“I know you don’t like Aahsod but we are doing just fine. Things between us could not be better. I love Aahsod and your opinions of him will not change that.”
“I don’t dislike Aahsod. I dislike his attitude towards this relationship. I do not like the way it is being kept hush-hush. Regardless of the by-laws, you should be skeptical of any man that has been dating you for two years and has not said he loves you. You said you tell him every chance you get but he just says thank you. That alone should make you sit back and take notice.”
“Are you through?”
“For now.”
“It seems as if you have forgotten which one of us is the parent. You are entitled to your opinion but, as I said, I love Aahsod no matter what you seem to think of him. And the secrecy of our relationship was a mutual decision because of the by-laws not something he forced on me. I have told you that a thousand times.”
“I can understand the secrecy at work but not in your home life. I just hope he doesn’t eventually try to become a replacement for my father in your life. He can never be the man dad was.”
“I’m sure that if marriage was to come up, Aahsod would never try to be a stand in for Laurence. Aahsod is his own person. Your father has been deceased for six years. I feel I am entitled to some type of happiness no matter what form it comes in as long as I am happy.”
“Let’s not argue about Aahsod. I’m going to go on to the house and wait for you to get off.”
Amaia walked over to her daughter. She caressed Daesha’s unblemished peachy creamed cheek. She looked into her daughter’s dark green eyes; she had her father’s eyes.
“I love you, Daesha. I’ll see you later on.”
Before Daesha could respond, her cell phone rang. Daesha looks at the screen.
“It’s grandmother.” Meaning Laurence’s mother, Jessica Collins.
“Hello, Grandmother.”
“Daesha, are you coming to visit us while you are home?”
“Of course, grandmother.”
“How about now?” Jessica asked.
“Hold on.” Daesha presses the mute button. “Mom, grandmother wants to see me now. Is it okay for me to go ahead now and spend time with her?”
Amaia sighed. “Although she doesn’t care for me, she loves you dearly. Go spend time with her and I will see you later. I love you.” Amaia responded.
“I love you too, mom. Bye.” She kissed Amaia’s cheek before getting back on the phone to let her grandmother know she was on her way.
Once Daesha was gone, Amaia sat back and thought about how Jessica and Langston Collins made her think of Raquel Welch and Mark Harmon. Langston had accepted her like a daughter but Jessica always let her know she was never good enough for her son. She and Laurence had both sacrificed a lot to continue loving one another. And eventually became husband and wife. They had been married twelve years when he was diagnosed with inoperable prostate cancer. He allowed his preoccupation with work to interfere with getting proper health checkups. Her dedication to Laurence during his battle with cancer earned her more respect from Jessica but as soon as Laurence died, Jessica returned to her old ways and acted as though only Daesha existed. Amaia shook her head to clear all negatives thoughts and decided to try to get some work done. As soon as she sat down to start on a report, the telephone started ringing. She sighed softly before answering.
“Amaia Collins.”
“Hello Amaia,” Naomi Jennings said.
“Hi mom, what can I do for you?”
“I want to make sure you and Daesha are coming to our traditional Thanksgiving Sunday dinner.”
“Daesha and I will be there with bells on.”
“So are you going to bring a date?”
“I’m not sure. I’ll call you and let you know.”
“If you can’t find a date, I’m sure Kenneth…”
“No thank you, I’m not interested in Kenneth. I’d rather find my own dates if you don’t mind,” she said cutting her mother off in mid-sentence.
“I understand, dear. I will see you Sunday night. Goodbye.”
“Bye, mom.” She hung the telephone up with a deep sigh.
She leaned back in her swivel chair and thought about her relationship with Aahsod. She did not really know if things had progressed far enough for her to introduce him to everyone else besides Daesha and her sister, Beverlee. She didn’t really share secrets with her sister but she was trying to form a better bond with Beverlee. She really did love Aahsod. It took dating him for a year before she would even consider being intimate with him. She decided to push all those thoughts from her head and get back to work.
Jessica Collins hugged Daesha as soon as she stepped across the threshold of the double doors.
“Daesha dear, you look more like your father every day.”
“Thanks, grandmother. Where’s granddad?”
“He is in his den reading. Let me look at you.”
As always, Daesha turned around in a slow full circle so that her grandmother could appraise her appearance.
“You seem to be putting on weight.” Jessica stated raising a perfectly arched eyebrow.
Daesha sighed and before she could retort, her grandfather was speaking in her defense.
“Jess, leave the girl alone. She is not gaining weight. She’s blossoming into the shape of a young woman with African American heritage. She can’t help it if she is shaped like her mother rather than her Caucasian heritage.”
Daesha stifled a giggle as she went into her grandfather’s outstretched arms. She loved him dearly because he was like her father and did not see color.
“I love you, granddad.”
“I love you too, sweetheart. We missed you yesterday for Thanksgiving.”
“I missed all of you as well. I couldn’t get a flight until today.”
“Doesn’t matter as long as we get to spend time with you.” He stated with a smile.
“I will be back over next week. I promise.” She stated as she moved out of his embrace. “Where is Aunt Joesi?” she asked.
