Chapter 13
“Isn’t that your sister-in-law?” Nydia asked Jasmine as they walked across the parking lot to the restaurant for Sunday brunch. She pointed to the tall, slender brunette with two young girls.
Jasmine had called her Saturday morning asking if she would accompany her to look at china patterns. Nydia, remembering her promise to Cameron, asked for a rain check because she was still fatigued from traveling. She’d suggested they order room service and once it arrived they spent hours talking about their futures as innkeepers, Jasmine’s plans for decorating the rooms in her new home, and for the first time Nydia revealed the intimate details behind the relationship with her college professor and how she’d felt betrayed.
She knew she had shocked Jasmine with the admission and then confessed that she had been too ashamed to tell her; that she had been so naïve she refused to see what had been so obvious.
It had become a time of reveals as Jasmine told her about the connection with Lamar and the Singletons. Lamar and Cameron’s sister, Evangeline, had attended the same high school.
They reunited at a fellow student’s political fund-raiser where she introduced Lamar to her flight attendant coworker. Valerie and Evangeline were bridal attendants at each other’s weddings and delivered their babies two weeks apart.
“Yes. It’s Evie and her twin girls, Taylor and Morgan,” Jasmine said, smiling.
Nydia had met Cameron’s two brothers, sister, and their spouses, days before his wedding and found the Singletons rather standoffish until the patriarch welcomed her like a missing family member. It was as if they’d suddenly been given permission to interact with her. However, she saw a more uninhibited side of their personalities at the wedding when they laughed, danced, and drank with abandon. She had to give it to the Singletons because they certainly knew how to throw a party while enjoying it themselves.
Jasmine called out to get Evangeline’s attention. Evangeline McDonald turned in their direction. Arms outstretched, she hugged Jasmine, her dark blue eyes sparkling like polished sapphires.
“If you’d called to tell me you were coming, I would’ve picked you up.” She glanced around the lot. “Where’s Cameron?”
Jasmine returned the hug. “He had to drop something off for your father to look over. He said he’ll join us later. Evie, you do remember my best friend and maid of honor?”
“Of course I do.” She laughed and hugged Nydia. “Who could forget the woman everyone couldn’t stop talking about when she danced salsa with Lamar? Speaking of Lamar, I’m meeting him here with his daughter. Maybe we all can sit together.”
Nydia’s breath caught in her lungs when Evangeline mentioned Lamar. She’d wanted to wait to contact him when she returned to New Orleans, but apparently she no longer had to text him because they would soon come face-to-face.
“It’s nice seeing you again,” she said to Cameron’s sister. “And who are these two beauties?” It was obvious the girls were identical twins. Both had dark red, curly hair, light blue eyes, a liberal sprinkling of freckles over their cheeks, and pert, upturned noses. Nydia estimated they were between nine and eleven, the same age as her nieces.
“I’m Morgan.”
“I’m Taylor.”
Nydia smiled. They’d spoken at the same time, and she wondered if, like a lot of twins, they each knew what the other was feeling or thinking. She extended her hand. “I’m Nydia, and it’s nice meeting you.” The girls looked at their mother, who nodded. Each took Nydia’s hand and mumbled the proper greeting.
“We need to get inside,” Evangeline said, steering her daughters to the entrance of Momma’s Place. “We have a reservation for noon.” She glanced over at Nydia. “Who cut your hair? It looks absolutely fabulous. I’ve been thinking about cutting mine, but I still can’t decide on a style. Pulling it back in a ponytail or in a bun is not very sophisticated for a thirty-eight-year-old mother of ten-year-old girls.”
Nydia shared a glance with Jasmine. “My mother is a hairstylist.”
Evangeline patted her hair. “Do you think she could work wonders with this mop?”
Nydia nodded. “My mother’s reputation has preceded her. She’s known in the neighborhood as la reina del cabello, and that translates to the queen of hair.”
“Please don’t tell me I have to go to New York to get a good cut?” Evangeline teased as she pushed open the door at the rear of the restaurant. It had stopped raining and had cooled down enough for diners to eat alfresco under a large white awning.
