“This is about Chanel.” It was a statement of the obvious.
Elliott inclined his head. “You came to see me a few months back about my daughter, and now I’m returning the favor.”
I didn’t respond, but instead sat back in my chair, bracing my elbows on the sides of my chair and clasping my hands in front of me.
“I heard a while back you two went through a bit of a rough patch,” Elliott began.
Again, I didn’t give any confirmation or denial. Chanel and my relationship was ours, and I wasn’t about to explain it to anyone else. Especially her father. I’ll admit, hearing her tell me what’d happened on her birthday when she was young pissed me off. The pain was still in her voice some twenty years later. Even though I pretty much knew my father never wanted much to do with me, I never had to overhear him utter those words while I was still a kid, hoping one day he’d come around to loving me. I was at least spared that.
And besides all of that, Elliott was a brilliant attorney. He never walked into anything without doing his due diligence first. I knew that he knew more than he was letting on.
“Of course, I didn’t hear this from Chanel. She’s a little tight-lipped around me.”
“Can you blame her?”
Elliott’s eyes turned downward, lips forming a line on his face. The man looked shamefaced.
Good. I thought.
“No, no, I really can’t.”
At least he was honest about it.
A memory of that police report flashed to mind, and my hands tightened into fists as my anger rose as it did whenever I thought about that dude.
“Did you know about her ex?”
Elliott gave me an appalled look. “Of course not. I may not have been the best father, but I would’ve never stood for a man…” He couldn’t finish the last few words.
I didn’t need to hear them to understand what he meant. My anger ebbed a little. I believed Elliott would’ve at least intervened, had he known what Chanel had been enduring in her previous relationship. However, the fact that she didn’t tell him even after she’d left spoke to the lack of trust she had in him.
“I still can’t sleep some nights knowing that my child couldn’t trust me enough to tell me what was going on in her life. And to know that I welcomed that man into my home, encouraged Chanel to be with him,” Elliott’s voice broke off. He cleared his throat.
“I came here,” he started, switching topics, “to invite you two over to the house this Saturday. Chanel and I have talked a little and even managed a few lunches. We’re getting better. I wanted to invite you both to dinner and to ask her officially to work for the firm.”
“You think I can help convince her to join the firm?”
He nodded. “That’s part of it. I want Chanel to join the firm because she’s a brilliant attorney and I know under my tutelage she could be even better. But I also want to get to know my daughter. I fucked up when she was growing up. I’ll own that, and I can’t make up for lost time, but I can start here.”
I leaned my head to one side, observing Elliott. My level of respect for him grew by leaps and bounds. It took a lot to admit your mistakes and own them, especially for someone like Elliott. He didn’t have to come here and say what he did. I doubted any grown man wanted to approach another man about getting to know his own daughter.
“You know she stopped singing because of you?”
He looked at me, perplexed.
“Her last performance was on her tenth birthday.”
I let that statement hang in the air.
He nodded solemnly. “She told you about that?”
I inclined my head.
Elliott’s eyes lowered.
“We’ll be there this weekend,” I committed. “But I won’t make any guarantees on whether she’ll work for you. That’s her decision.”
“I know my daughter doesn’t do anything she doesn’t want to.”
I chuckled and rose to shake his hand.
“I’ll see you in a couple of days,” he stated before departing my office.
I watched his back as he left.
****
Chanel
“So, how do you want to play this?”
Xavier looked at me as he turned the car off. We were outside the Italian restaurant he owned. His mother had chosen it for our double date.
“Play what?” he asked me quizzically.
“Tonight? I mean, I could be the bad cop, and you play good cop. You know, you butter up your mom and Todd with your usual charm, and I can do the bad cop, firing off twenty questions,” I joked.
Xavier looked at me like I was one fry short of a Happy Meal.
“Okay, I guess you want to be the bad cop. It makes sense, since she is your mom, and you want to make sure this Todd guy is on the up-and-up.”
He gave me a half-grin. “You’re crazy.”
I shrugged. “Sometimes.”
“Nah, but thank you for agreeing to this. I know it’s been a minute since you’ve been around my mom since finding out about her and your pops.”
I sighed. “Yeah, I won’t pretend like this isn’t awkward, but I’m working on letting the past remain in the past. My father and I are still figuring one another out. And your mom is a huge part of who you are. I don’t want there to be tension between us.”
Xavier pulled my face to his and pressed his lips to mine. A quick kiss. “Thank you.”
“Okay, so now give me the dirt.”
He raised his eyebrow at me.
“Don’t give me that look. I know you’ve had Todd looked into. Did you find anything interesting?”
“Nah, he’s as clean as a whistle. Makes his money legit via his landscaping business and raised his two sons after his wife died in their teens. Dated a few women but nothing serious. His oldest recently graduated from UCLA and the youngest is in his sophomore year at Howard.”
“See, I knew you’d done your research. Okay, so I’ll be the good cop to make him feel as ease. Ask him a little about his sons and whatnot, and you’ll do that intimidating face you do.”
“You’re a trip. Let’s just enjoy the evening, a’ight?” He laughed, getting out of the car and coming around to open my door for me.
