“Did he tell you that?” Misty inquired.
“He didn’t have to tell me,” Leon stated, “I could hear it in his voice whenever he talked about Talei.”
“You look a lot like your father,” Misty said, changing the subject. She didn’t want to become emotional while talking about John. His death was beginning to have an effect on her. “Miss Eleanor has a picture of your parents in her office.”
“She and my dad were very close. I know she misses him as much as I do. My whole family is pretty close-knit.” Leon met her gaze. “What’s it like to be the new star of the Polk Island Bakery & Café?”
She smiled. “I don’t know about all that, but I do love my job.”
They continued their small talk until Eleanor returned with a drink, French fries and a juice box.
Talei clapped her hands in glee. “Wado, Miss Ellie.”
“It’s Tsalagi... Cherokee for thank you,” Misty explained. Her expression suddenly became tense when she heard Elroy’s voice outside the room.
Seconds later, Clara stuck her head inside. “Is it okay if we come in to see Talei?”
“Yes, of course,” Misty responded.
Talei seemed thrilled to see her grandparents. “Granma... Paw Paw...”
“I’m going to head on home,” Leon told Misty. “I’m glad Talei is fine and I’m sorry for your loss.”
“I really appreciate everything you did today.”
He smiled. “It’s nice to finally meet you, Misty. I’m sorry it was under these conditions.”
“Same here. I’m sure it won’t be the last time I see you. The island’s not that big.”
Leon smiled. “No, it’s not.”
He hugged Eleanor, then Clara, before leaving the room.
Leon strode toward the hospital exit with purpose. His body ached with weariness; he just wanted to go home, shower and relax. He needed to process everything that had happened today.
* * *
MISTY AND ELEANOR sat in a small waiting area to give Elroy and Clara some time with Talei.
“I hope the doctor releases her soon. I’m so ready to take my baby home and get her settled.” Misty sighed. “To be honest, I’d like to go back to bed and start this day all over again.”
Eleanor chuckled. “If only it was that easy.”
“Thank you for coming to support me. I’m not sure I would’ve gotten through all this without you.”
“It’s my pleasure, Misty.” Eleanor stood up. “I’m gwine go relieve Josh at the shop. You take tomorrow off and spend it with Talei. Make sure she’s okay.”
The two women embraced.
Just as Eleanor was about to leave, Elroy and his wife walked out of Talei’s hospital room. “Maybe I’ll hang around a lil longer,” she told Misty.
“Talei was asking for her daddy. Isn’t that right, Clara?”
His wife nodded. “I didn’t know what to say to her.”
“She’s too young to really understand,” Misty said. John’s parents were heartbroken and grieving, so, she was careful with her words. “Talei knows about heaven, so I guess we can just say he’s up there.”
“We wouldn’t have to have this discussion at all,” Elroy said, “if you hadn’t run away with Talei.”
“I didn’t run away. I moved here to start a new life in peace,” Misty stated. “Something I didn’t have in Orangeburg. Miss Eleanor offered me a chance to do what I’ve always loved doing and I accepted the job.”
“You knew taking Talei from John would destroy my son,” Elroy hissed. “You’re selfish and you never cared about what he wanted. You humiliated my son.”
“That was you,” Misty responded, struggling to keep her temper in check. “It was your controlling ways that destroyed your son.”
“Emotions are running high right now,” Eleanor interjected. “Misty, I think I hear Talei calling for you. Why don’t you go check on your daughter?”
She gave Eleanor a grateful nod, then walked into her daughter’s room.
“Did I hear correctly that she works for you?” Elroy asked, his brow pulled into an affronted frown.
“She does.”
A muscle flickered angrily at his jaw. “You might want to watch her—she can’t be trusted.”
Eleanor eyed Clara and asked, “Is there anything I can do for you?”
Elroy wasn’t going to be ignored. “Can you bring John back?”
“You shouldn’t talk to Eleanor this way,” Clara said. “None of this is her fault.”
He sent his wife a sharp glare.
“It’s fine,” Eleanor stated. “I understand grief and the many ways it can affect a person. We’re all sad about losing John, but right now we need to try to come together for Talei. The last thing she needs is to see what’s left of her family fussing and carryin’ on like this. That little girl needs every one of y’all. Try to remember that.”
Elroy eyed her.
She stared back until he looked away.
“Please tell me they’re gone,” Misty said when Eleanor returned to the room. “The doctor released Talei and I just want to take her home.”
“They left.” Eleanor shook her head in dismay. “That man... He started to get on my last nerve. I don’t know how Clara puts up with him. I’ve never seen anyone so embittered and angry with the world.”
“He’s always like that, which makes everyone uneasy around him,” Misty said. “The strangest thing is that he’s a completely different man with Talei. He adores his granddaughter—that’s about the only good thing I can say about him.”
Misty picked up her purse. “C’mon, sweetie... Let’s get you home. We’ve both had a very long day.”
In the parking lot, she said, “Thanks so much for being here for me.”
Eleanor embraced her. “It’s my pleasure. You sure you’re okay?”
