Chapter 9 #3
Nari laughed lightly under her breath. “I don’t really care if you did. The past is the past, right?” She arched her brow, paired with a smug grin. I wasn’t sure if I believed her amicable reaction to the whole Gwen thing.
“It is.”
“See . . .” She shrugged, lifting another strawberry. “Growth.” The way it moved past her lips while her eyes remained fastened to mine had my dick twitching.
“So it seems.”
We settled back into casual conversation and even though Gwen made a point of sitting at a table that gave her a perfect view of ours, not once did Nari seem bothered.
I wasn’t sure if it was really growth or if I would hear about it later, but for now, she seemed happy, so I decided not to dwell on the thought.
She had nothing at all to worry about when it came to these women.
Gwen was beautiful, smart, and extremely successful, but the truth was she could never compete with my wife.
I now truly understood the heart wanted what the heart wanted, and mine only desired and craved the woman across from me.
Having dinner with Nari and her mother became one of my new favorite things.
Quite often, the two got lost in their own little world and forgot I was there, allowing me to experience their candid conversations about random things.
Tonight was no different, but this time, I appeared to be the center of their private discussion, which occasionally meant allowing my input.
The two were discussing men and how some demanded submission.
It wasn’t something I would admit to demanding, but I did prefer Nari to be submissive in certain situations.
I was intrigued to hear their thoughts because my wife’s views were extremely important regarding how she functioned in our union, and her mother’s were as well, considering the magnitude of how they were bonding.
Endia’s new connection to her daughter had the potential to shape the way Nari functioned in our marriage, and at the moment, they were both waiting for my response.
Right now, Nari was eager to see if I would argue against the fact that she insisted I was very much a dominant personality.
“There’s a difference in standing firm on my views versus being dominant. I’ll agree to not bending in most situations. However, I’m always open to discussing the topics I stand firm on,” I offered as a compromise. Endia chuckled and my eyes left Nari and landed gently on her.
“What you’re saying is true; however, I beg to differ, Kincaid. Your personality is very much dominant. You don’t leave any room for negotiation once you’ve taken a stance on something.”
“The man controls every aspect of our lives, even in the bedroom,” Nari mumbled, which caused my expression to shift briefly in amusement before I managed to regroup.
The comment wasn’t one I would guess Nari meant to vocalize out loud.
I wasn’t comfortable discussing our sex life in front of her mother and prayed we weren’t about to travel down that rabbit hole.
“I’m not surprised. Men like your husband can rarely turn that part of their persona off. Nonetheless, I have my experience with the type, and I assume that works in your favor.”
You have no idea. My dick jolted at the thought.
Nari’s cheeks flushed, and this time, her eyes widened in surprise.
I chuckled at her reaction because we had somehow jumped over the topic of our sex life and landed on Endia’s.
Neither was a subject I felt comfortable broaching, but Nari seemed a little out of sorts with the comment, which Endia picked up on.
“Stop looking at me like that. I might not have had any other kids, but I’ve had ample experience with the practice of what leads to making them. I was alone but not always lonely.”
My wife gasped, but then smiled, staring at her mother. “I don’t think I care to hear about that part of your life.”
“Good, because I’m not open to sharing. But my point is, I know plenty of men like your husband. I suppose we both have a type.” She lifted her glass and drained the wine she was drinking. “And it’s not always a bad thing to have a man who takes charge, even in the bedroom.”
“This just got extremely uncomfortable,” Nari mumbled, shoving a forkful of salad into her mouth.
“You only have yourself to blame, sweetheart. If I recall, it was your slip of the tongue that landed us here.”
“Then let me hurry and move us in a different direction.” Nari cut her eyes at me and her warning was met with a smug grin. She was adorably embarrassed and I was relieved this was where the subject ended.
“So, I was thinking . . .” she began slowly, and I waited, almost holding my breath. Nari’s thinking could lead to complications for me. She was still very unpredictable when it came to us.
