Roxy leaned back and lifted an arch brow. “Really cool? Is that what they call it these days?”
Adam chuckled. “Baby, you don’t have anything to worry about. I think Lisa plays for the other team.”
He chuckled again when her mouth formed a perfect circle when she said, “Oh.”
Again he reiterated, “You have nothing to worry about. I’m not involved with anyone.”
Before she could stop herself, she blurted out, “Are you sure?”
Adam’s dark eyes traveled over her features as he carefully assessed her. Something else was going on with her and he was about to find out what it was. “Why do you think I’m not telling you the truth?”
“I don’t think that,” she tried denying.
“Don’t lie to me, Roxy. Do not insult my intelligence,” he gritted out between clenched teeth.
Roxy lowered her eyes and began playing with a button on his shirt. “I’m sorry,” she mumbled. Taking a few minutes, she prepared herself to open up to him. She took a deep breath before she began to unload. He listened as she told him everything her mother had shared with her. By the time she finished, she had nervously worried every button on his shirt.
Reba Harris had earned a spot right up there next to his mother when it came to his admiration for strong black women. So many women’s lives were destroyed of no fault of their own, having to endure such treatment, but not Ms. Reba’s. She had managed to take care of herself and a daughter against all odds.
As for her father, he would give anything to meet up with him in a dark alley. What gave a man the right to make a baby and then feel it’s okay to just walk away? He didn’t like the idea of Roxy meeting the jackass. He started to open his mouth to tell her she shouldn’t meet him. But it was her choice to make and not his.
“Do you want me to go with you to meet him?” He wouldn’t dare refer to the man as her father. The chump was far from it. He didn’t like the idea of Roxy going alone to see the man.
Roxy smiled at Adam. “You would do that for me?”
Adam tenderly kissed her soft lips. “I would do that for you,” he whispered against her mouth.
A warmth she had never felt before began to spread its heat throughout her body. Other than her mother, she had never had anyone she could depend on. It felt wonderful knowing that Adam had offered to be there for her.
Leaning her forehead against his, she whispered back, “You’re the best.”
Chapter 17
Brenda frowned as she listened to Sister Della from her bible study class rant on and on about how inconsiderate her son was to stand her granddaughter up. Coming to her son’s defense, she cut the woman off, trying her best to hold on to her rising temper. “My son is a gentleman,” she snapped.
“Ha! Some gentleman! He could have called my Dana to cancel before she showed up to that restaurant!”
Brenda threw her husband the nastiest look she could muster. The nerve of him to sit there and laugh at her! It was bad enough she was on the phone sparring with this old dragon. She didn’t need her husband’s teasing.
Switching the phone to the other ear, she stomped off into the kitchen. Lord Jesus help me! she prayed, snatching the potholder off the countertop to keep from burning her hand as she checked the fried potatoes cooking on the stovetop.
“What’s wrong with that son of yours? I tell you what’s wrong with him. You turned him into a momma’s boy after your Abby died. You should have been paying attention to that boy from the beginning. Instead you spoiled that child like doing so was going to make her better.” Sister Della took a breath. Clucking her tongue, she insinuated, “You done ruined that boy for any good decent woman.”
It’s a wonder the glass lid didn’t shatter when she slammed it back down on the pot. Sister Della had gone too far. She could just imagine the older woman nodding her head and pointing her finger as she spouted off at the mouth.
“Now you listen to me!” Brenda shrieked.
Nelson bolted from his comfy recliner at the hysteria coming from the kitchen.
“You self-righteous, half-holy, mean old goat! Don’t you dare judge me until you’ve walked in my shoes!”
No one knew the hell of guilt she lived in knowing she had unintentionally slighted her child. How it killed her to know she had hurt her first born. And how even to this day, she was trying to make it up to him because nothing was more important to her than his happiness.
Brenda swatted Nelson’s hand with the potholder when he attempted to take the phone from her.
