Coming For What's Mine pt 2: The Politician (Law Boy's Series)

by Edwina Fort

  He hasn’t even called. And I know it’s only been a day, but dang…shouldn’t he have at least called by now?

  “Albert?”

  “Hmmm.” He asked from where he had gone back to reading his paper.

  “Have you…” I cleared my throat, feeling like a weak female for even asking this, but I had to know. “Have you heard from Jo?”

  He shook his head without looking up from the paper. “He probably went somewhere to lick his wounds. A break up can be hard.”

  Hmmm…

  Yeah right!

  I know men stick together. And no doubt Albert knew exactly where he was and just didn’t want to tell me. He was probably back with his fiancée apologizing for stepping out on her with the little young ghetto college girl, taking her to all of those fancy restaurants that he couldn’t take me, and cooking his stupid gourmet spaghetti for her on his state-of-the-art stove. They were probably even now as we were speaking sitting down at some fundraising banquet with fifteen-hundred-dollar lamb chop plates, giving phony smiles to their future constituents.

  Goodness! I had become a bitter woman.

  That realization didn’t sit well with me. I didn’t want to be a bitter woman. I didn’t want to be sitting on the sidelines sending hateful vibes through the air.

  I squared my shoulders. I loved Jo. He’d really hurt me. I deserved time to grieve. But I was only going to give myself so long. And then it was going to be time for me to get my life back on track. I had to keep moving. It wasn’t too late for me to achieve at least a few of my dreams.

  On that third day, I woke up with a new attitude. Although my heart still hurt, I was determined to do something other than moping around the house. I began my day with a pause moment. It had been a while since I’d had one. With everything that’s happened, I hadn’t taken the time to stop and reflect. After loading my misters with my essential oil blend, I stood under them with my head thrown back as the sun began to rise and enjoyed the gentle mist that rained down on me and my plants.

  Stopping to reflect is healing. In this moment, there isn’t anyone but you and the Creator.

  In this moment, there are no worries, only possibilities

  In this moment, the devil’s lies are quieted. The tricky imagination of your mind is abolished.

  Only facts are on the table.

  It is a blessing to be alive.

  It is a blessing to still have your right mind.

  It is a blessing to have another chance to get it right.

  This is the moment to give thanks for all the things we constantly take for granted.

  When I came out of my reflection, I was ready to start a new day. I began with trying to find out if Kyle was okay. So I called Michelle. Since I didn’t know what I could or couldn’t say to her, I tried to keep it light and ask her if she had heard from him.

  “Girl, Ben says Kyle and his family left town.”

  “What?” The surprise in my voice was genuine.

  “Yeah, apparently their catering company got an offer in New York that was too big to refuse. They packed up and left practically overnight.”

  “What?”

  “Why do you sound so concerned? Don’t tell me you’ve started vibing on Kyle.” I opened my mouth to deny that, but right then, Albert rushed through the front door with a strickened look on his face. Without knowing what put it there, my heart dropped.

  “Jo has been in a horrible car wreck!”

  Chapter Fourteen

  Little Brown Lie

  Journey

  “Oh, my God!” I cried out as Albert began to show me the pictures of Jo’s mangled car. I clutched his arm. “Where is he? We have to go and see him!”

  “He’s home resting. But a caretaker couldn’t be found for him on such short notice. So, he’s going to need round the clock care. I can do it sometime—” I shook my head cutting him off.

  “No, I’ll do it…” I paused surprised at the words that had just flown out my mouth.

  What about his fiancée? And his mother? Surely, they are before me in line to see about the task.

  Albert’s face brightened. “Oh, that would be perfect! He could really use a helping hand. I know he feels so alone right now.”

  I nodded and shook my head at the same time, I was so torn. “Of course, I’ll do it, just give me a second to get Ayana and my things together.”

  My mind was rushing so fast. I had an overwhelming feeling of guilt trying to choke me. This whole time I had thought the worst of him and Albert said he had been in the hospital fighting for his life.

