Les nodded. “I’d like this picture, Kendra, but… um…”
“What is it, Les?”
“Is this all I get?”
“You want more pictures?” Kendra smiled then reached for her purse. “Sure, I have a few more in my purse.”
“No! I mean, yeah, I want more pictures but I want him, too.”
“Want him?” Kendra whispered, sliding backwards on the couch, suddenly feeling an urge to get out of there as fast as she could. “What do you mean you want him?”
“Kendra?” Les scowled. “Why are you… why are you backing away from me?”
“You want… my son?”
“I want my son.”
“You want to take him from me? You can’t! He’s all I have! Shane is my world! Please don’t do this, Les!” Kendra stood, gripping her purse and coat, shouting as she hurried to the front door. “If you do, I will fight you with everything I have!”
“Kendra!” Les shouted after her. “Calm down and listen to me!”
She rested her head against his door, her heart thudding as she gripped the knob. No, he couldn’t do that to her. Shane was hers and she should never have told him about her son. No way would she ever let him go. “I’m not rich but I give Shane a good home and always have. I always will. He wants for nothing. I love him and I can’t… don’t do this to me, Les!”
“Christ, Kendra. I’m not planning to take him from you!”
Kendra blinked at Les’ shout then turned around. He was standing at the end of the couch, shaking his head and looking like he was attempting to calm.
“You’re not?”
“No! I just want to be in his life, as I should have been since day one. I want him told I’m here for him. What does he know about me?”
“Nothing. I knew nothing, not even your name, remember? He thinks his father is working overseas.”
“What kind of father works overseas and never contacts his son?”
“The kind who works in important, secret business. You send him gifts all the time. I have a cousin stationed in the Philippines and she sends things. He looks forward to getting them all, randoms but especially Christmas and birthdays.”
“Which is?”
“April 9th,” Kendra sighed.
“April 9th,” Les sighed, shaking his head. “I want to meet him, Kendra. Tomorrow. Well, today. We’re going back to bed. I have a big day tomorrow; the biggest of my life and I need some rest.”
“No, I’m going to call a cab again and go home.”
“No, you’re staying here. We’re going to work this out… everything… and I’m going to have you and my son in my life.”
“Les…”
“You’re mine, Kendra. Don’t make me prove it to you. If I did, we wouldn’t get any sleep and I want to be fresh and focused when I meet my son.”
“Les, I need to go. This is all… I can’t… please. Talk to me tomorrow. Come by around… 3 and I will have told him and we can see what happens from there. Please.”
“You’re still mine, Kendra. I will be there at noon. I want him and I will have him and you. Don’t even think about arguing with me on this.”
“Okay. Tomorrow, at noon. I’m at 21920 Granger Place.”
“Fine. I’ll be there.”
Les watched as Kendra called another cab then paced the entry as she waited. When the cab blew the horn, she gave Les one last pleading look then walked out the door. He watched through the window as the cab pulled off then sighed.
A son. He had a son that he’d never laid eyes on, outside of a picture, and had already missed damn near ten years of his life. He wouldn’t miss another day, he thought as he went to his bedroom and slid into bed. He sighed heavily when all he could smell was them on his sheets. No way was he going to get any sleep with her scent invading his nose this way.
He jumped up and showered and once dry, he wandered into the guest room, determined to get some sleep because, like he said to Kendra, he was going to be fresh and focused when he met young Shane Edward Atkins. First order of business was to get the meeting over with and the next, he was going to take the steps to legally change that last name, Les thought when his eyes finally dropped.
Chapter TEN
Gone Again
Les pulled out his cell as he walked away from Kendra’s neighbor. He glanced at his watch, noting that she had at least four and a half hours jump on her hasty run.
“Yeah, she left fast. Her and that lovely boy of hers. She left so fast, I thought the house was on fire but as you see, it’s still standing.”
“And they left at eight?”
“Yeah, Little after. I had just had my breakfast when her car peeled from the driveway.”
“Fuck! Fuck! FUCK!” Les shouted as he got in his car.
“Les?”
“What?!”
“Ooh, okay. You called to swear at me?”
“No! Fuck. Shit. Damn it, Andy, get me a fucking P.I. A good one that can find any and everything!”
“Why? What’s happened?”
“Kendra and I had a good date and she… I told her everything and she let me in on a tidbit or two.”
“Okay, so why do you need a detective?”
“Because she split on me again!”
“What do you mean, split?”
“That’s enough on the phone. Call the dick and you both meet me at the office. 20 minutes!”
“But Mooooom! Whyyyyyyy?! I wanted pizza not a cheeseburger! Pleeeeeease?”
“Shaaaaaaaane, please don’t whiiiiine. How does it soooooound when I do it?”
“That’s kinda annoying, Mom,” Shane chuckled at his mother.
“Exactly as it is when you do it,” Kendra chuckled back. “Now, look at that menu and decide what you want to eat so we can get back in the car and go.”
“But we’ve been in that rental car forever. Why did we have to leave so fast anyway and leave our car? And we’re going to miss Sunday morning pancakes with Gramma and Gramps. We’ve never missed that, Mom!”
