Wednesday at Noon

by Teneka Woods

  “Other than this, everything okay with you? I know I don’t have to ask if you’re ready for your party tonight.”

  With a small smile, she said, “I want you to tell me what made you decide to come? Especially since you were so adamant and had no plans to attend just a few weeks ago.”

  Nate chuckled. “Well—”

  “And who is this woman Kaneesa is so up-in-arms about?”

  Nate was happy to skip over her first question. “She’s the one from the sandwich shop where I met you and Mama for lunch that day.”

  Sunny thought back. “So much has gone on since then. Refresh my memory.”

  “She was tall. Sexy tattoo. The one you said was trashy?”

  “Brother, you have got to be kidding,” she said, narrowing her eyes. “The half-naked chick?”

  “She was fully-clothed,” Nate replied. “And beautifully so.”

  “Typical male response.” She rolled her eyes. “You’re in your thirties. You should want a woman, not a teenager.”

  “Oh, she is definitely all woman,” he grinned. Legs and lace flashed in his mind.

  “I recall seeing a shirt small enough to fit Anaya. And this is the woman you want to bring home to Mama and Daddy?”

  “She has the body for it. What’s wrong with showing it off?”

  Sunny rolled her eyes again. “You have weird taste.”

  Nate wasn’t going to entertain that statement considering how she was just a few months away from committing herself for life to a man with a little boy’s mentality. “I should go back downstairs. She’s probably looking for me,” he said. He stood and Anaya began to cry again as he handed her off to Sunny and tried taking his phone back.

  “Cut it out, Anaya,” Sunny warned.

  “Just let her keep it for now. I’ll get it later.” He kissed his niece on the cheek again and left the room in search of the lady in lace.

  EIGHTEEN

  Tora stood in the library, her camera hanging from her neck, as she studied the books on the shelf. Encyclopedias, law and medical science books, collectors’ editions of literary classics. She was bored out of her mind. She was under the impression the whole purpose for being here was to take photos of the pre-engagement party, but no one has said anything to her about what she needs to do. She had no idea where Nate had disappeared off to, and she didn’t feel comfortable roaming the massive estate, especially after that lackluster welcome she received from Mrs. Walker.

  She pulled out her phone to check the time. It was six o’clock. Eric had sent her a dozen text messages throughout the afternoon, most of them telling her what he was doing at that particular moment in time:

  1:57 PM: Just dropped Whitney off at the mall to hang out with her friends. I have about three or four hours to myself now.

  2:32 PM: I was home and suddenly got the taste for some Burns BBQ. Drove all the way to Acres Homes to get some. Have you ever been there?

  3:49 PM: Catching up on my recorded TV shows. Whitney is always getting on me about taking up too much of the recording space.

  4:51 PM: Just woke up from a power nap. I don’t know if I can wait until Friday night before I see you again.

  5:30 PM: I have a house full of bubbly teenage girls… Yikes!

  5:48 PM: How is the engagement party?

  Initially she wasn’t going to respond because she thought it unprofessional to be on her phone while working, but quickly dismissed that logic since for the past two-and-a-half hours all she’s done was a bunch of standing around.

  She punched in a reply. The party doesn’t start for another hour, but I’m here at the family’s home. Bored.

  “There you are,” a voice came over her shoulder just as she pressed the Send button.

  Tora turned around to see Nate leaning on the door frame looking like a distinguished gentleman—a hand in his pocket, one ankle crossed over the other. His lovely features highlighted by the stark white shirt. She was tempted to raise her camera and capture the shot, but was still rather annoyed with him and how this whole situation came about.

  “Nate, I really don’t understand why you needed me here. What exactly am I supposed to be doing?” she asked, her voice full of frustration.

  “Well… come to find out… my sister’s fiancé is not here, so that’s why everybody’s kinda just hanging around. I’m sorry. But I think we will be leaving soon. Do you need anything? Did you help yourself to the snacks and hors d’ oeuvres in the dining room?”

  She wanted to ask what would make him think she would help herself to anything in this house without first being offered. “No. I’m fine,” she said. The toast and orange juice she’d had for breakfast were long gone, but she decided to ignore her stomach’s growl and wait until later to eat. “Just anxious to start what I was supposedly called here to do. That’s all.”

  He nodded. “Yeah, I can understand that. And, believe me, you will be compensated for your time. No doubt.”

  “Oh, that goes without saying,” Tora quipped, but quickly regretted her tone. No matter how agitated she was at the moment he was still a client and she didn’t need to be rude towards him.

  His smile in response made her feel worse. God, he is so handsome, she thought. As a matter of fact, his entire family was handsome. She’d noticed by the poster-size photo of them hanging on the library’s wall, and by the gentleman she’d encountered as she left Bryanna and Melody in the playroom.

  Someone called out for Nate and he stepped into the hallway. They told him everyone was ready to go.

  Nate came back into the room. “See? Just that fast and we’re ready.” Then he walked right over to Tora, leaving just an inch between them as he stood in front of her. Not even her body’s natural reflex had time to react as he invaded her personal space.

