“Mr. Jones, how does it feel to be a free man?” one reporter asked.
They blurted out question after question. We walked to Lovie’s SUV. Lovie opened my door. Lexi got inside first and then I got in. Hope went to the other back passenger door and slipped in beside Lexi. Charity sat up front with Lovie.
Lovie had to blow his horn in order for some of the reporters to move out of the way.
“I didn’t expect a media circus,” I said, once we were safely off the premises.
“Neither did I,” Lexi said as she squeezed my hand. “You know they will be wanting a statement.”
“They can wait. I’m with my family. I’ve been waiting for this moment for two months now.”
“Dad, you’ve lost weight, but the suit still looks good on you,” Hope said.
Lexi fixed the handkerchief in my suit pocket. “He looks twenty years younger. I might have to get some plastic surgery because you’re looking younger than me,” Lexi teased.
“Baby, I could never look as good as you.”
We kissed.
Hope said, “Ugh, can you at least wait until you’re home and out of our eyesight?”
We stopped kissing. Lexi said, “Girl, hush.”
We both laughed. It felt good to hear their laughter.
“With all of the excitement, I didn’t ask why or how this all happened,” I said.
“I thought Mitch told you,” Lexi said.
“No, he hasn’t told me anything.”
Lexi said, “Jason’s alive. Can you believe it? He’s alive.”
“Alive. How is that possible? We saw the body. We saw the fire.”
I listened to Lexi and each one of my children tell me their view of what had occurred within the last twenty-four hours.
“If I saw Jason now, the police would have a legitimate reason to arrest me this time, because I would kill him. Where is he now?”
“He’s been arrested for faking his death. Don’t know what else is going to happen with him, but don’t care because I got my baby back.”
Lexi reached over and kissed me on the cheek.
Lovie could barely get down our street for some news vans. He eased his SUV through the crowd and pulled into the driveway. We rushed inside to avoid them.
“Home, sweet home,” I yelled out once inside. I walked through the house as if it were my first time there.
The family gave me the space I needed. I walked to the living room and stood in the doorway. I looked at Lexi sitting in her usual spot. I noticed the girls and Lovie seated in their spots and my chair, it was empty. Waiting on me to fill it. You only miss the little things when they are no longer around. Material things come and go. Those weren’t the things I missed. I missed my family. I missed being home. Home to me wasn’t a two-story house; home was being around the people I loved.
CHAPTER 63
Charity
Our family reunion was a day of rejoicing. Omar had called me a few times, but I ignored his calls. After eating the meal our mother had cooked, we were now all seated in the living room in what we considered our normal seats.
“Dad, there’s something I need to tell you,” I said.
The phone rang, interrupting me. Lovie answered. “Dad, it’s for you. It’s Uncle Jason.”
Our mom said, “Tell Jason to go to hell.”
“Lexi, baby, it’s okay. I’ll talk to him, but put it on speaker.”
Lovie hit the speaker button on the cordless phone.
“Hello,” Jason said from the other end.
“Well, hello, Jason,” Dad said.
“Royce, I hope you know the sacrifice I made for your freedom,” Jason said.
“I wish you would have stayed dead and saved us all the trouble of having to deal with you.”
Jason laughed from the other end. “Oh, you don’t mean it. You know you miss me, old friend.”
“Like a wart. Now what’s the real reason for this call?”
“I wanted to say I’m sorry.”
I think him saying that shocked all of us.
“You’re sorry all right,” Mom said. “You’re a sorry piece of—”
“Lexi, let the man talk,” Dad said.
“See, Royce, that’s your problem. You’re too forgiving. Not me.” Mom folded her arms and then crossed her legs.
“Lexi, you should be more like Royce. Forgiveness is good for the soul,” Jason said.
Dad said, “Don’t ever address my wife again. I will forgive you, not because I believe you’re sincere with your apology, but because I need to be able to so I can move on. And Jason, I’m moving on. From this day forward, don’t ever contact me, or any of my family, again. May you get what you deserve.”
“Royce, don’t be like that. We’re brothers, remember. Friends for life.”
“Lovie, hang the phone up,” Dad said.
Lovie did as instructed.
“I’m glad Jason is finally out of our lives,” Hope said.
Mom said, “Too bad he’s still alive.”
“Lexi, that’s not nice,” Dad said.
“I’m only saying what y’all are thinking.”
“Lord, forgive us all,” Dad said.
I eased out of the room and dialed Omar’s number. “Where are you?” I asked.
“At home.”
“Feel like some company?”
“But your dad. It’s his first night home. Thought you would be staying there.”
“Oh, I’m sure he and Mom would like some alone time. I don’t want to hear their private reunion.”
“Sure then. You know how to find me.”
Two hours later, I was knocking on Omar’s door. He greeted me at the door. “You could have used your key,” he said as he moved to the side and allowed me in.
“What’s all of this? Boxes and things.” I noticed quite a few boxes packed or empty.
