She didn’t realize she was crying until a teardrop slid down her face and splashed on the table. James’ heart melted. He reached over and brushed away her tears with his thumb.
“Don’t cry, baby. Don’t cry.” He got up and retrieved a handful of napkins from the counter and gave them to her. She cleaned her face and blew her nose.
After a while, Della composed herself. “I’m sorry for breaking down like that,” she told him.
“It’s okay. It seems like you had the weight of the world on your shoulders. I’m glad you got that out.”
“I just wanted to let you know that I have a reputation around the neighborhood because of that videotape.”
“We all have skeletons in our closets. Della, that’s all in your past. Hopefully, I can be in your future. Will you give me a chance? I won’t hurt you or break your heart or mistreat you. I won’t try to use you like a lot of these niggas try to do. I’m real.” He surprised the hell out of her when broke out singing “Gotta Be” by Jagged Edge.
“Oh my God!” she exclaimed as everyone standing around began to clap. With an audience, James really got into it. He could actually sing and she was impressed even more. She felt the tears again, but this time they were tears of happiness.
“Are you ready to head back?” he asked, taking her hand.
“I guess so.” She stood up. “You know something, I wasn’t going to go out with you and my sister convinced me to give it a shot.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. I didn’t think you’d want someone like me. Sometimes, men just look at the outside and ignore the inside. I can tell you’re different. I’m glad I decided to come. I had a good time.”
“I’m glad you came, too. And I appreciate you feeling comfortable enough with me to share some of the bad stuff that happened in your life.”
As they walked back to the car, he reached for her hand. That let her know that he was sincere about getting to know the real person she was on the inside. She was determined to take everything slow. She wouldn’t mess it up. If things worked out between her and James, that would be a good. If not, she wanted to be sure that it didn’t cause an emotional spin that could spiral out of control. She needed to go into the relationship whole, and not bring a lot of baggage with her.
She looked up at the cloudless, night sky and saw a falling star. Just as she did as a child, she made a wish. When James leaned in and kissed her on the cheek, she smiled. She’d already received half of her wish.
Epilogue
~Two Years Later~
“Who is that?” Vivian asked as Shae pulled up to Top2Bottom Detailing. It was the grand opening and she wanted to get her car washed and detailed by the best in St. Petersburg.
“Girl, that’s Della. She looks different, huh?” Vivian sat in the car while Shae got out. “You’re not going to speak?” She leaned into the car and gazed at Vivian.
“No. You know how I feel about her.” Della didn’t even look like the same girl who’d been butt naked, getting busy with her husband on the bear-skinned rug. Now, she wore a tee-shirt with the words Top2Bottom Detailing on it, jeans and tennis shoes. Her hair was in a ponytail and covered with a cap. She was busy washing cars with the other employees.
“No matter what happened, she’s still your blood. Richard is out of the picture now. Maybe y’all can at least try to be sisters even if you’re not going to be friends.”
Vivian thought about what Shae said. She was right. Richard was currently incarcerated awaiting a trial date. He got caught trying to solicit sex from a minor. She still had the newspaper clipping in her purse. But, she didn’t need to read it to know what it said. She had it memorized.
Best-selling Author Charged With Soliciting Teenager
GULFPORT, FL -- A New York Times best-selling author was arrested and charged with sexually soliciting a teenager. In a joint effort with Gulfport police and the state Attorney General's office, 27-year-old Richard Woods was arrested Wednesday. Ironically, Woods writes juvenile fiction and young adult novels.
According to officials, Woods sent text messages to a 14-yearold Pinellas County girl. Authorities say the text messages contained "nude and obscene images, as well as a request to meet the girl in person to engage in sexual activity."
Police arrested Woods when he arrived at a meeting spot where he was supposed to meet the teen. He was booked into the Pinellas County Jail.
When the sordid details of Richard’s involvement with under-aged girls came out, she’d been both devastated and disgusted. She filed for a divorce and was awaiting the final papers so she could be rid of him for good. When she thought over everything, she didn’t fault Della as much as she blamed Richard. Della had only been seventeen, and a very mixedup, confused girl because of past abuse issues.
“I guess I’ll go inside and speak to Toby,” she said. She got out the car, glancing at Della. Maybe one day she’d forgive her, but it took baby steps.