She nodded. “I called my mother and she’s coming to the island to spend a couple of days with us. I’ll be fine.”
Deep down, Misty wasn’t as confident as she wanted Eleanor to believe. She was faced with having to raise her daughter alone. Although she and John had been at odds, she never thought he wouldn’t be around to be a father to Talei.
* * *
AT HOME, LEON wandered from room to room. He felt restless, unsettled and his mood heavy.
He recalled the day he and Vera moved into this house. John had come up with his truck to help with the move. Leon leaned in the doorway of the master bedroom.
“This is the room where the Rothchild legacy will continue,” John had proclaimed that day. “Make lots of beautiful babies.”
Shaking his head sadly, Leon walked down the stairs to the first level.
He spent the rest of the evening going through his college photo album. It was still difficult for him to believe that John had gone as far as to kidnap his daughter. He sat down on the sofa, his thoughts traveling back to one of the many conversations he’d had with his friend.
“It was thoughtless of me to ask you to be my daughter’s godfather in light of all you had to deal with. I should’ve realized that you were still grieving the passing of Vera and little Selena, but I want you to know my offer still stands. Whenever you’re ready. If something ever happens to me, I want you to be there for Talei.”
“I’ll do what I can, John.”
“Is it getting any better for you?”
“I still wake up expecting to see Vee.” Leon picked up the napkin and wiped his mouth. “I still haven’t packed up her stuff or the baby’s room.”
“I can come over to help you,” John offered.
Leon shook his head. “You need to spend every moment you have working on your relationship with your wife and being a father to that little girl of yours. Life is fleeting.”
“Sometimes I think that getting marr
ied was a mistake, Leon,” John blurted. “I don’t think either of us was ready.”
“Why do you say that?”
“I proposed three months after we started dating and we got married eight weeks later. We should’ve spent more time getting to know one another. We rushed into this whole marriage thing.”
“Marriage is hard work, John. Now that you’re divorced, I think it’s an even bigger challenge to have a positive relationship with your ex-wife.”
The sound of the telephone ringing cut into his thoughts.
“Hello.”
“Hey, sugar. I’m just leaving the hospital.”
“Is Talei okay?”
“Yes,” Eleanor said. “They released her, so Misty’s taking her home right now.”
He settled back against the cushions, trying to get comfortable. “And John’s parents? Are they still there?”
“They left,” Eleanor said. “Son, that Elroy...”
“He’s not an easy man by any means, but he loves his family.” Leon had no idea why he kept making excuses for Elroy’s behavior. Maybe it was because he felt bad for the man.
“I have to tell you. I can’t stand the way he treats Misty. It ain’t right by no means.”
Still trying to stay neutral, Leon said, “We don’t know their history. Maybe there’s a reason he responds to her like that.”
“You and I see things very different on this situation.”
“I don’t agree with his actions, Auntie. I’m just taking into consideration that Elroy lost his son. I think we should give him some slack.”
“I would agree with you, but the same should go for Misty. She lost the father of her child.”
“There are no winning sides,” Leon stated. “If I could’ve talked to John, I’m sure I could’ve gotten him to return Talei to her mother. If only that cow hadn’t run out into the road, things would be different right now.”
“We can’t change what happened, son. No matter how much we may want to, we just can’t.”
Leon released a long sigh. “Auntie, I know that from personal experience. Like I said, nobody wins.”
CHAPTER FOUR
AFTER A BUBBLE BATH, Talei climbed into her mother’s bed and was asleep within minutes. Misty decided to let her stay there in case she had a bad dream. She knew her daughter would experience some depth of trauma after such a frightening experience.
Now that she was in a quiet place of peace, Misty could take a moment to allow her emotions free rein.
She sat down on the padded window seat in her bedroom and stared outside. Stars were carefully sprinkled across the sky so as not to upstage the moon as it shone brightly against the blanket of darkness.
Pen in hand, Misty reached for the journal that lay open. There was so much she wanted to say, but she didn’t know where to start.
Her stomach churned with nervous energy. Talei was safe, but John was gone. Misty thought about the way she’d responded to his death at the hospital and felt a thread of guilt snake down her spine.
Teary-eyed, she began to write:
Today I lost the man I once thought I’d spend the rest of my life with. John had a lot of problems, but I always hoped he’d overcome them. All we ever really wanted to do was love each other—instead we ended up hurting one another. My heart is sad that John is no longer here; that he won’t get to see his little girl grow up. He won’t see her graduate high school or college; he won’t be here to walk her down the aisle on her wedding day.
I was so angry with him for taking our daughter—I didn’t want to care that he’d gotten hurt in the accident. In a way, I felt justified, but it lasted not even a minute. It was more of a passing thought. What lingered in my mind is whether or not John would be able to rest eternally knowing what he’d done.
John acted out of desperation, and in part I feel responsible. My intentions were to protect my daughter at all costs, giving no thought as to how it would affect him. Now I have to live with the question of whether I made the right choice in seeking supervised visitation. I know he didn’t want me to leave Orangeburg, but that place gave me no peace—the environment was too toxic. I wanted to be away from his parents, more so that father of his. I wanted to get away from John because I got tired of him just showing up whenever he wanted to my home. I also wanted to be closer to my mother because she made me feel safe.
