Over the Hedge: Part 2- The Finale (Lucky in Love)

by Minerva Vesta

  “Honestly, Dr. Barnes,” I began, putting my hands in the air in surrender. “I came up to ask Lashawnda for something to eat. As you can see, she isn’t here. So, I figured no harm in getting it myself. I know Lashawnda wouldn’t have minded. I was about to look through the fridge when I remembered I had a meeting coming up. I was going to remote into my calendar to check the time. That’s when you walked up.”

  I was babbling. If this were anyone else, I would have told them to mind their own business. But, something about Dr. Barnes had always made me uncomfortable. He seemed to have a way of peering into one’s soul. I found it and the way he didn’t seem to care how the outside world perceived him very unnerving. The man was a damned freak of nature.

  “Hmm…if you say so. But next time you find yourself hungry, I suggest you take a walk over to the vending machines. A girl like should know your way around a few dollar bills.” He eyed me as if I was trash that needed to be thrown out.

  I got the hint that I should leave. With my hands behind my back, I snatched the thumb drive from the desktop and scurried past Dr. Barnes as quickly as my feet could carry me.

  “Hell and damnation. I wished that was Price. Not sure what she sees in a cancerous tumor like that chit. I’ve gotta remember to tell her about this. But first, I need to call someone to come see about this smoking contraption.” Dr. Barnes’s voice traveled to me as he walked back to his office. “Price is just too damned nice if you ask me.”

  The old fool talked to himself like some of the men I’d been with in early stages of dementia. My fist tightened around the thumb drive as I sneered with disgust. I might be all the nasty things he just called me, but I’m about to fuck his entire world up with a smile on my face.

  The next day I ran up to Lashawnda’s cubicle with an apology pastry as a peace offering. The moment I stepped into her space, I started talking, not giving her any room to say anything or kick me out.

  “Hey, I know it was crazy a few days ago with the whole pictures thing. I would never do anything to complicate our friendship. It was poor taste on my part. But I wanted to show you guys how much fun we had a few months ago in hopes you could see how much I miss our friendship. It’s been a very difficult month for me.”

  I paused long enough to evoke the right amount of emotion in my voice. Shaking my head as if the words were too difficult to speak.

  “I’m struggling right now. This time of year is always just…hard, you know. I never talk about my family, but I…I um…I lost my mother around this time. So, it’s just always an emotional time for me.”

  As predicted Lashawnda’s face softened at my pronouncement. Not surprising, since she was such a fucking pushover.

  “I know it doesn’t excuse my behavior. But I tend to be a little irrational around this time. I push people away and don’t think before I act. I don’t have as many friends as I did when I lived in California. I thought I had found that with you and a few of the girls here. But everything has changed over the last few months. I don’t see you much. I don’t get to stop by and chat. We don’t even do our lunch dates like we normally would.”

  I paused again, watching her jaw move back and forth, something akin to guilt written all over her face.

  “I don’t know if it matters now, but I’m truly sorry. I know you are busy living your life, and I’m not someone you need in it. But, at any point if you decide you’d like to start over, it would mean the world to me. Like I said, I don’t have anyone here. I don’t have any family here and my friendships are pretty much nonexistent. I’d be so grateful if you’d just consider it. I miss your friendship so much.”

  I finally stopped talking, dropping my shoulders in resignation, as I stepped closer to her. Holding out the bakery bag as an offering, I waited for her to take it.

  “What’s this?” Lashawnda asked plucking the decorative bag from my hand.

  “I came up here yesterday to talk to you. Mallory mentioned something about you planning your dad’s birthday party.” I said, pretending as if I didn’t know why she was gone.

  “Yeah, I took the day off to look at venues,” she explained.

  “Oh, well, I hope you don’t mind. But Dr. Barnes came out of his office as I was leaving you a note. I snagged one of those little yogurt cups you always keep in your mini-fridge. It was early morning, and I’d had a grueling workout and needed something to re-energize. I hope you don’t mind. I know how much you love Camille’s bakery, so I got you a muffin and a yogurt parfait to replace what I took.” I looked down at my empty hands, fingers tugging at each other, feeling abashed. “And also, it’s another token of apology for the way I’ve been acting.”