  I ran towards the stairs, but then paused, ‘cause I had no idea what I was doing. He said Jo was at his place. I couldn’t go to his house, his fiancée was there.

  “What’s the matter?” Albert asked, wondering why I had stopped.

  “You said he’s at his place, I—I can’t go to his place… can I?” He looked at me as if I’d lost my mind.

  “Yeeess!! Journey! Hurry, he’s been in an accident!”

  “Right…Okay--Right!” I was a nervous wreck…I didn’t know what the right move was to make… I stalled again.

  “Sweet baby Samuel.” He uttered under his breath. “What is it now?!”

  It was clear he was losing patience with me, which was not helping, because my mind was already frazzled. My first instinct was to rush to help Jo, but there were so many issues with that. Was his fiancée there with him? Would I go there and run into his parents or her? Would there be pictures of her on his wall? Should I just go for the day and then come home? I had absolutely no idea what to do!

  “I don’t know how to pack, should I pack for the day or two…a week?”

  Albert must have heard the distress in my voice, because when next he spoke, his voice had gentled.

  “You may want to pack for a long stay, sweetheart. Who knows what condition the boy is in? He’s going to really appreciate you helping him out.”

  I nodded. “O—okay.”

  I packed for Ayana and me as quickly as I could, then I ran upstairs to the greenhouse and set the timer for my sprinklers, so they could water my plants while I was gone. I had no idea what a long stay meant. I wish I would have just kept my mouth closed and not offered to look after him.

  But how could I do that? It was my love for him that spoke. The thought of him laid up in his bed with a bunch of tubes running from his body that was weak with pain, barely clinging to life was tearing me up. The pictures of his car were horrendous; it was a miracle he’d survived.

  I couldn’t help but wonder if the wreck happened after he and I broke up. And if so, would that mean it was my fault?

  That thought put me into something of a slump. If I had been kinder would it still have happened? Maybe I could have gently called it off and given him a little hope for tomorrow.

  I shook my head. It was a waste of time to ponder what could have been. We are here now and I just had to deal with it.

  I sat silent as we drove into a part of town that I had only been to a handful of times. This area reminded me a lot of Chicago’s Gold Coast, except where the Gold Coast had Lake Michigan, this area had the Potomac River. This was the part of town that housed all the elites of D.C. On the outside, Jo’s building looked like something from the future, all glass and stainless steel. On the inside, it was a world of luxury.

  Albert had to pass two check points in which he had to identify himself to park his car. I was so nervous as we rode the mirrored elevator to the top floor I was shaking. By the time he used his key card to open Jo’s door I was drowning in my guilt, because I had somehow convinced myself this was all my fault.

  “Jo, my boy!” He called out as he carried Ayana into the huge foyer of the penthouse. As soon as the bright light hit me, I remembered what stood out to me most the one time I was here. The windows. He had huge floor to ceiling boxed windows with a startling view of the Potomac River and the Hill outside.

  “In here!”

  For just a moment I clo
sed my eyes as that deep voice caused a shiver that took my breath to run down my spine. I know it’s only been two days since I’d last heard it, but it felt like a life time. His voice sounded strong and clear, it wasn’t the voice of a sick or injured man.

  I inhaled as we rounded the corner into the massive living room, but all my breath whooshed through my lips at the sight of Jo looking simply scrumptious sitting on his couch. He was dressed in a white t-shirt that clung to his muscled chest and ripped lean stomach just right with a pair of white basketball shorts. His rich dark skin contrasted with the white of his clothes in a way that made his beautiful melanin pop.

  I brought my hand to my belly as an involuntary flutter of arousal shot through it. His dark gaze swept over me with the same hunger, no…starvation that mine was doing him. My body was betraying me.

  We are no longer allowed to have these feelings for him! I screamed at myself. But then it seemed like time just slowed down as he licked his lips before lifting those beauties in a killer smile aimed at me.

