by Taylor Love
“Too bad we’re not somewhere I can show you my real...appreciation.”
“I can solve that real quick.” Robert wasted no time turning around and addressing Cam. “What do you say we call it a day?”
“Exactly what I was thinking.” Then Cam said to the ladies, “Give us fifteen minutes to shower and we’ll be right out.”
THEY PARTED WAYS THE men making quick work of getting cleaned up. When they came out they didn’t see the girls and thought maybe they’d gone to the front. They headed that way, stopping in a doorway when they saw Andrea. Mika was inside sparring with an instructor. Robert watched her spin, block and advance in awe, until he finally found his voice and stepped forward.
“What martial arts is this?” He whispered to Andrea.
“Hey you two. Oh this it’s Aikido. Mika is a 4th degree Kyu. I told her she should work her way up a couple more degrees, as she has a talent for it. I stopped at the first stage,” Andrea responded nonchalantly.
“You can do that?” Cam asked, pointing in disbelief.
“Not really. I know a very few basic moves. I ended up being better with a gun, so I focused on that and Mika continued with this. This Judo instructor was nice enough to help us pass the time with a little friendly bout.”
Robert was fascinated as he watched the concentration on her face and the graceful and quick moves she employed. He knew without a doubt that Mika Harrison would never let a man do anything she didn’t want—not when she could lay him flat in probably fifty ways. Something he would keep in mind as they moved forward. One thing was for sure, she was a constant surprise to him.
Chapter Eighteen
A WEEK AFTER SHE HAD made up with Andrea, Mika went to visit her parents. They lived in Canton as well, though thankfully far enough away from her. It had been her childhood home from the time she was five. Her father had become one of the first African-American Directors at Ford. Promptly moving his family from Detroit to the suburbs. Her mother had decided the location wanting to be closer to her only sister Jacqueline, who lived there with her family. By the time Mika turned eleven her father was a VP, increasing his workload and wallet even more.
Her mother Beverly had been a schoolteacher and continued to work in the Detroit school system for another thirteen years after the move, retiring when Mika graduated from high school. Mika had found that ironic, as right when she finally didn’t need her mother she suddenly had more time for her daughter. Mika had grown up in a big home, going to private schools, where she and her cousins helped make up the 2% of non-white faces that walked the halls. School had been messy only in the sense that she didn’t conform like so many other people of color.
By the time she was ten, she refused to let her mother hot-comb or perm her hair. Letting her natural curl pattern do what it wanted. As soon as she got to junior high where her school didn’t require uniforms she played with colors, textures and styles while most people around her were wearing Abercrombie and Fitch. She’d been the girl with the colored scarf on her head, sometimes in African wrap methods that caused her teachers and classmates to stare. But other than a few cultural bumps, she had enjoyed school. She’d had plenty of friends of all races, was fairly popular, and got involved in anything that remotely caught her interest.
Mika had done it all! Theater, track, debate team, art classes, afterschool computer classes, French, and Spanish. Even spending a year in glee club. Anything to keep her busy and not at home where it seemed like her mother was always pushing her to be different. A 4.0 was good, but why not aim for the 4.2 and 4.5 they were starting to give students? Her look, activities and manners had been constant things the two disagreed on. Her mother had always been proper, but moving from upper middle class to upper class had put her into overdrive.
Beverly for a number of years had tutored her students after school. Was on any committee that was trying to improve the district. When she retired, she’d gotten on a variety of boards throughout the Metro Detroit area. Mika could admit Beverly set an excellent example of giving back to one's community and trying to raise it up. While at the end of the day her mother never forgot her true roots, her motivation had been twofold. She wanted to be the perfect wife to compliment her husband’s new status. Mika gave her props for staying socially and professionally active, instead of becoming a trophy wife.
Mika knew she was a daddy’s girl. Being his only child meant she had been spoiled from the start. Add in his guilt for working long hours at work and when at home, meant he usually gave her whatever she asked for. He had sided with her often which was how she gained the freedom to be different.
