“I don’t mind. I want you to know that I’ll be with you when you need me.”
She linked her fingers with his. “You are so good.”
Chris lifted their linked hands and kissed the back of Tia’s hand. “You are very important to me. I know you have things to do on Saturday. What about later?”
“Maybe,” Tia hedged.
“Which means what?”
“I have an invitation to extend.”
“Invitation? From whom?” Chris asked.
“My father. He invited you to Saturday’s get-together.” She hurried to add, “Don’t feel that you have to accept.”
“I’d love to.” He grinned. “That’s nice.”
“Are you sure? I mean, you had different plans for Saturday.”
His eyes narrowed. “You don’t want me to go, do you?”
“It’s not that,” Tia denied.
“Then what is it?”
“My family,” she admitted. “They can be difficult.”
“Because of me?” Chris asked.
“Yes and no. They don’t like outsiders.”
“That’s fine. I’m not an outsider. I’ll be there.”
Tia opened her mouth and then shut it without uttering a word. Saturday would be an interesting day. Meeting the Edwards clan would put Chris in a difficult position, but he seemed up to the task.
15
“Tell me again,” Chris said to Tia as he drove to dinner. “There’s Junior; twins Andre and Andrew; plus your sister, Nia, who’s your twin.”
“Correct,” Tia answered, slowly nodding.
Eyebrows lifting, Chris shook his head. “Wow! Two sets of twins! I’m sure your parents were surprised.”
“Little bit,” Tia replied, flipping down the visor to check her makeup. “After three boys, Momma and Daddy were determined to have a little girl. They just didn’t expect two of them at the same time. They figured that since they had one set of twins, lightning wouldn’t strike twice. Boy, were they wrong.”
Chris chuckled, reaching for her hand and squeezing it. “Having two of you is perfect.” Leaning over the steering wheel, he said, “We just crossed Inkster. Start looking for the building.”
Tia squinted, trying to read the signs as the car sped down the road. She pointed to a row of shops in a small strip mall ahead. “There it is.”
Chris slowed the car and then made a left-hand turn. He pulled Tia’s cherry-red Gautier Velocity SUV into a parking space. “Here we are,” he announced, checking the parking lot. Chris pointed at an SUV in the next aisle. “That’s your father’s truck, isn’t it?”
Tia glanced at the bronze Dodge Journey with a miniature box of Kellogg’s Corn Flakes dangling from the rearview mirror. “Yeah.” Dad and his toys, she thought. After more than two decades of working for Kellogg’s, Gregory Edwards had remained as loyal to the company as the day he began working as a packaging engineer.
“This is the place. Let’s see how the party’s going.” Chris hopped out of the car and hurried to the passenger door, helping her from the car. He held on to Tia’s hand as they strolled up to the front door of the Product Shop.
Chris began swinging their clasped hands back and forth, saying cheerfully, “You can’t hide forever.”
With a sense of dread, Tia answered, “I know. I don’t want to hide forever, just a little while longer.”
Smiling, Chris pulled Tia against his side and kissed her forehead. “Things will be fine. Just relax. This relationship between you and me is new to everyone. We have to give your family a little time to adjust.”
Tia pushed open the door, listening to the gentle tingle of the bell as the hearty aroma of ribs and baked beans filled her nostrils. She turned to Chris. “Mmm. I sure hope the food is as good as it smells.”
“Me too. It smells heavenly.”
“You’re getting ready to eat some soul food,” Tia explained.
Chris answered, “I’m ready for it.”
A tall African American woman of medium build sat behind a glass showcase. “Welcome to the Product Shop,” she greeted in a beautiful, soft tone. “Are you here for the Edwards party?”
Chris answered, “Yes.”
Using the tip of her ink pen, the woman pointed them in the direction of the party. “They’re in the Red Hatter rooms.”
“Thanks.”
As Tia and Chris made their way to the gathering, they passed through a room decorated in shades of red and purple with one-of-a-kind items lining the shelves. Above the Red Hatter room entrance hung a white banner with loud, colorful letters that practically shouted QUICK AND HAPPY RECOVERY!
