Cali basked in Red’s love for the rest of the week. They’d eaten breakfast together every morning and spent every evening together watching movies, eating out, or just playing video games. Cali was partial to the fighting game where she could turn into a big fat giant and stomp on Red’s character. Uncle Cal joined them most evenings, but she made it a point to spend alone time with him. She’d taken him to the mall to spend his Macy’s gift card on a new suit and for pedicures, which he fought her on until he realized how good it made him feel. It was heaven spending time with her two favorite men and she didn’t want it to end. When Morgan called with an invitation to a private dinner at the bar on New Year’s Eve, she was tempted to turn it down for some alone time with Red, but he’d insisted, so they all planned to meet up around eight o’clock.
Rummaging through her suitcase, she groaned at her lack of forethought when it came to packing. She hated living out of a suitcase, but felt better being closer to the hospital. She pulled out a pair of tights and held them in the air. Black or Blue?
“Black?” Red said from his position on the chair in the corner of the room.
She hadn’t realized she’d spoken out loud. “Thanks. This is for the birds. I’m thinking I should finally try and find a place closer to…” Him?
“I’ve been telling you for years to move closer. It’s definitely not a bad idea. Why don’t you and Uncle Cal stay with me? I have an extra bedroom for him and you…” His gaze traveled over her body like a caress. “You can sleep with me.”
“Are you serious? I don’t want to put you out.”
“I don’t mind.”
She sat down on his lap and wrapped her arms around his neck. “It would definitely be better than this hotel. It would only be for a little while.”
“Stay as long as you need.”
“Do you think this is moving too fast?”
“Really, Cali?” The sarcasm in his tone wasn’t lost on her. “I’ve known you for a decade. I’ve seen all your goods, multiple times. I’m in love with you. How is offering you and your uncle a place to stay in town moving too fast?”
She dropped her head on his shoulder. “Okay. You do have a point. I just don’t want to jinx this.”
“I don’t believe in that. You know that.”
Red had always been practical; he didn’t subscribe to notions of luck and certainly didn’t think anything could be “jinxed.” He worked hard, plain and simple. Hard work had gotten him everything he had, from his scholarship to college to his entrance to law school to junior partner at his law firm. He’d been the youngest and only African American male to make partner at that particular firm. His ambition was one of the things that attracted her to him, made her want to be a part of his magic. It had reminded her of… her.
“If we’re going to make it,” he continued, brushing his lips over the delicate skin at the base of her neck, “it’s going to be because we worked at it. Relationships are work.”
She caressed his face and kissed him gently. “God, I love you, Red.”
“You can keep saying that all night.”
“Um, not with my Uncle Cal in the other room.”
“Maybe I need to pay for Uncle Cal to spend another night in the hotel. It is New Year’s Eve,” he said before he barked out a laugh.
“Ooh, I’m going to tell on you.” She hopped off his lap. “First, I should probably pack everything up.”
“I’ll go talk to Uncle Cal for you.” He left the room, leaving her alone with her thoughts. Sighing, she picked at her fingernails. As much as she wanted to move forward with Red, embrace the idea of a full and fulfilling relationship with him, she couldn’t help the feeling of dread that seemed to lodge itself in her stomach.
Everything seemed to be perfect between them since they’d confessed their love for each other, but… could it be too good to be true? Or was she worrying about it too much? There was no doubt that there were other things going on with both of them, outside of them. Uncle Cal was extremely ill and dying right before her eyes, Syd was high risk, and the hot mess that was Nia threatened to ruin everything wonderful that had happened between them. Each one of those three things had the potential to destroy her newfound happiness.
Although she tried to focus on the present, she couldn’t deny how worried she was about her uncle. They’d had a few conversations about his plans and he’d insisted on going over his last wishes with her. That had been the hardest day of her life—taking notes on what type of funeral he wanted, what he wanted to wear, and how he wanted his life eulogized. Others would probably say it was better to know ahead of time than to be called in the middle of the night and blindsided by his death, but Cali knew better. Every day, watching the only father she’d ever known slip away, was torture. In the mornings, after she’d had breakfast with Red, she’d head to the hotel and let herself into his hotel room with trepidation, praying that she didn’t find him dead. She’d wake him up, ask what he wanted for breakfast, and leave his room within a few minutes. Then, she’d go back into her room, pull the latch, crawl into bed, and cry. Every single morning it had been the same routine. Each day, she grieved for a man that was still there; and it chipped away at her sanity a little bit at a time.
