All I Want for Christmas

by Emery, Lynn

  “Of course.” The waitress started to lead her towards a table and then paused.

  Nedra followed her gaze to find Carlos walking towards them. She tried not to blurt out the first thing that popped into her head, which was how absolutely scrumptious the man looked. Carlos was wearing a forest-green, V-neck sweater over dark-brown slacks. His half-smile made him even more handsome, if that were possible. Nedra wasn’t the only woman who noticed.

  “Hello there. I sat at the bar and watched some sports news. You look wonderful,” Carlos said, placing a hand under her arm.

  “Hi, and thank you,” Nedra replied.

  He’s early for our first date, starts off with a compliment and he’s gorgeous. Oh yeah, I’m already having a nice evening. Unless he grows a hump in his back and starts to drool, I’m taking this man home!

  Nedra used the time it took for them to get seated in a cozy booth to exercise some self-control. Still, she couldn’t help but give a victory smile to a few women who stared.

  The waitress glanced at her. “Can I get you something to drink?”

  “I’ll have spring water with a slice of lime, if possible,” said Nedra.

  “Sir?”

  “Pinot Bianco for me,” Carlos replied.

  The waitress nodded and hurried off.

  He glanced at Nedra. “Just small sips since I’m driving.”

  “Otherwise I’ll have to take you home,” she answered and then clamped her lips shut. She almost added, “Drink up, baby. Drink right on up!”

  “I promise you that I don’t make a habit of drinking and getting behind the wheel,” he assured her. “So, now we’re getting to know each other right off the bat.”

  Nedra relaxed against the imitation, red-leather back of the bench. “We already know some things. For example, you know I’m a little obsessive compulsive about being organized, and I arrive early for appointments.”

  “I wouldn’t call it compulsive and being early is a great habit in a woman. Guys hate to sit around waiting.” Carlos grinned. “What do you know about me?”

  “You know how to work hard and be part of a team. If you’ve got an ego, you checked it at the door at the holiday dinner. You seem to enjoy helping others.” Nedra broke off when the waitress returned with their drinks and took their orders. “So, how did I do?” she asked when the woman had left.

  Carlos gazed at her for a time, as though seriously thinking over her words. Then he smiled. “I did like helping people to enjoy themselves, and I was working hard because I’ve never been a waiter before. You didn’t see my slip-ups.”

  “Ah, nothing major. You got some desserts mixed and dropped a plate. No harm done.” Nedra shrugged when his eyes widened. “My job was to be on top of things. For a first-timer, you did just fine. Most of the volunteers aren’t professional at serving.”

  Carlos gazed at her in silence. “So you expected me to have an ego?”

  “Your mother is a judge and your father was the first black man to own a Big Burger restaurant franchise in this city. He eventually expanded to a total of six cities, with two in Mississippi, before selling them and opening a contract clean-up business.” Nedra stopped short. “Sorry, that sounds like I’ve hired a private detective to investigate you, which I didn’t,” she added quickly.

  “Let me take a guess. Dwayne Grover gave you a complete rundown on me and my family, in between trying to get next to you.” Carlos laughed at Nedra’s scowl at the mention of the man.

  “How’d you know?” she asked and laughed with him.

  “I watched him watching you. Besides, Dwayne makes it his specialty to know who’s who and what’s what. He was like your shadow when he wasn’t chatting up movers, shakers and reporters,” Carlos replied.

  “You know him well, I see. He does love schmoozing with powerbrokers,” said Nedra, leaning back as the waitress arrived with their food.

  “Steamed scallops for the lady and grilled red fish for you, sir. Enjoy.” The waitress flashed a smile before she scurried to the next table.

  “I’m sure you move in the same circles socially. Your mother also knows my boss,” Nedra continued.

  Judge Yvonne Jacobs had a reputation for being temperamental and the worst kind of snob. She was believed to have a queen-sized chip on her shoulder because she had grown up poor in Dry Prong, Louisiana, without a pot to pee in. People with any sense knew not to bring up that subject. Yvonne’s last political opponent, and several lawyers who had been in her court, found that out the hard way.

  Nedra dug into her salad and considered what she was getting into. This is just dinner. It was time to remind herself not to go too fast.

