He's Just A Friend (25 page)
Read He's Just A Friend Online
Authors: Mary B. Morrison
CHAPTER 38
N
ew Year's Eve. Fancy sighed heavily. She gazed out the patio window at the stars. Big dipper. Little dipper. A mirage? Fancy fell onto her bed in tears and couldn't stop crying. The eve before her twenty-third birthdayâan entire year had passedâand she still hadn't found the right man.
ew Year's Eve. Fancy sighed heavily. She gazed out the patio window at the stars. Big dipper. Little dipper. A mirage? Fancy fell onto her bed in tears and couldn't stop crying. The eve before her twenty-third birthdayâan entire year had passedâand she still hadn't found the right man.
Each relationship with her best friends, Desmond, Tanya, and SaVoy, had changed. The most important man in Fancy's life was moving to the other side of the country. Atlanta, Georgia, was over three thousand miles away. William had isolated Tanya. And Fancy couldn't blame SaVoy for marrying Tyronne. Tyronne was a good man and Fancy believed, even though SaVoy and Tyronne were opposites, they were meant for one another.
Ruffling her down-feather comforter, Fancy scurried across her king-size bed in search of her ringing phone. One more ring and her voice mail would turn on. SaVoy's name registered on the display so Fancy quickly answered, “Hey, girl! What's up?”
“Just called to see what you're doing tonight.” As usual, SaVoy sounded happy. Fancy could picture her best friend's bright smile.
“Going out. To a gala at the Ritz. No, I'm not going to church, so don't ask. Say a prayer for me and call me tomorrow. After three.”
Fancy was happy and sad. Would some other woman flirt with Byron while she was on his arm tonight? Should she go out with Byron? Fancy insisted on meeting him at the gala because she was not going to be the same fool twice. Was she?
Dressed in a stunning designer turquoise gown, Fancy grabbed her shawl and went to the basement garage. Now she owned two cars. Fancy jiggled her keys and decided to drive the car Desmond gave her.
Mints. Mints. Stop at the store. No, go to the gala. It's early. Go to the store and get some mints.
Strolling inside the drugstore, Fancy purchased a small tin of breath mints. She cruised down MacArthur Boulevard.
“Damn, why aren't these lights synchronized?”
A light drizzle sprinkled across her windshield. At each light the raindrops splashed harder. Thicker. A few moments later, the downpour obscured her view. Fancy drove five miles an hour toward the Bay Bridge. The rain poured harder. A loud screeching noise pierced her ears. Fancy quickly pulled over and cupped her hands to her head. When the noise stopped Fancy noticed smoke rising from her hood.
“Shit! Why tonight? Dammit.”
Not the timing belt,
she thought.
Couldn't be. Not again.
Desmond had to have remembered to change it before he gave her back the car. The gas station across the street was closed. Every passing car stopped for the red light, then kept going. The only place in sight was the last place Fancy wanted to be on New Year's Eve. Church. SaVoy's church.
she thought.
Couldn't be. Not again.
Desmond had to have remembered to change it before he gave her back the car. The gas station across the street was closed. Every passing car stopped for the red light, then kept going. The only place in sight was the last place Fancy wanted to be on New Year's Eve. Church. SaVoy's church.
Fancy stood in the rain, then got back in her car. Her dress was soaked. Hair ruined. As she contemplated, the rain poured harder.
“I have no choice.” Fancy raced across the street. Her shoes splashed in the puddles. Once inside she couldn't believe how many people were at church on New Year's Eve. Didn't they have a life?
A man seated in a folding chair next to the last pew motioned for Fancy to take his seat. Couldn't he see she was soaked and out of place? And as soon as the rain subsided she would go. Fancy tiptoed, then squatted on the edge of the seat, trying not to soak the cushion.
“Thanks,” Fancy whispered.
When she bowed her head toward her lap, the person seated to her right handed Fancy a monogrammed handkerchief with the initials DL engraved in small gold letters. Fancy first noticed the locks, then Darius.
Oh, shit.
Oh, shit.
Fancy whispered, “Thanks.”
Although she heard the choir, Fancy focused on Darius. Why was Darius crying? Fancy reached for his hand. Darius immediately pulled away.
“Excuse me,” Darius said, stepping over her wet feet.
Where was he going? Fancy quietly sniffed her clothes. No, that wasn't it.
Damn! Shoot! How could she follow him without being obvious? Fancy stood with the congregation. Sat. Then stood again. She noticed SaVoy and Tyronne. Tanya. Fancy's eyes roamed the surrounding pews.
SaVoy nodded and then smiled, acknowledging Fancy as if she were expecting her. Dez! There was Desmond. Fancy looked to his left. Carlita. They looked like the happy odd couple.
“Excuse me,” Darius said, stepping over Fancy again to take his seat. His eyes were drier.
