Loving Her

by Tracy Reed

  “What are you doing here?” I pulled back and covered my face trying to hide the tears.

  “Am I fired?” Bas asked, as he wiped a tear that escaped my eye.

  Shaking my head. “You should be. What are you doing here?”

  “I was told to bring this.” He held up a long, pink garment bag. I unzipped it and pulled out a dress.

  “It’s the white J Mendel.” I started crying. “How did you know?”

  “I was going to bring the pink Elie Saab, but your mother said she thought you should wear white.”

  I dragged my hand along the front of the dress. “She’s right. I should wear white.”

  “Oh,” he placed the bag on the bed. “ And, I brought the perfect accessory.” He stepped into the hall and quickly came back. “How about a Maid of Honor?”

  “Kendell!”

  “Alex.”

  “Oh, my God.” I ran over and hugged her. “I can’t believe you’re here!”

  “That makes two of us.” We pulled apart. “What’s going on?”

  “I’m getting married.”

  “I got that part. Bas was trying to fill me in, and I gotta say, I’m shocked.”

  My smile got wider as I looked behind her and saw Moses. “Sounds like a party in here.” Bas turned around. “Hey man, I was wondering where you were.” They shook hands and hugged.

  “Congratulations man,” Bas said.

  “Thanks,” Moses replied.

  I walked over and stood next to Moses. “Kendell, this is my fiancé, Moses Adair. Baby, this is my cousin, Kendell.”

  “Bas’ girlfriend.” Moses extended his hand toward her. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”

  “That’s more than I can say about you.” Her sharp tone was obvious.

  “I know this sounds a little…,” Moses started to explain.

  “Bizarre, insane, impulsive, ridiculous, foolish, absurd…”

  “Kendell...” I bounced back.

  “What? Aunt Connie called me at some God forsaken time this morning…at least I think it was morning. I don’t know for sure, because it was dark outside. She said I needed to come to New York immediately with Bas because you needed me. I spent over five hours on a private jet with my boyfriend, who barely filled in the blanks, only to discover my cousin is about to marry some strange man,” she ranted.

  “Kendell, calm down.” Bas walked over and rubbed her shoulders.

  “No.” She brushed his hands away. “I want to know what’s going on? Is this a joke? Because, it’s not funny if it is...”

  “Kendell, it’s not a joke. I’m getting married.” I held up my left hand showing my ring.

  “Oh my God, that thing is huge!” Kendell blurted out.

  “Nice ice, bro,” Bas shook Moses’ hand again.

  “Thanks. She deserves it,” Moses replied.

  “He did good,” I smiled.

  “So what’s the plan?” Bas asked.

  “That’s what we…,” I started to respond.

  “You’re serious about this?” Kendell jumped in.

  “What is going on with you?” I was shocked at her behavior.

  “Hey Bas, why don’t we let the girls catch up. I saw Mrs. Joseph taking a banana pudding out of the oven.” He kissed me and ushered Bas out, closing the door behind them.

  “What is going on with you?” Kendell retorted. “This is Terrence and Paris all over again.”

  I told myself to stay calm. “I know it’s a lot to take in.”

  “Are you pregnant?”

  “What!”

  “How else do you explain all of this?”

  “Love.”

  “Really?”

  “Yes.”

  “So now you’re in love.” She stood with her arms folded across her chest. “When did you meet this man?”

  “Not that it’s any of your business, but Moses and I have been together over a year.”

  “So he’s the reason you turned down Terrence’s proposal.”

  “I turned Terrence down, because I wasn’t in love with him.”

  “I thought you said it was because he was married?”

  “What’s with you? I thought you’d be happy for me.”

  “I would be if I thought you were in love, but—”

  “Get out.”

  “The truth hurts.”

  “Here’s the truth. Terrence stalked me with Jonathan’s help. They kept that little secret between them and I probably never would have known had I not bumped into Terrence at the airport. My entire relationship with Jonathan was a lie. He was living out some sick boyhood fantasy while being coached by my ex-husband.”

  “I didn’t…”

  “I don’t want your apology, and I don’t care what you think about my relationship with Moses. We are in love with each other and tomorrow, we’re getting married.” I walked over and opened the door. “We aren’t registering for gifts. But here’s one I’d like from you, your absence at my wedding.”

  She walked out and I slammed the door behind her.

  Chapter Three

  Moses

  * * *

  I PRESSED THE PROGRAMMED NUMBER, smiling at the picture staring back at me. My fiancée. It felt good to finally call Alex that. After the second ring, she answered.

  “Hello.”

  “Is this the soon-to-be Mrs. Moses Adair?”

  “Yes, it is. Is this my soon-to-be husband?”

  I could visualize her beautiful smile. “Yes, it is. I need you to come downstairs.”

  “Okay, I’ll be right there.”

  I pressed the button ending the call. A few minutes later, I heard the sound of familiar footsteps coming towards the kitchen.

  “What’s all of this?” She walked over and kissed me.

  “Dinner.”

  “This looks a little familiar.” She looked around the kitchen. “Where is everyone?”

  “Grams and Mom Connie are having dinner with my parents, and Bas took Kendell out to dinner to smooth things over with her.”