Glancing in, Tia noticed a mix of family and Grandma Ruth’s neighbors. Tia’s oldest brother, Junior, entered from an opposite doorway with a sheet cake that he placed on a small table covered with a red tablecloth. Tia’s mother followed with a tray in each hand. One held wing dings and crab cakes. The other was weighed down with spinach dip and chips. She placed both trays on the table next to the cake.
Junior waved Tia and Chris into the room. “Come on in.” Her brother’s eyes narrowed as he got a good look at Tia’s date. “Mmm.”
Tia rushed over to her brother at the cake table and gave him a big hug. He returned the gesture, whispering in her ear, “Who’s that?”
She motioned for Chris to come closer and grabbed his hand. “Greg Junior, this is my friend Chris Jensen. He’s from France.”
Eager to please, Chris held out his hand. Junior took a second or two to study the other man before taking his hand.
“So you’re the new man in my sister’s world,” Junior said. His voice relayed a warning.
Chris seemed to understand with a minimum of words passing between the men. He nodded. “I think your sister is very special.”
Junior gazed at Tia. “She is.”
Her mother hurried over and hugged Tia. “Hey, Tia-Mia!”
“Hi, Momma.” Again she reached for Chris’s hand to bring him closer. Mrs. Edwards glanced behind her daughter, and her expression soured. She focused on Tia. “I see you brought your friend from work.”
Chris moved forward and took Mrs. Edwards’s hand. “Thank you for inviting me. I really enjoy being with Tia.”
With narrowed eyes, Tia’s mother replied in a soft but dangerous tone, “I’m sure you do.” The older woman turned away and walked back to the food table to move things around. Junior followed his mother’s lead, ignoring Chris.
Tia looked around, checking out the roomful of guests. Her twin brothers, Andrew and Andre, sat with their current significant others and extended family. One of her uncles and two aunts from her father’s family sat together at a table. Frowning a bit, Tia asked, “Where’s Nia?”
Mrs. Edwards hissed through stiff lips, “At that shop of hers. Nia said she’d be here as soon as she got done with her last customer.”
“Don’t get mad, Momma.” Tia stroked a soothing hand down her mother’s arm. “Doing hair is Nia’s livelihood. And she’s good at it.”
Sighing softly, a disappointed expression settled on Mrs. Edwards’s face. “I know. But I still want so much more for her. Nia’s so difficult. She can do better for herself. Doing hair should be her backup plan. Why can’t that girl be more like you? Your sister needs to take control of her life and go back to school.”
I’ve heard this song more than once. The battle lines had been drawn between their mother and Nia when her twin was a little girl. She refused to be dressed up like a little doll. She wanted to wear denims and wrestle with her older brothers. They clashed straight through high school and went into nuclear war when Nia refused to go to college. Instead, she enrolled in beauty school and opened her own business.
Tia squeezed her mother’s hand. “We may be twins, but we have different goals and talents. Come on, Momma. Let it go. This is Grandma Ruth’s party. Everyone should be enjoying it, including you. We can’t settle things today.” If ever, she thought, keeping that notion to herself.
Tia spun around in time to see her maternal grandmother amble through the door on the arm of Tia’s father. Tia raced to her grandmother, hugging her tightly, keeping in mind that this frail little lady with the spicy personality required tender care. “Grandma Ruth. How are you?”
“Ain’t no trouble,” Grandma Ruth answered briskly. “I wanted to see everybody before I went into the hospital.” She cupped the side of her mouth with her hand and whispered in a low, secretive tone, “Besides, your mother ordered the food from Famous Dave’s. I love that place. Hospital food has nothing on Famous Dave’s juicy ribs.”
“What about your blood pressure?”
“Mind your own business. Don’t worry about my blood pressure. I’ll take care of it.” Grandma Ruth poked a bony but manicured finger at Tia’s chest. “You watch your own.”
Tia laughed. “Yes, ma’am.”
“Don’t get sassy with me. I can still smack your butt.”
“No, ma’am,” Tia responded. “I’d never do that.”
Grandma Ruth smiled. “But not today.” She grabbed Tia’s hands, took a step back, and ran a critical gaze over her. “Your momma told me that you have a new beau. Where is he?”
