He frowned as my words sunk in. “Guess I messed up, huh?”
I scoffed.
“So what do I do now?”
I leveled a harsh glare at him. “You wait.”
He sunk lower in his chair.
“Just please do me a favor and stay away from your wife if you are serious about this divorce, okay? If you’re not, let me know, and I have a list of marriage counselors I can refer you to. Would you rather fix your marriage than end it?”
He shook his head adamantly. “Not a snowball’s chance in hell. She’s stepped out on me one too many times. I told you, I don’t even believe that baby is mine. We had sex twice a few months ago. It was a mistake. It won’t happen again.”
Lot of good that’ll do, she’s already pregnant, I thought to myself.
“Okay, as of right now you have to stay married and make sure she gets the proper care for her pregnancy. I’ll write up an agreement for a monthly installment you’ll pay her from now until the time she gives birth. I’d advise you to keep contact between you two to a minimum. As a matter of fact, anything you need to communicate to her, you tell me, and I’ll pass along the message. Got it?”
“Got it,” Richard answered as he stood. He extended his hand to shake. At first, I hesitated. I was still pissed, but I knew that was mostly my pride. I reached across my desk to shake his hand, and Richard gave me a satisfied look.
“Enjoy the rest of your day, Richard,” I added as he made his way to the door.
“You too, darlin’.” He tipped the cowboy hat he wore and opened the door.
“You can leave it open,” I told him.
Once he was gone, I sat at my desk, taking a few deep breaths to refocus. I had a new client whose file I needed to familiarize myself with before we met later that week. This client had been a client of my father’s for a couple of years, and after a year of marriage counseling, he and his wife were ready to call it quits. Given his high-profile name as the host of a popular television game show, I was sure this case would take some time and was of high priority.
“You busy?”
I looked up when I heard my father’s voice accompanied by his knocking on my open door.
“Didn’t mean to scare you.”
“No worries. I was so entrenched in this file, I almost lost track of my surroundings.”
He grinned as he entered my office. “I’ve been there. Or, you look at a file so long you feel like your eyes are crossing.”
“Oh, I’ve done that at least twice just today.”
He chuckled, sitting down.
“Can I ask you something?”
When he frowned, I thought he was going to say no or was annoyed.
“You don’t have to preface every question with can I ask you something?”
“I know, I’m just still getting used to working with you, you know?”
He inclined his head.
“Anyway, I had a mishap in court today. My client lied, or at least failed to inform me, of the last time he was, uh, physically intimate with his wife. Now she’s pregnant, so the divorce has to be postponed…” I trailed off.
“And you’re nervous about looking foolish in front of the judge.”
“Yes,” I answered, grateful he understood where I was going.
“Yeah, that sucks. Which judge was it?”
“Um, Hernandez.”
“Oh, she’s a doozy. This your first time in front of her?”
I nodded.
“Okay, this is what you do…” He began giving me vital information on how to handle Judge Hernandez the next time I was in front of her. I soaked up every word like a sponge. By the time he’d finished, almost an hour later, I had three full pages of notes in front of me.
“I almost forgot my meeting,” he said, looking at his wristwatch as he stood.
I stood as well. “Thanks, Dad. This was helpful. I’m feeling better.”
He placed a comforting hand on my shoulder as we stood in my doorway. “That’s what I’m here for. You’re a great attorney, Chanel. Don’t ever doubt that.”
I was so glad when he gave me one last look before he turned to head down the hall to his office. I think if he would’ve waited for my reply I wouldn’t have been able to hold back the tears. For maybe the first time in my life, it felt like everything was firing on all cylinders, even despite my weepiness, which had been occurring more and more for some reason lately. I’d been at my father’s firm for more than a month and it was going well. And after keeping up his end of our agreement to seek counseling, I’d moved into Xavier’s house, now our home, and though it was early, it felt right.
As I stood in my office, contemplating my life, my cell phone buzzed on my desk.
Hungry? Want to join me at Grant’s for dinner?
I smiled down at my phone, ready to respond to Xavier’s text, but remembered I’d agreed to meet Gabby for dinner.
I would, but I’m supposed to meet Gabby for dinner.
Invite her then, came his immediate reply. I didn’t need to ask if he was joking.
All right, I’ll ask if she doesn’t mind.
I sent a text to Gabby asking if she wanted to have dinner with us at Grant’s. I crossed my fingers that she wouldn’t mind eating with Xavier too. Yes, he and I lived together, which meant we spent more time together, but sometimes I felt like it wasn’t enough. We’d grown closer than ever since our therapy session with Dr. Winston. I felt like I understood him on a deeper level, and waking up every morning with his big, long arms curled around me just reminded me that with him was where I belonged.
I placed my phone down and rolled my eyes at how cheesy I sounded, even to myself. A few seconds later, Gabby responded that she was cool meeting us at Grant’s. I peered at the time on my phone. It was close to four thirty. I texted Xavier and told him we could meet him at six for dinner, then sent the time to Gabby. That gave me enough time to sit and get some more work done before I left for the evening. By the time I shut my computer off and packed up my things, it was after five thirty.