“I made a few phone calls today.”
I followed him into his bedroom. There were clothes in suitcases on the bed.
He went on to say, “I accepted a job in Dallas.”
I was stunned. “I never knew you were looking to move to Dallas.”
“I applied for the job a year ago. They offered it to me right around the time I made detective here.”
“So what about us?” I asked. “Were you going to leave without telling me?”
“I was hoping that you would come with me. Out there nobody knows you or me. We could start our lives over together. Just you and me.”
“Omar, I can’t just up and leave my family like that. I love you but what you’re asking is too much. If you stay, maybe we can work things out.”
Omar sat on the bed and then pulled me down on his lap. “So if I stay, can you promise me that you and I will work past all of this and be together?”
I couldn’t do it and refused to lie to him that I would be able to. “Truthfully, I don’t know. I can try. But I don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow. Right now, I’m here. That should be enough.”
“That’s just it. You’re here now. But what about when your mom, your brother or sister, or especially your dad, says something about me? How supportive will you be then?”
“You put your own self in this situation. If you would have been honest with me, we wouldn’t be having any issues.”
“And I wouldn’t have you, either,” he noted.
“I love you, Omar. It’s something that I can’t deny. But I can’t forget about my life here. I have a thriving business. Dad’s home now. I can’t move to Dallas.”
I saw a tear fall from Omar’s eyes. “I wish you would change your mind.”
“I can visit you,” I said.
“You might for a while, but eventually the visits will stop. You will stop calling or answering my texts. If
we’re going to make a clean break, I guess we need to start now.”
I kissed the lone tear from his face. My lips landed on top of his. He moved the suitcases off the bed and we made love the last time as if it were our first time. We explored one another’s bodies and climaxed in unison.
He walked me to the door afterward. “I guess this is good-bye,” I said.
“I can’t bring myself to say those words,” he confessed.
I kissed him one last time. I walked out his front door and got inside of my car. Once inside, I cried like a baby. Cried because once again, a man I loved had betrayed me. Once betrayal entered into the picture, it was hard turning back. Our love was fine for a moment in time, but it wasn’t strong enough to stand in the aftermath of what had transpired between our fathers.
CHAPTER 64
Lexi
It’d now been a month since Royce’s release from jail. Life as the Joneses once knew it had changed. We were at our new norm. I vowed never to take my life or my family for granted again.
Things that were once important to me, such as my status in the community or having the newest car or being considered the best dressed whenever I entered a room, no longer mattered to me. Don’t get me wrong; having those things were nice, but they were no longer at the forefront of my mind or occupied my thoughts during the day as they had once done prior to Royce’s arrest.
I walked into the dining room carrying my homemade peach cobbler. The crust was crisp and the peaches sweet. “Who’s ready for dessert?”
I scooped out cobbler and placed it on everyone’s plate. Royce took the Tupperware dish and placed it near him. “Have a seat. You’ve been on your feet most of the day cooking,” he said.
“No complaints here,” I said. “Seeing your smiling faces and hearing those forks hit the plate were all the thanks I needed.”
“Mom, you outdid yourself with this cobbler,” Lovie said.
“Just when I said I was going on a diet, you cook my favorite,” Hope said.
“Girl, please. You do not need to lose any weight,” Charity said. “Now, me. It seems like I’ve gained a few pounds.”
“Yes, you do look a little thick,” I said. “I hope it’s just fat and nothing else.
“No, Mom. It’s just fat. I confirmed it.”
Good, I thought. When Charity told us that Omar had relocated to Dallas, I wanted to throw confetti in the air. I was relieved to learn that she wasn’t pregnant by him because I hoped, with distance, their interaction with one another would fizzle.
“Hope, I thought Raymond was going to come by with you today,” I said.
“Lovie intimidates him,” Hope said.
Lovie pretended to ignore her.
Royce said, “Who is this Raymond I keep hearing about?”
“Nobody special,” Lovie responded.
“You’re just mad because his brother used to beat you in basketball.”
“So he says,” Lovie said in between bites.
“Tell Raymond if he’s going to be dating my baby girl, that I need to meet him,” Royce said.
I agreed. “Yes. He must be thoroughly checked out.”
“I suggest you run a background check on him too,” Charity added.
“I’m already on it,” Lovie said.
“Y’all know we went to high school together,” Hope said.
“But what happened after high school? I’ll have a report back tomorrow,” Lovie said.
“Mom, tell him it’s not necessary.”
“I’m all for it. Royce, what do you think?”
“I’m from the old school, but with the way things are now, Lovie has my blessings. Check this Raymond out. If he checks out, then I will meet him.”
Hope pouted. “Y’all are going overboard.”
“Better safe than sorry. Trust me,” Charity said.
“How are things down at the funeral home?” I asked Royce.
“Thanks to my son, everything is running smoothly. He did a good job stepping in during my absence.”
“Thanks, Dad,” Lovie said.
