Authors: Lutishia Lovely
Tags: #Literature & Fiction, #Literary, #United States, #African American, #Christian, #Women's Fiction, #Contemporary Fiction, #Literary Fiction
Heaven Right Here (10 page)
21
No Ill Will
Cy finished knotting his tie as Hope came up behind him. “What did I do to deserve you?” she asked, running her hands down the length of his fine, wool-covered thighs.
“I don’t know,” Cy answered as he turned around and cupped her butt. “But if you don’t stop all that rubbing, you’re going to get something else you deserve.” He kissed the top of her head and left his dressing room.
“Do you want breakfast?” Hope asked, following him as he walked through their master suite and into his office.
“No, baby, I’m running late already. My meeting is at eleven, and you know how unpredictable the 405 is.”
Hope eyed the clock on the wall. “It’s not even nine o’clock.”
Cy placed a final folder in his briefcase and snapped it shut. “My meeting is in San Diego.”
Hope’s heart skipped a beat. “With who?”
Cy hesitated just a fraction of a second before he answered. “Jack Kirtz.”
Hope tried and failed to keep her voice light and nonchalant. “Why are you meeting with him?”
“Remember the home we rented last year, the oceanfront property in La Jolla? Jack owns land in that area, the same area I’ve been trying without success to get a piece of. Word has it he’s ready to sell.” He left out the details of how he’d gotten this information.
Hope wondered if Millicent had had anything to do with this knowledge. She tried to remember that it no longer mattered, that there was no ill will or hard feelings, no jealousy or anger where Millicent was concerned. So why was her heart beating faster? And why, out of all the land in California and all the Realtors in the world, did the property Cy want belong to Millicent’s husband?
Cy saw her discomfort. He stopped, put down his briefcase, and walked over to her. “If you have a problem with me doing business with him, just say the word, and it’s over,” he said softly.
“No, it’s okay,” Hope lied. But what else could she say? That he couldn’t potentially make millions of dollars with Jack because of her insecurities? She took a deep breath, reached up, and kissed her husband. “It’s okay, Cy,” she said, with more conviction this time. “I hope the meeting goes well.”
A few minutes later, Hope stood on the balcony with a cup of tea, watching choppy waves that resembled her emotions. She recalled the conversation when Stacy had told her to “bless that woman and her baby and then focus on Cy, and creating a family of your own.”
Hope realized that’s exactly what she needed to do. “Bless Millicent, God,” she said to the ocean. “Bless her child and her husband and bless the business deal between Cy and Jack.”
The phone rang, and Hope answered it. “It’s about time you called,” she said when she saw it was her cousin. “You’ve got some Monday morning ’splainin’ to do.”
“Look, I haven’t let him hit it yet,” Frieda began.
“Well, thank God for small miracles,” Hope responded.
“But I let him, you know, dibble-dabble a bit, take a dive at the Y.”
“That sounds like some hittin’ going on to me,” Hope said in response to Frieda’s reference to oral sex. “How’d you meet him anyway?”
“That party I went to with Joe on Wednesday, after Giorgio left.”
“Frieda, what are you going to do with all these men?”
“What do you mean ‘all these’? There are only two!”
“Uh, are we forgetting Jonathan?”
“I’m sure trying to. We broke up. He got mad because I was with Giorgio.”
“And you’re surprised?”
“It’s not like we were exclusive. Men get on my nerves. It’s all right for them to play the field, but when a woman does it, they can’t stand it. He wasn’t that good anyway. Had a little dick.”
“Girl, shut up.”
“It’s the truth,” Frieda said, laughing. “You know I can’t do nothing with a number-two pencil! I mean, really, when you have to ask if it’s in yet . . .”
Hope’s phone beeped. She looked at the caller ID. “Hold on, it’s Stacy.” She clicked over. “What’s up, Stacy? I’ve got Frieda on the other line.”
“Darius is what’s up,” Stacy said. “I think he wants to get back with me.”
“Hang up,” Hope said, not trying to hide the chagrin in her voice. “So I can do a three-way.”
“Look, hussies, unlike y’all ladies of leisure, I’m at work,” Frieda said when they were all on the phone. “So make it snappy.”
