A fog of steam rolled out of his bathroom. Perched up on pillows sat a fresh faced Deja, clad in one of his shirts. “Feel better?”
“Um hm, starving but squeaky clean.” She eyed the tray of food in his hand.
“Well, it’s good that I have what satisfies your appetite.”
“Egomaniac. That’s not the hunger I was referring to. You know I meant food and a nice tall drink of…juice.” Deja cocked a brow at him and licked her lips. “Come sit with me, and bring the pancakes.” She patted the empty spot next to her on the bed and patted the comforter.
“I aim to please.” Derek crossed over to her and slid the wooden tray with stands in front of her. He watched her struggle with what to try first. Her gaze dropped to the center of her blueberry pancake, eyes widened and a smile spread across her face.
“Oh my! Seriously?” She lifted the engagement ring surrounded by a ring of fresh blueberries atop whipped cream off the flapjack.
“I was going to drop it in your juice, but you have a habit of drinking and looking later.”
“Good thinking.” Deja handed him the ring and held out her hand, wiggling her fingers.
“Deja Crane, will you please take this poor besotted man, who wants to wake up next to you for everyday of his life as your husband, and put him out of his misery?”
“Of course. I already said yes.” She squeaked on the bed jarring the tray.
Derek stabilized it with his leg as he slid the ring on her finger, and then kissed her fingertips. “I promise to be a good husband.”
“And I promise not to always be so difficult and bossy…I mean I’ll work on it.” Deja’s grin brightened up the room. She flexed her fingers and looked at the ring. “It’s so beautiful.”
Pink diamonds surrounded by small clusters of white diamonds fit her well. He was happy she liked it. He’d sweated over ordering the pink and having her ring custom made.
“Thank you.” She leaned over to kiss him, sniffling as her eyes teared up.
“Hey, there’s no crying in baseball.” Derek brought up their favorite line of their number one favorite movie of all time, A League of Their Own.
“I’m just soo happy all over again. I never expected this.” She beamed her disarming smile at him once more. He couldn’t get enough of the way her face transformed into a beacon of light.
“That’s what I love to hear baby.” He swiped a dollop of whipped cream and a piece of turkey bacon, chewing thoughtfully. “This is not as good as real bacon.”
“All bacon is real bacon.” Deja laughed.
“Unless it’s imitation back.” He noticed she tore her attention from the ring to eat. Derek fed her pieces of pancake, and then himself, as they shared the fork.
“I’d have married you for your culinary genius alone.”
He snorted.
“Well maybe not right away but you are a very persuasive man.” Deja spoke between bites.
“Glad to know you can be caught.” He winked and stole her forkful of food.
“Sharing was fun a few minutes ago, not so much now. Don’t mess with a pregnant woman’s craving. You’ll get stabbed with a fork.”
“Don’t bite the hand that feeds you baby.” Derek handed her the fork, since he’d eaten while cooking. She cleaned the plate in minutes as if he was going to change his mind and make her share. He leaned back in bed wishing he didn’t have to work. If the set meetings he was scheduled to attend weren’t important to the future of his business, he’d ditch his hard learned work ethic and dependability that demanded he attend.
“What’s wrong?”
“Work calls.” He removed the apron and leaned over to kiss her fruit tasting lips, then went to the closet to take out his dress shirt and suit planned for the day. While she relaxed after eating, he dressed and checked his reflection in the mirror.
“Have a good day and love you.”
“Love you more.” He loved the breakthrough they shared regarding their relationship. Since he told her not to obsess about things out of her control their relationship flourished. With a shit eating grin, he scooped up his briefcase resting on the dresser and left the room, whistling as he headed out.
Chapter Nine
Deja took a picture of her ring.