  Speak for yourself! My body yelled back at me.

  “How is that leg?” Albert asked breaking the spell Jo had cast over me.

  Y’all, I had been so distracted by his chocolaty goodness I didn’t even notice that his left leg was propped up on an emerald green ottoman that matched his couch, and it was wrapped in a cast. Next to him on the couch were a pair of crutches. In his hand he held a remote control that he used to turn down the volume on the football game he was watching.

  I disgusted myself. I never thought I was a weak woman. Growing up, I witnessed so many of my friends get their hearts broken by guys who thought they were playas, and I always swore that would never be me. But now look at me, one six foot plus chocolate brotha with a banging body has proven me to be a liar.

  I lifted my head on my shoulders. Damn that! I will never forget the hurt he caused.

  Ayana began to buck in Albert’s arms. She had spotted Jo and she wanted him.

  “Da-da!” She yelled, causing that sexy smile on his face to grow.

  He reached for her. “Come here, baby!”

  Ayana was so excited to see him she was practically vibrating with joy. When Albert put her in his hands she actually wrapped her little arms around his neck and squeezed him for dear life.

  “How is daddy’s little lady?” he asked kissing her on her fat cheeks in the way that she loved.

  Tears burned the back of my eyes. She’d missed her dad and if I was telling the truth to myself, I’d missed him too. I had come expecting to see him weak and in bed. So, you can imagine the shock at seeing him sitting here looking as good and as capable as the last time I’d seen him.

  Better even!

  He chuckled before his deep smoky voice washed over me. “Do I look that bad?”

  It was then I realized I had just been standing there staring at him. I shook my head.

  “No…no, it’s just that I thought you were hurt.”

  His spirit seemed to deflate right before my eyes, he laid his head back against the couch. “I get spurts of strength, but then I burn myself out and I’m tired again.” Even his voice suddenly sounded weaker.

  I cleared my throat as my guilt washed over me again. “Umm—would you like some help?”

  With a pair of serious puppy dog eyes, he nodded. “That would be great. That’s if you don’t hate me too much.”

  I took a few steps closer. “I don’t hate you, Jo.”

  He lifted his head. “You don’t?”

  “No, of course not. I—"

  “Ma ma ma ma!” Ayana suddenly yelled out pointing to something behind me.

  I turned my head to look and see what had caught her attention, turned back, but then whipped back around clutching the arm of the couch to keep from falling.

  “What the hell?!” I put my hand on my chest.

  There was a huge picture of me on the wall. I’m talking floor to ceiling. The thing had to be at least twenty feet. It was the picture my brother Rob had painted from a sketch he’d done of me while I sat in the window watching the leaves fall to the ground. I hadn’t even known he was sketching me.

  How in the world did Jo get this? Only I knew that my brother sold his paintings on eBay. He didn’t want anybody else to know in fear that it may hurt his street cred. However, I know for a fact he didn’t sell anything this big, which meant somehow Jo got a hold of a copy and had this made.

  Joseph

  She was so damn beautiful! I struggled to remain sitting and not cross the floor and wrap her in my arms. I’ve missed having her warm plush body pressed against me. I’ve missed her taste. I felt starved for it.

  My body instantly reacted to her, needing her in a way that left me in pain. During our time apart, I discovered that I couldn’t sleep without her, so for the last two nights, I’ve sat at my desk watching her sleep. To trick my body into resting, I had to lay my head on my desk next to the computer screen and listen to her deep breathing, imagining that she was lying next to me.

  Noticing her mother on the wall, Ayana began to bounce on my leg pointing at the painting.

  “Ma ma ma ma!” She cried.

  Journey turned and glanced behind her, it must have taken her mind a moment to register what she’d just seen, because her eyes came back to mine before she whipped back to face the painting clutching the arm of the couch for support.

  I had to press my lips together to keep from laughing. The look of amazed horror on her face was priceless. It was very similar to the look on my father’s face when he had come by to check on me earlier, only there was no amazement, just horror.

