CHAPTER 16
Gabrielle
I’m standing next to Tyson at a wireless retail store, listening to him discuss phone options with the sales associate.
In addition to buying a phone for me, he’s upgrading his phone.
I quietly observe him as he looks over different phone plans and discusses the features of each phone with the sales associate.
He’s incredible.
He makes the Dilvans of the world look like spoiled little boys.
Tyson is the kind of man I imagined I’d end up with – a true gentleman – but if life has taught me anything, it’s that we can’t always get what we want and many times, we have to be okay with what we have, even if that’s nothing for now.
But I’m good with my nothing. I’d much rather have that than an abusive man who demeans me. I can see the blessing in me having nothing and looking for a way to make a way for myself.
But thank God I have this man on my team.
Before today, I hadn’t paid much attention to his physical attributes.
I didn’t even realize how much taller he is than I am.
Today, I see it clearly. He has on a well-fitted black shirt that shows off the ripples of his muscles, with a pair of plaid shorts in varying colors – black, white, green, and royal blue.
A pair of loafers completes his beachy outfit.
I should be ashamed of myself for looking at him like this, but I’m not above appreciating a good looking man.
His legs, I notice, are not shaven smoothly like Dilvan’s.
There’s hair on them as well as his arms. Nice, I ponder as I think about how a man should have hair on his body.
A woman’s body is supposed to be silky smooth, not a man’s.
A man, a real one, needs a little something to give him that rugged edge of masculinity.
Call me old-fashioned, but there’s nothing masculine about a man running to a salon to get his body waxed once a month. Nothing at all.
I smile to myself thinking about this, about how little I know about men, but how much I know about them to know what I like and what I don’t like.
Dilvan has taught me most of that. Keeping it simple, my ideal man would be a man who was the opposite of everything Dilvan was or stood for, and a perfect example of that man is standing right beside me, handling business.
“Bri, do you want the white Samsung or the gray one?”
I’m in awe...
I hear words come forth from his mouth, but I’m in a trance.
He was one of those men that women dreamed about – the type of man who knew he could have any woman he wanted but didn’t go after women for selfish reasons.
He wanted a woman because he found her interesting and intriguing. The attraction would come later.
“Gabrielle?”
I snap out of my trance. “Um...sorry...did you say something?”
A beautiful smile grows on his face. “You good?”
“Yeah...um…yes, I just didn’t hear you.”
“You didn’t, ‘cause you were looking right at me.”
Busted.
He caught me gawking.
I say, “I know. My mind was somewhere else.”
After sending a playful squint my way, he says, “Do you want the white Samsung?”
“How much is it?”
“Don’t worry about the cost. Do you want it?”
“Yes. It’s nice.”
“Okay,” he tells me. Then he informs the associate that he’ll take two of them.
* * *
When we leave there, he drives me over to Padma’s house. I’m meeting with her today to discuss the garden. I need to know how often she needed me to work there, and I’m sure she wanted to catch up on other things as well.
When Tyson pulls up at her house, he looks at me, wearing a pair of black shades that are so dark, I can’t see his eyes. He says, “Dilvan doesn’t know you’re going to be here, correct?”
“Correct. If he does happen to show up, I’m sure Padma won’t let him in, so I’m not too worried about that.”
“Well, I’ve already programmed my number in your phone. If he does come over, call me.”
“Okay.”
He slides his glasses from his face and says, “I’m serious, Bri. If you feel threatened in any way, call me.”
“I will.”
“What time should I pick you up?”
“I’m not sure. I can probably get Padma to drop me off, so you don’t have to take the half-hour drive back over here.”
“I don’t mind it.”
“I know, but if I can get her to drop me off, then it’ll give you time to do other things.”
“Well, let me know either way.”
“Okay. I will.”
He gets out, opens the door for me, and says, “Have fun, and don’t forget to smile.”
“Thanks, Tyson. For everything.”
“You’re welcome, Gabrielle. For everything.”
I want to hug him, but I resist the urge and head toward the house. Once Padma comes to the front door to let me in, he drives away.
“Hello, dear,” Padma says, embracing me.
I’m always happy to see her, so I hug her tight and say, “Hey, Padma.”
“I figured we could sit out on the deck. I have some tea and finger foods ready.”
I follow her to the beautifully decorated deck that is built high enough off the ground to provide a magnificent view of the ocean.
The day is perfect – not too hot like it’s been the last few days.
There’s a nice breeze brewing. A storm is passing through later on tonight according to the weather app on my phone.
“How have you been? How’s Tyson been treating you?”
The sound of his name sends a smile to my face. I try to brush it off before she sees how much I’m blushing and say, “He’s treating me very well. He’s truly one of the good ones.”
“Yes, he is. I wish I could say that about my own son.”
Padma whips out the thick planner that she carries everywhere she goes. It’s just as important as her cell phone. She proceeds to tell me that she has looked at several properties for the garden, and they are all further inland, away from the ocean.
“What exactly will I be doing?” I ask her.
“I’m going to have a group of middle school students helping with the project.
There will be about eight of them. I basically need you to coordinate things for them to do.
Like, for instance, you can schedule them to do weeding one day, watering, planting—whatever needs to be done to maintain the garden. ”
“That sounds fun. I’ve always wanted to work with kids.”
“Then here’s your chance. Oh, and since you’re no longer with my son, I’ve added you to the payroll.”
“Really, Padma?”
“Yes. You have to support yourself, dear. Now, I’m starting you off at a thousand dollars a week. You don’t have to punch a clock or keep any set hours. I trust you and I promised your father I would take care of you, and that’s what I’m going to do.”
My eyes grow huge. Did she really say a thousand per week?
“Padma. That’s far too generous.”
