The One I've Waited For

by Mary B. Morrison

  “I promise. This is the last time,” she said. “Sandara, take excellent care of my baby boy. I’ll be back next weekend.”

  Well, at least I knew she did have a return date.

  “I will, Mama. I always do.”

  Sandara’s daughter ran to the car. Max’s tail wagged as she gently took him out of my sister’s arms. “Hi, Grandma. Bye, Grandma.”

  I knew Mother was angry when she didn’t respond to Ty.

  Sandara said, “Bing is going to find my father! Thanks, Mom! I’ll call you tonight. What time do you get in?”

  “I’ll call you later,” I told Sandara. “We have to go before Mom misses her flight.”

  Explaining to Sandara what we’d done to the relationship with Bing might make Mom angry. Staring at our mom, my sister cried. Not sure if Sandara, like me, wanted Blake to be happy for us, I drove off.

  Heading to Hartsfield, I had to let her know, “Mama, I didn’t mean to mess things up with you and Bing. I sincerely apologize.”

  Our mother stared through the windshield. She didn’t shift her eyes in my direction. The emotional tightening in my chest was suffocating.

  “Mama, please. Say something,” I begged.

  Mom’s eyes filled with tears that didn’t fall.

  I reached for my mother’s hand, but she folded her arms.

  This was the first time in my life I felt rejection so deep I wanted to die. Hurting my mother was killing me. Wished I could take it all back. Wished I’d kept my mouth shut instead of tagging on to Alexis’s mess.

  I parked curbside at Departure, and my mother opened her door, got her purse, picked up her carry-on from the trunk, closed the door, then walked away without looking back.

  A police officer tapped on my window, motioned for me to move. Through tearful eyes, all the way to my studio, I tried to cry my pain away.

  My mother didn’t deserve to lose the best man she’d ever had. It wasn’t all my fault but being the eldest, I’d definitely accept blame.

  I parked, sat in my car, and called Bing to let him know no one knew our mom better than her sister Ruby.

  Ending our call, I texted, If you can meet with my aunt Ruby in Charlotte, she’ll tell you more about our mom. Please don’t give up on our mother. We all need you.

  CHAPTER 28

  Blake

  No one to handle my carry-on or unpack my bag, I dropped it inside the front door of my condo in Charlotte.

  Uncorking a pinot noir, I drank straight from the bottle. Cried. Turned my liquid desensitizer upside down again. Gulped much as I could without stopping. Again. Again. Again. Refrained from throwing the empty bottle across the living room. Unleashing my anger wouldn’t resolve my problems but bottle number two might get me there.

  I sat alone. Lonely. Angry as hell!

  A mother’s responsibility was to protect her kids. At what point were my children obligated to, damn, at least be considerate of me?

  Had I raised four selfish, insensitive girls? Not a one came to my defense. Max loved me more than the human beings I’d labored to give life to?

  Mercedes and Alexis may never care that Bing left me. My youngest and oldest were concerned. I think. Hell, they may not be. Another failed relationship, Lord?

  Give me a rest from it all.

  Consuming as much pinot as I could, I was about to shut them out the way they’d done me. They hadn’t seen anything yet. If I’d entertained Devereaux by answering her questions, and happily greeted Sandara, they’d be fine right now with continuing their relationship with my ex.

  The tears flowed. I hadn’t heard from the ringleader. Probably busy plotting on how to get in bed with my man. I meant ex-fiancé.

  “God,” I cried out. “Is it wrong of me to hate my child?”

  He knew my heart. I knew my answer. She pranced her hot ass into my house like she owned everything and everyone in it.

  Hostility. Sadness. Dejection. Overwhelmed me. Sitting in a chair, I swallowed alcohol until I couldn’t breathe.

  “I’m tired, Lord! Please don’t take Bing away from me,” I begged, then cried, “What did I do wrong this time?” There had to be a lesson.

  I hated Alexis more than ever. What was she in competition with me for? She wasn’t satisfied until she’d fucked Spencer. My breakup with Spencer may not have ever happened if it weren’t for her spreading her legs and demanding to find her father.

  Should’ve let Spencer come over after Bing left. Men didn’t have loyalty to me. What difference did it make who I fucked?

