15
One Week Later
Kahron and Bianca laughed as her stomach growled quite loudly. It seemed to echo in the interior of his vintage Mustang. “Hungry, baby?” he asked her as he reached over to squeeze her thigh.
“Starving,” she answered, with emphasis. “I begged your daddy to make me some okra stew. I am dying for some good okra stew.”
“I’m dying to know what their big news is.” Kahron eased the car around the turn leading to his parents’ home. “And if it’s about her fish dreams, I’m going to scream.”
“Oh my God. Your mother has called me every day for the last week, talking about fish and babies and prenatal vitamins!” Bianca covered her face with her hands. “Yes, I don’t want to hear nothing ’bout birthin’ no babies.”
Kahron laughed as he pulled the car to a stop in between Kade’s SUV and Kaeden’s silver Mercedes Benz. “She is hell-bent and determined that there is another grand on the way.”
“Well, it’s not us,” Bianca said as they climbed out of the low-slung car.
“Not yet, anyway,” Kahron added. “But soon.”
Bianca looked at him as he jogged up the stairs. “Real . . . soon?” she asked in surprise.
Kahron turned, his face framed by the porch light as he looked down at her. “Hell, yeah. Right?”
She smiled as she nodded and slipped her hand into his. “Right.”
Kade looked up from watching a sports news show on the television as Kahron and Bianca walked into the house together. His brother hugged his wife close to his side before he kissed her forehead as they greeted everyone.
Kade literally ached for Garcelle to be there with him. She should have been there with him. They had plans to meet up and go to the movies later, but right now he missed her there with him, enjoying the fun and craziness of his big family. Just being close to him.
He just didn’t know if he was ready to inform the world about his business. For so long, his family and friends had worried him about getting back into the dating game. As soon as they knew about Garcelle, it would be all about marriage and more babies. Hell, his momma was already talking to him, of all people, about fish dreams. Up until a little over a month ago, he’d been celibate for the last few years. And now that he was putting his skills back to use, he always practiced safe sex.
“Why does Kaleb always have to be late?” Kael grumbled as he walked over to look out the window. “I’m hungry as hell.”
“Cool your heels, Kael Strong. You think I don’t know you been sneaking in the kitchen, picking at the food?” Lisha shot back at him calmly.
Their children all laughed as Kael suddenly belched and then looked contrite.
“Hungry my ass,” Lisha grumbled.
Kahron dropped down onto the sofa, beside Kade. “There’s talk you and Garcelle were looking mighty cozy riding a horse together last week,” he said for Kade’s ears only.
Kade shrugged. “Small-town talk. Small-town assumptions. Welcome to Holtsville, little brother.”
“Funny thing about small-town talk and small-town assumptions . . . Sometimes they’re right on point,” Kahron drawled as he took Kade’s beer from his hand to take a sip. “Whether we want them to be or not.”
“Hey, Ma,” Kade called out, just as calm as could be. “I bet Kahron and Bianca are the reason for those fish dreams.”
Kade ignored his brother’s swear and the evil eye Bianca shot him as he picked up the remote to flip through the channels.
“You two have something you want to say?” Lisha asked as her eyes darted back and forth between Kahron and Bianca.
“No!” they shouted out emphatically in unison.
Kade bit back a smile.
The front door swung open, and Kaleb strolled in. “What’s the deal, family?”
Kael jumped to his feet and rubbed his hands together. “Dinner’s the deal,” he said over his shoulder as he made his way into the dining room.
Lisha shook her head as she rose to follow him. “Lord, that man.”
Kade and Kahron were the last to follow the family out of the living room. “You and Garcelle disappearing in the woods for hours at a time?” said Kahron. “You best mind those fish dreams ain’t all about you, big brother.”
“Curiosity killed a nosy-ass cat,” Kade drawled as he took his seat at the table, in between Kaeden and Kadina.
Kahron just laughed as he took the seat across the table, next to his wife.
Lisha walked out of the kitchen, carrying a huge platter. She sat it in the middle of the table, amid side dishes of macaroni and cheese, okra stew, white rice, and corn bread. She cleared her throat as she took her seat.