“Do you have any idea what it’s like to watch your baby slowly die and there isn’t a thing you can do about it? Or how you hurt your own child and didn’t even know it?” When the older woman didn’t answer, Brenda shrieked even louder, “Do you? Answer me!”
“Come on baby. Give me the phone.” Nelson coaxed as he gently pried the phone from her tight grasp. He needed to get her off the phone, and fast before Brenda started cussing like a drunken sailor.
Still fuming, Brenda released her grip on the phone. She followed her husband as he guided her to a chair at the kitchen table.
Not bothering to tell the woman on the other end goodbye, he clicked off the phone and sat opposite his wife. Reaching across the table, he lovingly took her hands in his. “You okay, baby?”
Brenda angrily shook her head. “No, I’m not okay, Nelson! That old woman almost made me cuss her the hell out!” she irritably snapped.
Nelson chuckled. Baby you pretty much did. “What did she say? I haven’t seen you this worked up in years.”
The last time she was this angry was the time she went down the street to Kat’s house – the neighborhood Jezebel – and snatched her out her front door for spreading lies about her and her family. It had taken Nelson and three other men to pull her off the woman.
He listened as she gave him a play by play of the conversation. All he could do is shake his head. How many times had he told her to stop playing matchmaker for their son? He was certain it was more than a hundred times. But she wouldn’t listen, she was determined to see him happy and settled down with a nice girl.
“Well aren’t you going to say anything?” she snipped, annoyed by his silence.
Nelson shrugged a broad shoulder. “Baby, what do you want me to say?” He held snuggly on to her hands to keep her from snatching away.
“Something! Anything!” she hissed.
Gazing over at the love of his life, Nelson smiled. Not just any smile. It was a smile that told his wife of more than three decades that she was the most precious thing in the world to him. It was a smile that told her to get ready for a night of some serious loving. It was the same smile that caused the once shy seventeen-year-old girl to do things with him that no good church girl would ever do.
Heat crept up her neck and fanned out across her face from blushing so hard. After all these years of marriage, he still made her feel like a teenage girl in love. That is until he had to go open his big mouth.
“Maybe this’ll teach you to mind your business and leave that boy’s love life alone.”
Brenda snatched her hands back as if his fingers had become hot like coals. Standing, she angrily shoved the chair under the table. “You’re sleeping in the guestroom tonight.”
“Get on my nerves,” she mumbled under her breath. She didn’t want to admit he was right. It was past time for her to leave Adam alone and stay out of his love life. He would settle down when he was good and ready.
Throwing his head back, Nelson let out a bark of laughter. Standing, he followed her to the sink. Wrapping his hands around her waist, he nuzzled the side of her neck. “Woman, I’m sleeping in my bed.” He moved up a little higher, nuzzling her ear, “Next to you.”
Brenda wanted to be mad, but couldn’t help from giggling. He always knew the right buttons to push to quell her anger. “Leave me alone, Nelson West. I have to get this fish fried for dinner.”
Her hands slid up his wide chest when Nelson turned
her in his arms. “The fish can wait,” he whispered.
Smiling up at her husband, she wrapped her arms around his neck. “They sure can,” she agreed, welcoming his sweet kisses.
“You sure it’s okay?” Roxy nervously questioned Adam.
“I’m sure,” he answered.
He rang the doorbell instead of using his key. He wanted to see the surprised look on his parents’ face when they opened the door. He knew they would be happy to see Roxy.
Kissing her right temple, he reassured her, “Mom and Dad are going to love having you for dinner.”
Roxy smiled. As a child she had so many warm memories of being in this house. Nelson and Brenda West had always made her feel welcomed and treated her like one of their own children.
“Well, isn’t this a sweet surprise.” Brenda smiled as she opened the door. “Come on in here and give me a hug.”
Roxy was too glad to oblige the older woman. “Hi Ms. Brenda.”
Brenda gave her a tight squeeze before letting her go. “Hi yourself! What brings you by?”
Adam hugged his mother and answered for Roxy. “She’s here with me Mom. I hope you don’t mind.”
