No One But You (9 page)

“If I can get coverage for my classes, I will come.”

“Good.” He picked up an envelope off her chest of drawers. “Here’s your tickets. First class.”

“You sneak. You’d better hope that I find a substitute.”

“Like your students will cry a river if you don’t show up,” he teased.

They walked into the living room and stopped short.

“Well, I don’t know if you broke a record or what?” Naomi looked at her watch. “If I count from the time that the shower went on to the time that you came out, you should be walking with bow legs.”

Sara giggled, though she was completely embarrassed by Naomi’s banter.

“You ladies are jealous.” Jackson passed them and their raucous hoots. He swept Sara into an embrace and kissed her deeply. The kiss left her surprised and winded. “Now you take care, l’il miss,” he said as he left.

Sara had always been a little partial to cowboys.

She turned to her sorors with a huge grin.

“I can’t believe that you got busy while we were out here.” Denise emerged with warm slices of coffee cake.

“Who brought those? I’m famished.” Sara took a plate and helped herself to a huge bite.

“Guess you worked up an appetite.” Asia had her usual glass of milk and chocolate bar for breakfast.

“Does this mean that you’ve made up?” Athena asked.

“We didn’t have a falling-out. I needed a little more time to decide on whether to go with Jackson. He played dirty. Now I have an airline ticket,” Sara said.

Denise set down the platter. “I hope you said yes.”

Sara nodded. She’d keep the rumblings of fear to herself. No one wanted to think of the practical side to the situation. They were all a bunch of romantics.

Naomi clapped her hands. “Okay, let’s get this meeting rolling. What’s up?”

In the stark brightness of the day, the truth of the meeting seemed uglier. How to break Denise’s news to them? Yet, Sara knew that she couldn’t back away. Although Denise would feel the heat of their anger, in the end, she would receive help and advice.

“I need a small loan.”

“Sure, hon.” Asia pulled out her checkbook.

Sara looked at Denise, who refused to meet her scrutiny. “If you don’t say something, I will.” This was no time for Denise’s stubbornness.

“Denise, what is she talking about?” Naomi pushed. She scooted to the edge of the couch and turned her undivided attention on Denise. “Sara, talk.”

“Denise owes five thousand dollars in gambling debts.”

“Sara, shut up!” Denise barked.

Sara accepted her anger. “No, you need to own up to the mess you’ve created.”

“It’s my business.”

“Everyone calm down,” Athena urged. “Denise, look it’s nothing to be ashamed of. We’ll put our money together and see what we come up with.”

“Thank you, Athena,” Denise said in a sulky tone and looked pointedly at Sara.

“I’m not going to let you label me the bad guy in this. This is more than repaying a debt. This is about you having a gambling problem,” Sara stated.

Naomi chuckled. “A bit overdramatic even for you, Sara.”

“It’s true. This is the third time she’s been in trouble because of the amount she bet.”

Naomi’s smile faltered and disappeared. “Denise?”

“And that’s probably only what I discovered.”

Denise set down her coffee mug with a sharp thud. The black liquid sloshed over the side. She didn’t seem to care. Tears glistened in her eyes and her mouth trembled, but there was no sorrow. Denise was known for her temper. She looked like a kettle on boil ready to blow.

“Stay out of it. Don’t you have some bad habits? Are you all so perfect?” She smacked her head. “Oh, let me refresh your memories, you bunch of hypocrites. Naomi, didn’t you get all warm and cozy with that basketball player that had just put an engagement ring on his woman’s finger.”

“That’s only a rumor.”

“Asia and Athena, didn’t you take tests for each other during college?”

“Prove it.” Asia sulked.

“Sara, didn’t you pledge so you could shake off your humble roots.”

Sara gasped. “I didn’t know you could be so cruel.”

Her friend’s viciousness rattled her. They had never fought among themselves. She tried to remain calm, but Denise had managed to poke at each of their hot buttons. Now only angry silence hung over the room.

Athena cleared her throat. “We’ve intervened on each other’s behalf on many things. We do it out of love for each other. When we pledged, we learned about true sisterhood beyond our natural family ties. When it counted, we’ve had each other’s backs. This is just another struggle to overcome. Denise, we want to be at your side to help you through this.” When Denise opened her mouth to speak, Athena sliced her hand through the air. “No, you listen. You owe us an apology. What you just did was childish and you sunk low with your comments. I can only presume that you’re hurting. Maybe we’ve been too busy in our lives to pay attention when one of us needs a little help.”

Sara took a deep breath, cleansing herself of the quick, hot anger generated by Denise’s accusation. She placed a comforting arm around Denise’s shoulders. Trust Athena to say the right thing. She had that calm demeanor that earned her the nickname “counselor.” Denise cried softly into her hands. Sara mouthed to Asia to get the box of tissues from her room.