Nydia was preempted from answering when she saw Lamar standing off to the side of the hostess station. When his jaw dropped there was no doubt he was shocked to see her. The young girl, she assumed it was his daughter, did not see her father’s reaction to her as she and Evangeline’s girls hugged one another, all talking at the same time.
A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth when he met her eyes. “I didn’t expect to see you again this soon.”
Wow! she mused. How had she forgotten how sexy he sounded? His voice was deep, smooth, and velvety. And the cadence was slow enough for her to hang onto his every word. “I didn’t expect to come down this soon,” she replied.
“Mr. Pierce, your table is ready.” The hostess’s voice shattered the man’s warm spell that had pulled Nydia in and refused to let her go.
Lamar turned to the woman. “We’re going to need a larger table. I made a reservation for five, but now there are seven of us.”
“Make that eight,” Jasmine added. “Cameron’s going to join us.”
The hostess studied the seating chart on the podium. “If you can wait a few minutes I will have a server set the banquette for you.”
* * *
Lamar approached Nydia, his gaze lingering on her coiffed hair. The chic style was perfect for her small, round face. She’d applied only a hint of makeup to her eyes and mouth, a mouth he’d kissed and longed to kiss again. He’d returned to New Orleans, unable to clear his head of everything he’d shared with Nydia. It was the first time in his life that he cursed having total recall.
Lamar thought of Nydia as a chameleon. There were times when she looked like a fresh-faced college coed, but could easily transition into a stylish, well turned-out young sophisticate, and she was the latter today with her chic hairstyle and white silk blouse and tailored cropped black slacks and Tory Burch flats. The designer’s shoes had been a favorite of his late wife’s.
“When did you get in?” he asked quietly.
“Friday night.”
Lamar’s brow unconsciously furrowed. “You flew in during the fog?” It had rained for a couple of days and once it ended a heavy mist had blanketed the city, lowering visibility to one-tenth of a mile.
Nydia nodded. “Yes. Once we touched down it seemed like an eternity before my driver arrived at the hotel.”
“You’re staying at the LaSalle?” She nodded again. “How long are you staying?”
“Mr. Pierce, your table is ready.”
The hostess preempted Nydia’s reply. “Thank you.” He beckoned to Kendra and the twins. “Come on, girls. Let’s sit down.” Cupping Nydia’s elbow, he escorted her to the banquette in a corner of the crowded, popular restaurant, Evangeline and Jasmine following.
He waited until everyone was seated on the U-shaped upholstered bench before sitting next to Nydia. The three girls sat together, giggling uncontrollably. The two sisters-in-law whispered to each other, laughing softly as if sharing a secret.
Lamar leaned over and tapped his daughter’s shoulder. “Kendra, this is Miss Nydia. She’s the one who made the pasteles. Nydia, I’d like you to meet my daughter, Kendra.”
Kendra clapped a hand over her mouth. “You really made them?” she asked through her fingers.
Nydia smiled. “Yes. I made them with my friend.”
“What are past-tell-is?” Evangeline asked.
Jasmine placed a hand on Evangeline’s arm. “They’re tamales filled with meat and root veggies. Puerto Ricans usually serve them around Christmas or when they have a large celebration. Talk about delicious.”
Kendra moaned audibly. “They were the bomb! Miss Ramona and me ate more than Daddy.”
“If they were that good, then you should bring them to the school’s International Week dinner,” Taylor said.
“Last year I had an empanada for the first time, and I was mad I didn’t take more than one because all the boys were dogging them,” Morgan stated, frowning.
“What foods do they serve for the dinner?” Nydia asked.
The three girls began talking at the same time until Evangeline put up a hand. “Girls, please. One at a time.”
“I’ll go first,” Taylor volunteered. “Every student has to pick a country and write a report and create a model, painting, or diorama of that country’s famous buildings or monuments. At the end of the week we have a dinner, and students, parents, and teachers bring in foods from around the world.”
“We ate food from Vietnam, France, Italy, Mexico, India, and even some African countries,” Kendra continued.
“I got to eat a lot of foods I never tasted before,” Morgan offered, “but there were some that tasted nasty.”
