“Beautiful isn’t it? I know you don’t fly much. Just trust everything will be fine.”
“You’re right mom. I cannot wait to see Auntie Sondrea. Sunny. Will Gran Jewel be there?”
Roya half smiled and responded, “She should be.”
Joy pointed at the window to get Roya’s attention to look and then shook her arm while Roya put her headset back on to listen to the satellite radio stations. Roya smiled and waved back at her to enjoy the glorious view outside of the plane window.
Sondrea
After four hours in the air, the family was anxious to get off the plane. They zoomed past the crowd to baggage claim. Sondrea yelled loudly when she saw them.
“Hey! Roya! Joy. Javon. Tavon.”
“Hey,” they responded.
Sondrea greeted the boys and lowered herself to kiss and hug Joy.
“Aunt Sondrea, I’m not a little girl anymore. You didn’t have to bend down to kiss me,” Joy sassed.
“Girl, please, you will always be my little angel.” Sondrea wiped her ruby red lipstick off Joy’s cheek.
She raised herself to hug the boys. “Miss you guys. Love you.”
“We love you too, Auntie,” they responded happily. “Thanks for the luxury accommodations. Mom would have done it tight on the purse strings,” Javon said, watching Roya roll her eyes.
She turned to embrace Roya a bit tightly.
“Sis, calm down. I’m here. A hug like that and I’m losing my oxygen.”
“Stop it,” She shooed, waving her hand.
“You nearly hugged me to where I thought I’d never breathe again,” Roya joked.
Tavon and Javon cracked up so hard, their faces blushed red. Joy followed Sondrea to get something to drink and use the bathroom. Roya stood by the baggage claim area, patiently waiting for their bags to roll down the ramp. Sondrea rushed back to help with the luggage. The boys stood ready to grab their own bags.
“So, where’s Bernard? That’s his name, right?” Roya asked, glancing down at Sondrea’s diamond ring.
“Yes, that’s his birth name, but I call him “Big B”.
“Hm. Okay, Sis.” Roya shot back jokingly.
“I see you’re looking at the ring Bernard got me. I thought you saw this already. We’ve been engaged for a while now.”
“So much has happened since…” Roya stopped in midsentence.
Sondrea continued, “But the date’s official. At the rate things are going, what with touring and wedding plans, it’ll feel like days! I’m so happy!” Sondrea shouted as other passengers turned around to see who was talking so loudly. She covered her mouth with her manicured nails, giggling, and Joy embraced her aunt around her waist.
“Joy, how tall are you now? You’re almost my height.” Sondrea grinned as she hugged Joy back.
“I think the last time I saw the doctor, I’m five foot two.” Joy looked up at her aunt’s face.
Sondrea’s eyes sparkled. “Okay, I’m five foot nine. Soon, you might be as tall as me, but you’re only an inch under your mother! She’s like five foot three, I believe.”
Joy nodded her head in agreement.
“Hey, Mom, I see our bags!” Tavon kneeled down to reach for his bag as it spun around the carousel.
Roya pushed the bag off the side of the rail when it spun around. She didn’t want him to get hit in the face with one of the bigger pieces of luggage swinging around the edges. Tavon nodded and pulled the bag off the carousel. Javon displayed impatience about his bag, yelling, “When will mine get here?” Roya patted Javon on the head, reassuring him that it’ll be coming out soon. Sondrea smiled. Roya chuckled inside. Sondrea shrugged in anticipation.
“What was that for, Sondrea? You thought I didn’t see that. And by the way, you still didn’t answer my question,” Roya snapped, crossing her arms.
“I just can’t wait to be back in my baby’s arms,” Sondrea said as she shook her hands in front of her. “I’m nervous too. Excited. There are so many emotions going on right now.” She took snips of breaths. “Did you feel like that when you married Solomon?” Sondrea questioned, staring into Roya’s eyes for a response.
Roya stood for a long moment, staring at her sister.
Tavon turned around to hold her hand, saying, “Yeah, Mom! How was it with Dad?”
“Javon, there’s your bag. Grab it!” Roya obviously lost her train of thought when she watched Javon’s bag drop off and begin rolling toward him.
