Finding Love At Life's Crossroads: An Interracial Novel

by Skylar Ward

  Ace jumped to his feet, his eyes focused on the robe in Efia’s hand. “Is Yasmine asleep?”

  “Yes,” Efia replied.

  “Why did you choose his side?” Ace demanded.

  “What are you talking about?”

  “You came into the room, and without any knowledge of what had happened, you assumed I started that fight.”

  “Are you serious?” Efia whispered. “I don’t care who started the fight. You fought with Sam while my daughter was nearby.”

  “She is my daughter, too,” Ace said. “I love Yasmine. The fight was unavoidable.”

  “You love her, yet, you scared her half to death.”

  “Now you are questioning my love for my child, too? Is this man that important to you?”

  “Are you that daft?” Efia said. “This is about being a responsible parent, putting your ego aside for the sake of your child. Why can’t you understand that?”

  “It won’t happen again,” Ace said. “I forbade Sam from seeing you and Yasmine.”

  “You did what?” Efia’s screeched.

  “Keep your voice down before you wake Yasmine.”

  “You do not speak for me, Ace Davenport. I am entitled to a little grown-up time, occasionally, and if I choose to spend that time with Sam, it is none of your damn business.”

  “Grown-up time?” Ace sneered. “You are a mother for Christ’s sake, act like it.”

  “How dare you?”

  “I will make this a lot easier for you,” Ace replied. “I will take my daughter, you can have your Sam.”

  Efia’s hands shook as she glanced at Ace’s penetrating and mocking stare. She pursed her lips as Ace’s glare sent chills throughout her body.

  “You run around here with this man barely wearing clothes in the presence of my daughter.” Ace raked his eyes over her body. “Mothers have lost custody for doing far less, Efia.”

  “Keep on dreaming,” Efia said.

  “Dreaming?” Ace said with deadly calm. “Don’t test me, Efia, because, I guarantee you, you won’t like the results.”

  “You can’t force me to give up, Yasmine.”

  “Watch me,” Ace said. “Tomorrow, I will speak to my attorney. I am confident the courts will agree with me that you are an unfit mother.”

  “I see what you are doing,” Efia said. “You think your wealth can buy the courts.”

  “You are a fast learner, Ms. Kwateng.”

  “Don’t be so cocky, Mr. Davenport,” Efia laughed. “You might have the billions, but the daily rags still love a good old David and Goliath story. And frankly, I don’t have any problems, making myself as unattractive as I can and playing the victim. Imagine the headlines and the tongues wagging. It will be a field day.”

  Ace clapped his hands. “Bravo, Ms. Kwateng, I am impressed.”

  Efia shuffled past him. Ace caught her hand.

  “Let me go,” Efia said, trying to pull her hand from his.

  Ace held on. “Damn it, Efia, why did you invite Sam here, after everything we shared.”

  “I slept with you, Ace. I didn’t give you permission to choose my friends.”

  Ace released her hand. “This is not only about you Efia. This is also about Yasmine. I will not be placed in a position of competing for my daughter’s love.”

  “Yasmine loves you. Don’t you know that no one can come between Yasmine and her daddy.”

  Ace turned his back on Efia. “I won’t risk it. I can’t afford another loss.”

  “Oh, my God.” Efia dropped her robe on the couch, and went over to Ace, slipping her arms around him. She rested her head on his back. “Did you do any grief counseling?”

  Ace’s body stiffened. He removed Efia’s hands. “Save your pity for someone else, Efia.”

  What the heck? Stunned, Efia picked up her robe while Ace turned his attention to his garment bag. As Efia walked from the room, she realized that Ace was still suppressing his grief seven-plus years later.

  Chapter 21

  Early next morning while Efia prepared breakfast, Ace appeared in the doorway.

  “I owe you an apology,” he said.

  Efia turned the stove off and flipped the last of the pancakes onto a plate. She faced Ace. “Yes, you do.”

  “I am not apologizing for fighting with Njoku.” Ace moved closer to Efia. “I should have shown more restraint in your home with our daughter nearby.”

  “At least you are honest,” Efia said. “I appreciate that.”

  Ace grasped Efia, inhaling her scent. “Do you forgive me?”

