As Long As We Got Love Read online

  “Inventory...making sure we have toilet paper, snacks for the kids—you know how that works.” Charity sat back down at her desk.

  Heshan leaned against Charity’s desk and crossed his arms. “Yes. I know all about it. Other than inventory, is everything going smoothly?”

  “Yep.” She smiled. “What are you up to Heshan?”

  “I was just curious about how the school and everything is going. I know you like to keep some things from me, but if the school needs extra funding or anything I’ll be happy to help.”

  “I know you would but the school is doing just fine. The money from the after-school program has been enough to cover the monthly expenses, so I’m doing okay. You’ve done enough to help me get this place open.”

  Heshan stood tall again and stretched his arms in the air.

  Charity watched him flex his body, imagining the way he was moving and flexing it last night while they were making love. She licked her lips just thinking about it.

  “Charity, did you hear me?”

  “Huh? I’m sorry, my mind was somewhere else. What’d you say?”

  “I said, if you need me, you know where I’ll be.”

  “Yes. I know where you’ll be, Shan.”

  “Hey, before I go, how’s Eden doing? I haven’t seen her over at the house in a while. Is she okay?”

  “Yeah. She’s okay.” That’s all Charity said in response, not wanting to tell Heshan how worried she was about Eden, the fact that her sister was pregnant or that his brother Dilvan had been acting like a nutcase again. That he was off his medication and, according to Eden, out of his mind some days and normal on others.

  “Hmm…okay. I noticed Dilvan has been hit-or-miss at work. I mean, I know he’s back into modeling and all that but he was consistent with coming to the restaurant for a while there, then he just fell off.”

  “Maybe you should go check on him,” Charity suggested.

  “Maybe I’ll do that.” Heshan leaned down to take a long kiss from her lips, then said, “I love you.”

  “I love you, too.”

  “See you later.”

  “Okay.”

  Chapter 4

  -*- Preston and Tamera -*-

  Tamera sat at her desk, typing notes from her latest restaurant review. She looked at her scribbled notes and chewed on her lip trying to make out her own handwriting:

  Review notes for Lucky Garden Dinery

  -Chinese cuisine with open buffet option (side note, I’ve never been a fan of buffets, yuck)

  -North side restaurant/nice area of town

  -California rolls are to die for/egg rolls a little greasy

  -Chicken wings taste like peanuts, but good nonetheless

  -Red booth seats tacky and old/seats cracked, can see cotton busting out

  She tapped her pen on the desk and closed her eyes, visualizing the restaurant in her head. She could smell the golden, crispy chicken wings that, when she’d taken a bite, tasted like they’d been cooked in some sort of peanut oil. Delicious as far as she was concerned but not so good for somebody with nut allergies. Then there were the lo mein egg noodles – the flavor of them had her stomach grumbling.

  That’s what I get for not eating breakfast…

  She opened her eyes when she heard her phone vibrating and saw the caller was her brother Tyson.

  “What’s up, bro?” she answered.

  “Hey, food lady,” he quipped.

  “You’re one to talk. You cook the food, I just write about it.”

  “Stop your lying. You’ll probably be ten pounds heavier when I see you at the reunion.”

  Tamera giggled. “Maybe five,” she joked.

  “So, you’re going to make it to the reunion this weekend, huh?” Tyson asked.

  “I am. Looking forward to it, actually. Besides, mom already threatened to hunt me down if I’m not there.”

  “And you know she’d do it.”

  “Yeah. No kidding. I still haven’t told Preston about the reunion though.”

  “What are you waiting for?”

  “I’m not waiting…it’s just that he’s been so busy at work for the last couple of months I’m not even sure if he’ll take the time off work to come with me. I’d been thinking about coming alone.”

  “At least mention it to him, Tamera.”

  “I will at some point. Maybe I should leave a Post-It note on the fridge or send him a we-need-to-talk text message.”

  “Now you’re making it sound like there’s beef stewing between you two.”

  She giggled. “Really, Tyson? Beef. Stewing.”