Check this out. She texted and sent to Taleena, Nadja and Barbie, hit send and carted her dishes to the sink. Not a dirty pan or plate remained. The frying pan and flap jack griddle lay upside down clean on the dish drain. It paid to have a moderate control freak/dirtaphobe for a man. She washed her few dishes, champagne flute and added them to the drying rack. Derek was so romantic he made her head spin. Her heart fluttered from his unbridled love for her.
I’m really engaged!
After some thinking and rearranging, she decided to forgo her trip to the store, and head over to her parents early. Her phone dinged with multiple inbox messages.
WTG!!!!!!!!! I knew I liked him for a reason.
Thanks Leena. She texted back and scrolled down to the next message to read.
Holy shit that’s the mother load of engagement rings. Whoot. You go rock that holy grail of a ring girlfriend. Onward to your bachelorette party.
Nadja always wanted a reason to party. Football, college basketball, pro basketball, baseball, soccer and the Olympics, their sporting event parties were always thrown at her house. Their men didn’t miss a game if she could help it.
LOL. Deja texted back. She flicked to Barbie’s.
I could stare at that all day if it was on my finger. Congrats on being leg shackled forever. Just think about all the cock left for…well, I’m the only single one left, so it’s all for me. You admire your ring. I got the store we’re slow. You could get a mani and pedi to match as long as you wear a mask in there.
What a novel idea. She hadn’t thought about the paper masks covering her nose and mouth. Barbie offered her the perfect solution and she decided to plan herself some spa time.
A massage, mud wrap and natural pedi and mani without chemicals later, she poured herself a cup of hot coca and added a handful of mini marshmallows, tucked the folder containing all the numbers needed under her arm and settled in her parent’s sitting room.
“Deja is that you? Didn’t hear you come in.”
“I’m here Mama, grabbed some cocoa and just sat down in the sitting room. Is Dad home yet?”
“No, he’s working a double shift tonight. I forgot to tell you. We can visit for a while though.”
“I’d like that.” Deja had so many things to say that her tongue got tripped up. She waited for her mom to join her on the couch with her cup of tea.
You can do this. Hey mom. How are you doing? By the way I’m fantastic. I’m engaged and pregnant. Or. Mom don’t freak. I’m pregnant but don’t worry, I’m engaged and marrying my child’s father. She chewed her lip.
“You okay Deja?” Her mom took a sip of tea and regarded her.
“There’s a lot going on in my life. I’m in love. Crazy in love with my fiancé Derek and we’re having a baby.” Now that she got telling out of her system, she felt better. Her mom sat there, not saying a word. Deja waited.
“Babies are a blessing. I was talking to Essie, one of the church mothers, a few weeks ago about how I’d have to wait for Kat to give me my first grandchild.” At least there wasn’t a barrage of questions, unless she’d shocked her and her mom was biding her time.
“Derek is a great man. I can’t wait to introduce you to him.”
“I’ve heard his name. He’s the white man Kat and David met right? They said he was a nice guy and stayed with you at the hospital and after when we couldn’t come get you. I’m so sorry. That week was hectic for us. Kat was at school, your dad was working and I was dealing with your grandma running away from the nursing home again. When we got there to see you, you’d already been discharged. I’d have imagined they’d keep you a few days, head bump and all. Insurance isn’t like the old days when they really checked a person out and allowed proper tim
e for injuries to present themselves…So have you picked a good doctor or a midwife yet?”
Her mom said all of that without taking a breath of air. She should’ve sung opera or something. “Yeah, a doc came and saw me at the hospital, and then referred me to their local office.” She licked a layer of melted marshmallow off the top of her cup.
“Any symptoms? I couldn’t eat much in the beginning with you. I had morning sickness so bad, I had to have an IV put in my arm once. Your sisters were better. The boys broke my hair and my nails off. Sucked everything out of me and man was I terrified each time. Back then wives stayed home. Having all of you so close together wasn’t easy, but so worth it and every bit a blessing. Now tell me ‘bout your guy. I know your grandma and I were wrong about your ex.”
