“You’re making a huge mistake,” Charlotte said.
“Why, Mom? Because you didn’t choose her for me? Because she and her mom won’t let you run everything?”
Charlotte looked at Curtis, who sat quietly at the island with his arms crossed. “Aren’t you going to say anything?” she asked him.
“Matt already knows what I think. Yes, he and Racquel are too young to be getting married, but at the same time, he’s grown. It’s his decision.”
“And it’s the wrong decision, too.”
Matthew packed a couple of apples inside his duffel bag. In a few hours, it would be time to take him to the airport. At least for now, he was still planning to stay in school, and Charlotte was somewhat relieved.
“Mom, you’ve disliked Racquel since the first time you saw her, and for no reason. You never even gave her a chance.”
“Because I always knew what she was up to. I told you to be careful with these little fast-tail girls, but you wouldn’t listen. I knew one of them was going to trap you with a baby and then trick you into marrying her.”
“Trick? Mom, I’m not some child who can be fooled into doing something I don’t wanna do. I’m almost nineteen years old. I’m not saying it’ll be easy, but things will be fine. We’ll get our degrees, and we’ll be good.”
“So who’s going to take care of MJ?”
“Racquel’s not leaving for school until fall.”
“And after that?”
“He’ll stay with her parents.”
“And what about us, Matt? What about your father and me?”
“You’ll be able to see him all the time.”
“Yeah, right!” Charlotte said, shoving one of the chairs out of her way and storming over to the sink.
“Mom, why do you always have to be so difficult? Why can’t you just be happy for me and support my decision?”
“Because I want something better for you.”
“But what about what I want?”
“You’re only eighteen, so you don’t know what you want. You’re just doing what you think is right, even though it isn’t.”
Matthew shook his head. “Dad, can you please talk to her?”
Curtis blew a sigh of frustration. “Baby, Matt has already made up his mind, and it’s not like they’re getting married right now, anyway.”
“Fine, then let’s talk about the baby,” she said.
Matt packed a couple of other items from the cupboard and zipped his bag. “What about him?”
“When can we see him again? And when can Mom and Dad come down for a visit? It is their great-grandchild, you know.”
“All you have to do is call Racquel. I already talked to her about it. We realize now that you and her mom are never going to like each other, so Racquel is going to bring the baby over whenever you want.”
“What if I want to babysit him or keep him overnight?”
“I’m sure that’ll be fine, too.”
“Yeah, well, I won’t hold my breath,” she said.
“For one thing, Mom, you have got to change your attitude toward Racquel. If you keep acting this way, it’s only gonna make things worse. That’s the reason her mom stopped wanting you around.”
Charlotte ignored his last comment and walked back over to the island and sat down. “You really should have told us what you were planning to do at church this morning.”
“I wanted to. But I knew you would try to talk me out of it. I also wanted to apologize to our congregation, and that’s the only way I could think to do it. When I got Racquel pregnant, I know I embarrassed both of you. I set a bad example for all the other young men in the church, too, and I’ve always felt bad about that.”
“You did the right thing, son,” Curtis said. “You’re a good kid, and we’ll always be here for you and little MJ.”
Curtis and Matthew bumped fists, and Charlotte wondered why Curtis couldn’t see what she saw. He couldn’t have been that naïve when it came to Racquel, or any young girl for that matter. Had he forgotten that he was the Reverend Curtis Black? And with the kind of popularity and fortune he’d amassed over the years, what girl wouldn’t want to be the mother of Curtis’s grandchild? What better grandfather could Racquel have chosen for her son? What better man could she have chosen to trap than the son of a wealthy pastor? It all made perfect sense to Charlotte, but for some reason, Curtis and Matthew had their heads in the clouds. They saw only the good in Racquel and refused to consider her real motives.
Matthew’s phone rang, and he answered it. “Hey baby,” he said. “How’s the little one?”
As Matthew walked out of the kitchen, chatting with Racquel, Charlotte watched his body language and saw the grin plastered on his face. Boy, did that girl have his little nose stretched wide open.
Curtis reached over and grabbed Charlotte’s hand. “You have to get over this, baby. You have to let Matt make his own decisions.”
“But you know he’s too young for all this.”
“Doesn’t matter. We’re no longer in a position to tell him what to do. He’s an adult, and he has a child of his own now.”
Matthew strolled back into the kitchen, still chatting with Racquel. “I was gonna drive back over, but I’ll just ask my parents to bring me on the way to the airport. That way they can see the baby.”
Charlotte was pleasantly surprised. She wasn’t looking forward to seeing Vanessa or Racquel—or Neil, either, since she didn’t want Curtis picking up on their chemistry—but she was thrilled about seeing her grandson. For now, she’d forget about this engagement drama and would enjoy her time with both her babies—MJ and Matthew—before Matthew left for Boston.
Chapter 18
The Tuxson was still the best restaurant in Mitchell, and even though it was Valentine’s Day, much of the lunch crowd had cleared out. Late this morning, Charlotte and Janine had gone to their favorite spa to receive massages and facial treatments, and for the first time in a while, Charlotte felt refreshed. Ever since little MJ had been born, she’d been through more than she wanted to emotionally, so this outing with her best friend was the therapy she needed.
