Rashad set Andre down and stepped to her, taking her into his embrace as she wrapped her arms around his neck. They clamped on to each other in the same moment, and the tears that had already started to form in Michelle’s eyes began to fall. She hadn’t known she would do that.
He cupped her face with both hands and kissed her. Then he returned his arms around her and held her to his body again.
“God, girl, I’ve missed you.”
“I’ve missed you, too.”
They just held one another. Michelle could only imagine the spectacle they formed, and she stepped from him, blotting her eyes and trying to smile. She still had a gift bag in her hand, and she held it out to him.
“This is for you from us.”
Rashad put his hand on Andre’s head and tugged Andre toward him.
“You guys come open your presents, too,” he said to her. He put his arm around her and started drawing her through the room. “Everybody, this is Michelle. Michelle, this is everybody.” People chuckled. Rashad lifted Andre again. “We’ll be right back,” he said to the room. “It’s time for Christmas presents.”
Inside his room at his parents’ house, Rashad’s bed was covered with presents.
“This is too much,” Michelle said. “Why are they here?”
“I had them in my car. I started to bring them to you a thousand times, but you wouldn’t answer my calls.”
Andre had already climbed on the bed and was touching the boxes. Rashad rounded the bed and started handing Andre his presents. Then he sat in his armchair and took Michelle onto his lap so they could see Andre open up his gifts. Andre got two of the toys he’d been looking at in the toy store, a couple more programs for his new mini-laptop and a little watch. He immediately started playing with the remote control car.
Rashad lifted Michelle from his lap and set her on the bed.
“The rest are for you.”
Michelle started unwrapping boxes. He’d gotten her a gold heart pendant and chain similar to the one she’d picked for his mother. He’d also gotten her a gorgeous purple cocktail dress. She held it up to her body, stunned. There was a gift certificate to an art supply store taped to a box of chocolates with nuts. The last one was a GPS navigation system for her car. She swatted his arm but was genuinely touched by everything.
“It’s too much, Rashad.”
“Not for you. I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
He gathered her next to him and kissed her gently. When he pulled back, his eyes were glistening and a grin covered his face.
“I’ve been waiting to hear you say that,” he said.
“You haven’t opened your present,” Michelle said. “Andre, come see Rashad open his present from us.”
Rashad pulled the rectangular box from the gift bag and opened it. It was a large-link, stainless-steel ID bracelet like the gold one he’d gotten his father. The top read “Rashad Brown,” and the other side was engraved, “With All Our Love, Michelle and Andre.”
Rashad hugged Andre and kissed her, clearly moved.
“I know we need to talk,” Rashad said.
Michelle looked at Andre. “It can wait. Let’s spend time with your family.”
“Are you sure? If we go back out there, we can forget it.”
“I’m sure.”
Rashad took them back downstairs and then down to a second living room in the basement, where the kids were. There he introduced Andre and Michelle to all his nieces and nephews. Andre had brought his remote control car down, and he and the two others his age started to take turns with it.
In the living room, Michelle and Rashad took a corner of the couch and started to chat with Rashad’s brothers and his in-laws and his parents and some of the other guests.
“He got me a GPS navigation system,” Michelle announced to his brothers, who laughed.
“Didn’t I tell you not to keep ribbing this woman?” Derrick said.
“But she has no direction. Okay, did you get lost on the way here?”
“Only once,” she said, and he laughed.
“What kind of present is a GPS?” one of his sisters-in-law said. “We have to school you on what to get for a woman.”
“But he also got me this,” Michelle said, fingering the heart pendant around her neck. “And a dress.”
“Aw,” all the women said.
Marcus and Keith gave Rashad the thumbs-up signal, but he waved them away.
“I taught you right,” his father said.
“And what did you get me?” his mother countered. “An electric floor cleaner and a wireless television transmitter.”
Everyone laughed, and Keith literally rolled on the floor.
“Wait here,” his father said. “You put it down, and it cleans the floor for you....”
Everyone laughed more.
“But he also got me this,” Rashad’s mother said, holding up her wrist and pointing to a gold watch.
“Aw,” the women said again.
“See,” Trevor said. “It’s a confederacy of women. They’re all in league.”
“Hold up,” Michelle said. “Wait till someone gets you a vacuum for Christmas.”
The women laughed.
“I tell you,” Rashad’s father said, “it’s not a vacuum. Keith, go get the thing.”
Rashad kept his arm around her for most of the night, kissing her often. Around ten o’clock, Rashad pulled Andre onto his lap, where he fell asleep. Michelle caught Rashad’s brothers exchanging glances with him, but she missed the full context.
“You want me to take him?” she asked, petting Andre’s head.
“Nope.”
“Are they teasing you about us?” she asked. “If so, all you have to do is let me know, and I’ll give them a good talking-to and a swift kick in the pants, if needed.”
Rashad laughed out loud and then kissed her gently. Michelle turned her head from the kiss in time to see two of Rashad’s brothers exchanging a high five.
