CHAPTER 66

Maxwell sat at his desk, trying to concentrate on his work, but was distracted, his mind taking him back to Yolanda’s father.

He took his glasses off and decided to take a break and do his daily walk around the salon. Maybe get a coffee to clear his head. He opened his office door and saw his father standing there, hand raised, preparing to knock.

“Pop? What are you doing here?”

“Can I come in?”

“Yeah, sure.” Maxwell sat back at his desk, and his father took a seat in front of him.

“So this is your office…” Ray said, his eyes looking around the room, taking everything in. “It’s nice.”

“Funny how this is the first time you’ve been in it.”

“Yeah, well, that’s one of the reasons I’m here. This isn’t easy for me to do, but I’m here to apologize.”

Maxwell leaned forward. “You, apologizing? Pop is actually saying he’s sorry?”

“Well, that’s what I’m trying to do if you’ll let me.”

Maxwell nodded and let his father continue.

“I know I was wrong for what I did. But I was only trying to protect you…I honestly felt y’all weren’t a good match.”

“It wasn’t any of your business, Pop. That’s always been your problem, always trying to interfere in my life—”

“You are my life,” his father said softly. “Before Clarice died, she made me promise to look after you. That’s all I was doing, son, trying to make sure you were happy.”

“I am happy. With Yolanda, not Theresa.”

His father sighed.

“If you so happy with her, why did you dump her at the reunion? When I found her, she was sitting under a tree all by herself. Looked like she’d already been crying. It didn’t look like you were happy with her. I really thought I was doing you a favor.”

“Look, I’ll be the first to admit that I’m wrong, too. I’ve treated Yolanda badly, all because I cared too much about what everybody thought. I know she’s kinda thin—”

“Kinda thin? That girl is—”

Maxwell gave his father a look.

“Sorry, sorry. Continue.”

“Look, Yolanda is thin; bony, in fact. But so what? I love her.”

“Love her?”

“That’s right. I love that girl.”

His father looked stunned. “I didn’t even know you were on that level with her.”

“I tried to fight my feelings for her, because I didn’t want to fall in love with her. But it happened anyway.”

“I know I was picking on you to find a woman, but why this girl? What happened to working out things with Theresa? She’s on your level—”

“And what level would that be, Pop?”

“Theresa’s beautiful, son. She can walk into a crowd and turn heads. That is what every man needs—”

“Oh, really? Arm candy? You think that is all I need in a woman? You think having a showpiece, a trophy, is gonna make a good wife? Do you think Theresa’s beauty is reason enough to marry her?” Maxwell shook his head. “Mama would be ashamed of you,” he said, quietly.

“Don’t you bring Clarice into this!” Ray warned, his lips trembling with anger. “Your mama was a beautiful, sweet, caring—”

“I know. And the list stops after beautiful with Theresa. She had a lot of stuff happen to her in her past, stuff she won’t even share with me. And it’s changed her, and not for the better. She’s not for me, Pop.”

“And this other girl—”

“Her name is Yolanda, Pop.”

“Yolanda, Yolanda. Gotta remember that. So did I mess things up with y’all?”

“Yeah, you did. It’s not your fault, though. She was bound to say something soon after the way I had been treating her. Her father is in the hospital, so I sent her some flowers…”

“That’s smooth, boy. Women love flowers.”

“I’m not trying to be smooth, Pop. I’m trying to show her that I’m concerned.”

“Well, don’t worry, she got the goo-goo eyes for you. Keep this up and she’ll be back.”

“You think so?”

“Is a Seven Up?”

Maxwell laughed.

“This Yolanda girl, you think she’s the one?” Ray asked.

“Maybe. But I would like to find out.”

His father shrugged. “If you think this girl, I mean, Yolanda, is good for you then give it a shot. I’ll stay out of your business. You’re grown, whatever you decide is fine by me.”

“Wow, my father is finally letting me grow up.” Maxwell wiped imaginary tears from his face and said in a mocking tone, “I’m so proud of you!”

“Boy, shut up! Now what about you giving me a tour of this place?”