by Tina Martin
“What kind of moment?”
“A moment when I missed you. When I wanted you. Being that close to you made me close my eyes, squeeze you tight and think to myself that you were actually mine. That I could hold on to you forever. When the ride was over, so was my fantasy.”
“It doesn’t have to be over.”
“It does, Desmond. If I don’t start purging you from my heart now—” Sherita stopped speaking when she felt her lips quiver. She stood up. “I’m going to go and get dressed.”
Desmond watched her walk away again. He wanted to pin her to the wall, tell her he loved her and somehow force her to believe him, but he knew it would require more than him saying it. Besides, she was right about him. He didn’t want marriage. Family. A wife. Kids. His family knew he’d been saying that for a long time. And he told Sherita the same thing. Now he had to undo the damage he’d done.
* * *
“This space would make the perfect studio for my lady,” Desmond told his agent.
The building was actually an old flower shop that had been vacated for six months, his agent went on to tell him. It had a nice parking lot, big enough for about a dozen cars and the outside needed a little landscaping.
On the inside, the wooden floors needed to be redone as well as the paint job. He’d envisioned two studio rooms – if she was in a bind she could have her assistant take some photos for her.
Her assistant…
Sherita didn’t even have an assistant, but she would. Being pregnant, she would need some help around the studio and from what he’d read online while researching pregnancy, most women pregnant with twins had to go on bed rest at some point. And they usually delivered early via cesarean section. An assistant was a must.
Desmond peeped inside the bathrooms. They were individual, single stall bathrooms which he thought would be suitable for the amount of people who would be in her studio at any given time. They also needed work – new commodes, sinks, mirrors, tiles – he smiled at how easy it would be for him to hire an interior decorator, plumbers, contractors or anyone else he needed to come here and make this place phenomenal.
He followed the agent back to his office and filled out the paperwork for the purchase of what would become Sherita’s studio, offering the asking price of two million dollars. Afterwards, he went to work.
Sitting behind his desk, all he could think about was Sherita and what life would be like with her and his children. He thought about whether the babies should share a nursery now and be separated into their own individual rooms later, or if they should have their own space now. And what about names? He and Sherita hadn’t discussed names. He made a mental note to talk about it tonight.
Desmond glanced at his watch. The brothers had a team meeting in Dante’s office at noon. It would be a catered-lunch, two-hour meeting with the first hour only with the brothers, discussing critical company matters. The second hour would include the managers and team leads from the various departments. Since it was only eleven, Desmond took out his cell and dialed his lawyer’s number.
His secretary answered, then transferred him to Sam.
“Sam Cartwright here.”
“Hey, Sam. It’s Desmond.”
“Desmond Champion…how goes it, man?”
“Everything is good on my end.”
“I know it is. I heard The Champion Corporation secured a multi-million dollar contract with Victor Westwood.”
“We did, and we’re in the final stages of completion for his new project. Look for some ads in the near future. It’s going to be major.”
“It better be for that kind of money.”
The men laughed.
“So what can I do for you, Desmond?”
“I just need some advice.”
“Shoot.”
“I need to add my wife to—”
“Hold up…wife?”
“Yes. I’m married now.”
“Since when?” Sam asked.
“Since about four months ago.”
“And I didn’t get an invite to witness this monumental occasion?”
Desmond grinned. He remembered how he had also told Sam he would never marry. He also recalled how joyless his marriage ceremony had been. How love had nothing to do with it. They’d just met in the parking lot at the courthouse, said stale vows and drove away in separate cars. Sherita deserved so much more.
“There wasn’t an actual wedding. It was a justice of the peace wedding.”
“Oh…I see. It happened fairly quickly.”
“It did,” Desmond said, flicking his pen between his index and middle fingers, looking at the photo Dante had left on his desk – the picture of himself, Sherita and his niece and nephew.
“I’m starting to worry about why I didn’t get a phone call to draw up a prenuptial agreement?”
“Because I don’t need one,” Desmond said. “I want her to have everything I have.”
“And if the marriage fails?” Sam asked.
A smile came to Desmond’s face. “It won’t fail, but if it does, I would gladly give her half of everything. I would give her all of everything, which brings me to my reason for calling. I need to add her to the deed for my house here in Asheville and my vacation home at Myrtle Beach.”
“Are you sure about this, Desmond?”
“I am. Can you get this done for me?”
“Yes, sir. I’ll take care of the forms. What’s your wife’s name?”
“Sherita.”
“Sherita Champion,” Sam said, writing her name down. “I’ll get the forms ready and fax them over to you.”
“Perfect. Appreciate it, Sam.”
“No problem. And congratulations on finding the one. She must be a special woman.”
“Thank you, and yes, she is a special woman.”
CHAPTER 42
Sherita unlocked the storage unit, removing four boxes of photo albums. She lifted the lightweight boxes and placed two in the back seat and the other two in the trunk. Then she did something she hadn’t done in a long time – she invited her mother to lunch. They hadn’t sat down and actually talked like a mother and daughter should. And then there was the fact she hadn’t told her mother she was pregnant – this would be the perfect opportunity to do so.
