Intimacy (Rose Series Book 3)

by Eden Fortae

  Eden let her eyes close. She listened to his heartbeat and heard the truth in his words. She really didn’t want to be within a million feet of that family, but she couldn’t deny the point he made. She looked up at him, drawing back enough to see his eyes.

  “If you think this will help, I’ll go. Just to get back to making progress and making you proud of me.”

  He kissed her softly, his smile squeezing her heart. “I told you, I’m already proud of you. Come,” the hair covering his jaw and chin made her laugh as he kissed her neck, “let me feed you before we start this day of TV and junk food.”

  “You’re not working today?”

  “I told you, I’m holding your hand through all of this.”

  Donny made her so happy at times the feeling was too much. She wanted to cry and felt like she’d burst. The need to say those three words was consuming, and yet, it was still too hard. Every day, he gave her a new reason to feel it and pushed her closer to saying it.

  Eden couldn’t keep still. Her legs wouldn’t stop moving—her mind all over the place. Walking down the aisle was like stop-and-go traffic. Everyone either took a long time standing over the open casket or comforting her family. Each time they were forced to stop, Eden tapped her foot nervously and scanned her surroundings. This was his second service. The first had been more like a memorial, televised two days prior. It was set up like a concert with famous Gospel singers, other TV pastors, and celebrities paying their respects. Most of the people in attendance now were with the media and people Eden remembered from the smaller church where her father began his road to stardom. They were the same judgmental people who’d made her feel unwelcome.

  “Relax, hermosa.” Donny pressed his lips to her ear. The kiss he left behind calmed her but only for a moment. Somewhere close to ten minutes later, they were at the front of the church. The shiny white and gold casket was lined with the same colors. The suit her father wore looked as if they’d purposely matched it. Upon seeing him, Eden’s chest moved rapidly, her lungs tightening. She couldn’t blink or look away from his face until Kya touched her arm.

  “It’s ok, Edy.” Both of them held onto her arms, helping her walk away. As she turned, Egypt practically shouted over the music and people crying.

  “Don’t cry for these people like you gave a damn about my father.”

  “Who the fuck is that bitch?!” Karrina shouted back, causing people to look their way, including security. Chris grabbed her hand, rooting her to his side.

  “Her sister,” Chace answered bitterly.

  “We’re in a church, Rina.”

  “And that means what? This is the perfect place for me to send the bitch straight to Jesus.” She looked directly at Egypt when she said it. Behind her, Antonio smiled.

  Donny and Kya got Eden to a seat on the other side of the church, close enough to the front to see everything but off to the side in case she wanted to leave. They sat on either side of her holding her hands. The others sat behind them, where they were able to rub her shoulders. Eden did not react until the casket was closed and again later when it was lowered into the ground. Her breathing picked up like she was hyperventilating both times yet, she didn’t cry once.

  When they were about to leave the cemetery, Eden clung to Kya and Karrina’s hands. Donny voluntarily walked behind them to allow them to be there for her, too.

  “Remind me to kick your ass later for not warning me about your sister.”

  “One can never truly prepare for Egypt.”

  “Oh, but she wasn’t prepared for Rina, either. You see how quickly she shut up when you said you’d send her to Jesus?”

  Eden laughed, “She’s used to me being alone. That’s what made me an easy target for her.”

  Karrina scoffed, “Well, that’s done. I hate bullies. Especially the ones shaped like a bag of marbles.”

  Eden snickered then broke into full laughter.

  Kya shook her head. “Leave it to you, Rina, to almost fight in church.”

  “Church, the mall, a prison yard, I don’t care. No one comes for my girls while I’m standing there. No matter how much Chris tries to silence me.” She shot daggers over her shoulder at him.

  “Yeah,” Antonio bumped his shoulder. “Don’t do that shit anymore.”

  “I don’t care how funny it is to you. I’m not letting her slap anyone in a church. If she catches her out here, that’s another story.”

  On cue, Antonio and Karrina stopped and began looking around the cemetery for Eden’s older sister. Chris shook his head, slapping his fiancée on the ass before dragging her away, laughing.

