The Estates

by LaJill Hunt

  THE ESTATES

  “Welcome Home”

  By

  La Jill Hunt

  Dedication

  This book is dedicated to:

  Kevin Elliott, who has shown me the meaning of consistency, encouragement, support, love and true friendship. You keep me laughing, thinking, writing and force me to be greater than I think I can ever be. You are my Best Friend For Life and I love you!!

  And to Michael Hopper aka M&M, who has shown me maybe, just maybe, they do exist...and not just in movies, books and tv shows.

  Acknowledgements

  Thank you God for being the joy and the strength of my life; for pushing me out of my comfort zone and putting me in a position where the only thing I can do is WRITE. There is none like you and I thank you for pouring into me and blessing me with not only the talent, but the DRAMA to write about: the good, the bad and the ugly!!

  To my parents, my daughters, my siblings, my family and all of my friends, thank you AGAIN...I love you all!!

  To my Pastor, Dr. James E. Jones, Jr. I will forever be grateful for your showing me week after week that "Its Such A Good Season". You have helped me grow so much not only by teaching me week after week, but being transparent and allowing me and the GFWC family to watch your spiritual walk with God. Thank you for covering me and my family, for listening and for allowing me to be me. You will never know how much you and Grace Family Worship Center means to me. To Macy Church, Veronica Robinson, Rev. Dawn Williams, Dr. Rev. Renee Tann, Evangelist Deidra Carter, Evangelist Shanique Sumner, and Evangelist Stephanie Marshall, thank you for your constant prayers. To Chris Carter and Brittany Tann, thanks for “turning to your neighbor”, squeezing my hand, and allowing me to enjoy and be a part of worship each week. Y’all keep me encouraged.

  To Cheyne McLeod Dent... the only words I can type without crying are: THANK YOU!! Not only are you the living example of the woman I encourage my daughters to aspire to become, but you love them and myself enough to give them a front row seat and experience it for themselves. You and Steve are all that and a burrito bowl from Chipotle and I love you both.

  To Elenora "Shonda" and Derrick Barnes...I love you, FOOLS!! Thank you for being there and exactly what I need whenever I need it. #relationshipgoals LOL!!!

  To my ride or dies: Joy, Shan, Vicki, Mario H, Nichole, Jana, Tonya, Toye, Roxanne, Chenay, Monica, Nesha, Monteal, Crystal P, Azalea, Angie, Cherie, Joell, and Crystal A. Love, Love, Love!!

  To my #teamJillyJill Beta Squad: Carla, Gerald, Omedia, Leslie, Milly, Ashley H., Doshara Jones, and my "number one" Lakeya Wilson-Griffin. Thanks for letting me know that although this project was a little different, I am definitely onto something and gave me the go ahead to grind it out.

  To Ashley Antoinette and Ja'Quavis Coleman: thank you for believing in me and granting me the opportunity to do what I love to do.

  To my OWL family, thank you for allowing me to sit at the table with you all. "THE LEAGUE" is the best!!! To my Editor, Khloe Cain, thanks for doing your thang!!

  To my Life Coach, John Haynes III…man, you have changed my life and I will forever be grateful for your continuous “gut punches” and insight. You the real MVP and I appreciate you, your wisdom, and your guidance.

  To my readers and fans: Thanks for supporting Team Jilly Jill and my works. It amazes me that you all actually take the time to not only read what I write, but actually like it!! Y'all are the bomb!!

  To Estrelda Yvette Lewis: I saved the best for last purposely (because I know you are gonna snap on me and ask why you were at the bottom, lol) and I gave you your own specified thanks!! You always have been and always will be a Godsend to me. Through thick and thin, ups and downs, good times and bad, skinny jeans and sweats, our friendship has endured it all and we have come out on top!! Thank you for letting me pick your brain and guiding me through this one while you put up with all of my "church" questions whenever I called/text you. See, I gave you credit!!! HAHAHA!! I love you V'Vette!!!

  To anyone else I forgot...either you can find your name in one of my previous novels, or I will remember you in the next one!!

  Until next time the DRAMA drops, hit me up on FB, Twitter, and Instagram!!

  The Estates

  Copyright © 2015 by LaJill Hunt

  The Official Writers League™ and all associated logos are trademarks of The Official Writers League LLC.

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of the publisher, except where permitted by law.

  Any similarity to persons living or dead is purely coincidental.

  Book Layout: Oddball Dsgn

  Cover Design: Oddball Dsgn

  Prologue

  “The Estates of Harrington Oaks”

  Darby Davidson was tired. She had been up showing houses to her latest clients all day long, an NBA playerand his fiancé whom he introduced as Squirt, who couldn’t have been a day over twenty-two. Darby figured the marriage, if they made it to the altar, would last all of forty five days based on their interaction. His money would be better spent on a two bedroom luxury condo and an investment fund, but he was hell bent on buying a “dream crib with all of the fixin’s so all the haters and the chicks who dissed me see what they now missin’”. Darby suggested otherwise, but he wasn’t trying to hear it. He told her wanted the biggest house his money could pay for, and right now, he had quite a bit. The bill for her two preteen sons’ braces and their upcoming vacation trip to Hawaii told her she needed all the commission she could get. So far, none of the houses they had seen were what he wanted. She decided to take a chance and bring him to a new development, hoping she would have some luck there.