  “Son, have you gone insane?” He’d asked as he stared at the painting. I sat where I was sitting now with my fake cast on my foot and smiled at him.

  “Yes, I’ve gone insane.”

  For just a moment, fear flashed in his eyes before he got himself together, he seemed a bit edgy all the way around. However, after I’d informed him that I would be working from home for the next couple of weeks till my foot healed, anger took its place.

  “Dammit, boy! You can’t keep putting off your responsibilities!” I blinked at him innocently.

  “Whatever do you mean, father? I was in a horrible car crash. Surely you don’t expect me to come back to work so soon. Plus, I have a doctor’s note.” I held up the papers that said I should stay off my foot for six weeks. He’d snatched the papers out my hand, balled them up and stormed out.

  Frowning at the stricken look on Journey’s face, Albert turned to see what had caused it. I hadn’t told him about the painting. It was just installed this morning.

  “Oh sh*t!” He actually jumped, not expecting the in-your-face picture. When his startled gaze came back to me, I winked at him with a huge goofy grin on my face. I told the old bastard I was going to show him how it’s done.

  The painting was frighteningly huge. No sane individual would have such a thing on their wall. I’d like to see her argue that my place is Chloe’s now.

  When I saw that she was turning back to face me, I quickly lay my head back on the couch and sighed pitifully.

  “Jo?” She sounded winded. “Where did you get that picture?”

  As if it pained me, I lifted my head off the couch to look at her, pretending I didn’t know what she was talking about.

  “What picture, sweetheart?”

  She used her thumb to gesture behind her back. “That one.”

  “Oh…that old thing? I’ve had it for a while now. I forget where I found it.” I rested my head back against the couch. I could hear Albert off to the side pretending to cough in a napkin to cover his laugh. I nearly smiled myself. It’s true what they say about politicians. We have no shame.

  “You’ve had that for a while?” Her question was quiet and unsure. Everything she had assumed was being shot down.

  I nodded turning to look at her with sad eyes. “It saved my life.”

  The shock that was now on her face was well worth the exuberate amount o
f money I paid to have the picture blown up and a frame made for it in the time that I had. It was true, I’ve had the original print for some time now. In investigating her brothers, I discovered Rob’s little shop on eBay. As soon as I saw the pic I bought it. I tried to get the original, but he wouldn’t sell it.

  She bit her sexy bottom lip as she battled within herself. She didn’t want to have good thoughts about me. She didn’t want to ask how the painting had saved my life.

  I’ve got news for you, my sweet Journey, when I’m done, you’ll never question my love again.

  “How did the painting save your life? I’ve got to hear this.” Albert muttered dryly, relieving her. She exhaled, gently blowing her breath through her thick plush lips.

  Show time. “The doctors told me I died on the operating table.” I paused for a moment so that could sink in. “And all I could remember was…was walking toward the light.”

  Albert erupted in another fit of coughing.

  “Are you okay, old boy?” I asked trying to cut eyes at him without Journey noticing. If he didn’t get a hold of himself, he was going to give me away.

  “Yeah, yeah…I think the acrylic,” He waved his hand around looking up in the air. “Is choking me up. Go ahead and tell us what happened next.” He was barely holding it together.

  “As I was saying.” I smiled at Journey. “I was walking toward the light, feeling at peace. And I heard a voice calling. A sweet voice, soothing to my soul. And when I looked back over my shoulder, the only thing that was there was that painting.”

  Her eyes raked over me, before she frowned slightly. “Operating table? But it looks like only your leg was injured.”

  Oh sh*t! That one got away from me.

  I cleared my throat. “Yeah—well yeah they had to operate on the leg.” Albert just stood behind her shaking his head.

  “You saw the light from a leg operation?” She asked.

  “Well…babe, there is no such thing as a safe operation. You can ask any doctor. But the good thing is, this painting is what called me back.” She turned her head and looked at the painting before she looked back at me.