The distinguished-looking maître d’ seated them in their usual section, near the window overlooking the scenic river, and placed lunch menus in front of them.
“Dino will be with you shortly, Mrs. Black.”
“Thank you, Thomas.”
Janine set her purse on the chair next to her. “This place never changes. Always so relaxing.”
“That it is,” Charlotte said, scanning the restaurant and seeing the cutest little boy, sitting in a high chair. “Gosh, I so look forward to the day when MJ is that age.”
Janine looked in the same direction. “I can imagine.”
“Although, if Racquel doesn’t start bringing him around a lot more and letting us keep him overnight, he won’t even know us.”
“I thought you said you saw him this past weekend.”
“We did, but he and Racquel only stayed for a couple of hours, and we’ve only seen him six times since Matthew went back to school. My parents were here the second time she brought him over, but seeing my grandson only a few times in three weeks is ridiculous.”
Janine looked at her strangely. “And you don’t think a couple of times a week is a lot?”
“Not for grandparents. As a matter of fact, I called Racquel first thing this morning, hoping she’d bring him by, but she wouldn’t answer her phone.”
“Well, you and I both know how it is with newborns. They keep you up all night, and you sort of have to sleep whenever they do. And didn’t you tell me he’s a little whiny?”
“He cries a quite a bit, but only because Racquel doesn’t know how to hold him. She’s just a kid, so what does she know about being a mother? What experience does an eighteen-year-old have with anything?”
Dino walked over to the table. “How’re you ladies today?”
“We’re great, and you?” Charlotte said.
“Wonderf
ul. Before I take your drink orders, let me tell you our specials. We have a great chicken salad with walnuts, mandarin oranges, and a very tasty vinaigrette dressing; broiled sea bass with spinach and potatoes; and finally our house rib eye.”
“Actually,” Charlotte said, “I’ll have a glass of red wine and the sea bass.”
“I’ll have water and the chicken salad,” Janine said.
“Still or sparkling?”
“Still is fine.”
“Sounds good, ladies. I’ll bring out a basket of warm rolls with your drinks.”
When Dino walked away, Janine wasted no time. “When did you start drinking again?”
“I’m not really drinking. At least not in the sense you’re talking about. I just felt like a glass of wine.”
“I really wish you wouldn’t.”
Charlotte pursed her lips. “I’m only having one drink, J. You worry too much.”
“And for good reason.”
“This is the first drink I’ve had since last year, and it’s not like I’m gonna make a habit of it.”
“But you know what happened before, Charlotte. You were completely out of control.”
“Only because of the problems Curtis and I were having. But this is different.”
“Well, you’re not the happiest now.”
“No, but I would be if Matthew would break off that silly engagement.”
“I can’t believe you’re still upset about that. I mean, I know you want him to wait, but at the same time, he’s an adult.”
“Yeah, an adult who’s making the biggest mistake of his life.”
“Things have a way of working out for the best. And even if for some reason they do get married and it doesn’t work out, you have to let Matt live his life.”
Dino set their drinks and bread onto the table and left again.
Charlotte took a sip of her wine. “I can see where this is going to be one of our agree-to-disagree moments.”
“I guess so,” Janine said, setting her glass of water back on the table. “And anyway, I’ve got my own issues to worry about.”
“Like what?”
“My marriage.”
Charlotte was a little surprised at this, because Carl had always been a wonderful husband. He worked hard, he loved his wife and daughter more than anything, and he had such a kind and caring personality. “What’s wrong?”
“I don’t know, maybe it’s me. But I’m not happy, and I feel like something is missing.”
“But you and Carl have always been so great together.”
“We used to be. But now, all he wants to do is go to work and spend the rest of his time at home. The only reason we went away four weekends ago was because I made reservations and told him we were going. It didn’t matter, though, because all he did was watch basketball while Bethany and I ventured out.”
“I’m really sorry, J. Do you think he’s depressed about something?”
“I don’t think so. He seems fine as long as we’re at home doing nothing. But he doesn’t even want to go to the movies anymore, and I can’t remember the last time we got a sitter so we could go out to dinner. As far as I know, we don’t even have anything planned for tonight, and it’s Valentine’s Day.”
“Have you talked to him about it?”
“Too many times, and that’s why I’m really getting tired of it.”
“I pray things get back to normal for you guys. I’m sure this is just a rough patch. We all go through them,” she said, but then she almost dropped the knife she’d picked up to slice one of the rolls. Vanessa, Racquel, and little MJ had just walked in. Vanessa looked dead at Charlotte, but she never told Racquel, who hadn’t seen her.
“That witch,” Charlotte said. “This is never going to get any better.”
“What?”
“Look,” she said, pointing.
Janine turned around and then back to Charlotte. “You’re not going over there, are you?”
“What do you think?” she said, already out of her seat and heading to the other side of the restaurant. When she walked in front of Racquel and Vanessa’s booth, she smiled and said, “Well, hello.”
Racquel seemed nervous. “Hi, Mrs. Black.”
“And how are you, Vanessa?” Charlotte said.