Playfully slapping him on the arm, Brenda chastised him. “Boy, you know Roxy is family. She can come by anytime she wants.”
“That’s right,” Nelson confirmed as he sauntered into the room.
Roxy’s face lit up. Mr. Nelson hadn’t been home the last time she stopped by. Seeing him was an added bonus to the evening. Going over to him, she kissed his smooth shaven cheek before giving him a big hug. “Hi Mr. Nelson. It’s so good to see you.”
Nelson’s hug was just as affectionately warm. “Same here sweetheart.”
Grabbing his son’s hand in a firm handshake, he slapped him on the back. “How’s it going son?”
Adam’s eyes shifted to Roxy before returning to his father. “Good. Real good.”
“That’s wonderful son,” Nelson smiled seeing the blatant interest in his son’s eyes.
“Come on back to the kitchen with me Roxy,” Brenda said, taking the younger woman by the hand. “I was just about to start frying the fish.”
“Okay,” Roxy said laughing not having much of a choice as Brenda was dragging her away.
Dinner with the Wests had felt like old times with the exception of Abby not being there. As usual, Ms. Brenda’s cooking was phenomenal. The fried fish was nice and crunchy on the outside and soft, moist and flaky on the inside. The fried potatoes and onions, cabbage, and cornbread were sinfully tasty.
Any jitters she may have felt was easily relieved. Adam’s parents hadn’t questioned why she had showed up with him for dinner. The older couple was genuinely happy to see her. And she was happy to see them, too. During dinner Roxy made a promise to herself she would make time to visit the older couple more often.
Roxy thought she would fall out her chair when a woman named Evelyn showed up for dinner as Adam’s date. She surreptitiously dipped her head to hide a giggle as Brenda profusely apologized for the blunder.
She had to give Evelyn kudos. She had laughed it off, stayed and enjoyed the scrumptious meal. Declining dessert, she thanked Brenda for dinner and left just as unassuming as she entered.
Adam excused himself to walk Evelyn to the door. He returned to his seat, glaring at his mother. He loved his mom dearly, but this had to end, especially since he now only had eyes for Roxy.
“Mom, do not set me up on any more dates,” he said, trying to hide his blustering irritation at this whole matchmaking business.
“I’ve told your mother a hundred times you’re capable of finding your own woman,” Nelson interjected, hoping his wife was done with her scheming.
Brenda had enough sense to look remorseful for all the meddling she was guilty of doing. “It won’t happen again, baby. “Spooning up a scoop of bread pudding, she smiled at Adam. “Your father is right. I know you’ll find the right girl.”
“I’m sure I will Mom,” Adam smiled, reaching under the table and intertwining his fingers with Roxy’s. Playfully winking at his mom he said, “Maybe I already have.”
That remark made Brenda perk right up. “Oh, is that so? Who is she?”
“Brenda.” Nelson warned, giving her a stern look.
“What? I only asked a question,” she replied, having a nerve to look innocent.
“Didn’t your son just tell you in so many words to mind your business, woman?”
Brenda gasped, clearly embarrassed by her husband’s rebuke. “He said no such thing, Nelson West!”
Roxy giggled at the older couple sparring back and forth. They were too funny.
Brenda rolled her eyes and turned to Roxy for support. “Roxy, do you see anything wrong with me wanting my son to find a nice girl to marry and give me some grandbabies?”
Nelson snorted and Adam sighed.
“Well… uh… no… not really,” Roxy answered, feeling like she was about to step into a very sticky situation.
Brenda beamed triumphantly. “See, my Roxy agrees with me.” Standing, she began clearing the table. “That’s alright. You don’t have to tell me who she is. All I know is she better be as sweet as my Roxy.”
The butterflies in Roxy’s belly fluttered like crazy when Adam gently squeezed her hand. “Trust me Mom, she is.”
Chapter 18
Pulling off from the curb, Roxy waved goodbye to the older couple, standing in the doorway. She didn’t stop waving until they turned the corner.
Nelson and Brenda waved back until the car disappeared.