  He chuckled, catching the food references.

  “All you do is think about food, don’t you?” Tamera teased.

  “I didn’t realize I said it that way, but you get the gist of what I’m saying. Now, tell me…what’s going on?”

  “It’s…um…nothing we can’t handle.” Quickly changing subjects, she asked, “How are the kids?”

  “They’re good. Getting big, of course. Amryn’s trying to say words now.”

  “Aw…I can’t wait to see them. Seems like it’s been years.”

  “It’s only been a few months, Tamera. Oh, and Gabrielle loved those dresses you sent for Amryn, by the way.”

  “Good. I’m glad.”

  “Anyway, sis, let me get back to work. I have for cakes in the oven.”

  “Of course you do,” she said, giggling again. “Always working.”

  “Yep, just like you’re always writing.”

  “You got me there.”

  “I’ll see you this weekend.”

  “Okay, Tyson. Bye.”

  She hung up the phone then thought about the suggestions she jokingly told her brother about leaving notes on the fridge to get Preston’s attention. That may have been a little overboard, but it actually wasn’t a bad idea. She loved the fact that, like her, Preston was passionate about his work. He was the founder and chief editor of a major Charlotte magazine, Charlotte Recreational, but it was obvious to her that he was still in the process of learning how to balance work and home life. For now, the entrepreneur in him took precedence over the husband he needed to be, and that’s why she didn’t want to ask him about the reunion. It would be a bother to him. He didn’t have time for a reunion, especially when it wasn’t his family involved. And she didn’t want to give him the option to choose one or the other – the reunion or his magazine – because she had a strong clue which one he’d pick.

  Tamera sighed, rubbed her eyes, then decided to take a break from typing to browse the web for information on the restaurant she’d be visiting this evening. Preston was working late again, so she decided to get some extra work done, too, plus dinner – an added bonus for a food blogger (well, that’s if the food was good). She’d never been to Italia, a swanky Italian restaurant located in Uptown, but as she looked at their menu offerings online, her mouth watered for buttery garlic knots. Or maybe the pizza. No, the lasagna. She’d read customer reviews on Google and Yelp about the place and it seemed their spaghetti was all the rage. According to their menu, the sauce was homemade and the spaghetti was baked with four types of unnamed cheeses. Even the salad looked delicious. Now, she had to psych herself up to go.

  When her cell phone rang, she looked at it and did a double-take. Preston was calling? He usually didn’t call her midday. He’d generally call toward the end of the workday, so this noon call had her puzzled, although she was glad he was calling. Her first thought was that something was wrong.

  “Hey, Preston,” she answered, trying to keep the spark of surprise out of her voice.

  “Hey, you.”

  A smile came to her face. “Hey. What are you up to?”

  “Nothing. I was sitting at my desk and had a few minutes of downtime, so I thought I’d call and see what my beautiful wife was up to.”

  Her smiled widened. “I’m working…getting ready for this review tonight.”

  “Oh. You planned one for tonight?”
<
br />   “Yes. I figured since you had to work late anyway, I may as well squeeze one in. I’ll probably still beat you home.”

  “You may be right about that, sweetheart. Covering football events is always a busy time for the magazine.”

  “I know, and the city is buzzing about the Carolina Panthers right now.”

  “Yeah, which equals big money for the bars and other venues.”

  “Exactly, and it’s not just the NFL. Fans go crazy over high school and college football, too. I have different teams covering all angles.”

  “Yeah. No doubt.”

  “How’s your day been going?” he asked. “Do you feel okay?”

  “Yeah. I feel fine. Why do you ask?”

  “You’re usually up in the mornings when I leave, but this morning you slept in.”

  “Oh…probably just tired from working so hard.”

  “Then try not to work so hard today, sweetheart. I’ll see you later tonight, okay.”

  “Okay, Preston.”

  “Keep the bed nice and warm for me.”

  She smiled sadly. Skip keeping the bed warm – she wanted him to be in the bed with her. Why couldn’t they keep it warm together? “I will. Love you.”

