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“John, you are your father’s only son. You would’ve run your family business, even if you didn’t have a college education. He would’ve taught you the ropes. Your father sent you to Yale, so you wouldn’t be chasing behind me. Period.”
“Clara…” John slid an arm around my waist again and pulled me close. He buried his head in the groove of my neck, inhaling my essence as if it were his last chance. And if I had anything to do with it, it would be his last chance. “If you’re wanting me to explain away our past, I can’t. At the same time, I can’t put into words what you mean to me at this very moment. Give me the opportunity to show you,” he said as he hugged me closer to him.
I dared to move from the warmth of his embrace as I whispered, “Just go back to your life and let me be. I was fine before you got here.”
“Were you?” he asked as his lips grazed the skin of my neck with a tender kiss.
“I was… and you should leave now, John,” I said, struggling to get away from him.
He held me in place. “Going back to my life as it was is not an option. Now that I have seen you again, peered into your soul, felt your body next to mine, I’ll do whatever it takes to make things right.”
“You can’t just say things like that when there’s no way you mean it, John.” I pushed him away hard. “Your time is up!” I said walking to the front door.
“Will you at least sit down and let’s finish the breakfast you prepared?” he asked looking at the spread on the table. “After that, I promise I’ll leave.”
I knew he was just trying to buy more time, but I digressed.
“Since you’re suddenly hungry, hurry up and eat and then let yourself out,” I said as I walked out the kitchen and up the stairs to my bedroom. It wasn’t going to be easy getting rid of him, but come hell or high water the man had to go. He wasn’t about to ease back up into my life, as if the last four decades had not existed.
Chapter 7
Destiny
Navigating Different Terrain
I left Mama’s house headed to Montie’s to get my babies. I hadn’t seen them in a few days, so I was elated when I pulled up and saw Junior playing catch with his father. Montana was sitting on the porch playing with one of her American Girl dolls. It looked as if she was having one of the grandest tea parties ever as she placed a teacup in front of each doll.
“Mommy!” Junior and Montana said in unison as I walked around my parked car.
“Hey mommy’s babies. Did you miss me?”
“I miss you awot,” Montana said clinging onto her doll. “My frins miss you too,” she said pointing to her dolls.
“Aw, honey, I’m so ready to get home so we can play games and watch movies with your friends. You want to do that?” I asked Montana.
“Yay! I bout to go home, so I gotta get all my twoys up,” she said, smiling at Montie.
“Hey, Mom, you wanna see me throw the ball fifteen feet?” Junior said once he hugged me and ran back over to pick up the football.
“Sure, babe,” I told him. “Let’s see what you got.”
Junior picked up the ball and hurled it a nice distance. Montie stood off to the side watching him put his training to work.
“Hi, Montie,” I said before walking up to the porch to help Montana pick up her toys.
“I didn’t realize you were coming so early, or else I would’ve gotten them ready. I promised Junior I would work on his arm and we were just getting started,” he said sounding a little irritated.
“That’s fine, Montie, I’m not in a rush. You can go ahead and practice with him and I’ll sit here with Montana, if that’s okay with you,” I said as I sat down on the lounger and picked up one of the doll’s brushes.
“I guess that’s fine, as long as it won’t become a problem later with your husband,” he said with a smirk.
I wondered what was really going on with his attitude change. “It won’t be a problem,” I assured him.
Montie went back to tossing the ball with Junior and Montana caught me up on the details of her weekend. After about thirty minutes, he gave Junior his final throw and they huddled to discuss what would make him better. Junior listened closely to his father, shaking his head as he took every word in. It was a blessing that Montie was so active in our children’s lives; he really was a great father. I got a little sad as I thought about how rare these moments would be once the kids and I moved to Florida.
“I’ll go get their bags, Destiny,” Montie said as he and Junior jogged to the porch.
I stood up and said, “Actually I need to talk to you about something. Will it be okay if I come in to talk for a second?”