“Oh, nonsense. You always find ways to help me, even if it’s volunteering at the restaurant for a few hours. I appreciate everything you do, Gabrielle.”
“Well, thank you very much,” I say, then hear my phone beeping. I pull it out of my purse and see a text message from Tyson:
Tyson: u good?
I smile, then reply:
Gabrielle: yes
Tyson: good
“Sorry,” I say, looking up at Padma. “Trying to get used to this phone. Oh, and I need to give you my number.”
She picks up a pen and scribbles my digits on the inside flap of her planner. “Go ahead and dig into these goodies,” she says, gesturing at the food on the table.
I take a stuffed jalapeno pepper and bite a little piece of it. Then I tried the string hoppers and cashews.
“I don’t know if Tyson told you or not, but Dilvan came back early,” Padma says.
“Yeah, he told me.”
“Dilvan somehow found out about the bone marrow donation—”
“How?”
“I don’t know. Apparently, he’d called his father to see if it was true or not. Then he left Santa Monica and came here. From what I gather, he didn’t even do the shoot. He was so intent on confronting me.”
“Confronting you?”
She nods. “Dilvan has never been one to take responsibility for his actions. He wanted to blame me for the way he mistreated you. Apparently, had I told him about the transplant, he would’ve treated you with the respect you deserved–that’s what he was trying to tell me.”
“That doesn’t make much sense. Why not just treat me with respect, anyway?”
“Exactly, dear. That’s what I need to get through his thick skull.”
My cell phone beeps again. I pick it up from the table and see another text message from Tyson:
Tyson: will you join me for dinner tonight, beautiful girl?
He kills me with his need to tell me I’m beautiful.
I don’t even know if it’s true. I’ve been told I was ugly for so long, I feel like that’s what I am.
Even when I was in school, the boys didn’t like me or my sisters.
And I know Tyson only says it to make me feel good about myself – to boost my self-esteem.
I appreciate the gesture, but it’s not needed, especially if it’s not how he really views me.
Gabrielle: uh…did you mean to send that to me?
Tyson: of course. Who else would I be sending it to?
Gabrielle: I dunno…like your girlfriend or something
Tyson: I don’t have a girlfriend, Bri, at least not yet, anyway
Gabrielle: …
I’m trying to reply, while at the same time trying not to read too much into his comment, but he’s already sent another message, so I stop typing and erase.
Tyson: which would you prefer...Greek shrimp and couscous or pecan-crusted trout with succotash-stuffed roma tomatoes?
A frown cinches my forehead. What the heck is couscous? My frown quickly turns into a smile, though, when I glance at my watch. It’s just after one in the afternoon and he’s already thinking about dinner.
With me.
“Has Tyson cooked for you yet?” Padma asks.
“Yes. He made a breakfast pastry this morning that had my mouth watering even after I finished it.”
Padma chuckles.
“Oh, and he made tiramisu?”
Her mouth stretches open wide. Her eyes are even wider. “He did! Ooh, I’m gonna get him.”
I laugh at her. “Why?”
“I’ve been trying to get that man to make me some tiramisu for the longest. He told me he only makes it for special occasions.”
“Nah, I think he was experimenting with something and he just so happened to have some partially prepared.”
My phone beeps again. I know it’s Tyson’s response, so I pick it up immediately to read his text:
Tyson: well?
I smile again and can feel myself turning red in the face.
“Who are you smiling at over there, young lady?” Padma says with an inquisitive look on her face.
“It’s nothing. Tyson was just texting me to see what I wanted for dinner.”
“Well, you tell Mr. Tyson I got a bone to pick with him,” she quips.
“I’ll tell him.”
“I have to have some of his tiramisu, and I want some of that pecan-crusted trout he cooked for Prasad’s anniversary dinner. Prasad couldn’t stop talking about it.”
And now I know what I want for dinner…
Tyson: the anticipation is killing me
Gabrielle: sorry, Tyson. I’m trying to talk to Padma while texting you at the same time. the second option sounds good.
Tyson: perfect. I’m at the market now. Call me if you need a ride home.
Gabrielle: I will. thank you.
Tyson: you’re welcome
“So how are you planning on moving forward with Dilvan?” Padma asks.
“I’m not sure. It’s just too much to think about right now.”
“Are you certain that it’s over?”
“I didn’t want it to be over. I just wanted him to treat me better than what I’d been getting. But after two miscarriages and being humiliated, I can’t...” I shake my head.
Padma sighs. “I hate for you to do this, but maybe you need to sit down and talk to him. Either way you look at it, you’re going to have to do that, whether it’s for reconciliation or divorce.”
“I know. I just don’t want to be alone with him.”
“You won’t be. Tyson has already said he’d be happy to sit down with you two.”
“He told me.” The possibility of a sit-down conversation with Dilvan makes my stomach do flips. After a long sigh, I ask, “Padma, do you think he’s remorseful?”
“Who? Dilvan?”
“Yes.”
Padma sighs. “I don’t know, dear. He was upset, yes. He told Beatrice he made a mistake with you...”
I shake my head and cover my eyes, hiding tears behind my hands. “I just don’t know what I did to deserve the way he treated me, and I honestly don’t think I could ever step a foot back into that house.”
Padma gets up from her seat and sits in the one that’s closest to me.
She throws an arm around me and says, “I know, honey. Don’t even concern yourself with it right now.
You don’t have to talk to him tomorrow, next week, or not even next month.
You deal with it on your own time, and on your own terms. You’re the one who was wronged. ”
I nod. “Okay.”
“Now, let’s go have some fun. I need a new pair of shoes, and I haven’t had time to go shopping in months. You want to come with me? I can drop you back off at Tyson’s place when we leave.”
“Okay. That sounds good.”