As her mom stopped to take a breath, her face fell and Deja wanted to reach out and hug her.
“I’m sorry for not seeing what was happening and not believing how bad things were for you. Grandma and I both thought ya’ll were just young and had stubborn attitudes that got in the way. When we realized Malcolm dislocated your shoulder by grabbing you, we were ashamed at how we responded when you came to us for help, for advice.”
Having an apology made her feel better.
“Not having you and grandma on my side hurt. It hurt so badly. And Daddy just blew me off like I was overreacting, like there was no way a public figure would be so dishonest. I understood though. He was a master manipulator. At one point I really believed that getting hurt was my fault, if I hadn’t struggled to get free it wouldn’t have happened. I haven’t heard from him for years. Nice and quiet years.” Maybe they should’ve talked about what happened five years ago. Since then she’d froze them out of her personal life.
“Why didn’t you press charges?”
“I did. He sweet-talked his way out. In the end he paid a huge fine and was ordered to attend anger management classes since it was his first offense. Looks can be deceiving, I learned that very well and didn’t need a second lesson.”
“How do you know your Derek is a good man? You knew Malcolm for years. True colors take a while to come out. How long have you known your fiancé?”
“Four months. And I just know Derek’s a good man. In my gut and the way he treats me. Every issue we’ve had and fought over has been on my end not his. I thought you’d turn him away and not get a chance to find out how wonderful he is.”
“I’m sorry you went through that. We haven’t seen eye to eye on matters of the heart. I know we talked when you were young about the importance of marrying our own kind. Times changed though and we didn’t catch up with the change. Your brothers have dated different races but are far too young to settle. We chased you so far away that you didn’t see us change our way of thinking as well. We never really fixed the bridge we burned with you and for that I am so sorry.”
“They hadn’t told me that, but then again I’m more of an ATM than a sister. I haven’t really spent time or told them about my life. Between working and Derek, I’ve isolated myself. I’m sorry too, seems like we’ve all missed out. Derek is stubborn as Daddy but intelligent and so great to me. Sometimes I ask myself why me? How can he love someone as fixated on success as I am?”
“You are a wonderful if misguided daughter, how could anyone not love you is the question you should be asking. I’m happy for you both. Will he be here for dinner?”
“Yes, I invited him to supper. He’ll be here as soon as he’s out of meetings.”
“At least by the judge of things so far, I’ll rest at ease, knowing he’ll take care of you right.”
“Oh, Mama. I can do fine by myself, but I like having someone to lean on.”
“Have you set a date?”
“No. We just officially became engaged this morning.” Oh no, her mom had the plan of action look on her face. She could see the wheels turning. “There’s plenty of time to plan Mom.”
“Girl, not if you’re marrying him before the baby is born. It’ll be hard to find a good place at a nice price, invitations, food, flowers, entertainment, picking the right preacher and theme, color selection, not to mention plates for the reception, a wedding gown and bridesmaid dresses for everyone.”
“We don’t want fancy or big. Why don’t I help you cook dinner? You can share some new recipes with me.” She attempted to derail the topic of wedding planning before her OCD hit and she began to write lists on whatever piece of paper she could find. The very thought overwhelmed her already, sent her nerves to flutter.
Late afternoon dipped to evening. Perspiration beaded on her forehead. Her mother needed a new fan in the kitchen. With the cold outside one would’ve thought the excessive heat welcoming, right now Deja wanted nothing but to dip her face into a pile of snow for immediate relief. The house phone rang. Her mother moved around the kitchen to put the finishing touches on, making no plans to answer. “I’ll grab it.” Deja picked up. “Hello.”
“Deja vous. I forgot you were coming over tonight. Can you tell Dad I need a pickup please?”
“Why, your car in the shop?”
Katrina sighed. “No lectures okay. I ran out of gas.”
“Kat, Dad’s working a double but I’ll call Derek. Where are you at?”
“I’m on 135th and Metcalf on the shoulder with my hazards on.”