“I am truly sorry,” Denise admitted. “I don’t know how I started and how it got to this point. I don’t know what to do!” She sank into Sara’s arms, sobbing outright.

“I know. I know.” Sara rubbed her back. “We’ll find a good clinic to help, if you’re willing?”

Denise nodded.

“In the meantime, I’ll cover the entire expense,” Naomi said.

“Oh, Naomi, you can’t,” Denise protested.

“Oh yes, she can,” the twins affirmed.

“Who the heck else has that kind of money,” Asia responded, taking a completely different tack from her sister.

“Who do you have to pay?” Naomi inquired.

“It’s a private thing,” Denise said, a bit mysteriously.

“Uh-huh.” Naomi nodded. “And I’m Tyra, the supermodel.” She twirled in the living room. She may have been tall, like Tyra Banks but Naomi had none of her grace.

“Well, we’ve got to run.” Asia and Athena rose.

“Denise, please get some help,” Athena urged.

“I’ll help her.” Sara gave her friend a hug.

Naomi stood. “I’m leaving, too. Denise, come with me. I’ll get the money for you and take you to your car.”

“Thanks.” Denise gathered her stuff.

Sara didn’t like how quiet and subdued she’d become. They’d only taken care of one problem—the debt. But they hadn’t gotten close to the root of what took hold of Denise’s willpower. She’d gladly stay with her and let Jackson go on his way.

“Denise, if you need me this weekend…”

“I know where you’re heading with that statement. Don’t use me as your excuse.” Denise kissed her cheek. “Thanks for the sofa bed. I have to face my demons. You have to blow through yours. It’s all relative.”

They hugged, long and hard, mending the wound that had so recently gaped between them.

J
ackson headed to Ted Beavers’s office, not as confident as he had sounded on the phone. He’d used Beavers as his excuse to stay in Chicago until he could convince Sara to give him a second chance. Ted Beavers now presented an unexpected option for him. The underlying reason did rattle him a bit, taking him down a strange and unchartered personal path. But the idea of his father discovering his tentative plans twisted his nerves in knots.

His old man would see his action as no less than an act of betrayal. He might even be labeled a thief. His father held a rather dim view of anyone or anything that took money from his pocket. And having the heir to the throne walk away would indict him of that crime.

“Good morning, Jackson. Come on in.” The older man had thick gray hair and his heavily lined face beamed. His suit looked tailor-made, and was a deep, rich blue color. “Your company’s reputation precedes you.”

Maybe that’s why Jackson had managed to get an appointment on such short notice.

Ted Beavers had a bustling office. It probably helped that he was in a booming city with downtown revitalization prospects and plans for more suburban sprawl. Jackson followed Beaver into a small conference room with lots of glass and cherry wood.

An assistant came in and took their beverage selection. Jackson casually checked his surroundings. The office didn’t boast the company’s success, but appeared to be efficient. Given the location of the office, Jackson assumed a lot of money went into rent. The types of deals that Beavers netted could more than support the heavy overhead costs. As far as he knew, Beavers was the sole owner—a good thing for his purpose.

But what did he bring to the table?

Jackson didn’t want to begin speaking until the drinks arrived. He didn’t want any distraction or interruption when he launched into his spiel. Beavers, more than likely, multitasked, but for his own selfish reason, Jackson wanted the man’s undivided attention.

Jackson accepted the tall glass of cold water. No need for caffeine. But as his nerves grew jumpy, his throat was bound to get dry. He took a long drink before launching his great idea.

“Ted, I’m always looking for the next frontier. From everything I’ve heard in the industry news, trends of businesses and the demographics, a lot is happening in Chicago.”

“You’re absolutely correct on that point. Chicago will continue to be a mix of the old with the new. The city rivals New York, Miami and Los Angeles. I’m proud to be a part of that transformation.” Ted pushed back his chair and stared out at the sea of high-rise buildings.

“I want to be part of this transformation, too.” On the spur of the moment, Jackson decided to be simple and truthful. Ted looked like the type of person who had seen a lot and heard all the BS that people had to offer.

“We can do the two-step dance here, but that’s not going to get us anywhere. Plus it’s a waste of time.” Ted propped his chin on his steepled fingers. “What are you pitching to me?”

“Our company has developed strong networks with a couple of mortgage companies. We can get secured financing for most credit. Now we are ready to look at other opportunities.”

“I’ve got resources, too.”

“This is true. I’ve also learned that there will be a sister city modeled here in Illinois after my hometown. I’m familiar with the obstacles that may occur,” Jackson said.

“Still not seeing an advantage for me.”

