“No, we can’t.” In a voice devoid of emotion, Tia continued, pulling her hands free from Darnell’s. “It’s over between you and me.”
“I can’t believe you’re willing to let us go this easy. Think about all that we’ve shared. How can you walk away from that?”
“How could you cheat on me? You destroyed our relationship, not me.”
“It’s your job. That’s what caused all the problems. You never had time for me. If you’d paid more attention to me, we wouldn’t be in this position. Every time we had things to do, your job and Adam Carlyle got in the way.”
Tia sighed. “Regardless, we’re done. My job won’t be coming between us anymore.” She rose, went into the kitchen, and returned with a white plastic garbage bag. She held it out to Darnell. “You can put your stuff in this. Make sure you take everything. I don’t want you back here again.”
Nodding, Darnell snatched the bag from her hands. His first stop was the bathroom, where he removed all of his shaving items. Next, he climbed the stairs two at a time to retrieve his toothbrush and a set of clothes, which he stuffed into the bag. All the while, Tia followed him, making sure he picked up every item that belonged to him. She meant it when she said that she wanted him to take all of his things. She didn’t want to see him again. They were completely finished.
7
I smell coffee, Tia thought, slowly waking from a fitful night with little sleep and horrific dreams. She turned onto her side and glanced at the radio clock sitting on the nightstand. Seven-thirty. Hovering between sleep and waking, Tia’s eyes drifted shut. Wait a minute! Her eyes popped open. That must be wrong. Blinking repeatedly to clear her vision, Tia rubbed the sleep from her face and reached for the clock. The red LED display was correct. Oh, man! I’ve overslept.
Why hadn’t her alarm gone off? Had she slept through the squeal of the alarm? Oh, yeah. Tia returned it to her nightstand. I turned it off before I was finally able to fall asleep.
Tia reached for the telephone and dialed the office. She was going to be late this morning. She left a message for one of the other executive assistants to keep an eye out for Adam and anything he might need until she made it to the office.
Tia felt incredibly sluggish as she swung her legs off the mattress and let her feet hit the floor. She sat on the edge of the bed for several minutes, gathering her thoughts and energy. Normally she was a morning person who enjoyed the start of a new day. By this time, her morning regimen of exercises followed by a quick shower was usually complete. She’d be dressed and ready for a cup of coffee and bagel before heading to work.
Not this morning. Last night had been brutal. After making sure Darnell took all of his belongings with him, she had sat down for a good, long cry. The tears had restored some of her balance but took all of her energy. She felt hollow and empty. Like she’d lost a part of herself, and in some ways, maybe she had. After all, she’d been with Darnell quite a few years. They had shared many things, and now that had ended. Fresh tears sprang to her eyes. Stop this, Tia chastened silently. You’ve got to go to work, and you can’t excuse yourself each time a fresh batch of tears starts to fall.
After leaving a message on Adam’s cell phone telling him that she’d be in around ten, Tia stood and headed downstairs to make that imaginary coffee she believed she smelled earlier. Turning the corner to her kitchen, she halted. “What are you doing here?”
“I’ve come for breakfast,” Nia Edwards answered, stirring a bowl of batter.
“I don’t remember inviting you.”
Nia shrugged delicately in her diva way. “Doesn’t matter. I know you wanted and possibly needed me to be here. After all, you’re my twin.” She turned her attention to the meat sizzling in the pan. “Coffee’s ready, the table is set, and I’m making waffles with Canadian bacon. I know it’s your favorite.”
Surrendering to her sister’s knowledge of her favorite breakfast foods, Tia entered the small kitchenette and removed a mug from the cupboard. After filling her cup, she headed for the tiny dining room off the kitchen. The table was indeed set. Nia had placed a vase of wildflowers in the center and used the good china and silver. Tia sank into a chair and sipped her morning elixir, watching her sister prepare breakfast. A thought occurred to her after a moment. “Don’t you have hair appointments scheduled for this morning?”