“Busy at her hair studio as usual.” Jessica responded with an exasperated sigh.
Daesha did not respond to her grandmother’s theatrics. She hugged both of her grandparents before departing from the house. As soon as she pulled off in her BMW, she couldn’t wait to talk to Sierra. She called her from her cell phone once she plugged it into her system in her car for hands free talking. Sierra answered on the second ring.
“What’s up hooker?” Daesha asked with a smile.
“The usual, trick. Going to design school, taking care of RoRo, and wondering if Roman is going to get picked for the NFL draft.”
“I can’t believe the two of you got married after you found out you were pregnant with Roman Jr.”
“But still living with my parents. I can’t believe I broke my own rule and decided to forego a condom with Roman. Especially with my mother being an OB/GYN.”
“You were young and in love.”
“Yea, yea. He just better be glad my parents are rich and didn’t try to roast his ass. Oh, by the way, I’m going to be interning at Karmikell’s.”
“No way! My mom didn’t say anything.”
“I don’t think she knows yet. I met with an Aahsod Patel to sign some non-disclosure papers. He is so sexy.”
Daesha rolled her eyes knowing she could not let on about her mother’s relationship with Aahsod. “Whatever, hooker, I’m here for a visit so let’s hook up before I leave.”
“Let me know when you are free.”
“I think I should be the one telling you that since you are a wife and mother.”
“Yea but my ass has a live in nanny. I don’t party anymore but I still have a social life. I only use her when I go out or have to study.”
“I will get at you later.”
“Okay, bye.” Sierra responded with a smile.
Daesha hung up the phone with a sigh.
Amaia had used her lunch break to go to her appoin
tment with her OB/GYN, Dr. DaVeda Sharpe.
“Well you are indeed pregnant. I really didn’t have to tell you that since you did a pregnancy test a week ago. Have you told the father that you are pregnant?”
“Not yet, DaVeda.”
Dr. Sharpe sighed. “Amaia, you and I have been friends since high school. Our daughters are best friends. I delivered Daesha three months before I had Sierra. I don’t understand what the problem is that you cannot tell the man in your life that you are pregnant.”
“DaVeda, it isn’t as simple as it sounds. When the time is right, I will let him know.”
“Have you told Daesha?”
“No and the same goes for her.”
“I can’t tell you what to do so just take care of yourself.” Dr. Sharpe stated hugging Amaia before she helped her up from the table before speaking again. “Get dressed and make your follow up appointment.”
Amaia sighed and nodded as Dr. Sharpe exited the room.
Chapter 2It was quitting time when Aahsod entered Amaia’s office. She looked up at him with a smile. “Is it that time already?”
“It is actually past that time. You know we rode together today so I wanted to make sure everyone in the parking garage was gone before we left as well.”
“You are so considerate.”
Amaia was quiet during the ride to her house.
“Why are you so quiet?” Aahsod asked.
“I was thinking about Daesha.”
“Is something wrong?”
“She came by the office and we got into a heated discussion about you.”
“Is she ever going to allow herself to like me?”
“She said it isn’t you that she dislikes, it’s the secrecy of our relationship.”
“That was a mutual decision on many levels.”
“I reminded her of that for the thousandth time.”
“For some odd reason, I get the feeling that she feels threatened by me in some type of way. Is that what is going on with her?”
“She’s afraid you are going to try to become a replacement for her father in my life.”
“I wouldn’t try to take Laurence Collins’s place in your life. I am my own person so she doesn’t have anything to worry about,” he said as he parked his black Mercedes Benz in the driveway behind her gold Lexus.
When they entered the house, Daesha was not in sight. They decided to take advantage of the situation. He pulled her into an embrace. Slowly his mouth descended towards hers and captured it in a soft passionate kiss. Daesha entering the room spoiled the moment.
“Uggh, Can’t you control your male hormones when I’m around?” she asked in a disgusted voice.
`“Hello to you too, Daesha,” he said with a sigh.
“Daesha, you apologize right now!” Amaia demanded with anger.
“I’m sorry,” she said as she went into the kitchen.
They both knew she was not sorry.
“Please don’t let her get to you.” Amaia pleaded.
“It’s hard, but I’ll try. I’d better go so you can get ready for the party.”
“Okay, I’ll see you at seven.” She kissed him softly on the mouth.
As soon as he was gone, she went into the kitchen to speak to Daesha.
“Daesha, your rudeness was totally out of line.”
“It’s just something about him that sets me off.”
Amaia decided to change the subject. “How was your visit with the Collins?”
Daesha smirked. “You are funny, Mom. Granddad was awesome as usual and rescued me from grandmother’s appraisal of me gaining weight.”
Amaia sighed. “That woman thinks everyone should be slim like her. Not everyone can be in their sixties and have a face and body like Raquel Welch. You do have the voluptuous African American genes of sexy boobs and ass. You might have a slim frame, blonde highlighted brown hair and green eyes but you have the hour glass body of an African American woman.” Amaia stated with a smile.
Daesha laughed before speaking. “ You know I am proud of both of my heritages.”