She pulled into the parking lot of the restaurant, saw her mother’s car there then went on in, spotting her at a two-seater table in the center of the restaurant.
“Hey, Mom.” Sherita glanced at her watch. The time was close to one. “I know it’s been a while since we had an actual, real conversation, and I just wanted us to start over.”
“I would like that too, Sherita,” Carol replied.
“Good.
“And I promise I won’t say a word about…you know…Thane.”
“Thank you,” Sherita said, relieved. “I am curious though…has he been bothering you and Dad?”
“Yes he has. He asked your father if he needed more money. When your father told him he didn’t need anything, he looked confused. Then he asked us if we knew what was wrong with your phone.” Carol chuckled. “He still has your old number, you know.”
“Yes, and that’s the way I want it to stay. Thane needs to move on with his life.”
“He does, and I understand why you were upset with me and your father. We had no right to do what we did and, as a mother, I should know better than to talk you into being with someone you don’t love. I’m sorry, dear.”
“No worries, Ma. Thane was just as much at fault. I doubt if he’ll be bothering me again.”
“Good.” Her mother took a sip of water, then glanced at Sherita’s hand. “Am I to assume the ring on your finger is proof you’re either engaged, or done ran off and eloped without telling your parents?”
Sherita looked at the mega rock on her ring finger and forced herself not to frown. The ring meant a lot to her, but at the same time, she knew it wasn’t a genuine gift. She wouldn’t care if it was merely a silver band or a microscopic diamond as long as
the man who’d given it to her did so from his heart. Desmond didn’t give her the diamond from his heart. He gave it to her out of a showy display of his wealth.
“Sherita Wilkins, do you hear me, young lady? Looks like you drifted off into dreamland.”
Sherita blinked out of a trance, looked up at her mother and smiled. “You’re prying again, mom.”
Her mother furrowed her brows. “You’re wearing a diamond about the size of The Rock of Gibraltar, and I’m prying?”
A bemused smile shone brightly on her rosy-cheeked face. “You and your exaggerations.”
“Oh come on, Rita. It must mean something.”
It means something to me, but not to the man I love. “All right, Ma. Since we’re starting over, I’m going to come clean with you, but I need you to listen and not judge me. Can you do that?”
“Umm…”
“Mother?”
“Sure. I can do that, dear.”
Sherita pulled in a breath, released it slowly then began, “I am married, but it’s not a traditional marriage. It was more of a business deal than anything else.”
Carol’s frown grew deep. Grand Canyon deep. “A business deal? Now Sherita Wilkins, I know I raised you better than—”
“Ma,” Sherita interrupted. “No judging.”
Her mother blew an even breath. “Okay. Continue.”
“It’s a long story and I’m not going to go into it, but just to answer your question, I am married, and…” Sherita paused.
“What, dear?”
“I don’t know how to say this, so I’m just going to come out with it. I’m pregnant.” Sherita watched as her mother’s eyes grew big.
“You’re what!”
Sherita glanced around the restaurant. They now had an audience thanks to her mother’s scream. Looking at her mother, she couldn’t tell if she was happy about the news or angry. Her face just looked like a confused, mangled mess. “Ma, lower your voice a little, please.”
“You drop this bomb on me and tell me to keep my voice down? This is…this is wonderful news, Sherita. I’m going to be a grandmother?”
Sherita nodded, felt tears flood her eyes. “Yes.”
Before she could tell her mother there were actually two babies and not just one, the excited grandmother-to-be had already rounded the table and wrapped her arms around Sherita’s neck. When they separated, she pulled her chair close to Sherita, sat down and asked, “How far along are you?”
“Almost four months.”
Her mother looked at her stomach, then touched her there. “You don’t look pregnant at all. That’s a good sign, Rita. You’re going to carry well.”
“You think so?”
“Yes. Honey, when I was pregnant with you, nobody knew until I was about seven months.”
“Really?”
“Yes. I carried well. Plus, you were a winter baby, so I was covered in clothes, jackets, coats…you know.”
Sherita nodded.
“When are you due?”
“March, but my doctor already warned me that twins usually don’t make it to their due date.”
“What’d you say?” Carol asked.
Sherita smiled. “You heard me. You always wanted grandchildren…now you’re getting two at the same time.”
“Twins?”
“Yes. I’m having twins. A girl and a boy.”
Her wide-eyed mother covered her opened mouth, while her eyes brimmed with tears. After it all sunk in, she wrapped her arms around Sherita’s neck again.
“Mom, I’m breathing for three. Don’t strangle me to death.”
Carol released her. “Oh, stop it. I’m so happy right now, I could just scream.”
“Please don’t. They just might kick us out of here.”
Carol dabbed her eyes. “Your father is going to pass out when I tell him this. Wait…it is okay for me to tell him this, right?”
“Yes. It’s fine.”
“Good. He’s going to be so happy. You know he was a twin, but his brother died when they were two. He drowned on a fishing trip.”