“Hey, don’t work too hard,” I teased Jason as I passed his office. He was still perched over his desk, and it didn’t look like he was planning on leaving anytime soon. I frowned, wondering how often he was there until well after five, while he had a wife and two toddlers at home. I hoped history wasn’t repeating itself with him picking up some of the same workaholic traits as our father.
“You heading out?” He looked up, surprised. “Oh yeah, it is after five thirty, huh?”
“It is. I hope you aren’t leaving my sister-in-law to do all the parenting while you slave away at your desk for twelve hours.”
“Nah, I’m just putting in a couple of extra hours in this week because I’m taking some time off the next few weeks.”
“Oh, that’s right. Vegas and then Greece. Tori has been talking about it for weeks.”
“Yeah, we’re bringing Tori’s mom to help with the kids, so she and I can get some alone time.”
I smiled at the excited look on my brother’s face. “Good. I’m headed to meet Xavier and Gabby for dinner.”
“That’s what’s up. Tell X I’ll give him a call later on tonight.”
“Not too late,” I replied.
“Why, y’all got…? You know what, don’t even bother answering that. I don’t need to know what y’all got going on over there.”
I laughed. “Whatever, Jay. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Hey, Chanel?”
“Yeah,” I responded, turning back towards his desk.
Jason stood and walked around his desk to stand in front of me. “I’m really glad you’re working here.”
I crinkled my brows. “Thanks, Jay.”
“Don’t thank me. I know we weren’t all that close growing up, and I really dropped the ball when it came to that shit with Ethan,” he frowned. “I wish I’d been there for you like an older brother should’ve been. I get why you didn’t feel you could open up to dad about what was
happening, but it hurt like hell learning I was in the same category as him.”
I could see the hurt written all over my brother’s face. “Jason, I don’t know what to say. I’m sor—“
“Please don’t apologize. It was my fault. I treated you like a pesky kid sister and I was too busy soaking up all of dad’s attention to bother to stop and ask how you were doing. I did try to look out for you though.”
I frowned in confusion at his statement.
“When X would go to D.C. for business, I’d ask him to check in on you from time to time. I also had a few contacts in L.A. let me know how you were doing in between calls and visits.”
“You were the reason Xavier visited me in D.C.?”
“Yeah, sort of,” he shrugged. “I suspected he had a thing for you and hell, we all knew as teenagers you had a crush on him.”
I snickered at my own self. “I had the biggest crush on him as a kid. You thought he had a thing for me too?” I asked intrigued.
“Well, not until you were older, but I could see there was something between you two. Anyway, this conversation has gotten off track. I just wanted to let you know I love you, and I’m grateful to get the opportunity to have you back here. Not just as a partner at the firm, but as a sister.”
I paused, swallowing the lump that’d formed in my throat. Jason was right, we never were really close as kids. Our age difference and the fact that my father had clearly favored him over me, had drove a wedge between us. Still, I was happy to learn that Jay had tried to check in on me. I wondered how differently things would’ve been if we’d been closer. If I had felt close enough to confide in him about my relationship with Ethan. But then I quickly changed my mind.
“I appreciate that, Jason. I too, wish we could’ve been closer but what’s in the past is in the past. The good news is that we can start here, now.”
“I’d like that. A lot.”
I blinked a few times, rubbing my eyes. “I’m so sentimental these days,” I laughed. “Between dad, you, and Xavier, I’m a little overwhelmed with male emotion.” We both laughed this time.
“I’m going to head out, but maybe when you and Tori get back we can do dinner or lunch together? Just you and me?”
“I’m going to hold you to that.”
“Good.”
He pulled me into a hug, that didn’t feel forced or awkward. I was grateful to get the chance to build a relationship not only with my father, but my brother as well.
****
I arrived at Grant’s at six o’clock on the dot. It was just starting to fill up for the dinner rush. I didn’t see Gabby yet, so I sent her a quick text to let her know I was there. The hostess greeted me with a warm smile and showed me to one of the booths toward the back where it was most quiet. Xavier texted me that an impromptu meeting had popped up and he might run a little late. I was surprised, however, when I saw Jamal emerge from the hallway that I knew led to the manager’s office. He caught my eye and gave me a nod before coming toward me.
“Hey, what’re you doing here?” I asked
“Hey, cousin. I was in the back speaking to X. One of the kids at the center where I tutor has aspirations of being a chef, so I asked X if he would let little man do a shadow day here.”
“Really? That’s dope, Jamal. How old is he?”
“He’s thirteen. Really smart. He’s got two younger siblings and helps his mother around the house and has taken a liking to cooking.”
“That’s cool. Xavier agreed?”
“Yeah, we’re going to make something happen over Christmas break when little man is out of school.”
Jamal had volunteered for years at a community center helping kids and teaching personal finance classes to high school students. I’d always admired that about him. Despite the personal failings of his father, he’d taken away the belief that those in the position to do so should give back in any way they could to those who needed it.
“That’ll be exciting for him. How’s your nephew doing?”