“Well if you get cold head into one of the restaurants. They’re in walking distance. No more than a two or three minute walk. Just call me if you do so I can tell Derek where you’re waiting at. Okay?”
“Will do. I’m good right now.”
Deja hung up and texted Derek, knowing he’d answer a text in a meeting but wouldn’t pick up the phone to answer it.
Kat’s out of gas on 135th and Metcalf on the shoulder…hazard lights are on, can you go help her?
On my way about 10 min from there in a meeting.
Deja sighed in relief. She’d have another talk with Kat about being responsible and how to keep a half tank of gas so her tank wouldn’t freeze. Or maybe giving her a bus pass and taking the car back would prove a better lesson.
Twenty minutes later, and just in time for dinner, Derek and Kat came through the door. Deja set the smothered pork chops, green beans and scorching hot cornbread wedges on the table. She’d singed her fingertips taking the chunks out of the triangle sections of the cast iron pan. All the smells made her stomach rumble in hunger.
“She talk you to death?” Deja turned her face for a kiss from Derek.
“Not at all. I took her to get gas, put some in the car, then returned to the station to fill up. Gave her a gas card to keep in her wallet for emergencies too, and followed her here.”
“He’s a keeper.” Kat kissed his cheek. “Anything left to do?”
“Mom and I cooked a feast. You can set the table.”
“Well, let me have a good look at the man who’s stealing my oldest from me.” Deja’s mom skated past her.
“Mrs. Crane, nice to meet you.”
Oh good going baby. Give her that debonair smile that makes me melt.
“Mom, meet Derek my fiancé and Derek, meet my mama.”
“I expect you to take care of my girl. She puts too much on her shoulders. My fault in part of course. I should’ve put a cap on how much she does for the family.”
“I’ll do my best ma’am.” Derek snuck behind her and kissed her neck.
“How was your day?” His stubble tickled as he hugged her from behind.
“Good, long.”
“Hungry?”
“I’m always hungry baby.”
“My dad’s working and grandma is on lockdown from trying to leave her nursing home again. She set off the alarms again. It’s just my mom, Kat, you and me for dinner.”
“A man could do worse than sharing a meal with three beautiful ladies.”
“Oh stop, you’ve already won me over.” Her mother grinned like a fool. Deja herself was far from immune when he laid on the charm.
“Can I try on your ring?”
Deja almost dropped her plate. “No Kat, but you can get your fill of seeing this baby sparkle on my finger.”
“I wouldn’t have let me have it either but had to ask. It’s so pretty. I’ve never seen the pink stone before.”
“Pink diamonds are around but not every store carries them. I ordered the stone and had them make Deja’s ring around it.”
“That’s so romantic.” Deja shook her head. Her sister had that whimsical tone in voice going on from reading far too many romance novels.
“Sounds expensive.” Her mom quirked a brow.
Deja wanted to throw a piece of cornbread at her mother as heat spread across her cheeks. If they weren’t careful, her mom might think he wasn’t careful with money. Not that she’d tell them he was crazy loaded, their finances were none of their business.
“I really love my ring and don’t care what it’s made out of. I’d have been happy with colored glass, just knowing I received it with love.”
Kat busted out laughing. “Derek what did you do to my sister. Is she a clone? The Deja I know doesn’t like faux anything, shoes, purses, wallets. When I was a teen she would save forever to get one item off of lineup for the season.”
“Leave your sister alone Katrina. A woman in love knows what matters. Might want to go insure your new ring and be careful at work. Always be aware of your surroundings.” She pointed the serving spoon at her.
Deja waited for Derek to intercede and take over the conversation. He, on the other hand, had other designs, like diving into the plate of piled high food.
“I’ll be careful Mama.” They began to eat in silence and for a few minutes she believed they’d make it all the way through dinner—until her mom began with the Crane inquisition.
Only Skin Deep Page 16