Chapter 22
Charlie
W e meet the girls at the soccer field. They are not only surprised I picked them up early, but they are doubly surprised to see Wizard with me.
It’s barely ten A.M. by the time we load into the SUV.
“Who wants breakfast?” Wizard asks.
A chorus of “I do’s” goes up. The girls chat about who wore what as Wizard navigates the busy streets of New Orleans. We park near the Ruby Slipper. Yum, one of my favorite places. Then I remember I mentioned it to him once when we met for work.
“Pig candy,” Valentina exclaims.
“And loaded tots,” Francesca adds.
“It’s creamsicle beignet season,” Lucia exclaims.
“I guess I know your orders,” I say, laughing.
Wizard gets out and opens the rear driver door before coming around and opening the other two, letting us all out. He slips his hand in mine and opens the door when we get to it. His hand in the small of my back as the host gets our number, gathers menus and escorts us to a large booth. Wizard and I sit on one side, his impressive shoulders taking up space in the roomy booth. The girls sit on the opposite side of us.
When the server comes, we quickly place our order. The girls knew what they wanted before we sat down. Wizard orders an omelet while I indulge in white chocolate bread pudding pancakes.
An hour later, we’re all stuffed and high on carbs. We load back into the SUV. I realize after a few turns we’re not headed toward the compound.
“Where are we headed?” I ask.
“It’s a surprise.”
Ten minutes later, I hear the girls squeal collectively.
“Is that the Crescent City Galleria?” Lucia asks.
“I hear it’s the GOAT,” Valentina adds.
Wizard smiles and pulls into the parking lot, heading straight for one of the parking garages.
“Wizard, why are we here?”
“I’m taking the girls back to school shopping.”
“I can’t let you do that.”
“I want to. Besides, I have tickets to the Quickening and the new virtual dressing room.”
“Please, Mom.”
“Please let us go.”
“I’ll die if I don’t get to see the virtual dressing room.”
The statements all came at once and I had no idea who said what. Wizard takes my hand, rubbing his thumb across the back of it. He leans in close so only I can hear what he has to say.
“I promise the shopping trip won’t put a ding in my wallet.”
“We can talk more after the girls are safely ensconced in the Quickening.”
The Quickening is a Tatum Quick experience. The world’s top female performer. Tatum has millions of followers around the world who worship her. The experience has three-D interactive videos, games, music booths, a snack area, clothes, merchandise and more.
We escort the girls to the mall’s top floor. The Quickening takes up half the floor while a movie theater takes up the other half. In between the experience and the movie theater is a small sitting area with a concession stand.
Wizard leads us to a table, pulling out a chair for me before taking a seat across from me.
“Charlie, you don’t have to do this alone anymore.”
“They’re not your responsibility.”
“Maybe I want them to be.”
“What do you mean?”
“I like you, Charlie. I more than like you. This is not me rushing you. This is me stepping up and acknowledging that you come as a package deal and I’m ready, willing, and able to take care of you.”
I opened my mouth to say something and shut it three times. I had to chase their father down to get him to pay for anything and here Wizard is offering to take them back to school shopping.
“You know clothes, shoes and back to school stuff isn’t cheap.”
“I did a cost analysis of today's possible expenditure. I have it more than covered. As a member of the Kings’ leadership, I get a bigger percentage of the profits. Plus, all the businesses pay me to do their IT work. I have a healthy bank balance. Living at the compound, my expenses are low. I put most into savings, investing a percentage of my earnings each month. Dakota, our treasurer, is a financial whiz. He’s tripled my portfolio the last two years.
“Look, Spitfire. I’m willing to take as long as you want, but I want to be a long-term part of your life. All of your lives.”
I felt the tears slide down my cheeks. I didn’t wipe them away or try to stop them. Motherfucker! This man is making me fall in love with him. HARD. If he decides this isn’t for him, he’s going to break me. I’ll shatter into a million pieces.
Losing JR was nothing. I’d already dealt with the pain and death of the relationship long before we filed for divorce. I stopped giving him the power to hurt me years ago. After he’d gotten over the novelty of fatherhood, he stopped paying for most of the girls' stuff unless he wanted to impress them.
He made sure I didn't have any extra money so he could swoop in and be the hero.
“I’ve done this with just Ma and Pops for so long. I’m not sure I know how to let anyone help me. I’ll try, but I can’t promise I’ll do it well.”
“We’ll get through it together.”
“Alright. Let’s get some of the basics out of the way while they’re in the experience.”
“I’ll have Havoc and Tully keep an eye out on them.”
“They’re here?”
Wizard smiles. “They are. They have been since we left the compound.”