Was this a selfish decision?
Is John’s death my fault?
* * *
MISTY THOUGHT ABOUT her father and how he never once tried to reach out to her or her mother, Oma, after they left Atlanta. He didn’t contest the divorce. It was as if he had washed his hands of the two of them.
She was glad he was no longer a part of their lives, but she felt the sting of his abandonment. It was clear he didn’t love her enough to try to change for the better. He didn’t love her mother enough to fight for the marriage.
There were times when she heard her mom crying over the breakup of her marriage. Misty had even overheard Oma confiding her heartache to her own mother. She’d loved Michael Taylor and once believed he was the love of her life.
After the divorce, Oma had both her and Misty’s surname changed legally to her maiden name. She was done with Michael and wanted a fresh start.
Over the years, there were no interactions with his family. When Oma called her former mother-in-law, she was told that Michael didn’t want his family communicating with her. Misty’s grandmother thought it was best to appease her son by forsaking her granddaughter.
She shrugged, trying to shake off the hurtful jabs of rejection piercing her heart.
“Talei and I are fine,” she whispered.
We don’t need them. I have my mom and my daughter, and they have me. This is enough.
The doorbell sounded.
Misty rushed down the staircase to open the door for her mother.
“I’m so glad you’re here,” she said, falling into Oma’s embrace.
“Why didn’t you call me earlier? I would’ve come straight away.”
“So much was happening at the time, Mama.”
Oma sat down her tote. “I’m going to make you some tea to help you relax. Where’s Talei?”
“She’s in my bed sleeping.”
They walked to the kitchen.
Oma washed her hands. “I’m sorry about John.”
“Mama, he’s gone, and I don’t know how to explain to my daughter that he’s never coming back.” Tears fell from her eyes.
Her mother embraced her a second time. “I’m so sorry.”
Misty gave in to the sobs that had been threatening to consume her.
* * *
TWO DAYS LATER, Leon walked into the Polk Island Bakery & Café for breakfast, where he was greeted by the aroma of coffee, baked goods and an assortment of meats. He was always assaulted with a sense of nostalgia whenever he came here—the shop that had been in his family for a couple of generations. He’d spent a lot of time in this place over the years with friends and family, eating, talking and laughing. He’d brought past girlfriends here on date nights. He and Vera used to come here often.
The shop was the setting for people looking to find ways to make their lives better. It was a place where solutions to problems were discovered; a place to enjoy company. For Leon, it was a fragment of heaven.
A line had already formed to order coffee and herbal tea drinks. He sat at an empty table in the center facing the door on the right and the kitchen on the left.
He glanced around looking for his aunt. He glimpsed Misty in the kitchen and waved in greeting. The plastic cap on her head, no makeup and the apron she was wearing did nothing to diminish her natural beauty. He could tell that she wasn’t a slave to fashion, but he had no doubt Misty cleaned up well. Her job required comfortable, functional clothing and shoes.
Waving back, Misty rewarded him a tentative smile.
“I didn’t expect to see you here today,” he said when Misty came to his table a few minutes later.
“I couldn’t just sit home another day. I need to keep busy,” she responded. “It takes my mind off things.”
“I’ve been there for sure.” Leon glanced around. “Is my aunt here?”
“Not yet. Miss Eleanor called five minutes ago to say she was on the way. She should be here at any moment.”
“How is your daughter doing? I know the accident was very traumatic for her.”
“Talei isn’t sleeping well. She wakes up screaming and she’s been a bit clingy,” Misty said. “There’s a part of me that’s so angry with John for doing this to my baby. He never should’ve taken her from day care.”
Leon’s face went grim. “It’s not as if John intended to have an accident.”
Arms folded across her chest; Misty frowned with cold fury. “You’re actually defending his actions?”
“He made an error in judgment,” Leon said. “All he wanted was his family back.”
“Then he should’ve been a much better husband,” Misty said sharply. She tossed her hair and eyed him with cold triumph.
“What are you talking about?”
“There was a side of John that you didn’t know about. He had a temper and like his father was verbally abusive. The one time it almost turned physical, I ended the marriage.”
Leon shook his head in disbelief. “I know John had his issues, but he wouldn’t harm a woman.”
She glared at Leon. “I don’t have any reason to lie about his treatment of me.”
Her words had taken him by complete surprise.
“Leon, I should’ve figured you’d be here,” Eleanor said, interrupting his conversation with Misty.
He smiled. “I’m not about to miss the fish and grits.”
Eleanor chuckled. “You can always count on Leon to show up bright and early on Friday for the breakfast special. Leon loves seafood.” Her gaze traveled from him to Misty. “What’s going on?”
“Your nephew seems to think I’m a liar.” Misty’s lips thinned with irritation. She lifted her chin, meeting his gaze straight on.
Harlequin Heartwarming June 2021 Box Set Page 51
