“Good Morning Sunshine,” he greeted.
She closed the door and leaned on it. “What are you doing here?” She asked, irritated that she allowed this cynical man to affect her so strongly.
He didn’t reply. “May I?” He asked.
“May you what?” Dana wondered cautiously.
Giving her no answer Cab dropped to one knee, catching a gasping Dana off guard and causing her heart to suddenly ripple in her chest.
“What are you doing?” She breathed, barely able to muster the breath to speak.
Cab looked up at her with those sizzling bronzed eyes, and again without responding gently lifted her top and kissed her belly. The baby moved hard inside her.
“Good morning little sunshine. Daddy has come to take his girls to breakfast.”
Cabri seemed to understand because she rolled excitedly in her mother’s belly. Doing all she could to keep from smiling, Dana folded her lips just as Cab rose to his feet and quickly kissed her mouth. When he took a step back, she moved from the door.
“You don’t have to do that,” she stated gruffly as she walked by him.
“I know I don’t, but I want to,” he countered.
Dana appeared confused. One moment he was denouncing her and the baby, and now he was being more attentive than she could have ever wanted him to be. She would not be able to get over him if he kept changing up on her, and this clearly was a side of the complicated Cab Howard that she had never seen before.
“What are you doing Cab?”
“Dana, I am trying to be someone you can proud of. Someone you and Cabri can depend upon. Look, I know I have a lot to overcome with you. I’ve been a total ass to you and saying I’m sorry just isn’t adequate. Can we try? Can we start over? Everything I said last night was from my heart. I had no right to question your life before we met, but I was jealous of Clyde when I found out you were engaged, and although we only had that one night, I knew I wanted to explore more options with you. I hadn’t felt that way with anyone in a very long time. You, my beautiful Dana, have bewitched me body and soul, the moment you let me have you. I’m no longer going to fight how I feel and how you make me feel. I’ve handled everything badly and all I know is that I want you and my daughter.”
Dana smiled. “His name is Cliff.”
“What? Oh, whatever. You and Cabri are mine and I want to cherish and love you both the rest of my life.”
Dana stared at him. Did he just say that he wanted to love us?
“So what do you say Sunshine? Can we try?” Cab stepped closer but did not touch, and when Dana raised her head to look up at him, her heart melted at the sincerity in hls
eyes.
“No fair Cab Howard,” she moaned, dropping her forehead to his chest.
He stepped back and lifted her head with his finger. “What do you say sweetheart? Can we try?”
“I’m willing to try for Cabri’s sake,” she said.
“I’ll take that for now, but know this Sunshine I want it all,” he grinned. “Now, let’s get some shoes on so I can feed my girls.”
After trailing Cab and Dana to the mall, Cassandra stood outside of Babies R Us glaring at them as they laughed at Cab making a fool of himself holding up a large pink teddy bear. Angered beyond words, she glanced over at Raini who stood docilely beside her.
“Just look at him!” Cassandra hissed. “In there spending my, I mean his money on that woman, and he doesn’t even know if he’s the father of her child. He don’t need some short, unattractive dark woman on his arm! Cab is a very prominent businessman. He needs someone elegant and aesthetically pleasing to compliment his style… someone like me!”
Ever since Cab had left her that night, she had racked her brain trying to figure out how to get rid of Dana.
“Come on Raini,” she ordered.
She had to get to Macy’s and find a gown for the Gala. If Cab had simply gone along with her seduction plan like he was supposed to, she would be shopping on Rodeo Drive right now and not some common department store. She had gone to Dior’s Boutique on the off chance that he had forgot to cancel the account that he had opened, but even that was closed. Looking back a final time, she turned and stomped through the mall crowd. Raini quickly followed, but this time she had a smile on her face. It thrilled her to know that for once, her evil sister would not be getting her way.
Dana laughed at Cab as they moved up the mall and he had both hands filled with large shopping bags. They had only come to the mall to pick up a few shirts for him, but when he saw Babies R Us, he insisted on going in.
“You didn’t have to try and buy the whole store! I told you that we had plenty of time to shop for the baby,” she giggled.
The past two day with Cab had been wonderful, especially the foot rubs, and he was at her side day and night. They attended seminars and exhibits together and she was proud to be seen with him. Even his brothers were glad that their brother had finally come around and accepted the inevitable.
“But Cabri wanted this stuff,” he countered.
Dana rolled her eyes. “And how would you know that?”
“Telepathy,” he said proudly.
Dana stopped walking and looked at him. “What you talkin’ bout Willis?” Dana asked in her best Gary Coleman voice.
Cab laughed. “Didn’t you know that I communicate telepathically with my daughter?” He answered in all seriousness. He paused and pressed a finger to his temple. “Wait a minute, I’m getting something. She just told me that it was time to get mommy home so she can rest.”
Dana guffawed. “Man, if you don’t come on here…,” she said, walking away and shaking her head.
