Henry and Sylvie stood chatting with people they were acquainted with and many they were not. There were Hunter’s aunts and uncles who made up a small portion of the guest list, but the rest were people that the Burtons insisted on inviting.
Sylvie was sorry she allowed Hunter to talk her into hosting the engagement party, especially since it was supposed to be the duty of the bride’s parents, and not the groom’s. She glanced around the room at these superficial people milling about with their noses turned up. If she heard one more time that her house was a lovely little thing, she was going to scream. They had seven bedrooms! And on top of that, now her face was sore from smiling at people she probably wouldn’t greet if she saw them on the street.
Heather was across the room holding court with Hunter right by her side. He couldn’t possibly love that manipulating and vain woman… could he? She sighed, again sorry that she agreed to host this party. Since the very beginning, it seemed like nothing Sylvie decided for the party was to Heather’s liking, and she recalled an argument they had two days before the party that finally shut Heather’s mouth. She was in the middle of changing the third thing that she didn’t like, and it seemed like nothing was ever right because she complained about everything. The china pattern Sylvie had was nice, but her mother’s was nicer. The glassware was nice, if you liked that sort of thing, but maybe Sylvie should purchase better glassware. Seventy-five people invited turned into one hundred and fifty. What happened next gave Sylvie great joy.
“Momma Trent, I want to make some changes on the menu.”
“What about the menu?”
“I would like to change it to Filet Mignon and lobster with asparagus. You have to admit that it is a much more elegant menu.”
By this time, Sylvie was gritting her teeth, and that was the last straw. They had been planning this party for a month now, and every week Heather wanted something else changed. One time, she wanted something changed back to what Sylvie had suggested in the first place and even claimed the idea as her own.
“Heather, it appears to me that nothing seems quite right for you, so I will tell you what I’m going to do. Let your parents give this party because I’m done.”
“B-But Momma Trent…”
“And if you call me Momma Trent one more time I am going to slap the taste out of your mouth!”
“The party is in two days.”
“Well then you and your mother better get to work.”
She left Heather standing there with her mouth wide open and it felt good, but ten minutes later, Hunter called and convinced her to continue with her plans. He promised that this time Heather would not interfere, so she had a small victory. She had won the battle, not the war, but there was no one serving filet mignon and lobster at the party, just prime rib and fish.
“Sylvie, I think it’s wonderful that you are giving this engagement party for the bride,” a woman whose name she could not remember commented. “Heather goes on and on about how close the two of you are.”
Sylvie smiled politely. That little liar. The woman then addressed Henry.
“Mr. Trent, you are getting a wonderful daughter in Heather. I understand that she will be the only girl to join into the family.”
Henry frowned. “Oh? And where did you get that idea?”
“From Heather. She said you only have boys.”
“Heather was mistaken. I do have a daughter, but she is away right now.”
“Oh, then I must have misunderstood. Wait a minute,” she replied in a hushed tone. “You aren’t speaking of the troubled daughter that you disowned and no longer speak of, are you?”
Henry glared at the woman, and thought it best that he leave before he said something he’d regret. He kissed Sylvie’s cheek and walked away.
Sylvie watched her husband leave, and then turned to the woman to set the record straight.
“First of all our daughter was framed and she was exonerated; she was never disowned, and second, I will thank you not to go around spreading tales about things you know nothing about.” She rolled her eyes and left the stunned woman standing there alone.
“He’s very obedient,” a mocking Christine said with a chuckle, her eyes stripping Hunter of his clothing.
Heather giggled. “Obedient is boring. No, Hunter just can’t stand to be away from me,” she crowed. If Hunter heard the conversation, he didn’t make mention of it.
“Excuse me Heather,” Hunter said absently.
“Hunter, where are you going?”
Hunter eyes hardened and he repeated himself. “Excuse me Heather.”
“Of course darling,” she blushed before glancing at her friends. She had to get Hunter trained, and trained fast!
Hunter walked away needing to get some air, and get away from Heather, and when he saw his brothers standing on the other side of the room, he joined them.
Chance shook his head. “It not too late to call this off Hunt,” he commented.
“The wedding is in four months man. I can’t do that.”
“Why would you want to marry her anyway, Hunt?” Bryan said. “She’s vain, selfish, and evil and we all know that you don’t love her.”
“Look I know you guys don’t approve of my choice, but me and Heather have been together for a long time. I can handle her, trust me.”
Trevor chuckled. “Oh yeah? Well you need to put her in check before Mom does. Ghani doesn’t hide the fact she disapproves of your choice and Elisi, your Cherokee grandmother, doesn’t approve of her either. Why do you think they are not here tonight?”
Neither of his grandmothers attended the engagement party. His Elisi didn’t like the way Heather turned her nose up at their traditional wedding ceremony and refused to be a part of it, but Hunter shrugged everyone’s disapproval off. It was time for him to marry and Heather was just as good as any other woman.
“I’ll talk to her,” he said before leaving his brothers.
