One Love (7 page)

“
Really, Daddy. We’re
getting too old for that.” Nia saw straight through his
strategy.

“
You’ll never outgrow being
my lovely princesses. Now come here.”

Alex gathered them in both arms. He
covered them with kisses and tickled them at the same time. Nia
abandoned her grown-up cool demeanor and squealed with delight
right along with her sister. With the finesse of an experience dad,
Alex led them out of the ice cream parlor and to his Montero Sport.
When Shauntelle had asked him to pick them up from the Happy Time
Day Camp, he’d been delighted to agree. Seeing those cute faces at
the end of a long day was something he truly missed. A pang of
guilt pricked him. Once again he tried to search for any sign that
the divorce had left scars on the children. The girls seemed
relaxed and genuinely carefree. They sang along with the compact
disc of traditional African-American children’s songs he’d
inserted. At least this was one thing he and Shauntelle had done
right together. Despite arguments about everything else, they never
made the children part of their fights.

Alex drove them home, the house that
used to be home for them all. He parked in the double garage just
as he’d done so many times before. Shauntelle had made it home. She
stood in the front door. Her crepe green pantsuit was cut to fit
her curvy figure just right. A taupe silk blouse provided an
attractive contrast. Shauntelle was one of those rare women that
always looked pulled together.

“
Hi, Mommy. We made lots of
funny hats with faces on them today.” Nia began to talk around her
mother’s kisses.

“
And Nia did a dance around
the class wearing hers.” Tia giggled at the daring of her
sister.

“
When do I get to see
them?”Shauntelle beamed at them with pride.

“
The end of the week,” the
girls said in unison. It was something they did often.

Tia continued. “Ms. Lewis
said—“

“
We’ll bring home our
creations then,” Nia finished on cue. They waved and headed for
their room. It was as though they were on their own synchronized
wavelength.

“
They’re growing up fast.”
Alex watched them disappear down the hall.

“
I think we have time before
they’re off to college,” Shauntelle said with good humor.” Stay a
while for a glass of iced tea.” She tugged him toward the
kitchen.

”
No, really. I should get
home. Work.” Alex let himself be led despite his words.

“
Don’t panic. I’m not up to
something.” Shauntelle threw a glance back at him before she went
to the refrigerator.

Alex chose not to respond to that one.
Shauntelle was a wonderful mother and nice person in a lot of ways.
She just did not understand that the world was not created to do
her bidding. The twins had inherited her will to rule.

“
Uh-huh. I can only stay a
few minutes. That state project has me working like crazy.” Alex
accepted a glass of fresh brewed tea.

Shauntelle sank down onto a chair at
the breakfast table.” At least sit down for goodness sakes. I’ll
have to crane my neck to keep looking up at you.”

“
So what’s up?”Alex sat down
and stretched out his long legs. He sipped the tea and savored the
fruity taste. It was one of Shauntelle’s favorite
concoctions.

“
I just thought we could
chat about things. Like work, the kids...” Shauntelle lifted a
shoulder. “Dating.”

Alex he choked on the tea.” Say what?”
he blurted between coughs.

Shauntelle glared at him.” How
flattering. I didn’t mean to scare you with a fate worse than
death!” She banged down her glass on the table.

“
It’s not that. Look, we’re
happily divorced. Let’s not spoil a good thing.” Alex knew
instantly his candor had been the wrong move.” I mean--”

She waved a hand in the air.” I
understand. Take a deep breath and relax. I’m not talking about
us.”

“
Oh.” Alex tried to be
gallant enough not to groan with relief.

“
I mean me and someone
else.”

“
But you’ve dated in the
last year or so, right?”Alex looked at her. Shauntelle was
surprisingly conservative, even prudish.

“
Nine months.” Shauntelle
cleared her throat.” I think maybe I’ve found someone special. But
I’m not sure.”

“
Umm, well that’s great.”
Alex felt weird having this discussion with his ex-wife.” These
things take time.” That sounded like good neutral advice. In fact,
it sounded like his grandmother.

“
I don’t want to rush into
anything.” Shauntelle looked at him.” How long did it take you to
feel... comfortable. You know.”

”
Maybe you should talk to
your friend Dori about this. Or your sister.” Alex looked for an
escape route.

“
In a lot of ways, I feel
close to you. When did you feel right letting someone get
close?”

Alex rubbed his short curly cut hair.”
Well...”

“
You and Karin seem to be a
solid couple.” Shauntelle propped both elbows on the table. Her
expression showed she was genuinely looking for advice.

“
We do have a lot in common;
share a lot of the same interests.” Alex stared into his
tea.

“
So how did you know it was
right?”Shauntelle cocked her head to the side. She gazed at him the
way their daughters did when waiting for grown-up
wisdom.

A realization hit him like a sharp rap
across the shoulders. He did not know it was right, not since
seeing Lanessa. Maybe he needed a support group for people who were
driven to self-destructive relationships. What did they call it?
Co-dependency. Or maybe there was a new psychobabble word for it.
The woman stood with a drink in her hand and a wealthy looking
brother at her side. She had not changed despite what he’d heard.
Still daydreams about the good times they had shared kept coming to
him at odd moments. Alex mentally slammed that door shut once
again. He sat stiff.

”
Karin and I aren’t on a
timetable. We learned to be friends first.”

“
How exciting,” Shauntelle
said in a dryly.” Sounds one step from saying she’s just like a
sister to you.”

“
What are you talking
about?”Alex got up. He grabbed a bowl of nuts, crackers and other
treats Shauntelle kept on the counter.

“
Face the truth, Alex.”
Shauntelle brushed back her long auburn hair.” You never got over
Lanessa Thomas.”

“
We’re talking about you
and—who is this guy anyway?”

