Forever Love (Arabesque)

by Norfleet, Celeste O.

  Gia looked at the time on the cell phone. It was much later than she thought. “Yes, I’m gonna stop by to see my grandmother first and then I’ll be in. Is everything okay there?”

  “Yeah, it’s all good here, at least for the moment. It’s just really busy all of a sudden, that’s all. No one’s here except me and Linda. And the calls haven’t stopped coming in. We’ve been on the phones all morning, plus I’m working on something for Bill. He wants me to reword the press release so we can use it when the media call for information. Linda’s already put together sixteen information packages to send out. Also, I updated our website and answered online questions and checked our Facebook account. We got over fifty new friend requests overnight. I think we hit a nerve at the town hall.”

  Gia smiled happily. “That’s great. It looks like our message is really starting to get out there. Make sure to stay on top of the social networks and keep them up to date on what we’re doing.”

  “I will, definitely,” Bonnie said.

  “Anything else happening this morning?” she asked.

  “Danny didn’t come in. He called and said that he had to work on his blog. I think he’s still upset. He really wanted to go to the mayor’s press conference today and—”

  “That’s not gonna happen,” she interrupted.

  “I know, but then when Keith Washington showed up here Monday night, he was really pissed.”

  “I know, but going today is out of the question. We’ve lost the element of surprise and of course, the mayor’s staff is ready for anything now. In addition, if the mayor is willing to meet with us and talk, we should at least give him a chance.”

  “I know, but Danny doesn’t see it that way. Have you read his blog lately? He’s really angry. He’s been unemployed and living in a cheap hotel room for close to two years, plus his wife left him and took the kids. He has nothing to lose. He blames the rich politicians and specifically the mayor.”

  “No, he needs to take responsibility. He chose to quit his job as a marketing manager to stay at home and start a blog. His wife was already unemployed. With five kids, what did he expect they’d live on?”

  “He sees Blake Washington and his family as having everything and him having nothing. He plays the lottery and gambles constantly trying to get money. Bottom line, he wants to be rich and get his family back. He thinks it’s all about the money.”

  “I can’t make him rich. And if his family left him because he didn’t have money, then he had bigger problems to begin with. There’s nothing we can do. He’s already on the OCC part-time payroll.”

  “I know. It’s just sad. People think money will solve all their problems. But it doesn’t. It only gives you more problems.”

  “Yeah, I know,” Gia agreed. There was a second’s pause as both women thought about their lives. Both came from money, but whereas Bonnie embraced her wealth, Gia rejected hers. “Any other phone calls besides the people wanting information?” she asked, hoping Keith might have called with an appoint-

  ment date.

  “Oh, yeah, you had a few calls from the media this morning. We had reporters from newspaper, radio and television call. Most of them were interested in an OCC sound bite. I told them to call back. They all want to set up an interview to talk to you.”

  “Good,” she said, nodding. It was just as she’d suspected. The news media were as predictable as taxes in April. They smelled a story and wanted more. “I was hoping the town hall meeting would generate renewed interest. But okay, I’ll be in in a couple of hours. Is Bill still there?”

  “No, not right now, he was earlier. He said he had a few things to take care of and that he’d be back later this afternoon. I know he’s got a meeting this afternoon.”

  “I’m on my way to the nursing home now. I’ll see you in a couple of hours.”

  “See you later.”

  Gia hung up and quickly gathered her things. Ten minutes later she was headed to the garage and getting into her car. She drove to Crestar Medical Center, circling around to the rehab center in back, and found a place to park right up front. The Crestar Nursing and Rehab Center was a private facility that was reputed as the best live-in rehab center on the East Coast.

  It was early so there weren’t a lot of visitors yet. She signed in at the front desk and continued upstairs to her grandmother’s room. She knocked, then getting no answer, walked in. “Hello, Grandmom,” she said as she paused, looking around. The sitting room was empty. “Grandmom,” she called out again as she walked to the bedroom and saw the bed made and everything in place. She went back to the sitting room, then, seeing the balcony doors open, walked over. She peeked out to see her grandmother sitting in a chair with the Philadelphia Inquirer newspaper on her lap and her cell phone at her ear. She smiled and waved her granddaughter to join her. Gia stepped out on the balcony as her grandmother ended her conversation, giving the address of the nursing center and joyfully promising to see someone very soon.

  “Well, good morning, Gia,” Julia Banks said.

  “Hey, look at you, already up and on the phone. Good morning,” she said as she leaned down and kissed her grandmother’s cheek lovingly.

  “Sorry about that. It was Louise Gates. She’s coming into town today for a visit.”

  “That’s great. When’s she getting in?”

  “She doesn’t know yet, she’s in Alexandria with her great-grandchildren. She’ll call when her train arrives in Philly.”

  “Okay, let me know if she needs a ride.”

  “I will.”

  “Wow, you look fantastic,” Gia said happily. “How do you feel today? How’s your wrist?”

  Julia nodded slowly. “I feel stiff, very sore and a whole lot silly. I can’t believe I was so clumsy and fell down like that.”

