was surprised,” I confessed. “I just wasn’t expecting see another man sitting at my breakfast table, that’s all.”
“I’m sorry, boo,” Octavia said sweetly. “I can only imagine how it must’ve looked.”
“And what happened to him?” I asked. “It looks like he went to war and lost.”
“He got mugged a couple days ago,” she said. “Two broken ribs, fractured one of the bones in his arm, plus his face was ten times worse than what you just saw.”
I shook my head in silence. “Wrong place, wrong time?” I asked, running my fingers through her hair.
“Exactly,” she said, “but I think he’s good people, and the two of you are going to get along very well.”
I was not looking for, nor did I need any new friends. My wife had hired Kelly to do a job, and that was the only thing he needed to do. I was home, and I was going to make sure he did that job and did it well. “Where is Contessa?” I asked, changing the subject.
“She was in the laundry room last I heard.” Octavia laughed. “However, someone could not wait around for introductions.”
I had been away from my wife for a week. I was anxious to meet Contessa, but our introduction was not one of my top priorities when I’d first walked through the door. “I’ll apologize to her later,” I said.
“Well, babe, it was good as always, but I gotta go.” Octavia gave me a quick peck on the lips then jumped out of bed.
“You’re just going to leave me?”
“Business is business, baby,” she said, walking into our master bathroom, “but I still love you!”
“Love you too, boo.” I laughed lightly. “Hey, babe?”
“Yes?”
“If you like, I can drop you off today,” I suggested, “play chauffer for you for the day.”
“You’re not going into the office today?” she asked, peeking her head back out the bathroom door.
“Naw. I think I’m going to relax today.”
“Okay, babe.” She smiled. “Should I let Contessa know she has a free day?”
“Keep her on call in case something major pops up at the office,” I told her, “but Jazz can roll with her daddy today.”
“I’ll tell her,” she said. “She’ll probably spend time with Kelly.”
“How far does he stay from here?”
“Oh, not far at all,” she said. She had that awkward look on her face that she always gets when she thinks I’m going to be upset about something.
“How far?”
“The guesthouse,” she said quickly before shutting the bathroom door.
“What the hell?” I asked, jumping off the bed to march in the bathroom behind her. She had the shower on and was humming softly, so I opened the glass shower door and stared at her like she had lost her mind. “You let him move in to our guesthouse?” I asked.
“Just until his broken bones heal!”
“Oh? And how long do you think that will be?” I asked, watching as she lathered soap over her skin. I was pissed off, but I couldn’t resist looking at how sexy she was, soaking wet and covered in bubbles.
“Just a few weeks,” she said.
“Hell naw,” I said.
“And why not, Damon?” she questioned. “He is Contessa’s nephew, and he’s hurt.”
I don’t know if I was bothered because she hadn’t cleared her decision with me first or if I was afraid karma was biting me in the ass for not informing her that I might have an illegitimate son. “I know it’s only temporary, but baby, we know nothing about this man,” I said.
“Would you be bothered if it was Contessa’s niece instead of nephew?” she asked, cutting her eyes at me and daring me to say the wrong thing.
I didn’t answer.
“So you wouldn’t care?”
“I didn’t say that,” I said.
“But you were thinking it,” Octavia said, sucking her teeth. “What difference does it make if a person is male or a female?” she asked. “What would that mean to you?” she interrogated further, refusing to let the issue drop and downright turning the tables on me.
“Don’t try and change the subject,” I said calmly.
“Answer the question, Dame.”
I wanted to tell her the difference was that I wouldn’t have to worry about a female stepping out of line and making a move on my wife, but even if she did, that I could accept; shit, I’d probably find that to be a turn-on. But another man? Well, that would lead to major problems and complications, not to mention someone getting hurt, and that someo
ne wouldn’t be me. “It wouldn’t make any difference,” I lied.
“All right then,” she said. “So either way, we would be taking a chance. Right or wrong?” she asked.
I was not in the mood to debate or argue with her, so I decided to let the subject rest for the moment. “A couple of weeks,” I answered, “but then he has to go.”
“Thank you, baby,” she said, extending her hand to me. “Now, get in here and help me wash my back.”
“If I do, you will never make it to the restaurant,” I warned her.
She looked like she was considering it. “Hmm. You’re right.” She smiled. “Rain-check?” she teased.
“Sure. For tonight?”
“Definitely.” Octavia smiled victoriously.
I gave her a short kiss then returned to our bedroom. I waited till I heard her singing a loud, off-key rendition of Jennifer Hudson’s “Where You At?” before I picked up my Blackberry.
“Talk to me.”
“I got an assignment for you,” I said, stretching out across the bed.
“I assumed so,” Lawrence said sarcastically. “That’s the only time you call.”
He was right. Lawrence was good to have on my team to do a little dirty work now and then, but he was not true friend material. I trusted the work he did because I was paying him. If he hadn’t been on my payroll, I wouldn’t have dealt with him at all. “So you already know the deal?” I said.
“Yeah. What you got for me?”
“I need you to check someone out for me.”
“Wifey stepping out already?” He laughed. “After everything we went through so you could put that ring on her finger?” Lawrence had been the one who had assisted me in getting close to Octavia, and he’d committed several crimes to help me snub out the competition. When I think back, I realize how blessed we were that Lawrence’s crazy-ass tactics hadn’t cost Octavia her life.
“My wife is a happy and faithful woman,” I advised him firmly.
“Are you sure ‘bout that?” Lawrence chuckled. “Hell, I thought the same thing about my ex-bitch until I found her sucking off the neighbor.”