  “Love you, too.”

  She hung up the phone and rubbed her eyes. Then she focused her attention on her notes again and began typing.

  Chapter 5

  -*- Henry Robinson -*-

  “That’s the last customer,” Henry Robinson, Gabrielle’s father, told her as he locked the door to Coastal Pastries.

  “Good,” Gabrielle replied. “Now, I can go pick up my babies.” Gabrielle had gotten the idea to open the pastry shop since Tyson was a chef and his pastries were only available at his high-end, five-star restaurants and the people he baked for at Padma’s Food House – a restaurant for the needy – which had become a local favorite for people of all walks of life, especially when word got out that the Tyson Alexander was head chef. The people who could afford to do so would leave generous donations that Padma filtered back into the business.

  Coastal Pastries served some delicious desserts, coffee and hot chocolate, and since its opening had proven to be a profitable venture. Tyson made all the pastries but he was quick to give Gabrielle the credit for coming up with the idea and putting her all into the operation of Coastal Pastries. It pleased him for her to have something in her life she loved doing. Something that gave her a sense of purpose outside of himself and the kids.

  “You’ve been working here for a while now, Dad. How do you like it?” she asked, looking at her father. Like her, Henry had a rich dark brown complexion and black hair, but he had shades of gray sprinkled throughout his full head of hair. As a single father to three girls, no doubt they were the blame for some of those grays.

  “I like it. It gives me something to do. I’m glad Patrick came down to show me the ropes.”

  Patrick Goodwin, the manager at Tyson’s most profitable restaurant in Atlanta, had made a visit to Coastal Pastries to school Henry in the food service industry. Tyson had also spent some time mentoring him, but since his time was limited, he called in a favor to Patrick, which worked out good for Henry. He’d learned a lot. He knew everything there was to know about tracking inventory and using the computerized register. Plus, he learned some vital customer service skills which he desperately needed. He was accustomed to working in more strenuous, non-customer service-related jobs like paving roads and construction-related projects. “Yeah. That was nice of him.”

  Henry nodded. “I tell you…marrying Tyson was the best thing that has ever happened to you.”

  Gabrielle smiled warmly as she counted the money from the drawer, preparing it for a bank deposit.

  “It should’ve been him in the beginning instead of that psychopath Dilvan,” Henry said.

  “Dad, that’s water under the bridge.”

  “I’d like to throw Dilvan under a bridge.”

  Gabrielle shook her head. “That’s the past, Dad. My life with Tyson is so wonderful, I can’t allow myself to focus on my negative past with Dilvan. That’s ancient history.”

  “It’s history, but it ain’t ancient.”

  “Dad…”

  “Alright, alright. I’ll leave it alone.”

  “Yes. You do that. I don’t know why you’re so wrapped up in my personal life, anyway. And by the way, when are you going to start dating again, mister?”

  He chuckled. “Oh, girl, I’m too old for all that dating nonsense.”

  “You’re not old. Fifty-something ain’t old.” She chuckled. “Wait…how old are you again?”

  “Look at that…all that talk and you don’t even know how old your ol’ man is.”

  Gabrielle laughed harder. “How old are you?”

  “Too old to be dating.”

  “C’mon, Dad. Don’t you crave companionship? Every time I see an older couple together, I think about you being all alone in that little house.”

  “I’m not alone. Destiny still lives there, you know.”

  “I know, but she’ll be gone soon. I don’t like the idea of you being lonely.” Gabrielle sealed the deposit bag.

  “The thing about that is, I’ve been single since your mother left me high and dry. I’m used to it, Gabby. I’ve learned to be by myself. There’s nothing for you to worry about.”

  “You still need some companionship in your life.”

  “Go ‘head with that, girl. I don’t need anything but a good plate of food and a nice, comfy bed.”

  “Exactly, and guess who can cook you that good plate of food and keep that comfy bed warm?”

  Henry walked into the kitchen and Gabrielle followed him.