  Quietly, he said, looking up at her, “I just want you to know my heart is racing right now at the sight of you in this dress.”

  Outside, Tora was still trying to process what Nate had said. The heavenly scent of his cologne was still in her nose. He’d left her speechless in the library. Mainly because she was worried about who might be in earshot to hear her comeback at his remark. Even still, she didn’t really have a comeback because her heart was racing too.

  She sat in her jeep waiting for Nate and his family to get settled in their respective vehicles. His SUV had her blocked in the driveway and she watched as he went back into the house three times for something. Finally he walked out carrying a boy toddler on one arm, a diaper bag on the other. Tora guessed the woman walking behind him clutching the hand of a little girl was his sister. She recalled him telling her she was expecting.

  How cute, Tora thought, he has a twin sister.

  Nate assisted with putting the kids in their car seats. Then he walked over to her vehicle.

  “Come ride with me,” he said when she lowered the window.

  “What? Why would I do that?”

  “Because I want to talk to you.”

  “Then how will I make it home after the party?”

  “I’ll bring you back here of course. To pick up your car.”

  “Nate, that doesn’t make sense.”

  “Okay. So, how about I ride with you instead?”

  Tora frowned at him in confusion. “Isn’t that the same thing?”

  He chuckled and tapped her door before turning and walking away.

  She shook her head as she watched him through the driver’s side mirror.

  One by one the cars filed out of the driveway. Tora backed out once she had clearance and Nate pulled his truck into her spot before hopping out and joining his sister in the car.

  What could he possibly want to talk to me about? she wondered as she started down the street. She couldn’t imagine being in such close proximity with him. Her mind was still swirling from the proclamation he’d made a few hours ago about wanting to marry her.

  While at a stoplight, she finally read the text message from Eric she’d had to ignore when Nate found her in th
e library.

  Give me the address to where you are and I will come and keep you company. Be your assistant.

  She replied back. That won’t be necessary. We’re headed to the venue, so I’m good now.

  I would love to see you. I bet you look stunning in whatever you’re wearing. How about a late dinner once you’re done?

  Of course she didn’t know how long the party would last and she was prepared to remain there until Nate—or his sister—dismissed her for the evening. I don’t think so. It may be around 11 or later.

  I will still be awake. It’s only Saturday night you know. Perfect night.

  That’s too late to meet for a first date.

  She set the phone in her lap and checked her mirrors. She didn’t see Nate’s sister’s car and didn’t know whether or not they’d passed her on the street.

  Another text message came in from Eric minutes later. I’m going to have Whitney re-schedule our date. Friday night is too far away. What time should I pick you up tomorrow morning? Is 9:00 too early?

  She should have been focused on the road ahead instead of trying to reply her disapproval at his request. The sound of screeching tires snatched her attention back to the windshield just as the car ahead of her did a hard swerve to the left. Tora didn’t have a second to register what the driver was dodging or to hit the brakes before the passenger side of her jeep plunged into the pavement with a hard bang followed by a grisly pop that rattled her from her feet all the way up to her shoulders.

  What the…? The jeep wobbled as she steered slowly to the far edge of the street.

  “What the…?” she said aloud as she placed it in Park and got out, walking around to the other side.

  Her tire was blown.

  She looked back to the street to see what she’d hit. A pot hole that was more of a crater than a hole. “Oh my god.”

  Passing drivers noticed the damaged pavement and were able to dodge or straddle it at the last minute, saving them the same fate.

  “Shit,” she muttered and went back into the vehicle. Of all days, this would happen when I’m on my way to a photography commitment, she thought. How was she going to explain this to Nate’s sister? She grabbed her phone to call her, but quickly remembered she didn’t have her phone number, so she called Nate. He didn’t answer.

  She hung up and called her insurance company for roadside assistance. She’d never had to change a tire in her life. Myles made sure that she knew how to, but he always came to the rescue when she and her mother had car trouble when she was back home in Pittsburgh. And she had been fortunate in the years since to not be caught stranded. So the money she paid monthly for emergency assistance via her auto insurance policy would finally be put to use.

  After speaking with roadside assistance, she called Nate again. She called him a third time and decided to leave a message when he didn’t answer. “Nate, I had a blowout. Please tell your sister I am so sorry, but it looks like I will be a few minutes late. I will be there as soon as I can. I’m waiting for roadside assistance.”

  She exhaled in frustration, pressed the button to turn on the hazard lights, and waited.

  NINETEEN

  “Nate, my man! How’ve you been, man?”

  A hand landed roughly on his shoulder from behind. Nate turned around to see one of his and Sunny’s high school classmates. “What’s up, Travis? What’s going on?” Nate shook his hand, noticing his red face and glassy eyes and wondered how in the world Travis was drunk already when the party hadn’t even fully started.

  But he shouldn’t have been surprised. Travis Ferguson was the kid in high school who hosted the best house parties because his dad was some big time corporate executive and never home, so Travis often invited friends over and they helped themselves to the food in Senior Ferguson’s pantry, his whiskey, and sometimes his Cuban cigars. By their final year in school, Travis couldn’t make it through two class periods before he was sneaking outside to his car for a sip from his thermos. To this day Nate is still surprised that Travis was able to make it through college and law school and go on to become a successful attorney.