Amaia caressed her daughter’s cheek. “I know you are. Would you like to go with us to the Black Friday party tonight?” She asked as she moved away from her daughter.
“I wouldn’t feel comfortable.”
“This could be a great opportunity for you and Aahsod to try to become friends.”
“Mom, you’ve been dating Aahsod for nearly two years now. I found out about the relationship a year ago. If we haven’t become friends in that length of time, we may never become friends.”
“Aahsod has tried with you but you haven’t been trying with him. If you let down that stubborn wall you have built, maybe you and he could become friends.”
“May I ask you some questions I’ve wanted to ask?”
“Sure.”
“Has he ever been married?”
“Yes, once.”
“Does he have any children?”
“A son name Tahj.”
“Does he get along with his ex-wife?”
“She died when Tahj was an infant. She was in an automobile accident.”
“Does Tahj know about this relationship?”
“No, he doesn’t.”
“I really don’t know what reason you have for still keeping this relationship a secret. That is one of the main reasons I cannot build a relationship with Aahsod. How old is Tahj?”
“Twenty-four.”
“Twenty-four! There is no way he could have a son that old. He would have been fifteen when Tahj was conceived!”
“Aahsod and I aren’t the same age. He’s forty seven, eight years my senior.”
“He looks good for someone who is forty seven.” Daesha was stunned.
“I’m glad you think so too, “Amaia said smiling.
Daesha blushed. “What does Tahj look like?”
“From the pictures I’ve seen he’s a replica of his father except he has sapphire eyes.”
“Seriously?! Seriously?! That is like totally weird. Please say you’re kidding.”
“I’m not kidding. Why would you say that?”
“Because, you just described the eye color of someone I have been dating while at school in Miami. He is Indian American as well.”
“You are dating someone? Is his name Tahj Patel?”
“No, his name is Jalil Patel.”
“Well, I seriously doubt that it is Tahj. There are a lot of Indian’s with the last name Patel.”
“You’re right. Tahj is twenty four and Jalil is nineteen so they can’t be the same person.”
“You’ve never mentioned Jalil to me. Why?”
“I was planning on telling you while I was home for the holidays.”
Amaia looked at her watch. “This conversation will have to wait. I’d better start getting ready for the party.”
While Amaia was still upstairs getting ready, Sierra was downstairs with Daesha when the doorbell chimed. She opened the door to let Aahsod in. Sierra smiled and waved at Aahsod as Daesha told him her mother was upstairs finishing up. Once he was up the stairs and out of ear range, Sierra spoke up.
“Why didn’t you tell me your mom was dating Mr. Patel?”
“Because you have a big mouth and I didn’t want my mom’s business all over the community.”
“Oh, it’s like that now?” Sierra asked standing up with her arms fold and eyebrows raised.
Daesha sighed. “Sorry but my mom is a very private person.”
“It’s cool I understand.” She stated with a wave of her hand before sitting back down.
Aahsod was shocked when Amaia opened the door to her bedroom after he knocked. She was a vision of beauty. She had decided to wear her long red satin gown which was accented with braided straps, high princess slit up to her thigh and low V-back and the front showed a lot of cleavage, no stockings, and black rhinestone strapped high heeled sandals. Her hair was softly caressing her shoulder blades. He was dressed in a double-breasted black suit, white
silk shirt, and black Italian shoes. His hair was pulled back in that forever neat ponytail. Amaia itched to free it.
“You look very handsome.”
“And you look deliciously breathtaking.”
“Let’s go before you make me change my mind.” She stated.
“Let’s go,” he said laughing softly.
When they arrived downstairs, they said goodnight to both girls as they departed from the house. About fifteen minutes later, Daesha was in the kitchen slicing some fruit while she talked with Sierra.
“Sierra, I am no longer a virgin.”
Sierra looked at her with wide eyes. “Oh my god trick, are you serious?”
“Yes, hooker” Daesha said with a smile.
“Not miss I’m going to wait until I am married!” Sierra stated clapping her hands together.
“Don’t trip. I didn’t expect to fall in love.”
“Oh the love thing. Just please don’t get stupid like me and forget to use a condom. Don’t get me wrong. I love my son and his father but it all could have happened at a later date.”
“I know and that’s why I making sure he uses a condom.”
“Ha Ha very funny. But I am serious.”
“I know you are.”
“What is his name? Is he yummy?”
“Oh my God yes! Very yummy! His name is Jalil Patel.”
“Yummier than Roman? You know Roman looks like Dondre Whitfield.”
“Yes, yummier than Roman.”
“An Indian American yummier than Roman?”
“Yes!”
“When can I met him?” Sierra asked.
As soon as the words were out of her mouth the doorbell chimed. Daesha rushed to the door thinking it was her mother.
“What did you forget?,” she asked as she yanked the door open to find Jalil standing there.
“To call?” he asked with a bright smile.
“Hi, Jalil, I thought you were my mother.”
“Hello beautiful. May I come in?”
“I’m sorry, come on in.” She closed the door behind him.
“I see you had no trouble finding where I live,” she stated.
“You gave me such great directions that I did not even have to use the navigation system.”
Truly Madly Deeply Page 3