He saw the butler Heather insisted on having giving instruction to one of the servers, and glanced at his Rolex. In twenty minutes, dinner would be served and then all these people would be gone. He was sorry he agreed to this and was sure that his parents were too. He watched as his aunts and uncles tried to be cordial and mingle politely, but he knew that they all hated it. The Trents were a very wealthy family, but they didn’t flaunt it like Heather’s friends and family did, and he couldn’t wait until this farce was over. He started toward the patio, only to be stopped by his future in-laws. Senator Clarence Burton was up for re-election this year, but he wouldn’t be getting Hunter’s vote this time. When Burton first went into office, he was all about the betterment of the people, but now it seemed like his main goal was to line his pockets and kiss his rich constituents butts for his greater good. He didn’t have an opinion of the Senator’s wife, other than to say that she was a bit of a snob and very lovely. One look at her and it was easy to see where Heather got her looks.
“Hunter dear, everything is so nice. I would have done some things differently, but Sylvie wanted to do it because she loves our Heather so much.”
Hunter’s eyebrows rose. Heather should have never told her parents that lie. His mother couldn’t stand her, and especially not now since they became engaged. They also didn’t know that he was aware of their financial problems, and that that’s why Heather nagged him to get his parents to throw this party. He even had them investigated. They were once very affluent in Little Rock, but trying to keep up with the sidity of high society and keep up appearances drained their finances. He even knew some things that Senator Burton would not want to get out, nor would his wife. Even Heather had a few skeletons.
“Mrs. Burton will you excuse me,” he replied politely.
“Hunter this will only take a minute,” the Senator chimed in. “It’s about the wedding.”
“Sir?”
“Heather tells us you plan on paying for the wedding?”
“Yes Sir, I do.”
Hunter knew they were broke. H
eather thinks that as a couple they should pay, which meant that he should pay. He had already gotten bills for the wedding, and some of the things she bought were ridiculous and unnecessary. Although he had planned to curb her spending, he was only putting himself through this now because he kept her dangling for the last two years, and especially while all the Mya drama was going on.
“Senator it’s okay really, I insist.”
“Well, if you insist,” the Senator grinned. Hunter could visibly see the tension ease from both of them.
“Oh Hunter, there you are,” Heather called, slipping her arm through his.
Hunter groaned silently, while she chatted with her parents, and by the time he was finally able to get away from the Burtons for some alone time, it was too late.
“Hunter, dinner is ready to be served; where are your parents?” Heather asked impatiently. “I will not have my party ruined by their tardiness.”
“Be carefully Heather,” Hunter warned. “You go in and I will go and get them.”
“No, I’m going with you,” she insisted stubbornly.
“Come on then!”
Hunter pushed the door open and stepped inside with Heather following close behind him.
“Oh God please help me,” Mya prayed. In a week, her ninety days would be up. They already had inspectors coming to look at the house and she still hadn’t found a place. Mrs. Thompson, Rodger, and Vera thought she should call her father, but she refused stubbornly. She was a survivor; she’d get through this like she had gotten through every obstacle that was in her way. Why God, did everything in her life fail? She was a good person or at least she tried to be.
“So why God?” She said in the empty room.
Maybe it was time to ask for help from her father, but if she did, Hunter would know the twins were his sons. Rodger was right to say that they looked just like him, and all of them were right about her calling her father. For her son’s well-being, she had to let the past go and forgive them, but this time the wall she had erected around her heart would remain intact. She was not going to allow herself to get hurt again. She went next door to pick up her babies.
“Come in here child, the babies are still sleeping,” Mrs. Thompson said, inviting her in. Mya followed her to the kitchen.
“Sit down and have a cup of tea,” she ordered.
Mrs. Thompson was a sweet, bossy lady who refused to accept money for watching her twins, and whenever she went grocery shopping, she always picked up things for her. She looked at Mya and frowned.
“What’s wrong?” She asked.
“I still haven’t found a place, and I have only have one week to move everything.”
“Oh baby I’m so sorry, but you know what you have to do,” she said.
“Yes, I know. May I use your phone?”
“Praise God, praise God,” she smiled, taking Mya hand in her aged, warm hands. “This is the right thing to do baby for you and your babies. Go ahead and call them honey.”
“Thank you Mrs. Thompson.”
Mya rose and went to the living room to use the phone. Taking a deep breath, she called her father’s office.
Martha rushed into the boardroom where Mr. Trent was in a meeting with his department heads. When she moved around to the head of the table, Henry looked over at his assistant and frowned.
“What is it Martha?” He asked impatiently.
“Mya is on line one,” she whispered. Henry’s heart jumped in his chest and he pushed out of the chair.
“Oh God, let her be alright,” he whispered before regaining his composure. “I’m sorry, but we will have to continue this meeting later. Something important has come up.” The heads rose and filed out, but his sons remained. “Sit down sons. It’s your sister on the phone. Put the call on conference Martha.”