  I was satisfied that I’d changed my mind about inviting Spencer over while I was upset. One less regret. I didn’t want any other man’s dick inside of me yet. Spencer had cared for me like no other. When I barely cared for myself, he hadn’t abandoned me. That meant something. If Spencer had only cheated on me with his ex-girlfriend Charlotte, I could’ve forgiven him.

  Wash it down. Drown it all. Leave your sorrows in the bottle, I told myself.

  Backtracking never worked in my favor. Not once. Bing’s parting words for me not to contact him were unnecessarily harsh.

  Told myself, “Blake, you’re too old to chase any man.” I’d done that long as I remembered. Including with Spencer. Gotta start somewhere not to keep lying to myself.

  Taking off from work in the morning wasn’t happening. I turned on more hot water than cold, prepared for a much-needed bath.

  After opening a third bottle of red wine in the kitchen, I returned to the bathroom. My cell rang. The tone “Take Me to the King” played.

  I couldn’t deal with either of them right now. What had made all of them show up at my house at the same time? As I stepped into what felt like paradise, memories of being in this very tub with Bing brought more sorrow.

  The tightness in my lungs squeezed until I gasped, then refilled my glass.

  I’d lost the best man I’d ever met. My entire body hurt so badly. “Oh, my, God! Jesus! Why?!” I cried.

  “What is the lesson? Is there a lesson? Show me, please Lord. You couldn’t have given me this amazing man only to snatch him away.”

  Through my whimpering, I missed my Yorkie. I loved him so much. I needed him more than he needed me. I convinced myself not to call Sandara to check on Max knowing I wouldn’t ask her how she was.

  What could I have done differently?

  CHAPTER 29

  Blake

  Aray of sunshine beamed through the window glowing on my naked flesh.

  I glanced around the bathroom. Staring at the porcelain tub, I leaned forward, heaved. “Urgh!”

  Purple vomit splashed all over my thighs, rolled down my . . . “Urgh!”

  The morning after hangover was “Urgh!” nasty.

  Calling in wasn’t wise. Thankful I had the sense not to quit, I regretted finishing several noirs. Head going in circles, I turned on cold water, then hot, rinsed my body, then sat on the side of the tub. Had no idea what time it really was. Had to be in the office by eight.

  I placed my feet on the tile. Stood. “Baby steps, Blake.”

  Shit! I was still hung over. A hot shower would help. I twisted the dial to the strongest pulsation. “Oh, hell!” I’d meant to put on my cap.

  Blow-drying and styling my hair would take an additional thirty minutes. I checked the time on my cell. Staring in disbelief; it was seven-fifty. Not good. Brushed my teeth. Rinsed. Coating my hair with gel, I slicked it back with my hands, coiled my natural curls into a bun.

  I sat on the bench at the foot of my bed. One foot. Two feet. I pulled my skirt up to my knees. I fell back onto my bed, and perspiration coated my face, neck, stomach, arms, and legs, soaking my comforter.

  “No. Please don’t.” Pressing my lips together, I raced to the bathroom, bent over the toilet. “Urgh!” As the heat inside my body became hotter, I began sweating again.

  A three-minute cold shower, brush, rinse, put on a fresh skirt. Eight-fifteen. Had to get it together. “God, was Eve’s biting the apple that bad? You could�
��ve given men hot flashes.”

  I managed to fully dress—tan blouse, navy blazer, and matching skirt. Stepped into my tan one-inch heels.

  Eight-forty. Driving the speed limit, I navigated the streets, instead of merging onto the freeway. I’d probably fail a Breathalyzer, if I was pulled over. Had never been and wasn’t trying to go to jail. A car was parked in my reserved space. I took the spot one over, stood tall, concentrated on walking a straight line. My stomach hadn’t recovered.

  Bypassing my boss’s office, I heard her say, “Blake.”

  Walking backward, I forced a smile the way I used to whenever Alexis asked how I was. I wasn’t sure Alexis ever cared much for me. Seemed as though I disgusted her.

  Should’ve gone with her to terminate her pregnancy when she’d requested. Maybe I’d be happily engaged. I’d bet she was fine. And I’d bet Bing was going to make good on his promise to her.

