“Does it really matter what I think Bri?” She looked up at him but did not respond.
“Are they well?” She repeated.
“No, your father is very ill which brings me to why I’m here; he wants me to bring you home,” he stated.
She turned from him not wanting to display weakness in front of this cynical man.
“I will go with you,” she stated simply. “I have only a few minutes left for the exhibition ends. This is my address,” she jotted down on the back of a card she pulled from the pocket of her dress handing it to him. “I need to go home and get my son first,” she informed him.
“Do you mind if I stay until the exhibit is over and follow you home?”
“Fine.” She turned and left him standing alone.
An hour later, they returned to her condominium. After paying the babysitter, Bri began packing clothing for herself and the baby. Trevet sat waiting in her spacious tastefully decorated living room. She had excellent taste he thought taking in his surroundings and the way the color complimented the room. He glanced at his watch, 11:30 pm. He was already tired from the flight into Virginia, and it would be a long drive back to Atlanta. Maybe they should wait until morning and leave. A trip he was not looking forward to plus Bri looked exhausted. He stayed watching her move throughout the gallery and admired the demure way she talked to interested buyer until the last patron left. No one had to tell him her exhibit was a complete success. He could tell by the many bare spaces on the walls, and empty display stands that she sold most of her work as well as being commissioned to do more pieces to the galleries delight. He had to admit she was an extraordinarily talented artist, another fact he never knew about her.
Bri returned to the living room. “We’ll be ready in a minute, I only have to wake Aaron and then…” she spoke softly.
“I think we should leave in the morning,” Trevet stated feeling guilty that he had pushed her into leaving tonight. “I can’t let you awaken the baby, morning is okay.”
“Thank you,” she said quietly clearly relieved.
“Have you eaten?” She asked softly. “Can I get you something? I have some leftover fried chicken and potato salad,” she invited avoiding eye contact as she spoke to him. He wished she would look at him.
“Thank you that would be great.” “This was not the Bri Cleyvon,” he thought.
She changed into shirt and jeans, and her hair pulled back in a ponytail, motioning for him to follow. He took a seat at the small table in the kitchen, she opened the fridge taking out a container of fried chicken and potato salad uncovering and placing them on the table. Turning to the cabinet, she took out two plates with utensils and placed them on the table taking a seat across from him.
“Help yourself.”
Trevet dug into the bowls filling his plate while Bri took a small amount for herself.
Quietly she ate determined to ignore the handsome intimidating man across from her. She was still trying to compose her reaction after initially seeing Trevet Harrison at the gallery. She looked up to find his eyes on her.
“How do you remember me?” Trevet broke the silence.
Bri averted her eyes before answering, “I was about seventeen, I guess when you started working with my father; I use to come to my father's office a lot, you just didn’t notice me,” she shrugged.
“I remembered you; you’re about what twenty-three now?” Trevet couldn’t help but notice the sadness in her eyes when she finally looked at him.
Bri glanced up at him. He was still as handsome as she remembered. A little older and more serious looking, but to her he was always serious. The looks he used to give her when she barged into her father's office made her think he would like to beat her spoiled butt. She sighed. That was long ago, and she is nothing like that rambunctious disrespectful teenager anymore. She turned her attention back to her plate.
“How old is your son?”
“Twenty months now,” she answered. Brie knew by his expression that he was not satisfied with one-word answers. She needed to clear the air with him before they made the trip back to Georgia, if only to make him see she was not the same person that had put her parents through hell.
“Mr. Harrison,” she said, “I know you’re wondering what happened between me and my parents. Unbelievably, I love them very much. I know I was a spoiled brat when I left them, I thought I was in love. To me the sun rose and set around Tyrone Grant, I was wrong. I found out later he was everything my parents said and worse.
Trevet listened intently. “Why didn’t you just come home?” He asked.
“They disowned me, I couldn’t come back; I was too ashamed,” she clearly admitted.
“Not ashamed enough to use their money.” Trevet stated sardonically. Her head snapped up anger flashed in her eyes.