  “Yes, my parents have a lot of friends,” Carlos said mildly.

  Nedra speared a scallop with her fork and then paused. “Your parents know appointed officials, doctors, bank presidents and more. Don’t be so modest.”

  “True, but they’re just people.” Carlos cleared his throat. “And they are their friends, not mine.”

  “I see.” Nedra raised her eyebrows as she gazed at him and decided to let it go. “So, you know what I do for a living. What’s your profession?”

  “I own a couple of car detail shops. Saved and scraped up my pennies to open the first one seven years ago. My father promised to match my funds and help me to get a business loan, but I had to prove I had discipline,” he replied, in between eating some of his fish.

  Nedra smiled at him. “So you can handle a dollar and like being your own boss.”

  He laughed. “Some say I have a problem with authority, but yes, I like the charge of taking a risk and making it work.”

  “A true entrepreneur, following in your daddy’s footsteps.” She grinned at him and savored her scallop.

  “Only when it comes to owning my business,” Carlos said sharply. “We’re different in a lot of other ways.”

  “Alrighty, then,” added Nedra and drank some water.

  Carlos seemed to relax and then smiled. “You know, it’s the usual father and son conflict. We always swear we’re not going to be like our parents.”

  “Mothers and daughters have the same issues; older sisters and younger sisters, too,” she said with a nod. “I promised myself that I wouldn’t make the same mistakes I watched them make.”

  “Whoa, this is getting a little heavy for our first date. I wanted us to have fun, not relive family drama.” Carlos placed a hand on her arm. “Sorry.”

  Nedra’s body responded to his touch, practically screaming for more ‘fun’ with him, but in private. “It’s okay. I’m having a good time. Not that we’re going to rush anything. I mean, like go back to my place.”

  Dead silence stretched for several moments.

  Carlos cleared his throat. “I don’t expect you to. By fun, all I meant was enjoying some good conversation and getting acquainted. Despite my reputation, I’m not looking for a quickie with you, Nedra.”

  “No, no. I had a huge brain fart, blurting out that stupid thing about my place,” she replied. “Maybe I’ll have some wine. Sheesh.”

  Carlos laughed and signaled the waitress, who responded promptly. “Bring another wine glass please. My friend would like to taste mine.”

  “That’s our best, too,” replied the waitress with a smile. Moments later she returned and set the wine on the table.

  “Thanks.” Carlos carefully poured about half of his glass into Nedra’s. Then he gazed at her and leaned forward. “I think you’ll like it.”

  Nedra felt another flash of heat. “Looks really, really good.” She sipped the wine as she continued to look into his eyes. “Hmm, hints of apricot and pear, with a smoky undertone. Wonderful flavor.”

  Carlos nodded slowly. “You’re a wine enthusiast. Something else we have in common. When can I see you again?”

  Get your mind straight, girl. Don’t make the same old mistake you’ve made before. No taking him home too soon, only to have him go ‘poof!’ like a ghost. You’re better than that, and you dese
rve more. Nedra repeated to herself the mantra of her support group of girlfriends, all trying to recover from being ‘desperate females’ on the hunt for Mr. Right.

  She sipped some more wine, savoring the taste as it slid down her throat. Her reply would be a kind of test, but would Carlos get impatient or annoyed? He seemed content to let her decide what she wanted; a man willing to wait for something of value. Nedra’s emotions swelled. This felt different from her recent dates with men who had expected her to prove she was worthy of their attention.

  “Well, next week will be hectic at work after the holidays,” she answered. “I may have to work late for the first few days.”

  “So, let’s get together on Sunday afternoon for coffee and dessert after dinner. L’auberge Casino has a great little cafe with a river view.” Carlos held up one palm, dramatically. “Truth time…”

  “Oh?” Nedra’s stomach tightened. Was this the first bad news to prove this date was too good to be true?

  “My mother expects me for Sunday dinner at least once a month,” he explained. “I haven’t been to her house once this month and I missed most of Thanksgiving dinner, but if Sunday is too soon..?”