“Right here,” Tia responded, wrapping an arm around Chris and pushing him forward. “Grandma, this is Chris Jensen. Chris, this is Mrs. Wilson, my grandmother.”
Grandma Ruth dropped Tia’s hand and took a step backward. She stared at Chris, frowning as she gave him a thorough once-over. “Where’s the joke?”
“No joke,” Tia answered, taking her grandmother’s arm and leading her to a nearby table and offering her an empty chair.
Mrs. Wilson dropped into the chair, still continuing to stare at Chris. “When did you do this?”
Her grandmother’s question made her a little angry. “What do you mean ‘this’?”
“When did you start going out with white men? Look at him. He’s got blond hair and blue eyes. Why does he have to have blue eyes?” She put a hand to her forehead and shook her head. “Lord, what is going on?”
“Grandma, Chris is a nice man. We work for the same company.”
“That don’t make any difference. Do you know what some of his blue-eyed friends did years ago? I don’t trust white people and neither should you.”
“Grandma, you’ve always been one of the most understanding people in my life. Why are you acting like this?”
“Don’t trust them. You need to think about what you’re doing.” The old girl shook a finger at Tia. “The things that I’ve seen.” Her face scrunched up like she smelled something foul. “They are tricky and sneaky people. I’ve seen them do some terrible things to us. They don’t appreciate us or our skills. Let me tell you a thing or two. You can’t trust ’em, and you certainly shouldn’t allow them in your bed.”
Trying to convince her grandmother, Tia took the chair next to her and said, “Grandma Ruth, Chris is a good man. He’s good to me and treats me with respect. Besides, he’s not from here. Chris is French. He respects me like an equal.”
Shaking her head, Grandma Ruth continued. “I don’t care. Get him away from me. I hope you figure out real soon that they can’t be trusted.”
Greg Edwards dropped a hand onto Grandma Ruth’s shoulder. “Ruth,” he stated in a stern voice, “that’s enough. Remember, this is a party.”
“I don’t care. Tia needs to know.”
“Tia-Mia is fine. You don’t have to continue.” Greg Edwards turned to Chris and offered his hand. “How are you? It’s good to see you again.”
“Thank you, sir. It’s good to see you,” Chris answered, studying Tia’s grandmother.
“I’m going to get your grandmother something to drink,” Mr. Edwards said.
“I’ll do it,” Chris offered. He turned to Tia’s grandmother and asked, “What would you like to drink?”
“I don’t want you to get me anything,” Grandma Ruth answered stubbornly.
“She likes Coke,” Tia replied, embarrassed by her grandmother’s behavior.
Chris nodded and started for the refreshment table. “I’ll be right back.”
Pursing her lips, Grandma Ruth folded her arms across her chest and announced, “I’m not drinking anything he brings back if it isn’t closed.”
Tia’s father turned and said, “Ruth, you shouldn’t act like this. That young man hasn’t done a thing to you.”
“I don’t care.”
Shaking his head, Greg Edwards turned his attention to his daughter. “Tia-Mia, I’m glad you brought your friend.”
Relief flooded through her. “Thank you, Daddy. I needed to hear that. Momma wasn’t very nice to Chris either.”
He waved a dismissing hand. “Ah. Don’t worry about your mother. She’s worried that you’ll run off with Chris and leave Michigan.”
Laughing, she answered, “Hardly. I think Chris is here for a good long while.”
Chris returned with a Coke. He handed the can to Tia’s grandmother, along with a white paper cup. “Here you are, Mrs. Wilson.”
She took the can and looked it over, making sure it hadn’t been tampered with. After a second, she popped the tab and poured the cola into the cup.
“Where’s Chris’s thank-you?” Mr. Edwards asked.
Tia’s grandmother narrowed her eyes at Greg Edwards before turning away. “Thanks.”
“Okay.” Tia turned away, tapping a nervous hand against her leg. I need a breather before I wreck Grandma’s party. As that thought concluded, she felt the welcoming warmth of her oldest brother as Junior looped an arm around her shoulders and steered her away from their grandmother and father. He held a can of Vernors ginger ale in his hand. “So that’s what’s on the agenda these days. When did this happen?” He gazed meaningfully at Chris, lifting an eyebrow.