Minutes later, we were shown into a private dining area where Wanda and Todd were already there waiting.
“Hey, Mama,” Xavier greeted, placing a kiss on her cheek.
Wanda looked good as she stood wearing a black skirt and pink silk top that flattered her almond toned skin. Her hair was in her typical twist out, with spirals framing her face. The smile on her face as she greeted Xavier was effervescent.
“Baby, this is Todd,” she introduced. “Todd, this is my son, Xavier and his girlfriend, Chanel.”
I looked at Todd, who appeared to be beaming next to Wanda. At approximately five-nine, he was a few inches shorter than Xavier, but with his copper-toned skin, dark brown eyes, greying hair, and confident look, he had an appeal to him.
“Pleasure to finally meet you. Your mother’s told me so much about you. This is a nice place you have here.” Todd waved his hand around, acknowledging the restaurant.
“Thank you.” Xavier extended his hand, shaking Todd’s. “My mother has told me a good deal about you as well.”
I smirked at how quickly his face changed from grateful to sizing Todd up. Xavier held onto his hand a little longer than usual, making it clear that he was keeping an eye on Todd.
“Guess I am the good cop,” I mumbled, causing Xavier to look at me.
“Hi, Todd,” I greeted.
“Hello, Chanel,” he responded, pulling me in for a kiss on the cheek.
We all took our seats across from one another. After ordering drinks, we made small talk discussing our respective days. Todd spoke of his landscaping business, and Wanda discussed the clients she was working with at the accounting firm where she was employed. The conversation went on like that until our food arrived.
“This is excellent. The food is
delicious. I always found it interesting how American versions of Italian food vary. This is very different than Italian food in Rome,” Todd commented.
“You’ve been to Rome?” Xavier asked.
“Yes.” Todd paused and looked at Xavier’s mother before continuing. Wanda smiled encouragingly. “My wife loved to travel and had always wanted to take the trip to Rome. We never made it before she got sick,” he stated with sad eyes. “So, in honor of her memory, on what would’ve been our twentieth wedding anniversary, I took my two sons for two weeks. Best bonding experience the three of us have ever had.” Todd grinned proudly.
“Todd showed me pictures of the trip,” Wanda added. “It looks lovely.”
“Italy is one of my favorite countries to visit for the art and history,” I stated.
“You’ve been, Chanel?” Wanda asked.
I nodded, wiping my mouth with the napkin before speaking. “Yes, I studied in Florence for a summer in between my sophomore and junior years in college. I’ve been back a few times since. And Todd’s right, the food here is delicious but so different from authentic food in Italy. We Americans just have different tastes, I guess,” I stated, grinning at Xavier.
He gave me a wink. “I’ll tell our chef how much you all enjoyed it. He’ll be happy to hear it.”
We talked a little more about traveling, Wanda mentioning her trip to Hawaii toward the end of the year. Once the waitress came and took our dinner plates along with our dessert orders, Xavier stood and asked Todd if he wanted to speak with the chef, since he’d enjoyed the food.
“We’ll only be a minute,” he told me, leaning down to press a kiss to my cheek.
I turned to look at Wanda, who was now watching me.
“I wonder what that was really about?”
She smiled. “I asked Xavier if he could give you and me some alone time.”
I raised an eyebrow.
“You and I haven’t had a chance to discuss what happened between your father and me. Or rather, I should say, I never got the chance to apologize to you. My behavior back then was disgraceful. And I’m especially apologetic for the way you found out.”
I looked at Wanda and saw sincerity written all over her face.
“I appreciate that, Ms. Grant.”
“Please, call me Wanda.”
“Wanda. Thank you for apologizing. But in all honesty, that was never my business. What happened between you and my father was between you two and, well, since my mother is…” I shrugged. “I’m more than happy to move past that if you are.”
“Yes. Since I can tell how much my son loves you. I think you and I will be seeing more of each other.”
I inclined my head and swallowed.
“I worry about him and how much he works,” Wanda admitted.
“He told me he gets his work ethic from you.”
“That may be true.” She laughed a little. “And I’m certainly proud of how hard Xavier works and the success that has come of it, but I worry I showed him how to work and never take time for yourself to relax and recharge. I don’t regret any of the sacrifices I made for my son, but I don’t want him to do the same if he doesn’t have to. I don’t want him to look up one day and realize all he has in life is his business. I know how those sacrifices can lead to making poor decisions.” She looked at me.
“I don’t think you have to worry about that. You raised one of the finest men I’ve ever met.” And I wasn’t just saying that.
“Thank you. And thankfully, I had help in raising him.”
“He’s told me about his grandparents and his Aunt Lisa.”
“He told you about her?”
I nodded.
“Good. He barely ever talks about her, even to me. They were very close when he was younger. Losing her was hard on him, though he doesn’t ever talk about it. Hell, it was hard on us both. She and I’d grown close after he was born.”
I saw a sheen of tears coat Wanda’s eyes and I reached across the table to cover her hand with mine.
“I’m sorry for your loss, too.”
She covered my hand with her other one. “Thank you, Chanel.”