“
Charles Auguste Metoyer,
IV.” Shauntelle shrugged at the look he gave her.” We met at a
charity luncheon two months ago.”

Alex let out a whistle. “They’re
bigger snobs than my family. And that’s saying
something.”

“
He is not. Charles is a
very kind man,” Shauntelle countered.

“
He’s got a reputation.”
Alex shook his head.” Be careful, Shaun.”

“
Charles treats me with
nothing but respect. He took me on a romantic dinner cruise last
weekend.”

”
I see.” Alex knew that
meant Shauntelle’s every whim was catered to.

“
He knows how to treat a
woman, unlike most men.” Shauntelle brushed back a long tendril of
hair.

Alex was unaffected by her
implication. “Uh-huh. Let me guess, he took you to Lac Des
Allemands.”

“
How did you know
that?”

“
The Metoyers own beaucoup
land in St. James Parish, cher. Everybody knows that. He’s got a
nice boat they say.”

“
He’s hosted quite a few
very elegant parties there,” Shauntelle said with a superior note
in her voice.

“
I hear those parties didn’t
stay so elegant in the wee hours.” Alex gazed at her.” Be sure you
don’t get in too deep with the brother, and I don’t mean
water.”

“
That’s just nasty gossip
from a few people jealous because they didn’t get invitations,”
Shauntelle said, her dark eyes flashing anger.” I’m surprised you’d
pay attention to it.”

“
Okay, we’re cool. I won’t
say another word about the man.”

Shauntelle gave him a dark look.” And
anyway, don’t change the subject. We’re talking about you and
Lanessa Thomas.”

”
There is no me and Lanessa
Thomas. Our relationship ended a long time ago,” Alex said with
force. He picked up a paper napkin then threw it down on the
counter again.” The woman hasn’t changed one bit. Still on the town
and on the prowl.”

“
I hear she went through
treatment and pulled herself together. Even some who thought it
wouldn’t happen say she’s new person.” Shauntelle got up to pour
them both more tea.

“
Well she’s got them fooled.
Something Lanessa is very good at,” Alex said.

“
So you’ve must have seen
her recently.” Shauntelle let the inflection in her voice go
up.

“
In New Orleans doing what
she does best, partying.” Alex felt a surge of anger.

“
Was the man anyone we
know?”Shauntelle leaned against the counter.

She held out the glass but Alex did
not see it. What he saw was a dark bronze man with gleaming white
teeth grinning.” No.” Suddenly he noticed the way Shauntelle was
gazing at him.” Not that I care.”

“
Sure you don’t,” she
murmured.” When we got married you tried hard. We both
did.”

“
I didn’t leave because of
Lanessa--” Alex burst out.

”
You’ve been in love with
her since you met in college. Or was it high school?”Shauntelle
shook her head.” She’s still in your system, babe.”

“
No way.”

Alex turned away from her. He gazed
out at gathering dusk. He did not want to hear more. It cut too
close to something he wanted to keep buried. A long silence
followed before Shauntelle spoke.

“
Sorry I touched such a
tender spot. One last thing, such a strong reaction means it’s not
over.”

“
I moved on a long time ago,
Shaun. Believe me.” Alex faced her with a firm set to his
jaw.

“
Okay. Then you should be
able to see her with the same ease you see me.” Shauntelle tilted
her head back to gaze at him.” Right?”

“
If it happens, but there’s
no reason to see her.” Alex tossed out the response in blasé
manner.” Now I really have to go.”

He made his way out stopping only for
one last kiss from the girls. Alex felt as though he were coming up
for air after being submerged. Once outside in his car, he took a
deep breath. He had to get a grip on this stupid backlash of seeing
Lanessa. The last thing he wanted was to feel anything for the
woman. Turning up his car radio, he tried to think of text commands
and pathways.

Chapter 4

“
Did you hear me? I asked if
you wanted another glass of wine.” Karin stood waiting for an
answer. She held a cut glass wine carafe in one hand.
“Alex?”

He glanced at her as though she’d
appeared in a cloud of smoke.” Excuse me?”

“
More wine?”Karin studied
him with her head titled.

“
Uh, no. I’ve got an early
day tomorrow.”

Alex tried to focus on where he was
not where he’d been three years ago. The other two couples, guests
at Karin’s dinner party, were preparing to leave. He joined her
telling everyone goodbye. After ten minutes Karin and Alex were
alone. Alex helped her load the dishwasher and straighten up a bit.
It only took another half-hour before they were back in her
spacious living room. The soft blue, gray and mauve colors that
decorated it were soothing. Muted lighting made the room a perfect
romantic setting. Karin sat close to him on the sofa.

“
I’m glad Alicia and Percy
could come. They’re a nice couple.” Karin sipped from a glass of
white wine. “Yes, they are.”

”
I think he just might use
your company to help him set up the network, or whatever you two
were jabbering about,” Karin said with a soft laugh.

“
It’s called a LAN, local
area network. It means the computers in one location, in this
instance his office, are linked.”

“
Right, anyway including
them was a good idea. They’re fun. And I suspected he’d be a
possible client from listening to Alicia talk.” Karin smiled at
him. She seemed to be waiting for his approval.

“
You were right again. These
once a month dinner parties of yours are always a hit,” Alex said
smiling back.

“
I’m sorry Evan and his new
lady couldn’t make it.” Karin leaned her head back against the sofa
cushion. She took her hand in his.” But this is nice,
too.”

Alex gazed at her. Her creamy skin the
color of cinnamon was flawless. Soft jet-black curls framed her
perfect oval face. Her dark eyes were wide and lovely. With good
food, wine and soft blues playing on the compact disc this evening
should be just right. Yet he felt nothing. No, that was not quite
right. He was... restless. What was wrong with him? “You’ve been
distracted most of the night. You’re putting in too many long
hours.” Karin patted his hand.