Tropical Fantasy

by Monica McKayhan

  “She’s seeing Vince.” Charlotte had taken a few words of a conversation and formulated a conclusion.

  “Duh...yeah! They’ve been knocking boots for a while now.” Bridget giggled.

  “Since the Bahamas,” Vanessa chimed in.

  Her father always had a way of coming to her rescue. “Whether she’s seeing him or not, it’s none of our business. Sasha’s a grown woman.” He gave her a wink.

  Nobody said a word. She gave her father a warm smile.

  Sasha stood and pushed past her mother and Vanessa. “I’m going to fix my plate,” she said.

  Bridget followed Sasha to the kitchen.

  “What’s up, Sash? Did you and Vince break up?”

  “We weren’t really dating officially,” Sasha said.

  “Well, you were doing something,” said Bridget, “and you were happy. So what happened?”

  “It’s a long story.”

  “I have all day. Come on, girl! Don’t do the same thing you did when you broke up with Kevin. You went into this deep depression, and it felt like you never came out,” Bridget said. “We used to be so close and could talk about any and everything.”

  “I’m fine, Bridget,” Sasha claimed.

  “Sasha, stop trying to handle everything all by yourself. You were there for me when I needed you most. Let me be there for you.”

  Sasha sighed. Tears began to fill her eyes. They came out of nowhere. Bridget grabbed her by the hand and took her upstairs to one of the guest bedrooms before anyone could see her crying. She eased the door shut behind them.

  “Now, start talking.”

  “I made a mistake,” Sasha began. “Vince’s friend was wrongly fired from his company because he refused to engage in unethical behavior. He lost everything—his job, his car...he’s almost homeless. He’d already filed a motion against them, but he couldn’t afford the attorney he’d hired.”

  Bridget took it all in.

  “Anyway, the guy was broke and needed legal help, so I recommended Robin. Only Robin was in Africa and couldn’t take the case...” Sasha was babbling and she was sure she’d lost Bridget somewhere along the way, so she decided to get to the heart of the matter. “Turned out, the company in question was my client.”

  “Isn’t that some type of conflict of interest?”

  “Yeah, it is. Which is why I marched right into Kyle’s office a few days later and removed myself from the case.”

  “But Vince was mad because it seemed that you were trying to hurt his friend?”

  “And that I withheld information from him.”

  “Did you explain what happened?”

  “He never gave me a chance. He just walked away. Didn’t let me explain anything.” Sasha wiped tears from her eyes. “I said I wasn’t going to cry over him. If he’s not willing to give me the benefit of the doubt, then he’s not the man I thought he was.”

  “I feel you on that. Maybe you can just call and talk to him about it.”

  “I think he should call me...clear the air.”

  “You’re being stubborn, Sasha. There’s nothing wrong with giving him a call and explaining your case. Be the bigger person.”

  “Why should I be the bigger person?”

  “Because you’re crazy about him,” said Bridget. “You were so happy. I wish you could work it out.”

  “It’s over between us, Bridge. I don’t even know if I want to work it out.”

  “Of course you do. It’s not the end of the world, Sash.”

  * * *

  It felt like it. It seemed as if Sasha’s world had ended that day in the gym when Vince walked away. All those familiar feelings of being hurt had rushed right back to the forefront. The hurt of losing Kevin was painfully there, staring her in the face, and she realized that she’d never healed. Instead she’d fought hard to bury her feelings in work—never really coming to terms with the pain and vowing never to feel that way again.

  Chapter 22

  Vince bumped his head as he climbed down from the attic. He had carefully inspected his mother’s furnace and changed all the filters. He had replaced the batteries in her smoke alarms and insulated her attic. It was his annual ritual of preparing her home for the winter. Though Atlanta winters weren’t as brutal as those in the northern states, temperatures still dipped low enough to make one bundle up in front of a warm, cozy fire.

  He stacked firewood in front of the fireplace while Dolores prepared all his favorite foods. The house smelled of cinnamon and other spices, and an apple pie baked in the oven. It was no surprise she spoiled her grown son. Some might even refer to him as a mama’s boy if they didn’t take a closer look. A sharper eye would see that he spoiled her, as well. It was his duty to take care of the women in his life.

  When Vince was a teenager, he’d taken his role as man of the house very seriously. It was during those years that he’d truly learned what it meant to be a man. He had a job and responsibilities back then.

  “You’ve been spending an awful lot of time over here lately, Vincent,” his mother said as he replaced the last lightbulb in the upstairs hallway. “You seem sad, honey. What’s going on?”

  “I think I messed up, Ma.”

  There was no dancing around it. “What have you done?”

  “I misjudged someone, and now I don’t know how to fix it.”

  He explained the details of the situation to his mother. Dolores listened intently.

  “I found out later that she had removed herself from the case.”

  “How did you find that out?”

  “My friend Otis did some poking around and learned what she’d done. I think I might’ve forced her hand.”

  “Or maybe she’d already made her own decision about it,” Dolores said. “Why didn’t you apologize when you found out?”

