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“Hold on Destiny,” Montie said calmly. “Ms. Clara, I appreciate you taking a stand for me, I really do… but Destiny and I have already worked this out. We had our time,” Montie looked at me as if his words had a double meaning. “We have come to the end of our road as a couple. She has made her choice to be with Jacob and I love her enough to accept it.”
“Montie, you don’t know what you’re talking about,” Mama said slowly taking her seat.
“Mama, Montie is right. The whole purpose of this dinner is for us all to come together for the kids. I don’t know why you’re making it so hard for us.”
“I know the type of devastation men like Jacob leave behind after fulfilling their desires. One day they just leave without warning, without looking back!” Mama sprung from the table and ran into my room. She clutched her chest as if she were heartbroken. Everyone at the table was left dumbfounded by her display.
“Destiny, I appreciate what you tried to do here tonight. It just didn’t work out,” Jacob said, rubbing my hand. “I tried.”
“I know you did,” I said going into his arms for a hug. I turned to Montie and hugged him, as well. “Thanks for everything, Montie.”
“You’re welcome,” he said with a pat on my back.
“Jacob,” he said with a nod of his head before leaving out the dining room and then out the front door.
CHAPTER TWENTY
Destiny
I Do Forever
I had another heart-to-heart with Mama after Montie and Jacob left that night. I wanted to get to the root of her distrust for Jacob. All she would confess was that someone she loved in the past also came from power and privilege, like Jacob, and he walked out on her leaving her heartbroken. I never knew that Mama was carrying around so much agony. I reassured her that her history was not my future. Jacob and this man were two different people, and I hoped that she would be able to see that.
***
I wrapped my arms around Jacob’s neck. He’d flown me back to Miami and we stood in the front yard of the house he wanted to buy, kissing. A calmness washed over me. “That was nice,” he said, parting from my embrace. “Now, imagine welcoming me home like that every day in front of this house,” he said.
“That would be nice. I’m definitely where I want to be.”
“You have no idea how much I have been waiting to hear you say that. I love you so much.”
I ran my hand across his face. “I love you, too." I leaned up and kissed him again. In that moment, I could have shed my clothes and made love to him right on the lawn. However, I could smell the aroma of food piping through the bags in his hand and figured that I should at least hold back a little.
“Food smells delicious," he said with a smile.
He grabbed my hand and pulled me into the house. He went into the kitchen and set the food up on the table. Beside my plate was a tiny, shiny red box. I looked at him and he held up his hand. “Open it.”
I hesitated, lifting it into my hand. I glanced at him and saw his pleased expression. I opened it up and stared at the gold heart. Wrapped around it were four stones. “It’s beautiful.”
He smiled, “It’s your birthstone, my birthstone, Junior’s birthstone, and Montana’s birthstone.”
I couldn’t believe the thought he had put into the gift. “How did you know everyone’s birthstone?”
“I have my ways," he laughed. “May I put it on you?”
I nodded, handing him the box. He clasped it around my neck and smiled at me. “Thank you.”
“It’s nothing. Let’s eat, before the food gets too cold.”
He uncovered the food and I saw rib roast, mashed potatoe
s, and steamed vegetables. I took a bite, nodding. “This is delicious." I continued to eat, thinking about things that I wanted to tell him before the evening was over. I figured it was as good a time as any. “I have something to tell you,” I said hoping that he would take it well.
“Go ahead,” he replied, taking a bite of his food.
“Well, last week when I was at Montie’s house, he kissed me.”
“Yeah,” he replied, dryly.