  When my eyes finally moved back to Lashawnda’s face, I couldn’t tell if she’d fallen for my little routine. If she only knew what I was really thinking. I wiped my ass with a plastic glove and rubbed it all over that pastry. The sweet cream glaze on top contained a little of my sweet cream. I wanted to give her a taste of what Sean will be enjoying soon enough.

  “Thank you, but all of this wasn’t necessary.” She looked back at her computer screen as an alert popped up. “I’ve got a meeting in fifteen minutes I need to prep for.”

  Bitch.

  I plastered a sickly-sweet smile on my face and stepped closer to her, voice dropping subservient and demure.

  “Okay well, I hope that you’ll think about what I said.” I reached out and touched her arm. Mentally preventing myself from cringing. I’d be washing my hands the moment I got to the nearest bathroom.

  “Okay, Jenny.” Lashawnda patted my hand like one would do a slow child or someone who was mentally disabled.

  I stepped back, nodding my head in acquiescence, and walked away. That bitch deserved all that was coming to her. I was even more determined to set everything up, so I ended up on top. When all was said and done, she would be the one graveling at my feet.

  CHAPTER 28

  SEAN

  “Mr. Colcord, you’re late.”

  I smiled at my mother’s petite frame standing in the townhouse's doorway. Hands on her hips and a glare of disapproval on her face. I opened my mouth to explain why I was taking so long but was quickly cut off by her turning her back and walking into the house, leaving me with my mouth hung open. I sighed with resignation and stepped over the threshold. Immediately met with the smell of sugar cookies, I could easily associate a specific scent with the various women in my life. My mother’s scent was sugar cookies. Mrs. Price smelled like cinnamon. And, Lashawnda always smelled like coconut and lime.

  “I’m just slightly late, Mrs. Colcord,” I replied, following her into the kitchen.

  “Mmmhmm.” She turned an unamused glare toward me as I swooped down and planted a kiss on her cheek.

  She waved me away, and I knew that was code for, ‘go sit your tail down’. I plopped my large frame in the seat at the dining room table. Looking around the open space, I noted all the changes my mother had made to the townhouse since moving in.

  The kitchen looked like it was finally getting its proper use. With her living so close, Brent practically came over twice a day to get a home-cooked meal. Instead of going back to work full-time, she got a part-time position at the local hospital. Which meant she was home a lot and had time to spend cooking for that lazy best friend of mine.

  Ma placed a glass of iced tea before me, along with a huge plate of sugar cookies. My mouth salivated on instinct like a trained Pavlov dog. Without any preamble, I dug in.

  “So, what did you want to talk about?” I asked around a mouth stuffed with buttery goodness. I grunted with approval when I tasted that hint of lemon she used occasionally.

  “Actually, it is something I wanted to give you. I’ll be right back.” She rose from the table and left the room. Returning a few minutes later with a decorative wooden box. “Okay…so, I meant to give you some of this stuff a while ago.”

  I reached for the box, but my mother slapped my hand away. The way she clung to it piqued my curio
sity. I settled back in my chair and watched as her face shifted between anxiety and melancholy. On instinct, I reached out and took hold of her hand.

  “Ma is everything okay?” I asked, hearing the panic in my voice.

  “Yeah son, everything is perfect.” She responded, patting my hand for comfort.

  She couldn’t hide the hitch in her voice. Sandra Colcord was one of the strongest women I knew; crying in front of me was something she always refrained from doing. But, growing up, I’d hear her in the middle of the night. It was usually after some big event or the anniversary of something that happened while my father was alive.

  She shook her head and quickly opened the box.

  I leaned over and eyed the contents within. There were a few photos, a black box, a watch, and some other items I had never seen before. Reaching in, I plucked out the watch and read the inscription.

