“The events from two weeks ago were still front page news. The take down of the Richmond Syndicate, as it’s being called, was making headlines across the state and several bordering states. According to Attorney General JD Harrison, in a press conference held last night, the future for the City of Richmond looks bright. As does the candidate’s future. A poll taken earlier this week shows, eighty-seven percent of the citizens of Virginia approve of Harrison’s handling of the case and would cast their vote for him as Governor. This is Victoria Murello reporting.”
James turned off the monitor and looked at the staff sitting around the table. “It’s been a hell of a week. Some of you pulled twenty-four hour shifts. We appreciate that. The election is fourteen months away. Contrary to the reporter’s thinking, this race is far from over. We’re taking a forty-eight-hour break. Upon our return, we’re going to dig in, we’ll knock on more doors, we’re going to make more telephone calls, we’re going to have more rallies than before. Get some rest, get your drink on, bone up while you can.” The staff laughed. “When you return, all your energy will go towards getting JD Harrison elected as our next Governor. The room erupted in applause and cheers. People exited leaving the core group behind.
James, Calvin, Senator Roth, Douglas, and Pearl kept their seats in the conference room. The moods grew solemn. “Anything new?” James asked Pearl.
“The second surgery was a success.” Pearl replied. “They were able to remove the last bullet without any major problems. Theo says, its’ a wait and see.”
“We’re talking about Brian here,” Calvin smiled as he turned to Douglas. “Do you remember when we got caught in Mrs. Tate basement with her two daughters and had to climb out of the little window?”
“Yeah,” Doug laughed. “Everyone made it through except for Brian. We knew he was a goner.”
“What happened?” James asked.
“Calvin, JD and I were standing on the corner arguing if we should go back and get him. JD won out and we marched back down to the house.” He laughed, as did Calvin. “Man, I thought we were goners. JD knocks on the door and Mrs. Tate is standing there frowning. Well it’s about time you boys came back to help your friend. The girls are going to need all the help they can get on the chemistry test. Needless to say, we had no idea what she was talking about. Then Brian comes up behind her, stuffing his mouth with cake and this shit eating grin on his face. Then goes, the twins, and me been waiting for y’all to show up. Want some cake?”
“He has a way of pulling out of tough situations.” Calvin nodded, “He’ll pull through this one.”
James smiled at the friends reminiscing. “Well are we ready to go back to the house? It’s time for a little celebration.”
“I’ll meet you at the house.” Pearl said as she stood and gathered her things. “I want to check on Brian’s office before I leave.”
James nodded, “We’ll see you there.”
♡♡♡♡
The Brooks estate was abuzz with activity. Valets’ were parking cars, caterers were setting up on the back patio, and one single photographer was there to capture memories of this very private occasion. Tracy looked out over the veranda at the whirlwind of activity taking place on her behalf and wondered if she could make it through the day. It was her thirtieth birthday. While she would have been content to spend a quiet day with her husband and children, JD wouldn’t hear of it. He wanted this to be a special day, her day. Closing her eyes, she couldn’t help but think of Brian. How were they going to get through this day without his silly pranks or him hitting on every single female in the room?
Ashley glided into the room dressed elegantly in a lavender form fitting a-line dress that showed off her shapely five-eight frame and long legs. “It is time for you to get dressed.”
“Wow, you look nice,” Tracy said as her friend twirled in the middle of the floor. “James is going to jump all over you when he sees that.”
“I do, don’t I,” she smiled brightly. “I figure I better wear this little number while I still can.”
Tracy waved her off, “You have always been able to wear just about anything.”
“Yeah, except when I’m pregnant,” Ashley replied as she pulled Tracy’s dress from the bed.
Tracy’s solemn smile brightened, “You’re not.”
Ashley put her hands on her hips, “Damn if that man didn’t knock me up again.”
An elated Tracy hugged her friend. “Congratulations.”
“Congratulations my butt,” Cynthia said as she walked through the door, still very pregnant, but wearing a sexy little dress that showed off her legs. “Wait until you are eight months and ready to explode.”
“Don’t pay her any mind,” Roz said waving her friend off, “She loves every minute of being pregnant. Samuel is spoiling her worse than what she was.”
“That’s exactly what he is supposed to do,” Ashley interjected. “We carry the load for nine months, the least they can do is wait on us hand and foot.”
“I’m with you on that one,” Cynthia laughed.
The three women looked at Tracy who was still down. “Look Tracy,” Cynthia took her hand, “The last thing Brian would want is you walking around mopping on your birthday.”
“He would be the first one to walk in the room, pop you, and ‘go chin up girl’,” Ashley joked.
“I know, it’s just hard going through the motions knowing he’s there because of me.”