  Having their support turned out to be something Eden didn’t realize she needed. More than before, they felt like her family. Like the support system, she’d always prayed for under Daryl and Sandra’s roof. Discreetly, she looked over all of them and smiled to herself.

  “Eden?”

  They slowed their steps and turned to see Eve and her husband approaching them from behind. Eden squeezed Kya’s hand as her sister stopped in front of them. Her dark skin glistened under the late afternoon sun. Aside from that, she looked like hell. Joe wasted no time walking over to Donny for a handshake. In the last few months, the two had begun to talk more, with Joe informing Donny that he needed a break away from the family. The few times he came over, it was without Eve but with a message for Eden.

  “I just wanted to make sure you’re ok.”

  Eden nodded. “Are you?”

  Eve’s eyes watered, “I’m trying to be.” She sniffled, sending a small smile Kya’s way. “I’m sorry about Egypt. She was out of line.”

  “I’m used to it, unfortunately.”

  “Unfortunately.” She repeated, twisting the single red rose between her fingers. “Um. I miss talking to you.” When Eden didn’t respond, Eve sniffled again. “I know you don’t miss me. I don’t blame you but if it’s not too much to ask, call me sometime?”

  “I’ll think about it.” Such a non-committal answer usually meant no. However, Eden didn’t know what she was going to do. As it stood, she still wanted nothing to do with Eve. Two days from then, two weeks, or two months there was no telling how she’d feel.

  “Ok.” She nodded. “Sam asked me to give you this.” She pulled an envelope from her bag. Her hands were shaking. It took all Eden had not to take hold of it and comfort her. Growing up on false hope, she knew the impact of it and chose not to give in. “See you around.” She smiled again at Kya, held out her hand for Joe, and walked toward the row of limos.

  Eden gave the envelope to Kya instinctively while watching her sister walk away. Sympathy and guilt wouldn’t allow her to stop looking. Not until they were out of sight. “What is it?” She sighed, already frustrated.

  “A summons for the reading of your father’s Will.”

  Eden took the letter, scanning it down to her father’s long time attorney’s official signature.

  “After all the shit they took you through, do you think he left you something?”

  “Knowing my father, he left me a bible scripture preaching about forgiveness. Regardless, I’m not going.” Looping her arm around Kya’s, they walked to the cars with food in mind.

  TWENTY-EIGHT

  It was dark and started to rain. Half-past five in the evening, the street lights were already on. Summer storms rolled through frequently and typically ended quickly. Today, the clouds hung over the city. The gloominess washed over Eden the moment she opened her eyes. Now, it was accompanied by a bad feeling in the pit of her stomach.

  “I can’t believe I let you talk me into this.”

  Donny stood beside the opened door, a large umbrella hanging over the space between him and the truck. He insisted she wait for him, demanding to open doors for her even as the sky opened up and dumped moon-sized buckets of rain on them. By the time he got to her, the feeling had intensified.

  “One more time, why are we doing this?”

  “You’re doing this for closure. I’m here to sup
port you.”

  Instead of replying, Eden pouted. This chapter was supposed to be closed over a year ago when she disowned herself. Then again, with the funeral a week ago. The summons listed yesterday’s date for the reading of the Will. On purpose, Eden busied herself, believing they could go on without her. However, the universe would not let her go so easily. Joe called Donny with her father’s attorney on the line. Donny told her about it over a candlelit dinner in all his charm and convinced her with his skillful hands and tongue. Now that they were parked on the side of Sam’s office, the beautiful high Donny put her on vanished, and her stomach was churning.

  “Donovan, I do want you to be proud of me. But please don’t make me go in there.”

  “Baby,” he started and stopped as she turned sideways, letting her feet hang out of the truck.

  “Do you know what my father said when I told him I loved him? He said, ‘God loves you’. Do you know what he said when I apologized for things I shouldn’t have? He said, ‘Jesus died for our sins. We’ve already been forgiven.’ I watched him give Egypt and Eve affection, and when it was my turn, he gave me the word of God. Fancy cards with scriptures on it for my birthday. Never balloons or a slice of cake. I have a horrible feeling about this.”