Red had been her saving grace. He’d kept her busy, checking in on her throughout the day, bringing up stupid reality shows that she knew he didn’t watch and offering to beat up every client that pissed her off. If she hadn’t already known that she loved him, that alone would have sealed the deal for her. Their not-so-clandestine meeting in Morgan’s bathroom was long overdue.
“So, Uncle Cal is fine with staying with me,” Red said, entering her room. “He wants to stop at the grocery store so that he can cook.”
She smiled at him. “Well, okay then. I guess we better check out.”
He massaged her shoulders, kissing her temple. “I was thinking… maybe we could keep this room in case we need to slip away.”
“Boy,” she said, pulling away from him. “You’re trippin’.” She threw a stray bra at him. “Help me finish packing. The sooner you help me, the sooner we can discuss slipping away.”
Red picked up a mound of clothes and stuffed them into a duffle bag.
“Wait—” she said.
He swept her perfume and makeup into a grocery bag.
“Red, that doesn’t go in there. Wait—”
He picked up a pair of flip-flops and stuffed them into a garment bag.
“Hold on!” she shouted, pinching him playfully. She yanked the garment bag from him and pulled the shoes out, setting them on the bed. “You’re messing up my system. My shoes do not go in this bag.”
“Oh, well, I was only hurrying up like you said.” He shot her a dimpled grin. “We have to discuss how we’re going to slip away. I have some ideas.”
“You are a mess.” She hit him with a nightgown. “Let’s start over, shall we? Shoes are too important to just stuff in anything.”
They finished packing, between stolen kisses and one extremely satisfying liaison against the full mirror. And for a minute, Cali let herself forget about everything that could go wrong and focused on what was right.
* * *
“Why is it so damn hard to find one woman? It’s not like she has any money, any connections. She’s crazy as hell.” Red paused, phone to his ear, and jotted a few notes down on his legal pad. “I don’t care what you have to do, just find my daughter. Call me back when you have something.” Red slammed the phone down on his desk, muttering a curse.
“Everything okay?” Uncle Cal asked, entering Red’s home office. “Tense conversation.”
Leaning back in his chair, Red crossed his arms. “I’m frustrated, Uncle Cal. Nothing for you to be concerned about.”
“Cali told me about your daughter. Any leads?”
“My ex called me from jail,” Red explained.
Cali had successfully managed to distract him in the tub that day, but once they were out of the bathroom, his mind wandered back to his conversation with Nia.
“I’m trying to figure out where she is so I can find my daughter,” Red continued. “There’s no telling where she is or who has her. She’s a six-year-old little girl, probably wondering where the hell her mother is, terrified.”
Uncle Cal sat down on the couch and crossed his legs. “I’m praying this can be resolved quickly.”
“If I had just kept my cool talking to her on the phone… I lost it. I never lose it.”
“This is your daughter, Jared,” Uncle Cal said. “Your emotions were running high. It happens.”
“It was the wrong time to lose it.” Red tried not to focus on how he’d ruined any chance of getting Nia to cooperate. He prided himself on maintaining control in all situations.
Lately, it seemed that he was dangling on the string of his life, waiting for the next shoe to drop. It seemed to finally be working out with Cali, but they had a long road ahead. Corrine was his daughter, his flesh. He’d already made it up in his mind to move Heaven and Earth to make sure Nia lost custody. After this stunt, he was sure he’d have no problem with the court. Finding her was the problem.
“Did you tell Cali your truth yet?” Red asked, needing a change in subject.
“I haven’t,” Uncle Cal admitted.
“Why?” The last thing Red needed was an angry Cali on his hands. Learning that her mother was alive and being taken care of by her uncle for years was bound to set her off. He was sure that he would bear the brunt of her anger.
“It’s not the right time.”
“When is the right time?” Red gritted his teeth. “Listen, you’re putting me in a bad position. We’ve just turned a corner in our relationship. With Corrine and this… I can’t help but think we’re doomed before we start.”
“Cali will be angry with me. Not you.” Uncle Cal muttered. “She loves you. From what I can see, you two have finally pulled your heads out of your asses and are ready to make a real go of things. If you set up the trust, once I die, she never has to know.”