“No he’s not,” Cynthia sighed. “Brian is about doing the job, whatever it takes. He was going to go back in that house to get JC whether you asked him to or not. There was no way he would have left JD’s son in that house. Samuel said he played the numbers. It would have been difficult to get all three out at the same time. Getting you and Jazzy out first, then going back for JC was the safest way to ensure he saved your lives.”
“It may cost him his life.” Tracy sat on the side of the bed.
“Look, Brian ain’t going no-where. There are still too many lonely ladies out there that need him to warm their beds,” Roz proclaimed.
Tracy smiled, “That sounded just like something he would say.”
“Hell, it’s his mantra.” Cynthia laughed.
“Either way, he wouldn’t want this. Get your ass up and get dressed.” Ashley pulled Tracy from the bed.
“Okay,” a reluctant but cooperative Tracy sighed. “Is Jeffrey back yet?”
“No,” Ashley replied as they continued to dress Tracy. “He went by the site of your new house this morning.”
“Have they begun clearing the land?” Tracy asked.
Ashley, Cynthia, and Roz glared at her and began laughing. “You haven’t been over there?” Ashley asked surprised.
“No. Why?”
“Girl, JD, and James had a crew on the land a week ago. The trees have been cleared, and the markings placed for where the house is going to be built. The architect handed the plans over to the CNN construction company and JD gave them sixty days to complete the project, he didn’t care what it would cost.”
“What. He didn’t mention that to me.”
“Guess what else he did?” Ashley asked a little excited.
“What?” Tracy asked, her curiosity raised.
Ashley went over and closed the door as she began laughing. “For whatever reason, JD looked at all of his bank accounts. I wish you could have seen the look on his face when he walked into the kitchen. Mommy and I were sitting there talking and he walked in and froze at the entrance with this piece of paper in his hand. He started to say something, then stopped and walked back out of the room. Mommy and I just looked at each other, going what the hell, then he came back in and yelled at me. Did you know this? I had no idea what he was talking about, so I asked, know about what. Did you know about this money? I asked what money. He threw the paper on the desk and Mommy and I looked at it, but before I could answer he asked, did I put the money in his account. I said, no fool, I don’t have that kind of money, James do, but I don’t. So where did it come from. He asked. I had to look at him because I truly did not believe he didn’t know. So I said to him, Tracy has been investing a portion of your salary for years. That’s your money.”
Tracy inhaled nervously, “Was he mad?”
“Hell yeah and it gets better.” Tracy sat on the bed. She knew Jeffrey always had a problem about money and the fact that she makes a lot of it. “He went back and checked your joint accounts. He came back in the kitchen while Mommy and I were laughing and said, we are millionaires,—hell I’m a millionaire by myself.”
Cynthia looked at Tracy. “JD doesn’t know how much money you make?”
Tracy shook her head slowly, “Since we had the argument about the block party, we never talked about money.”
“Damn,” Roz laughed, “How could he not know, he has to do financial statements when you run for office.”
“He always brings me the paper work to fill out, he signs them and gives them to James.”
“Well, he knows now,” Ashley smiled. “In fact that was the same day he changed the plans on the house.”
“Ashley,” Cynthia cautioned. “That was supposed to be a surprise.”
“You know about the house plans?” Tracy asked.
“Of course, all of us do,” Cynthia replied.
“All of us who?”
“The three of us. We designed your new house girl,” Roz squealed and it was fun. The friends gave each other a high five.
“Now, remember you are supposed to be surprised when you see the plans,” Ashley said as she stood back and examined their work. “You look good.”
“Yes she does,” Cynthia smiled looking Tracy up and down.
Roz exhaled, “We are good.”
Tracy walked over and stood before the full length mirror. She ran her hands down the front of the dress and smiled. The women looking back at her appeared confident and ready to take her place in life. “I’m thirty years old, a mother of two, a multi-millionaire, and wife to the next Governor of Virginia. Damn if I don’t look like it.”
Surprised by the comment, the friends looked at each other. “Oh shit, get out of the way Carolyn Roth-Roberts. Here comes Tracy Washington-Harrison.”