  Turmoil took the form of lowered brows and a frown. She could see the war raging within him. There was a desire to help her and the need to shield her. It was the thought of putting him under that type of pressure that’d compelled Eden to get out of the truck. He hugged her to him, rubbing her arm as they walked into the building.

  The receptionist ushered them into a conference room toward the back of the building. The empty round table was comforting. Then the receptionist came back with a large assortment of refreshments, and Eden’s anxiety spiked.

  “That’s too much for just us. Someone else is coming.”

  “Relax, hermosa.”

  “How? I don’t want to see them, Donovan. I don’t want to sit with them while that man embarrasses me one last time.”

  “Just breathe. When we leave here, that’s it. No matter what else comes up.”

  Lacing their fingers was what she used to settle down. Every other time she had to face them, she’d been alone. Not this time. Never with Donny.

  Sam entered the room with his briefcase and a warm smile. “Hello, baby bird,” he held his hand out for Eden. “I’m sorry for your loss and for not reaching out to you at the funeral. As you can imagine, this has been hard for me, too. Daryl was like a brother to me.”

  Eden shook her head, “Donovan, this is my dad’s best friend and attorney. You spoke.”

  “Nice to officially meet you,” he shook Donny’s hand and motioned for them to sit before excusing himself.

  Donny and Eden sat in silence. Her eyes zoomed in on the briefcase, the rebel in her wanting to sneak a peek into it to kill the suspense and all reason to stick around. That plan was dashed before she could propose the idea to Donny. Eve and Joe walked into the room, and right behind them was Kenneth.

  Eden stiffened instinctively. She squeezed Donny’s hand, nervously tapping her foot against the floor. Donny placed his hand on her knee beneath the table. Eve and Joe took notice of the staredown with the latter looking between them and Kenneth.

  “Uh,” he said slowly, “you guys remember each other from the wedding?”

  Kenneth nodded, brushing his hand over the front of his deep navy suit. Compared to them, he was grossly overdressed. Then again, he more than likely knew the outcome of this meeting and came dressed for the celebration that would ensue at the conclusion. His gaze flickered from Donny to Eden and back. Boldly, he held out his hand, “Yes. You were Joseph’s best man. Donald, right?”

  That was intentional. Eden knew, and Donny did, too. He didn’t stand right away or even acknowledge the attempt to shake his hand. With a prize-winning grin, he stood, clasping his right wrist with his left hand.

  “And you’re the perverted bastard who married the oldest sister, right? Should you get the chance to talk to my lady, which I highly doubt, you can ask her my name. She screams it enough to know the origin and every variation of it.”

  Eve choked on her water. Joe’s brows touched his hairline. The satisfaction Eden felt was short-lived. Sam returned with Sandra, Egypt, and a little girl who looked exactly like Kenneth. Against her will, Eden stared at the child. So many things ran through her mind. None of it was pleasant. None of it stopped the churning in her gut.

  Sandra looked at Donny with familiarity, then took one look at Eden and sat on the other side of the table. The ever-present nonchalance on full display. On the other hand, Egypt chose to look Eden up and down with her nose turned up. Today, she wore a smirk like she, too, knew what was going to happen.

  Sam sat at the head of the long table, seemingly unaware of the change in the air. “Good Afternoon, everyone.” From his briefcase, he pulled out a prepared statement and laid it face-down. “Before we begin, I would like to extend my deepest sympathy to you all, again, and let you know that I will always be here should you need anything. Daryl was like a brother to me, so we will always be family.”

  “Not all of us,” Egypt scoffed. Sam spared her a fleeting glance. The way he looked up at Eden spoke volumes.

  “Are we ready?” He inquired, looking at Egypt from the top of his expensive, gold-rimmed glasses.

  “Yes,” she replied sweetly, making a show of caressing her daughter’s back.

