by Tina Martin
“You’ll be fine,” Donovan told her, then took a sip of coffee. “Do you remember anything about him?”
“Um…no…must’ve been very young when he left. I don’t remember him at all. I don’t even know what he looks like.”
“You do know he’s Caucasian…”
“Yes. I know that much.” Shayla grinned.
“Shrew…had me worried there for a minute.” Donovan took another sip of coffee. “And just so you know, he’s married…has two adult sons.”
“Oh my gosh! I have brothers?” she said with tears in her eyes.
“Yep. You have brothers.”
“Do you know if they are coming with Jack this afternoon?”
“Yeah. The whole family is going to be there. That’s what Jack said, anyway.”
Shayla pinched her eyes and wiped tears from the corner of them. “Wow. This is amazing.” She took a sip of water then removed her cell phone from her purse when she heard it buzzing.
“Carter?” Donovan inquired.
It was him but Shayla didn’t confirm. She only read Carter’s text:
Been at the house since ten last night. Where are you, Shayla?
“Does he know you’re here?”
She was so engrossed in her thoughts, she hadn’t heard Donovan’s question. Instead she was focused on Carter being at home alone.
“Shayla?” Donovan said to get her attention.
“Yes?”
Her alert, bright eyes sent a smile to his face. “Does Carter know you’re here? With me?”
“No.”
“Why didn’t you tell him?”
Shayla shrugged.
“Being tight-lipped again?”
“I just don’t think it’s appropriate to talk in depth to you about my marriage. I mean, I know he’s your friend and all but—”
“Not necessarily…we went to college together…we’re not tight or anything like that.”
“Then why’d you conspire with him to follow me around when I was living here?”
“Just returning a favor. He pulled some strings…helped me get my position at Zenadel Electronics and I owed him.”
“Men,” Shayla said, shaking her head.
“What?”
“Y’all do the craziest things to get a woman but don’t have the slightest idea how to keep her.”
“You must be talking about your husband because I don’t have that problem,” Donovan said with arrogant eyes.
“Anyway,” Shayla said, because it was time to change the subject. “I wanted Carter to be a part of this, but I couldn’t bring myself to call him.”
“Do you not want me to be there?”
“Well, I assumed you were going to be so you could introduce us.”
“Okay, so after the introductions, do you want me to stick around?”
“No. You don’t have to,” Shayla took a sip of coffee. “I suppose I could get my long lost father to drop me off at the hotel.”
“I tell you what…I’ll take you to meet him, leave to give y’all some time to play catch up and then I’ll call you to see when you need me to pick you up. That way, I can see to it that you arrive back safely to your hotel.”
“That’s too much.”
“It’s fine. Really.”
“Okay, Donovan. If you say so.”
At six, Donovan drove Shayla to the park where they had agreed to meet Jack. She was fidgety and anxious when they arrived, her palms sweaty as she scanned the area, looking for who she thought Jack might be.
“Okay…um…he said they would be at the picnic spot number five, near the water. And I think that might be them over…there, so let me park.”
Shayla quietly stared in their direction while at the same time taking in the beauty of this place. The trees were beautiful, covered in bright orange, yellow, reddish and brown leaves. The sun stayed hidden behind the clouds on the overcast day. It looked like it would rain any minute.
Donovan shifted the car in park and shut off the engine. He looked at Shayla and said, “You ready?”
Shayla nodded. “As ready as I’m ever going to be.”
“All right,” he said, sounding more excited than she did.
Shayla opened the door to get out. Donovan followed, and they took the sidewalk, heading straight for the picnic area where her father and his family were sitting.
“I can’t believe I’m actually doing this,” she whispered to Donovan.
“Believe it. It’s seconds from happening.”
As they got closer, she got a good look at Jack. He was a tall, thin man, around the same height as Donovan and he had gray hair but still looked young and distinguished. He wore some khakis and a polo, had his hands snuggled comfortably in the pocket of his pants.
“Shayla?” he said as she stood in front of him now.
“Hi,” Shayla said to him.
“Hi there, Jack,” Donovan told him, reaching to shake his hand, then waved at the rest of the family. He leaned down and whispered in Shayla’s ear, “I’m gonna go. I won’t be far, so if you feel uncomfortable or ready to go, call me. Okay?”
“Okay.”
Donovan walked away, heading for his car.
Shayla then returned her attention back to Jack.
“You grew up to be such a beautiful, young woman,” Jack said.
“Thanks,” she said, staring at him. “I’m sorry for staring. I’m trying to remember you but I don’t.”
“You probably wouldn’t. I moved to Virginia a long time ago, when things didn’t work out with your Mother.”
Shayla glanced at the two young men and the woman standing behind him.
“This is my wife, Gail and those are my boys, Jack, Jr. and Jeremy.”
“Nice to meet you, Gail,” Shayla said shaking her hand because a hug seemed inappropriate. Gail was a pretty, brown-toned woman with short, auburn hair. She looked to be much younger than Jack and she seemed pleasant. Moving on to the boys, she said, “Wow. I can’t believe I have brothers. Hi guys,” she told them and both Jack and Jeremy hugged her, which brought Shayla to tears.