Kendra sighed. She had every intention of seeing the meeting between Shane and Les through when she arrived home. She had lain on her couch, attempting to catch some sleep before going to surprise Shane and her parents then talking to Shane about meeting his father but Les’ words kept reverberating through her head.
“You’re still mine, Kendra. I will be there at noon. I want him and I will have him and you. Don’t even think about arguing with me on this.”
Have ‘him and you’? What did he mean by that? Kendra frowned and shook her head at the thought then remembered his home. Her home wasn’t a small one. She was successful at her career, whether she was designing for companies or civilians, she was more than good at it but Les’ home, it was palatial. Even going to his bedroom took a good minute or ten. The size of his bedroom, the expensive furniture and that gorgeous wet-room, that home was not someone who was new to money, by any means.
Frowning, Kendra grabbed her iPad and Googled Charles Ford. She saw nothing of interest until she scrolled down.
“Son of David Andrew Ford I,” she murmured and clicked on the link. What she saw made her gasp and go into a panic.
David Andrew Ford I. Rich. Powerful. Tenacious. Vindictive. Merciless. All those adjectives were used by several people and more than once.
Kendra jumped up and immediately went to her parents’ home and got her son. Baffled, her mother woke Shane and Kendra took off with him, going back to her home and telling Shane to pack fast, to grab only what was necessary and she’d given him only thirty minutes to do so. She wanted to get on the road fast.
A little after eight, she peeled out of her driveway and raced to the airport, went to long-term parking and got a rental car. She called her mother after making Shane go to the bathroom and told her where they were heading. She also made her mother promise not to reveal her destination to anyone if she was asked. In return, Kendra promised that she’d called often and would explain in better detail as
soon as she could why she was fleeing. Her mother cried, said she’d miss her and Shane but would look forward to her calls. Kendra tearfully said she’d miss her and her father as well, glad she was blessed with the parents she had. After going to the washroom herself, she and Shane hit the road.
Kendra shook her head as she snapped out of the memory of this morning then sighed as she answered her son. “I know, Shane, and I’m going to miss doing it but I ran into someone and he wants something that belongs to me and he cannot have it.”
Shane’s eyes bulged. “What’s that, Mom? What does he want?”
“Don’t worry about it, baby. I won’t ever let it go so don’t you even think to worry.”
“Good. People shouldn’t take things that doesn’t belong to them.”
“Exactly, Shane. Exactly. Now, how about a nice, juicy cheeseburger with extra pickles?
Shane’s face contorted. “But Mooooooom!”
“All right, Les, I’m here. What happened?”
“Where’s the dick, Andy?”
“He’ll be here in about 20. He’s wrapping a case, he says. It’s the one I use for the divorce cases. Will you stop that damn pacing? Shit, what has you wound tighter than a frog’s ass?”
Les smirked, knowing his news would knock Andy on his ass.
“Congrats, you have a nephew! I’m a fucking father!”
Andy’s mouth fell open and he stared at his twin, disbelievingly. Les damn near laughed at the sight of him, knowing that’s the expression he wore when Kendra told him about Shane.
“What? By who?”
“Kendra!”
“Kendra? Daytona Kendra? That Kendra?”
“YES!”
“What… how? I thought you said you hadn’t seen her since 2007?”
“I haven’t. It happened then.”
“Damn it, Les! You said you were careful! What happened?”
“I don’t know, Andy! We had condoms and I changed every time I came!”
Andy shook his head and stared at Les. He was deep in thought for a few minutes then a frown crosses his face. He’s definitely confused, Les thought, and he braced himself for the barrage of questions that were coming.
“Wait… every time… how many times did you have sex with her?”
“I don’t fucking know! I was half drunk and focused on her. Fuck… I was sober Friday night and still fucked her five times then. No, six! And was ready to go another round when we started talking. Round seven never happened and I’m sure if she hadn’t sprung that news on me, I could have easily went twelve rounds with her. At least!”
“Damn. Six times in one night? Possibly more?”
“Yeah. I wanted more until she threw this shit on me. So?”
“Nothing. Just jealous is all. Damn if I ever get it up six times in one night. Fuck, my personal best was four, and that’s with the help of a blow or two.”
“Don’t be jealous. That’s only happened with her. That’s not the norm.”
“Still. Fuck, man,” Andy grimaced. “Six.”
“Right?” Les grinned. He was really quite proud of his stamina with Kendra.
“Let me guess, it’s because she’s black and plump.”
“Wipe that smirk off your face, fool. She’s African-American and curvy.”
“Yeah, that’s the right description,” Andy grinned. “Exactly your type.”
“I don’t have a type, asshole. I like all women, regardless of skin.”
“Like I do, nut-sack,” Andy laughed. “But you prefer women with color and meat on them. The world knows that.”
“Whatever.”
Andy smirked again. No matter what Les said, everyone knows his preference, mainly due to him and that night with the strippers. Andy didn’t care at all and he was positive no one in their circle did either. If he heard otherwise, he would definitely do something about it and fast. No one fucks over anyone in his family in any way and gets away it.