  Sam began reading a statement filled with a bunch of blah about her father’s life and things Eden couldn’t care less about. In her head, she was everywhere but there. In Karrina’s backyard watching the babies play in the tiny pool. Hae’s kitchen, listening to her bicker with her husband. Sitting on a sandy shore, right where the water touches land, watching the waves roll in. Physically, her palms were sweaty, and her fingers were crushing Donny’s. To stay grounded, she decided it was best to focus on him. As Sam continued, that was what she did.

  “Being of sound mind and in the presence of witnesses, I, Daryl Edgar Parks, hereby decree my estate as follows. To my adoring wife, Sandy, my greatest memories of you were always surrounding the days after we met. I knew you were made for me and that our love would last a lifetime. I leave you our home, the property in Key West, which has been paid in full. One-million-dollars for the maintenance of each property. One-million for your comfort. May you enjoy the sun as I have enjoyed you.”

  Donny moved slightly. The reason, Eden didn’t know, but the look of amusement on his face was unmistakable. Throwing caution to the wind, she let her eyes travel to Sandra, who didn’t look pleased.

  “To my faithful, oldest daughter, Egypt, I leave you five-million-dollars. Some of which is to be set aside for Kennedy’s education. I pray that she will make you as proud as you’ve made me.”

  Egypt’s smile faltered, and that, alone, gave Eden solace.

  “To my kind-hearted daughter, Eve, I leave you five-million-dollars for your dream home or to continue your education. I trust that you will always be the glue that holds this family together. Everyone will need you more than you realize.”

  Eve and Joe were the only ones smiling. On the other side of Egypt, even Kenneth appeared confused.

  “To my sons-in-law, Kenneth and Joseph, you’re everything I could’ve wanted in sons or husbands for my daughters. I have faith that you will continue to stand strong for my girls, cherish, and support them as you have. Joseph, I leave you all of my worldly possessions, including and not limited to cars, clothing, shoes, and jewelry. Kenneth, all those years, side by side, you were always meant to replace me. I leave you my church, for I believe God has sent you to carry on my life’s work.”

  Egypt and Sandra began to whisper, with Sandra placing a calming hand over hers. Kenneth sat with his fingers steepled against his lips, unperturbed. It was the strangest thing. Eve aside, none of them had ever seemed to care about material things or the money. Sure, her mother wore fancy dresses and outrageous hats, but Eden
had never known them to be that interested. Yet, you could choke an elephant with the tension in the room. Again, seeing them uncomfortable brought Eden joy. Samuel’s eyes landing on her, however, was sobering.

  “Last, but not least, to Eden, my free-spirited youngest daughter,” Samuel sat up straighter and cleared his throat, “God’s plan is one that I’ve never questioned for he is King and all-knowing.”

  Hearing that, her grip on Donny’s hand tightened again. She went back to looking at his profile. He turned to her, bringing her hand to his lips.

  “I’ve spent many days and nights on my knees, asking God to tell me or at least show me the way with you. Instead of showing me what I wanted to see, I was shown what I’d chosen to ignore. You created your own way, showing me that all of God’s plans are not to be understood but respected and accepted. I’ve set aside five-million-dollars to be donated to ten separate churches in your name.”

  She gritted her teeth to bite back the lump forming in her throat. Donny noticed the tears forming and shook his head. He was telling her everything would be ok. Reminding her that he was with her and would always be.

  “And I leave you the remainder of my estate—”

  “What?!” Egypt screamed, pushing out of her chair so harshly it fell backward, and she almost dropped the child in her arms. Sandra quietly got up and left, slamming the door on her way out.

  “I leave you the remainder of my estate,” Samuel reiterated, “ten-million-dollars as well as any future profits from previously published books, television, and movie royalties. May the path you have formed lead you to God and true happiness.”

  Stunned, Eden barely blinked. When she did, her eyes filled with more tears. Donny’s shock morphed into the biggest smile. Ten-million and future profits. Daryl Parks perished at the young age of fifty-five. Thirty plus years after pursuing a career through the church. Twenty-seven years after he became the combination of Joel Osteen and T.D Jakes. That meant years of fat checks for books, movies, and guest appearances. All of which was now, legally, Eden’s.