“Lisha Mae Strong, now enough is enough!” Kael roared as he looked down at the big platter of fried fish. “I thought you said you were frying chicken.”
Lisha cocked her eyebrow as she eyed each and every one of her children.
Kade shook his head before he reached over to kiss the top of Kadina’s head.
Bianca and Kahron looked at each other before they paid way too much attention to fixing their plates.
Kaitlyn reached in her purse and slapped her birth control pills on the table as she calmly poured a glass of lemonade.
“I wish somebody would go ahead and piss on the damn stick,” Kaleb grumbled before he focused on piling his plate high with food.
Kaeden reached in his pocket for his inhaler.
“Daddy, what’s with all the talk about fish lately?” Kadina whispered to him.
Kade scooped rice onto her plate and then topped it with a spoonful of okra stew. “We’ll talk about it later,” he whispered, praying like hell they didn’t attract his mother’s attention. The woman was on an all-out mission.
“Papa Kael, thanks so much for making the okra stew,” said Bianca. “I have been—”
“Craving?” Lisha asked delicately as she glanced at Bianca before taking a bite of her food. “I remember each time I was pregnant, I would crave cheesecake. Had it so bad each and every time that Kael would start buying Pampers as soon as I started asking for cheesecake.”
Bianca just massaged her temples with her fingers.
“Anyway, we brought you all here because we have good news,” Kael said, ignoring his wife as he rose to his feet. “In December your mother and I are going on a two-week cruise to Negro, Jamaica—”
“Negril, Jamaica,” Lisha corrected him around a bite of food.
“Yeah, right,” said Kael as he rubbed his hands together. “It’s time I really start enjoying my retirement full time. So, Kade, I’ll be relying on you more than ever, Son.”
“No worries, Pops,” Kade said. “It’s well deserved . . . for both of you.”
A round of questions about anything and everything concerning their trip followed, and then Kade watched as Kahron rose to his feet, with his glass raised. “Here’s to working hard and learning how to play even harder. It is time to sit back and enjoy the fruits of your labor—”
“And the fruits of my children’s loins,” Lisha added.
Kael dropped his head in his hand as everyone at the table dropped their forks and released a long, heavy breath.
Garcelle glanced at her watch as she sat in her car in the parking lot of the movie theater. Kade was running late for their date. “Humph, date,” she said, only slightly sarcastic. “For a real date, the man picks the woman up at her house, and they ride together to the movies. They don’t meet in separate cars, like two bad-ass adulterers.”
She watched the couples arriving and walking into the movie theater together. It irked the hell out of her. I must be PMSing, she thought as she picked up her ringing cell phone.
“Hey, you.”
“Kade, I’ve been calling you for twenty minutes,” she said, sitting up in the seat of her car.
“I must have turned the volume down on my phone.”
“Where are you?” she asked as she scratched an itch in the palm of her hand.
Knock-knock.
She nearly jumped out of her skin as Kade bent down to look through the driver’s side window of her car. She slapped the phone closed as he opened the door for her. “Come on. The movie’s started.”
Kade frowned. “Are you mad?” he asked, obviously confused.
Garcelle forced a smile as she looked up at him. “No . . . no. Of course not. I just wanted to see the movie. Can we . . . go see the movie?”
Kade’s frown deepened.
Garcelle turned and walked up to the line of people, which ran down the stairs of the movie theater. She looked up at Kade briefly as he came up to stand beside her. She had to admit he looked nice in khakis and an orange Hilfiger polo.
“My parents are going on a cruise,” he said into the quiet between them.
“That’s nice,” she said shortly. From the corner of her eye, she saw him wipe his mouth.
“Garcelle, what’s going on with you?” he asked, lowering his head to speak directly into her ear.
She gave him another one of those fake smiles that made her face muscles tense. “I wish you’d stop asking me that,” she said in a low voice as the line moved forward.
“I wish you’d tell me what’s going on with you.”
Garcelle stepped aside as they reached the outdoor box-office window. She watched Kade as he paid for their movie tickets. As he walked up beside her and held the door, she avoided his eyes. She was angry, and holding it in, pretending she wasn’t angry, was making her even angrier.