♡♡♡♡
Standing in the foyer of his house, JD looked around at the repair work. The doors and windows had been replaced, the bullet holes filled and the walls painted. It looked like the same house that he and Tracy had called home for the last four years—but it wasn’t. Walking through the kitchen, he stopped in the dining room and remembered the meals with Douglas, Calvin, James, Brian, Cynthia, Ashley, Roz and Tracy. Turning he looked at where he was sitting at the kitchen table when they told their friends about JC. He walked though the dining room into the living room and remembered Tracy coming down the stairs to greet him when he got home from work. He walked over and stood in the doorway of his office. He remembered the conversation he had with Brian as he vowed to protect his family. “Brian.” He exhaled and walked to the sunroom and looked out over the patio. That was where James told Ashley she was going to marry him. JD smiled. He opened the door and walked out. Beyond the patio on the grass, area leading to the pool house was where the memory he wanted to forget took place. The blood was gone, but the memory of Brian laying there with JC protectively under him was still vivid. He walked over to the spot, put his hands in his pockets, and prayed. “Lord Brian saved my son’s life. Please don’t take his.”
Looking up he saw Samuel coming from the pool house. “Is everything okay in there?”
“Everything is in order. I left the surveillance camera operational and disconnected everything else. I’m sure Brian will make arrangements to have the equipment moved to the new location once the house is complete.”
JD smiled solemnly, “I’m sure he will.” He looked around the yard one last time. “Let’s go celebrate my wife’s birthday.” Walking back through the house, JD realized he was closing a chapter in his life. Locking the front door, he knew a new chapter was beginning and other than his friend fighting for his life, the future did indeed look bright.
♡♡♡♡
The gathering for Tracy’s birthday celebration was being held on the lower level of James and Ashley’s home. Cynthia had supervised the decorating of the grand ball-room from a chair, but you could certainly see the touches of TNT Event Planers throughout. Roz, supervised the catering while her husband Marco prepared the main meal. Monica, the CEO for Tracy’s company Next Level, handled the greeting of guests, checking to make certain every person on the list was comfortable and enjoying themselves.
The guest list consisted of family. Senator John Roth and Tracy’s mother Lena Washington had arrived early. Tracy’s sister Valarie, her husband Ben and their three children were there. JD’s mother Martha, her brother-in-law Joe Harrison, his wife Lillian, and their daughter, Alexis was there. James and Ashley’s family members including his parents, Avery and Gwendolyn Brooks, his twin brother and sister, Nicolas and Nicole, his brother Vernon and his daughter Taylor were there, but his wife, Constance was not.
The last guests to arrive were Gavin and Carolyn. It was nice to see things were back to normal. Carolyn made a grand entrance that only she could pull off. This time Ashley greeted her with open arms. “Carolyn, as always, you have made your presences known to all.”
Carolyn smiled brightly, “Thank you Ashley, I do know how to make an entrance.”
Gavin reached around his wife and shook James’ hand, “Hello James. You’ve had a busy week.”
“It has been interesting.” James smiled, “I could stand a few less surprises. Would you like a drink?”
The couple looked at each other and began laughing. “We can’t.” Carolyn beamed, “We are expecting.”
Ashley smiled brightly, “Isn’t that something, so are we.” She took the drink from James hand, then patted his cheek. “Close your mouth baby,” she said, took Carolyn by the arm and walked off.
“Are you okay James,” Gavin asked as he watched the color drain from the man’s face.
A somewhat confused James looked at Gavin, “Excuse me for a minute. Ashley!”
The elevator door opened as James whizzed by. JD and Samuel joined the gathering.
“It’s about time you got here,” Cynthia smiled up at her husband and kissed him.
“Have you been overdoing it?” Samuel asked his wife. “No. Probably.”
JD laughed at her pouty expression. “Cynthia, where’s Tracy?”
“Upstairs, waiting for you.”
He smiled brightly, “Good,” then took off towards the stairs.
JD walked into the east wing bedroom suites of James’ home. This had been and would continue be home for them until the house was completed. He couldn’t begin to express the gratitude he had for his brother-in-law. During the last weeks, he’d provided security for his mother and now a sanctuary for his family. “Hey,” he smiled at his wife who was standing at the window looking out.
“Hey yourself,” she returned his smile as he walked over to her.
“Be still my heart. I love red.”
“I know,” she teased, “I’m red all under too.”
“Really,” he pulled her into his arms. “What do you say; we remove this layer and go right to the next.”
She put her arms round his neck pulling their bodies closer. “It works for me,” she replied just before her lips touched his.
The one thing JD never needed was probing when it came to kissing his wife. He was always more than ready to comply. The moment their tongues met, the same need, longing, urgency touched his soul. It didn’t matter that they’d made love only hours ago, his body responded immediately. Feeling himself growing, he knew this was not the time. There was a room filled with people downstairs waiting for them. In another minute, he was going to let go—really, he was. His hands did not receive the message from his brain. They traveled down until they reached the fullness of her behind. He squeezed and pulled her closer, enjoying the feel of her thigh against him. He groaned as he ended the kiss. He placed his head against her forehead and whispered, “You don’t have no drawers on. You’re going to kill me, woman.”