Fancy glanced at the preacher and bit her bottom lip to keep from laughing. His hair was shaped like a miniature Don King afro. Fancy frowned when the pastor began humming instead of singing.
After the song, Pastor Tellings preached, “Call if you will, but who will answer you? . . . Darkness comes upon them in the daytime . . . Blessed is the man whom God corrects . . . We have examined this, and it is true. So hear it and apply it to yourself. This is from the book of Job. From henceforth know that you cannot outthink, outsmart, con, nor get over on God. Resentment kills a fool, and envy slays the simple. Don't be simple. Don't be foolish . . . Let us pray.”
When Darius wrapped his hand around Fancy's, Fancy felt an instant connection. She was embarrassed because she didn't know how to pray or what to say to God, so she remained silent inside, waiting for everyone else to finish. Then she heard Darius whisper, “Lord, thank you for blessing this queen and bringing her home. If she has any burdens, Lord, I ask that you remove them from her heart . . .” Then he prayed for Ma Dear. He must have missed her a lot. Then he prayed for Ashlee, Maxine, and his brothers. And fathers? Wellington and Darryl. He prayed for his mother. She was the only one he didn't call by name. Fancy wasn't sure Darius was conscious that he spoke aloud. But other people mumbled too. Fancy remained silent and said a special prayer for Caroline. Darius broke her concentration concluding with “Amen” so Fancy said, “Amen.”
Fancy was elated when church ended. She blocked Darius's exit, extended her hand, and said, “Hi, I'm Fancy Taylor. Remember me?”
“Pleased to meet you. I'm Darius. Darius Jones.”
Fancy frowned, then straightened her eyebrows. Was this the same arrogant guy she'd met or a clone? “Why the initials DL?”
“The DL is for Darius's Law. That's how I'm living. I make the rules. I don't follow them.”
Fancy smiled, then frowned as SaVoy, Tyronne, Desmond, Carlita, and Tanya invaded their space.
SaVoy smiled wide and bright, then said, “We're going to my house for appetizers and socializing, you guys care to join us?”
Before Darius could respond Fancy replied, “I can't. My car just broke down outside.”
Desmond extended his hand to Fancy. “Give me your keys. I'll pick your car up tomorrow.”
“Looks like you need a ride, young lady. I can handle that for you if you can trust me,” Darius said.
Fancy's night was just getting started. “Sure. Thanks.”
SaVoy raised her eyebrows twice. No, she was not telling Fancy not to sleep with Darius. This was a new year and one of the wealthiest men in Oakland was by Fancy's side.
Darius flipped open his cell phone, then pressed his speaker button. “I'm ready.” He hung up and said, “If you're rolling with me, let's go.”
“Not so fast, mister,” SaVoy said. “Tell your mother I said hello.”
“Ready?” Darius asked, still ignoring SaVoy.
What was that all about?
Fancy thought.
Fancy thought.
Fancy walked out with Darius. The driver opened the door to a black stretch limousine.
Fancy smiled and waved good-bye to her friends. Desmond turned toward Carlita, holding Carlita's arm tighter.
“My place or yours?” Darius asked.
Fancy smiled and replied, “Mine.”
After Darius dropped her off, Fancy reflected upon her last year's resolutions. Her New Year's resolution, to find the right man: tall, rich, and handsome, was the same. Darius was definitely Fancy's type. But unlike his predecessors Fancy would take her time and get to know him.
Fancy stood on her balcony. SaVoy had told her it was never too late to call upon the Lord. So this year, for the first time in over ten years, she prayed. Fancy thanked God for her mother and promised to stop calling her Caroline. Fancy thanked God for making her complete, realizing everything she needed she already had. And Fancy prayed for God to give back her friend. And if for any reason Desmond should be out of Fancy's life, Fancy promised God that she'd never refer to Desmond Brown by saying, “He's just a friend.”
Who knew? Maybe God had blessed Fancy with a new friend, Darius Jones.