“You all right? You want something?” he asked, looking down at her as they passed the snack counter.
“I’m fine.”
She felt him tense beside her.
When they walked into the dark theater, the movie was playing, and a loud action sequence of gunfire and bombs coming through the surround sound made it seem like they were in the middle of World War III.
Garcelle followed Kade to a spot near the far wall. She tugged his hand once they settled into the seats. “Are you sure you want us to sit together? Somebody might see us.”
“And?” he snapped as he turned in the seat to look at her.
“Hell, it’s your issue, not mine,” she snapped back.
“Sshhh.”
They both ignored that from the people behind them.
“Listen, what the hell is your problem?” said Kade.
“My problem?” she asked, sitting up in the theater seat to face him. “What is my problem?”
Kade threw his hands up as if exasperated.
Garcelle crossed her legs and then crossed her arms over her chest as she rocked back and forth in the reclining theater seat, mumbling under her breath in Spanish.
Kade mumbled something unintelligible under his breath.
“What did you say?” Garcelle asked, knowing she was being childish and not caring one bit.
Kade stood up. “I said you’re crazy,” he said, looking down at her.
“Hey, sit down!” someone yelled from behind them.
Garcelle jumped to her feet. “And you’re selfish.”
“Y’all need to take that outside,” someone else yelled.
“Shut up!” both Garcelle and Kade roared at the theatergoers.
Garcelle pushed past him and stormed out of the theater just as an usher entered. She heard Kade say, “Oh, trust me, we’re out of here.”
She was walking out of the building and toward her car when she felt a hand wrap around her upper arm. She felt a tingling sensation, and she knew without looking that it was Kade. She pulled away from him. “Just leave me alone, Kade,” she said coldly as she reached in her purse for her keys.
“You want me to leave you alone?” he asked just as coldly, moving up to walk beside her. “You ain’t said nothing but a word.”
He quickly walked past her, climbed into his SUV, and sped away, without giving her a second look.
Garcelle fought the urge to flip him off, jumped in her car, and sped away as well.
Kade slammed his hand on the wheel in frustration. He was still lost as to what the hell had just happened. The Garcelle who acted like a child needing to be spanked was not the fiery, up-front woman he thought he was involved with. This night was nothing but drama with a capital D, and it wasn’t something he had the time or patience for. Ever. Period.
He pulled up to a red light and glanced down at his cell phone, which was sitting on the passenger seat. He patted his hand on his thigh in time to the music playing on the stereo as his eyes kept darting to his phone. He shook his head. “I’m not calling her,” he told himself aloud as he pulled away.
What he had thought was going to be a fun night out with his woman had turned into one of the most embarrassing and frustrating spectacles of his life. Catch a flick. Maybe go by Ye Old-Fashioned Café for ice cream and then spend the night at their favorite hotel. How the hell had those plans become a hollering match in the middle of a movie theater?
Kade had just left Charleston and entered Summerville when he picked up his phone and turned it off. He wasn’t sure if Garcelle even wanted to call and talk to him, but he did know that they both needed a little time to cool off.
Garcelle couldn’t sleep. She would doze for an hour and then jump up and check her cell phone to see if Kade had called. She truly needed her sleep. She had her first pathophysiology test in the morning. She tossed. She turned. She knew she would have bags as big as one of her textbooks under her eyes.
She sat up in bed and picked up her cell phone, which lay by her pillows. This couldn’t be the end for Kade and her. Could it? Not over a silly little argument in a movie theater. It was not like anyone there had known them, right? They hadn’t said anything yet that they couldn’t get past, right?
They needed to talk.
She dialed Kade’s cell phone number, but then she stopped, her thumb hovering over the SEND button.
It was one in the morning. Maybe he was sleeping. She couldn’t believe she felt nervous about calling her man. She was being ridiculous. She hit SEND.
“Your call is being transferred to an automated voice mail system.”
She sat up straight in the bed. His phone was turned off. “Oh no, he didn’t,” she muttered to herself as she dialed him again.