“Mr. Harrison, First of all that trust was from my grandmother, and no one knows better than I that I do not deserve it. I only used the trust the one time, and that was to take my son and make a home for him and escape Tyrone. I had to get away from him, and when the opportunity presented itself, I slipped away from him in the middle of the night. I had to keep my son safe from him. I was not about to allow him to beat…” she stopped. “I drove away as fast as possible. We lived in motels for a year for fear he would come looking for us. I brought this condo so I could make a life for my son and concentrated on my art. If you must know I have almost repaid the trust Mr. Harrison, so do not judge me for what I had to do to save the life of me and my child. If Tyrone knew about the trust, I would still be under his control. I know how naïve and stupid I was, and I don’t need you or anyone to remind me just how foolish I've been and how deeply I hurt my parents, I can do that myself.” She stood removing plates from the table placing them in the sink.
Trevet was amazed. Even with her obvious anger and the tears he couldn’t miss that filled her eyes while quietly berating him.
“Why didn’t you go home?” He asked. Trevet wanted to back off, but right now, he needed answers. Before he took her back home, he had to make sure this wasn’t going to hurt the two people who meant so much to him. It wasn’t hard to figure out that she suffered at the hands of Tyrone Grant.
“To what Mr. Harrison, I know my parents are ashamed of me, I’m ashamed of myself. Go back to my parent’s constituents who no doubt are gossiping behind their backs. Who would turn up their bouchie noses up at me and my son,” she paused. “I know they will because I was one of them. I hurt my parents deeply, I know that, so rather than go home I just stayed away to save them the heartache of country club speculation and ridicule.”
“So why are you coming now?”
“I love my parents, and need to bridge the gap between us. You’re coming here made me see it was time, and I would like them to know their grandson. Don’t worry Mr. Harrison I won’t be staying, I’m going to return to Virginia,” she said with tears in her voice.
Trevet rose stepped behind her and touched her softly on the shoulder. She moved away as if scalded, shocked fear on her face. Her reaction to his touch stunned him. Did she think he would hurt her? What happened to Bri Cleyvon, the rambunctious, spoiled young girl?
Moving further away from him, she went to the doorway of the kitchen and stopped. “I have a spare room and bath, everything you need is there; it’s up the stairs on your right. Goodnight Mr. Harrison,” she said without looking at him.
Chapter Three
Trevet awoke to the most incredible aroma of fresh coffee and breakfast coming from downstairs that assaulted his senses. Trevet glanced at his watch rising from the bed. It was 7:30. Taking a quick shower and putting on clean clothes, his stomach growled loudly agreeing that whatever was cooking sure smelled delicious. He couldn’t remember the last time he had a home cooked breakfast. Dressed Trevet joined them down stairs. He could hear Bri singing the alphabet while her son sang along with his child babble; then the Itsy Bitsy spider was the next tune.
Trevet gently pushed open the door wa
tching them. Bri sat in a chair beside her son’s in a highchair. His heart swelled. He witnessed the love and devotion she had for her son. He wanted that kind of love and devotion for himself one day. The Cleyvon family was like the family he never had, at least he always thought of her parents as his family, and they treated him as such. Having been shifted off to one foster care to another until the age of eighteen, he didn’t know what it meant to have a mother or father and the Cleyvon’s were terrific substitutes. Not knowing his parents, he was convinced he would never have a family. When he turned eighteen, and out of the system, he had gotten into trouble. That was how he met Mrs. Cleyvon. Mrs. Cleyvon was his public defender. He hadn’t done anything, but by just hanging around with the wrong crowd, he had been just as guilty. Mrs. Cleyvon got him off, with just probation, since this was his first offense. If it weren’t for them, he didn’t know where he would have ended up. The Cleyvon’s didn’t give up on him. They gave him a roof over his head, a job so he could learn responsibility and then they financed his education making him part of their family. He remembered the young Bri as a spoiled little girl, who he avoided at all costs. He used to get so angry with her for not realizing how good she had it. She took everything for granted, and wanted to spank her little ass for the disrespect she showed her parents. Therefore, any request from the Cleyvon’s he would do, with no questions asked. She may have appeared to change, but he was not convinced that she had. In the meantime, he would stay close to her parents to make sure she behaved.