“Morgan!” Evangeline scolded softly. “I’ve told you time and time again that if you don’t like something you don’t say it’s nasty, because it may taste good to someone else.” Morgan and her mother engaged in a stare-down until the waitress approached the table and handed each of them a menu.
“Miss Nydia? Can you teach me how to make pasteles?” Kendra said, catching everyone at the table off-guard with her query. “That way I can bring them to this year’s International Week dinner.”
“Can you teach us, too?” the twins asked in unison.
Lamar rested his hand at the small of Nydia’s back. “Think before you answer,” he said, warning her just above a whisper. “Because this trio can be very manipulative,” he continued in Spanish.
Nydia paused, staring at Kendra and then the twin girls. “I can’t commit until I speak to your parents. If they agree and I decide to give you cooking lessons, I’ll start with Kendra because there are a lot of steps and it takes hours to make pasteles. Once Kendra shows me she knows what’s she’s doing, then she can assist with Morgan and Taylor.”
“Please, Mama,” the twins chorused.
Kendra rose slightly and leaned forward and flashed a look Lamar interpreted as her woe-is-me face. “Daddy?”
“Girls! We’ll talk about this later.” There was a hint of finality in Evangeline’s voice.
Seconds later Taylor, Kendra, and Morgan pretended interest in their menus.
Lamar picked up his menu. “You could’ve said no,” he said under his breath.
Nydia gave him a sidelong glance, her eyes appearing more green than gold under a sweep of long dark lashes. Staring at her, Lamar realized why her ex hadn’t wanted to let Nydia go. She’d been blessed with a natural beauty and intelligence she did not flaunt, and a sensuality that had him fantasizing about making love with her.
Nydia held him captive in a longing that was so foreign that it frightened him. Lamar had never professed to be a choirboy when it came to interacting with women; he’d sown his wild oats before settling down to become a husband and father.
Lamar had had his first sexual encounter at sixteen with an older woman who’d taught him how to please her, and she in turn made him cognizant of his body and how best to use it to bring himself ultimate pleasure and satisfaction. At that age he was very discriminating and refused to sleep with any of the girls at their school. Too many were into kissing and telling, and he wanted to avoid the pitfalls of some of his male classmates, whose girlfriends told them they were pregnant and keeping the baby. It was never an option for him to father a child out of wedlock, and he always took the precaution to use protection. Once he’d begun dating Valerie he never looked at another woman. He had remained a loyal and faithful husband throughout their marriage.
Nydia leaned against his shoulder. “I wasn’t prepared to say no because I remember myself at their age. I’d come home after school, change my clothes, and then go into the kitchen to do homework and watch my mother or grandmother prepare dinner. I’d always ask what’s for dinner. And if they were making my favorites I’d tell them I wanted to learn to make it. Mami and Abuelita were the best teachers a girl could have, and by the time I was sixteen I was able to put a full meal on the table. And that included soup, salad, bread, and entrées. When I lived on campus I had a dorm with a kitchen. I became quite the saleswoman when I cooked and sold dinners to other students.”
Lamar pressed a fist to his mouth to suppress a laugh. “You were selling dinners like folks do when hosting house-rent parties.”
“What do you know about house-rent parties?”
“Come on, cariña. Black folks have been selling dinners for generations to get money to pay their rent. And I’m certain people in your neighborhood still do, because it wasn’t that long ago that Iggy and I bought fish dinners on Fridays from one of his neighbors.”
Nydia laughed softly. “You’re right. When the word went out around the campus that Santiago was cooking, students came through with the ducats. I made enough money to pay for my books and then have some left over.”
“So, you’d become a hustler.”
“Correction, Lamar. I was the unmitigated hustler. I’d grown up watching dudes in my neighborhood hustling everything from clothes to meat that would conveniently fall off a truck. They never sold anything to my mother because they knew my father was a cop.”
“Did he ever arrest them?”
“No. He didn’t work out of our neighborhood precinct.”
“Tell me about your hustle.”