He bumped into a bystander to reach for the bag. The grotesque man standing next to him lifted up the bag and sat it next to Javon. “Thank you, sir,” Javon said. He jogged to Roya’s left side. She brushed her fingers through the wavy grooves of his hair. Then, Sondrea tapped Roya on the shoulder, waiting for her answer.
“Oh, I almost forgot,” she gasped. “It was romantic. Beautiful. I was surprised when he proposed.”
“I see, Sis,” Sondrea said, waving her hands, go on.
“Sol flew to Los Angeles for a wedding he prepared for me on such a short notice. I couldn’t—breathe.” She took a deep breath. “I felt like I was going to suffocate,” she added. “Anyhoo, where’s Bernard?” Roya asked again.
“He couldn’t make it.” Sondrea sniped. “He made other arrangements, like getting the limo to pick you up.”
“As your big sis, I’ve got to ask you this. Do you really love him? Does he really love you? I’m still a little leery about him. I hardly know him. He seems to be too powerful in the enemy hierarchy, getting rid of my pursuers,” Roya said protectively.
“Don’t worry, sis, I do love this man. I trust he loves me too.”
Roya’s eyes became watery as Sondrea gave her a side hug. Sondrea felt Roya’s energy—she could tell Roya didn’t trust Bernard, sensing that he was deceitful or could be hiding something. Big Sis could be paranoid and overly cautious since so much has happened to her in the past couple of years. Overall, she just wants the best for me. Sondrea smiled.
Joy pointed at their bags. Sondrea and Roya rushed to the front of the baggage trolley. Together, they pulled the last three suitcases off. Roya rolled the two suitcases and Sondrea trailed behind her as the boys raced out the push door.
“Boys, slow down. You don’t know where the transportation is!”
“Mom, it’s right here! Look. Right, Aunt Sondrea?” probed Javon as Tavon ran in front of the limousine near the airline post outside.
Roya pulled Sondrea next to her, to speak softly, “Where are you getting this money for all this?”
“He has a solid job and wage. Federal.” Sondrea whispered back.
“Does Bernard have the mark?”
Sondrea held her hand up. “Stop, Sis.”
“We’re in difficult times now—our credit cards are 666 encoded. I listened all of the last six months while the Congress debated the new Driver’s license law, chipping the licenses. The states have been given the right to monetize them,” Roya glared sternly over her shoulder at Sondrea. “You do know—and realize—all this, don’t you?”
“Serious, Sis. Stop this nonsense!” Sondrea’s voice rose to a yell.
“Mom still uses those cards, and ignores the fact that they’re marked in card form like our IDs. Long as she’s not injected with it!” Roya snapped back.
“Get in the limo. You’re making a scene,” Sondrea pushed her firmly.
“Don’t touch me like that, Sis,” Roya swung to the side.
“What you think I’m dumb or something?” She placed her hand on her hip and flagged her to get inside. “Roya you’re tripping. You should be happy like your kids.”
Roya threw her hands up, “Whateva,” She said snidely.
“Come on, we shouldn’t have them waiting for us in a no parking zone. Plus, we’re charged by the half-hour.”
Sondrea quickly sashayed to the other side of the limo.
Roya
The limousine halted in the circular driveway of Sondrea’s opulent six-bedroom house, Sondrea, not wanting Roya
to lift a finger, helped to sort the bags while the driver took most of them inside. She showed the family their rooms and explained that they could have their pick of the fridge and whatever else while they were there. Roya wondered how they could afford the upkeep of this California style mini-mansion. She noticed the security around the home, and recalled Solomon had a similar system inside their mansion too. She wondered where the panic room could be located in the home. However, she didn’t wish to alarm Sondrea while she was spending time with her niece and nephews. She’d snoop around the house alone.
Lavonne rang the doorbell. Roya ran to the door, thinking it was Sunny at the door. She opened it, instead seeing Lavonne. They embraced each other. Lavonne cried, “Roya, I missed you.”
“Me too.”
“I was worried about you.”
“No need.”
Roya, there’s someone I want you to meet.” She flagged her mate to come closer to the door after parking the car. He drew nearer, she reached for his hand. “This is my fiancé, Mark Mathis.”