Jackson didn’t need Ted to say that he wasn’t interested. His stoic expression never changed, his eyes didn’t glitter over anything he’d said. If Jackson didn’t say something meaningful in the next few minutes, this meeting would be over.

“My interest is purely personal, Ted.”

Ted’s eyes narrowed with unconcealed interest. “Now we’re getting somewhere.”

“I’m interested in the commercial development side of the business.”

“Why Chicago?”

“A woman.”

Ted’s tight-lipped expression broke into a toothy grin before a loud rumbling chuckle shook his body. “Mrs. Beavers would be happy to hear that response. I’ve done my homework on you. I must admit that I was looking forward to our meeting. And so far, I like what I heard. Why don’t we get together next week, I’m meeting a few of my investors at a chamber-of-commerce event.”

“I’m heading home in a couple days. But I’d be willing to fly down by the end of the month.” Jackson didn’t expect his father to remain behind on the next trip to Chicago. But he’d made considerable headway, so he wasn’t going to bring up the potential roadblocks.

“Keep in touch. I like your style. You remind me of my younger days.”

Jackson left the meeting with the urge to strut from his success. He didn’t entertain superstitious notions. But once again, he counted himself lucky. Reuniting with Sara was proving to be a new and rewarding phase in his life.

“Are you okay?”

Sara didn’t immediately respond to Jackson’s show of concern. All her muscles tensed into painful knots along her shoulders, where she carried her stress. Although she had a wonderful and comfortable flight, the purpose of her journey increased her tension.

“We’ll be there in no time,” Jackson reassured, clearly misreading the situation.

Sara gulped. Her throat ached for a glass of wine. She barely survived the plane’s bumpy landing. After leaving the plane, she and Jackson walked through the airport in Columbus, heading to the area where people held up signs for inbound passengers. Sara wanted to turn around to get a return flight immediately.

“I need to run to the restroom.” Sara sought refuge in the crowded ladies’ room. She rounded the corner and faced one of the oversized mirrors for a quick examination.

Denise had talked her into leaving her wardrobe behind and buying several new outfits. Instead of the regular department store selections, they’d gone to a little boutique in the town center that featured European designers. After forking over close to the amount of a paycheck, she had three outfits that should stand the scrutiny of Jackson’s parents, specifically his mother.

Jackson had indicated that he didn’t intend to delay the meeting with his parents. He’d arranged to meet them for that evening. She retouched her lipstick, powdered her nose and then rejoined Jackson.

“I know you’re worrying yourself to death, but baby, you look fantastic. Trust me. I’ll be at your side.” Despite his message, she spotted signs of his unease. She wasn’t the only one having an attack of nerves. This observation gave a small crumb of comfort. They shared a mutual reaction.

Once they retrieved their luggage, a driver met them in the waiting area. He stood in front of a black sedan. Trust Jackson to work at treating her to all the pomp and circumstance. Thank goodness for her wardrobe selection. She’d worn the black pantsuit and crisp white shirt for conservative elegance. She’d learned her lesson the hard way.

“Your hands are cold,” Jackson noted, squeezing her hand.

“Guess all the attention is on my heart, trying to keep it as calm as possible.” Sara didn’t bother admiring the view. With every turn and mile passed, she knew that it brought her closer to the destination.

“What would you like to do this weekend?”

“Gosh, I haven’t really thought about it. I’m meeting your parents today. Aren’t you going to be busy playing catch-up?”

“I’ll have to talk to my father and he won’t wait until Monday. But I can get that out of the way in the morning. Then we can spend the afternoon leisurely, maybe take in a show.”

“Now that sounds fabulous.”

“And then there is the post-show performance.” He leaned in to kiss her on the corner of her mouth. “Don’t want to wreck that lipstick. It looks like it was applied with an artist’s precision,” he teased, before kissing her again.

Sara giggled. Nevertheless, she popped out her compact mirror to check that he hadn’t smeared the color. Perfection had zero tolerance. Satisfied, she snapped the case closed and put it back in her pocketbook. For her protection, she slid away from Jackson.

“Oh, so it’s like that, now,” he said.

“Yes, it is.” Sara blew him a kiss, figuring it was better than nothing.

The car pulled into a familiar neighborhood with a mixture of condominiums, single-family homes and what could only be called mansions. The condominiums didn’t look that different from most of the others in a middle-income community. But by the very nature of the zip code, Sara knew that these buildings started at half a million, the single family homes at a million, and the mansions…Well, if you had to ask, you couldn’t afford.

Sara placed her forearm against her stomach. She felt incredibly queasy and flushed. This was no time to allow her stress to make her physically ill. The car cruised up the cobbled driveway, passing the five-car garage that looked like a separate dwelling. Under a columned canopy, the car stopped. Sara readied herself just before the door opened and she exited the vehicle with the aid of the driver’s gloved hand.