  “Pillows can’t love you back, Dad,” Gabrielle told him. She just wouldn’t drop the subject.

  Henry gathered the leftover pastries for the day. “Girl, hush that nonsense. And if I want a hot meal, I’ll just have dinner at your house. That husband of yours can cook his behind off.”

  Gabrielle smiled. That much was true. “Yes, he can.”

  “Ready to get out of here?” Henry asked.

  “Yes. I have to pick up the kids. They’re at Lalita’s house today.”

  “That’s nice. They get to spend some time with their cousins…”

  “They really enjoy it.”

  They stepped out of the back entrance and Henry locked the door.

  “I’ll see you tomorrow, Dad.” She embraced her father right before getting into her car.

  “Okay, dear. Have a good evening.”

  “You, too, and think about what I said.”

  “Yeah, alright,” he said, but had no intention of pondering on the subject any further.

  * * *

  Gabrielle drove the few miles to Lalita’s house, knocked on the door then continued inside. “Hey, girl.”

  Lalita was sitting on the sofa, feeding Amryn a small jar of mashed sweet potatoes. And Tyson had made those, too. He’d prepared all the food for the baby, refusing to buy the store brand stuff.

  “Hey, Gabrielle.”

  Gabrielle smiled looking at Amryn saying, “There’s my sugar. Look at you, beautiful girl.”

  Amryn grew progressively animated and giggly when she laid those brown eyes on her mother. She looked like Gabrielle, but she had Tyson’s mesmerizing brown eyes.

  Gabrielle used the bib around Amryn’s neck to wipe her mouth, then she picked her up from the highchair and kissed her cheeks while Amryn looked adoringly at her. All drools and smiles.

  “She just got up from a nap,” Lalita said.

  “My big girl took a nap today?” Gabrielle asked Amryn in a cute baby voice.

  “She did,” Lalita said, looking at mother and daughter interact with each other. “It’s so nice to see how she interacts with you. She loves her mama.”

  “And I love my baby.” Gabrielle planted another kiss on Amryn’s cheek. “Now, where’s my little monster?” she asked, referring to T.J.

  “Girl, I don�
�t even know,” Lalita said, although she knew he was probably in her kid’s room playing with toys. “I’m sure they’ll be down in a minute. They’ve been playing down here for a few minutes, then go right back upstairs.”

  “Yeah, that sounds like him.”

  “Anyway, you don’t have to rush off, Gabrielle. Sit down for a minute. Do you want something to drink? Eat?”

  “Nothing to eat, but I’ll get some water.”

  “I’ll get it,” Lalita said standing, heading to the kitchen. She had on a white and coral chevron patterned dress that nearly touched her ankles. No shoes.

  “I can get it, Lalita. I know my way around your house now.”

  “I know, but no worries. I got it.” After finding a glass and filling it with ice, she added water, then walked back to the living room, handing it to Gabrielle.

  “Thank you.”

  “No problem.” Lalita returned to her seat, sighed heavily and hung her head, her black hair covering most of her face.

  “Okay…what’s wrong?” Gabrielle asked after taking a generous sip of water. Amryn was trying to swipe the glass out of her hand.

  Lalita huffed more air to fan the hair away from her face. “I’m not sure if it’s something wrong or not. It’s just that Prasad likes me at home with the kids. He says he’s okay with me working but I know he’s probably not, and I watch you work and Tyson is so supportive of you and—”

  “Yes, Tyson was on board with me working. I didn’t know how he would take it at first being that he makes a lot of money but he was.”

  “Well, Prasad is the total opposite. He’s on board with me staying right here at this house.”

  “But I thought he was coming around.”

  “Since when?”

  “Since he gave you the okay to go to that seminar with Padma in Chicago, remember?”

  “Oh. Right. I forgot about that. Anyway, I don’t know. He loves that I’m home. I think he enjoys knowing I’ll always be here when he gets off of work. He likes the ‘idea’ of taking care of me, and I love him for taking care of me, but I’m kinda bored around here. I want to do something. Be something.”