“My first customer comes at eleven.” Nia glanced at the microwave clock. She removed a bowl from the cabinet and began to slice strawberries into it. “I’ve got plenty of time. I can always reschedule my appointments if need be. Besides, you come first.”
“And it was a nice way to make sure Darnell wasn’t here.”
Grinning, Nia pointed a finger at Tia and winked. “That, too. How are you?” She paused for a moment. “Really.”
“I’m okay. Tired. A little depressed.” On the edge of tears, her voice quivering, Tia added, “I’ll get over it.”
“You’re right. You will. And the rest is to be expected. You and Darnell have been together a long time.” Nia rinsed off her hands, grabbed a paper towel, and took the chair next to Tia’s. A kind and concerned expression filled her sister’s perfectly made-up face. “How did things go? What happened?”
Tia laughed. The sound was harsh and brutal. She blinked rapidly, surprised that such a horrific noise had actually come from her. It reminded her of the cry of a wounded animal. In some ways, Tia felt like one. “You know it’s my fault that he cheated.”
Surprised, Nia’s eyes widened. “What?”
“Oh, yeah. Darnell blamed everything on me.”
Nia grunted. “I’m not surprised. That’s why I can’t stand him. He’s a rat and a typical man. Somebody else is always responsible. Never him. Don’t buy into that bull.”
Tia nodded. “I know. There’s a part of me that wonders if I should have done things a little differently. Maybe we could have gotten past this.”
“Sure there were. There’s not a relationship out there that couldn’t use a little tweaking. A little help in one way or another. But I do believe it was Darnell’s responsibility to talk to you. That was his job as a partner in your relationship. Not go off with the next best thing. How can you work things out if he doesn’t tell you what’s wrong?”
“I know.” Tia lifted her cup and took a long pull. “It’s always easier to question yourself after the fact.”
Nia patted her sister’s hand and then headed back to the kitchen. “Men refuse to take responsibility for their actions. It’s always someone else’s fault. In Darnell’s case, you’re the fall girl. All he had to do was keep his junk in his pants and talk to you, and things would have been fine, but no. He had to show his jewels around town. What an ass.”
“I feel really bad,” Tia admitted, brushing away a tear. “Like I let him down or didn’t do enough.” She shrugged. “I don’t know.”
Nia watched Tia from the kitchen. “That’s why I didn’t want him to come back here. I knew he’d lay a guilt trip on you.”
“I thought I was helping to secure our future by making a place for myself at Gautier’s that no one could take away.”
“Hello!” Nia tapped her twin on the forehead. “It takes two to make or break a relationship. You didn’t do it alone.”
“Darnell tried to tell me it was Adam’s fault.”
“Let’s be honest about a few things. Darnell has always been jealous of Adam.” Nia laughed. “Your boss has it going on. The looks, the career and lifestyle; Adam has all the things people like Darnell can only dream of. Don’t take on his guilt. This is his way of wiggling out of his share of the responsibility.”
“Everything sounds good in theory, but I’m the one by myself.”
“No, you’re not. You have family. And I’m going to tell you something. There are other men interested in you. There always have been. You were so involved with pleasing Darnell that you couldn’t see what was in front of you.”
“Yeah, right,” Tia dismissed. “Like who?”
> “That hottie at your job is very interesting and interested.”
“Who are you talking about? Adam has a girlfriend.”
“I’m not talking about Adam. That new guy. What’s his name? Um…Chris.” Nia waved the spatula in the air. “I know. Chris Jensen.”
A jolt of something unique went through Tia. She almost choked on her coffee. “Have you lost your mind? I don’t know him. He’s been in our office about a month.”
“What’s that got to do with anything?” Nia placed a platter of Canadian bacon and waffles topped with fresh strawberries and whipped cream on the table before returning to the kitchen. “He likes you, Tia.”
“There’s a couple of flaws in your thinking. First, he’s white and French. What am I going to do with that?” Nia opened her mouth, but Tia continued, ignoring her sister and refusing to let her say a word. “Second, I don’t know how long Chris will be in the States. There’s no specific timetable set up for him. Why would I let myself get involved with someone who could be gone in a matter of days? And third, our mother would have a fit.”