“Your call is being transferred to an automated voice mail system.”
Garcelle fought the urge to leave him a voice mail before she turned off her phone and flopped back down on the bed in frustration.
The next morning, before the sun even began to rise, Kade busied himself getting Kadina ready for school. His daughter wasn’t exactly a morning riser, and she grumbled as he led her into the bathroom. “Teeth. Face. Wash. Underwear change. Go,” he told her, placing fresh undergarments on the sink before he left the bathroom. He walked in her bedroom to find out which of her new outfits she’d chosen to wear.
Not that he had anything to worry about. Garcelle had taken her shopping, and each coordinated outfit had been hung in her closet, with a little Polaroid pinned to each one showing which shoes to wear with it. Garcelle had really tried to make sure that everything ran smoothly during Kadina’s first couple of weeks of school.
He smiled at her thoughtfulness.
Kadina dragged herself into her bedroom. “Why can’t it still be summer, Daddy?” she asked as she came to stand in front of where he sat on the edge of her bed.
He chuckled as he held the jeans for her to step into. “Because your job is to go to school and get good grades, so your vacation is over, kiddo,” he told her as he zipped up her pants and buckled her sparkly belt.
“One day I’m going to work on the ranch with you, just like Aunt Bianca works with her daddy,” she told him as she raised her arms over her head for him to put on her pink- and white-striped polo shirt.
“Oh, you are?”
Kadina nodded. “I’m never leaving my daddy,” she said, with the utmost confidence of a child.
Kade snorted as he handed her her matching pink sweater jacket. “We’ll revisit this when you’re thirteen,” he said dryly.
She jumped on the end of the bed, beside him, and threw her legs onto his lap so that he could pull on her socks and sneakers. “Daddy, can I try to tie them again?” she asked.
He nodded and watched as she knelt on the floor and fought like hell to tie the laces herself. Another Garcelle contribution. Kadina wasn’t quite there, and Kade had to tighten the loops, but she was on the road to her first bit of independence.
She grabbed her bucket of hair accessories before she knelt between his legs, with her arms over his thighs. “One pom-pom, please,” she said. “And do it like Garcelle.”
Kade frowned as he loosened the band in her hair and rubbed her hair with hair grease before he brushed her edges back up. “I’ll do it the best I can,” he said, his face determined as he twisted the band back around her hair.
She handed him three pink and white balls to wrap round the curly Afro puff atop her head.
He thought about Garcelle. About leaving for work in the morning without his belly filled with her strong and sweet coffee and homemade breakfast pastries. About the scent of her perfume no longer lingering round the house. About not coming home to her in the night. About their argument last night. About not speaking to her all night.
“Yeah, I miss her, too,” he admitted as he felt a literal pang in his heart.
Kadina jumped up and checked her appearance in her mirror. She nodded in satisfaction before she turned back to press her forehead against Kade’s. “You’re a good daddy,” she whispered to him before puckering her lips.
“Now that’s the best compliment I’ve ever received.” He kissed her briefly before rising to his feet. “Let’s go have some waffles before the school bus comes.”
“With strawberry syrup?” she asked as she left the room.
“What else is there?” he joked, grabbing her rolling book bag as he left her room.
Kade was sitting in front of Garcelle’s house when she walked out the front door. She paused on the top step of the porch as her eyes locked with his through his windshield. He was glad to see her, even though a big piece of him was still annoyed at the way she’d acted last night.
Garcelle looked away as she closed and locked the front door before she jogged down the stairs. She specifically ignored him as she climbed into her car.
Here he’d thought, after a night of both of them cooling their heels, she would be ready to have an adult conversation. Hell with it. He was starting to wonder if jumping into a relationship with Garcelle had been the right choice.
“Kade.”
He turned his head. His eyes filled with surprise when he saw Garcelle standing beside his driver’s side window. He lowered the window farther. “Are we going to argue like we did in the movie theater?” he asked.
Garcelle stepped forward. “Listen, I should have come out and said what was bothering me last night . . . what has been bothering me for the last few weeks. You did ask—”
“Several times,” he insisted, with a hard look.