“But I know!” Red paced the room in an attempt to burn off the anger building up. “I love Cali. I’m in love with her. I wouldn’t understand if she knew where Corrine was and didn’t tell me, regardless of whether it was her job or not. I don’t expect her to understand that I knew her mother was alive and didn’t tell her.”
“Put yourself in my shoes. Cali is the only daughter I have, my only child. I’m dying.” Uncle Cal pulled out his inhaler and sprayed the medicine into his mouth, taking a few breaths. “I don’t want to spend the last few weeks, or even days, of my life, wondering if she hates me. Forgive me, but I’m a coward like that.”
Shaking his head, Red peered up at the ceiling. How could he deny this dying man the right to live out his life in peace?
“But you’re right, Jared,” Uncle Cal continued. “I’m sorry I put you right in the middle of this. You’re right. I should tell her. I will. After New Year’s.”
“What’s going on in here?” Cali asked, stepping into the room, a deep frown on her face. “Is everything all right?”
“Yes,” Red lied. “I was giving Uncle Cal an earful about my issues.”
“Are you sure?” She leaned against the desk. “I heard shouting.”
“We’re good,” Uncle Cal said with a smile. “I’m going to get ready for dinner.”
Once Uncle Cal was gone, she turned to Red. “Baby, is everything okay? Really? You can tell me if it’s not.”
Wrapping his arms around Cali, he took in her scent—flowers and fruit—sensual. “It’s fine. I’m a little irritated with myself.”
She pulled back, concern on her face. “Why?”
“I lost it—on the phone with Nia.” He lowered his gaze, hated that he had to lie to her. “That’s all.”
“It’s going to be okay,” she told him. “You’re going to find her. You will.”
Hopefully it would all be over soon, he thought. “Thanks, baby,” he said, kissing her. “For now, you better go get dressed for dinner.”
“Okay,” she groaned. “Syd needs to be at home in the bed, not having dinners.”
As much as he loved his sister, he couldn’t agree more with Cali. “According to Morgan, he got doctor approval for this dinner so it must be important.”
“Hmm, must be.” She walked to the door. Glancing at him over her shoulder, she smirked. “Want to help me get dressed?”
“You know I do,” he said. “Just give me a second.”
As he watched her leave, he thought back to his conversation with Uncle Cal. He knew the older man was simply afraid of losing Cali. He definitely understood that because he felt the same way.
* * *
Cali glanced at her reflection in the mirror. She’d purchased a new winter white pantsuit earlier in the day and had decided to wear it to dinner. It was a simple yet sexy choice and she knew that Red would love it.
The sound of the shower running drew her attention away from the mirror toward the partially open door. Red was moving around in the master bathroom, his boxers hanging low on his waist, giving her an appreciative view of his lean waist and six-pack stomach.
As usual, they’d been sidetracked by a burning need to be with each other and were now rushing to get ready for dinner. As steam filled the bathroom, he closed the door and she turned back to the mirror.
Even though Red had tried to give her his undivided attention, she sensed something was bothering him. Every time she asked, he’d say he was thinking about his daughter, but she couldn’t help but think it was more than that. The talk she’d interrupted between Red and Uncle Cal had seemed intense, and Red seemed almost angry with her uncle.
“Babe!” Red shouted from the bathroom.
“Yes?” she called.
“Can you bring me another towel?” he asked.
“Yes!” She hurried to the linen closet and pulled out a fresh towel. Pushing the door open, she walked into the bathroom. “Here?” She hung the towel up on the hook next to the shower door.
“Thanks,” he said.
“What do you think this dinner is about?” she asked, rubbing the skin under her eyes and checking herself out in the mirror again.
“I think Morgan is about to propose.”
“Aw, that’s so sweet.” After the wedding ring story Syd told her, she hoped the ring fit. Giggling to herself, she said, “She’ll be happy. She told me she’s ready to get married.”
“Really?” He seemed genuinely surprised by that revelation.
“Yeah. She was drugged up, though.” She relayed the conversation she’d had with Syd in the hospital. “She seemed sincere. I can’t wait to plan that wedding. I’ve already started inspiration boards for that event.”
“You’re silly.” He chuckled. “Don’t you think that’s jumping the gun a little? You know Syd has definite ideas about her wedding.”