“I’d buy large bags of rice, packages of dried beans, yellow and green plantains, and whatever meat, chicken, or fish was on sale. Every once in a while I’d roast a pork shoulder and the entire building was filled with mouth-watering aroma of perñil. A few of the students would complain about the smell of garlic, oregano, and cumin and wanted to report me to management, but they were intimidated by my regular customers. I gave them more food on a five-dollar plate than what they’d get in the cafeteria, snack bar, or nearby fast food joints. If you want, I’ll teach Kendra to cook a few traditional Spanish dishes, and I promise not to tell her about my days as a college foodie hustler.”
Lamar offered his hand. “You’ve got yourself a deal, as long as it doesn’t interfere with her schoolwork.”
Nydia shook his hand. “Deal. I’ll be meeting with Hannah, Tonya, and Jasmine on business while I’m here, so I’ll let you know when I’m free so we can coordinate our schedules.”
“I’ll tell once I get her home. By the way, how long do you intend to be here?”
“I have a ticket to return to New York the Monday before Thanksgiving.”
Lamar quickly calculated the weeks and smiled. Nydia offering to teach Kendra to cook meant he would get to see her at least once or twice a week. And the more he saw Nydia, the more he wanted to be with her. She was a free spirit he found exciting and intoxicating.
Their server returned, pad in hand. “I notice you have an empty place setting. Are you waiting for someone else?”
“Yes,” Jasmine said. “I’m not certain when he’s going to arrive, so you can take our orders.”
The young woman glanced around the table. “Would anyone like to order a beverage? Today’s brunch includes unlimited pop, fruit drinks, mimosas, Bellinis, and Bloody Marys.”
Evangeline pointed to the three girls. “The kids will have whatever fruit drinks you have available, while I’ll have a Bloody Mary.”
“I’ll have a virgin Bloody Mary,” Jasmine said. “Please make certain the bartender doesn’t put gin or vodka in it.”
The waitress nodded. “I’ll be sure to let him know.” Her gaze shifted to Nydia. “What can I get you?”
“I’ll take a mimosa.”
“And you, sir?”
Lamar paused, debating whether he wanted a cocktail with tomato juice, and quickly changed his mind. “I’ll also have a mimosa.”
* * *
Cameron finally joined them, taking turns kissing his sister, nieces, Kendra, and Nydia, before shaking hands with Lamar. The food and energy from those at the table offered Nydia a glimpse into why Jasmine had so easily adjusted to life in New Orleans. She watched the interaction between her best friend and Jasmine’s sister-in-law as they laughed with each other. At first Nydia thought the Singletons had welcomed Jasmine into the family because she was carrying Cameron’s child, but she dismissed that notion when the twins addressed Jasmine as Aunt Jazz.
The bond between Kendra, Taylor, and Morgan had been cemented when Evangeline had become godmother to Valerie’s daughter, and Valerie returned the honor when becoming godmother to Evangeline’s twin girls.
And once she moved to New Orleans Nydia knew she would also be drawn into the orbit of the Singleton family and friends when she became godmother to Cameron and Jasmine’s son or daughter. She found it strange and fascinating at the same time that sixteen months ago she, Jasmine, Tonya, and Hannah were coworkers who barely acknowledged one another when passing throughout the office building, yet now they were inextricably connected by a unique friendship and a new business venture.
“How are your eggs Benedict?” Lamar asked Nydia.
She touched her napkin to the corners of her mouth. “They’re delicious.” She had ordered the poached eggs atop English muffins with thick slices of Canadian bacon and covered with a warm Hollandaise sauce, with a side dish of crispy tater tots. “The sauce has a touch of heat from what I think is cayenne.”
Lamar smiled, drawing her gaze to linger on the attractive cleft in his strong chin. “If your palate is not ready for a little hot spice, then you’ve moved to the wrong city. Spicy is what we do best.”
“Do you want to join Kendra when I teach her to cook?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Because there’s no need for me to cook when I pay someone to prepare my meals. And when Ramona is on vacation or takes a few days off, I eat out.”
“Why are you so opposed to learning to cook?” Nydia insisted. “You claim you have total recall, so it should be easy for you to remember exactly what to do.” She narrowed her eyes and gave him a long, penetrating stare. “Are you a throwback to men who believe a woman’s place is in the kitchen?”
