A week later Karena sat in her office going through her mail. Halloween was last week, and she’d spent the evening alone in her condo with art catalogs spread out around her, a cup of flat soda since she’d let the ice cubes melt in it and a headache that just would not quit.
Today she felt a little better, just a little. She was moving robotically but refused to believe it had anything to do with the last words she and Sam had shared. She hadn’t spoken to him since they’d both climbed out of the jet. He’d let her get into the waiting car and called himself a taxi. She wanted desperately to argue how stupid that was and that they could share, but she really didn’t think that was possible.
How dare he give her an ultimatum and then expect her to answer at the raise of his eyebrows. He’d taken the word arrogant to another level, one on which she was not about to go with him.
If that’s how he was used to dealing with women, then she didn’t need to be in that group. The decision to let him in even marginally was hard enough to make. She knew it would be a big mistake to give in to his ultimatum and give him the impression that he’d always win that way with her.
Hell no, that just wasn’t the life she predicted for herself.
Still, it had her wondering what exactly her future held.
With a sigh, she opened the next envelope and read the ecru-and-brown-embossed invitation with a feeling of warmth spreading through her.
In the spirit of peace and joy this holiday season Mr. and Mrs. Reginald St. Claire request the honor of your presence at the marriage of their daughter Tia Marisal to Trenton Desmond Donovan on the twenty-fourth of December at six o’clock in the afternoon Mt. Charleston Resort Las Vegas, Nevada
They were getting married. Another couple was making the ultimate commitment to each other. All she could do for the next few minutes was stare at the invitation. Inside the envelope amongst the thin slip of paper and a card with all the information pertaining to the resort and making reservations, was a response card.
At first she’d thought it a no-brainer. Of course she would go. The Donovans had come to be like extended family to her through Noelle. In fact, they were Noelle’s family, and since Noelle was her best friend, she should have been rushing to fill out the card and put it back in the mail. But she wasn’t.
“Girl, I swear I think you were born with that serious look on your face,” Noreen said as she made her way into Karena’s office.
“Mama,” Karena said, looking up quickly because she hadn’t heard anyone knock on the door, nor had she heard her mother enter, but she was already taking a seat.
“Whatever it is, Karena, believe me it can’t be that bad.”
Hurriedly she started putting the invitation and its accompaniments into the envelope. “It’s nothing,” Karena replied.
“I hope you’re going to respond to that before you tuck it away into your drawer,” Noreen said, looking down at Karena’s desk.
“Ah, yeah. I just need to check my calendar first and then I’ll send my response in.”
Noreen nodded. “Good, because it’s rude to ignore an invitation. RSVPs are sent for a reason. And it’s not hard to simply reply. Some folk are just so tacky.”
With the invitation pushed to the side of her desk, Karena sat up in her chair. “So how was the getaway?”
Noreen smiled. And it was different from before. Karena was intrigued.
“The getaway was fantastic. Your father and I really made some progress.”
“Really?”
“Yes, and that’s why I’m here. I want to talk to you about your trip to Pirata.”
“Oh. That was really nice, too. I had the chance to meet Eduardo Matos. He’s the guy who sold me the painting.”
“Izabel told me all about him. And I’m telling you, Karena, my heart just ached for those children. I knew right then what must be done.”
“I had some thoughts about helping the children, as well.”
Noreen held up a hand to stop her from talking. “Let me just get this out before I lose my nerve.”
Karena’s lips clapped shut and she sat back in her chair, waiting.
“Remember we talked about the foundation and me wanting to get involved? Well, the moment Izabel told me about Eduardo and those children I knew I’d found my cause. I want to help them, all the so-called ‘street children’ in Brazil. I want to provide safe places for them so the scum who consider themselves ridding the world of God’s children will have to find something better to do with their time.
“Now, I don’t really know how to go about it, but after we left from meeting with you and the investigator, I had another idea. I remembered you talking about going to Maryland to see about your friend, the one who is just like a sister to the Donovans.”
Karena couldn’t believe her ears. Still, she acknowledged her mother’s words by adding, “Noelle. Yes, she’s involved with one of the Donovan cousins.”
Noreen had scooted up in her chair, her brown eyes alight with excitement. “That’s right. Well, the name Donovan stuck with me and I did a little research on the computer.”
“You were on the computer?” Karena asked.