“That’s terrible. I didn’t know that.”
“That’s because your father doesn’t talk about it. He was only two at the time, so he doesn’t remember anything, but he does remember how heartbroken his parents were as he grew up, especially into his teenage years. To this day, he thinks it’s the reason why they died so young. They were heartbroken.”
Sherita shook her head. “I can only imagine.”
“So I take it this pretend husband of yours is the father of my grandbabies.”
“He is.”
“Now would this be the same man who paid off our mortgage? Tall, light-skinned, about six-two with hazel eyes. Clean cut. Clean shaven. Dressed sharp.”
Sherita hid a smile. “Yes. That’s him.”
“So is that the business deal you worked out with him? You give him some babies, and in turn he would pay off our mortgage?”
“No, mother. You’re way off, so stop speculating.”
“I’m just trying to figure out what’s going on because he stopped by the house earlier this morning.”
Sherita narrowed her eyes. “Who stopped by this morning?”
“Your pretend husband. Desmond Champion, right?”
“Yes. What did he want?”
“He wanted to talk to your father alone, so I went to the kitchen. And you know me…I stood right there at the door and listened. It ain’t nothing going on in my house that I’m not going to know about.”
“What happened? What did they talk about?”
“Desmond started off talking about the marriage…said it was quick and unplanned.”
Sherita squinted. “So you already knew I was married before you asked me about the ring, huh?”
“I did.”
Sherita laughed and shook her head.
“Mama had to hear from you what was going on firsthand, honey,” Carol said. “Anyway, Desmond apologized to your father for not asking for his permission.”
Eyes widening, Sherita asked, “Permission to do what?”
“To marry you.”
Thoroughly confused, Sherita said, “I can’t believe he did that. It’s…it’s so out of character for him to do something like that.”
“Well, he did it. He didn’t say anything about the babies, though. He must have wanted to leave that for you.”
“I…I don’t know what to say. I’m shocked.”
“Oh, and there’s more,” her mother said. “This debonair, Champion fellow also said he thought the world of you. Said you were caring, loving, giving, and that he’d never met a woman who could hold a candle to you.”
Sherita cocked her head to the side. “Okay, Mother. I see what’s going on here. You’re making this stuff up so I can think Desmond actually wants this marriage.”
“Rita, I’m telling you what the man said, and he was serious, too. Said you were an amazing woman but he feared he wasn’t good enough for you…that he wasn’t what you needed. I don’t know what he meant by that because he looks like a decent young man. I know looks can be deceiving, but from what I witnessed, he seems like he came from a good home.” Carol took a sip of water. “Your father said those Champion men were millionaires, too, which would explain why he had enough money to pay off our mortgage. Is that true? Is he a millionaire?”
When Sherita thought about Desmond, money was the furthest thing from her mind. So what? He was rich. He lived in a house big enough to be a small apartment building. He had cars, a vacation home, financial freedom – all of that. She, however, didn’t care about his money. She never asked for any, even when she could’ve used it.
When she thought of Desmond, she thought of just him – the way he could read her so well after three and a half months. She thought of all the times she dreamed of a life with him. Raising their kids together. Traveling together. Being happy together. Those were the good thoughts.
The thought that left a stabbing pain in her heart w
as when she wondered how she would feel to see him with another woman. Someone better than her. Someone he wouldn’t be afraid to commit to. Every man had that one woman who’d make them get on one knee and pop the question. It didn’t matter how many times they said they would never marry or commit. When that special lady came along, he’d find himself doing things he never thought he would.
“Sherita.”
Sherita looked up at her mother with raised brows.
“I asked you if Desmond was a millionaire.”
“He is, and I have no idea what he meant by saying he wasn’t good enough for me. I guess…I’m just shocked that he actually talked with Dad.”
“I know. Your hands are shaking.”
Sherita looked at her hands. They were trembling. “I think I’m going to have the waitress box up my lunch. I need to go home and relax for a while.”
“Speaking of home, where are you living?”
“With Desmond,” Sherita answered.
A wide smile appeared on Carol’s face. Her daughter was living with Desmond, carrying his twins and wearing his ring – nothing about this marriage seemed pretentious, and she had a feeling Sherita would find that out soon enough.
CHAPTER 43
“Overall, I think we’re in good shape,” Dante said to Desmond and Dimitrius. They had just wrapped up a meeting with the team leads and managers and after dismissing them, they remained in his office.
“I agree,” Dimitrius said. “Victor has already approved the app, and he has nothing but good things to say about the marketing campaign Desmond put together.”
Desmond nodded. “I imagine that’s why he wants to have dinner Friday night. He wants to pop some champagne.”
“I’m down with that,” Dimitrius said.
Dante nodded. “Hey, Des, speaking of dinner, are you bringing Sherita?”
“Probably. I’m sure Victor will ask where she is if she doesn’t show up.”
“Not necessarily,” Dante said. “You can tell Victor she’s sick if she doesn’t feel like going out. After all, she is pregnant.”