  “Hey, man…” Travis replied, “just enjoying life. Doing the things that make it all worthwhile: drinking and fucking! Hopefully there’s a hot single chick here I can take home with me tonight and get lucky.”

  Nate glanced around to see if anyone heard the crass remark. Victoria definitely would’ve had Travis escorted out if she’d gotten wind of it. He chuckled uneasily. “Sunny has quite a few single friends, but I doubt you will be able to get any of them with that type of thinking.”

  “Bullshit,” Travis sputtered. “I’ve tried the whole romantic nice guy thing. Chicks don’t want that. They want a man who doesn’t give a fuck about them—just take them home and screw their brains out. That’s what they want.”

  A waiter passed carrying a tray of champagne to distribute to the guests and Travis grabbed one. Nate was watching the entry doors because they’d been there nearly twenty minutes and he hadn’t seen Tora. He returned his attention to Travis. “How much have you had to drink today, man? Because you’re talking kinda crazy.” He laughed a little so the question would appear more light-hearted than judgmental.

  Travis gulped the champagne down like water. “Only a couple beers with my colleague before I came.”

  Nate knew with certainty he was operating on something more than just a couple of beers. It was seeping through his pores.

  “But you know it’s true,” Travis went on. “I was prepared to buy her a ring and everything. We went out shopping for houses together, too. Everything was great. Or so I thought. But, out of the blue, she told me things were moving too fast, that she wasn’t quite ready for the next step. But I found out just a few weeks ago she’s moved in with some guy who treats her like shit!”

  Nate had no idea who or what Travis was talking about, and he doubted Travis realized it, but he decided not to say anything. His eyes were still scanning the room for Tora.

  “So that’s my attitude about it right now,” Nate heard Travis say. “I will be the asshole they want.”

  Nate shook his head. “Man, that’s a sad way of viewing things, but hey… if it works for you…. I would just hate to see you get a glass of champagne thrown in your face tonight. My sister’s friends don’t play any games.” He reached into his coat pocket for his cell phone.

  “Alright,” Travis said with a devilish grin. “I’ll be nice.”

  Nate patted Travis’s shoulder. “I need to go and check on something. I’ll see you around,” he said, and walked off.

  Sunny was in conversation with someone when he found her, and he didn’t want to interrupt just to ask for his phone. He’d realized it wasn’t in the pocket of his suit jacket. He spotted Geo and walked over to him. “G, have you seen Tora?”

  “No, I haven’t seen her,” Geo shook his head.

  “She should’ve been here by now, but I haven’t come across her yet,” Nate said.

  “Maybe she’s in the ladies’ room. Have you checked there?”

  “No. But I don’t think she would’ve been in there this long if she was.”

  “You never know. She may be like Evelyn. Whenever we go out for our date nights she has to go straight to the restroom when we get to where we’re going and check her makeup. Does makeup come off or something in a car ride from the house to the venue?” Geo laughed softly.

  “She left the house at the same time we did, so why isn’t she here?”

  “If I see her I’ll let her know you’re looking for her,” Geo told him.

  He scanned the room again before walking back over to Sunny. “Hey, sis, let me get my phone from you.”

  “What? I don’t have your phone,” she looked at him.

  “Yes you do. I gave it to Anaya, remember? So you could finish her hair?”

  “Check Deuce’s diaper bag. It may be in there. I don’t know.”

  Victoria had requested a separate space in The Ballroom be des
ignated for small children so parents attending the party wouldn’t have to worry about finding a sitter. That’s how thorough she was about everything. She wanted to ensure there would be no excuses for invitees to give for not being able to attend her daughter’s affair.

  Nate headed for the room on the opposite end of the hall where he and Sunny had dropped off Anaya and Baby Levi when they arrived. A thought occurred to him as he made his way down the corridor. Did Tora renege on him? She was pretty upset earlier about the photographer mix-up. Was this her way of getting back at him? He quickly dismissed the thought. She didn’t strike him as a vindictive woman. But, then again, he knew nothing about her.

  His phone was not in the baby’s bag, so he returned to Sunny. “It’s not in there, sis. What did you do with it?”

  “Nate, I don’t know what happened to it,” she answered breathlessly, clearly frustrated.

  “Did you leave it at Mama’s house?”

  “This is exactly why I don’t allow the kids to play with my phone,” she said. “If it’s not in the car, then I’m sure it’s still at Mama’s house.”

  “Then let me use yours. I need to make a call.”

  Kaneesa approached the table as Sunny searched inside her handbag. With her arms crossed and an eyebrow raised, she said, “Nate, so I hear from Geo that you can’t seem to find your little girlfriend. Is she lost? Or is she the unprofessional I knew she would be?”

  He could have easily told her to mind her business, but decided against it. He grabbed the phone from Sunny and stepped out into the corridor. Although he’d called Tora only a few times, her telephone number was ingrained in his memory.

  She answered right away.

  “Tora, what’s going on? You having trouble finding the address?”

  “I had an accident, Nate. Didn’t you get my message?”