Small Sensations

by Crystal V. Rhodes

  Despite the lack of time, Davia made a special effort to comply with Katherine’s request to see her. If there were any stumbling blocks between Justin and her, it would be his mother and time, in that order. Time she could handle. Katherine might prove more difficult.

  Katherine had invited Davia to her home for lunch. That request concerned Davia. Justin’s mother was not the type of woman to engage in public confrontations, but Davia had no doubts that she had no qualms about private ones. Well, the woman had better be careful, because Davia was overworked and stressed out. The combination could prove to be dangerous.

  Things went well on her arrival. Katherine was a gracious hostess. They exchanged small talk about the ball and the weather. Davia let Katherine take the lead and started to relax a bit, but not too much. She knew that Justin’s mother would show her hand at the appropriate opportunity. She was right.

  Sitting back in the elegant French provincial dining chair, Katherine pushed her half-eaten salad aside and folded her well-manicured hands on the table before her. Giving Davia a wan smile, she got straight to the point.

  “You appear to be a very astute young woman, Ms. Maxwell, so something tells me that you know why we’re here.”

  Davia pushed her salad aside, folded her well-manicured hands on the table and returned Katherine’s smile. “You’re correct about my being astute, Mrs. Miles, but just in case there might be a misunderstanding as to why I am here, why don’t you clarify the reason for me.”

  Katherine paused and made a visual assessment of Davia. “Who are you, Ms. Maxwell? It is obvious that you come from the streets. One can acquire polish, but one can’t acquire breeding.” She paused, waiting for a reply that did not come. She continued. “I happen to know that your name is not Davia Maxwell. So who are you? And what are you after?”

  Davia willed her body not to respond to Katherine’s revelation as she held her gaze. “My name is Davia Maxwell, Mrs. Miles. If you can prove otherwise, do so.”

  Katherine sneered. “Oh, I can prove otherwise, my dear. You can tell my son that lie, but I know differently.”

  Davia’s demeanor remained calm. “And what is it that you think you know about me?

  Katherine’s smile wavered at Davia’s unruffled manner. Could it be the information that she had been given was wrong? “I know that your first name is not Davia. You changed it. It was Shanay or Nay Nay or some such nonsense, and your former address was in some project in Chicago. You have no parents. You appeared to just have shown up one day at the home of a Mr. and Mrs. Johnson, who took you in. There is no record of a formal adoption or guardianship. Yet you were bold enough to use their last name until you moved here to Atlanta. But when you moved here, you changed your name legally to Davia Maxwell. You even enrolled in college here under that name. Shall I go on?”

  Davia didn’t answer. Her body had gone cold. Fighting to maintain control, she refused to waver from the steady gaze of the woman sitting across from her.

  Unable to get the response she was expecting, Katherine’s tone turned deadly.

  “As you can see, Ms. Maxwell, I’ve had you investigated, and I am appalled at what I’ve been told. A birth certificate at Cook County hospital in Chicago has a Shanay Johnson giving birth to a baby girl about nineteen years ago. This Shanay Johnson couldn’t have been more than fifteen years old.”

  Davia’s gaze didn’t falter, but her breathing did. It escalated. Katherine noticed.

  She smelled blood.

  “The birth certificate had the child’s name listed as Stephanie Johnson.”

  Davia leaned back in her chair at her child’s name tumbling from the lips of this hateful woman. The fire in her eyes ignited.

  Katherine leaned forward, ready for the kill. “Lo and behold, four years ago at Grady hospital a baby girl was born to a girl named Stephanie Maxwell. A girl who was the same age as Stephanie Johnson would have been. I say would have been because, unfortunately, the poor girl died giving…”

  “Stop it!” Davia hissed. Her chest felt constricted as her lungs fought for air.

  Katherine turned the knife. “Stephanie’s child’s name was Gabrielle, Gabrielle Maxwell. Father unknown.”

  “I told you to stop it!” Davia slammed her fist on the table. Silverware jumped. China rattled as she leaped from her chair. “Don’t you dare say another word!” Her eyes seared Katherine, who sat back in her chair in triumph.