  No time like the present. Live hard. Love harder.

  “That was your father’s,” Ma said, answering my unasked question.

  She took the vintage Rolex Submariner watch from my hand and placed it on my wrist; it was a perfect fit.

  “This watch has been in the family for years. Your father’s father gave it to him. And, I think his father before him gave it to your grandfather. I was supposed to give this to you on your thirtieth birthday. But I couldn’t wait until then.” She spoke with a gentle smile on her face, no doubt feeling nostalgic about this heirloom.

  “Wow…this is nice. I guess I’ve got something to give to my own son one day when he’s older,” I said fondly.

  “Which leads me to my next item.” Ma pulled out the black box. “Your father always talked about how happy he was you were born a boy. You were his perfect progeny, a little him to love. I can remember how excited he was the day we found out I was expecting. You should have seen that poor man’s face. He bragged to all his friends from here to Dade County that you were gonna be somebody special. I guess my Greyson had the foresight.”

  She cradled the little black box in her palm. When her eyes met mine, I had to take a large gulp of my iced tea to soothe my dry throat.

  “You are much like your father, Sean. Not only in looks, but in the way you love so fiercely. But, there’s a lot of my side of the family that’s in you too. I’d like to think you got the brawn and the beauty from the Colcords, but the brains are definitely from my side.” A sad smile graced her round face.

  Not even a gallon of tea could ease the dry lump in my throat. I couldn’t think of any comforting words to give my mother, so I cradled her hands in mine.

  “You know, I only have two regrets in this life,” she began after a moment of silence.

  “What’s that, Ma?”

  “I wish your father was here to see the man you’ve become. And…I…I wished I’d been able to give you a little brother or sister. Sean, honey you are the last of our family. Not just your father’s, but mine as well. You are the only child of only children. Only one of your four grandparents had siblings that lived to the age of maturity. I do believe your great-aunt had only one daughter; but she died in her twenties or thirties with no children.”

  Ma shook her head with remorse. “Anyways, that’s not important. My point is my daddy recognized you would be the one to carry on the family name for both sides. So, he had this made for you.”

  She gently pulled her hands away from mine, leaving the black box in its place. Apprehension and apt curiosity were at war in me. I tentatively pulled it open.

  Between the cushions of soft velvet lay the most stunning ring I had ever seen. Two pear-shaped diamonds stood side by side, creating the illusion of a single heart-shaped stone. Smaller side-stones graced the platinum band, making the ring appear as if it belonged in a queen’s jewelry box. I’m no connoisseur of fine jewelry, but clearly outstanding craftsmanship went into designing this ring, only enhancing the flawlessness of the diamonds.

  “Wow,” I breathed out in reverence. Part of me was afraid to hold something so small and expensive in my large calloused hands.

  “Your grandfather had it made. The two stones were taken from both your grandmother’s rings. If I’m not mistaken, the original ring has been in your father’s family longer than anyone can remember. He thought it would be better for you to have one ring rather than choose from two. Well, that’s if you’re even thinking about using this ring. I know you young people like to be independent when it comes to things like this, but I just thought—”

  “Ma, I couldn’t choose a better engagement ring to grace Lashawnda’s hand,” I said, interrupting my mother’s nervous speech.

  I couldn’t stop looking at the magnificent piece of jewelry. My mother must have known where my thoughts had been leading me as of late. Lashawnda and I were perfectly happy living together. The first month took some adjusting to, but we were able to work out the kinks with no long-lasting problems and a lot of understanding.

  “So, when do you think you’ll be popping the question?” Ma asked enthusiastically. Her anxious face held features similar to my own. “I know I’m a bit pushy, but I figured the sooner you got engaged, the sooner y’all can get married, and the sooner I’ll get grandchildren.”

  I chuckled and shook my head. The old lady was like the witch in the candy house, anxiously waiting for Hansel and Gretel to show up.

  “Not today, Ma, that’s for sure.”

  “Do you doubt Lashawnda would say yes?”