When she turned back to Rashad, though, he was looking at her and smiling.
“Pay them no mind,” he said. “They’re just acting Andre’s age. And here I am, the youngest.”
Michelle and Rashad put Andre down in the children’s room, and the parents of the other little ones followed suit. Then Marcus accused Rashad of monopolizing Michelle, and Rashad’s two sisters-in-law drew her into the kitchen, where they started cleaning up and chatting.
At almost midnight, all the adults gathered in the living room with glasses of champagne, and Rashad claimed her with his arm again. They put on the television to watch the ball drop in Times Square, and when the countdown ran out, Rashad took her into his arms and kissed her. She held his shoulders and kissed him back—a long, passionate kiss.
“Happy New Year,” he said when they broke the kiss. He still held her in his arms.
“Happy New Year,” she said back, and she thought it would be.
Chapter 20
Michelle checked the keyhole and opened the door to Rashad with a kiss. He held Shaka in one arm, and the Yorkie began scrambling to get to her. Michelle petted his head briefly and then went to the keypad to reset her alarm.
With the door closed, Rashad let Shaka down to the floor. He rushed to the couch, where Andre was sleeping, and jumped up on the nearest cushion.
“Shaka,” Rashad said, “come down. Down, boy. Don’t wake up Andre.”
Shaka padded his way up Andre’s body until he could lick Andre’s face. Andre woke up with a squeal and started laughing.
“It’s time for dinner,” Michelle said, “so that’s perfect timing.”
“I hope it’s all right that I brought him,” Rashad said to Michelle. “He was getting tired being left home alone
so often.”
“We don’t mind at all.”
Michelle moved toward the kitchen, and Rashad followed.
“Let me help,” he said.
“You can help with the dishes later.”
“I can help set the table now.”
“Okay,” she said. “Where are the plates?”
“That I don’t know.”
Michelle started to chuckle.
“But you can tell me.”
When they got the table set, with a bowl on the floor for Shaka, they called Andre and sat down to eat.
“How was your first day of classes yesterday?” Rashad asked Michelle.
“It was too soon. I have homework already. I can’t believe Howard opens so early after the winter holidays. It was only New Year’s a week ago.”
“What are you taking this semester?”
“I have College Algebra I, Advertising Sales and Ad Copywriting and Design. I’ve already had most of the second-semester junior year classes, so after next semester, I’ll be a senior. Hey, what are we taking at the Art League? That starts soon, too.”
“What I really want is Apps for Artists,” Rashad said.
“Me, too. Let’s take that one. Oh, but I would need an iPad, right?”
“It’s not offered until April, so you have time to get one. When’s your birthday?”
“Don’t even think about it,” Michelle said. “You’ve done too much already.”
“Well, while we’re waiting for Apps, how about we take Basic Drawing together?”
“Okay,” Michelle said. “But they have a zillion sections of that. Let’s get in the same one.”
“That’s the plan.”
After dinner, they did the dishes together. Then Rashad played with Andre on his mini-laptop while Michelle read awhile for her classes. At eight-thirty, Michelle announced that it was time for Andre to get ready for bed. Rashad stayed while Michelle read Andre a story, and then they tucked him in, leaving Shaka at the foot of his bed.
Back in the living room, Michelle became serious.
“I have something to tell you.”
“What is it? Is something wrong?”
They sat on the couch together, Rashad’s arm going around Michelle’s shoulder and her hand finding his.
“I got a call from my lawyer earlier today,” Michelle said. “Lucius is out on bail.”
“How did he get bail?”
“Exactly. How did he get bail in the first place, and how did he make bail in the second place? Maybe because he owns a business and is therefore seen as having ties to the community, but it still doesn’t make sense.”
“You might need a new lawyer,” Rashad said.
“No, I don’t think that’s the issue. Don’t forget that the lawyer for the bar brawl was there, too. Anyway, I don’t want to worry you. I just wanted you to know.”
“We have to be extra vigilant for a little while. Do you want me to stay tonight? I can get up early in the morning and make it to work.”
“No, that’s okay. You hadn’t planned on staying, and we’ll be okay.”
“I don’t mind taking the couch.”
“I know, but we’re fine.”
“What about us?” Rashad took her face in his palms and drew her close to him for a kiss. “Does this change anything for us?”
Michelle shook her head. “No,” she said. “I won’t let that ruin things for us again.”
He kissed her lips, and she smiled.
“Good because I’ve started making plans for us for this weekend.”
“I’m in.”
Michelle brought her arms up around Rashad’s neck and kissed him. It was gentle at first, then passionate. They hadn’t made love since before she had turned down his proposal, and the desire hung between them—thick and rich, palpable to the touch.
When they broke their kiss, Rashad looked at Michelle and sighed heavily. “I better get going,” he said, “or I won’t be going at all.”
“I wish you could stay,” Michelle said. “But you better go.”
“I know.”
“Soon,” she said.
“Soon.”