  “This place is far.” Squirt whined from the backseat of Darby’s Range Rover.

  “It is located in a secluded area, but that’s a good thing.” Darby told her, trying not to sound frustrated. She seemed to have a problem with every house they had seen yet she wasn’t putting up a dime.

  “That means no one will be popping up on us out here. I like that!” her client smiled and nodded, his face hidden behind the huge sunglasses he wore, “All of this is new construction?”

  “Yes,” Darby told him, “Right now, there are only about a dozen homes completed, including the one I am about to show you. The neighborhood sits on approximately one hundred and twenty three acres and once its finished, there will be approximately sixty homes, give or take. There are also several amenities including a kids play park, beautifully landscaped gardens, and some of the homes sit on the waterfront – which is a man made lake.”

  “The Estates of Harrington Oaks.” He read the sign as Darby turned into the community. There was a centurion style gatehouse and sculptured brick walls which lined the lushly landscaped entrance. Flowering trellises, winding brick walkways and iron branches graced the edges of the main roadway and the park area. As she continued driving, they were greeted by a sweeping bridge which lead to a fifty foot glass dome pavilion and a cascading waterfall, “This place is amazing.”

  “This place is far!” Squirt sighed.

  “It is beautiful.” Darby said, ignoring her comment.

  “I don’t wanna stay way out here. This ain’t even a gated community.What type of stuff is that?”

  “Like I explained on the way out here, it’s a new development and there aren’t a lot of residents. Right now, it’s very private so a gate isn’t necessary. It is a very secure area. And there are plans to have continual rolling security as more homes are built.”

  “It must not be no important people that stay out here.” Squirt commented.

  “That’s not true. There are some very prominent residents: famous actors, singers, producers, athletes…”

  “How m
uch do these houses run?” He sat up and asked as they made their way through the neighborhood.

  “The average right now is about three to four.” Darby told him

  “Three to four hundred thousand?” Squirt questioned.

  “Three to four million.” Darby corrected her.

  “I know that house ain’t cost no three million dollars.” Squirt pointed at one of the smaller houses they were passing.

  “Actually, that’s the home of the man that owns all of the property in Harrington Estates.” Darby told them, “He lives there.”

  “He owns all this land and lives in that small house?” He laughed.

  Darby looked over at the house they were referring to. It did seem small compared to the other houses in the Estates, but Darby didn’t consider fifty-three hundred square feet small. The house also sat on the largest lot of land. Rumor had it that the land belonged to the Harrington family for several hundred years and was deeded to one single grandson who didn’t even claim it until he decided to have what was supposed to have been a vacation home on the lake built as a wedding gift. The construction had just been complete when, sadly, his fiancé died unexpectedly in her sleep. For a while, they even suspected him of killing her at one point, until they found that she died from natural causes. Shortly after her death, he decided to move into the home and then develop the neighborhood. From what Darby understood, he was a multi-millionaire ten times over but you would never be able to tell it.

  She continued down the streets until they finally arrived at the house for sale. She pulled into the circular driveway to the covered front entrance and parked. The house was Darby’s favorite listing and she loved it. It was one of thelargest homes in the neighborhood. Every potential buyer whom she had shown it had also fallen in love with it, but so far they all opted to have theirs custom built on the available lots. It was Darby’s dream home.

  “This place is HUGE!” He gushed, hopping out of the truck. Darby didn’t know which of their outfits fit the tightest: his skinny jeans and t-shirt or Squirt’s sequined halter mini dress. She had to admit, despite his fashion choices, he was an extremely handsome young man and he seemed to have a genuine heart, which was why she tried to give him sound real estate advice and direction. She also wanted to tell him that he may want to hold off on giving Squirt his last name, but she felt that would be overstepping her boundaries.

  “It’s twenty seven thousand square feet.” Darby told him, “Six bedrooms, six bathrooms and ten fireplaces.”

  “Damn.” He said, taking off his sunglasses.

  Darby opened the door and he followed her inside, “Marble flooring, state of the art kitchen, all the amenities you want and more.”

  “Wow.” He said, walking around, “Squirt, do you see this?”

  They turned around and noticed she wasn’t even in the house. Darby found her outside standing in on the perfectly manicured lawn, talking on her phone, “I told him that, Ma!”

  “Squirt, what are you doing? Come inside you gotta see this place!” He told her.

  “I don’t wanna go in. I don’t like it.” Squirt tossed her long blond hair extensions over her shoulder and put her hand on her hip.

  Darby was confused. This home was the biggest and most fabulous house that she had shown them, so she thought it was a shoo in. Based on his reaction, she knew he felt the same way.

  “You haven’t even seen it.”

  “What’s wrong?” Darby asked, walking over to the couple.

  “I don’t like the vibe out here and it’s too far. My mama ain’t even gonna be able to take the bus out here.”

  “My point exactly,” He mumbled.

