He quickly stripped and walked into the bathroom to take a shower. His grandmother’s voice about being attracted to black women spoke in the back of his mind. Would it be a black woman that stole his heart? He thought about Max and the upcoming dinner. No, he was not going there. Max was the last woman in the world he wanted to be with.
“Wrong, Grandma,” he said out loud. “This Ferguson knows what type of woman he wants, and it’s not Maxine James.”
The sound of her name seemed to mock him as it echoed in the bathroom. What was it about Maxine James that caused him to pause? Nothing! There was nothing about her that could hold his attention for longer than a minute.
He looked at his reflection in the mirror. “You’re going to find you a nice girl to settle down within a few years, Matt boy. And she will most definitely be white.”
His reflection smiled back at him in agreement. He laughed to himself and climbed into the shower ready for the night ahead.
CHAPTER 3
Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor and evil speaking be put away from you along with malice. – Ephesians 4:31
Eric hadn’t talked to Nadine about her talk with Max. The two of them had stayed in the room so long that day, and he had to leave for work in order to make a little extra money. Since he’d returned from Charleston, he found himself working long hours and coming home exhausted. He was barely able to eat his dinner, shower and spend any time with Nadine and the twins, though she hadn’t complained once she saw the money he brought home.
Saturday had arrived, and he was glad that he didn’t have to work. He had slept in later than he’d planned and felt a bit guilty that he’d been dead to the world and hadn’t heard the twins at all. He was sure that they must have been changed and fed by now as he looked at the sunshine streaming in the window. He got out of the bed and walked to the twin’s room.
Nadine wasn’t there. The twins were still asleep in their crib. He figured that she must be in the kitchen.
He watched the twins closely, resisting the urge to pick them up knowing that they would be crying soon enough. Erika was sucking on her fist in her sleep. Secretly he preferred his namesake. She was the bigger of the two, but when he looked at little Derika, his heart melted because he knew she’d be a fighter just like her papa. Maybe he loved Derika more. Hell, he couldn’t make up his mind! He loved them both so much. He knew that they were getting too big to be sleeping together in that crib, but he’d think about that later.
He noticed that Erika’s hair curled a little more than her sister’s. Derika was smiling contently in her sleep. They were a year old today and were going to be having a small party. The babies were still small for their age, but they were healthy and loved to eat. Eric knew that they would not be small much longer. They were perfect and beautiful, and he was so proud. He didn’t know how all the family who were coming to the birthday celebration would be able to fit into their home.
Nadine didn’t want to have the party at his parents’ or hers because she knew that their mothers would most likely take over. Besides, the twins were only a year old. There was no need for a big party.
Both his mom and Nadine’s had been slipping them money to help out as well as bringing clothes and diapers. He’d given up protesting long ago. He let the grandmothers spoil the babies as much as they wanted. It was bad enough that the grandfathers were still acting stubborn as mules.
Eric had to admit that he missed his dad, and he was sure that Nadine missed hers. Why did they both have to be so stubborn? It had been a whole year and they hadn’t even tried to see the girls. Eric was determined that this foolishness would end and that it would end this day.
He thought about Max and realized that he hadn’t seen much of her since the hallway incident and hoped that she wasn’t totally freaked out. He recalled their conversation in her room and realized that she hadn’t seemed freaked out at all. In fact, she had appeared ashamed of herself.
Just then Nadine opened the door and came in. “You’re up. How’s our girls?” she whispered, giving him a quick kiss.
“Fine. They are both asleep.” Eric said, pulling her toward the door. “I didn’t even know you were up. What time is it anyway?”
“After ten. You were exhausted. I let you sleep. I took care of the twins when they woke up about five this morning. Max helped me feed and change them. They ate, they played a bit, and now they’re napping again.”
“We haven’t had any time to talk. I haven’t been much help with the babies. I’m sorry about that.” He pulled her gently into their bedroom and down on the bed.