Lamar gave her an incredulous look. “How can you ask me that when I have a daughter?”
“Having a daughter doesn’t change anything. No one is more macho than my father, and when he married my mother he couldn’t boil water to make a cup of tea. She taught him to cook and now he’s better than she is, and Mami is no slouch in the kitchen. You’ll see that for yourself when you join us for Christmas.”
“Why is it so important that I learn to cook, Nydia?”
“So your daughter can be proud of her father other than because he makes money to take care of her.”
“Damn woman! Are you trying to run a guilt trip on me?”
Nydia’s expression feigned innocence. “Of course not. As a single metrosexual, if you add the ability to cook to your personal profile it definitely would enhance your image.”
A frown furrowed his forehead. “I don’t do dating sites.”
“I’m not saying you do, but perhaps in the future you will when Kendra is older and in college and you want to start dating again.”
“I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it.”
Nydia saw the quivering muscle in his jaw and knew he was annoyed with her. “Look, Lamar, I’m not trying to run your life but hopefully make it better. Young girls see their fathers as superheroes, and cooking with Kendra can only strengthen the bond you have with her.”
Lamar’s frown was replaced by a knowing smile that lit up his gold-flecked eyes. “You know you missed your calling.”
Her eyebrows lifted questioningly. “Why would you say that?”
“You should’ve become a therapist because you’re able to get into people’s heads.”
“That was never a thought. I liked numbers too well. They don’t talk or fight back.”
“What happens when you can’t get a balance sheet to add up?”
She smiled. “I put it aside for a few hours or sometimes even days, and when I look at it again it’s like starting over.”
“Are you a good accountant, Nydia?”
Nydia was slightly taken aback with his question. Was he testing her? And if he was, then for what reason? “My accounts believe I am.”
“That’s good.”
“Why did you ask? Is your company looking for an accountant?”
“Not at this time. The one we have is semi-retired, and there’s going to come a time when we’ll have to replace him.”
Nydia shook her head. “I doubt if I’ll be able to help you out, because I’m going to have my hands full with the DuPont Inn, my mother’s salon, and three New York City restaurants. There’s no way I’m going to spread myself that thin just because someone offers me more money.”
“What happened to your hustling spirit?” he teased.
“I stopped hustling once I graduated. At the time it was a means to an end. I’ve continued to do the books for the restaurants because sometimes accountants don’t devote the same time to small businesses that they would to larger companies. I’ve seen too many mom-and-pop stores close because their accountants or bookkeepers embezzled from them.”
“So, you’ve become the champion of the underdog?”
“There’s no need to sound so cynical, Lamar,” she countered sarcastically. “I gave a renowned international bank my blood, sweat, and sometimes tears, and they rewarded me with a pink slip and a banker’s box. And they sought to assuage their deceit with severance pay and paid health insurance for a year, but that still didn’t diminish the angst of attempting to secure future employment with commensurate salary and benefits. It’s taken me more than a year to come to the conclusion that it is more satisfying to work for myself than for someone else’s company.”
“Are you an equal partner with your friends?” Lamar lowered his head and his voice.
“Not in terms of ownership, but we all have an equal say when it comes to which direction we want to take the inn.” Nydia paused, wondering if Lamar was experiencing problems with his partners. “Do you and your partners share equally in your firm?”
“Yes, but there are times when we don’t see eye-to-eye on certain projects.”
“That’s to be expected, Lamar, because no one is the same.”
“True,” he agreed, “but my personal life sets me apart from them.”
“Do you want to talk about it?”
“Not here.”
Nydia saw the others at the table staring at her and Lamar. They were probably curious that they’d been so engaged in talking to each other that they had totally ignored everyone else. “Luego,” she said under her breath.
“Kendra is going home with Evie, so we’ll talk later.”
She patted his hand under the table. “Okay.”
“What were you two whispering about?” Evangeline asked.
“Work,” Nydia replied.
Evangeline’s lashes fluttered, and she appeared as if she was going to cry. “Talk about work, I truly miss flying.”
Cameron stared at his sister. “Don’t start, Evie. You know you promised Daniel you would give up your career as a flight attendant once you had your kids.”