  “What’s going on here?”

  Katherine looked startled as Justin walked into the room. Like a chameleon, her manner changed as she smiled up at him sweetly. “Justin, darling, what are you doing here?”

  He ignored her as his eyes stayed on Davia, who didn’t move or acknowledge his presence as she stared daggers at Katherine. Looking from one woman to the other, he approached them cautiously, his brows furrowed in uncertainty.

  “Davia? What’s wrong?” He noted her rapid breathing, the look of rage on her face. She remained immobile. Her silent fury permeated the room. Justin turned to Katherine.

  “I had some free time so I thought that I would stop by and say hello.” He turned back to Davia, who still hadn’t acknowledged him. “I called your office and you were out. I had no idea you were here until I pulled up and saw your car outside.” His gaze took in the table and the half-eaten meals before transferring back to Katherine. “So tell me, Mother, what is this all about? It’s obviously not about sharing a friendly meal. I could hear Davia’s voice as I walked down the hall. What did you do to her?”

  Katherine looked taken aback. “I beg your pardon? You make me secondary on your ‘to do’ list, then come to my home and accuse me of doing something to her?” She glared at Davia’s defensive stance. “She was the one raising her voice to me like some uncouth barbarian, not vice versa. Your concern should be for your mother and not this…this…”

  “That’s enough, Mother.” Justin’s warning was stern. Moving to Davia, he put his hands on her shoulders and gently eased her rigid form back into the chair.

  Katherine’s eyes widened in disbelief as she rose to face him. “How dare you speak to me in that tone of voice? What has gotten into you? Has this woman become more important to you than I am? You don’t know anything about her. Believe me, you don’t.”

  Justin shook his head in exasperation. “I know what I need to know, and I don’t need your approval about who I date.”

  “You’re flippant and rude, Justin, and I won’t tolerate it, especially in light of the information I’ve uncovered about this person. My Lord, I don’t even know what to call her.” Her malicious gaze settled on her nemesis. “Davia Maxwell isn’t her real name.”

  “Whatever my name is, Mrs. Miles, it’s personal and it belongs to me.”

  Both Katherine and Justin seemed surprised at Davia’s interjection. Having recovered from the shock of Katherine’s verbal assault, she was grateful for Justin’s intervention. It had given her time to regain control of her emotions.

  Justin’s hand squeezed her shoulder in renewed support. “Sweetheart, maybe you can tell me what’s going on.”

  Her eyes never left Katherine’s. “I’m certain that your mother would be more than happy to fill you in.”

  Katherine grunted. “As I said before, you are astute.”

  “Well, I would appreciate it if someone could fill me in.” Justin threw his arms in the air in mounting frustration.

  Katherine sat down in her seat with a look of satisfaction. “Well, son, I have come across some important information about this woman that I think you should know.”

  With a sigh, Justin took a seat next to Davia. Leaning back, he crossed his arms across his chest. “Okay. Mother, just what is it that I need to know about Davia? Because right now I know what she wants me to know, and I’m sure she’ll tell me anything else when she’s ready.”

  For the first time since his arrival, Davia looked at Justin, and the tension in her body lessened. God, did she love this man. He was solidifying his sup
port for her and she was grateful. But would it continue? Katherine was determined to turn him against her, as her next words proved.

  “Did you know that the little girl she passes off as her daughter is really her granddaughter?” Katherine delivered this bit of news smugly.

  Justin didn’t falter. “Yes. Gabby is Stephanie’s child. Stephanie was Davia’s daughter.”

  The look of surprise on Katherine’s face was worth Davia’s having sat through her vicious tirade, but she didn’t have time to savor the moment as the woman continued.

  “Did she tell you that Davia isn’t her first name? And God only knows what her last name is.”

  Justin didn’t miss a beat. “Justin isn’t my real first name, either. So what’s your point?”