His focus moved back to mother and son. Bri looked up, and the joy he briefly witnessed on Bri’s face disappeared at the sight of him standing in the doorway.
“Good Morning Mr. Harrison, please sit and have breakfast,” she invited.
Trevet sat in a chair across from the baby who had quieted when he entered the room. The child stared at him. He noticed on the table were ham, grits, eggs, and toast with orange juice and his stomach gave a pleased grumble.
Bri eyes widened when she heard the sound. “Hungry?”
“Famished,” he replied sheepishly.
“Go ahead Mr. Harrison, help yourself,” Bri offered, turning her attention to her son. Aaron was a handsome boy who favored his mother in looks. He had her same golden honey coloring and dark eyes.
She had a plate for herself and a smaller one for the baby with ham cut up in small pieces, eggs, and grits in front of the baby. She put his little hands together blessing the food, and at the end, Aaron babbled Amen. Pleased, his mother smiled and handed him his spoon.
Aaron began to eat, but couldn’t seem to get much in his mouth. That’s when his mother helped.
Trevet watched them, thinking if the boy stopped staring at him, he would possibly take in more food.
“Why don’t you just feed him?” Trevet asked logically.
“Because he wants to do it by himself and I want him to learn independence. He thinks he’s doing this himself,” she answered not looking at him.
Trevet dug into his breakfast occasionally glancing over at Bri smiling at her son with that undeniable mother’s love. There was no mistaking the love for her son; did she still love the father he wondered?
“Have you heard from your husband?” Trevet asked her.
“No,” she said quietly and did not elaborate.
“What about his son?”
“Tyrone has no son,” she replied curtly. She wiped the child’s face and hands lifting him from the highchair.
“I’m going to clean him up, and then we’ll be ready to go,” she said going to the door.
“Bri?” She turned. “Thanks for breakfast.” She nodded and left the room.
After everything was packed and the condominium secured, Trevet loaded them in the car, while Aaron happily chattered. He slid behind the wheel of the luxury SUV looking over at Bri before starting the car.
“Why does he look at me so much?” Trevet asked.
“He doesn’t know you; does it bother you?”
“No,” he replied and started the car.
The trip to Georgia will be about 10-hour drive and probably a tedious one he thought glancing over at Bri who looked out of the window.
“If you get tired I’ll drive for a while,” she offered not looking at him.
“Thanks.”
Aaron had fallen asleep before they had entered the Interstate and Bri remained silent. She pulled out her sketch pad from her tote bag and began doodling. All the company he had was the radio. About noon, Trevet pulled into a diner for lunch feeling the need to stretch his legs. Trevet stood beside Bri lifting Aaron out of the car seat holding him close as Trevet closed the door to the car.
Aaron reached for Trevet. Trevet frowned. Bri looked at Trevet, not mistaking the challenge in her eyes saying; let’s see what he is going to do. Trevet read the challenge and took the baby. She raised her delicate brows in surprise. Satisfied, Aaron looked at his mother smiling as his arms went around Trevet neck. Bri smiled back. At first Trevet felt uncomfortable. He had never held a baby before and then the baby laid his head on his shoulder, and the tension left him. They entered the diner right away were shown to a table waiting while the server went to bring a highchair for the baby. Trevet leaned close to Bri and handed Aaron over. His little arms tightened around Trevet’s neck.
“Aaron,” his mother said in that mother’s voice.
“No,” Aaron whined leaning away. Trevet tried again to pass the baby to his mother without success.
“It's okay,” he said smiling, “I’ll put him in the chair.”