  “No, I’d like that,” she replied, and sighed inwardly. “I wouldn’t want you to disappoint Judge Jacobs. I have a feeling that future family dinners would be tense.”

  “You have no idea,” Carlos replied and gave a grunt.

  “Oh, I think I do. ‘Ain’t no drama like family drama.” Nedra shook her head.

  Carlos tilted his head to one side. “We’re going to have a lot to talk about. I feel comfortable talking to you. Most times women try to pump me for information on my parents. They rush to get all my stats, including what I’m worth.”

  “Get out of here! No woman is bold enough to ask about your money, surely?” She asked, grinning.

  “True story; one woman asked my net worth. She was an accountant and in a hurry. Tick tock.” Carlos tapped his wristwatch and laughed.

  “Oh Lord, do I know that phrase. Being forty with no kids, my mother...” Nedra stopped short. “I’m older than you.”

  Carlos waved away the difference and shrugged. “Forty isn’t that much older than thirty-five.”

  “Forty,” Nedra repeated in a low tone.

  Doesn’t matter,” Carlos put his hand on her arm again. “Believe me.”

  Nedra nodded and they kept talking… for hours. They stayed in the restaurant until almost midnight. Carlos joked that the management would flick the lights to get rid of them.

  When they parted, he hugged her with just enough warmth, but no suggestive groping. During her ride home, Nedra felt like she was floating. She replayed the wonderful evening in her head all night. Carlos Jacobs might not be the one, but he was sure doing everything just right for now.

  Chapter 3

  The following Tuesday after work, Nedra met with her youngest sister, Gaylynn, and two friends, Maida and Imani, at a little grocery and cafe. All four of them worked in city government, but in different departments. Capitol Grocery Store was popular with city employees and young professionals. Many lawyers could be found there, especially when court cases dragged on into the evening hours.

  Nedra and Maida had been friends since high school. Maida had two kids and was divorced, while Gaylynn had two kids and a live-in boyfriend, and Imani had been engaged three times, but no wedding. They ordered a big platter of appetizers: hot wings, tiny meatballs, cheese sticks, two types of dip and some potato skins. Talk about the trials and triumphs at their various offices soon died away, and turned to their social lives, which usually meant dating.

  “Let’s go to the Upstage Theatre on Saturday night,” suggested Imani. “They’re putting on their first whodunit play. My friend’s cousin wrote the script.” She patted her ruby red lips with a dainty series of motions. Her stained napkins looked bloody.

  “I love a good mystery. Let me see if I can get a babysitter. Mama has been acting all funny, so I can’t depend on her.” Maida grimaced.

  “You mean she’s got her own life and doesn’t want you dumping the little darlings on her,” Imani retorted. She laughed and then ducked as Maida pretended to aim a swat at her head.

  “Yeah, the nerve of her having a man and a social calendar,” Nedra chimed in. “Look, Miss Eleanor deserves some fun.”

  “Whoa, whoa! Get off my back, please,” Maida said. “I want Mama to be happy. I also don’t want her to get hurt by some slick-talking church deacon. He looks shady to me.”

  “Your mama was dealing with men before you arrived on this earth. Let Mrs. Tullier have her fun. Besides, if it doesn’t work out, she can handle it,” Gaylynn replied, waving her hand. “Our mamas are made of stuff that these young girls today need to model.”

  “Including us?” Maida reached for a potato skin and scooped up some of the dip.

  Imani nodded. “We could do better following their lead.”

  “Well, they’re human, like anybody else. They made mistakes too,” Nedra put in. She had grown up convinced that her own mother nagged her late father too much.

  “I didn’t say they were perfect, but take my mother: she didn’t let men walk all over her,” Imani said.

  Nedra, Gaylynn and Maida exchanged glances. Maida cleared her throat loudly and Nedra took a big sip of her strawberry lemonade to keep from commenting. Gaylynn had no such hesitance. Imani’s mother had four ex-husbands and counting.

  “Baby, ordering men around and giving ultimatums doesn’t work very well,” Gaylynn answered, giving Maida and Nedra another glance.

  “Y’all can stop giving each other the side eye. You have to be two steps ahead of a man.” Imani waved a chicken wing in the air.