She didn’t have time to get her hair cut, but it was styled in an easy hairdo with a small part in the middle. She ran a hand down each side of her head to make sure any stray strands were set back into place. She pulled on the bottom of her jacket and checked that the embroidered collar was sitting against the jacket’s lapels. A quick glance at her shoes, and she was all set. The new pumps were not fancy, but had an elegant cut, and the visible designer tag was positioned near the edging.

She joined Jackson and walked up to the door. As the door was opened by a uniformed maid, Sara counted off all the things that she should be proud of—she graduated with honors, she was an associate professor at a renowned university and she was a member of a prestigious sorority.

She took a deep breath. She wasn’t that young college coed, giddy and in love, naive about the realities of the social ladder in polite society.
Was this how Eliza Doolittle felt before entering the ball?

“Vernetta, how are you doing?” Jackson asked, addressing the maid.

“Fine, thank you. Your mother is waiting in the family room. Your father will be home shortly.”

Jackson nodded. Sara could tell that Jackson wasn’t happy that his father wasn’t home.

“Don’t get all upset. He’s got a business to run. No need to pop home for my sake.” Sara squeezed his arm.

“He lives for the business,” Jackson said, with more than a touch of bitterness.

Jackson led the way into the family room. Sara willed her legs to continue into the large room. This room hadn’t changed much in décor. The rich rose walls and cream highlights remained. A large grand piano dominated one corner of the room.

Previously there had been large painted portraits of the family and various members. The room used to remind her of a museum. The austerity had been reduced somewhat by framed photographs of the next generation. The smiling faces of grandchildren drew her in. She picked up a larger photograph that showed six grandkids. She wondered if they had changed Jackson’s mother’s personality.

“Oh, Jackson, you’re back.” His mother remained seated in her chair with her arms outstretched. Anyone who didn’t know her would be taken in by the sweetness that enveloped her face. She cradled his face between hands that were perfectly manicured and bejeweled. “Come sit next to your mother.”

Jackson complied.

And in that instant, Sara no longer felt like a visitor, but a defendant at a trial. She looked at him, but he was like a kid smiling brightly at her while sitting next to his mother. All kinds of words, none of them flattering, entered her mind. But she could do this. She could get through one visit.

“Mrs. Thomas, it’s good to see you.”

“Thank you. Imagine my surprise when Jackson mentioned seeing you in Chicago.” Her mother patted his hand. “You didn’t tell me that you were going to run in to old friends.”

Sara wondered how far to go with the truth. So far, Jackson had thrown her out into the deep water. “Now I’m surprised at you, Jackson. You didn’t tell your mother that you came to Chicago for my birthday. You see, my line sisters wanted to deliver him to me, as a birthday present.”

Yes. Now that’s the kind of shock she liked to see. First Mrs. Thomas turned bright pink under her creamy beige complexion. And then Jackson opened and closed his mouth like a guppie swimming in the deep end of her ocean. Welcome to her world.

“I did have business, too. I have to bring Dad up-to-date on a few things. When is he going to be home?”

“Shortly.” His mother adjusted the hem of her skirt. “I do hope you’ll be staying for dinner, er…”

“Sarafina.”

“Ah, yes, that unusual name. Was it passed down in your history? A favorite aunt, grandmother, or cousin?”

“I don’t know the history.” Sara grew tired of standing. Since Jackson’s mother had no intention of offering a seat, she selected the farthest chair. “How about your name? Is there a history?”

“Eleanor. I was named after my great-grandmother, whose father was a Scottish missionary and mother was a learned woman.”

“That’s nice. My nickname is Sara. Do people call you Nelly? My grandmother used to have a horse…ah, well, let’s not dwell on the past.”

While Eleanor sputtered, Sara shifted an innocent gaze to Jackson, who did his best to stop from smiling.

“I will check on dinner.” As Eleanor passed, she muttered, “The manners of these young people today.”

Whatever!
Sara felt as if her back had straightened and lengthened two inches. Once Eleanor left the room, she turned her attention on Jackson.

“Don’t bother grinning at me. You were no help. What happened to ‘I’ll be at your side.’ Yeah, I saw whose side you were on, all right.”

“I love it when you get riled. I knew you could handle my mother.” He came over and dropped on his knees. “Forgiven?”

“Not so easy, buster.” Sara folded her arms over her chest. “Tell me why you lied about coming to see me.”

“Honestly, I wasn’t sure how you would have reacted. This trip was more of an exploratory venture. Maybe you would’ve sent me on my way.” He slid a hand along her thigh, causing her to erupt into a fit of giggles.