Maybe I should give in.
Maya entered then, the door swinging shut behind her. “Hey, Imani. Feeling any better today?”
Drawn out of her thoughts, she smiled. “A little. Xavier brought some of the kids from the youth center over to help with the cleanup.”
“Great. That must be their passenger van in the parking lot. It’s so sweet of him to do that. Don’t you think?” Maya traipsed over to the reception desk, resting her elbows on the marble top.
Imani nodded her head. “Yes, it is.”
Maya said nothing but looked down at her with an “I told you so” expression.
Pursing her lips, Imani groaned. “Don’t start with me, Maya. Just go in the hall and help them out.”
“What do you need me to do?”
“Make sure all the paperwork they find is put in one place, so we can sort it later. Whoever did this got into some of my notes and patient files. That stuff is scattered all over the place.”
“Got it.” Maya backed up, gestured to her light-blue sweat suit. “I came ready to work and I’m going to. But you need to get your head outta your butt and give that brother some play. He’s a good one, and you know it.”
Imani rolled her eyes. “Bye, Maya.”
Her cousin chuckled as she walked around the desk and into the hallway. “Whatever, girl. You know I’m right.”
She knew Maya had spoken the truth; Xavier had always been a good guy. His generosity and caring spirit made it hard for her to keep pushing him away, especially after the gesture he’d made showing up there to help today. His good guy ways were precisely the problem when it came to becoming involved with him. Xavier was far too good for her; Imani knew that, but he didn’t.
Seeing no use in dwelling on that now, she drew a deep, cleansing breath. She sat back in the chair, feeling some of the tension leave her body. With Maya and Xavier supervising the kids, she could take a moment to get her bearings after what had been a hectic twenty-four hours.
Chapter 9
Xavier looked across the table at his parents, feeling the smile spread across his face. He’d brought them to their favorite restaurant, McPhee’s Steak House, to celebrate their fortieth wedding anniversary. To his mind, such a milestone warranted a party. Edwin and Carol Whitted, in keeping with their simple, laid-back personalities, had requested the quiet dinner instead of a big gathering. So here they were. As an only child, Xavier did his best to honor his parents’ wishes.
“Thanks again for bringing us, Son.” Edwin raised his wineglass toward Xavier. “It’s been a while since we’ve come here.”
“You’re welcome, Dad. I’m glad to do it. After all, this is a pretty big anniversary.”
Xavier felt his smile widen in response to their banter. His father was a tall, broad-shouldered man. He kept his dark hair and his mustache trimmed close. Both were touched with shades of gray on the verge of turning white.
His mother, Carol, was tall as well, standing mere inches shorter than her husband of four decades.
Xavier admired the love and genuine affection his parents shared. Carol’s eyes still lit up when Edwin paid her a compliment, and they still held hands most of the time. Theirs was the kind of love Xavier aspired to, and more than anything, he wanted to share that love with Imani.
“How long has it been since the last time we came here, baby?” Edwin’s question, directed at his wife, broke the silence that had fallen over the table.
“Oh Lord, I don’t know. I guess it’s been a year or more.” Carol sipped from her glass of Cabernet.
Xavier popped one of the soft, buttery yeast rolls into his mouth to soothe his rumbling stomach. The rich scents of roasting meat, herbs, and spices permeated the air, making him wish the waiter would show up with their meal.
“Xavier, I saw in the paper that Imani’s clinic was broken into.” Carol’s hazel eyes displayed her concern. “Is she all right? I know you’ve been over there to see about her.”
Xavier washed down the roll with a swallow of water. “Yes, I’ve been over there. She’s fine. She wasn’t there when the break-in happened.”
“That’s good to hear,” Edwin remarked. “It’s a shame what society is coming to these days. Folks just don’t respect other people’s property and hard work.”
With a solemn nod, Xavier agreed. His father had owned a small tailor shop, Whitted’s, for more than forty-five years. Xavier knew Edwin felt a sense of kinship with other small business owners, especially those of color.
Carol clasped her hands, rested them on the white-clothed tabletop. “Is there anything she needs? Maybe I can have some of my students come over to help her with cleanup in exchange for some extra credit.” Carol taught English at Saint Augustine’s University, located two blocks from the family home in the Historic Oakwood neighborhood.
Xavier smiled. “I beat you to it, Mama. I already took some of the kids from Revels over there a couple of days ago.”
Edwin, looking pleased, asked, “How did things go?”
“I think they went very well. It took us about five hours, but we got everything back in its rightful place. Once Imani’s insurance claims are settled, I think she’ll be back on solid ground and ready to reopen.”
Carol reached over to squeeze her son’s shoulder. “I’m proud of you, Xavier. That was awfully sweet of you, and I am sure Imani appreciated it.”
Xavier thought about telling his parents that he’d been partly motivated by the opportunity to serve her up a large slice of humble pie, but he decided against it. He’d done a good deed and his parents were proud of him. He saw no reason they should know Imani had slandered his kids.
“Good job, Son. And how do you think this is going to affect your quest to win her heart again?” Edwin asked, his eyes locked on his son’s face.
Xavier stared back at his father, trying to remember if he’d mentioned that to his parents. “Did I tell you that?”