There was no doubt in her mind that Cab was going to be an excellent father, and as she came to terms with his new and improved persona, and discovered that she like it. They talked about almost everything except for what needed to be discussed. For instance, he would be returning to Philly in a couple of days. What was going to happen after he was gone? Did he expect her to follow him? She knew he wanted to be in Cabri’s life, she wanted that as well, and she even had thoughts of taking their relationship to another level. But what kind of relationship would they have long distance?
“Hey Sunshine are you okay?” Cab asked, concerned about her sudden change of mood.
“I’m fine,” she replied with a weak smile.
“Come on, let’s sit for a minute,” he said, steering her towards a bench.
After they had sat there silently and watched the throngs of shoppers passing by, Dana sighed and looked over at Cab.
“Cab, you will be gone in a few days, and although these past couple of days with you have been great, what’s going to happen when you return to Philly?”
“That was something I wanted to discuss with you tonight at dinner. Don’t worry, we’ll come up with something, okay?”
Dana nodded and continued to watch the people passing by, but just then, she cursed, as coming towards them was Cassandra with another woman walking beside her.
“What?” Cab asked when he heard her expletive. Dana tipped her head towards Cassandra and her companion. Dana got up to leave.
“Wait, where are you going?” Cab inquired, rising to his feet with her.
“To the ladies’ room before she gets here. Damn! Too late!”
“Oh Cab darling,” Cassandra gushed, embracing him planting a kiss on his mouth. Cab set her away from him.
“Hello Raini,” Cab greeted politely.
“Cab, I’m so glad I ran into you,” she said, ignoring Dana’s presence.
“Hi I’m Dana,” she said, introducing herself to the quite shy woman that stood behind Cassandra.
“Dana, this is Cassandra’s sister Raini,” Cab introduced.
“Hi,” she said shyly.
“What do you want Cassandra?” Cab asked impatiently.
“The Gala is tomorrow night and I thought you could be my escort,” she stated.
“Sorry Carrie,” Dana interjected.
“Cab will be escorting me.”
She stared at her stomach. “Really… I would think that someone in your condition wouldn’t want to attend. And for the record, my name is Cassandra,” she said through clenched teeth.
“Oh,” Dana smiled.
Cassandra rolled her eyes at Dana, all the while thinking that that black heifer has to go.
“Cab, I’m going to the restroom. I’ll meet you by the stairs at the end of the mall,” Dana said.
“Okay Baby,” he said, bending over to kiss her cheek.
When she was gone, Cassandra turned to Cab to complain. “I just can’t believe that you are going to accept that woman’s baby!”
“Believe it Cassandra,” Cab said, bending over to pick up their bags.
“I never thought that you were so generous that you would accept another man’s bastard child!” She replied spitefully.
Cab’s eyes narrowed dangerously. “Frankly Cass, what you think means nothing to me. I’m the father and you need to recognize that. If you thought that we could rekindle some kind of a relationship, you are sadly mistaken, so your snide, callous remarks does not affect me in any way. Now, if you ladies will excuse me, I am going to buy a diamond bracelet for my lady.” With bags now in hand, Cab walked away.
“We shall see who is mistaken Cab Howard,” she muttered, walking in the opposite direction. Raini grabbed the bags she sat down and followed.
Dana leaned against the rail at the top of the stairs where she said she would wait for Cab, when a seething Cassandra approached her with a sneer on her face and got right to the point.
“You got Cab now, but you better enjoy because it’s not going to last. You are not woman enough to hold onto a man like Cab, and when he realizes that your baby is not his he will be back with me where he belongs. Cab and I were destined to be together, and now that Sonny is dead I will have him back, and no brat is going to stop us from having a life together!”
People passing by were slowing down to listen to the loud talking Cassandra.
“Well I guess you told me,” Dana said calmly. “It appears to me Cassie that Cab is where he wants to be. He has never struck me as a man that didn’t know what he wants, and it looks to me that it is obviously not you, so if you got a problem, I suggest you take this up with Cab and see what he says.”
“You bitch,” Cassandra hissed.
Dana’s brow lifted. “Oh really? Honey, don’t let this belly fool you!”
“Come on Cassandra,” Raini said, stepping in between them. When she looked in her sister’s face, Raini saw the same evil look in her eyes that she saw whenever Cassandra was about to do something hateful, but before she knew what had happened, Cassandra shoved her extremely hard. She dropped the bags in her hand and stumbled into Dana, causing her to miss a step and tumble down a flight of eight stairs, and stopping only when she hit the landing.
“Oh my God!” Raini cried. She looked back at her sister who was smiling maliciously. “W-why did you do that?” Raini shouted before rushing down to aid Dana.
Dana lay there very still. She was conscious, but stunned.
“Oh my God Dana! Are you alright?” Raini asked anxiously.
People were crowding at the top of the stairs as Cassandra looked down at the pregnant woman who was now sitting up. When she saw Cab walking toward her, she rushed to him.
“Cab hurry! Dana fell down the stairs!” She said, trying to act as if she was concerned.
“What!” He bellowed.