Closing the door, Nelson commented to his wife, “I’m so proud of you.”
“For what?”
“For not letting on that Roxy is the girl Adam’s interested in.”
Brenda gave her husband a sassy smirk. “See, I’m not such the meddler you think I am.”
Yeah right, Nelson thought to himself as his wife beamed up at him with pride.
Brenda wanted to shout for joy. Admittedly, she briefly wondered why Roxy was with Adam. But she didn’t give it a second thought; she was just so glad to see her again, and so soon. It was the quick, secretive glances that kept passing between the two that put her on high alert. Lord, help me keep my mouth shut, she chanted in her head over and over again to keep from asking how long they’ve been seeing each other. The last thing she wanted to do was to make Roxy uncomfortable and have her son chide her for putting her nose where it didn’t belong.
Nelson chuckled as he took his wife by the hand and headed upstairs to their bedroom. “I know it nearly killed you not saying anything. Don’t think I didn’t see the wheels spinning in your head wondering how—”
Brenda cut her eyes at her husband. He was going to stop messing with her! “I have two words for you, Nelson. Guest bedroom.”
She squealed in delight when he lifted her in his arms. “Baby, I do my best work in the guest room.”
“Thanks for taking me to dinner with you, Adam. It was good seeing your parents again.”
Briefly taking his eyes off the road, he glanced over at Roxy. “No need to thank me. They enjoyed having you over.”
Roxy began shaking her head and laughing. “Did you have any idea your mom was going to invite a date to dinner for you?”
Adam chuckled. “Hell no!”
Slowing to a stop at the red light, he again glanced over at Roxy. He had to give it to her; she had handled Evelyn’s popping up like a real trooper. She had been polite and even engaged in conversation with the woman.
Reaching over, he picked up her hand and kissed it. “I’m sorry if you felt uncomfortable.”
Roxy giggled, waving his concern off. “No harm done. If anything I felt sorry for Evelyn.” Shaking her head, she said, “Your mom is a hot mess. But she loves you and only wants what she thinks is best for you.”
“Exactly. What she thinks is best for me,” he pointed out.
“Oh, don’t be like that,” Roxy teasingly scolded.
“Like what?” h
e said, pulling off from the green light.
“She’s a mom and of course all moms think they know what’s best for their children.”
“I bet your mother isn’t throwing men in your path every chance she gets,” he snorted.
Laughing, Roxy said, “Thank God!” If anything Reba schooled her to be cautious when it came to men and matters of the heart.
Yes, thank God. He didn’t know how he would handle having men coming at her all the time. The thought of it made him grip the steering wheel tighter. Needing to change the subject, he inquired about Roxy’s upcoming plans for the week. With another week of vacation he wanted to spend some time with her.
“Nothing much,” she told him as he pulled his car into the parking lot of her apartment building.
“What’s nothing much?” he smoothly asked as he shut off the ignition.
“I’m meeting my sisters for dinner Wednesday after work.”
Adam nodded his head. “Are you nervous?”
“Yeah… a little bit,” she admitted. Letting out a deep sigh, her eyes showed her fears when she glanced at him. “What if they blame me and my mom for breaking up their parents’ marriage?”
Turning to face her, Adam gently stroked the velvety skin on her soft cheek with the back of his knuckles. “Baby, try not to think that way. Neither you nor your mom was the blame for that marriage breaking up. The bastard lied to your mother and his family. Trust me, Ms. Reba wasn’t the first woman he ran around with on his wife.”
He probably was right. From what little bit her mother had told her about Harold Avery, he wasn’t a very trustworthy character. But that didn’t mean her half-sisters would see their father for who he really was. For all she know they could worship the ground he walked on. And if that was even a remote possibility, meeting them face to face had her edgy as all get out.
Getting out of the car, Adam walked around to the passenger side. Opening the door, he helped Roxy out. Taking her hand, they walked and talked the short distance to her building.
The Sweetest Love (Love Conquers All Book 5) Page 9