We remained that way for a few moments. I didn’t have any animosity in my heart for this woman. She’d raised the best thing that’d ever happened to me. I could see how someone could get so wrapped up in work and being a single parent that they start to question their lives, and how that could lead to some pretty poor decisions. And since I was working on forgiving my father, I was willing to extend that same grace to Wanda.
Wanda let out a small laugh. “Well, this turned out better than expected.”
I grinned. “I wonder how Xavier and Todd are doing.”
Xavier
“Everything was great, Xavier. Thank you for introducing me to the chef,” Todd stated, as we stood outside of the private bathroom in the restaurant. We’d just come from the kitchen where I introduced Todd to our head chef, Matteo.
I eyed Todd up and down. My instincts were telling me he was a genuine dude, and his background check had come back fine, but he was still dating my mother. That meant he needed to understand some things.
“You’re very welcome. I know this double date made my mother happy. Speaking of,” I paused to stroke the lower half of my beard and chin with my hand. “My mother is one of a handful of people I would take a bullet for, as well as take a baseball bat to someone’s kneecaps for. You understand what I’m saying.” I peered at him through squinted eyes.
He laughed.
I didn’t.
When Todd realized , I wasn’t joking, his facial expression turned serious. “I understand what you’re saying. You should know, I don’t intimidate easily.”
“You would’ve never had a chance with my mother if you did.”
He nodded. “I assume you’ve had me checked out? Your mother told me you probably would. But just so you know, I have zero intentions of disappointing her. She and I are building something very special, and I am looking forward to seeing where this could go.”
“That’s all good and well. Just keep my warning in mind.”
“I’ll do that.”
“Then we’ll get along just fine.” I stuck my hand out again to shake his. When he gripped it, I stared at him, assessing his genuineness. I didn’t feel like he was being deceitful. None of my bullshit meters were set off by this guy, but only time would tell. In the meantime, I was honestly happy my mother found someone she enjoyed spending time with.
We exited the private bathroom area and I made my way over to the woman whom I enjoyed spending all my free time with.
“Everything okay?” she asked, looking around me to see Todd walking toward my mother.
“Everything’s cool.” I leaned down to kiss her lips. “Just had to let Todd know what was what.”
“I bet you did.”
“And you and my mother?”
“We’re good. And I ordered you the crème brûlée.”
“Good. I’ve developed a sweet tooth lately.”
Chanel
“You’re going to smear my lipstick,” I giggled, as I once again ducked Xavier’s incoming lips.
“So. Don’t you have more with you?” he mumbled his question into the crook of my neck.
“Mmm,” I moaned as my eyes floated shut as he peppered kisses down my neck and over my bare shoulder. I was wearing a light pink off-the-shoulder, ruffled top, a pair of black skinny jeans, and black strappy heels. We were going over to my father’s for dinner. Xavier had told me how my father had come to his office to invite us to dinner. We’d make it over there eventually, if I could get this man to take his hands off me for a second.
“We’re going to be late,” I reminded him at the same time he bit my earlobe.
“We’re already late,” his deep voice answered back in my ear.
A shudder ran down my spine, and I sighed when his lips touched mine. He was right. We were supposed to be there at seven, and it was now seven on the dot. Xavier had
a meeting that had run over, causing him to be late picking me up. Now, we were outside my building by his car, and I was seriously debating calling the whole thing off and dragging him back upstairs.
“We could just go back up to my place, anyway,” I suggested in between kisses.
He paused. “Nah, we’re going. I just needed a little taste before the night begins.”
I pursed my lips.
“Don’t give me that look,” he admonished, tipping my chin with his forefinger.
“Fine,” I huffed. “Come here, though.” Even in five-inch heels, I needed him to lean down a bit so I could wipe my smeared lipstick from his mouth.
“Tease,” I jeered when he bit the tip of my thumb.
“Get in the car,” he retorted, reaching behind me to open the car door for me.
I sighed as I got in, looking forward to the end of the night.
“’Bout time you two showed up,” a grinning Tori stated as she opened the door. Her outfit was similar to mine, but instead of black, she wore dark blue skinny jeans and a green top that crisscrossed at her neck but left her shoulders bare.
“Happy to see you too, sis,” I answered, at the same time pulling her in for a hug and kiss on the cheek.
“X, your friend has been anxiously awaiting your arrival,” she told Xavier, once he released her from his own hug. At the same time, she gripped my wrist, pulling me inside to the living room. “He’s in Elliott’s office,” Tori called over her shoulder to Xavier.
He gave me a wink and Tori a nod before veering off down the hall to my father’s home office.
“Where’s Marjorie?” I questioned, wondering why neither of the hosts had greeted us.
“She was running late due to work, so she’s upstairs changing, and your dad just took Jay in his office. I have a feeling they wanted to have a little powwow with Xavier, in private.”
I frowned. “Why on earth—?” I paused when Tori gave me an incredulous look.
“You know whatever it is has to do with you.”
“Me?”
“Yeah, they’re probably going to tag-team Xavier on some protective father-son, don’t-mess-over-my-daughter-sister type of thing.”
Safe Space II: The Finale Page 15