Henry took a deep breath. “Mya?”
“Mr. Trent.”
“How are you?” He asked.
“Can we meet?” She asked.
“Of course honey. When? Where?”
“I’m at 405 Mullon Street.”
“In Little Rock? Mya that’s…”
“Please Mr. Trent don’t judge me.”
“You’re right baby, I’m sorry. When?”
“In an hour if you can.”
“I’ll be there.”
“Fine, and bring Hunter.”
The call ended.
“Dad, is she okay?” Bryan asked. “She didn’t sound so good.”
“I hope so son,” Henry replied.
Hunter strolled over to the window lost deep in thought. Why did she want him along, he wondered? He felt responsible for all that has happened to not just Mya but to his entire family and all because his obsession with her was extreme. He realized months ago that his preoccupation with her was not based solely on the fear that she would hurt his father or any of the family. The truth is that he was protecting himself. The connection to her scared him because it was stronger than any he had ever felt before. It was there from the very first time he saw her at the office so long ago, and after making love to her that first time the connection was far deeper and stronger than he could have ever imagined. He tried hard to fight it, to control it, but he failed when he turned up at her apartment that one night. That’s what was on the forefront of his mind most days. The other thing was that he unintentionally ruined this beautiful woman’s life. He, more than any of the other members of his family, needed to beg her forgiveness. It was his doubt and poison that he put in their heads that caused them not to trust her, and only his mother and grandmother were immune to the things he said about her. If she was going to be back in their lives, it was a good thing that he would be married soon.
A couple of hours later, Henry and Hunter parked in front of a small house. The neighborhood was well known in Little Rock. It was a predominantly black area and at one time it had been one of the nicest places to live, but over the years, thanks in part to drugs and the increasing rate of poverty city-wide, the area had gone down. Henry and Hunter shared a look.
“Here we go son and this time I’m not leaving here without her.”
Mya paced the floor nervously. What was she going to say to the man who turned his back on her? Should she give him another chance to hurt her? And what about Hunter? It wouldn’t surprise her one bit if he denied the twins, and that would be just fine with her. She would not press the issue for him to claim his sons. The babies were fed and down for their naps, and at four month old, they still slept at their scheduled times, which was good for her. This would usually be her time to take a nap so she could go to her night job. She has not slept since ten last night, but she was too wired to even think about resting now anyway. She had to get through this meeting with her father. It’s funny how sometimes your own words can come back to bite you right on the butt. She had vowed never to ask him for anything, yet here she was begging him to help her. Still, it was only because of her babies. If she were alone she never would have called.
The sudden knock on the door startled her, and she exhaled a deep breath before smoothing down her hair. She looked down at the secondhand clothes she wore. They were clean and that’s all that mattered. She approached the door and looked out the peephole to verify that it was her father, and then glanced around the room. Her place wasn’t fancy but it was neat and clean. She opened the door and stepped aside to let the two men enter before closing it behind them. She didn’t miss how their eyes scanned her small living room.
Henry gazed at her, his eyes somewhat glassy, while Hunter still scowled in her direction. The three of them stood in the small room that was thick with emotional tension. Mya stood with her head held high and back ramrod straight, and ignored the fact that her heart pounded so hard in her chest that it hurt. Be that as it may, she was not going to show any weakness. The one thing she learned in prison was not to show weakness or you will be a slave to someone else’s will. She fought almost daily to prove that she was strong, and if she had to she would fight to prove to h
er father that she still was.
Henry instantly noticed the hardness in her beautiful eyes, and no matter how pretty she still was, to him she looked tired and thin. Her hair looked unhealthy, her maple skin gray. What had he done to his daughter? Instead of helping her, he only added another bad memory to her life.
Hunter dark piercing eyes bore into her. She would no longer be that shy, withdrawn woman of a year ago, but a harder, stronger woman. In the past, she would have never held their gazes this long. Gone was that sweet innocence he had stolen in many ways, and he felt the guilt strong in his soul. All he managed to do was add more misery to her past. His suspicions and obsession had hardened her, and he had to smother the urge to take her in his arms and assure her that everything was going to be all right now.
“Please have a seat,” she invited before moving away.
“No thank you,” Henry answered. “Are you well Mya?”
“Yes, I-I just…”
She paused. She couldn’t do it. She turned her back to them just when the babies let out a loud hungry cry.
Henry and Hunter froze glancing at one another as Mya left the stunned men to see about her babies. Regaining their wits, they followed her into a small room with two white bassinets and a small cot against the wall. They stood in the door watching their small hands and feet kicking as they cried. The men moved to stand on the opposite side of her looking down at the crying babies, and Mya ignored them while she talked softly to them. She quickly changed one diaper quieting one baby, and then tended to the other. She had one bottle in the fridge.
“Please excuse me, but I have to nurse them.”
“Mya?” Henry questioned, looking down at the babies with confusion.
“Mr. Trent please don’t.”
“Can I help you?” He asked.
Just To Be Loved Page 14