Royal

by Tina Martin

  “Royal, this is Gemma we’re talking about. You told me you loved her.”

  “I do love her, man. I was going to propose.”

  “I know. I saw the ring. It was beautiful.”

  Royal sat down. “I don’t know what happened. I told you something was wrong. I could feel it. I didn’t think it would be that though.”

  “What?”

  “The fact that she doesn’t want to be with me.”

  “Do you really think she would just give you the cold shoulder for no reason at all?”

  “That’s what she did.”

  “Then what if I told you she had a reason?”

  “It doesn’t matter, Ram.”

  “What if I told you Gemma overheard someone say that she wasn’t right for you because of her illness?”

  It seemed the blood hardened in his veins. “Somebody said that?”

  “Yep.”

  “But Gemma’s not sick anymore.”

  “Yeah, but I believe this person thinks there’s always that possibility of the cancer returning. And since this person has already watched one of her sons live through losing a spouse to cancer, she doesn’t want to see any more of her children suffer.”

  Royal’s eyebrows raised. “These words came from mom?”

  “Every word.”

  Royal angled his head toward the floor. He now had a better understanding of why Gemma did what she did. “It goes further than mom’s comments,” Royal admitted. “Now that I think about it, she was more than upset when she wrecked my car.”

  “Gemma wrecked your car?”

  “Well, I shouldn’t say wrecked. She backed into a pole in the parking lot at my condo.”

  “Why was she behind the wheel of your car to begin with?”

  “Because I wanted to help her learn how to drive. You bought her a jeep and she can’t even drive it.”

  “She’ll learn. Eventually. Right now, she needs to relax. It hasn’t been that long since the surgery and I know Gemma has an ambitious mind and want to do it all now that she has a brighter future, but there’s no need to rush it. And I think it would be wise if you had a conversation with mom.

  Royal nodded. He rolled his arm to glance at his watch. “I’m going to head over to mom’s place now.”

  “And remember, Royal, that mom is just being mom. It’s her job to want what’s best for us.”

  “Then today, she’ll know that Gemma is what’s best for me.”

  Chapter 33

  Royal greeted his mother with a hug.

  “What brings you by in the middle of the day, son?” she asked as he stepped inside.

  “I needed to speak to you about something.”

  “Okay. It must be serious, then.”

  “It is. Why don’t you have a seat, mother?”

  Bernadette sat down on the living room sofa, then glanced up at her tall son – her youngest – who looked perplexed. “You look like you have something heavy on your mind.”

  “I do. I need to ask you something.”

  “Okay.”

  “How you feel about Gemma?”

  Bernadette frowned. “How do I feel about Gemma?”

  “Yes, mother.”

  “I think Gemma’s a good girl. She’s kind. Respectful.”

  “But?”

  Bernadette sighed. “I’ve noticed that you two have been spending a lot of time together lately and while she’s a sweet girl, I don’t think she’s right for you, Royal.”

  “Why not? Because of her diagnosis?”

  “Yes, son. She has cancer.”

  “No, Mom. She had cancer. She’s cancer-free, and—”

  “Yeah, but whose to say it ain’t coming back,” she said.

  “And who’s to say I won’t get into another car accident tomorrow, except this time, I won’t be so fortunate.”

  Bernadette placed a hand over her heart. She felt faint recalling how Royal was hospitalized after the car accident five years ago. “I guess you’re right about that.”

  “Mother,” Royal said, sitting next to her, “I love you dearly,” he said holding her hands. “You and dad saw me through some of the most tumultuous times of my life. I love you for it, and I have the utmost respect for you. But I love Gemma, and I know in my heart that I can’t be without her. I can’t, mother.”

  Bernadette smiled, then gave her son a warm embrace. “I’m your mother and I’ll always be your mother. It’s my job to worry about you, son.”