  “Oh really!” Katherine rose from her chair angrily. “How naive can you be? For goodness sake, this woman comes from nothing. She was an unwed teen mother who crawled from the gutter and bred another unwed mother…”

  “That’s it!” Davia braced herself on the dining room table, leaning toward Katherine. Despite her stance her voice was calm—deadly calm. “I have had enough. I love Justin, Mrs. Miles, and I wanted to respect you as his mother, but I can see that I’m not going to get the same courtesy. You had no right to invade my privacy…”

  “That’s where you’re wrong, Ms. Maxwell. I have every right to protect the fortune and good names that two great families left behind. As for respecting you, why should I? You’re a little gold digger who saw my son and lured him into your seductive trap. You’re a little nobody who doesn’t deserve my respect.”

  “She’s not a nobody! And I’m not a child, Mother. I make my own choices.” It was Justin who leaped from his chair this time. “Davia has overcome obstacles that you and I couldn’t begin to imagine. She’s a top executive in one of the largest black businesses in this country.”

  “Some little business that makes loud clothing,” sniffed Katherine. “Please, spare me.”

  “Yes, but it’s my business, Mrs. Miles.” Davia’s eyes scorched Katherine as she inched closer to her. “I own Small Sensations, lock, stock and barrel. I own the building that houses it, the land the building stands on, every truck that delivers its products and the plane that transports our executives. It’s all mine, lady, built on my blood, sweat and tears. You can be damn sure of that!”

  Davia ignored the gasp of surprise coming from Justin. She was on a roll. “I built what I have at a cost greater than you can ever imagine. Do you think that I’m going to sit back and let you malign me? Insult me? Investigate me? If so, you’ve got another think coming.”

  Snatching up her purse, Davia prepared to leave. “And for your information, I’ve never hidden the fact that Gabby is my granddaughter. I’m quite proud of that fact. But if you should repeat in public a word of what you’ve said to me today, I’ll slap a lawsuit on you so fast your head will spin.”

  Davia stalked toward the door. Justin stood looking from one angry face to the other, not sure what to do at this point. Davia was in a state of controlled fury, while his normally unflappable mother was seething with rage.

  “Who do you think you are?” Katherine’s voice trembled. She wasn’t used to being challenged. “You don’t know who you’re dealing with.”

  Davia stopped dead in her tracks and slowly turned. Her eyes were blazing daggers. “No, lady, you don’t know who you’re dealing with. So don’t try me.”

  She left the room without looking back. The sound of the front door slamming echoed through the hallway. Katherine turned angry eyes on Justin.

  “So that’s what you claim to love? She threatened me, your own mother!”

  “No, that’s who I do love. I love her with everything in me, and from what I’ve seen and heard you did your part to encourage the threat.” Justin started toward the exit. “But I’ll talk with you later about this. I’ve got to go.”

  Katherine looked incredulous. “I don’t believe that you’re running after her. Didn’t you hear the way she spoke to me?”

  “I said I’ll talk to you later,” Justin tossed over his shoulder as he hurried out of the room, leaving Katherine alone to sulk.

  * * *

  Charles Cash pulled up in front of Katherine’s house just as Justin rushed out the front door. He watched as the younger man leaped in front of a gleaming new sports car as it was about to pull off. The driver slammed on the brakes.

  As Charles got out of his car, he watched with amused interest what looked like a lover’s spat. Justin rounded the car and spoke to the driver, and then reached in the open window, unlocked the door, and opened it, awaiting the driver’s exit. There seemed to be some hesitation on the driver’s part, but after another exchange of words the driver complied.

  It turned out to be that cute little girlfriend of Justin’s behind the wheel, and she didn’t seem happy about what was happening. As Charles walked toward the house, Justin slid into the driver’s seat, while she rounded the car and got into the passenger seat. Charles chuckled. Attitude was evident in every move that she made.

  By the time Charles reached the front door, the two lovers had driven off. So the pampered prince had found a princess that he couldn’t handle. It looked like the breakup Katherine wants so badly could be near; I’m not sure how I feel about that.

