All I Want for Christmas (18 page)

He shook his head slowly. The last
twenty-four hours had been lonely without Nedra. His mother had
tried to tell Carlos he’d get over her. But if the past day had
been any indication, he didn’t intend to test his mother’s theory.
He missed Nedra’s smile and the way he felt when she was beside
him. Why stretch out that kind of misery? Carlos knew what he
wanted.

The doorbell rang and his heart thumped.
Taking a deep breath, he opened the front door. The beat in his
chest picked up rapidly when he looked at the vision standing
before him. Nedra looked stunning in a deep-red, cowl-neck sweater,
blue jeans and tan boots.

“Hi.” She nodded, but didn’t move.

Carlos couldn’t stop himself, and he didn’t
want to. He pulled Nedra into his arms and kissed her hard. He
kissed her eyes, her forehead and then tasted her lips again. Nedra
held still for a few moments and then melted into him.

“Ooo-wee, that’s some strong mistletoe you
got, neighbor.”

They looked up to see the elderly man from
the condo across the driveway grinning at them.

Nedra blushed and straightened her sweater.
“I think we’ve made somebody’s day.”

“Better come inside so we can continue this
discussion.” Carlos grinned and gave his neighbor a thumbs-up
gesture.

Once he closed the door, Nedra spun him
around and gave him her version of a passionate greeting. Her mouth
closed over his for a long, delicious time. Carlos no longer had a
reason to hold back. He rubbed her body until he became dazed with
desire. Then they stepped away from each other.

“Whew.” Nedra fanned herself.

“Yeah.”

Carlos reached for her again, but Nedra shook
her head. “Let’s talk before we get caught up again.” She walked to
the bar separating the kitchen from the living room, and sat
down.

He followed and took the bar stool next to
her. He took both of her hands in his. “I missed you so much.
Believe it or not, I was about to call you.”

“It doesn’t matter who called first. I
wanted… no, I needed to see you. I’m not sure we can work out the
whole political rivalry with your mother and my boss, but…” Nedra
stopped when Carlos put a finger on her lips.

“I’m sure enough for both of us, Nedra. Slap
me,” he blurted out.

She blinked rapidly. “Say what?”

He started laughing and couldn’t stop for a
few seconds. Nedra caught the contagion and giggled along with him.
They became helpless for a time, leaning against one another. Every
time Carlos tried to speak, they dissolved into giggles once more.
Finally, they got all of the tension and mirth released.

Nedra rested her forehead against his. “We’re
both out of our minds,” she said. “Now tell me again that I should
slap you.”

“That was part of the speech I practiced. I
was going to beg your forgiveness for acting a fool and invite you
to slap me.” Carlos kissed the end of her nose.

Nedra grinned at him. “I’ll take a rain check
on the slap. You might mess up again and then I’ll need it.”

“No way.” Carlos grew serious. “I’m not going
to do anything to make you want to tell me goodbye. I’m sorry for
even thinking you talked to reporters about me.”

“I know, honey, but you weren’t being
unreasonable. I would have been suspicious of that coincidence.”
Nedra took in a deep breath and let it out. “Dwayne Grover told me
you were doing community service. I blew off his slimy attempts to
hook up and he got ticked off.”

“Slimy describes him exactly.” Carlos wore a
grimace of contempt.

“Ah, but what goes around comes around.
Dwayne didn’t do his homework.” Nedra crossed her arms

“Huh?” Carlos sat back and looked at her.

“Dwayne was so excited to get back at me that
he didn’t get the whole story, including the part about Mayor Bates
getting involved.” Nedra nodded slowly as Carlos gasped.

“Damn, that was a dumb move. He needs to
sharpen his investigative skills.” Carlos shook his head and then
started laughing again. “Did you?”

“I sure did. Now Mayor
Bates
knows his confidential assistant has
a big mouth and that he’s an idiot who spilled the goods on his own
boss. Boom!” Nedra winked at Carlos.