He seemed honestly thrilled by her spirit, while her mother was only concerned with how her actions might cause her to stick out. Reginald had never been embarrassed, and would proudly introduce her to all as his beautiful and talented daughter. If Mika was being honest, as much as she played down her rich and privileged life it had helped her in many ways. One of her dad’s counterparts having known her for years, actually secured her fellowship at a top company before she graduated college. The place she’d met Andrea and gained a friend for life. Money definitely smoothed a path in life.
Funny enough her mother loved Andrea, and felt she was the perfect modern lady. Fairly low-key, and more demure than Mika ever hoped to be. Her mother probably thought she would be a calming influence on her daughter. To a degree she had been. Mika had added some adventure to Andrea’s life, and Andrea had added some stability and sisterhood to hers. Andrea didn’t look at her and see dollar signs or connections, nor did she see a weird black girl that didn’t quite fit in with the normal black-girl narrative. Andrea had just seen a person who she wanted to be friends with, had accepted her for who she was. More accurately the young adult she had been, who was growing into her own.
Mika shook off the thoughts as she knocked on her parents’ door. The reminder of her beautiful friendship had her getting a little misty. Ugh, what was wrong with her lately? Seemed every time she turned around she was getting emotional in some fashion. Is this what nearing thirty did to people? God, she hoped not.
AFTER SHE SAT WITH her dad catching up and watching an hour of sports, she went to have tea and dessert with her mother in the kitchen. So they could have what her mother always said was girl time talk.
“I saw Stanley return to the ballroom after you left...I had hoped you two would hit it off.”
“He wanted to hit it alright.” Mika mumbled.
“Excuse me?”
“He was nice enough mother, just not my type.”
Beverly barely suppressed rolling her eyes. “Funny, in all these years I’ve yet to determine just what your type is dear. Feel free to enlighten me.”
“Drop it. Let’s not do this today.” Mika took a big bite of her macaroon.
“Okay fine.” Beverly placated. “There was another matter I wanted to talk to you about anyway. I want to have that dinner I talked about, with Andrea and her husband. Camden isn’t it? Preferably this month.”
“She’s probably too busy for dinner. They’re still newlyweds, you know still adjusting.”
“Nonsense. It’s been a good five months. They should definitely be making their rounds together as a married couple. I had hoped to see them at the event.”
“They had their own plans for the New Year,” Mika defended.
“Obviously. I’d like to have them over for dinner. Will you be taking care of it or should I give her a call?” Beverly raised her eyebrow, letting her daughter know she was serious.
“Fine, I’ll take care of it. Though I can’t promise they’ll have time in their schedule before the month is out.”
Beverly waved away that minor detail. “I’m sure you’ll work it out, so it suits us all. Also, don’t forget to invite that friend of theirs...what was his name, Robbie?”
“Robert,” Mika snapped. She knew her mother was an expert at remembering names. A necessary skill for an executive’s wife, and the queen of chairing commi
ttees.
“Yes, that’s it. I thought he looked familiar, now I know it was from the wedding video. Make sure he comes too. I like to keep my word.”
“I’m sure he didn’t expect an actual invite.”
“Well he has one anyway. I know you don’t know him that well.” Beverly paused to see if Mika would tell her differently. “Since that’s the case, I’d be more than happy to ask him directly. I’m sure I can get his information off the donor list from the event.”
“No, I’ll ask but I’m sure he has better things to do.” Mika cringed at the thought of her mother having unfettered access to Robert on the phone.
Beverly smiled and nodded. “Good, it will be nice to have a small intimate dinner. I look forward to it.”
THAT WAS HOW TWO WEEKS later in the last week of January, Mika found herself sitting outside her parents’ house in her car with Robert. Listening to him sigh for the third time in the seven minutes they’d been here.
“Tell me again, why are we waiting outside?”