“Kade. I mean seriously. Seriously.” Garcelle tilted her head back and shook it before she looked at him again.
If she acts up again, I’m pulling away and leaving her here to argue by her damn self, he thought. “Garcelle—”
“Let me finish apologizing before you give me one of your speeches.”
He swallowed his irritation. “What do you mean one of my speeches?” he balked.
Garcelle snorted in derision. “Kade, please, you can get on your little soapbox when you want . . . but can we stay in the moment please?”
Kade smirked. “If you could define what the moment is exactly, maybe I’d be more successful at staying in it.”
“You are a smart ass,” she snapped.
“And you have a bad attitude.”
“You’re selfish.”
“And the way you acted last night was childish.”
“Oh, and turning off your phone wasn’t.”
“No more than you turning off yours, too.”
“Why do you love tit for tat?”
“Why do you think you can say whatever and do whatever whenever you get ready?”
Garcelle sat her hands on her hips as she looked down at her sneakers and sighed heavily. “Kade . . .”
“Yeah,” he said briefly.
“I don’t like feeling like we’re sneaking around like two kids whose parents don’t want them to date or like two married people having an affair.”
Kade reached to shut his vehicle off. “Garcelle—”
“No, let me finish,” she said as she shook her head, making her ponytail do a dance. “I mean, maybe for you it feels like an affair, since you live as if you’re still married, but I’m just curious, Kade Strong—”
“Oh, I’m back to Kade Strong,” he drawled as he tilted his head back against the headrest and wiped his eyes with his hands.
“I’m not joking, Kade.”
“Garcelle, trust me. I know I’m not married,” he said, unable to deny the tinge of bitterness in his voice.
“Reema is—”
Kade’s face hardened. “Don’t go there, Gar—”
Her eyes dulled, and her lips thinned to a line.
Kade couldn’t believe they were in the midst of their second argument. Reema would never act like this. . . .
“What?” Garcelle asked, stepping closer to him after witnessing the sudden change of expression on his face.
Kade released a heavy breath as he looked at her. The comparison to Reema was completely out of line, and he just thanked God he’d thought it and hadn’t said it. The taste of that foot would’ve been bitter.
Garcelle wanted the next step in their relationship. She wanted more from him. What seemed so simple for her was so very complicated for him, but then was it fair for her?
“Okay. Listen, Garcelle. Let’s take a shortcut,” he said as he opened the car door and turned sideways in his seat to face her.
She looked a little alarmed but, thankfully, said nothing as she crossed her arms over her chest.
“One of the things I like about you is how open and honest you are. You say what you feel. You don’t hide anything.” He leaned forward and reached for her arms to pull her forward. She moved to him with obvious reluctance. The scent of her flowery perfume teased him. “Last night was frustrating as hell for me. So I ask that next time you have something on your mind, just come out and tell me. Don’t leave me to guess, and then when I still don’t get it, you get more shitty than ever.”
Garcelle squinted like she was ’bout to cuss him twelve ways to Sunday.
Kade went on. “Now, I admit that I wanted to keep people out of our business, but now I agree we’re two grown-ass people who shouldn’t be sneaking around town and out of town to see each other. I promise to do better if you promise not to act up in public again.”
Garcelle placed her hands on his knees. “Good shortcut,” she said, with a hint of a smile.
Kade leaned forward to press his lips to hers.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered against his mouth.
He leaned his forehead against hers. “So am I.”
“So no more down low?” she asked.
Kade knew his options were simple. To have Garcelle meant a full-blown relationship. Telling Kadina—who had already dropped enough hints for him to know this was right up her alley. Family functions. Public displays of affection. Nosy country people keeping an eye on them and everything they did. He knew their relationship would be the talk of Holtsville. There was no turning back.
He didn’t want to lose her. He wasn’t going to lose her. Not over this.
“I refuse to even use the words down low . . . but, yes,” he finally said, with a laugh.
Garcelle stepped closer to him and wrapped her arms around his waist. She smiled, and in his heart, he felt emotions he wasn’t quite ready to claim.
It scared and excited him all at once.