“A woman shouldn’t have to give up her career just because she’s married with children,” Nydia said matter-of-factly. As if rehearsed in advance, Jasmine and Evangeline rose slightly and gave Nydia high-fives.
“Preach, my sister,” Jasmine said, ignoring the scowl on her husband’s face.
Nydia realized she’d made a serious faux pas mentioning mothers working outside the home when she saw Cameron’s thunderous expression. She knew he was conflicted because Jasmine intended to assist Hannah managing the inn once it opened for business, and after she returned from an extended maternity leave. Jasmine confided to Nydia that LeAnn and Paige DuPont, Hannah’s first cousins, had volunteered to help out until Jasmine’s six months’ leave ended. An uncomfortable silence settled over the banquette that even the children noticed.
“Mom, we’re finished eating,” Taylor announced. “Can we leave now?”
Evangeline smiled. “Of course, darling.”
Lamar signaled for the check, but Cameron had removed his credit card from a small leather case and handed it to their server. “Hold up, Lamar. It’s my turn to pay for brunch.”
Nydia wondered how often the Pierces and Singletons got together for Sunday brunch. The girls had ordered chicken and waffles, Lamar and Cameron steak and eggs, and Jasmine a grilled skirt steak with creamed spinach, mashed potatoes, and crispy onion straws, and Evangeline ordered a Cobb salad.
After settling the bill, Cameron assisted Jasmine, who’d admitted eating too much, with standing. Nydia knew not only had she eaten too much, but she also should not have had the second mimosa before she was feeling the effects of the champagne. The bubbly wine always left her feeling slightly lightheaded and very sleepy.
“Are you all right, partner?” Lamar said in her ear as he helped her to her feet.
“I’ll let you know once I start to walk. Champagne usually does a number on me.” She’d only taken a few sips at Jasmine and Cameron’s wedding before setting aside the flute.
Lamar cradled her elbow. “Don’t worry; I’ll catch you before you fall.”
Nydia rolled her eyes at him. She was just a little tipsy, not falling-down drunk. She had never been much of a drinker, and once she took her first drink at twenty-one she knew instinctively that she had a two-drink limit. The first and last time she’d known what it was to be hung over was after Hannah and St. John’s wedding, and that was something she never wanted to experience again. After her first glass of the premium bubbly wine she discovered it tasted nothing like the ones she’d had before. She hadn’t felt tipsy and continued to indulge until she lost count of the number of glasses she’d drunk, and paid for overindulging the next day when she woke up with a dry mouth and a pounding headache.
She didn’t protest when Lamar took her hand and escorted her out of the restaurant to the parking lot. He didn’t release her fingers until they stood at the rear of his vehicle. He slid his foot under the back of the Volvo, and the lift gate opened automatically. He handed Kendra a Vera Bradley quilted floral-print tote and then kissed her hair.
“I’ll see you Tuesday night, sweetie.”
“Bye, Daddy.” Kendra took the tote and raced over to where Evangeline had parked her SUV.
“I’ll take Nydia back to the hotel,” he said to Jasmine as she slipped on a pair of sunglasses.
“Are you sure? I have plenty of room in my swagger wagon. Cameron came in his sports car, and now that I’m pregnant I find it so low he has to help me in and out of it.”
Lamar nodded. “I’m very sure and promise to bring her back safe and sound.”
Jasmine leaned in and kissed Nydia. “I’ll see you tomorrow. Cameron and I have decided to stay in tonight.”
Nydia pressed her cheek to Jasmine’s. “Get some rest, mija.” The interior decorator now sported a slight baby bump. She waited for Cameron to help Jasmine into her minivan before he slipped behind the wheel of the two-seater Porsche and followed Jasmine’s vehicle, and then she turned to find Lamar staring at her.
“What’s on this afternoon’s agenda?”
Lamar angled his head. “It all depends on what you want to do.”
Nydia glanced down at Lamar’s loafers. The soft leather looked very comfortable. “Would you mind if we go on a walking tour? When I came down last summer it was too hot to stay outdoors for any length of time without coming down with heatstroke.”
He took her arm and led her around to the passenger side. “We’ll walk and talk.”