“I would love to see a video of the mayor
meeting with dumb Dwayne.” Carlos shook his head and chuckled. Then
he grew serious again. “Speaking of being sold out by someone you
trust, Brian, my good friend and business partner, almost destroyed
my business.”

“How?”

“He let those gangstas use my shops to move
guns and drugs. They paid him off big time. Brian made them think I
knew all about his side hustle. They thought I got off because of
my mother.” Carlos pounded a fist on the marble counter of the bar.
“He didn’t even try to deny it. He said, ‘Dude, I knew your mama
wouldn’t let us go to lock up; we’re set’.”

“Is he nuts? Now y’all are on the
law-enforcement radar. He can’t slide back into doing street biz
with those guys.” Nedra put a hand on her chest.

“I can’t lie. I knew Brian had a shady side,
but I didn’t think he’d stab me in the back. Not when it came to
the business and him knowing what those shops meant to me.” Carlos
shook his head and sat down.

“He’s your partner, so now what?”

“As of this morning, he’s out. He signed an
agreement relinquishing his limited partnership. I don’t even want
to know where he got the twenty thousand he invested back in
2004.”

Nedra rubbed Carlos’ shoulder. “I’m so sorry
you had to find out this way and buy him out.”

“Buy him out? Hell, no. I didn’t tell the
police or, worse, my mother. That’s the only payment he’ll get from
me. Brian wasn’t sorry either, except for being caught and losing
his other income stream.” Carlos still felt the sting of
betrayal.

“At least you know the truth and he won’t
take advantage of you again.” Nedra hugged him. “Christmas is going
to be a little grim, huh?”

Carlos pulled free and grabbed both of her
hands. “No way, baby. Okay, our sleigh ride has been bumpy for the
last few days…”

“To say the least,” Nedra replied with a
snort.

“But we still have reasons to be joyful.
Carly is curious about the dinner tomorrow, so after she drags me
out of bed at the crack of dawn, we’ll show up for duty. Then I’ll
meet your family and you can come and meet mine.”

“I don’t know, Carlos. Maybe we should wait
until after the holidays. I mean your parents.” Nedra winced.

“They’ll be polite when we visit and that’s
all I expect. I’ll deal with them long term.” Carlos hooked an arm
around Nedra’s neck and kissed her forehead. “People say I’m just
like her. So when I decide what I want, folks had best get out of
my way.”

She grinned at him. “I’m scared of you, Mr.
Jacobs.”

“You won’t have to deal with my mother. I’ll
get that straight from word go. Now let’s get to wrapping
presents.” Carlos laughed when Nedra gave him a playful punch on
the arm. “Ouch, woman.”

“You’re unbelievable. You mean to tell me you
haven’t done that yet?”

Carlos held up both hands. “I had a few
things on my mind, you know.”

“
Put on some Christmas
music, and get out the gift wrap and ribbons. I’ll make some hot
chocolate with marshmallows,” said Nedra, heading into the
kitchen.

Carlos executed a sharp salute. “Yes, ma’am.
You say ‘Jump’ and I don’t ask why. I just ask how high. Since it’s
turned so cold, I’ll light the fireplace. I have extra rolls of
gift wrap in my car.”

“Well, go get them then.” Nedra waved at him
as though shooing him out the door.

“Will do. Don’t bother searching for your
gift. It’s too well hidden.” Carlos grabbed his jacket from the
hall closet.

Nedra glanced around the living. “Hmm, it
never even crossed my mind.”

They spent the next few hours enjoying the
warmth that didn’t come from the fireplace. Carlos savored being
with Nedra and anticipating picking up Carly to spend the rest of
their Christmas Eve together.

****

Nedra sighed with contentment as she looked
around the dining room full of people. She had helped to serve the
food, along with three-dozen other volunteers. The Christmas dinner
coordinator had done an excellent job.

Carlos and Carly waved at her from across the
wide room. They pushed a cart together, loaded with sweet potato
and pecan pie slices on dessert plates. Nedra waved back and headed
to the kitchen. Alice Faye was in full mode, giving orders with the
crisp efficiency of a military leader, and she grinned when she
noticed Nedra.