Now, Andy had a natural curiosity about his nephew. He grinned to himself… Les was a father. It was almost surreal, thinking there was a child out there that had been sired by his twin. And it was from a woman he was in love with and had been since he laid eyes on her. Lucky guy, if that’s what you wanted in life. His twin definitely did.
Now what? Andy thought as he moved to the desk. If he knew Les, and he did better than anyone, he would not just walk away. Andy could already tell Les wanted his son and he knew as soon as the rest of the family found out, so would they. He did. Andy didn’t think he’d ever know enough about his new-found nephew.
“So what’s your son look like? Did she describe him to you?”
“That’s why she said I looked familiar. He’s fucking us at that age, only a little darker.”
“How do you know? You’ve seen him?”
“Sort of,” Les murmured and reached into his breast pocket. “Here.”
Les passed Andy Shane’s picture and waited for his reaction. Andy inhaled sharply and snapped his head up to his twin, his eyes large and round. He looked as shocked as Les felt when he’d first seen Shane’s picture.
“This is him?”
“Yeah.”
“Wow. He even has our blonde hair, just curly, and the bluest fucking eyes I have ever seen outside of me, you and Dad. If this isn’t your kid then he’s definitely mine.”
“Right?” Les murmured then walked to his bar. He poured himself a glass of scotch and downed it fast. He took out another glass and poured scotch in it then more in his glass. He took a healthy sip from his freshened glass and saw from the corner of his eye as Andy picked up the other drink then slammed the empty glass down.
“Another,” Andy murmured then sighed. “He’s going to be just like his Uncle Andy. Pussy everywhere with these looks. Congrats, man,” Andy laughed then slapped Les’ back. “Good luck for when you tell Mom.”
“Tell me what, Andrew?” A woman drawled from the door. The twins turned at the same time to their scowling mother. “Are you two drinking this early in the afternoon? It’s not even cocktail hour. Put that away!”
“Mom,” Les sighed, thinking this was the last person that needed to be here right now. “Why are you here? What do you need?”
Melina Hinton glared at her son. “Hello to you, too, Charles.”
“Hello, Mom,” Les sighed then kissed his mother’s upturned cheek. “Why are you here? Can you make it quick? I have some very important things to do.”
Melina rolled her eyes then moved over to Andy and accepted a kiss from him. She waited as Andy helped her remove her wrap before answering.
“I have an appointment, Charles. My prenup, remember?”
“That’s today?”
“Andrew said Saturday at four. It’s Saturday at four.”
“Sorry, it’s slipped my mind. Have a seat, Mom. I have another appointment soon so I’ll need a break when the other guy gets here.”
“As long we get this hashed out today,” Melina sighed as she gracefully sat on the couch. “What is it you need to tell me, Charles?”
“Best to Band-Aid, Les,” Andy murmured as he walked to the bar and poured out the gin he knew their mother would need once she heard the news.
“Shit,” Les mumbled and rubbed his neck.
“Language!” Melina scolded. “I don’t care how old you are, I’m still your mother!”
Les nodded, knowing Shane would have loved that, since Kendra said he has a fine jar for swearing. Still…
“Give me a break, Mom! I’m 33 years old and going through some shit!”
“Well! What kind of shit are you going through that you have to speak to your mother in this manner?”
“Band-Aid,” Andy murmured behind him.
“Fine, Andy. Mom, congratulations. You’re a grandmother.”
Melina gasped. “I am?”
“You are.”
“Oh, God…” Melina murmured then held out her hand. Andy immediately pressed the glass into it. Melina downed the drink as f
ast as her boys did their scotch.
“Another. I guess this news is why my sons are drinking so early. When?”
“Ten years ago, April 9th.”
“I have an almost 10-year-old grandchild?”
“You do.”
“I said another!” Melina ordered, holding out her empty glass. Andy filled it immediately. She took a big gulp then groaned heavily. “Fuck. I was only 36 ten years ago. That’s not going to look good.”
“Mom…”
“What, Andrew?”
“Ten years ago, you were 49.”
“Shhh!”
“Don’t worry, Mom,” Les laughed. “No one was buying that 36 shit anyway. Kinda hard to pull that off with 24-year-old twins.”
“That’s enough with that language, Charles. Besides, this time 10 years ago, you weren’t 24, you were 23.”
Les and Andy rolled their eyes, neither of them seeing what that year difference made, except that she was making herself a mother at thirteen instead of twelve.
Melina sighed. “Where’s this child?”
“I don’t know. She told me about him and took off. I’m waiting for an investigator to get here so I can get started on finding her.”
Melina frowned. “Why is she running?”
“I have no idea. She was under the impression I wanted to take him from her when she told me. I tried telling her that was not the case but I guess she didn’t believed me.”
“You said ‘him’ again. It’s a boy?”
“Yeah, and his name is Shane Edward Atkins. Give her the picture, Andy.”
Andy passed the picture to Melina. She gasped. Her eyes welled as she gazed at her grandson, noting that she didn’t need a DNA test for this child. He was definitely the son of Charles, the first grandson of David, who she was sure was going to blow a gasket then move heaven and earth to have access to his son’s offspring.
“Oh my God! He’s beautiful, Charles. Is his mother African-American?”
“She is,” Les said with a nod.
Honey Babe Page 9