  “It was too late. Things were too far gone.”

  “Or was it that you were too embarrassed?” His mother was perceptive.

  Vince nodded his head yes.

  “It’s okay to make mistakes, Vincent. You’re not a perfect man. You’re simply a man. And part of being a man means admitting when you’re wrong and correcting whatever needs to be fixed.”

  “I’m sure she won’t hear anything I have to say at this point.”

  “How will you know if you don’t try?”

  “Because she’s stubborn and strong-willed.”

  “Hmm...like someone else I know.”

  Vince followed his mother to the kitchen, where she cut him a nice hunk of apple pie.

  “You think I can make this right with her?” he asked.

  “Only you know the answer to that,” his mother said. “Do you love her?”

  “So much, Ma.”

  “Then you have to let her know.”

  * * *

  As Vince sat at his mother’s kitchen table, he knew what he needed to do. He’d been wrong about Sasha, and he’d allowed his pride to get in the way. Experience had taught him that a prideful man was in danger of losing everything. In his opinion, he’d done just that. He’d lost the woman of his dreams. He’d fought so hard to win her heart in the first place. Winning it again might be an even greater challenge. But he was a man who went after the things he wanted—and almost always got them.

  Chapter 23

  It had been a while since she’d had lunch at the social club with her mother. Sasha hated that place and the uppity people who gathered there. It seemed that everyone was making this great attempt to be something they weren’t and trying to impress each other with their material things. Her mother had been a member for years. She’d become quite close with the wives of mayors, aldermen and other political and social figures of the Atlanta community. She’d often encouraged Sasha to rub elbows with them, clai
ming that making partner at her firm was more about whom she knew and not what she knew.

  Sasha was never one to use her affiliations with others to advance her career. She wanted to achieve partner because she was a great attorney, not because her mother knew people in high places.

  “I’m glad you could pull yourself away for lunch,” said Charlotte. “It’s been a long time since we’ve had some girl time—just me and you.”

  The truth was they’d never had much girl time. Sasha and her mother had nothing in common, and every encounter seemed strained. Sasha felt as if her mother didn’t respect her career and had no confidence in her decisions as a woman. Charlotte felt that Sasha pushed her away and didn’t give her half the respect that she gave her father.

  “We don’t really have girl time, Mother. You know that.”

  “It’s not because I don’t want to. In fact, I’d like to change that, which is why I invited you here for lunch. When you were a little girl, I took you along with me everywhere I went. You were my little sidekick. I’d dress you up in one of those pretty little dresses...”

  “I’m not a little girl anymore. I’m a grown woman.”

  “I know that, Sasha.”

  “Then why do you keep treating me like I’m still this little girl who doesn’t have a brain of her own? I’m an accomplished attorney, yet you won’t even acknowledge my accomplishments.”

  “I think that you’re always so busy, Sasha. Always on the go. And you should settle down, find a man and have some babies.”

  “Have some babies?”

  “Yes, your father and I are looking forward to being grandparents. We were elated to find out that Bridget is having a new little one.”

  “Really?”

  “Yes.”

  “You were grandparents years ago. Remember?”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Remember when Bridget was sixteen? The baby she was forced to abort because it was too inconvenient for you? Weren’t you grandparents then?”

  “Sasha, that was a long time ago. And we all agreed that we would never discuss that again.”

  “No, you agreed!”

  “I made the best decision for Bridget. She wasn’t capable of raising a child back then. She was too young. Now she’s grown and married.”

  “She was traumatized because of it. And so was I.”

  “I won’t apologize for making the best decision that I could possibly make for my underage daughter.”

  “What about me? Did you think it was the best decision for me?”

  “It didn’t have anything to do with you!”

  “It did! I was right there witnessing the whole thing. Listening to Bridget cry herself to sleep every night for months...”

  Charlotte was quiet for a moment. It was the first she’d heard of Bridget crying over the unborn child.

  “You’re so strong, Sasha. I don’t worry about you.”

  “I’m not as strong as you think I am, Mother. I needed you, and you were never there for me.”

  “It’s because you push everyone away, Sasha. Everyone who loves you. You bury yourself in your work, and no one knows how to reach you,” said Charlotte.

  “I’m here. I’m reachable. But you don’t reach for me. I embarrass you, because I won’t do things the way you think they should be done.”

  Charlotte was silent and contemplated her daughter’s comments.

  “I think you make life harder than it has to be, Sasha.”

  “You don’t know me at all,” Sasha continued.

  “I know you very well. You’re my daughter, and you’re just like your father. You’re stubborn. I wanted you to be more like me, but you chose to follow in his footsteps.”

  “I’m not hungry anymore,” said Sasha. “I have to get back to work. I have a deposition this afternoon.”

  Sasha stood and grabbed her purse.

  “You’re always running away, Sasha. When are you going to learn to face things?”

  Sasha walked away from the table and made a beeline for her car before the tears fell. She drove back to the office in silence. She’d gotten some things off her chest, and that felt good.