“Syd trusts me. And I know her. This baby has changed my friend. I’ll bet you one hundred dollars that she’ll just tell me to plan it.”
“I’ll take that bet. I know my sister, too,” he said. “She’s as anal as ever and she’ll want to plan everything.”
“Watch. She’s already let me loose on the baby shower, with little push back on my plans. So, I can see her letting me run the wedding.”
“We’ll see.” He sighed and turned off the shower. Stepping out, he tugged the towel off the hook and dried off.
She leaned against the door and watched him dry off. “What were you really talking to my Uncle Cal about earlier?”
He stopped and dropped the wet towel on the floor. “I told you… we were talking about Corrine.”
“Would you tell me if you were talking about something else?”
Shrugging, he slipped on a new pair of boxers, avoiding eye contact. “What else would we be talking about?”
“Him? His illness,” she answered. “That fact that he’s… dying.”
“Cali, your uncle has said some things to me that have to do with his business. Things I can’t really discuss. You understand that, don’t you?”
She thought about it for a minute. “Honestly?”
“Is there any other way?” he asked.
“I do understand the attorney-client privilege,” she said. “But he’s my uncle. I’d want to know if he’s told you some timeline or something like that.”
He put on his deodorant. “What are you talking about? A timeline on…?”
“His life.” One thing she knew about her uncle was he was very private. He’d probably told the doctors not to mention certain things, especially if he thought it would hurt her.
“And you think he told me?” he asked.
She shrugged. “I don’t know. But if he did, I’d want to know.”
“What if I couldn’t tell you?” He eyed her in the mirror. “Would you hate me for it?”
The question threw her for a loop. Would I hate him for it? “I don’t know. Logically, I’d know that I shouldn’t, but I’m not sure how I’d feel if you knew something about my uncle that could change my life and didn’t tell me.”
“That’s honest.” He put lotion on his body before he went into the bedroom. She followed him, waiting on him to say something else.
“Is that it?” she asked finally.
He raised his hands at his sides. “I don’t know; is it? Cali, I’m your uncle’s lawyer. Whatever he’s said to me is protected. I can’t confirm or deny anything.”
“So he did say something?” she pressed. “And you can’t tell me?”
“I will tell you this… you know that heart failure at this stage is serious. The doctors have told him that he’s not going to get better. Those are things you know. Please don’t start expecting death because it will prevent you from enjoying whatever life he has.” He squeezed her hand and pulled her into his embrace. “He’s still here, babe,” he murmured in her ear. “Love on him while he’s here. He loves you. And he’s here to spend time with you.”
Cali eyes filled with tears. Nodding, she pulled back. “You’re right. I can’t control this. I just have to live through it.”
He smoothed a hand over her hair and kissed her forehead, then her nose, and finally her mouth. “I’ll be here right with you.”
“I know.” She dabbed her eyes with a tissue. “But you better hurry up and get dressed. I’m going to go check on Uncle Cal.”
Cali picked up her clutch from the bed and walked toward Uncle Cal’s room. As she neared his door, she called out, “Uncle Cal? You ready?”
There was no answer. Knocking on the door, she called out again. “Uncle Cal? Are you ready?”
When he didn’t answer again, she tried the knob. It was open, so she slowly pushed the door open. “I hope you’re decent in here.”
She scanned the room for Uncle Cal. “Uncle Cal?”
Figuring he was in the bathroom, she walked down the hallway toward the second bathroom. She placed her ear against the door when she heard what sounded like running water. “Uncle Cal? What are you doing?”
Closing her eyes, she said a prayer before she opened the door. “Unc—Oh my God.” Uncle Cal was lying on the floor, unconscious, inhaler in one hand. She dropped down on the floor next to him. Placing two fingers under his ear, she exhaled when she felt a faint pulse. “Uncle Cal!” She examined him, noting a knot on the top of his head. “Oh my God! Red!” Tilting his chin up, she blew into his mouth, and began performing CPR on him. “Uncle Cal!” she shouted, frantically counting the number of compressions as she pushed against his chest. She smacked his cheek lightly, trying to jar him awake. “Oh my God. Please! Don’t let him die. Red! Red!!! Oh my God! Uncle Cal,” she sobbed. “Don’t die on me. Please don’t die on me.”