“I mean it. We’ve bumped heads a lot in the past, but I wanted you to know that I understand you’re your own man. I’ve been thinking. There’s a section of space on the other side of the funeral home that’s not being used. If you like, we can get it remodeled. You can use it for an office space and start your own accounting firm. Well, make it official.”
“Royce, that’s a great idea. What do you say, Lovie? Isn’t it a great idea?”
I crossed my fingers and hoped that Lovie would agree. He didn’t say anything at first. I hoped there would be no friction.
Lovie responded, “I’m all for it. This is perfect timing. I’m trying to transition my clients to someone else now. I’d put in some applications at a few firms, but now I can put it on the back burner.”
“Push it right out of your mind. I have a selfish reason for doing it. I want you to still continue to be our accountant and I’m hoping that if and when I do decide to retire, you will take over the family business.”
“Dad, I will honestly consider it.”
“It’s good seeing my two favorite men getting along,” I said.
Royce stood. “I have an announcement to make. As you well know, Lexi and I had planned on renewing our vows on our thirtieth wedding anniversary. Well, instead of a big party, we have decided to celebrate by taking a seven-day cruise.”
“That’s going to be nice.” Charity frowned. “But we wanted to celebrate with you.”
“And you can. Because…” Royce pulled out three envelopes from his pocket. “You three are coming along with us.”
They were all excited. In all of our travels, this would be our first cruise.
“I can’t wait,” Hope said. “That means we need to go shopping.” She looked at Royce. “We can go shopping for some new clothes for the trip, can’t we?”
All of us except Lovie looked at Royce. “Yes, but I will have to give you ladies a limit. Don’t want you spending all of your money before we get on the ship.”
“Thank you, Daddy,” Hope said.
Hope ran up to Royce and kissed him on the cheek.
Later that night, Royce and I were alone, relaxing on the patio enjoying the summer breeze. We lay together in the hammock like we used to do when we first bought the house. We were both looking upward at the sky.
He said, “When I was locked up, I dreamed of moments like this. Just you and me, relaxing, gazing up at the sky looking at the stars.”
“There’s no other place I would rather be,” I said, with love in my heart and on my mind.
“I love you, Lexi,” he said.
“I love you too.” I placed my head on his chest and closed my eyes.
Our heart rhythms were in sync as I drifted to a peaceful state of mind. I no longer lived for drama. Our social status no longer mattered to me. As long as I had my family, all was well in my world. I hoped this quiet serene night was the prelude to a drama-free life for the Joneses.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This book is dedicated to the memory of my father, Lloyd Goss
(1947-1996).
I’m grateful to God for allowing me another opportunity to do what I love doing.
I’m grateful for my mom, because without her support, I don’t know where I would be.
I’m grateful to Zane for welcoming me into the Strebor Books family.
I’m grateful to Charmaine Parker for her patience.
I’m grateful to Dr. Maxine Thompson for her encouraging words.
I’m grateful to everyone’s support as I ventured into new territories. I want to give a special shout-out to: Michelle Monkou, Lawanna Johnson, Carla Curtis, Stacy Deanne, Kandie Delley, Paulara Hawkins, Peggy Love, Sheila L. Jackson, Tina McKinney, Barbara Morgan, Shantal Youn
g, Lasheera Lee, Kim Knight, Angelia Menchan, Ella Curry, Debra Owsley, Yolanda Gore, Lisa Borders Muhammad, Janice Ross, Michelle Lindo-Rice, LaShaunda Hoffman, Makasha Dorsey, Bettye Griffin, Melissa Love, Chrystal Dorsey, Kimyatta Walker, Paulette Harper-Johnson, Melesha Oglen, Renee Williams, Deatri King-Bey, Tamika Newhouse, Eboni Manning, Shelly Ellis, Teresa Beasley, Rhonda McKnight, the Agape Book Ministry in Richmond, VA and Building Relationships Around Books.
I’m grateful to all of you, the readers. There are so many of you so I can’t list all of your names. Thank you ____________(fill in your name).
Shelia M. Goss
About the Author
Shelia M. Goss is a screenwriter and the Essence magazine and Dallas Morning News bestselling author of over twenty contemporary fiction novels, including The Joneses, Secret Relations, Secret Liaisons, Delilah, Ruthless, My Invisible Husband, The Commitment Plan, Savannah’s Curse, and Montana’s Way. Shelia’s received many accolades for her books over the years, including being a 2012 and 2014 Emma Awards Finalist. The Library Journal named The Joneses as one of the best books of 2014. A speaker at literary conferences across the country, Shelia also works closely with librarians supporting literacy and increasing awareness via workshops for adults and teens.
You can learn more about Shelia at:
Website: www.sheliagoss.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/shelia.goss
Twitter: www.twitter.com/sheliamgoss
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SimonandSchuster.com
authors.simonandschuster.com/Shelia-M-Goss
ALSO BY SHELIA M. GOSS
The Joneses
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