Bri looked up at Trevet. He certainly is attractive when he smiles, she thought. Stop that! That was how you got in trouble with Tyrone by noticing his charming smile. Not this time she thought to herself. Not this time. Bri mentally shook herself from admiring the man and sat while Trevet placed Aaron in the highchair.
When the ordered arrived, they ate in silence while Bri helped Aaron while he continued watching Trevet.
Trevet noticed Bri picking at her food. “You’re not hungry?” He asked.
“No not really.”
“Nervous?"
A little,” she admitted. “They don’t know I have a child.”
“Call them Bri, talk to your mother,” Trevet suggested handing her his cell phone.
After a few minutes of talking on the phone, tears gathered in her eyes slipping down her cheeks.
“I love you too Mom; see you soon,” she replied in a tearful voice. Trevet handed her a napkin.
Bri handed him the phone. “Thank you, Mr. Harrison,” she said dabbing at her eyes.
“Can you call me Trevet,” he requested. She nodded.
Not long after lunch, they were back on the road. Aaron and Bri fell asleep.
Trevet glanced over at her. With her mouth slightly parted, she appeared so peaceful while she slept. He wondered how those perfect lips would feel on his. Trevet visible shook his head. What was he thinking he didn’t even like her? No matter how different she was from the young girl he had met a few years ago, he didn’t want to feel any shred of attraction to her. He was doing a favor for Mr. Cleyvon, and that was it. He forced himself to focus on the road, only to glance at her again. He had to pull himself together; this was his employer’s daughter. Trevet took a deep breath and forced his eyes away to concentrate on his driving. It seemed as if he’d been driving in North Carolina for hours. He needed to stop and stretch his legs for a while. Trevet pulled into a rest area turning off the engine to the car. He glanced at the baby and Bri who were still asleep. His eyes lingered on her face. Bri Cleyvon certainly grew up to be an extremely pretty woman. His eyes trailing down her neck wondering how it would feel to press his lips to the pulse that beat steadily. Gradually his eyes traveled to the swell of her full breast that showed at the Vee of her shirt. He had to stop this Bri could be no more to him than his employer's daughter. Trevet reached out and gently caressed her cheek. Startled from sleep Bri move away so swiftly she bumped her head hard on the win
dow, which woke up Aaron who started to cry. There was another time he touched her and the same fear he saw then he was seeing again. What did Tyrone do to her?”
Holding the injured side of her head, Bri turned to her frightened son. “Sh. …, its okay baby,” she cooed gently.
“I’m sorry,” Trevet said sincerely. Bri looked at him frowning wondering why he touched her like that.
Aaron small arms reached for Trevet. “Mama,” Aaron whined.
Bri looked at Trevet who was staring at Aaron dumbfounded. Bri started to laugh. Trevet eyes shifted to stare at Bri.
“Mama,” Aaron repeated reaching for Trevet.
“Bri?” Trevet replied and after a pause started to laugh himself.
Aaron stopped crying and looked from one to the other.
Shaking his head, Trevet got out of the car and lifted Aaron from the car seat. With Bri beside him, Trevet carried the now happy kid inside of the food court. This felt nice to him.
Trevet smiled over at Bri. “You should laugh more often,” Trevet told her.
“I don’t have much to laugh about anymore,” she replied looking up at him.
She took Aaron to freshen him up and then joined a waiting Trevet outside the rest room. Right away Aaron reached for Trevet wanted nothing to do with his mother.
“While it’s still early let’s take Aaron to the zoo,” Trevet requested.
“Zoo, what zoo?” Bri asked.
“Not far from here, in Asheville, Aaron will love it.”
Bri said shaking her head. “I don’t know, won’t it make us late getting to Atlanta?”
“We could get a hotel room nearby and take off early in the morning.” Aaron had one chubby arm around Trevet’s neck looking from his mother to Trevet as if waiting for an answer.
Bri shrugged. “Okay, let’s go.”
Bri was glad she agreed; Trevet and Aaron were having a terrific time. She never heard Aaron laugh this much before. She watched them and thought that he would make an excellent father someday.
All I Need (Found love) Page 2