“You’ve been working like a dog,” she said, lying down beside him. “Max has been great. She’s been helping me,”
“How is she? How did the talk go? You guys stayed in there forever it seemed.”
“Yes, we had a talk.” Nadine sighed.
“How much do you think she saw?” he asked, glancing at the door.
“She saw it all. I asked her,” Nadine replied. “I know we should be mad, but honestly, Eric, I was shocked at her lack of knowledge about sexual matters. I think she must have mentally blocked out all talk of sex after the rape. She really doesn’t know much at all.”
“She asked me if I was hurting you. I guess she was talking about me and you up against the wall.”
Nadine giggled. “I was only concentrating on feelings in one particular area, but I felt it in my back for a couple of days.”
“Sorry.”
“Don’t be. I enjoyed every minute of it.” She kissed him and rubbed his chest. “If only we had a few moments, but I know the babies will be up soon.”
“Where’s Max?”
“She’s gone to the gym so that she can be back early and help with the party. She opened at six this morning and told me that she would be getting off around noon.”
“How does she feel about me now?” Eric asked. “I mean, are we OK?”
“Yeah, I guess.”
“Does she still think my body hair is disgusting?” Eric laughed.
“I think that your chest hair was the last thing on her mind after seeing us in action. So to answer your question, no, she didn’t say anything about that. Besides, I adore your chest hair. I think it’s sexy.”
Nadine bent down and peppered his chest with kisses.
“Look, I want to ask you something.” Eric sat up and took her hands in his own.
“What?”
“I hope you don’t think that I’m crazy, but I want to take the babies to see our fathers today before the party. They are a year old, and neither of them have seen their granddaughters. Let’s go over there now with the girls and personally invite them to the cake and ice cream party this afternoon.”
Nadine’s eyes grew big, but then she smiled. “Are you sure you want to after what my father said?”
“I’m sure. Our daughters are one year old today. I’ll be working long hours next week. You are about to start going to cosmetology school in the afternoons in a few weeks, and you’ll be busy too. It’s now or never. I can’t believe that once those two stubborn men see them that they will continue to behave like they are doing now.”
Nadine agreed, and the two of them got up and went to the girl’s room. They looked into the crib to find the babies standing up staring at them while grinning from ear to ear. They quickly changed and fed them and called Max and told her of their plans.
“That’s a great idea,” Max said when Nadine called the gym. “I bet once they see those babies, they’ll melt like butter. I’m going to be leaving here in a little while since I opened this morning.”
“I hope that they will come around,” Nadine replied. “Call me when you leave work and I’ll let you know where we are so that we can meet up.”
“OK, go to Pop’s first. I think he’s the hardest nut to crack,” Max suggested. “If you win him over then Eric’s dad will be a breeze.”
“We’ll see.” Nadine groaned.
“Good luck!” Max sa
id before hanging up.
An hour later, they pulled up in front of Nadine’s parent’s door, with Eric blocking Nadine’s father’s car in the driveway.
“You’d better hope he doesn’t smash our car,” Nadine teased.
“I doubt it’ll come to that.”
He picked up Erika while Nadine had Derika, and they walked up to the door. Eric looked over at his wife, who was biting her lip in nervousness, but he knew that this was the right thing to do.
“I still have my keys,” Nadine said, fumbling.
She opened the door, hollering, “Coming in!” They walked into the living room. Nadine looked around, noting that nothing had changed since she’d left home. Pictures of her and Max adorned the walls. The black leather sofa and loveseat had the same black-and-white checkered throw pillows. No one was there, but soon they saw her mother peeking around the doorway.
“Nadine! What a surprise,” their mother said, coming out of the kitchen. “Oh goodness! You brought the babies.”
She ran to the steps. “Jesse! Get down here!”
Nadine watched as her father descended the stairs. He paused before getting to the bottom, looking at Eric.
Eric walked over to him with Erika in his arms. Jessie gave him an angry stare, not looking at the baby he was holding.