  “I do,” Efia said, “but you have to promise me one thing.”

  “Go ahead.”

  “Don’t fight with Sam, he has been a family friend for a long time. He is no threat, Yasmine loves you. No one can separate the two of you now that Yasmine knows you.”

  Ace smiled.

  “I think some of your fears are connected to the loss of your family,” Efia whispered. “We need to talk about that.”

  “Let’s not,” Ace said.

  “You shouldn’t have to deal with this grief alone, Ace. It’s time to get professional help.”

  “Thank you for caring, but it’s my grief, let me handle it my way.”

  “It’s been too long.”

  “Efia?”

  “Fine!” Efia poked Ace in the chest. “I will back off—for now.”

  “Thank you. I owe my daughter an apology and an explanation for what occurred last night.”

  “No time like the present,” Efia said. “She is in the bedroom watching TV.”

  Ace released Efia and strode off. He stopped outside the kitchen. “Aren’t you coming?”

  “Do you want me there?”

  “Yes. I don’t want to damage our kid. If I say the wrong thing, you can give me a nudge.”

  As they headed to the bedroom, Ace glanced sideways at Efia and smiled softly.

  “Don’t worry,” Efia said. “Just keep it simple, and Yasmine will be all right.”

  <>

  “Daddy is here,” Yasmine said excitedly when Ace and Efia entered.

  “Yes, princess,” Ace said, sitting on Yasmine’s bed.

  Yasmine stood and hugged Ace.

  Ace kissed Yasmine’s head. “Daddy wants to apologize for scaring you last night, princess.”

  “Was Sam being bad, Daddy?”

  “We both were, princess.”

  “Why?”

  Ace glance at Efia.

  Efia crossed the room and turned the TV off. She sat beside Ace. “Sweetie, sometimes Adults make mistakes just like kids do.”

  Yasmine squeezed in between her parents. “Like when you wouldn’t let my daddy see me, Mommy?”

  Efia took a deep breath. Ace squeezed Efia’s arm.

  “Yes, sweetie,” Efia replied. “Just like that. As humans we are not perfect, we will always make mistakes. But the important thing to do is to admit when we are wrong. And if we are lucky, we get a chance to make things right.”

  “Like when I say, I am sorry?” Yasmine asked.

  “Exactly!” Efia lifted Yasmine’s chin. “Your dad is saying he is sorry.”

  Yasmine turned to Ace. “I forgive you, Daddy. Can I watch TV now?”

  Ace wrapped his arms around his daughter. “Thank you, princess.”

  “Let’s eat breakfast,” Efia said. “Your grandparents are taking you to school today.”

  “Finally, I will meet Mr. Kwateng,” Ace said. “I am looking forward to that.”

  Efia coughed.

  “What’s wrong?” Ace asked.

  Efia shook her head and hurried from the room.

  After setting the table for breakfast, Ace turned his attention to cutting Yasmine’s pancake into bite-size pieces. He handed Yasmine her plate. “Here you go, princess.”

  “Don’t waste time playing with your food, sweetie,” Efia said. “You know your grandpa likes to be on time.”

  “Are you off today?” Ace asked Efia.

  �
��I am working the night shift,” Efia said, in between sips of coffee. “Rohan, the night manager needed the time off.”

  “It’s my responsibility to take care of Yasmine. You shouldn’t have to shuttle her off to your parents so often. I want you to go through her routine with me.”

  “We can start by taking a trip down to her school.”

  “I will have Cheryl forward my schedule to you.”

  “Great,” Efia said. “I will be off next weekend, we can go through some stuff then.”

  “How did it go with the realtor?”

  “We weren’t on the same page,” Efia replied.

  “Is that so?”

  “We are in sync now though.” Efia smiled. “I am looking forward to next Thursday. I have a feeling that will be the right one.”

  “Why don’t we take a trip to Massachusetts for the weekend?” Ace said. “We can leave on Friday after Yasmine’s school day.”

  “That’s not a bad idea,” Efia said. “I could use a change of scenery.”

  “Princess, would you like to go to your daddy’s hometown next weekend?”

  “Yeah,” Yasmine said. “Can I go, Mommy?”

  “You don’t have to ask me, sweetie, your dad can decide.”