Shaking her head, Tia laughed. “We just started dating. Once Chris found out that Darnell was out of the picture, he asked me out.” Made love to me and turned everything upside down, she thought.
“You sure you’re not holding out on your big brother?” Junior took a sip from his can.
“I’m positive. Why are you so concerned?”
Junior shrugged. “This guy is a surprise to the family. I don’t want to see you get hurt. Remember, you just ended things with Darnell. Are you sure you’re ready for another relationship so soon?”
“Yeah. I think I am.” She shrugged. “Besides, we’re taking things slowly. We know there are issues, so we don’t want to rush anything.”
“Good. Take your time,” Junior suggested.
“Thank you,” she said sarcastically.
Junior tapped the end of her nose with his finger. “Don’t get smart with me, young lady. I’ll sic your grandmother on you.”
“Oh, no. Don’t do that.”
They both laughed.
“Be careful.” Wrinkling his nose, Junior scowled. “I care about you, and I want to make sure you’re happy.”
A commotion at the door cut off Tia’s reply. Like a movie star making a grand entrance on the red carpet, Nia Edwards burst into the room, capturing everyone’s attention. Tia watched her twin sashay into the room, speaking into her Bluetooth. Nia talked fast and loud while balancing a giant, gift-wrapped box in her one hand. “Nah! Not today. I’m closed. Call Tuesday for an appointment. Bye.”
Andre reached Nia first and enfolded her in a bear hug. “Hey, little girl.”
He released her and Nia was instantly engulfed in Andrew’s embrace. “How you doing?”
Grinning at her brothers, she handed the box to Andrew. “Here, take this. Put it with the rest.”
Tia studied her twin. They may have come from the same egg, but that’s where all similarities stopped. Tia and Nia were completely different. Their personalities and philosophy about life were worlds apart. Tia took life very seriously. She planned every move and made decisions base
d on what she wanted to accomplish.
Nia let life happen. She didn’t plan, nor did she intend to start.
They shared the same features and coloring, but Nia tamed her wild, curly mane into a slick bob that brushed her shoulders. Tia allowed the soft curls to flow freely. Tia preferred conservative business suits for work and tailored slacks and blouses for play. Nia wouldn’t be caught dead or alive in the outfits Tia favored. Nia preferred her clothes so tight that the garments practically squeezed her to death. She wore loud, funky, colorful fabrics and outfits.
Today was a perfect example. Nia wore a pair of form-fitting, low-rise denims that revealed a large portion of her flat, pierced belly and tramp stamp. Her blue-green-yellow-pink strapless silk confection cut across the swell of her breasts, drawing attention to her curves.
“Hey, Tia, baby!” Nia’s gaze swept over the guests, toward her sister. She raced across the room to her twin, throwing her arms around her. “Good to see you.”
Laughing, Tia swayed back and forth within her sister’s embrace.
Chris moved alongside Tia. “Hi, Nia.”
Instantly, Nia turned to Chris. “Well, look at this.” She turned to her sister. “When did you two start seeing each other?”
“Recently,” Tia responded.
“Good. I couldn’t stand Darnell anyway.”
Tia laughed. It was a relief to have some positive feedback.
Junior joined the small group. “Hey, Nia.”
“Hi, brother-man.”
He laughed. “You know you’re the only one I let call me that.”
Grinning, Nia stated in a snappy tone, “As if you’ve got a choice.”
“Maybe you should follow in your sister’s footsteps,” Mrs. Edwards suggested.
Rolling her eyes, Nia said, “Hi, Mother.”
“Hello, Nia-Pia. I’m glad you pulled yourself away from that shop long enough to celebrate with your family.”
“Yes, Mother. I made it.”
“Oh!” Jackie Edwards shook her head sadly, examining her daughter from head to toe. “Why do you have on those god-awful jeans? Don’t you have anything special to wear? Maybe we should take up a collection for you.”
You're All I Need Page 12