  * * *

  Robin looked exhilarated. Africa had done her a world of good. Her skin was perfect and flawless; everything about her was natural and wonderful. Along with the fresh catch of the day, she ordered every sushi roll on the Atlanta Fish Market’s menu.

  “As you can see, I’ve missed this place!” Robin exclaimed when she tasted the mahimahi.

  “Me too. I haven’t been here in quite a long time,” Sasha replied. “Too long.”

  “You have some things on your heart. I can always tell with you, Sasha. You’re so transparent. What’s going on?”

  “I’m ready for a career change.”

  She’d expected a look of shock from Robin, but she didn’t get it. Instead, Robin munched on her spicy tuna roll as if she hadn’t eaten in days. She didn’t even flinch.

  Sasha had made up her mind about it. She had finally grown tired of Johnson, Johnson and Donovan. With Louis retiring, she knew that working with Kyle would be nearly impossible.

  “Did you hear me?”

  “Of course I did. I knew you would come around once you discovered that you were too bright to continue to work for that firm. You’re too good for them,” Robin said. “You ready to partner with me?”

  “If the offer still stands.”

  “I’m delighted. When can you start?”

  “I would like to give them two weeks’ notice. Louis deserves that.”

  “That’s fine.”

  “I have a small request, though.”

  “What is it?”

  “I have a legal assistant who is phenomenal. I’d like to bring her along.”

  “She must be good if Sasha Winters is bringing her along. Ironically, I just posted an ad in the classifieds for a new legal assistant,” Robin said. “Whatever they’re paying her over there, we’ll match it. And maybe we can increase it in a few months.”

  “She knows more about law than half the attorneys on staff.”

  “Then maybe she should go to law school and take the bar.”

  “Maybe she should.” Sasha’s heart warmed at the thought of helping Keira.

  “I’m so happy, Sasha! You know this has been a long time coming. You’re finally taking a leap of faith, and I’m so proud of you.”

  “It’s like we’ve come full circle. I remember when we first passed the bar. I took the internship at Johnson, Johnson and Donovan. You took an internship at Forester and Young. You worked there for what...two years before you walked out on them?”

  “Eighteen months. Just long enough to figure things out. And boy, did I think I had everything all figured out.”

  “I thought you were crazy going out there on your own. I thought that a more established firm made more sense.”

  “It did make more sense...for you. You’re timid about things. You’re afraid to spread your wings and fly. But as for me, I knew it was the right thing to do. I knew it would be hard and I’d have to work my behind off for it, but I don’t regret one single moment.” Robin moved her hair out of her face while dipping her California roll into sauce. “I do a lot of good things for people. And when I go home at night, I feel absolutely great about what I do...the people I help.”

  “That’s what I want, Robin.”

  “You deserve it, too.” Robin held her hand out. “I guess a handshake would be the proper way to seal our new business relationship.”

  Sasha took her hand in a firm shake. “I guess it would be.”

  Robin flagged down the server, calling him by name. “Sergio, please bring us the best bottle of champagne you have. We’re celebrating!�
�

  “Yes, ma’am,” said Sergio. “I’ll be right back.”

  Sergio disappeared, and Sasha smiled at her new business partner. She was anxious to start her new life.

  * * *

  When Sasha returned to her office, she stopped by Keira’s desk and picked up a stack of messages. She had two calls from clients and three from Vince.

  “He said he’s been calling your cell and you won’t pick up,” Keira explained.

  Sasha ignored Keira’s comment about Vince and said, “Come with me to my office. I have something I need to talk to you about.”

  Keira removed her headset and followed Sasha into her office. Sasha was filled with excitement as she closed the door behind them. She couldn’t wait to give Keira the good news. She was taking a leap of faith, and she wanted Keira to jump with her.

  She didn’t beat around the bush. Time was of the essence because she’d also scheduled a meeting with the partners that would take place in less than five minutes.

  “I’m leaving the firm in two weeks. I’ll be joining my friend in her private practice. It’s a small place, not like the clientele we have here. It’s cozy, but the business is consistent. She takes on the clients other attorneys won’t give the time of day to. I’d like to take you with me if you’d like to go. It’s totally up to you. I don’t know what your future plans are, Keira, but you’re the best legal assistant in this entire firm. What we’re offering is your current salary, with the possibility of an increase in a few months. Now, if you’d like to take some time and think about it...”

  “Are you kidding, Sasha?”

  “I’m dead serious.”

  “Thought about it. And yes! I’m going.”

  “Just like that?”

  “Just like that.” Keira gave Sasha a hug. “I’m your assistant. So wherever you go, I’m going too! Thank you, Sasha. You’ve made my day.”

  “Once we get over there, I’d like to mentor you. You should be a lawyer! I want you to go to law school and take the bar.”

  “I can’t afford law school. And what about the kids?”

  “There are scholarships and financial aid. And there are so many flexible programs for working adults with children. I’m sure you can find one that works for you.”