“I’m so sorry,” she whined, her eyes now misting up with tears. “My sister…”
Cab dropped the bags and ran, pushing his way through the crowd at the top of the stairs. When he saw Dana, he quickly rushed down the stairs while Raini knelt next to her and held her hand.
“Dana! Baby, are you alright?” He asked, sounding a little terrified.
“I’m fine,” she replied, still a little shaken.
Cab looked over at Raini who looked frightened. “What happened?”
Raini opened her mouth to answer him, but Cassandra interrupted.
“Raini, why did you push her?” Cassandra snapped.
Cab looked at Raini and her mouth dropped open with surprise. He couldn’t see the fear in her eyes because of the dark glasses she wore. Raini rose to her feet on shaky legs, and stared at Cassandra with disbelief on her face.
“You… you pushed her?” Cab bellowed.
I-I…,” Raini stammered.
“Cab, Raini is real protective of me,” she blurted out frantically. “Dana and I had words and Raini took Dana’s hateful words as a threat.”
“What hateful words!” Dana snapped. “You know what Cab? Get me the hell out of here!” Dana demanded, coming to her feet with Cab’s help.
“I’m sorry this happened,” Cassandra said. Before anyone knew it, she stepped over to Raini and slapped her so hard that her dark glasses flew over the railing and fell to a lower level. As if the slap weren’t enough humiliation in front of the crowd that had gathered, she then reprimanded her like she were two years old. “How many times do I have to tell you that everyone is not a threat to me Raini?”
Horrified by what just took place, Dana frowned at Cassandra. She looked at Raini who stood with her head down while holding the side of her face.
“You apologize Raini, you hear me!” Cassandra ordered, pointing at her as if she were a dog that just peed on the rug. “You apologize right now!”
When Raini raised her head, Dana instantly felt sorry for her.
“I’m sorry, I…”
“It was an accident,” Dana interrupted, not wishing her to be humiliated any further. She looked over at Cassandra. “Don’t ever step to me again Cassie or I swear the next time I won’t be the one getting up off the floor,” she warned, letting Cab help her down the remaining steps. When they were on the lower level and away from the crowd, he made Dana take a seat on one of the benches.
“What happened?” He asked, looking for answers.
“Nothing really. Cassandra warned me that you and I would not last, and that she would have you back.”
Rage coursed through Cab. He knew Cassandra could be vindictive, but if she had anything whatsoever with Dana falling, she was going to have hell to pay.
“That’s never going to happen and Cassandra knows it. Look, I’m taking you the hospital,” he said helping her to stand.
“Cab, I…”
“No Dana. I don’t want anything to happen to you or the baby, so just humor me this one time.”
“Okay,” she agreed. She stood and looked down. “Cab, where are the bags?’
“To hell with the bags,” he snarled.
“Please Cab go get them,” she said gently.
Cab huffed, and then took the stairs two at a time. He found the bags exactly where he had dropped them, only this time Cassandra was going through them while her sister stood motionless beside her.
“Did you find what you were looking for Cassandra?” Cab asked, casting her a hardened stare.
Startled to hear his voice, she turned around filled with surprise. “Cab! I-I was making sure…”
“Was this what you were looking for?” Cab asked, pulling a navy blue velvet jewel box from the inside pocket of his jacket.
“What? No! Cab I was just…”
“Save it Cassandra! I’m going to say this one time, and one time only; stay away from me and mine. Dana may say it was an accident, but I’m not so sure.” He grabbed his bags and left Cassandra there fuming.
“Why Cassandra? Why did you do that to her? To me?” Raini asked. Her sister had done some devious things before, but pushing Raini into a pregnant Dana and causing her to fall down a flight of stairs was sadistic and borderline inhuman.
Cassandra glared at Raini with scorn. “Where are your glasses, freak?” She hissed before stalking off.
Unknown to Cassandra however, Raini had seen enough. “Not this time Cass. I will not take the blame for you trying to hurt Dana,” s
he said. This time, she was determined to do something about it.
Chapter 11
Dana sat in the spa chair with a towel wrapped around her body and eyes closed. After yesterday’s fall, Cab had taken her to the hospital and sat with her holding her hand as he heard his daughter’s heartbeat for the first time. A look of pure love for his child showed on his handsome face that made her want to rethink her decision to hold back on the possibly of having a relationship with him. Her doctor told the nurse that if she wasn't contracting or bleeding to send her home with the explicit order for her to stay in bed for the rest of the day, and Cab informed her in no uncertain terms that he was not about to leave her alone.
“If you get out of that bed Dana while I’m out, I’m going to tie fire to your beautiful butt,” he warned before leaving to go get something for them to eat. Dana smiled fondly at the memory.
“So Dana, are you and Cab are a couple?” Zoey asked, breaking her from her thoughts.
Dana opened one eye. As promised, the three women were at the finest spa in Beverly Hills, and after the spa they were returning to Cat’s place and getting their hair done and fitting for their gowns by a personal stylist.
Cynical Heart (Heart Series) Page 13
