by Untamed
Now, that I’ve clarified that, back to my baby. Lincoln and I were connected in more than the obvious ways of lovers. For instance, he would call just when I needed him to, and I could finish his sentences. He was my air, and I was his rib. Without him, I couldn’t breathe, and without me, he couldn’t live. Jokingly, we called each other Adam and Eve, because that was how strong our relationship had grown. I was convinced that there was no other man for me. Now it was time to convince his mom that I was perfect for him.
I had my reservations about meeting Lincoln’s parents, but I would make the most of it. His mom had been insisting for some time that she meet the woman who’d virtually stolen her baby son’s heart. I preferred to meet her after everyone knew about us, but Lincoln convinced me that there was no better time than the present. I guessed he was right. When the truth did surface, there was no telling what Ryan might say or do, so perhaps it was better to meet Lincoln’s parents before the shit hit the fan. At least if his mom hated me, her feelings about me would be based on her own experience and not on some bullshit she had heard off TMZ. Understanding the sensitivity of the situation and my utter and complete nervousness, Lincoln chartered a private jet to fly us to New York, where his parents lived. This way I could be comfortable and the news of our relationship wouldn’t be back in Dallas before we were.
We sat in large leather seats on the jet and the service was top-notch, but I couldn’t get comfortable. Eyes closed, I had just turned in my seat to find a better position when I felt Lincoln’s hand on my thigh. I opened my eyes to find him staring at me, with a smile on his face. “What?” I said with a lazy smile.
“I thought you said you were sleepy,” Lincoln replied.
“I am,” I lied.
“Liar,” he chuckled. “You’ve turned from side to side six times in the past five minutes. Whenever you toss and turn like that, you’re not sleepy. You’re only trying to make yourself go to sleep.”
I hated the fact that he knew me so damn well. I rolled my eyes at him and huffed. “You just had to bust me out. Ass,” I chided.
He laughed heartily. “Come on, Ma. Don’t be like that. I swear, you are putting one hundred on something that is only ten.”
“You can laugh and joke and hee-hee to the fucking ha-ha, but these are your parents. They don’t have to like me. I’d love to see how you act when you meet my parents,” I said, irritated at his behavior.
His face dropped, but he regrouped when he noticed how honestly uncomfortable I was. Rather than be upset, he pulled me toward him. “Aw, I’m sorry, baby. I know it means a lot to you. I’m only trying to keep your spirits light. My parents are going to love you every bit as much as I love you,” he assured me, then kissed my forehead.
“What if they—”
Wait . . . Did he just say what I thought he said? Okay, I knew I just revealed how close we were. Sure enough, I loved Lincoln, and I felt that he loved me too, but we’d never come out and confirmed it to the other. Yes, that was right. Lincoln and I had never told each other that we loved each other. I sat up and looked at him.
“Did you just say that you loved me?” I asked him.
He smiled, rubbed my chin with his thumb, and nodded, staring directly into my eyes. “Yes, I did, and just in case you need confirmation, Charice Taylor, I love you.”
My heart literally skipped a beat. Butterflies fluttered in my stomach, and I swore I heard that sappy love song music that played in the background in movies, when couples united. Placing my hand over my heart, I sang out, “Aw, baby,” and then I hugged him around the neck. “I love you too, and I so love being your lady.”
“See, this is what my parents will see. They just want to make sure this is real, and not only is it real, but it’s also right. So you don’t have to worry about a thing.” He pulled me closer, and I leaned against his chest. “Just sit back, relax, and enjoy the flight. Everything will be okay,” he assured me as he stroked my hair.
I wasn’t completely convinced that he was right, but being in his arms soothed me, and I drifted off to sleep.
* * *
“Lincoln!” Mrs. Harper screamed, running toward him, as soon as we entered the foyer. “My baby’s home!” she declared when she reached him, and then she hugged him tightly.
“Hey, Mama!” he said excitedly, lifting her off her feet. “I’ve missed you.”