Noreen looked at her as if she were speaking another language. “Of course, Karena. Everybody does everything on the computer these days. I had to learn or I’d be in the Dark Ages forever.”
Again, Karena was shocked silent. She’d had no idea her mother knew how to operate a computer, let alone do Internet research. She figured her mother’s free time was filled with housework and tending to her father. How wrong she’d been.
“So anyway, the Donovans have a couple of foundations and they all have specialties. I came across their Children With HIV/AIDS projects and thought about contacting them, you know, for some pointers on getting this type of venture off the ground.” Noreen was reaching into her purse and pulling out an envelope. “I’ve drafted this letter and I want you to take a look at it and tell me what you think.”
Karena thought she was dreaming.
Was this really her mother?
She reached for the letter her mother had taken from the envelope and read it. “This is good, Mama. But why don’t you just give Beverly Donovan a call. I’ve met her and her sister-in-law Alma. They do most of the philanthropic work for the family. I could probably even set up a meeting.” Beverly Donovan was the mother of the renowned Triple Threat Donovan Brothers, Linc, Adam and Trent. But aside from that, she was a well-respected and well-liked woman in Karena’s estimation.
“No,” Noreen said adamantly. “I don’t want to ride on anybody’s coattails. Especially not my daughter’s. I’ll approach them myself.”
“Okay. Then at least let me give you Beverly’s home number. It doesn’t make sense for you to go through all that red tape trying to get in touch with her when you can just make a phone call.” It was Karena’s turn to hold up her hand to halt her mother’s words. “It’s not riding on anybody’s coattails, Mama. You’re a Lakefield. And while we’re not as well-known as the Donovans, we’ve made our mark in the business and charity arenas. Just call her and tell her your ideas.”
Karena was already flipping through her Rolodex. Grabbing a pen, she wrote Beverly Donovan’s name, home and business numbers on a Post-it and passed it to her mother.
“I’m just so happy you’ve found something you want to do after all this time.”
Noreen took the paper, stuck it to the corner of her letter and put it and the envelope back in her purse. “You just don’t understand. I’ve had something to do all my life. At different times my responsibilities were different. Now is a new time in my life, a new direction for me.”
“I know and I’m happy for you.”
Noreen folded her hands in her lap and watched her daughter. “But are you happy, Karena? Are you happy with yourself, with the life you’ve decided to have? Don’t think I don’t know how long you’ve been wanting me to do something different, hating the way I took care of you girls and your father. But that was my decision, my life. What I wanted to do. What about you? Is this what you really want to do with your life?”
“I didn’t hate how you took care of us. I just thought you could do so much more.”
“I think you can do much more.”
Her words made Karena uncomfortable. She shifted in her seat. “I don’t know what you mean.”
“Yes, you do.”
“Mama, this isn’t about me. We were talking about you and your new career move.” Her mother was the last person she wanted to talk to about Sam or her feelings for Sam.
“You’re right,” Noreen said with a complacent smile. “But let me tell you something about mothers and housewives, we’re very perceptive. I watched you and that investigator, Sam Desdune, at the meeting the other day.”
Because she knew what was coming next, Karena sat up and let her elbows rest on her desk. “I met Sam a few months back when I visited Noelle. He’s a great guy, a good investigator and a loyal friend. So, yes, we know each other outside of business and this case.”
“I’m betting you know each other intimately.”
Heat suffused Karena’s cheeks, but she prayed the blush wasn’t visible. “Mama,” she began.
“Don’t get all embarrassed, Karena. I’ve had sex a time or two in my life.” Noreen chuckled. “And I still try to get in as much as possible, if truth be told.”
Karena closed her eyes momentarily, shaking her head. “Way too much information, Mama.”
“I know, I know.” Noreen laughed. “But what I was getting at was that you two look like a couple, a very handsome couple, I might add.”
Karena sighed. Lying would be foolish.
“We were involved but it didn’t work out. Now we’re just friends.” Were they?
“Was that his decision or yours?”
“It was inevitable,” she replied, feeling the painful truth to her words.
“Do you love him?”
“Does it matter?”
For the first time in she couldn’t even remember how long, Karena saw Noreen frown.
“Love always matters, Karena. Remember that,” she said, standing up and putting her purse on her arm. “Above else, love always matters.”