  “I know, and I appreciate that. Some people don’t have a mother to show the same loving concern you’ve always shown to us. Gemma doesn’t have that, and neither does Gianna. That’s why your words hit me so hard because I need you to be that mother figure for her in the absence of her real mother, and I’m hoping once you see how much I truly love Gemma, you’ll fill that void in her life.”

  “I will certainly do my best.” Bernadette smiled warmly at her son. “You really do love her, don’t you?”

  A smile brightened his face. “Yes. I do.”

  Chapter 34

  Gianna tried coming up with a way to get her sister’s mind off of Royal and a girl’s dinner to South Harbor Restaurant seemed to be doing the trick. She didn’t care about closing the bakery to do it either. Her sister took precedence.

  “How’s the soup, Gem?” Felicity asked.

  “It’s delicious,” Gemma said, stirring it.

  Felicity squeezed lemon in her tea, then stirred the ice-filled beverage with her straw. “Hey, I just realized something. We haven’t been together like this since the boat party.”

  “Nope,” Gianna said. “We’ve all been busy.”

  “Yeah, girl. I have so many clients thanks to your husband. I need to hire an assistant.”

  “But you already have a receptionist.”

  “Yes, and she’s stretched thin enough as it is.”

  “Hey, growth is progress,” Gianna said.

  Gemma was still quietly eating her soup and fiddling with the necklace she wore around her neck. She’d looped the ring Royal gave her on it.

  “How has the bakery been doing these last few months?” Felicity asked.

  “Good. It’s been consistently busy. Some days, it’s been hard for me to keep up.”

  “Hey, on that note, Gianna, I have a confession to make,” Gemma said.

  “What’s that?”

  “I like helping you out at the bakery from time-to-time, but it’s not my thing.”

  “I know.”

  Gemma’s eyes brightened. “You do?”

  “Yeah. I could tell, and I’m not upset about it. I want you to love what you do. Life’s too short to be unhappy.”

  “You can say that again,” Felicity said, raising her glass of tea. “That’s why I had the perfect idea to help my clients find love and I’m thinking it can help me in the process.”

  “I’m afraid to ask what it is,” Gianna said.

  “Okay, picture this—a large banquet room at a hotel, completely decked out and filled with singles, champagne and fancy hors-d’oeuvres.”

  “Okay. I see where you’re going.”

  “And since you already got a man, I figured Gemma could roll with me. You down, Gem?”

  Gemma glanced up at Gianna and quickly returned her attention to Felicity and said, “No, I…um…I—”

  “Gemma’s got a man, too,” Gianna blurted out.

  “Say what?” Felicity said.

  “Gianna, don’t say that,” Gemma told her.

  “Well, it’s true,” Gianna replied.

  “Yeah, but—”

  “Wait,” Felicity said holding up her hands. “Gemma, you got a man?”

  “She does,” Gianna said. “Gemma and Royal are an item,” she told Felicity.

  “We’re not,” Gemma said. “We broke up.”

  “Yeah, over some nonsense.”

  Felicity was still processing the fact that there was something between the two of them. “You and Royal?”

  “No
, Felicity. We broke up.”

  “But y’all had us thinking you were just friends and all this time you’ve been bumpin’ and grinding?” Felicity asked.

  “Ain’t nobody bumpin’ nothing,” Gemma said.

  “Yeah, but somebody gave her an engagement ring,” Gianna said. “Guess who?”

  Gemma glared at her sister.

  Felicity’s mouth fell open. “Okay…please explain to me what’s going on.”

  “Fine since Gianna won’t be quiet,” Gemma said. “Royal and I became a couple about two weeks ago and he was going to ask me to marry him but I broke it off.”

  “Why?” Felicity asked.

  “Because she’s afraid of happiness,” Gianna said.

  “I’m not.”

  “Oh, yes you are. Royal has practically been in love with you from the beginning and what do you do besides pretend he’s not right for you?”