She stood back and looked at him. “I’ve missed you too. Doesn’t look like you’ve missed any meals, though.”
He smiled. “Well, they say when you’re happy, you’re healthy.”
“And I suppose that happiness you’re referring to is due to the young lady standing next to you,” she mused, looking at me.
Lincoln pulled me to him by my waist. “Yes, it is. It most definitely is.” Just then his dad, his brother, and his brother’s wife walked into the foyer and gathered around. Lincoln cleared his throat. “Everyone, this is the wonderful woman I’ve been raving about. Charice Taylor. Charice, this is my mama, Eleanora Harper, my dad, Leonard Harper, my big brother, Leonard Harper Jr., who we call Leo, and his lovely wife slash my adorable sister-in-law, Krista.”
I hugged everyone. “It’s a pleasure to meet all of you. I’ve heard so much about each of you.”
“It wasn’t too bad, I hope. Linc tends to exaggerate,” Leo joked.
I laughed. “No, it wasn’t bad at all.”
“Well, I can honestly say all we hear are good things about you,” Krista said sweetly to me.
“Yep, I don’t care what they say about you,” Leo said, pointing to his parents. My eyes nearly popped out of my head from fear. “I’m just playing!” he added with a laugh and hugged me with one arm.
I breathed a sigh of relief. “I was halfway out the door!” I laughed, as did everyone else.
Mrs. Harper looked at me and grabbed my hands. “Don’t mind my son. He’s a character. It is nice to finally meet you, Charice. I’m glad we have this opportunity to get to know each other. Besides, I have to learn more about the special lady who has stolen my Lincoln’s heart. He’s a good man and has grown up so much in recent years. I know that if he chose you, then he did so out of very sound judgment.”
I nodded. “Yes, he did, and your Lincoln is also very special to me as well.” Lincoln and I glanced at each other, and he kissed my cheek.
“Well, let’s all go into the family room and stop making them stand here on their feet,” his dad said to everyone.
We all moved to the family room. Lincoln and I sat on the sofa, beside Leo and Krista, while his dad sat in his La-Z-Boy and clicked on the TV, and his mom sat on the love seat by herself. For a few moments, we all made small talk among each other and then in individual groups. From my observations, Lincoln and Leo were extremely close. They kept joking with each other. Both of them loved their mom too. They showed her the utmost respect as she questioned Lincoln about his career and pressured Leo to give her some grandbabies. His father was very reserved and stuck to watching television. He may have been a man of few words, but he was extremely observant. In the meantime, I let loose and enjoyed talking to Krista. We conversed like old friends, and within a matter of minutes, I started to feel at home. Then his mom interrupted.
“Lincoln, baby, why don’t you take your bags to the room that you and Charice will stay in? Leo, go and help Lincoln. And, Krista, please make sure the room is ready,” his mom commanded.
They all stood.
“That’s Mom’s way of getting rid of us, so she can talk to you, Charice. Don’t be scared,” Leo said.
Lincoln hit him playfully. “Stop messing with my baby,” he said, and everyone laughed. I looked up at him, and he leaned over and kissed my lips. “Don’t be nervous,” he whispered.
I usually wasn’t one for public displays of affection, but that kiss spoke so many volumes, based on the reaction on everyone’s faces. He must never have been so open with a woman before in front of his family. I guessed that made my standing a little better, but at t
he same time, I wondered if it meant I would get grilled that much more. Knowing that their son was so head over heels about me might conjure up caution signs in his parents’ minds.
Once everyone was out of the room, Mrs. Harper addressed me. “Well, I wasn’t trying to make you feel odd, sweetie, but I do feel it is necessary for us to speak with you.”
His dad turned off the TV. “Eleanora, the girl just got in the door—”
“And now is as good a time as any,” she said, cutting him off. “I mean, this is the best time. She has to spend an entire weekend here, so I want her to feel comfortable. We can get this awkwardness out of the way early. Don’t you agree, Charice?”