  Gia understood her grandmother’s words perfectly. The therapy was working. Her speech was still slightly slurred and her tongue was still crooked, but she was so much better than she had been weeks earlier. “The doctor said it’s to be expected at times. You still don’t have your full strength back yet. That stroke took a lot out of you this time. But she’s encouraged that you’ll be back to your old self in no time.”

  “I’m feeling better and stronger every day.”

  “That’s good to hear. Are you in any pain right now?”

  Julia smiled. “No, thank God.”

  “Good.” Gia sat down next to her grandmother and touched her wrist gingerly. “This doesn’t look too bad. At least you didn’t break anything.”

  “Okay now, enough about me. Let’s talk about what’s going on with you. I was told you’ve stopped by here every night since I fell on Monday.”

  Gia nodded. “Yes, it’s usually late and you’re asleep when I get here, so I don’t stay long.”

  “Stay long? You shouldn’t be here at all. Is this what you’re doing these days, hanging around a nursing home all night long? I’m sure there’s something else you could be doing.”

  “I’m fine. I work late and came over afterward.”

  “Gia, working is fine. Having a career is wonderful and fulfilling, but having a life outside of that is necessary. Don’t be like me. You’re young, you’re intelligent and you’re so beautiful. You need a life. And more importantly, you need a man in your life.”

  Gia groaned loudly. “Grandmom, do we really have to get into all of that again? I told you a hundred times, I’m fine. I don’t need a man and more drama in my life right now. Yes, maybe one day I’ll find Mr. Right, but not now. No thanks.”

  “What you need is a man who’s strong, secure and not afraid of being himself. I know he’s out there, but if the only places you ever go are to the office, your condo or this rehab center, you’re never going to find him. Now, there’s this very attractive doctor here who—”

  “No, Grandmom, please, n
o matchmaker, no fix-up and no blind dates,” Gia said quickly, knowing exactly where this conversation was leading since this wasn’t the first time her grandmother tried something like this.

  “I’m just saying, a good man isn’t gonna just walk up to you and say hello. You have to look for him. The alternative, of course, are the thousands of so-called men walking around here who don’t have a clue what it’s like to be a real man. They’re afraid of everything and the only way they face their fears is to push the bravado button. Then you get married and all of a sudden everything changes. The man you married is someone else, and the fairy-tale life you thought you were gonna have is anything but.”

  “I’m not looking for the fairy tale.”

  “Just don’t be like me. Don’t give up on love. He’s out there somewhere looking for you, too.”

  It was as if her grandmother hadn’t heard a word she’d said about not being interested in love right now. She just kept on talking about marriage, husbands and how to avoid the bad ones. Gia stopped listening as always. She’d heard this speech a hundred times before. It was the same over and over again—don’t be like me. Gia shook her head. What was wrong with being like her grandmother? She was strong, independent, intelligent and well respected. Being married could never give her what she already had.

  She’d seen what love and marriage did to some women. A lot of her college friends were sinking in that boat. As soon as they said “I do” they were delegated to take a backseat in the marriage. They didn’t have a voice; they didn’t think and they didn’t have an opinion. They just vanished. That in itself was imprisoning as far as she was concerned. Nobody should have to exist like that—nobody.

  Still, Gia nodded as her grandmother continued. When she finally stopped, Gia quickly jumped in. “Grandmom, trust me, I’m fine. My life is good—no, it’s better than good. So please don’t worry about me. You just focus on getting well.”

  Julia sighed heavily. “All right, all right, I hear you,” she said. “But mark my words, one of these days you’re gonna hear me and know exactly what I’m talking about. Love doesn’t just come around willy-nilly.”

  “Willy-nilly?” Gia repeated humorously.

  Julia smiled. “Yes, exactly, willy-nilly.”

  “Okay, Grandmom, one of these days, I get it. Now, can we change the subject?” Gia said, knowing that day would never come for her. Men like the ones Julia described didn’t exist anymore. Gia wasn’t sure if they ever really did.

  “What’s this I hear about you and the mayor? I saw the news this morning,” Julia began. “Mayor Washington and OCC was all over it again.”

  Gia smiled proudly. “The North Field Community Center town hall meeting is getting even more press than I expected. OCC sponsored it and all of the viable candidates showed up, including the mayor. We had been sending him information about our concerns on unemployment and education. He never responded, so we confronted him about his record. Three and a half years ago he ran on those issues and it’s time we made him justify getting our vote when he hasn’t done anything.”

  Julia nodded. “But he has done a lot of good for this city, Gia, as mayor, a businessman and a private citizen. You’ve only been back in the city for three years. You don’t know—”

  “Grandmom, I get that you admire him, but just because he’s rich doesn’t make him a saint. I’m not blinded by his family money. I mean...” she said quickly, then paused. She knew by the expression on her grandmother’s face that her comment hit her hard. “What I mean is that he could have and should have been doing a lot more for this city. I just want him to step up and do what he promised.”

  “Gia, it’s not about admiration. Blake has mobilized the city and given it a new direction. Our last mayor was an easily corrupted egocentric, and his administration fed on fear and was strife with scandal. In contrast, this administration doesn’t have a scant perception of dishonesty.”