EXPECTATIONS
We expect
Someone driving on the freeway
In front of us
To keep the same pace
So that we may keep the same pace
Or we expect them to get the hell out of our way
Someone driving on the freeway
In front of us
To keep the same pace
So that we may keep the same pace
Or we expect them to get the hell out of our way
But they don't do
Even though
they don't
have a clue
Even though
they don't
have a clue
We expect strangers to give us
Three feet of space
And not be in our face
Listening to what we are saying
Although they may not be paying
They may be praying
Because their loved one is dead
And they don't even notice
We are alive
Three feet of space
And not be in our face
Listening to what we are saying
Although they may not be paying
They may be praying
Because their loved one is dead
And they don't even notice
We are alive
But we expect them to do
Even though they don't have a clue
Even though they don't have a clue
We expect our spouses to do
What we want them to do
Even though they sometimes don't have a clue
What if they
Were you
What we want them to do
Even though they sometimes don't have a clue
What if they
Were you
We expect our children not to make
The same mistakes
We've made
Because we've paved
The same mistakes
We've made
Because we've paved
Their way
They should not stumble
Nor fall
Yet we cannot remember
Yet we cannot forget
We too
had to
Learn how to crawl
They should not stumble
Nor fall
Yet we cannot remember
Yet we cannot forget
We too
had to
Learn how to crawl
I hope
I hope
I hope
After reading Soul Mates Dissipate
If you only understand
We are not perfect
And will never be
And we must accept responsibility
For the actions of our plans
I hope
I hope
After reading Soul Mates Dissipate
If you only understand
We are not perfect
And will never be
And we must accept responsibility
For the actions of our plans
We do have a plan
Right
There is a purpose
in life
Right
There is a purpose
in life
I hope
After reading He's Just A Friend
We will stop
Using the word friend
So loose
And learn to untie the noose
That we have placed around each other's necks
After reading He's Just A Friend
We will stop
Using the word friend
So loose
And learn to untie the noose
That we have placed around each other's necks
I hope
After reading Never Again Once More
We discover the core
Is forgiveness
Forgiveness is key
Oneness in love is the key
For true love can never be
Separate and equal
After reading Never Again Once More
We discover the core
Is forgiveness
Forgiveness is key
Oneness in love is the key
For true love can never be
Separate and equal
So I hope
The next time you
Have expectations
That you have them of yourself
And no one else
Or you will be disappointed
By who
No one
The next time you
Have expectations
That you have them of yourself
And no one else
Or you will be disappointed
By who
No one
But you
CHRONOLOGY
Soul Mates Dissipate, Never Again Once More, He's Just A Friend,
and my next four novels are intertwined. I recommend reading the series in order. Hopefully, this brief background will help the reader better understand the connections.
and my next four novels are intertwined. I recommend reading the series in order. Hopefully, this brief background will help the reader better understand the connections.
Soul Mates Dissipate
Soul Mates Dissipate
is, for now, the beginning. This page-turning drama takes you on a journey with Jada Diamond Tanner and Wellington Jones, aka . . . soul mates. Wellington's mother Cynthia Jones, who has a history of her own with her sister Katherine, friend Susan, and ex-lover Keith, invites another woman, Melanie Marie Thompson, to break up Wellington's engagement with Jada.
is, for now, the beginning. This page-turning drama takes you on a journey with Jada Diamond Tanner and Wellington Jones, aka . . . soul mates. Wellington's mother Cynthia Jones, who has a history of her own with her sister Katherine, friend Susan, and ex-lover Keith, invites another woman, Melanie Marie Thompson, to break up Wellington's engagement with Jada.
Never Again Once More
This sequel to
Soul Mates Dissipate
spans twenty years into the lives of Jada and Wellington. Jada marries Lawrence Anderson. Wellington marries Simone Smith. Darius Jones, Jada's son, is born and matures to twenty years of age by the end of this story and he's climbing on top of his mother's corporate ladder and her female executive staff.
Soul Mates Dissipate
spans twenty years into the lives of Jada and Wellington. Jada marries Lawrence Anderson. Wellington marries Simone Smith. Darius Jones, Jada's son, is born and matures to twenty years of age by the end of this story and he's climbing on top of his mother's corporate ladder and her female executive staff.
He's Just A Friend
Fancy Taylor is a beautiful but not so brilliant woman on the move to conquer a rich husband by any means necessary. Along her journey she'll meet several friends, some of which become foes, and eventually Fancy will meet Jada's son Darius Jones.
Somebody's Gotta Be On Top
(the next release)
(the next release)
Regardless of the situation, Darius Jones is always on top. His motto is: “If it doesn't make money, it doesn't make sense.” That includes the women in his life. That is, until he meets Fancy Taylor.
If you've read each novel, as I mentioned before, Cynthia Jones has a history so moving, trust me, her story is worth the wait. Cynthia's story creates the beginning and concludes my seven-book series. After Cynthia's novel, I promise not to keep you waiting for
Kiss Me: Now Tell Me You Love Me,
a chilling drama about Harrison and Angela Gray.
Kiss Me: Now Tell Me You Love Me,
a chilling drama about Harrison and Angela Gray.
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The Vanishing Sculptor by Donita K. Paul
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Prisonomics by Pryce, Vicky
Ambrosia (Nectar Trilogy, Book 2) by Prince, DD
Horror in the East: Japan and the Atrocities of World War II by Laurence Rees
Food Over Medicine by Pamela A. Popper, Glen Merzer
21 Proms by David Levithan
Protective Mate by Toni Griffin
Wartime Wife by Lane, Lizzie