But Vanessa turned to the baby, who was lying next to her, nestled away in his carrier, and opened up his blanket.
Heifer. “So did you get my message?” Charlotte asked Racquel.
“Uh…yes. I tried to call you back.”
“Hmmm. I didn’t see any missed calls from you.”
“I called your home number. I even left a message.”
“I was probably already gone, so why didn’t you call my cell?”
“I saw your home number and didn’t think to try it. I’m really sorry.”
“Can I hold him?” Charlotte asked.
Racquel looked at her mother. Vanessa blew a sigh of disgust but picked little MJ up and passed him over to Charlotte.
“Hi, sweetie,” Charlotte said in a babylike voice. “How’s Nana’s handsome little man doing? Nana and Grandpa love you so, so much.”
Charlotte admired the baby and played with him, but she couldn’t get him to smile. “So when can Curtis and I keep him overnight? We’re just dying to spend a whole weekend with him.”
“When he’s a little older,” Racquel said.
Charlotte swallowed her anger. So at barely a month old, there was nothing wrong with exposing MJ to germs in a restaurant, yet he was way too young to spend time with her and Curtis? You’d think Neil, being the doctor he was, would have stopped them from dragging MJ out like this, anyway, but maybe he didn’t know what they were up to.
Instead of lashing out like a madwoman, though, Charlotte mentally calmed herself and forced a perfect smile. “If it’s okay, I’d like to take little MJ over to see Janine.”
“That’s fine,” Racquel said, looking at her mother. Charlotte guessed she was waiting for approval, but Charlotte walked away before Vanessa could say anything.
“Look who I have,” Charlotte said, when she arrived back at her and Janine’s table.
“Awwww,” Janine said. “What a cutie you are, little MJ.”
“Say thank you, Auntie Janine.”
“He looks like Matt already.”
“I told you,” Charlotte said, moving her chair back and sitting down.
Janine leaned forward. “What are you doing?”
“Enjoying my grandson. Racquel wouldn’t answer her phone this morning, so I’m spending time with him now.”
Janine looked on in silence, but her face was flustered.
Charlotte started her baby talk again. “Nana is so happy to see you, sweetie. Yes she is. And she loves, loves, loves you so, so much,” she said. MJ whined a little, so she rocked him and kept talking to him, but now he cried.
Janine turned around and then said, “Racquel and Vanessa seem worried about him. I think they want you to bring him back.”
“Oh yeah? Well, I’ve been wanting to see my grandson for three days, so Racquel and her mother can just wait.” She rocked the baby more. “Shhhhhh,” she whispered, but MJ cried louder. “Honey, what’s wrong? Aren’t they treating you right over there?”
“Charlotte, people are starting to stare,” Janine told her. “He’s probably hungry.”
“He’ll be fine,” she said, still rocking and quietly shushing him. “He just doesn’t see me enough, is all.”
“But you said he cries a lot with Racquel, too.”
“Yeah, but it’s like I told you. He only does that with her because she doesn’t know how to take care of him. Babies know when another child is holding them.”
Janine leaned back in her chair but looked up when Vanessa strutted over to the table.
“He’s hungry, Charlotte, so I’ll just take him now.”
Charlotte slowly glanced up at her. “If he’s hungry, then why didn’t you bring his bottle over here? I can feed him just as
well as you can.”
“Please don’t do this, Charlotte,” Janine said.
Now little MJ screamed with more tears, and Charlotte finally surrendered. “Fine. Take him.”
Vanessa cradled him in her arms and walked away.
Janine stared at Charlotte, clearly not happy.
Charlotte drank more of her wine. “What?”
Janine shook her head, seemingly confused and disappointed.
Charlotte took more sips of her wine as if nothing had happened.
Chapter 19
Dad, you won’t believe this! Racquel just called me all upset and saying she saw Mom at the Tuxson.” Matthew was talking a mile a minute, and he was outraged.
“What happened?”
“I guess she and Aunt Janine were having lunch, but when Racquel and her mom came in, Mom went over to them. She questioned Racquel about not calling her back this morning, and then she wanted to take MJ to her own table.”
“Why?”
“To see Aunt Janine, but when MJ started crying, she wouldn’t take him back. Racquel said he cried louder and louder until her mom couldn’t take it anymore.”
“Lordy. Son, I just don’t know what to say.”
“And then she keeps badgering Racquel about MJ spending the night. Racquel keeps telling her it’ll be fine when he’s older, but she won’t listen. I told her the same thing when she asked me a few days ago, but she’s not hearing it.”
“I’m really sorry, son. Your mom was completely out of line this afternoon, and I’ll have a talk with her.”
“Dad, this really does have to stop, because Racquel is afraid of Mom. She’s getting to the point where she hates being around her, and I don’t blame her. I mean, how often does she think she should see the baby, anyway? Every day?”
“Actually she does, and this obsession she has is starting to concern me.”
“I’m worried, too, because who keeps a baby while he’s crying like that and doesn’t take him back to his mother?”
Curtis was speechless. He’d known things weren’t getting better for Charlotte when it came to the way she felt about little MJ, but now she was causing scenes out in public.
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