“Say it, Stacy,” Hope prompted. “What you just told me on the phone.”
Stacy did, recounting the evening a week ago when Darius had dropped off his son and the vibes had been floating in the air before he’d gotten a phone call. She then told of a conversation with sexual undertones they’d had the previous night.
“I think he was getting ready to ask me to, you know—for us to get together.”
“And?”
“And I want to be with him. I haven’t had any in forever, and he was there last week looking fine and smelling good. It’s not like he hasn’t had it already. Hell, we have a child together!”
“But you know you can’t be with him without feelings getting involved,” Hope said.
“That’s real talk,” Frieda concurred. “And after all the fighting y’all have been doing over little Darius, I can’t even believe I’m hearing this come out of your mouth!”
“I know,” Stacy said. “But it felt different this time.”
“Uh, yes, Mr. Langley, I’ll make sure he gets the message. You’re welcome. It’s no problem. Thanks for calling.”
Hope and Stacy heard a click in their ear and knew the deal; Frieda’s boss had entered her vicinity, and she had hung up.
“Stacy, why do you keep chasing that married man? Darius is not going to leave Bo!”
“How do you know what Darius is going to do? You weren’t at my house the other night.”
“Look, I’m just trying to keep you from getting hurt again. But if you like it, I love it. Far be it from me to try and help a friend.”
Both women were silent a moment. Stacy knew Hope was right, and Hope knew Stacy had a right to her feelings.
Hope sighed heavily. “Life is so crazy.”
“I know, but I’ll survive.”
“Yeah? Well, I don’t know if I will.”
“Why?”
“Cy is on his way to meet a potential business partner—Millicent’s husband.” She told Stacy about Cy’s interest in investing in La Jolla real estate—land that just happened to be owned by one Jack Kirtz.
“Okay, that
is
crazy. I can’t believe he’d do that, Hope, knowing how you feel about her.” Stacy paused. “He does know how you feel, right?”
is
crazy. I can’t believe he’d do that, Hope, knowing how you feel about her.” Stacy paused. “He does know how you feel, right?”
“Yes and no. I told him about my jealousy issues.”
“And?”
“And he said he wouldn’t do business with him if it bothered me.”
“Then I don’t get it? Why is he still meeting with him?”
“I told him to, Stacy. How can I let this jealousy nonsense get in the way of his business? I’m being ridiculous, and I’m determined to get over it.”
“I’m sorry, Hope. Life is messed up sometimes, isn’t it?”
“You know what they say: it’s a small world.”
“What are you going to do?”
“Oh, nothing too serious. Just invite them over for a nice, cozy dinner and then put some strychnine in her food.”
“You know I’ve got thugs in my family—they could get you some!”
Hope laughed. “Thank you, sistah. It’s good to know you’ve got my back.”
22
Forgiving Ain’t Forgetting
“Thanks, Millicent. Lunch was delicious.” Cy wiped his mouth and placed his napkin on the table.
“Anytime, Cy,” Millicent answered, shifting Jackson from one hip to the other.
Jack stood, walked over, and placed a kiss on his child’s forehead and his wife’s lips. “I agree, honey. You are amazing, as always.”
Millicent’s eyes twinkled as she absorbed Jack’s praise. She leaned in for another kiss, and Jack obliged. Cy watched, both amused and amazed at the transformed woman who stood before him.
“I’m headed over to the church after this,” Jack informed Millicent. “Will you be able to live without me for a few hours?”
“I’ll try. Oh, and remember: Sarah’s plane gets in at two. She’s getting a ride with a friend from LA and should be here by seven.”
Jack nodded. “I’ll be back by then.”
Moments later, Jack and Cy were buckled into Jack’s black Cadillac, headed toward the other end of his property on La Jolla’s shoreline. During lunch, the conversation had centered around business. Jack now steered it toward more personal matters.
“You know, Cy Taylor, in a somewhat indirect manner, I have you to thank for my present happiness.”
Cy shifted in his seat and looked at Jack. “How’s that?”
“If it weren’t for what happened between you and Millicent, I may have never met her.”