  “How many steps ahead are you?” asked Gaylynn, raising a professionally arched eyebrow at her.

  “I suffered a few frogs to find my prince. I’m the only woman at this table wearing an engagement ring,” Imani replied with a superior smile. “I’ll text Errol and see if he’s working the night shift on Saturday. If he’s working then I’m in for the play.”

  Gaylynn heaved a sigh. “She’s got a point. I hate her, but she’s got a point.” Her live-in boyfriend seemed to be allergic to wedding talk.

  Maida peered at Nedra over the rim of her glass as she drank. “Don’t be so smug, Imani. You’re not the only one who can catch a good man.”

  Imani blinked at her. “Say what?”

  “I missed something? Spill it this minute,” demanded Gaylynn.

  “Not me. Nedra’s keeping secrets. I had to find out on the street that she’s dating Judge Jacobs’ son.” Maida wore a satisfied smile, even though Nedra scowled at her.

  “I went to school with Trey Jacobs at St. Gerard High and Southern University. Handsome as a movie star, but he’s got a rep, girl. Be careful.” Imani gave a grunt.

  “I’ve only had two dates with Carlos, not Trey. I’ll tell my own business, thank you very much, Maida Grant,” Nedra clipped.

  “Let’s get to the important news. So, Judge Jacobs has another single son?” Maida grinned and inched her chair closer to Nedra. “I can see double dating in our future, my dear and loving friend.”

  “Didn’t you hear me say that Trey Jacobs has a rep? He’s a baby daddy for one thing. Keisha Fontenot has a little boy for him. Her daddy is that lawyer who’s always on television. Mr. and Mrs. Fontenot bought a huge, historic home in the Garden District. They were even on HGTV.” Imani rattled off the facts as though she had a complete dossier on the Fontenot family.

  “Trust Imani to know the details,” Gaylynn wisecracked and helped herself to a meatball.

  “Dang, people. I’ve only known the man since Thanksgiving. I’m not up on his family history. I don’t even know if we’ll do more than have a few more dates and go our separate ways.”

  “Nedra is right. We’re all on the Twelve-Step program, not to jump into bed and start browsing bridal magazines within the first seven days of meeting a man.” Maida wore a sage
expression of support. “Take it slow. We need to have our own lives. We shouldn’t need men, but find men who need us.”

  “Hear, hear,” said Nedra, raising her glass. The other three women followed suit and they shared a toast.

  “Fine, so by Thursday afternoon we’ll firm up our plans for the play, Saturday. I’ll get the tickets,” Gaylynn said.

  “I’ll ask my neighbor to babysit when I get home. The kids love Mrs. Morrison and she enjoys having them over,” Maida said.

  “Errol probably knows his schedule. I’ll ask him when he comes over tonight and text you,” Imani replied.

  “Umm, I can’t. Carlos invited me to that jazz performance at the Shaw Center for the Arts, Saturday night.” Nedra concentrated on loading appetizers onto her saucer.

  “She met him last Thursday, had two dates, and has a third already set. Right, keep on taking it slow!” said Imani, cocking an eyebrow at the other two women.

  “Dates, not sleepovers,” Nedra replied.

  “It sounds like he really wants to be with you. I say go for it,” said Maida, winking at her.

  “Yeah, he’s the one making future plans. That’s a good sign. I’m happy for you,” Imani added.

  The women switched to the other hot topic for downtown workers – city politics. Imani plunged into sharing inside gossip. As she and Gaylynn swapped stories, Maida leaned close to Nedra. “If things work out for you and Carlos, help me bump into his fine brother. Remember your girl,” she added in an undertone.

  Nedra laughed out loud. “You’re too much.”

  ****

  On Wednesday morning, conference room 603 in the downtown municipal building filled up fast. Nedra gazed around at the volunteers, eager to get started on the Holiday Hospitality Christmas Dinner. People were arriving through the doors at either end of the room.

  Constable Davidson was enjoying the social mixing before everyone got down to the planning details, but most of the work had already been done, long before the Thanksgiving dinner. All that remained was to firm up the important items. Each committee chair would report on the sponsors, the volunteers lined up for the day of the dinner, and any donated bulk food items for the menu.