  “I’ve done no such thing. Royal is—” she paused. “Royal is everything I ever wanted, but I’m not sure I’m what he wants. And yes, I realize that makes me insecure, but that’s what I am, and I can’t be sure of myself until I know who I am and what it is I have to offer a man. So far, that’s nothing. As it stands, I can’t drive, I don’t have a job, I don’t have a life...”

  “Sounds like a bunch of excuses to me,” Felicity said.

  “Exactly,” Gianna said.

  Felicity continued, “Because if a man sees something in you that drives him to propose, then dear God why are you questioning it? Do you know how rare that is?”

  “I know, Felicity. I get it, but I want him to be happy. I know what kind of man he is and I know what he deserves.”

  “You’re not valuing yourself when you think that way, Gemma,” Felicity told her. “And you have value. You don’t have your own business, a job—okay, but so what? You’re only twenty. Just understand that your life—your worth is not determined by the things you possess because some of the wealthiest people don’t have value. Know why?”

  “Why?”

  “Because their hearts are flawed. But you, my dear, you are smart, funny, strong and beautiful.”

  “And Royal sees that,” Gianna added.

  Gemma nodded as she fiddled with the ring. Maybe she was too quick to end something with Royal before it really got started.

  * * *

  The women thought they were going to finish off the night by hanging out by the lighted fire pit out back, but when Gianna pulled up in the driveway, they saw cars – Ramsey’s brothers were over.

  “Wait…isn’t that Regal’s G-Class?” Felicity asked.

  “It looks like it,” Gianna replied. She parked the car and the women got out, walked to the house and on into the living room toward the back patio. When Gianna opened the door, she saw Ramsey and his brothers outside by the fire pit with Carson standing at the grill. They all had beers.

  “I thought you said Regal was in Paris,” Felicity whispered.

  “He must’ve come back early. Sorry,” Gianna whispered back.

  “You set me up!” she whispered sharply.

  Gianna tried to hold in a laugh but she couldn’t.

  Gemma chuckled a bit, too, but the stares from Royal had the smile quickly falling off of her face.

  “I didn’t set you up, girl,” Gianna managed to say, but she was still amused. “I didn’t know he would be here. I didn’t know any of his brothers would be here, actually.”

  “Well, hello, beautiful. Didn’t think you would be back so early,” Ramsey said, walking up to Gianna. He kissed her on the cheek.

  “Yeah, we just went to dinner. If I knew you were going to have the crew over, we would’ve stayed out longer.”

  “I didn’t know they were coming over,” Ramsey said. “They all showed up one by one so I told Carson to throw some steaks on the grill.”

  “Oh.”

  Ramsey looked at Felicity. “Hey, Felicity. How are you?”

  “I’m good,” she responded. “Are you still taking care of my girl?”

  “You know I am,” Ramsey said, throwing an arm around Gianna. “How are you, Gemma?”

  “I’m okay, Ramsey.” Lie. How could she be okay with the hard stares of Royal giving her heart palpitations? “I’m going to head inside,” Gemma said to escape the heat of his eyes. “Enjoy the rest of your night everybody.”

  “Ay, who ordered a wedding planner?” Regal asked, stepping up to the group, staring Felicity down almost like he was daring her to say a word.

  Felicity was already rolling her eyes. “I’m not a wedding planner. And what are you doing here, anyway? I thought you were supposed to be in Paris.”

  “And how do you know that? Y’all been talking about me?”

  “In your dreams,” Felicity mumbled.

  Regal smiled. “I’m not going to let you bother me tonight, WB.”

  “You—”

  Gianna grabbed a hold onto Felicity’s forearm to calm her down a bit and to stop her from saying whatever it was on the tip of her tongue.

  “That’s right, Gianna,” Regal said. “Keep your girl in check. She only hates me because she wants me.”

  Felicity cackled, then stopped immediately and said with a straight face, “No, it’s genuine hate.”

  “That’s what your mouth say,” Regal said taking a step forward, staring at her mouth.

  “Alright,” Ramsey said, stopping the war of words between the two.