  Gia shook her head adamantly. This had always been a point in which she and her grandmother vehemently disagreed. “Yes, but it shouldn’t be a comparison. Washington’s tenure should stand on its own, not be compared to the last mayor.”

  “I can see you’re still very passionate about this.”

  “I am.”

  “Is that all there is to this?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I mean, he’s a man of wealth, influence and power. He reminds me a lot of your father.”

  “No, no way,” Gia said, knowing exactly where her grandmother was going with this. She stood and looked out over the balcony. “This has nothing to do with my father or my feelings about him and his family.”

  “The ‘his family’ is also your family.”

  “An accident at birth,” she said quickly. “I’m nothing like them and I never will be.”

  “Gia, having money isn’t a crime. A lot of good comes from wealth.”

  “I know that,” Gia said, turning to lean back against the balcony.

  “Do you?” Julia smiled. Gia didn’t respond. “Just make sure you’re doing this for the right reason. This is about the people OCC represents. It’s their lives.”

  “I know, and I am. This city needs jobs and a better education program that works and that will help develop and sustain those jobs. They need help, and OCC is the voice they don’t have.”

  Julia chuckled. “I bet the OCC confronting Blake at the community center didn’t go over too well. I’m surprised you were able to be so successful, and I know his eldest son must have been furious.”

  “Keith, you know Keith?” she wondered aloud.

  Julia nodded. “He’s a good guy—intelligent, loyal, sweet and apparently extremely dangerous to the heart.”

  “What do you mean, he’s a player?”

  “No, at least I don’t think so, not intentionally anyway. He’s got his father’s charm and that’s like walking around with a loaded weapon. Single, straight man, attractive, intelligent and rich—he’s the golden fleece of bachelorhood. I know for a fact that women go to great lengths to get noticed by him. And I know of at least a few dozen women who would drop everything and sell their mama if he would have just smiled in their direction.”

  Gia scoffed. “He’s not all that attractive.”

  “And you know the media love him. As far as they’re concerned, he can do no wrong. I wouldn’t be surprised if he ran for office one of these days.”

  Gia shrugged. “If he does, then he’d better keep his campaign promises or OCC will be knocking on his door, too. Did I tell you he stopped by the office Monday night? He wants us to meet with the mayor. I’d say that’s a huge step forward.”

  “It certainly is,” Julia said, smiling.

  “And we’ve gotten a lot more interest in OCC, too. Bill’s out right now taping a segment for one of the weekend news programs. OCC is right at the front of all this. Mayor Washington is going to have to step up his program. Leadership is more than ability, it’s responsibility. It’s time he and other politicians step up.”

  Julia nodded. “I’m so proud of you,” she said.

  “I am my grandmother’s daughter.”

  Julia smiled and nodded. “Yes, you certainly are. You’re in charge now. You do what you have to do.”

  “I am. I will. And speaking of which, I’d better get to work. I have a long day ahead of me.” She leaned down and kissed her grandmother’s cheek. “I’ll stop by later this evening.”

  “I’ll call you tonight.”

  Gia nodded. “Okay.” She walked to the door, sparing one last glance at her grandmother sitting on the balcony enjoying the autumn weather. She took a deep relaxing breath. Seeing her looking, talking and feeling better was a prayer come true. She needed to make sure she stayed that way.

  A few minutes later she got into her car and headed to the OCC office. O
n the way she stopped by the local bakery and picked up donuts, Danishes and bagels before going into the office. As she walked in the office, her cell beeped. She saw that it was Bonnie calling. “Hello.”

  Bonnie smiled with relief at seeing her walk in. “Hey, I was just calling you,” she said, hanging up. “How’s your grandmom?”

  “Much better, thanks. She was sitting out on the balcony reading when I got there. She looks good, almost back to her old self again.”

  “So she’s gonna be okay, then?” Bonnie asked.

  Gia nodded. “Yes. I think so. She still has a lot of therapy to complete, and she needs a lot of rest to recuperate, but the doctor and the staff are very encouraged about her progress.”

  “That’s good. But I’m glad you came in. We might have a problem.”

  “Of course we do,” Gia said, expecting as much as she continued to her office. “Catch me up. What’s going on?” Bonnie followed closely. “And if this is about the parking problem on the side of the building, please tell the neighboring business that we are complying with the local city ordinances.”

  “No, it’s not that, it’s Danny, he’s—”

  As soon as Gia dropped her jacket and purse on her desk, Bill barged in, interrupting. “There you are.” His dark eyes were as wide as saucers. “What the hell’s going on around here? Where is everybody?”

  “As I was saying—” Bonnie tried to continue.

  “Bonnie, please, I’m trying to talk here,” Bill interrupted.

  “Have you heard anything from Washington yet? Does he want to make a deal?”

  “A deal. What are you talking about? What deal? We’re not making any deals with anybody.”

  “Yeah, right, I know. I know. Sorry, wrong word choice. I meant, what was his deal? Did you talk to him? Does he want to meet with us?”

  “I don’t know. I’m just getting in myself, and by the way, my grandmother’s doing fine, thanks for asking.”

  “Gia, I’m sorry. This campaign thing is getting to me. Please tell Julia I asked about her the next time you see her.”