Rashad collected Shaka, kissed Michelle at the door and headed home. He couldn’t wait until “soon” but settled with making their plans for Saturday. He had made their reservations and had picked out one of his good suits, and now he was counting the days.
When Rashad picked Michelle up from Nigel and Regina’s, she was wearing a long teal skirt that flared below her knees, with a matching shirt and jacket. The jacket flared below her elbows, mirroring the skirt, and it hugged her waist like the skirt did, giving her that tall, hourglass shape. The material had a shine to it, and she had on her black pumps with it. Her hair was up, and she looked...stunning.
“Hi, beautiful.”
Michelle had wanted that reaction, but now that she had it, she felt a bit flushed.
“Are you going to be warm enough in that?” Rashad asked.
“Are we spending a lot of time outside?”
“No, we’re not.”
“Then I’ll be fine,” Michelle said. “I have on tights, and I have my coat.”
She gestured to Andre, who came to her open arms.
“Be good for Cousin Nigel and Regina.”
He nodded vigorously. “You look pretty,” he said to his mother. Then he turned to Rashad. “Can I come, too?”
Rashad rubbed Andre’s head. “Next time, sweet pea. You figure out what we’re doing tomorrow. Okay?”
“Okay.”
At the door, Regina and Michelle hugged goodbye.
“You kids have fun,” Nigel said.
Rashad took Michelle’s overnight bag and put his arm around her as they walked to his car.
“So where to?” Michelle asked.
“I hope you feel like Italian.”
Michelle nodded.
“Good. We have reservations.”
Rashad drove them to Maggiano’s in Chevy Chase. They ordered appetizers and let their waiter select wine to go with their veal dishes. Then they ordered a slice of cheesecake to share and talked about their weeks. Afterward, they were going to listen to some music, but as they stepped into the street, they were surrounded by the falling flakes of what was only the third real snow of the season. It was beginning to blanket the sidewalks and roads.
“Maybe we should head home early,” Michelle suggested.
“I think you’re right,” Rashad said. “It seems to be sticking.”
Back at his place, Rashad took Michelle’s coat, and she went into the kitchen to let Shaka out into the backyard. Shaka didn’t take very long, but when Michelle got back to the living room, the lights were off and Rashad had a fire going in the fireplace. A faux fur throw was spread in front of it with two wine glasses and an open bottle of merlot beside it.
Michelle moved toward the throw.
“Wait,” Rashad said. “Come sit for a moment.”
Rashad took a breath as Michelle sat down, crossing one leg underneath her. Michelle saw him kneel in front of her on one knee, and she knew what was about to happen. Then Rashad took the black jewelry box from his back pocket.
“If this is too soon,” Rashad said, “you can say.”
Michelle shook her head. “No, it’s not.” Tears were already coming to her eyes.
“I love you, Michelle.”
“I love you, too, Rashad.”
Rashad opened the box, and Michelle took the ring out.
“Please marry me. I’ll always cherish you, and I’ll love Andre as my very own, and I’ll—”
Michelle felt her heart about to burst. “Yes, I will.”
Rashad leaned up as she leaned do
wn, their lips meeting and claiming each other. Rashad smiled as their kiss broke. Their arms remained around each other.
“I had a whole spiel ready,” he said and then chuckled.
“Save it for your vows.”
“I will.”
They stood together and moved to the throw, where Shaka had taken a center seat. After they wrapped their arms around one another in front of the fire, Michelle’s lips found Rashad’s neck, and his hands slipped inside her jacket to her breasts.
“We haven’t poured the wine,” he said.
“There’s time,” she answered.
“Hey,” he said, while he could still think, “we should plan an engagement party.”
“You want to make sure I don’t back out?” Michelle asked.
“Or let my brothers get their ribbing over with all at once?” Rashad added. “No, I want to let the world know that this beautiful woman has said she’ll marry me.”
“Let’s tell Andre first—tomorrow.”
“Will he be okay with it?”
“He’ll be more than okay. He’ll love having you as his father.”
“I’ll love having him as my son and you as my wife, and I’ll—”
Michelle put her fingers to his lips and covered his neck with her mouth, taking his blazer from his shoulders.
Tonight, they were celebrating.
* * *
They told Andre the next day when they got to Nigel and Regina’s. Everyone was gathered in the living room. Michelle and Rashad settled on the love seat across from Nigel and Regina, who held little Sharon. Michelle was wearing a red turtleneck with a matching sweater and black jeans, and Rashad had on a blue cardigan over a white shirt with blue jeans and sneakers. Neither one could stop smiling. Andre was still in his pajamas, and Michelle took him onto her lap so that she and Rashad could tell him that they were getting married.
“You’re going to be my new daddy?”
“Only if you want me to be.”
Andre nodded and hugged Rashad. Both Rashad and Michelle had to hold back their tears.
And since Nigel and Regina knew, Michelle had to call her parents. Rashad also called his family. His parents would tell his brothers, so there was no need to worry there.
In His Arms Page 19