  “Hey, Gianna,” Romulus said, stepping up to them now. “How are you feeling?”

  “I feel fine. Thanks for asking, Romulus.”

  Then came Royal. He spoke to Gianna and Felicity, then headed for the house. His woman was there and he wouldn’t leave tonight without talking to her. To see where her head was at.

  When he stepped into the kitchen, he saw Gianna filling a glass with water. She looked up at her bearded king, frowned a little then quickly looked away. He had on a gray sweater that emphasized his broad shoulders and a pair of distressed jeans that hung around his waist just right. On his feet, he wore a pair of brown, buckle-detailed Gucci leather boots. And she didn’t know if it was because she missed him but his beard seemed fuller. Eyes darker. Lips more desirable. Dang.

  “Hi, Gemma.”

  “Hey, Royal,” she said softly. She tossed her pills inside of her mouth and chased them down with water. Then she said, “I’m surprised you have anything to say to me.”

  “Why wouldn’t I have anything to say to you?” he asked, leaning against the island crossing his arms, looking at her. “I mean, after all, you are the woman I thought I would spend the rest of my life with. The feelings I have for you won’t die just because you don’t want me.”

  His words almost knocked her off balance. “Don’t say it like that.”

  “What? It’s true, isn’t it? That’s why you broke up with me, correct?”

  Gemma stared at him, then looked away.

  “Correct?” he asked with raised brows.

  “No, that’s not correct.”

  “So you want me, then?”

  She looked at him again and glanced away.

  “I’m not asking you difficult questions, Gemma,” he said taking slow, intimidating steps toward her.

  “I do want you.”

  “Then, if you want me,” he said stopping in front of her, “Why let other people influence the way we feel about each other?”

  Gemma took another sip of water, feeling waves of body heat radiate from him.

  “I came into this with my eyes wide open. I knew what I was signing up for and I made it clear to you that I loved you. That I wanted this—us—more than anything. But you—you’ve been fighting so hard against it that now, this is where we are—you holding back while I’m ready to go all in.”

  “But—”

  “Full disclosure,” he said interrupting her. “I know all about what you overheard my mother say. And you know my mother. She didn’t mean any malice toward you. She was just talking because she was legi
timately worried about me, and rightly so. But I had a conversation with her about it. Know what I told her?”

  Gemma’s eyes teared. “What? That you love me?” she asked with a wavering voice.

  “Yes. That I love you. Know what else?” he asked, placing his hand on her face, using his thumb to brush a tear away.

  “What?”

  He tilted her head up so she was looking at him when he said, “That I want to spend my life with you.”

  “And what did she say?”

  “What could she say? This is our life to live, not hers.”

  “But how can we be together if your mother—”

  “Skip all that,” he said, interrupting her. “My mother may have played a minor role in your decision to break up with me, but it wasn’t the major one. You have a lot of insecurities with yourself because you feel you’re not where I am and therefore, our relationship won’t work. I’m here to tell you that you have to get over it because there’s no way I’m leaving you just because of some insecurities. I don’t care about the license. The job. Baby, you can back up a thousand cars into light poles. I don’t care as long as I have you.”

  Gianna giggled and cried at the same time. And he embraced her warmly and held her in his arms, holding her with a heart full of love. “Now, where is that ring so I can do this properly?”

  “Royal.”

  “Where is it?”

  Gemma tugged at the necklace around her neck where she’d kept the ring since the night he left it on the table. “Here it is.”

  Seeing where she’d kept it only solidified their bond in his eyes. With gentle movements, he unhooked the necklace then secured the ring in his hand. It was then that he lowered himself to one knee, took her hand and said, “Gemma, this is easy for me to do because the last few days without you have been complete torture for me. I know you’re the one. I knew it the moment we met. I knew it when I stayed by your side at the hospital…when I didn’t even know you. And now, I want to make you mine—to show you how much I love you and make you happy for the rest of our days. Gemma Jacobsen, my diamond girl, will you marry me?”