“Come sit down,” Jack suggested. Then he told his wife to take the boys and walk around for a while to give him and Shayla some privacy.
Shayla sat next to her father, looking at him up close now – noticing the grayness of his hair with a few strands of brown mixed in with it. He also had some facial hair, crow’s feet at the corner of his eyes and hard lines on his face.
Jack met her stares and said, “You turned out to be such a beautiful woman, just like your mother.”
“Thanks,” Shayla responded, twiddling her thumbs and interlocking the rest of her fingers.
“You remind me so much of her, you know.”
“Why’d you leave my mom, Jack?”
Jack sighed, blew a breath. “I didn’t want to leave her, baby girl. I was with her right up until just after you were born.”
“You were at the hospital when I was born?”
“Yes, I was there. I still remember it like it was yesterday. Your mother had a difficult pregnancy and—”
“What do you mean?”
“When she was pregnant with you, she had severe morning sickness. The doctors didn’t think she was going to carry you past seven months, but she did. She stayed in the hospital the last full month of the pregnancy. But at any rate, she was in labor for hours and you finally came and you were so beautiful. We were both in tears. And you for that matter.” Jack hung his head as he reminisced. “After we took you home, though, your mother was different. She wasn’t the same. The doctors said it was postpartum depression, gave her some medication for it, but she preferred alcohol instead. Then she started using street drugs and…um…sorry. Give me a moment.”
“Okay,” Shayla said, feeling sorry for him, of course, but she was anxious to hear the rest of this story.
“She started using drugs and I couldn’t take it anymore. How was she going to raise you and take care of you while she was strun
g out on drugs? So I made plans to move away, to take you out of that environment, but her mother, your grandmother, begged me not to take you. Said she wanted to raise you. So I left you with her. I didn’t want to, Shayla, but I did.”
“Why didn’t you come back to visit me?”
“I did in the beginning, but you weren’t old enough to remember me. After a while, though, driving and flying back and forth was becoming too stressful and sometimes, your mother was at your grandmother’s house when I would visit and I hated seeing her in the condition she was in.” He took a moment and said, “You look a lot like her, you know, before the drugs and all.”
Shayla smiled. “I know.”
“You have her smile, too.”
“My grandmother used to tell me the same thing. She showed me pictures of her. I used to have some, but I don’t anymore.” Shayla stared out at the landscape, the water. “What was she like when you met her?”
“Um, she was smart and boy was she beautiful.”
“How’d you meet?”
“Well, I was working on a construction project in Uptown Charlotte and she was going to school. She studied culinary arts at Johnson and Wales.”
“Really?” Shayla asked. Why hadn’t she remembered that?
“Yes. She was a good cook…worked as a chef for years.”
“And you do construction? I think Donovan mentioned something about you working on his house.”
“Yes, I’ve been in construction for years…been running my own business for twelve years now. And speaking of Donovan, are you two an item? He’s a good man…sent a lot of referrals my way after I finished the renovation on his house.”
“He is a good man, but he’s just a friend. I’m married.”
“You’re married?”
Shayla nodded, then took a wallet size picture of her wedding photo from her purse, handing it to him. “His name is Carter.”
“Nice looking fellow.” Jack handed the picture back.
“Thanks.” Shayla tucked it away in her purse, then asked, “When I was older, a teenager, why didn’t you come back for me? To visit me?”
“I…I…um…” he stuttered. “I should have, Shayla. I have no excuse for that. And I could sit here and tell you I was busy with the job, busy starting a new life but I’m not going to. I’m guilty of not being there for you. I’m aware of that and I’m truly sorry.”
Shayla reached for his left hand with her right and clenched it. “We have a lot of time to make up for?”
He nodded. “The family hasn’t eaten if you want to join us for dinner.”
“I would love too.”
“Okay. Let me call my wife and the boys back over then we can go.”
Jack took out his cell, dialed his wife’s number and told them to meet him at the car.
Shayla took out her cell and sent Donovan a text, telling him she was going to dinner with Jack and his family.
Donovan called as soon as he read it.
“Hey,” she answered.
“Where are you guys going for dinner?” he inquired.
“I don’t know yet, but I’ll text you when I find out.”
“Is everything okay? Do you feel comfortable?”
“Yeah. I’m fine.”
“Cool. Call me if you need me.”
“Okay.”
“And don’t forget to text me.”
“Will do. Thanks, Donovan.”
“You’re welcome, sweetheart.”
At dinner, Shayla found out more about the family. Her father was eight years older than her mother. He was very happy and settled in his current life. His wife was sweet and her half brothers were well-mannered, respectful young men.
She told them about Carter and Jack said she wanted to plan a trip to Charlotte soon to meet Carter in person. Said he wanted to work right away on making up for lost time with Shayla. Towards the end of dinner and conversation, Shayla called Donovan, seeing that he had texted her three times to find out where she was and it dawned on her she’d forgotten to text him the name of the restaurant.
“Hey, how’s it going?” Donovan asked after answering the phone on the first ring.