  “No, at least I’m ninety-nine percent sure she’ll say, ‘yes’. But, that’s not the point. We’ve got a mortgage to pay, and Lashawnda’s going back to graduate school soon. I don’t think we could afford a wedding right now. Not the type of wedding she deserves, anyway.”

  It was a feeble excuse, but I wanted to do things on my schedule. I hated having these discussions with my mother because it always ended with me agreeing to something I shouldn’t have.

  “Well…if money is your only concern, then don’t fret; your grandparents have that covered as well.” She got up from the table and left me sitting in silence. I was really starting to worry at this point. The excitement in her voice did not bode well for me. On her return, she handed me a business card.

  “What’s this for?” I asked.

  “It’s your early thirtieth birthday present…or maybe a late twenty-fifth one. Hell, I can’t remember the details. Give old Richards a call, and he’ll tell you all you need to know.” She beamed and patted my hand. “I think that’s more than enough to cover a wedding.”

  It felt like my mind was swimming in swamp water. My mother was not making any sense.

  “Ma, what are you talking about? Who is Richards? What did my grandparents cover?” I asked.

  “Boy, ain’t you been listening? I think there might be a few million in there.”

  “As in dollars?” I bellowed outrageously.

  “Well, I wouldn’t want somebody to give me a few million Dixie cups,” Ma replied sarcastically.

  I got up from the table and walked around. It was obvious there were a few things my mother had been keeping from me. First, the engagement ring that looked like it was at least worth more than what I made in five years. Now, a business card to some lawyer I needed to contact about an unknown inheritance.

  She had some explaining to do.

  “Okay, Ma give it to me straight. What’s going on here?” I asked, looking at my mother, hands balled into a fist at my side.

  “Sit down,” she ordered and waited patiently until I resumed my seat. “Now, I know growing up, we didn’t have a whole lot, but we made out okay. Your father wasn’t supposed to marry me. Well, he wasn’t supposed to marry someone like me,” she clarified after seeing my confused expression.

  “After Greyson and I met, he brought me home to his parents and told them I was the girl of his dreams.” She gave a self-deprecating laugh. “His daddy thought I was more of a nightmare because I was from the wrong side of the tracks. He gave your daddy an ultimatum regarding our relationship. Ei
ther he gives me up or gives up his inheritance. Now, your daddy hated people telling him what to do; so, he chose me without a care for the money. Well after your daddy passed away, they eventually came around to liking me. Which was for the best, because they were up in age, and you were all they had left of their only child.”

  She smiled tenderly at me after her speech.

  My mind was racing at the speed of lightning. I remembered my mother working hard to take care of me. How could it be that there was money available to her, and she chose not to use it?

  “Because your father and I agreed that’s the way it should be,” Ma responded to my question. I wasn’t aware the words had slipped out.

  Ma patted my hand in comfort. “He didn’t want no parts of that family money. He wanted to work hard and show his parents no amount of money could ever be enough to give up on the family he created.”

  “This doesn’t make any sense.” I looked at her with a shake of my head.

  “Just give Richards a call. He is an old friend of your grandfather’s and has done a fabulous job of investing that money, so it could grow to what it is today. I think the original amount was just over fifty million when your daddy passed away.” Grabbing my hand, she angled my arm so she could read the watch. “My word…look at the time. I’ve got to head over to the Price’s.”

  I had so many questions I needed answering. But, as my mother quickly ushered me out of the townhouse with the box in my hand, I knew they wouldn’t be answered today.

  Lashawnda and I left the doctor’s office and headed back home. It was a crazy Monday morning at work, and I had forgotten I was supposed to get my physical. Thank God I had a woman that kept those things on her life-saving calendar. Lashawnda text me an hour before I was getting ready to settle into a literature review on epigenetics. The field was budding with all types of discoveries. When I heard her distinct knock on my office door, I forgot all about those research articles. Now, here we were three hours later, each with a clean bill of health. We were fortunate H&G offered an employee health clinic we were able to use for all our health needs.