I nodded. “Yes, ma’am.” Honestly, I truly couldn’t have agreed more. This way if I needed to find a Holiday Inn, I could do it now.
“You don’t have to agree with my wife, Charice,” Mr. Harper said as he shot a glare at her.
“No, really, it’s okay. I understand. I’m much like that myself. I’d rather clear the air, instead of walking around on eggshells or with false pretenses. I want to enjoy myself this weekend, and I want you to be able to be comfortable around me so that you can enjoy your time with your son,” I told them.
I amazed myself. It was times like this that showed me just how much I’d grown as a person. I had been so nervous on that plane, and even when I’d got to the house, that I had thought I wouldn’t even be able to speak. But just now I had successfully agreed with his mom without making it appear as if I’d kissed her ass, which I would not do regardless of how much I loved Lincoln.
His mom cracked a genuine smile, and his dad winked at me. “Okay, well, since it doesn’t bother you, let the grilling begin!” he joked and sat back.
Mrs. Harper fanned him off. “You see where Leo gets it from!”
I grinned. “Linc has a cynical sense of humor too.”
“Yes, he does,” Mrs. Harper replied. “Look, sweetie, I just want to say that I’ve never seen Lincoln so open. He’s like a new man around you. He’s usually very reserved, but in the short time that you all have been here, he’s been so vibrant and alive. You must be doing something right, because I have never seen him so . . . happy. That’s all I want. I want my son to be happy.”
“I do too. Lincoln makes me happy, and I’m glad that I make him feel the same way. He is very special to me, and I pray that we will continue to grow in our relationship,” I revealed.
His mom smiled. “Good,” she said. “But you know I have to ask about this whole thing with Ryan. I’m sure Lincoln has told you about my concerns, but I will tell you myself. As I said, I want to see my son happy, both emotionally and physically, not hurt. Ryan is like a son to me too, and I can’t help but feel bad about what you two are doing to him. I’m happy that Lincoln is happy, but at the same time I’m worried about the professional and personal relationship between Ryan and him,” she stated matter-of-factly. She exhaled, as if she really didn’t want to say what came out of her mouth next, but she did anyway.
“I also must say that I am concerned about your feelings toward Ryan. You’re the mother of his children, and it’s no secret to us that you were head over heels in love with him. Not to mention how your children will feel about this,” she added, furrowing her eyebrows.
Mr. Harper looked at me. “I agree with my wife, Charice. I believe you’re a good woman, and I trust that what Lincoln has found in you is truly what he wants and needs. However, many men have suffered gravely behind the love of a woman. Two best friends vying for the same woman never turns out well,” he said. Mrs. Harper nodded in agreement.
No matter how I had tried to prepare myself for this conversation, nothing could have prepared me for this moment. I took a brief moment to collect my thoughts, then leaned forward, looked them both directly in the eyes, and exhaled deeply. “Mr. and Mrs. Harper, I have sons too, so as a mother, I sincerely understand and appreciate your concerns. I would never want any hurt or harm to come to Lincoln in any form or fashion. I won’t lie to you or cut any corners here. I share your concerns, and I can’t tell you what Ryan’s reaction will be once he finds out. If I knew that, I would try to alleviate it now. Unfortunately, that is something that Lincoln and I will have to face and deal with together when the time comes.
“However, what I can assure you of is that I love and care for Lincoln just as much as he loves and cares for me. He is a great, loving, caring, gentle, respectful, and loyal man, whom I would never take advantage of, and I am not willing to give up our relationship to spare anybody’s feelings. I care about Ryan, but that is because he is the father of my children. Our relationship chapter was written and closed before Linc and I began dating, so that is something that you can rest easy about. As for the rest, I’m there with Lincoln for whatever comes our way, as this was our decision, and this is our relationship. As long as he is willing to fight for it, I’m going to be right there beside him with my boxing gloves on, because being with him is where I truly want to be.” I said all this to them with so much conviction that I surprised even myself.