Standing at the refrigerator, Nia stated defiantly, “Let her. This is your life, not hers. One thing I know about our mother: She would never allow Daddy to treat her the way Darnell has treated you.” Nia returned to the dining room and placed a pitcher of orange juice on the table and then sat across from her twin.
“That’s easy for you to say.”
“No, it’s not. But I do understand how Mother controls you and won’t let go. She wants to turn you into her own personal mini-me. Remember this: Mother has a man. Why shouldn’t you have one? You deserve someone who’ll be there for you when you need him and who will love you and care for you just the way Daddy does for Mother.”
“Some days I feel as if it’s not in the cards for me. I think about Momma and it’s too hard to deal with.”
“Mother will have to get used to the idea. And, yeah, that would be interesting to watch. She’s not a bigot. You’re her favorite child, and whether you realize it or not, she wants you to be happy, no matter what color the man is.”
Tia added waffles and bacon to her plate and then dug into her food. “I think you’re wrong on all of it.”
“I’m rarely wrong. And in this case, I believe I’m right on track.”
“I’m not Momma’s favorite.”
Nia snorted. “Yes, you are. We’ve never gotten along, and I don’t think that’s going to change.”
Tia held her sister’s gaze with her own. “You could work a little harder at developing your relationship with her.”
Waving away Tia’s suggestion, Nia answered, “It’s too hard to please Mother. Things always go way wrong when I try to do that. I’d rather live my own life.”
“Well you do that.”
“Yeah, I do.” Nia twisted her shoulders in a sassy way before focusing her attention on her breakfast.
They ate in a comfortable silence for several minutes, and then Tia said, “Talking about men at the office, what was that I saw going on between you and JerrDan?”
Frowning, Nia asked cautiously, “What are you talking about?”
“Hey, I was there. I saw sparks flying all over you and JerrDan like Fourth of July fireworks. You two could have lit up a room with your chemistry.”
Although a faint stain of red flooded Nia’s cheeks, she maintained a strong, confident tone. “Obviously, this situation between you and Darnell has dulled your senses. I don’t know the guy. He could be married with children for all I know.”
“He isn’t,” Tia responded, watching the flicker of interest flare in her sister’s eyes and quickly die. Oh, yeah. Nia wanted more. “JerrDan graduated from the University of Michigan. He came out of school at the top of his class. He’s been with Gautier for about five years. The man works hard and is really focused.”
“Why are you telling me all of this?”
Smiling sweetly, Tia answered, “Because you want to know.”
“Okay. Maybe I do. He’s some big dog at your company. I’m not his type.”
Tia shot back, “How do you know?”
“Oh, come on. Do you really think he’ll consider being in a permanent relationship with a hairdresser?”
“Maybe. I don’t know. Why not? You’re beautiful, talented, cultured when you choose to be, and you own your own business.”
“Sweetie, I know and understand my place in the world. I’m perfect for the bedroom. Nothing more.”
Tia silently studied her sister. Until today, she’d always believed Nia was the strong one. Maybe not. She had a bunch of insecurities. “Nia, don’t do this. There’s more to you. Don’t sell yourself short. You’ve got a lot to offer any man.”
“I don’t want to talk about this anymore.” Nia pushed her plate away.
Tia grabbed her sister’s arm. “You can’t avoid it.”
“Yes, I can.” Nia shook off her hand. “Besides, I’m not going to change for some man I know nothing about.”
“No one’s asked you to.”
“Let’s drop the subject, okay?” Nia perked up. “Anyway, that’s not why I’m here.”
“Why are you here?”
“To make sure my twin is okay.” Nia’s gaze swept over Tia. “From what I can see, you’re going to be okay. It’ll take a little time, but you’ll do just fine.”
8
Like radar, Chris zeroed in on Tia once she arrived at work. He emerged from his office and ambled up to her workstation. Concern etched his handsome features as he studied her.