“Because trust me, you don't want to go in there before the others arrive. My parents can be a bit much.”
“They seemed nice enough at the gala.”
“Oh that was in public. This is on their own turf.”
Robert laughed. “You make it sound like war.”
“With my mother, it is,” she muttered.
“This is stupid. You can stay out here if you want. I’m going inside.” Saying so he got out the car.
“Damnit.” Mika took a deep breath and got out as well. Luckily, before he could take more than a few steps Cam and Andrea pulled up, and the group went in together.
Her parents greeted them all in the foyer. Her mother giving Andrea a hug before turning to Cam.
“It’s very nice to meet you. I was looking forward to meeting the young man who stole our Andrea’s heart!”
“The pleasure is all mine. We appreciate the invitation. I hope you don’t mind we brought a little hostess gift for you.” Cam handed her a square blue and gray box.
The top lifted up easily, and Beverly saw it was a set of thank-you cards from the Smythson brand. Her eyes lit up and she beamed with appreciation.
“How nice! But you’re the ones who should be getting gifts.” Beverly turned to Andrea. “Which of course I have a wedding gift for you before you leave. I was so surprised to hear you’d eloped. Doing something that impulsive is more Mika’s speed.”
“It’s what we felt was right, and I wouldn’t change a thing,” Andrea said looking up at Cam, who gave her a squeeze.
“She was kind enough to put me out of my misery Mrs. Harrison.”
“It was a lovely ceremony.” Beverly smiled genuinely pleased by the young couple. “Andrea, your husband is both charming and handsome. If only Mika could find the same.”
“Honey...” Reginald spoke up before mother and daughter could start an argument. “Let's go in for dinner, the kids didn’t come here just to chitchat in the hall.”
MIKA AND ANDREA HELPED set out food on the well dress table. While her dad blessed the meal, Mika sat with a pinched expression. Her mother per usual, had gone overboard, setting out name cards, which placed each couple across from each other, her mother and father at either end of the table. Mika had a suspicion mother had purposely put Robert closest to herself. Mika got out her phone and texted Andrea that she hadn’t told her parents she was dating Robert. Unfortunately, she made the mistake of holding her phone above the table.
“Really Mikala, please put your phone away while we eat.”
Cam was outright grinning at her reprimand, like an annoying sibling. She started to protest but just wanted to get through dinner.
“Sorry, Mother.”
“Yes very rude. People are too attached to their phones nowadays,” Robert said nonchalantly, giving her a bland look then turning back to his food.
She kicked him under the table, but he didn’t even flinch. She saw even Andrea was snickering behind her napkin at this point.
“Agreed Robert! It’s so refreshing to hear someone from your generation think that way.” Beverly paid him the compliment, and he gave her a big smile in return.
Mika thought about stabbing all four of them with a fork.
The rest of the dinner went well, and she took Cam off her revenge list since his easy charm had carried the conversation a good portion of the night. Her mother asked a hundred and fifty questions. By the end Mika was impressed by how Robert evaded or shifted the conversation whenever her mother got bold or extra personal with him.
When the meal was over the ladies cleared the table, even though both of the younger men offered. Her mother waved them off before her dad took them to the entertainment room to continue talking. When it was just the women in the kitchen her mother let the other shoe drop. Beverly started by congratulating Andrea again for finding such a nice, educated, kind, handsome man of means to marry. Her mother had been impressed by Cam’s taste in jewelry and his budget for it.
Then she segued into how she was giving up hope for Mikala to find the same. How she seemed to turn all the eligible bachelors away without giving them a chance. That she hoped Andrea’s luck would rub off on her daughter before she had to import a husband for her. Andrea listened politely and nodded in all the right places, trying to say as little as possible. While Mika gritted her teeth and remained silent, until her mother said this.