“Is he related to Judge Mathis?” Roya joked.
“Actually, he is. He isn’t his son though,” Lavonne laughed.
They shook hands, both saying at the same time, “Glad to meet you,” in an appropriately formal monotone and bowing their heads.
“Wow, so much has happened since I left for Philly, I see. What’s up with Sunny?” Roya asked, seeing Sunny just pulled up in the driveway to park the car. Her eyes twinkled as she looked at her sisters. “Should I ask her when she’s getting married too?”
Roya raced out of the house to her car. Sunny hopped out of the car and tears flowed down her eyes. She whispered in Roya’s ear, “I’m glad you’re here. I’m glad God watched over you and the boys. I heard the news on satellite radio. I love you.”
“Wow, you’re the first that said this,” Roya embraced her. “Yes, we’re fine. Have you spoken to Josh lately?”
“Nope. We’ve not tried to call him, either, not since he came to Los Angeles to get you. He was there with you in Philly, right?” Sunny stood back to take a good look at Roya.
“Yes, for a while, but he had to go back to Florida. We stayed in a motel for the time being.”
“Really, Sis.” She sighed and folded her arms. “I hope to hear from him soon. Send him a text.”
Roya waved her hand, brushing the idea off.
“He’d love to be here,” Sunny smiled, and added, “Hint, hint.”.
“Wait a minute, let me text him, really quick.” Roya yanked on Sunny’s arm before she went inside the house.
After sending her text message, she asked, “Sunny, do you know Bernard?”
“Don’t worry. I believe Sondrea knows what she’s doing.”
“Alright, if you say so.”
“It sounds like our big sis is concerned. That’s cute,” She blew her a kiss. “I hope you’ll be like that for me, when it’s my turn. Did you hear Lavonne’s news?” Sunny sniggered as she turned to enter the house, missing Roya’s responding nod.
The teens raced into Sunny’s arms. She embraced everyone who came to greet her. The boys stood on her left and right side as Joy centered in eye's view, joyous tears fell from their eyes, and so happy they all made it here safely. Lavonne stood with her hands on her hips, pouting, “What about me? I was in here at the house before your Aunt Sunny stepped inside.”
They followed with a hug for Lavonne. Lavonne kissed all of them on their cheeks. She introduced them to Mark. All of them greeted him with smiles and handshakes. Roya didn’t finish her snooping in the mansion and figured her next opportunity would be when everyone was sleeping. Again, she asked herself, where is Bernard? He’s not even here when we arrive. It seems a little peculiar.
Mark left after eating lunch, promising Lavonne he’d pick her up in a few hours. “Well, he seems like a very pleasant fellow, Lavonne,” Roya said after they waved him out and watched him drive away. “Let’s grab our tea and popcorn and sweet potato pie and go visit on the patio.”
“So, how long you’ve known this man before he asked your hand in marriage?” Sondrea blurted out, spewing some of the popcorn she’d popped in her mouth.
“Well, you hardly let me start the story, Sondrea,” Lavonne said.
“Okay, Missy,” Sondrea responded with an edge to her voice.
“I was on the elevator at work, and he ran to catch it as the doors were closing. I pushed the button to open and hold the elevator doors. He was all sweaty and rushing to his office on the fifth floor of the law firm to get his paperwork for his next court case. I was getting off on the same floor to turn in some of the files we had. And this is the weird part, those files happened to be on the same case he was working on. After I passed the paperwork to him, seeing his name on the envelope, he called me his life-saver. He gave me his business card and promised to take me for dinner after work. I was speechless, and like a green intern, I just stood there and nodded my head,” Lavonne laughed at the memory.
“So, what happened next? Joy, go back inside with the boys since grown people are talking,” Roya said when Joy started to pull up a chair to listen to her aunt’s chit-chatter.
Joy tsked. Pouting, she headed back inside to the entertainment room adjoining the patio.