“Hi,” Chris greeted with a soft smile and wave of his hand. “I missed you this morning. Is everything going well?”
Why did he always have to be so gentle and caring? His concern called to her bruised feelings and made her want to confess all of her problems. Not trusting her voice, Tia shut her eyes and willed her crazy emotions to stay in check. After a moment, she felt more in control, but she nodded and swiveled her chair to the telephone, away from his probing gaze. “I got a late start this morning.”
“That’s not what I’m trying to say.” Chris perched on the edge of her workstation. “You’re the first friendly face I see in the mornings. Your smile starts my day. I look forward to seeing you. I got worried when you weren’t at your desk.”
Her breakup with Darnell had left her numb, but Chris’s concern and compliment sparked a moment of pleasure inside of her. “Thank you.”
“No thanks needed.” He studied her for a beat and then asked, “Late night? Did you oversleep?”
“Little bit. Excuse me.” Ready to avoid additional probing questions, Tia dialed the code to retrieve voice messages and picked up a pen, poised to scribble down information.
Chris silently watched her with a keen eye that bordered on intrusive. Tia felt herself go hot all over as she fought to maintain a dignified, professional presence in front of this man. At the same time, her insides quivered as Chris studied her. What did he see? What was he searching for?
Determined to keep her personal business to herself, she pressed her lips tightly shut. She had gone to a lot of trouble to cover all physical evidence of the misery with makeup. Unfortunately, her emotions were another issue. Her feelings were barely in check, and she wanted to keep everything bottled inside until she got home.
Go away, Chris, she thought, pretending to be absorbed in the work on her desk. I need time to get myself together before I deal with you. Go away. Give me a chance to get my brain unscrambled.
But he didn’t. Instead, he waited as she retrieved her messages. He followed her to the coffeemaker. After handing her coffee, he grabbed a mug and poured himself a cup. They accomplished everything in silence. His unnerving gaze constantly stayed focused on her.
Tia and Chris returned to her desk, and she resumed her duties while Chris moved in and out of his office with questions and work for her. Most of their afternoon played out this way.
Around three o’clock, he returned to her desk. “I’m going to th
e store for a snack. Do you want anything?”
“No. I’m fine.”
His eyes narrowed. “Are you sure? I haven’t seen you eat anything today.”
Tia opened her mouth, but the phone rang. Saved by the bell, she thought, reaching for the receiver. Maybe now she’d get a break from Chris’s constant attention. “Legal Department, Tia speaking. How may I help you?”
“Talk to you later.” Chris disappeared into the maze of workstations heading for the elevators.
Breathing a sigh of relief, Tia nodded and waved her hand in the air before returning to her call.
“Yes, you can,” Jackie Edwards responded.
“Hi, Momma.”
“Hey, Tia-Mia.”
“What’s going on?”
“That’s what I’d like to know.”
Frowning, Tia waited. What drama did her mother have going on? “What’s on your mind?”
“I just talked with your ex-boyfriend.”
There was a long silence as Tia’s insides churned with nervousness. Sweat coated her palms, making it difficult to grip the telephone. This wasn’t good. Tia had hoped for more time to gather her thoughts and come up with an appropriate excuse before telling her parents about Darnell. Tia struggled to keep her voice light. “What was Darnell talking about?”
“You know!” Her mother’s voice flowed through the phone line.
Tia grimaced. Oh man, she knows.
“About us?”
“Yes,” Jackie Edwards said.
“I’m sorry, Momma. I wanted to be the one to tell you.”
“I would have preferred to hear about it from you. You’ve been with that man a long time. Are you sure you’re doing the right thing?”
Darnell told her mother. That just made her brain hurt. Tia shook her head, dislodging the cobwebs clogging her tired brain. Okay, she knew she had had a restless night and felt sleep deprived, but this was way beyond anything she expected to hear. Had she stepped into the middle of a Twilight Zone episode? Maybe she’d slipped into some crazy alternate universe during the night.
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