  “Have a seat,” she said. “You’re an hour late. Did I miss your call? E-mail?”

  I answered, “No.”

  “How was your vacation?” she inquired.

  As I sat at the small conference table with a gorgeous woman young enough to have been one of my daughters, fond memories of Paris surfaced, settling the uneasiness in my stomach. “It was . . .” I paused, swallowed, then flatly said, “Quite an experience. Make that an adventure. My vacation was amazing.”

  I became a storyteller. Animating the carriage ride, to intimate walks in the park, I orally sculpted Bing’s estate.

  “Look what the wind blew in,” my advisory said, entering. He smiled, mumbled, “A hot mess,” at me, followed by, “Ou wee wee. Smells like someone is still on vacay.”

  My boss’s exhale reminded me of Mercedes’s. “What is it?” she asked him.

  “Meeting in ten minutes. Should I? Or will you?” he asked.

  I frowned, reluctant to speak. How could I reek of wine after I’d brushed my teeth and rinsed several times?

  “I got it covered,” she replied. “Don’t start without me. Close the door on your way out.”

  “Ooookay. Sounds great. I was hoping it was fantastic. Blake, there’s no easy way for me to let you go. If you don’t mind clearing out your office, I’d be most appreciative.”

  Her words were sobering. I huffed. Not at her. To determine if I had an intoxicating stench. Her eyes widened. She leaned back.

  “I don’t understand. I worked hard for this promotion.”

  “We have a corporation to run. We’re not in the business of doing damage control. It was brought to our attention that Sandara Crystal and Alexis Crystal tagged you on social media. Here are some of the posts.” She slid the papers toward me.

  I read how horrible of a mother I was—this was the ultimate slap in the face!

  My mom aborted two of hers but won’t go with me to terminate my pregnancy.

  Caption: Moms can be deadbeats too. My last run on the way. I quit!

  I never took social that serious. Hadn’t been on these pages since my birthday.

  “You can’t be serious,” I told her.

  “You’ll be fine,” she said.

  A tap on the door followed by “Three minutes, darling.”

  “He brought this to your attention, didn’t he? He felt he should’ve had this job instead of me.”

  Shaking her head, she said, “It’s irrelevant.”

  “Is there a severance package?” I questioned.

  Laughing hard, she stared at my engagement ring. “Yes. But I doubt that you need it since one of wealthiest clients deposited fifty million dollars into your account this morning. Our competition is going under massive investigation for internal fraud. We have to make sure our house is clean.”

  What?! Wow! That was news.

  Leaving corporate wasn’t a problem. I’d never been let go. “I may have been in Charlotte three months but I’ve been with this financial institution over twenty years. I demand and deserve to know the real reason for my termination and don’t say it’s social media. I don’t control that.”

  She handed me a folder. “Read it on your way out.”

  I exited her office, closed the door in her face the way she’d done me. Okay, Lord. There were no more rugs for You to snatch from under me.

  I surrender.

  Getting in my car, I tossed the envelope on my passenger seat. My cell rang. Looking at the caller ID, I ignored Bing’s call. He could have all his money back. If he’d found the girls’ fathers, everyone should be pretty damn ecstatic!

  Honk!!!!! The driver behind me leaned on his horn.

  My presence in Charlotte was no long required. Bypassing my condo building, I entered the freeway heading to Atlanta wishing I’d stayed in Paris, France.

  Alexis may soon discover why I hated her. If she’d just left things alone. “Damn, that child!”

  Conner Rogers was Spencer’s father. He was not Alexis’s dad. All that she owned legally belonged to her brother. She’d probably blame me for her having to give up her lifestyle but this one time, they all should’ve kept their mouths shut.

  I had a foolproof plan to make all of my girls wealthy. They got what they wanted. I was done.

  Alexis was most like me. Maybe I hated myself for telling one lie to cover another all my life. I should’ve thanked Conner before he died for accepting Alexis as his.

  A call came in from Ruby.

  “Hey, Sis. Where are you?”

  “Leaving Charlotte. Heading back to Buckhead. For good,” I said. “What’s up?”

  “Ah!” Ruby’s scream startled me.