“Hello, Mr. James,” he said. “Your granddaughter wants to meet her granddaddy. It’s her birthday, you know.” He put Erika against Jesse’s chest, and his hand immediately grabbed on to her. Jesse looked at the baby without replying to Eric and then at his own daughter, who was staring at him helplessly.
Erika stretched lazily, and Eric took the cotton bonnet off her head to reveal a head full of dark curls. She stared at Jessie curiously. Eric was glad that the babies weren’t afraid of strangers.
“She’s beautiful, isn’t she?” Eric said, staring at his father-in-law.
Jesse stared at the baby and then at Eric. “She looks just like you.”
“Today is their birthday. Don’t you think it’s time for you to get to know your granddaughter?” Eric insisted.
“Hi, Daddy,” Nadine said, smiling hopefully. “Aren’t you glad to see us?”
He looked at her. “What brings you all over here? We didn’t invite you,” he said, handing Erika back to Eric as she struggled to be put down so she could walk around and explore her surroundings.
“Jesse!” Mrs. James gasped, shocked at his response.
“I’m just curious,” Jesse said. “What did you hope to accomplish by coming over here? You thought I’d melt if I saw these babies?” He watched as Erika toddled over to Nadine.
Eric stared at him in disbelief. “What is your problem, man?”
“My problem,” Jesse said calmly, “is remembering that your kind ruined my daughter and destroyed my family more than once.”
“And you’re going to carry that grudge all the way to the grave, right?” Eric asked, unable to hold his temper in check. “Whatever happened to you in the past is the past. It’s not my fault, and it certainly isn’t these innocent babies’ fault either!”
“You ruined my family!” Jesse insisted.
Eric countered, “Doesn’t it matter that I love your daughter, that your granddaughters need their grandfather?”
Jesse stared at him and did not reply. He crossed his arms across his chest and took several steps backward. He watched as Nadine put Derika down and both babies clung to their father’s legs.
“Daddy, please,” Nadine begged.
“They look white to me,” Jesse said. “They are his babies. Where is our family in these babies? They’re his! They don’t even look biracial! Where’s you, Nadine or your mother in these babies? I don’t see any of us in their faces, only him.”
“If they were dark would you still hate them because they are Eric’s babies?” Nadine asked, sobbing.
“I don’t hate them,” her father snapped. “I just don’t want to love them. I chose not to. If I do, my heart will just end up torn in two. After what I went through with your sister, I can’t. I won’t do that again.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Eric asked, walking up to him.
He turned to Nadine, his eyes pleading. “I love you, Nadine, but after what happened to Maxine and what she said to me, I can’t be hurt like that again. Your sister wasn’t the only one affected by all this. I’ve carried it with me since the day they bought her home. I’ll never forget how she looked at me, what she said to me.”
He looked at his wife playing with the babies and then back at Eric and Nadine.
“You two go on about your business. Nadine, you’ve made your choice. I accept that, but I don’t have to like it,” Jesse said. “I won’t be a part of this. I won’t. I can’t take any more heartbreak. It’ll kill me.”
“Daddy, I don’t understand what you’re talking about.” Nadine pled through her tears. “What has that got to do with my daughters?”
Jesse turned and pointed his finger at her, the pain in his eyes evident. “You would never trust them with me. You’ll end up snatching them from me down the road, I’m sure. If I couldn’t protect Max, how can you trust me with your babies? You may not say it to me now, but you’re thinking it, that’s for sure. I’m not putting myself out there for you to come and snatch them away from me after I get attached to them.” He turned and walked back up the stairs.
Nadine stared after him, not believing what she had just heard. It appeared that Max was not the only one in need of counseling.
The drive to the Ferguson house was in silence. Nadine couldn’t believe what had just happened. Her mother told her that her father had suffered with depression for years. Why hadn’t she seen it? Now he was afraid to love her daughters because of what had happened to Max. Unbelievable! Her mother told her that she would try to get her father to the party, but Nadine doubted it.