  “We are going to Massachusetts, next Friday,” Ace said. “And we are taking a plane.”

  “Massachusetts!” Yasmine said with a mouthful of pancakes.

  “What did I tell you about speaking with food in your mouth?” Efia asked.

  Yasmine swallowed. “Sorry, Mommy, I made a mistake like my daddy.”

  Efia shook her head. The same time, the doorbell rang.

  “Go brush your teeth while I get the door. It’s your grandparents.”

  As Yasmine ran off to the bathroom, Ace said, “We have to be careful, don’t we?”

  Efia glanced over her shoulder. “Yes, we do. Our princess is a sponge.”

  When Efia returned with her parents, she introduced her father to Ace.”

  Ace extended his hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Kwateng.”

  Mr. Kwateng bypassed Ace. “Where is my little girl?”

  “I am here, Grandpa,” Yasmine said, running into the room.

  “There you are, pumpkin, come give your grandpa a hug.”

  Ace eyed Efia.

  Efia turned away. She picked up Yasmine’s backpack from the floor and opened it. Yasmine ran into Mr. Kwateng’s outstretched arms. Mr. Kwateng lifted Yasmine.

  Yasmine wrapped her arms around his neck. “Daddy is taking me far away, Grandpa.”

  Mr. Kwateng’s eyes swung in Efia’s direction, a disapproval frown on his face. “Do you remember the phone number I taught you?”

  “Yes, Grandpa.”

  “Say it,” Mr. Kwateng said.

  Yasmine repeated Mr. Kwateng’s cell phone number. This is laughable! Ace thought. Seems, Mr. Kwateng is under the belief his rights as grandfather outweigh my rights as Yasmine’s father.

  “Good, girl, Mr. Kwateng said, placing Yasmine on her feet. He checked his watch. “We have to go.”

  “Kiss your parents, goodbye,” Rosina said, taking Yasmine’s backpack from Efia.

  Yasmine kissed Efia.

  Ace raised Yasmine, resting his forehead on hers. “I love you, princess. Always remember that daddy loves you, okay?”

  “I love you too, Daddy.”

  “It is getting late,” Mr. Kwateng said. “We need to go.”

  Rosina sucked her teeth. “Kofi, don’t forget when Efia was little, the number of times we were late for school because of you?”

  A small smile appeared on Mr. Kwateng’s face before it vanished.

  “Come on,” Ace said to Yasmine. “I will carry you down to the car.”

  As everyone strolled through the door, Yasmine waved from her father’s arms. “Bye, Mommy.”

  “Bye, sweetie. Have a nice day, and be good for your grandparents, okay?”

  “Okay, Mommy.”

  <>

  When Ace returned to the apartment, he closed the door and followed Efia down the hallway.

  “Your father hates me,” he said

  “Of course, he does,” Efia said as they entered the dining room.

  “Aren’t you going to sugarcoat it and tell me your father is having a bad day or something of the sort?”

  “Then I would be lying.” Efia picked up the empty cups from the table. “My dad was dead set against the job at the resort. He didn’t speak to me until after Yasmine’s birth. It was a difficult time for both of us.

  Ace took the breakfast plates from the table and followed Efia into the kitchen. “The thought of you, pregnant, afraid, and without the support of your family shreds my insides.”

  “My mother stood with me,” Efia whispered.

  “It is my fault,” Ace said. “You were too young and far too innocent. I should have exercise restraint.” He placed the plates in the sink and pulled Efia into his arms. “I won’t apologize, Efia, because Yasmine was no mistake, and neither were you.”

  “I wanted to call you, but then I spoke to …”

  Ace’s body stiffened. He tucked his chin into the crook of Efia’s shoulder. “Who prevented you from calling me, Efia?”

  Sensing the change in Ace’s demeanor, Efia knew Maria’s job would be in jeopardy if she continued. “Ultimately, it was my fear that prevented me,” she said. “Like I told you before, I was concerned about your rejection. But I was also worried you might take Yasmine from me.”

  “I won’t deny that I have some issues,” Ace said. “But I would never have turned my back on you had I know you were carrying my child. We would have gotten to this point a lot sooner, if only you had reached out to me.”

  Efia nodded.

  “Your father loves my daughter,” Ace said.