I’d been nervous, but when it had come down to defending my relationship with Lincoln, I had proven to everyone, including myself, that I was not going to be moved. I wanted that man, and nobody was going to stop me from being Lincoln Harper’s lady. Nobody. With that, I sat back and waited for the next set of questions. I knew I was ready for whatever they had to throw at me. When Mr. and Mrs. Harper looked at each other, smiled, and nodded, I knew that I’d won them over. Mrs. Harper stood and walked over to me.
“So, do I need to find a Holiday Inn?” I asked jokingly.
“Only if you and Lincoln need a bit of privacy,” she responded as she hugged me. “I can honestly say that I see why my son is so happy.”
“And why he’d give Ryan his ass to kiss over you!” his dad chimed in, and I felt my cheeks redden with embarrassment. “I guess I’m playing referee between those two, because I don’t foresee my son giving up on you.”
“Well, don’t you worry, Mr. and Mrs. Harper. I’ve got Lincoln’s back!” I joked.
“Oh, I believe that,” his mom said and laughed. Then she grabbed my hands. “I appreciate your honesty, and I trust that you really do care for my son. You all have my blessing.”
She did not understand what those words meant to me. I’d been so worried about his parents’ acceptance of me. They had had so many reasons not to give me a chance, but they had remained open, and I had won them over. The mere fact that they had given me an opportunity without judgment was already enough.
Tears came to my eyes. Lincoln’s mother wiped them away, then hugged me. “Thank you so much, Mrs. Harper. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, love, and stop calling me Mrs. Harper. Eleanora or Mama will do just fine.”
His dad hugged me next. “Just call me Pop,” he said.
Mrs. Harper left the family room, walked to the staircase, and looked up the stairs. “You all can come down now.”
Soon, Lincoln, Leo, and Krista ran down the stairs and entered the family room, with questioning looks on their faces.
Lincoln walked toward me. “So, are we staying?” he asked a bit nervously.
His mom linked arms with me. “Oh, you’re not taking my baby away. We have so much to get to know about each other, and I want to see pictures of the triplets,” she gushed, smiling at me.
Lincoln walked up and kissed us both on the cheek.
“Come on, Krista,” his mom called out. “You, Charice, and I are going to the sunroom.” And off we went.
Lincoln began to follow us, and we stopped.
“Babe, go chill with Leo and Pop. Mama, Krista, and I are going to do our girl thang,” I said, smiling at the ladies.
The men laughed at the shocked look on Lincoln’s face. “Mama, you’ve never let anyone call you Mama besides Krista,” Lincoln noted.
“That’s because you’ve never brought anyone here worthy of that privilege,” she said. That set everyone off
in a fit of laughter. “Now, go on, like Charice said, and do your man thang. We’ll catch up with you three later.”
“So tell me about your first date with Linc,” Krista said excitedly to me as we walked away, laughing and giggling in our own little world.
I felt on top of the world. Ryan was finally supporting his children, I had the man of my dreams, and his parents approved of us. I had to admit, Lincoln was right. I needed to know that his family stood behind us, because I felt this moment solidified our relationship. I felt confident that this was just what we needed to make our relationship strong, because now we had nothing to hold us back. For the first time since I’d been with Lincoln, the thought of being called Mrs. Lincoln Harper crossed my mind, and it didn’t sound bad at all.
Trinity
Pooch had stayed out of my way for the past month. He’d really put in a lot of time into streamlining his crew since those last fools had tried him. He had to make sure his people stayed close to him so no one else would be able to infiltrate like that again. He had worked day and night to check, recheck, and double-check every nigga and every nigga’s move, along with every brick, sack, and dime that came and went through his organization.
His next point of pain was that he had to replenish his supply. He had to meet his connect sooner because of the hit. While he was able to recover the money, he had no idea where his three bricks were. For all he knew, they had smoked it up or had sold it themselves. He was pissed because now he had to spend more money on extra product and still make shit right on the lost product. He had money, so it didn’t hurt him. It just pissed him the hell off. Pooch hated to spend money on things he felt were unnecessary, and I would put this incident in that category.