A chuckle left his mother’s mouth. “Baby, you didn’t have to tell us. Ever since you ran into her at that wedding, that’s all you’ve been talking about. Imani this, and Imani that.”
Leaning back in his chair, Edwin folded his arms over his chest. “Your mother’s right. It’s plain as day that you want to rekindle what you had with her back in the day.”
Xavier shook his head at how transparent he’d been. Then again, his parents had always been very perceptive when it came to him. He could remember many times during his childhood and formative years when he’d been stopped from doing something wrong before he even had a chance to get his little plot off the ground. Since they were talking about Imani, one memory in particular stood out in his mind: the night he’d lost his virginity. He’d come home that night on time, not even a minute past his curfew. Still, the moment he’d shut the door behind him, he’d made eye contact with his father. Edwin, reclining on the couch with his pipe, had held his son’s gaze for at least a full minute. Then, he’d given Xavier a slow, solemn nod, as if he somehow knew that his son had just taken that major step toward manhood.
Xavier was snapped out of his memories and back to the present by the sound of his father’s voice.
“She’s in your heart, Xavier, and we both know why. When a woman is in your blood, you don’t really have a choice but to give in to it.” Edwin punctuated his words by reaching over to place a kiss on his wife’s cheek.
Xavier felt his brow furrow. Had they both been thinking back on that fateful night at the same time? Whatever the case, his parents were right again.
“I’m not trying to embarrass you, but she’s been a part of you ever since that night. You know the night I’m talking about.”
Xavier shook his head, amazed. “Dad, don’t.”
Edwin waved him off. “I’m not going to put your business out in the streets, but you know what I’m talking about. Your mother and I didn’t has
sle you about it because you were old enough to make your own decisions about that sort of thing.”
Carol interjected, “And it didn’t hurt that we liked Imani. We knew she was a good girl and that the two of you fit together.”
Xavier let his parents’ words sink in. Their perceptiveness seemed unending, at least when it came to their only child. He recalled the way they’d raised him to be independent, chivalrous, respectful, and kind. Edwin and Carol had given him a levelheaded talk about the birds and bees and seemed more concerned with him being safe than with holding him to some parental fantasy of purity. Looking back, he realized he had a great appreciation for their methods. They’d provided a guiding hand and had his best interests at heart without making demands on his autonomy as a young man. He surmised that was why he had such a close relationship with them even in adulthood.
Clearing his throat, Xavier announced, “You’re right, but I’m sure you already knew that. I can’t let go of what we had or of what our future together could be.”
Carol squeezed his forearm. “Then don’t let go, baby. If you really love her, you have to go after her.”
“I have been going after her—dates, the whole nine.” Xavier felt his frustration rising as he spoke about his efforts. “I know she still has feelings for me. I can feel it. But she keeps pushing me away and I don’t know why.”
“Sounds like she’s dealing with something, something on the inside.” Carol placed a hand over her heart. “She’s got to heal herself before she can accept your love.”
Edwin nodded his agreement. “Listen to your mama. She knows what she’s talking about. Keep doing what you’re doing, but give her time. She’ll come around.”
As he looked between the only two people he loved more than Imani, he sincerely hoped they were right.
The waiter strolled up bearing two large trays laden with steaks, lobster tails, and cracked crab.
Xavier watched as his plate and all the accompaniments were set before him. When the waiter left, the three of them joined hands to bless the meal.
As Edwin gave the prayer, Xavier added his own supplication that Imani could find peace, so that she could accept all the love he had waiting for her.
* * *
Standing by her coffeemaker, Imani yawned as she waited for her morning caffeine to be dispensed. The open shade at her kitchen window allowed warm sunlight to pour in, the glow dappling her floor tiles. The rich scent of her favorite dark roast coffee emanated from the machine, rising with the steam as the hot beverage filled her mug.
She picked up her mug, inhaled the scent, and sighed. Once she’d doctored the coffee up with some sugar and a hint of milk, she took it to her small table and sat down.
It was just after seven, and on a weekend morning, there was no good reason she should be up. But ever since the break-in at her practice several days prior, she’d been restless and on edge. When she’d cracked her eyes open around dawn this morning, she’d tried to go back to sleep. After a good forty-five minutes spent staring at the ceiling, she’d given up and gotten out of bed to seek her coffee.
She’d just swallowed her first wonderfully warm sip when a banging on her front door startled her. Setting down her mug, she shuffled her slipper-clad feet in the direction of the sound.
Checking the peephole, she pursed her lips when she saw Maya standing there, fully dressed and looking as perky as ever.
She opened the door for her cousin. “Maya, what are you doing here?”
Maya slid past her and into the house, closing the door behind her. “Good morning, sunshine. I came to get you out of this house.”
Imani looked down at her cotton pajama top and pants, printed with tubes of lipsticks in various shades, and the pink bunny slippers on her feet. Looking back up at her cousin, she frowned. “Do I look like I want to get out of the house?”
Maya snickered. “No. I could tell you what you actually look like, but I’m guessing you don’t want to hear it.”
She shook her head. “No, Maya, I don’t.”