  “He’s got his work cut out for him.” Alex walked over to the sink and washed her hands.

  “And Otis and Mrs. Joseph are on a date.”

  “So we’re alone?” She smiled.

  “Yes.”

  “Are you sure this is a good idea, with your repentant thoughts and all,” she teased.

  “I think we’ll be okay. Get the bread.”

  She got the bread basket and placed it on the table and sat down. “This reminds me of when you cooked on our third date. So, what are we having?”

  “Baked ziti.”

  “One of my favorites.” She smiled.

  “Since you wanted to get reacquainted, I thought it would be good to go down memory lane.” I sat down, took her hand and said grace.

  “Does that mean we’re going for a walk later followed by a make out session on the patio?”

  I smiled. “Maybe.”

  “Watch it. I’ll have you know I am an engaged woman.”

  “I vaguely recall hearing something about that.”

  She put a forkful of ziti into her mouth. “This is good, and exactly what I needed.”

  After dinner, we sat and talked. It was just as I remembered, good conversation with the woman I love. It was also the most relaxed I had seen her all day. She didn’t tell me, but whatever transpired with her cousin, really hurt her.

  I leaned over and kissed her. I love how she bites on her lower lip after we kiss. “I’ve been wanting to do that since we sat down. I have a lot of time to make up with those lips.” She smiled and at that moment, I knew I was willing to do whatever was necessary to keep her like this. I gently kissed the inside of her wrist.

  “Watch it mister, we’re not married yet,” she teased.

  “About that.” She tilted her head to the side, another move of hers that pushes my buttons. She doesn’t see it, but it’s the subtle things she does that make her sexy. The biting of her lower lip, the casual way she tucks her hair be
hind her ear, the way she hangs on my every word, and those eyes. I could stare into those beautiful dark brown eyes and never see everything she sees. “You were right.”

  “About what?” She sipped her wine.

  “Waiting.”

  “What?” That beautiful smile had been replaced with a frown. “Is it because of what Kendell said?”

  I gently brushed her arm. “No I shouldn’t have pressured you. I was being selfish. It’s just, I don’t want to waste any more time.”

  “I didn’t feel pressured. It was more of...”

  “Let me finish. The ten months we were apart were very difficult for me. It forced me to think about the past. It also gave me time to ask myself what I really wanted. You, Alexandra, are what I want. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. And if that means we take a little time to get reacquainted, I will do that.”

  “What about your other problem?” She smiled.

  I kissed her palm. “I guess I’ll be taking a lot of cold showers.” I joked. “Seriously baby, I’ll be fine.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yes. So, when you go home, I’m going with you. I’ll get a place and when you’re ready, we’ll get married.”

  “Thank you,” she sighed and smiled. “The past ten months weren’t easy for me, either. I forced myself to confront my feelings about Terrence and Jonathan. I also asked myself what I wanted, and the answer was always the same, you. I want to be your wife, but I need time.” She tucked a stray hair behind her ear. “When I left my office yesterday, I was coming here with the intention of telling you how I felt, and to apologize for my behavior. I had no idea that less than twenty-four hours later I’d be sitting with my fiancé.”

  “So what’s the plan?”

  “I think we should take the next six months---”

  “No.” I protested.

  “No, but you said...”

  “The longest I’m willing to wait is three months.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “Too much time is too tempting.”

  “Anything less than six months will cause suspicion.”

  “Honey, I love you and the longest I’m willing to wait is three months.” She looked at me and then started laughing. “What’s so funny?”

  “You.” She gently stroked the side of my face. “Three months is fine. What’s next?”

  “The pre-nup.” She quickly pulled her hand back.

  “Excuse me?” The tone of her voice reminded me of the first time I heard her signature question.

  “The pre-nup, what are your terms?”

  “I’m sorry, my ears must still be stopped up from the plane, because I thought you just said you wanted a pre-nup.”

  “I do.” She was at full tension mode and ready to pounce. “It’s more for you than for me. God knows I’m not saying anything will happen to our marriage. But I want you to feel secure, and I think you should have your uncle draw up something. I want you to be protected. You get the plane plus a one time cash settlement, no alimony.”

  “I see you’ve given this some thought.”

  “We’ll share joint custody of the children with modest child support until age twenty-one, and I’ll pay for college. I have no rights to your stores and investments, and you have no rights to any of my businesses and investments. Any property or investments we acquire after the wedding, will be split equally. After our wedding, you’ll be made the primary beneficiary of my estate, with an equal distribution between my dad, brother, and Grams, plus some other minor disbursements. There will be a clause added for the children at the appropriate time.”

  “Uh-huh.” She looked like all the blood had been drained from her body.

  “Baby, this is normal for people in our position.”

  “I’m sorry. I’m still trying to wrap my head around the way my fiancé is laying out the terms for our marriage.”

  I know that tone. Let me act fast. I reached for her hand. “We both agree divorce isn’t an option, right?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then what’s the problem?”

  “It just sounds like we’re taking out an insurance policy against our marriage. Oh yeah, and let’s not forget the summary of your will you just threw in. Is there something I need to know?”

