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“See, a great dad,” I smiled.
“Oh, I meant to tell you that coffee you brewed me was amazing! I haven’t been able to drink the coffee at the office. It tastes like crap compared to what you brewed.”
“It’s good, right? You had the dark roast from Ethiopia. I get whole beans from a coffee shop and grind them fresh every morning.”
“So, that’s what fresh coffee tastes like?”
“Yeah, way different than the grocery store stuff, huh?”
“Way different,” he agreed.
“Why don’t you stop over in the mornings and grab a cup. I always press too much and end up throwing it out.”
“You’re willing to share your coffee with me?” he asked.
“I shared my cookie, I might as well share my coffee too,” I shrugged.
Morris did a double-take before he laughed.
5
“It’s good to see you,” I said as Xavier and I embraced.
Xavier was my first mentor. I was assigned as his junior associate when I first started atValentine Law Firm. He took me under his wing and taught me how to conduct myself as a lawyer, how to present myself to clients, and how to set myself up for growth in the firm. His sister, Zanetta, helped me with my wardrobe and taught me how to find my personal style, in her words.
Xavier was promoted to name partner and managed the branch ofValentine and Bellein Houston. He offered me a position in Houston, but at the time I couldn’t leave the girls nor take them with me, so I’d had to decline.
We were attendingMeeting of the Minds,which was a quarterly men’s meeting held by Pastor Julian DeLucas, Xavier’s uncle. The meeting was held at different locations. This time we were meeting at a pool hall. The establishment had pool tables, darts, and ax throwing, in addition to other games. They also served food and had a special cigar room.
TheMeeting of the Mindswas a place where men could share and support one another. JD made sure that each meeting was in a comfortable environment, and he always provided great support while we learned from each other. Men from all stages and walks of life attended the meeting, all bringing a unique perspective to the table.
Samuel, Roc, and their father, Reggie were there along with Raymond, who used to be Samuel’s assistant and had been promoted to the accounting department. He worked with Kerem, who was the financial officer at theValentinecorporation. Kerem arrived with his friend Larenz and several other men who I didn’t know by name but remembered their faces were also there.
“It’s good to be home,” Xavier replied.
“When is the baby due?”
“We have about ten more weeks,” Xavier smiled.
“It’s coming quickly. Man, they get here and change your whole outlook on life.”
“That’s what I keep hearing. I knew I was in love when I saw her face on the sonogram,” Xavier said.
Daisy and Xavier had dated for several years before she moved to Houston and started working for his sister, Zanetta. When the opportunity came forValentine and Belleto expand into Houston, he jumped at the chance to be close to Daisy again. He said she left St. Louis because he was more focused on his work than he was on her. He moved to Houston and worked hard at rekindling their relationship. They got married and now had their first child on the way.
“Congrats on landing the McIntyres. I’ve wanted their business for a long time,” Xavier said.
“Thank you. Their expansion and rebranding plan is ambitious, very doable, but ambitious. It’s a good thing they came to us. They wouldn’t have seen half of the things come to fruition had they stayed with the other firm,” I explained.
“When I first started, I tried to get them as clients. Their father was still alive, not running anything, but he was still around. They were following his lead and staying loyal to their lawyers. Good thing they finally saw the light,” Xavier said.
“No telling where their company would be had they just listened to you back then.”
“Right, but now they have one of the best attorneys the country has to offer on their team, so they are good,” Xavier said.
“’Preciate that, X.”
“I was just telling Xavier how seeing his child for the first time is going to change his life,” I said to the other men seated with us.