By now, Maya was moving into the kitchen. Imani followed her long enough to sit back down to her coffee.
Maya, standing by the counter, spun the carousel holding the individual pods for the coffeemaker. “Ooh, mocha.”
Imani sipped from her own mug. “Go ahead, Maya. Help yourself.”
“Thank you, Cousin.” Maya slipped the pod into the machine, then took a clean mug from the cabinet above the counter. Once her drink was brewed and in her hand, Maya took a seat next to Imani at the table.
“I know you’ve been superstressed since the break-in, so I think you need a little getaway to take your mind off things.” Maya puckered her lips, blowing away some of the steam rising from her cup.
Imani sighed. “And do I have any say in this, or have you already decided?”
Maya shrugged. “I told Aunt Alma I was taking you to the beach today. She liked the idea, so…”
Another deep sigh escaped Imani’s lips as she realized she didn’t have a choice. Her mother would no doubt have plenty of questions for her if she didn’t go on this little excursion with her cousin. “Let me finish my coffee and I’ll get dressed. How long are we staying?”
Maya patted her on the back. “That’s the spirit. And it’s just a day trip, so you only have to bring what you’ll need for the day.”
“What did you bring?”
Maya tapped her index finger on her chin as she spoke. “A magazine, a book I’ve been trying to finish, some snacks, and a cooler full of drinks.”
Imani looked at her cousin over her coffee cup, brow hitched. “What kind of drinks?”
“Water and those little travel-size bottles of chardonnay.”
“Wine? Girl, why didn’t you say so?” Imani finished up the last bit of her coffee and got up, with the sounds of Maya’s laughter following her as she went to her room to change. She decided on a pair of white jeans and a long-sleeved black T. Pulling on a pair of black knee-high boots, she brushed her hair into a low ponytail. She tossed a couple of magazines, a book, and a few other odds and ends into a large tote bag, then she met Maya by the door.
Maya, who’d worn a pair of black jeans with a Run DMC sweatshirt and sneakers, looked her over. “You’re wearing boots to the beach?”
“Yeah. It’s October, and I don’t want to be shaking that cold, wet sand out of my shoes like you’re going to be doing.” Imani giggled while gently jabbing Maya with her elbow.
Maya jabbed her right back. “I brought a pair of sandals, so it’s all good.” With the house secured, they both climbed into Maya’s small sedan and hit the road.
As her cousin drove, Imani could feel the sleep she’d missed coming back to find her.
Maya shook her awake once she’d parked the car at the boardwalk at Carolina Beach.
Coming awake, Imani rubbed her eyes. “We’re here already?”
Maya snorted a laugh. “Yeah, finally. I’ve been listening to you snore for the last two and a half hours.”
“Sorry.” Imani yawned on the heels of her sheepish apology. She climbed out of the car and she and Maya headed for the beach.
The blue sky and bright sun belied the chill in the air, as temperatures hovered around fifty-five degrees. They picked a spot a good distance away from the water’s edge, where Maya laid out a large blanket. Soon, Imani was comfortably seated, wrapped in the throw she’d brought from home, with her book in her lap.
Before she dove into the novel she’d been trying to finish for months, she looked over at Maya. “You mean you’re not going to talk my ear off?”
Maya, who lay on her stomach with her face in the pages of a fashion magazine, shook her head. “Nope. I brought you out here to relax, so relax.”
For the first time that day, Imani felt a real smile touch her lips. She took out her bookmark and let herself
get swept back into the mythical world of her fantasy novel.
She’d breezed through three chapters and several changes in position on the blanket when her phone vibrated against her hip. She flipped the book over, slid her phone out of her jeans pocket, and answered it. “Hello?”
“Hello, I’m trying to reach Dr. Grant.” The male voice on the line sounded vaguely familiar.
“This is she.”
“Hi, Dr. Grant. This is Detective Clark with the Raleigh Police Department. I’ve got some information regarding your case.”
Hearing that, Imani bolted to an upright position. “Okay, what do you have for me, Detective?”
“We’ve received several tips, in addition to the evidence we gathered on the scene, that point to the break-in being perpetrated by one or more youths with a connection to H. R. Revels Youth Center. My partner and I will be going by the center on Monday to question a few of them.”
It disappointed her to hear that, because she knew how highly Xavier regarded the kids he mentored at the center. “How sure are you?”
“Very. Now it’s just a matter of weeding out the guilty parties, which we hope to do without much adverse effect on the center or the kids there who weren’t involved.”
“I understand. Is there anything else I need to do?” Imani noticed that Maya had stopped reading her magazine and was looking straight at her. Imani guessed her demeanor must have given away the serious nature of the phone call.
“You’ll have to decide how you want to pursue the case once we’ve identified the culprits. It will be up to you whether you want to press charges, so think about it.”
“I will.” She didn’t know what else to say to that.
“All right. Thank you for your time, Dr. Grant. I’ll reach out to you again early in the week.”
When Imani disconnected the call, Maya was still staring at her.
“What was that all about?” Maya’s questioning eyes were wide.
“It was the police. They’re almost positive that some of the kids from Xavier’s center were involved in the break-in. They’re going over there Monday to question people.”
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