“It’s going good. I completely forgot to text you my location, but it’s all good. Jack has offered to drop me off at the hotel so you don’t need to meet me.”
“I’m already here.”
Shayla frowned. “You where?”
“Outside of the restaurant…been here since ten.”
“How’d you know where I was?”
“I followed you.”
“Oh yeah, I forgot…you’re good at that.”
Donovan chuckled a bit and said, “Just wanted to make sure you were safe. Jack might be your father and all, but I don’t know him that well and neither do you.”
“Well I can assure you…all is well. Now go ahead and go home and spend some time with your little boy. You don’t have to wait for me.”
“Are you kidding? I want to know what happened. Tell Jack you’re riding with me.”
“You sure?”
“Of course.”
“Okay. See you in a minute.”
She went ahead and told Jack that Donovan was taking her back to the hotel. Walking out of the restaurant together, Shayla embraced Jack, his wife and the boys.
Donovan watched her – saw her wipe tears from her eyes as she said goodbye to her father. When he saw her heading for his car, he got out, opened the passenger door for her then quickly walking around the car to get in himself, starting the engine.
“You all right?” he asked her.
“Yes.”
“Why are you crying?”
“Because I can’t believe that just happened,” she said, her trembling hands covering her face.
“Breathe, sweetie.”
“I’m trying. It’s been a whirlwind day.”
Donovan started the car, beginning the drive to the hotel where Shayla was staying.
“So are you glad you went through with it?” he asked, checking the mirrors and changing lanes.
“Yeah, I am. Jack seems to be a pretty decent, straightforward guy. He wants to come to Charlotte in a few weeks…said he wanted to meet Carter.”
Donovan nodded. So she talked about Carter.
“He said he was in love with my mom.”
“You believe him?”
“I don’t know. I mean, I want to believe everything he said, but I can’t trust him from one meet-and-greet all these years later.”
“Right.”
“We gotta get to know each other again, you know. I have to learn him, then maybe trust will come later.”
“Yep,” Donovan agreed, then found a parking stall at the hotel, shifting the car in park and shutting it off.
“Donovan, what are you doing? You don’t have to walk me to the room. I got it.”
“I’m sure you do, but I’m going to walk with you anyway.”
A smile touched her lips. “Of course you are.”
When they arrived to her room, she dug around in her purse, found the keycard, swiped it to unlock the door then walked in, dropping her purse on the bed. She turned around and saw him standing there, near the door. Had he planned on staying for a while?
“Well, I guess this is it,” she told him.
“Yeah. Looks that way,” Donovan said, sauntering over to where she was standing, next to the bed. He softly touched her face. “I don’t want you to leave, Shayla.”
“Donovan…”
“I don’t. I’m being honest,” he said.
“Well, I have to leave, so…”
“You don’t have to,” he said, licking his lips, leaning forward.
Shayla frowned, placed her hands on his forearms to push him away, but Donovan had other plans.
He pulled her closer to him, held her head between his hands and took a kiss from her.
Shayla cringed and tried to push him away again. “Donovan, stop.”
Did he hear her? Probably not as evid
ent by him lifting her from the floor and placing her on the bed.
“Donovan, please stop,” she said in tears now, feeling his lips against her neck. “Please Donovan. I love my husband. I love Carter.”
He stopped kissing her, wiped the tears away from her eyes and said, “Well, that’s a problem because I love you.”
She looked at him, clearly in shock. “I can’t be with you.”
“I love you, Shayla.”
“Donovan?” she said, because she was at a lost for words.
“I feel a strong connection between us, Shayla. I know you feel it, too.”
“Donovan, don’t get me wrong…I like you as a person, as a friend. But even though Carter and I are going through some issues right now, I would never do anything to betray him. A friendship is as far as I can go with you. I do appreciate what you’ve done for me.”
Donovan stood up, walked away from the bed with his back towards her and placed both hands on his head out of frustration. Then he turned around and said, “I haven’t felt this way about a woman since my wife passed. I feel things for you and you’re asking me to completely avoid what my heart is telling me is true?”
“Donovan, I haven’t done anything to lead you on.”
“Honestly, Shayla, I love your smiles, your eyes, your face…” Donovan sighed, walked away from her again. “You remember how you told me no one wanted you…well I want you, Shayla.”
“Donovan…”
“But I can’t have you because you’re in love with someone else.” He turned around and looked at her, sitting on the bed. “I overstayed my welcome, so I’m going to go. I hope one day, Carter Williams makes you happy, because when you speak of him, all I see in your eyes is sadness. You’re happiest with me, not him.”
“Donovan…”
He headed for the door and she stood up from the bed to see him out. Before turning the knob, he asked, “Can I at least have a hug?”
She nodded.
He wrapped his arms around her frame, squeezing for an extended period of time, not wanting to let her go. When he finally did, he stared at her again. “Goodbye, Shayla.”
“Goodbye, Donovan.”
Shayla closed the door when he left, feeling scared and nervous but mostly hurt at the thought she’d broke Donovan’s heart, and hurt that she would eventually have to face Carter with this on her heart. Would she tell him what happened here?