“Oh, man, that lil’ dude is great. Look at this.” He reached into his back pocket and pulled out his phone, bringing up his gallery of pictures. He turned the phone to me, and my heart melted at the image of a grinning caramel baby boy, held by Jamal.
“He’s getting so big. I haven’t spoken to Mercedes in a while. Last time, I think he was only two months old.”
“Yeah, he’s growing like a damn weed,” Jamal chuckled. “I just went to Atlanta a couple of weeks ago for work and extended my stay for a few days. I hung out with my lil’ dude the whole time.”
I continued to swoon as Jamal scrolled through pictures of him and his nephew together.
“Raul Jr. is so precious,” I stated as he closed his gallery app in his phone. Jamal’s older sister, Mercedes, had named her son after the father, Raul.
“He is. She’s really happy,” Jamal said of his sister.
“That’s good. I guess she doesn’t miss Houston too much, huh?”
“Nah, I doubt it. She’s been in Atlanta for a while now. She barely comes to visit since everything went down with my pops and her. Mama goes out to Atlanta to visit too.”
I nodded. “And how about you? Thinking of settling down anytime soon?”
“Pssh,” he leaned back, blowing out an exaggerated breath. “Not me.”
“Still playing the field, huh?”
“I wouldn’t call it playing. I’m just…”
“Hoeing?” I interjected when he trailed off.
“Get outta here,” he waved me off.
“Speaking of, what’s up between you and my bestie?”
His eyebrows dipped into a deep V. “Nothing. I’ve met that girl like, twice, and you were present both times. Did it look like something was going on between us?”
“Yeah, actually, it did. It looked like you two had some hostility, and seeing as how both of you claim to not know the other, I find it a little odd.”
Jamal gave me a weary look. “Man, your friend is crazy. You see how she attacked me in your office? I’m lucky I got away with my damn life.”
“Attacked you?”
Jamal threw his hands in the air at the sound of Gabby’s voice behind him. “And why does she always sneak up like that?” he asked me.
“I’m not sneaking up. I came here to meet my friend for dinner only to find my good name being dragged through the mud—again.”
I lowered my head and bit the inside of my cheek to keep from grinning. Gabby’s dramatics and Jamal’s frustrated sighs were entertaining.
“I was just telling it like it was. You attacked me for no good reason the last time we saw one another.”
My head volleyed back and forth between the two as they threw verbal jabs at one another. Jamal, either growing frustrated or tired of the back-and-forth tossed me a departing nod over his shoulder before glaring at Gabby and walking away.
“I cannot believe you were talking to your cousin about me again.”
I held my hand up in a surrendering fashion. “I just asked why there’s so much hostility between the two of you. That’s it. I wasn’t asking him about your business or anything. But, I mean—”
“No, don’t even go there. There is nothing between your cousin and me,” Gabby stated adamantly.
“That’s what you say, but even given your tendency to be a little dramatic, I’ve never seen you get so worked up over a man you hardly know. Are you sure—?”
“What did I just say?” Gabby held up her hands to cut off any further protests from me. “Look, that relationship stuff is fine and dandy for you. Don’t try to put me in one.”
“What do you mean, for me?”
“I meant exactly what I said. You did a real good job the years we were in L.A. pretending that you weren’t the relationship type and you didn’t want to settle down and all of that, but I’ve seen you over these last few months. You’re happier, your skin is glowing, and you’re just more at ease with yourself. And yes, counseling and who you’re i
n a relationship with has a lot to do with it. Granted. Xavier is great for you. And when you finally decided to stop fighting the inevitable, you flourished. I don’t personally think everyone is meant to be in a relationship or partnered for all of eternity. But you? I always knew there was someone out there for you.”
I stood there, stunned, speechless. The years I spent after my breakup with Ethan, I actively ran from anything close to a committed relationship. I had talked a good game, claiming that I just didn’t want to be hurt like I had before, and I didn’t want to be tied down or end up like my mother. I’d done a good job of convincing even myself that that was my truth, and Gabby, being the good friend she is, played along until it was time for me to give that up.
“How…?” I cut myself off when I looked over Gabby’s shoulder to see Xavier coming toward us from the back office. My insides warmed all over at the smile he gave me , accompanied by that one dimple on the left side of his handsome face.
“See what I mean?” Gabby muttered as she caught the look between Xavier and me.
“This discussion isn’t over,” I retorted.
“Yeah, it is,” she answered back, just as Xavier’s hand met my waist, pulling me to him for a kiss on the cheek.
“Hey, baby girl. Gabby. Sorry, to hold you up. Got caught on another call. Let’s sit,” he welcomed us, extending his arm for us to take our seats in the booth.
The rest of the evening went by pretty quickly as the three of us caught up on each other’s days. It didn’t feel awkward or like an intrusion to have Xavier there at a dinner that was originally supposed to be just Gabby and me. I was grateful to have a friend as supportive as she was, who didn’t mind changing plans to include my man every now and again. But I did make a mental note to find time the following week just for her. I never wanted to compromise my friendship because I was in a relationship. I’d done that in the past and learned my lesson. But I didn’t have to worry about that now.
Safe Space II: The Finale Page 22