  “Damn! You all right?” I questioned.

  “I deserve an Oscar. I had a late dinner with Bing. He is so handsome. By the time I finished telling him what we’d agreed upon, he was sobbing like a baby. He hasn’t called you?”

  “So that explains the fifty mil he deposited into my account this morning.”

  Ruby screamed again. “I want my half soon as the check clears.”

  “If you tell anyone, I want all my money back.”

  “My word is bond,” she said.

  “Yep, just like you told Alexis about my two abortions.”

  Ruby was quiet.

  Too late to reverse. My sister had protected all of her sisters from our father. Her reality had become my lie. I knew who my girls’ fathers were but the day I gave birth they were all dead to me. Might as well be. Especially Alexis’s sorry-ass dad.

  It was time for my daughters to know: my father was their father.

  CHAPTER 30

  Alexis

  “Okay, you’re not going to believe this. I have spectacular news, chick.”

  I sat at the bar, needing my brother to stop servicing his customers and give me his undivided attention.

  “If it’s an apology for my taking off yesterday to take you to your appointment, keep it,” he said all upset.

  “You needed the time off. Wasn’t like you called me,” I retorted.

  “I’m listening,” he said, mixing drinks.

  “Two seconds. Come here.”

  Spencer paused in front of me. “One.”

  “I’ve decided to keep the baby. Well, actually Bing . . .” I paused when Spencer stared at me.

  “Sis, don’t do him the way we got down. That shit ain’t right for you to keep trickin’ over your mom’s piece.” He placed a glass of water in front of me. “You thirstier than a dude, dude. Drink up.”

  He was sour over losing his puddy tat. A nigga was not built to outfuck or outsmart pussies when a pussy had nine lives. He’d fuck himself into an early grave.

  “Cute.” I knew how to get his attention with, “Bet you didn’t know Bing ended their engagement.”

  Spencer’s eyes lit up. I barely heard him when he said, “That’s why she invited me over?”

  “You over? Yeah, right.” I laughed. “Blake isn’t that desperate.”

  All of a sudden he cared more about my mother than I did. That was his conscience speaking for him. Wasn�
��t my responsibility to show loyalty to either of them. I was about to drop this baby and run Bing’s company. I’d heard him.

  “Like I was saying. I’m keeping my son. Bing does not have any kids. I’m his baby girl and”—I touched my stomach—“this is going to be his baby boy. I’m thinking about naming him either Bing or Sterling.”

  My brother smirked. “So now you Charlie on Willy Wonka with the golden ticket and shit. That’s cool. Do who you do best.”

  “Yasss,” I said unapologetic. “I’m like thirty-two below freezing kinda straight ice, right. Bing is hiring me a full-time nanny and a nanny to the”—I sang—“na, na, na, nanny,” then said, “He’s going to be there for my delivery too. I don’t have to do this all by myself, chick. Isn’t that the best?”

  I was no longer blowing smoke rings, and I thought Devereaux better hire me while she could afford to. I had madd options.

  “You want something to drink? A slow screw is appropriate,” he said.

  I loved my brother. Had to laugh. “You mad, girl? Warning:”—I pointed then read—“Drinking alcoholic beverages during pregnancy can cause birth defects.” Slapping a muzzle on his ’tude, I reassured him, “Your secret is safe with me.”

  That sent him to the opposite end of the bar with a quickness. With and on a dime he’d be begging me to visit him behind bars. I wouldn’t have said that if his shade wasn’t so dark. Getting ready for my role as Ebony, I had to practice on somebody.

  “What are you so excited about, pretty lady?” West-Léon asked, hugging me from behind before sitting on the stool next to me.

  “Spencer, give West-Léon whatever he wants. It’s on you,” I insisted.

  Lots more heads turned in our direction when I announced the superstar was seated next to his future leading lady. Not that he didn’t have a half-hour delay getting to me. I’d watched him grant Usies, Snaps, Instas. Whatever those females were doing, West-Léon’s girlfriend seat was filled until I no longer wanted to sit in it. That could happen at any moment.

  My time to shine was coming before I popped out my kid.

  “Are you always this flawless?” West-Léon asked, then ordered an Italian lemonade.