  I smiled. “I’m in perfect health and in love with you. Alex, you’re a rich woman now, and I would have reservations marrying you if you didn’t want a pre-nup.”

  “Fine, what’s next?” I see we’re on the verge of an encounter with Evil Alex.

  “We aren’t moving on until we both agree. What’s bothering you?”

  “I never thought...”

  “Okay, look at it this way. We plan to have a daughter and she’ll be a very rich woman, and when she comes home announcing she’s marrying some knucklehead who’s convinced her his gourmet pet restaurant is the next best thing,” She started laughing. “Don’t you want her protected?”

  “Pet restaurant?” She laughed harder.

  “You get my point. In spite of our attempts to dissuade her, she insists on marrying him and when the marriage tanks, do you want her to have to write him a check for half of everything she has because she didn’t protect herself? A rich man or woman leaves an inheritance for their children. I don’t know about you, but I’m not working hard to see some pet chef swoop in and take half of what I’ve saved up for my children.”

  “When you put it like that...”

  “It’s not that I don’t love you. It’s just business and good sense. It’s the same with my loving God. You wouldn’t marry me, if I wasn’t in love with God, right?”

  “Right.” She cupped my face and gently pressed her lips against mine. “Promise me, when our daughter starts dating you’ll run a background check on all her dates.”

  “Deal.”

  Chapter Four

  Alex

  * * *

  I LOOKED AT MOSES AND knew this was what I wanted. I reached for the remote and pressed the pause button.

  “What’s wrong?”

  I felt a smile cover my face. “I love you.”

  He tucked a stray hair behind my ear. “I love you too.”

  I leaned in and gently pressed my lips against his. The smell of his cologne traveled up my nose and filled my mind with memories of the many other times we’d had like this one.

  He circled my lips with the tip of his tongue, teasing me with the possibility of another kiss. I opened my mouth slightly, and the taste of his warm tongue dancing with mine was that familiar shock I needed. I missed kissing him. I missed the feel of those beautiful, full, strong lips pressed against mine.

  He pulled me closer and I knew I didn’t want the moment to end. I was almost willing to risk the consequences. I broke our kiss, smiled, and traced his lips with the tip of my finger. He’s what I’d been waiting for and he wanted to marry me. “Maybe we should get married Friday.”

  “What?”

  “Maybe...we...should...get...married...Friday.”

  He sat up a little straighter. “Excuse me?”

  “I said, maybe we should get married Friday.”

  “Are you sure?” A huge smile covered his face.

  “I’m sure.”

  I leaned in and pressed my lips against his again, and his reaction to my kiss confirmed my thought. Marrying him as soon as possible was the best thing to do.

  “My amazing dinner changed your mind, didn’t it?” he teased.

  “A little, but it was your willingness to comply to my request.” I stroked the side of his face. “We love each other and this is our relationship. If someone has a problem, that’s on them.”

  “What about your dad and your girlfriends? And, your uncle?”

  “I want them here, but if that’s not possible, I’ll be fine. However, I really want Taylor here, but that might...”

  “Taylor?” he asked.

  “Grams told me months ago about your conversation with her, and it’s okay.”

  “This calls
for a toast.” He got up, walked over to the cupboard and picked up two champagne glasses and a bottle of champagne, and filled each glass. “Here’s to love found, love tried, love delayed and love forever.” We clinked glasses, took a few sips and he asked, “What time shall I look for you at the end of the altar Friday evening?”

  “Six o’clock.”

  “Where?”

  “Here.”

  “Then it’s settled. We’re getting married Friday.” He pressed his lips against mine. “Man, I missed those lips.” He put both glasses on the tray sitting on the large velvet ottoman, and pulled me back to his chest. It wasn’t long before we began to trade nods and fell asleep.

  When I woke up, the sun was shining into the room. I looked around and noticed I was alone. I went down to my room and changed into my robe before going down to the kitchen.

  The smell of coffee hit me as I turned the corner and walked into the kitchen. Moses was sitting at the table drinking coffee and reading the paper. I cleared my throat and he looked up.

  “Good morning, Beautiful,” he said, as he walked over and wrapped his arms around me, followed by a sweet kiss. “Want some coffee?”

  “Yes, please.”

  “Have a seat and I’ll get you a cup.” I sat down next to his empty chair and he placed a cup of coffee in front of me, followed by another kiss. “Here you go.”

  I took a long sip from the simple oversized white cup. “That’s good.”

  “How did you sleep?”

  “Good. Why didn’t you wake me?”

  “I tried, but you wouldn’t budge, so I covered you with a blanket and went to bed.”

  “I was so tired, and some things are a little hazy.” I took another sip of the magic potion and looked at my hand. “Oh my God, what is this?” Holding up my hand.

  “Excuse me?” He looked at me.

  “Baby, what is this on my finger?”

  “You’re kidding right?”

  “It’s beautiful! What is it?”

  “Your engagement ring.”

  “Engagement ring? You proposed...when?” I looked at the beautiful ten-karat diamond. “I guess I said yes? So what else happened?”

  “After dinner, you suggested we get married today.”