  “He does,” Efia agreed.

  “Without me, there would be no Yasmine,” Ace added.

  “To my dad, Yasmine is his flesh. You are just an Abroni who defiled his daughter and killed his dreams.”

  “A what?”

  A white man.”

  “I see.” Ace shook his head. “So, I am the evil, white guy. I guess it would never occur to your father that this Abroni fell in love with his daughter.”

  Efia turned wide eyes to Ace. “Are you serious? You wouldn’t lie to me, would you?”

  Ace spun Efia around. He pressed himself into her back, pushing her against the sink. “What do you think?”

  Feeling a tug of pleasure between her thighs, Efia blew a long breath through her mouth. “Right now, I don’t know what to think.”

  “Ignore your feelings and tell me what you think, Efia.”

  “I am hot.”

  Ace caught water from the tap and slid his hand under Efia’s sweatshirt cupping her naked breasts.

  “OOOOH!” Efia arched her upper body away from his wet hands. But his hard body wouldn’t allow for much movement.

  He applied a little more pressure. “I am waiting, Efia, what do you think?”

  “I believe you love your daughter very much.”

  “That’s accurate.” He nibbled her neck. “What else?”

  She shivered.

  “I think you are starting to care about me.”

  Ace lifted his head. And for the first time, he stepped back, allowing Efia space to turn.

  “Starting to, are you insane? He took Efia’s right hand, placing it on his chest. Do you have any idea how much I love you? How much I adore you?”

  “Why didn’t you call me? You knew where to find me.”

  Ace dropped Efia’s hand and lifted her chin. “You deserved better than I was able to give you then.”

  “What about now?” Efia asked. “Are you ready now?”

  “Yes,” Ace said without hesitation. “I want to move on with you and Yasmine and possibly two or three more kids.”

  Efia blinked rapidly.

  “You do want more kids, don’t you?”

  “Honestly, I neve
r thought of even dating until Yasmine was eighteen years old.”

  “You gave up a lot for our daughter, didn’t you?” Ace said, holding Efia tightly. “I promise you, I won’t take any of this for granted.”

  “It was for the best,” Efia said. “I couldn’t run the risk of some guy hating my child or pressuring me to choose between my own flesh and him.”

  “It still pains me I wasn’t there for both of you,” Ace said. “I wish you had included me.”

  “I am sorry.” Efia cupped his jaw. “I hope you can forgive me.”

  As they stood in the kitchen in a tight embrace, Ace inwardly reflected on how their roads had converged, forked, and merged again.

  “We have a lot to be grateful for,” he whispered. “Let us focus on that. Are you still hot?”

  “I am burning up,” Efia replied.

  Ace inhaled Efia’s scent. “You smell like pancakes.” He pressed his lips to her neck. “I am hungry, you didn’t feed me enough.”

  “I can make you some more.”

  Ace lifted Efia by the waist, catching her off-guard. “You are my pancake.”

  “Oh, my, God!” Efia latched her legs around his waist. “Don’t you have to go to work?”

  Ace left the kitchen with Efia wrapped around him. Making a stop in the dining area, he grabbed his cell phone before proceeding to the spare bedroom. He deposited Efia on the bed and sat down. He made a call, placing it on speaker.

  “S&E Private Equities Corporation, how may I help you?” a pleasant female’s voice said.

  “Good morning, Cheryl, how are you?”

  “Mr. Davenport, I am fine. How are you, today?”

  Ace gazed at Efia lovingly. “Wonderful Cheryl! I am just wonderful. Cancel my two o’clock appointment with Jim Meyers. I am available to meet for dinner around eight, at La Travesta Grand’s Steak and Grill. If he can’t make it, we can reschedule for tomorrow.”

  “Will do, Mr. Davenport.”

  Thank you, Cheryl. I might swing by the office around six or so.”

  They exchanged goodbyes, and Ace undressed quickly before turning his attention back to Efia.

  “Where were we?” he asked

  “I was about to do the dishes.”

  “Those dishes have to wash themselves, today.” Ace reached for Efia’s sweatshirt. His eyes lingered. “Let us get you out of these clothes.”

  Efia’s gaze followed his. She pushed his hand away and covered her stomach.