  “What?” Squirt snapped.

  “I mean my point is that we can send a car or limo to go get her when she wants to come out here and take her back home.” He quickly said.

  Darby stared at the young couple, “Why don’t we just take a quick peak inside so you can…”

  “I don’t wanna look inside. Look, I need to get home. Come on, I’m ready to go!”

  “But we didn’t even finish looking…” He paused, stared then nodded at a car that was driving down the street. They all watched as the four door Porsche passed by, driven by a female wearing dark shades.

  “Who was that?” Squirt snapped, looking over at her fiancé.

  “I don’t know,” he shrugged, “That car was hot!”

  “I swear! This is exactly what I be telling you!” Squirt yelled.

  Darby took a step away from the couple, hoping they weren’t going to create a scene. Although the neighborhood was fairly empty, she didn’t want to run the risk of anyone looking out their windows or driving by and seeing them arguing in the front lawn.

  Looking at her like she was crazy, he asked her, “What are you talking about?”

  “You out here waving at bitches like you ain’t put a ring on my finger a month ago.” Squirt held up her finger, which held one of the biggest diamonds Darby had ever seen.

  “When did I wave at anybody? Did you see me wave?” He turned and asked. Darby just shrugged.

  “Is that why you wanna move way the hell out here? To be closer to that skank?” Squirt stood directly in front of him. His six foot, nine inch body stood well over hers, but she didn’t seem to care. She squared off with him as if they were the same size and she could take him down.

  “I don’t even know who that was, I swear.”

  “If you wanna buy this house, then fine, but I ain’t living here wit you, that’s for damn sure.” Squirt said and headed for Darby’s truck.

  Clearly embarrassed, he looked over at Darby and said, “She’s tripping. I do wanna see the house. Maybe we can do this some other time, without her.”

  “That’s fine. Let me lock up the house.” Darby told him.

  Another wasted damn day, she thought as she took one last glance into the gorgeous home. She glanced down at her watch and saw that it was late and it would be an hour drive back to her office where her client’s Maybach was sitting in the parking lot waiting on him and Squirt. She still had to pick up her boys from soccer, help them with homework, prepare dinner, prepare them for school, and go over paperwork for her staff meeting in the morning. If she was lucky, the one bottle of Chardonnay she had chilling in the fridge would be enough to help her relax from the day and get through the full night she had ahead of her. In a perfect world, she would meet an amazing, handsome, funny, successful guy, who was a great role model for her sons, and a great lover for herself. Better luck next time.

  CHAPTER ONE

  Bishop Walter and First Lady Olivia Burke

  1547 Harrington Way

  Olivia Burke slipped her feet into the leather slippers laying in front of the sofa and stood up. She was tired. And as hard as she tried to stay awake until her husband got home, she knew she wouldn’t be able to. The church Walter was ministering at tonight was only an hour away, and she thought he would have been home by now. It was already after one o’clock in the morning and knowing her husband he had probably got caught up talking to some of the other ministers after the revival service and probably hadn’t even left yet. As the Bishop and founder of one of the largest mega churches in the state, Walter Burke was always in high demand. From local pastors just starting out who needed encouragement, to business owners, looking for an opportunity to get into his ear about the next “big thing”. People sought not only spiritual advice, but investments in their ideas. Over the years, her husband had grown into a patient man, willing to listen when he could. He had evolved over the nearly thirty years that they had been married and she loved him even more now than she had when they first met.

  As she walked out of the den of their massive million dollar palace that they now called home, her eyes fell on a framed photo of the two of them. It was a bit faded, taken on one of their first dates and they almost looked unfamiliar to her now. They had come a long way from the teenage couple who both grew up on the streets of Detroit in the late sixties.
Walter was her first love and she couldn’t imagine her life without him. Then again, she never would have the life they were living now. It was surreal to her. Her eyes fell on another picture of their twin boys Malachi and Micah; the two year old boys dressed in identical blue and white sailor suits were now twenty eight, tall and handsome. But their similarity in looks was the only thing her sons had in common. They were as different as night and day, always had been. Micah now served as the youth Pastor of Greater Works Assembly of Faith, founded by his father. Malachi, on the other hand, was serving in another capacity; as an inmate in a low security prison for the past eighteen months. Unlike her husband, who refused to go and visit their son, Olivia made it a point to go and visit at least once a month. Olivia remembered the last visit she made to see her son.

  “You’re looking even more handsome than the last time I saw you, baby.” She told Malachi when she hugged him. She wasn’t lying. To say her son was fine would be an understatement. His six foot frame held his two hundred pound athletic build well. Both of her boys had their father’s strong chin, seductive brown eyes and thick eyebrows. From her, they inherited her smooth, caramel complexion, dimpled smiles, and unbelievably straight teeth without the help of braces.

  “You say that every time you see me, Momma.” Malachi hugged her. They walked around the yard of the facility. Olivia always made it a point to keep their conversation light and casual, mostly about her duties in the church and the members Malachi was familiar with. She rarely brought up his father or brother because she knew there was a chance it would cut her visit short. However, knowing her son’s release date was approaching, she decided to test the waters.