“I’m trying to get to that,” Lavonne said as she looked at the sweet potato pie sitting in front of her, licking her lips. “After work, he wasn’t anywhere in the office. I took the elevator back up to the fifth floor, and saw his door was closed, so I went back to my office, thinking maybe he found out where I worked since we have a directory available to us online. I was the last one in the office and turned out the lights. I stepped outside, raining down like cats and dogs. I didn’t have an umbrella either. I pushed the doors and there was a man with an umbrella already opened. He asked me to step under with him to the next available cab.”
“For heaven’s sake, Lavonne, please tell me it was him,” Sunny said, laying her hand on Lavonne’s arm.
Lavonne watched as Sunny reached for more popcorn with a mischievous gleam in her eye. She laughed. “Yes, of course it was him. We drove to a nice restaurant where you need reservations. He knew the guy at the door and gave him a hundred-dollar bill.”
“Wait, I thought they don’t take money anymore?” Roya conjectured.
“Tips. How else would they get tipped? Well, this place he goes to eat still take cash. They have a machine inside that converts directly from their bank account for the restaurant. I saw that part, but I don’t know all the other technicalities. I couldn’t stop staring into his bluish-green eyes. He has those beautiful colored eyes like Gary Dourdan. You know the one that was on the first season of the CSI TV Series. He was the only black brother that worked with the CSI team. Remember that old school video with Janet Jackson, where she was writing on a pad of paper, dang I cannot think of that song.”
“Girl, no need to explain, I saw his eyes. They’re stunning,” Roya countered. She smacked on the popcorn, drained the remainder of the tea in her glass. “Anything else about this amazing fiancé of yours?” she asked as she filled her glass with more tea.
“Well, I was also intrigued with his background and story,” Lavonne added.
“Give, girl, you’ve got us hooked,” Sunny said. “We want the whole thing, too, right up to the engagement ring.”
Curious, Sondrea rested her chin on her palm, leaning forward with her elbow on the table. “What, he seriously told you about his life on the first date?”
“Yes. Well, some of it. Some of the important things he wanted me to know right away about him. He said that he was going to the academy to be a cop. He felt forced to go to the police academy or the military because his father did both. After the first week or so of police academy, he knew he wasn’t meant to be a cop. He couldn’t break the news to his father because it’d break his heart, so he finished the course and became a cop.”
“Oh, wow. What a life experience! Now he’s a lawyer?” Roya fanned h
er face, “Whew, sounds like you found a gem.”
Lavonne, beaming at Roya’s praise, continued her story. “Once he got assigned on the force, he knew he loved the police work and research, not patrolling the streets. He decided to study for the LSAT and scored rather high on the first time he took the test. He also was intrigued with forensics. He graduated with Cum Laude honors. Now, he’s a criminal law attorney and cracking a serious trial now. He’s been very secretive about this case, and he’s said he doesn’t want me involved. However, I’m sure we’ll have some exciting opportunities to work together.”
“With all this AI and high tech, who knows? He could be undercover.” Roya added.
“I didn’t bother with reviewing the paperwork when I first handed it to him. Since I was a law clerk, the other attorneys tasked me with the delivery. Mark helped me with my cases in school and the mock trial. I have two months left after finishing these summer courses at California Western. I met him only about three months ago. He said that never met a girl like me. We just got engaged about two weeks ago. I believe it was a couple days after you left, Roya.” Lavonne raved.
“That’s exciting,” Sondrea said trailing off to a quick pause before she continued.
“Why haven’t you told us about him?” Sunny and Sondrea said simultaneously, and all four women laughed at their surprise.
“To be honest, I was scared. I know we’re Christians, but after the dinner date and meeting him on the elevator, I went back with him to his mother’s house and we made out.” Lavonne lowered her head in shame.
“Are you saying that you slept with this man on your first date?” Sunny asked.
Embarrassed by the revelation, Roya dropped her head.
Sondrea interjected, “I’m guilty of the same thing.” She raised her hand.
“Yes. I didn’t want to tell you guys. I know that I wasn’t supposed to sleep with him unless we were married, but he was so charming. Good looks and all.” Lavonne held her head low.
“Some believe you should test the goods before marriage.” Sondrea added.
“Not saying this is right or wrong, but what I did is a sin against God. I felt guilty afterwards especially when his niece entered the room.” Lavonne finished her story.
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