“That Robert seems nice. I like that he and Camden are close. Men of high caliber often associate with others like themselves,” Beverly said to the young women. “He seems to be single, as well.” Beverly lobbed that statement directly at Mika, giving her a look.
“He’s okay, but he’s not the getting-serious type. That’s something he definitely doesn’t have in common with Cam.” Mika didn’t want her mother entertaining the thought that a wedding was in the near future.
“Hmm, if you say so. Such a shame if true.”
Andrea had stepped in and reminded her mother about her wedding gift, then off they all went to retrieve it. When Mika pointed out it was getting late they gathered up the men and said their goodbyes. As far as Mika was concerned it was an escape.
REGINALD AND BEVERLY waved the kids goodbye as they left the house.
“What do you think?” Beverly asked.
“Cam seems like a good man. They make a nice couple,” he responded, putting his arm around his wife’s waist and leading her back through the house.
“Not them. I’m talking about our daughter and that young man Robert. I think something is there.”
Reginald leaned down to kiss her forehead. “As usual you’re right. I think they’re together.”
“I don’t know, both are hard to read. Mika is always so defensive around me, and he didn’t give away much either. That one is smooth, almost too smooth.” Beverly narrowed her eyes.
“The man is fine, seemed confident to me. Bold and not a pushover. The kind of man I’d prefer for our daughter.”
“Hmm, maybe. Why are you so sure they’re together?”
“They drove together then sat out at the curb, refusing to come in before the others showed up. That was my first clue. Guess they don’t want us to know.”
Reginald’s wife might not have been able to read Robert, but man-to-man he could. The way he’d looked at his daughter throughout the night had instantly made him want to toss the man out the house. That was all he needed to know that something was going on.
“They did? I don’t understand why she would keep it secret!”
“Beverly because you don’t know how to stay out of her business. Promise me you’ll mind your own and leave those young people to their relationship.”
“I don’t meddle. I just want what’s best for her!”
“Promise me, you’ll leave it be woman,” Reginald insisted giving her “the look” he rarely used on either of his girls. He was usually a big pushover where they were concerned.
Beverly sighed and finally nodded
her head. “Okay, I promise. I just hope it works out. He’s the only man I’ve ever seen that she’s shown some real interest in. I saw how she looked at him at the gala.”
“You just have to wait and see how it goes. If it’s meant to be, it will.”
Chapter Nineteen
VALENTINE’S DAY FELL on a Thursday this year, so she and Robert made a simple night of it. He brought over dinner and they had a relaxing night in. As a gift, she bought them Red Wing tickets for this upcoming Saturday. He’d been pleasantly surprised, as it had been years since he’d watched a game in person. It would be her first time going. She had never been able to bribe anyone else to go with her.
The weekend came quickly and saw them entering the new downtown arena with the rest of the crowd. They took a shuttle over after parking, as it was still too cold to walk. When it was time for the game they took their seats about mid-way up and settled in. As sports fans they were both decked out in red and white Red Wings apparel. Mika was looking forward to the game to come.
However, as the game entered its last twenty-minute quarter Mika was sure of two things. One she was drunk, and two watching hockey in person was boring. She could watch it at home no problem, but here she wasn’t as hype as she’d thought she would be. That brought her back around to why she was drunk. Eighty percent of the crowd in the arena was buzzed or drunk too. The other portion was just naturally loud and rambunctious.
They had eaten dinner at Made In Detroit inside the arena, and had two or three drinks. Robert also got them drinks during both breaks as well. Honestly she had used them to warm up. Not one to take chances she had brought a red oversized throw inside, refusing to freeze her tail off. Her voice was all screamed out, and she was tired of the frequent and unneeded fights on the ice.
Between the cold and drinks she was starting to doze off. That was until she felt Robert’s hand rubbing up and down her thigh. She would take all the help she could get warming up. But when his hand dipped between her legs that jolted her awake! She looked around at Robert, but he was staring straight ahead, as if his fingers weren’t dancing up and down the seam of her jeans.