Cy turned back to face the road. “Is that so.” He didn’t know what or how much of their history Millicent had shared, and decided to tread lightly.
Jack laughed. “Oh, you can relax, man. She told me everything. After the infamous run-in between the four of us in Mexico, she and I had a good ol’ heart-to-heart. She didn’t want anything to do with church, much less a pastor,” he continued. “But I’m pretty irresistible when I put my mind to it, and pretty determined when I see something I want. I was willing to wait a lifetime for that woman.”
“It seems fortunate for both of you that you didn’t have to. I’ve never seen Millicent happier.” Suddenly, a thought came to Cy. “I guess you wouldn’t be doing business with me if you had any reservations . . . about Millicent and my shared past and her old feelings about me.”
“If I thought there was any chance that Millicent was still in love with you, we wouldn’t be doing business. And if I didn’t want to do business with you, you wouldn’t be in my car.”
They rode along in silence for a while before Jack spoke again. “The fact is, Millicent has forgiven herself for what happened, but I think she still feels bad about it, wishes there was some way she could make up for the trouble she caused you and your wife. Plus, she respects you as a person and as a businessman, and after doing my homework, I know that her respect is well warranted. So from a strictly business point of view, I’d be crazy not to want to partner up with someone of your caliber, and character. On a personal note, I think it would make my wife happy to know she was able to help you and your wife. She knows how scarce the real estate is in this area, and I know how hard it is to find good men with whom to do business. I think our potential partnership is a win-win for everyone. What about Hope? Is she okay with us working together?”
“Yes, she’s given the partnership her blessing.” Even as he said this, Cy remembered her apprehensive look when he mentioned coming to San Diego. If what he had in mind was going to work, he had to be absolutely certain Hope’s resentment toward Millicent was over.
Cy and Jack’s conversation returned to real estate and ministry. A few miles later, after traveling along the pristine, unobstructed ocean view, Jack turned into a partially obscured driveway. He punched in a code, and the heavy, steel gate slowly swung open.
The pathway was lined with lush greenery, creating a canopy over the cobble-covered roadway. The atmosphere was at once tranquil and serene, giving one the feeling of being enfolded in beauty.
“These trees are almost a hundred years old,” Jack explained. “My great-grandfather planted them not long after he arrived in California from England and fell in love with the place.”
“This is your family’s property?”
Jack nodded.
“And you’re actually going to sell it?”
“Just a couple dozen acres,” Jack answered. “We’ll still have over a hundred more to pass down to our children. The Word admonishes us to be charitable with our bounty. You’re a good brother in the Lord, and it’s a pleasure to share some of my blessings with you.”
“Charitable, huh? So that means I’ll get this land at well below market value.”
Jack smiled. “The Word also says, ‘Wisdom is a shelter as money is a shelter, but the advantage of knowledge is this: that wisdom preserves the life of its possessor.’”
Cy laughed. “So you intend to share possessions, but keep possessing—is that it?”
Jack nodded. “You got it.”
Later that evening, Jack sighed contentedly as he wrapped his arms around Millicent. They had made love—slowly, sweetly—and were now resting in the afterglow.
After a few moments of companionable silence, Jack spoke. “That Cy Taylor is quite the business-man.”
“Umm,” Millicent replied. “I take it he liked the plot of land you showed him?”
“Surely you jest.”
“Of course I do. Anyone would be crazy not to purchase any part of this property they could get their hands on.” Millicent leaned over and kissed Jack’s cheek. “Thank you, honey.”
“For what?”
“For everything. I know you’re doing this largely for me. To help me right a wrong. I appreciate it . . . and you.”
“I’d sell my entire inheritance to make you happy. I just hope . . . well, never mind.”
“No, darling, what were you going to say?”
“I just hope his wife is really okay with the idea.”
“Of his buying property? Why wouldn’t she be?”
“Cy is buying this land for personal reasons. He thinks it’s a perfect place to build his and Hope’s dream home.”
“Oh, Lord,” Millicent said, immediately wondering if Hope was aware of Cy’s plans, and what she’d have to say about the four of them becoming neighbors.
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