Alice Faye wiped her hands dry on a paper
towel and tossed it into the trash. “Well, I’m glad to see you and
that fine-looking man are still together,” she said, nudging Nedra
in the side with an elbow. “His little girl is as sweet as honey
and such pretty manners, too.”

“Carly is a doll.” Nedra smiled as Alice
Faye’s grin grew wider. “Yes, and so is her daddy. Satisfied?”

“Love and happiness; that’s what Christmas is
all about,” said Alice Faye, looking past her. She dropped her
voice and leaned closer. “The mayor just walked in. This should be
interesting.”

Nedra turned to follow her gaze. The mayor
gave Constable Davidson a stiff handshake, stood alongside him for
a photo and then moved on. Dwayne trailed after him.

“I didn’t think he’d make a scene,” said
Nedra. “They’ll slug it out during the election. The gloves will
come off.”

“
I’ll hide the knives, just
in case.” Alice Faye giggled at her own joke. She clearly enjoyed
the political drama and intrigue. “I hear Dwayne just barely hung
on to his job, but only because his father and the mayor go way
back. Dwayne is just a glorified gofer, from what I hear. But I’m
not trying to spread gossip.” Alice Faye watched her subjects
mingle with other local officials.

“Of course not.” Nedra chuckled.

Dwayne glanced at her, and turned sharply to
head in the opposite direction.

“Well one good thing came out of the whole
mess. Dwayne is going to stay away from me,” she added.

Alice Faye craned her neck to follow the
mayor as he continued his circuit of the room. “What?”

“Nothing. Good job as usual, Alice Faye.
Merry Christmas.” Nedra gave her a hug.

“Same to you, sweetheart,” she replied,
pecking Nedra on the cheek and scurrying off.

Carlos approached with a couple and two
children. Carly skipped along beside them. “Hey, I want you to meet
some of my family. This is my sister, Brianne, her husband and
their kids Lincoln and Cheyenne. Family, this is Nedra
Wallace.”

“Pleased to meet you and Merry Christmas,”
replied Nedra. She shook hands with the adults and smiled at the
children.

“We decided to stop by on the way to my
mother-in-law’s house. Carlos told us so much about the dinner.
Maybe next year we’ll volunteer,” Brianne said.

Carlos beamed at them. “That’s a great idea.
We can make it a family affair.”

“
Miss Nedra, I’m going to be
on television. A reporter interviewed me.” Carly bounced up and
down in anticipation.

“That’s wonderful,” said Nedra, giving the
girl a congratulatory hug.

“We better get going. See y’all tonight,”
Brianne added.

Nedra and Carlos waved goodbye to them. Then
she turned to him. “So the plan is that we help clean up here and
head to my mama’s house. They’re so excited to meet you two.”

“I saved room for more dressing. I love
dressing.” Before they could answer, Carly darted over off. “Miss
Alice Faye, I can help. Let me.”

The cook looked to Carlos for direction. When
he nodded, she put a hand on Carly’s shoulder. “Okay, sweetie.
They’re clearing the tables, so you take the trash off the trays
and throw them in these big garbage cans.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Carly wore a look of
concentration as she worked.

“She’s serious about her work.” Nedra
laughed.

“And she’ll be just as serious about having
fun later on,” Carlos replied. Then he moved closer to Nedra and
whispered, “So will I.”

Nedra gazed into his dark brown eyes and felt
so much joy that she couldn’t put it into words at that moment. She
brushed her lips across his mouth. “Merry Christmas, baby.”

~~
About the Author
~~

Mix knowledge of voodoo,
Louisiana politics and forensic social work with the dedication to
write fiction while working each day as a clinical social worker,
and you get a snapshot of author Lynn Emery. Lynn has been a
contributing consultant to the magazine
Today’s Black Woman
for three
articles about contemporary relationships between black men and
women. For more information visit:

Visit me on the web at:

www.lynnemery.com

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www.twitter.com/LEmeryWriter

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