They headed toward the office, passing Della on the way. Della waved at them but went back to cleaning the wheels on a Mercedes. She seemed to be happy.
“I don’t see how she does it. Washing cars has to be hell on your fingernails,” Shae remarked, opening the door and going inside.
“Some people ain’t got that project queen mentality like you,” Toby said, overhearing her. He was behind the counter. “She don’t care about that. Her main concern is making the customers happy. That means cleaning their cars- by any means necessary. If she breaks a few nails every now and then, oh well.” He shrugged.
“Hey Toby. I wanted to tell you how proud I am of you,” Vivian said. He came from behind the counter and she gave him a big hug. “You’re doing something positive with your life and that’s commendable.”
“Well, I couldn’t sell drugs for the rest of my life. Besides, I had too many ideas inside my head to let them go to waste.”
“Look at you, all dressed up in a suit and tie. You look handsome and sophisticated,” Shae complimented. “How does it feel to be a proud, business owner?”
Toby couldn’t help sticking his chest out a bit. “It feels good. Real good. At least now, I don’t have to worry about getting shot by a drug-crazed crackhead.” Charles and Chris came running past. “Hey, hey, hey slow it down,” Toby told them, and they halted on the spot.
“I want a hot dog,” Charles said, looking up at him with a mischievous glint in his eyes.
“Me too,” Chris said.
“They ain’t gonna disappear if you walk instead of run,” Toby told them. He grinned and they grinned back.
“Toby, when I grow up, I want to be just like you,” Chris told him.
“What do you mean by that?”
“I want to have a lot of money and drive fancy cars- butI want to own a business, and not get them the other way,” he added.
“What you know ‘bout that?” “Toby, I’m might only be ten, but I wasn’t born yesterday.” He shook his head at his older brother. “I know what you used to do.”
“Lil jit, if you or you.” He pointed and gave both boys a stern look. “Ever even think about selling drugs, I’ll be all over you like stink on shit. You got that?” The twins gave each other such a comical look that they all burst out laughing. “Now get on out of here.”
When the twins went out the door, Shae looked at her brother and sister and smiled.
“What you so happy about? You hit the lottery?” Toby asked.
“No. Better than that. Della is going to move in with James. Now, I’m just waiting on you to move out so my husband and I can have our house to ourselves.”
“You don’t have long to wait. I just checked out a house in the Lake Maggoire area. It’s a nice three bedroom. It’s a good chance that I might buy it. I’m iffy about the flood owners insurance though. I think it’s a rip off. But, the house is tight.”
“Dang Toby. You’re moving right on up. First, you’re a business owner. Now, you’re a soon-to-be homeowner. You’re one of St. Pe
tersburg’s most eligible young entrepreneurs and bachelors. Watch out there now!” Vivian said.
“Look, I ain’t trying to be eligible. I’m just trying to live the American dream. I can’t believe that not too long ago, we were poor, being abused, and living in the projects.” He looked around proudly at the balloons, streamers and banner that read “Welcome to the Grand Opening of Top2Bottom Detailing.” He took a deep breath and exhaled. “We definitely done came up.”
“Yes we have,” Shae agreed and Vivian nodded. They both gave Toby a big hug.
Della walked in on the family moment. “What’s going on?” she asked.
“We were just telling Toby how proud we are of him,” Shae replied.
“Oh.”
“I’m proud of you, too,” Vivian said, surprising them all.
“Me? What for?” Della asked, looking at Vivian in shock.
“You have done a complete 180 degree turn-around. It couldn’t have been easy for you.”
“It wasn’t, but I have James in my life. He has helped me a lot.” She glanced down at her feet, still unable to meet Vivian’s eye after what she’d done.
“Can we talk? I mean not right at the moment, but when you get some time, can you come over? I think we need to clear the air,” Vivian told her. Della just nodded. She couldn’t even find her voice. She was just glad that Vivian didn’t hate her.
“Ladies, I’m sorry, but I’m gonna hafta break up this Oprah moment,” Toby said. “I can stand here hugging and crying or I can get out there and make sure my peeps are washing and detailing cars. I think I’ll go out there. Too much mascara running in here for me to feel comfortable.” Everyone laughed. “Love, peace, and hair grease!”
Table of Contents
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Project Queen II Page 15