She called Max and left an abbreviated version of what happened on her voice mail and asked her to meet them at Rachel’s since she had to pass that way on the way home.
They pulled up behind Matthew Sr.’s truck and parked, blocking him in as they had done her father.
“I hope this visit goes way better than the last one,” Eric grumbled.
They got out the car, and he rang the doorbell even though Eric still had his key.
Eric’s father opened the door. His eyes grew big, and his mouth dropped open.
“Eric! What are you doing here?” he asked. “Is something wrong?”
“We came to see you. Can we come in?” Eric asked politely.
“Sure,” his father said, stepping back to allow them to pass.
“Where’s Mom?” Eric asked as they walked into the den which was large with an overstuffed sectional sofa and ottoman. His father cut the television off and turned to Eric.
“She’s in the kitchen,” his father said, still shocked.
Eric handed him Erika just as he had done with Nadine’s father. Erika patted his face and squealed.
“Here’s your granddaughter. Introduce yourself. She’s a year old today, you know,” Eric said as his father quickly grabbed the baby.
Matthew Sr. stared at the child he was holding. “She looks like your mother,” he said in wonder. He grinned bringing the baby’s face eye level for closer inspection. She squealed again and grabbed his ear.
Erika smiled at him and Eric’s father smiled back. “Look, she’s smiling at me. Which one is this?”
“It’s Erika,” Nadine said, grinning.
“Of course, Erika. Come on let’s go see Grandma, Erika,” he said, heading toward the kitchen.
Eric looked at Nadine and raised an eyebrow. “Well, looks like he’s totally won over.”
Rachel came out of the kitchen. Eric looked a lot like his mother. Both had dark hair and blue eyes, while Matthew favored his father and was blond. She was short and plump, reminding Nadine of her own daughters. Rachel smiled at them, her face lighting up completely with her hair pulled back in a ponytail.
“What a surprise. Where’s Derika? Matthew won’t even let me take Erika from him.”
She walked over to Nadine and took Derika out of her arms. “She’s beautiful!” Tears began to run out of Rachel’s eyes. “I’m so glad you came.”
Nadine watched as the two grandparents fussed over the babies. She wished that her visit with her father had turned out like this one.
The doorbell rang. Eric opened it to find Max on the other side.
“How’s things?” she whispered. “Is it safe to come in?”
“Safer than at your parents’,” Eric responded dryly.
Max shook her head in disbelief. She heard a loud squeal and saw the babies running toward her on their chubby legs with Rachel and Matthew Sr. not far behind them.
“Hey there,” Max said, laughing as they grabbed her by her leg.
“Boy, am I out of practice!” Rachel laughed. “They’re tiring me out already!”
“Not too tired for the party, right?” Nadine asked.
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Rachel said, looking at her husband. “Are you coming?”
“You wouldn’t be able to keep me away,” Matthew Sr. declared, picking up Erika. “What time is it anyway?”
Eric checked his watch. “It’s at three so we have to get going.”
They all heard a key in the door, and Eric was surprised when Matt walked in the door.
“Matt, come and see your nieces,” Rachel said happily. “They came for a visit!”
Matt’s eyes locked with Eric’s. “Hi, Eric. Hi, Nadine.”
He then turned and looked at Max. “Hello.”
Max felt herself grow warm under his stare. “Hi Matt,”
What was wrong with her? She hadn’t felt the same since she had witnessed Eric and Nadine’s little hallway tryst. She hadn’t expected to run into Matthew. She was still trying to come to terms with the fact that they’d have dinner together tomorrow afternoon.
Matt stood there in jeans and a brown polo shirt that matched his large brown eyes. She tried not to stare, but he had no problem watching her and making her nervous. His blond hair was a bit longer than she remembered, but he was still too handsome for his own good.
Broken: The sequel to THE PREACHER'S SON Page 4