Tracy smiled as she pulled away and stopped at the door. “The freedom you feel without them is intriguing, don’t you think?”
JD looked at his teasing wife, “I got intriguing for you.” She ran out the door and he followed.
Instead of taking the elevator, JD made their entrance from the spiral staircase leading down into the ball-room. He stopped at the center of the stairway. “Ladies and gentleman, allow me the pleasure of announcing the arrival of our guest of honor, my wife, the mother of my children and the love of my life, Tracy.” He held his hand out and she made her entrance down the stairs. The red diamond strapped sandals attached to the sexiest set of legs imaginable was the first thing to be seen as she descended the stairs. The red dress clamped at the neck by a diamond chocker, showed every curve in her body and damn if they were not in all the right places. Her hair was up in a French roll, with a few strands hanging strategically around her face. The little makeup she wore was flawless. And the smile—the smile was magnificent. The crowd of family and friends broke out in applause and cat whistles. “Wait JD,” said with a huge smile. He turned her around showing the back of the dress scooped from her shoulders to the top of her behind. “Is that the sexiest back you ever seen or what?” The crowd clapped louder and laughed. “And she is all mine—mine-mine-mine.”
Tracy laughed and fell into his arms. “I love you.”
“Not as much as I love you,” JD replied. They continued down the stairs as people rushed forward to wish Tracy a happy birthday.
“She has arrived,” Carolyn said to her father. “It’s a good thing she has your blood in her.”
Lena, who stood next to her husband, looked over at her step-daughter and growled. “Ignore her,” Gwendolyn Brooks said. “She will never change.”
“Can I smack her, just once?” Lena whispered to her friend.
“No,” her husband bent down and whispered in her ear. Lena smiled up at her husband. “You’re lucky I love you and have grown. This time last year I would have whipped her ass by now.”
Gwen looked up at the Senator and coughed to cover her laugh.
The festivities went on for about an hour then the birthday cake was brought out. “Make a wish Tracy,” JD said.
She looked around the room and smiled at the crowd. Closed her eyes and made a wish. The chime signaled that the elevator was arriving. As Tracy opened her eyes, the elevator door opened. A hush came over the crowd as they parted, allowing a clear path for her to see. In the doorway with dreads that neatly rested on the shoulders of his grey Armani suit, stood six-two, two hundred ten pounds, caramel skin tone with light brown eyes, Al “Turk” Day.
“Hello Tracy.”
Reactively, she reached back and grabbed JD’s hand. Not believing what she was seeing, she turned to him. And that’s when he saw what he needed to see. The light in her eyes shined brightly. “He’s free and clear.”
Tracy turned back to the elevator, slowly pulled away from her husband and ran full force into her brother’s arms. The impact of the embrace was felt throughout the room. Some knew who the stranger was, others didn’t. Who he was, wasn’t important, all felt the emotions of the reunion. The two held on to each other for the longest time, until JD walked over. He reached out took Tracy’s hand in his and shook his brother-in-laws hand then turned to the crowd. “Everyone, please welcome the man that kept Tracy safe, then put her in my hands, her big brother, Al Day.”
Ashley was the first to walk over. She didn’t shake his hand, she hugged him. “Thank you for giving up Tracy.”
As people approached to introduce themselves, Tracy held Al’s hand on one side and JD’s on the other. Valarie made her way over, all she could do was stare at her little brother as tears flowed down her face. “Are you free, I mean are you home?”
“I’m home. I even have a job,” He looked over at JD and frowned. Valarie hugged her brother. “I’m so glad you’re home.” She wiped the tears from her face. “Maybe you can get your daughter in line now.” She and Tracy laughed nervously.
“I’ll see what I can do,” he smiled back. A second later his smile began to fade. Walking towards him was his mother, Lena. He looked over at JD and said, “That’s what your wife is going to look like in twenty years. It ain’t bad, is it?”
“There are some parts of her I can do without,” JD replied as Tracy pinched him.
“Welcome home Al.” Al released Tracy’s hand. He stepped closer to the woman standing before him, pulled her into an embrace, and held her tight. “Hello mother.”
With tears streaming down her face, Tracy held up a glass of champagne. “Please raise your glass. Life certainly is a journey is predetermined by a higher power. The road has been difficult and I’m sure there will be trying times ahead. But I have faith, that we all, even our love one whose life is in peril, will make it through. She turned to JD. “To my husband, my life was sheltered until I met you. Someone said a house divided cannot stand. Neither can a heart divided. Your unyielding love has healed my heart and for that, my heart will always be yours.”
JD took his wife into his arms and thoroughly kissed her. Afterwards he smiled down into her shining eyes and whispered, “Forever, for always, for love.”