  As he rang the doorbell, Charles felt relieved that he had missed the favored son. He didn’t feel like playing second fiddle to him today. Although their contact had been minimal over the past months, he had discerned that Justin wasn’t the kind of man he could easily deal with, and he tried to avoid him as much as possible.

  However, Vanessa, the disfavored daughter, was another story. He had managed to have several conversations with her, as well as dinner and drinks. Vanessa was no problem. He had proved that. He didn’t need any stumbling blocks in the way of his future. Justin Miles could qualify as a stumbling block; that is, if he didn’t have something or someone to occupy his time.

  That being the case, he hoped that the prince and his little princess would solve their dispute quickly. While Katherine might not agree with him, in Charles’s opinion the longer Justin was preoccupied with his lady love, the better.

  CHAPTER 16

  Davia was so mad with Katherine that she could spit fire. What made her even angrier was that Justin appeared to be so calm about everything that had happened. Outside his mother’s home, he had insisted that he drive her home, telling her that she was too emotional to drive safely. Resistant at first, she had finally given in, but instead of taking her home he took her to his house, where she raised hell.

  Justin didn’t argue with her. After she had calmed down, he ignored the silent treatment that she’d decided to give him. Then she watched in amazement as Justin had the gall to call her secretary and tell her to cancel the rest of Davia’s appointments for the day. He called his office with the same directive. Leaving her to nurse her resentment, he disappeared into the kitchen. He reappeared carrying a tray laden with a teapot filled with her favorite tea, apple cinnamon, and huge chocolate chip cookies, her favorite snack.

  The tea’s aroma was enticing. As he placed the tray on the table before her, Davia continued her silent protest. As childish as her behavior might be, she didn’t want to be soothed or pacified. She wanted to savor her anger, but Justin was making it difficult.

  Her anger wasn’t directed at him. How could it be? He had come to her defense against his own mother and had left Katherine’s house to be by her side. Justin hadn’t wavered in his support of her for one minute. He was proving to be every bit the man she thought him to be and she was glad that her instincts had proved right—so far. But years of mistrust of the opposite sex were so pervasive that the security of absolute certainty seemed foreign. After all, Katherine Miles was Justin’s mother, and loyalty to friends and family was an intricate part of his character. How could a son go against his mother?

  “I would never ask you to go against her.”

 
Justin looked startled at the first words she had uttered since entering his home. He knew the meaning behind those words. He didn’t question them or her as he settled on the sofa beside her, careful to keep distance between them.

  Davia made eye contact with Justin. She expected him to react to her statement.

  He didn’t. Instead, he changed the subject entirely.

  “So you’re the owner of Small Sensations.”

  Davia was evasive. “What does that have to do with anything?”

  “I’m just asking. Are you or aren’t you?”

  Davia thought she noted a hint of skepticism in his voice. She bristled.

  “I certainly am.” Her words left no room for doubt. “Leroy is out front because I want him to be. I own Small Sensations. I started sewing when I was a little girl, and when Stephanie came along, I designed and sewed all of her clothes. When I moved in with the Johnson family, I sewed for them and pretty soon neighbors from all over came to me asking me to make their kid’s clothes. I’ll have you know that I helped pay my way through college with part-time jobs and my sewing skills, and when I started the business I worked day and night, twenty-four seven, building Small Sensations. I sacrificed everything…” The defiance in Davia’s voice wavered as she fought the emotions welling up inside of her. “Including Stephanie.”

  Taking her hand, Justin entwined their fingers. “I’m not questioning your ownership of Small Sensations. I’m trying to point out that someone intelligent and mature enough to accomplish something like that is displaying some very immature behavior right now.”

  Davia’s eyes narrowed. “So what? Don’t you think I have a right to be angry that your mother invaded my privacy? The woman had me investigated!” Her stance dared him to disagree.

  Justin chose his words carefully. “You’re right, and she was wrong. I’ll deal with her about that later, but right now I’m concerned about you. I want you to know that I’m here for you. I always will be.”