“About?” I questioned in an easy manner not to set off any alarms and Endia was also waiting.
“You mentioned in Tulum that I should consider launching a business of some kind. It’s been on my mind. As lavish as you make my life, I need more than shopping and spa visits. I need to pull my weight around here.”
Cute but not necessary.
She offered a soft smile, which I accepted as reassurance that she was not complaining about her current disposition.
“I did, and whatever you need, let me know.”
“Well . . .” She straightened her spine. “I need money for resources. I was this close to becoming a millionaire, but I foolishly wrote a check to this strikingly handsome guy, leaving me in a financial deficit.”
“I can offer with the utmost confidence that he never cashed it. It seems the bulk of this strikingly handsome guy’s business ventures are doing quite well, so it wasn’t necessary. And besides, what’s a man who goes back on his word?” I winked at her and she rolled her eyes.
“A very wealthy one, apparently, but moving on, I’ve been thinking that since you’re here, you could help me. I’m sure you would appreciate doing more than sitting around here all day.” She turned to her mother, who seemed confused about what was happening.
“I’d be more than happy to help you with whatever you need, but I promise my time here is well spent, even if I never leave the house.”
“Good to know, but maybe if you help me launch this, you wouldn’t mind hanging around for a while or at least visiting once you decide to go home.”
Shit. How the fuck did I miss this?
Two things became clear at that moment: Nari was attempting to settle into her purpose and find a way to keep her mother attached to her life.
She was not only insecure about her place with me but also with her mother.
I watched, praying this didn’t go terribly wrong.
Endia loved her daughter. I thought she was even partial to me, but that didn’t mean she was looking forward to sitting under us for the rest of her life.
She had one of her own, and as mundane as we might have assumed it to be, it was hers.
Nari was connected to me and this world by the rings on her finger, the vows we exchanged, and the baby she was carrying . . .
And the fact that I would never give her the option to leave me.
But Endia wasn’t. I naturally assumed she would want to remain a consistent part of her daughter’s life, but then again, it was still an assumption. She was here because I showed up and forced her to get on my jet, not because she’d asked to come be a part of her daughter’s life.
“Nari, baby, I know we’ve missed a lot of time, and you’re likely still dealing with the rejection from me not looking for you all those years, but I promise, I’m not going to disappear on you again.
I’m here for as long as you want me to be and I pray that you want me here.
You don’t need to attach me to a business to ensure a connection with us. ”
And there it was. I noticed the reaction even if it only existed for a brief moment . . .
Relief.
Nari mentally exhaled the tension and fear she had been carrying, which I hadn’t recognized or been privy to.
“I want you here.”
“We want you here,” I added, just so there was no misunderstanding.
Endia nodded and Nari began explaining what she had in mind for her business.
I was thoroughly impressed to hear the plan to open facilities that would be available to those kids who aged out of the system and weren’t quite prepared for life.
She expressed the frustration of turning eighteen and being thrown into society, unable to depend on the state anymore.
She didn’t have housing or support, which sent her down some dangerous roads, attempting to survive the best she could.
Nari wanted to create dorm-style housing for those in the transition period, as well as services that either helped them find and prepare for jobs or assisted them in getting into college.
She also wanted to provide services to help them find family members who could be vetted to serve as a support system.
I was thoroughly impressed by her passion for creating a safety net for those who would ultimately experience the highs and lows she suffered after foster care.
Nari planned on being an agent of change to hopefully prevent others from struggling the way she had.
My mother focused on those still in the system, while Nari focused on those who would age out of the system.
She was excited about partnering with my mother, who I knew would be all over the idea of her daughter-in-law wanting to work that closely with her for a cause they both believed in.
Endia also seemed genuinely interested in being a part of the project, which created a sense of pride in Nari I knew could only exist from receiving the admiration of a doting parent. It reminded me of things I took for granted since I’d always had my parents’ love and support.