Chapter 1 Giselle
Giselle
Seven years earlier
Giselle sat on the bench at the foot of the bed and fastened her sandals. Even though the calendar said April, the LA temperatures
had jumped up to the eighties.
“Shawn, do you know anything about this new woman Tariq is bringing to the family dinner?”
In the three years Giselle had been married to Shawn, her brother-in-law had never been serious about a woman, and on those
rare occasions when he happened to bring one to a family gathering, she was history within a few weeks.
Shawn came out of the bathroom and leaned against the doorframe. “Not much. He did mention that they’d been dating for about
four months, so I wonder if he’s found that ‘one’ he’s always said he was holding out for.”
Tariq, at thirty years old and the second oldest, tended to be the outgoing, friendly one of the four brothers. He was always
the life of the party and had a ready smile for everyone. It made her even more curious about the woman.
“You almost ready?”
“Yep. I just need to change my top and fix my hair.” She came to her feet and crossed the room to where he still stood lounging in the doorway.
He’d just turned thirty-one and was an even six feet, with a slim, muscular build, nut-brown skin, and handsome face, and Giselle still couldn’t believe he’d chosen her.
She’d been a mere college freshman and he a junior when they’d met through mutual friends during one of her short stints at the university.
Of course, her mother had been ecstatic because she figured he was going places and had repeatedly cautioned Giselle not to mess things up.
Giselle looped her arms around his neck and pulled his head down for a kiss.
Instead of the deep, passionate kiss Giselle wanted, Shawn brushed his lips across hers, then pushed away from the door. “I’ll
be waiting downstairs.”
Sighing, she went to finish getting ready. Though she knew Shawn loved her, he wasn’t big on excessive hugging and kissing,
and definitely not in public. Then again, neither was she because she’d never really seen it growing up. He’d done some of
it while they dated and that first year of their marriage, but not so much since. She envied her in-laws in that respect.
Aaron Bradley adored his wife, and more than once Giselle had caught him stealing a kiss, pulling Yvonne into his arms for
an impromptu dance, or whispering something that made her mother-in-law blush like a schoolgirl.
Too bad their eldest son didn’t inherit that gene.
Tariq, on the other hand, was more like his father when it came to being openly affectionate.
While fluffing her natural ear-length curls, she studied her features.
At twenty-eight, her coffee-with-cream skin remained unlined.
She’d added a few pounds to her full figure over her three-year marriage and probably needed to exercise a little more—something her mother never missed an opportunity to point out—but she thought she still looked okay in the slacks and oversized top that successfully covered her midsection.
Giselle had never been skinny like her sisters and, when she was younger, had adopted a lot of unhealthy eating habits trying to get her mother to see her as acceptable.
She’d gotten a lot better, but she still had some lingering insecurities about her figure.
Shaking off thoughts of her mother, she spritzed on her favorite fragrance and went to meet her husband.
A few minutes later, they were on the road.
“I wonder what Mom has on the menu today,” Shawn said.
“I’m sure she’ll have a huge spread as usual.” Giselle used to offer to bring something, but Mama Yvonne always turned her
down, so she’d stopped asking.
He chuckled. “Yeah, I live for these Sunday dinners. And with Austin home on leave, she’s going to go overboard.” Austin was
third in line and one year younger than Giselle, and had joined the Marines right out of high school. He said he planned to
serve in the military at least twenty years.
“It’ll be good to see him since he’s been gone a year. I know your mom is happy he’s stationed closer to home this time because
she worries about him.”
“Yeah, she is, and I know she fixed his favorite meal and dessert when he got in earlier in the week. Maybe I should go somewhere
for a few months and see if that’ll convince her to make me that three-layer chocolate cake I’m always begging for but can
never get.”
She laughed. “Hey, I told you I’d get the recipe from her and make you one, but you claim that she’s the only one who can make it, so .
. .” She shrugged. Giselle wasn’t the best cook, but she did okay in the kitchen and could follow a recipe.
Because her mother worked two jobs most of the time when Giselle was growing up, she didn’t have much time for cooking elaborate meals.
Even during those periods when she’d held a single job—or none at all—she’d rarely done anything outside of simple meals that were cheap and didn’t take much time, or that could be heated from a box.
She always said she had no plans to slave over a hot stove for hours.
As a result, Giselle hadn’t experienced the whole cooking-together thing very often.
Most times, she had been responsible for heating up whatever leftovers happened to be in the refrigerator or throwing a frozen dinner in the microwave for herself and her two younger sisters.
“No shade, but this isn’t one of those box cake recipes where you just dump everything into the bowl. It takes time and patience
when adding each ingredient. Her sister can’t even make it, and she’s a great baker.”
Giselle shifted in the seat to face him. “Are you saying I can’t cook?”
“I’m not saying that at all. Actually, you’re the one who told me you weren’t a great cook when we got engaged because your mom never really taught you. I keep telling
you to ask my mom to show you a few things. She’s always wanted a daughter to cook with her since we were busy with sports
and not really wanting to be in the kitchen. The only one of us who can cook well is Tariq. Well, Austin does okay in the
kitchen too, but Vincent and I can only handle the very basics,” he added with a little laugh. “You should talk to Mom if
you’re serious about wanting to learn to cook better.”
She really wanted to be angry with him about his critique, but she couldn’t because he was right.
“Maybe I will,” she mumbled and sat back.
They spent the rest of the drive in companionable silence.
When they arrived, and before they made it up the walkway, the door opened and Austin rushed over and grabbed his big brother up in a bear hug.
Austin grinned. “What’s up, old man?”
“Who’re you calling old?” Shawn playfully shoved him. “You’re looking good, little bro.”
“Thanks. And who’re you calling little? I’m three inches taller.” He playfully shoved Shawn. “Hey, sis.” He hugged Giselle
and kissed her cheek.
She returned the hug. “It’s good to see you. How’s military life treating you?”
“Not too bad,” he said as the trio entered the house and went to the kitchen.
Shawn groaned as he hugged his mother. “It smells so good in here. You outdid yourself, Mama.”
His assessment was on point, judging by all the pots on the stove and platters lining the counter. She’d even made a few appetizers.
“Hey, Mom.” Giselle leaned up to kiss her mother-in-law’s cheek. “You’ve got quite a spread today.”
“All my boys will be here, and we’re having a couple of guests, so I wanted to do a little something special for this Sunday
dinner. Your dad and Vincent are out back finishing up the meat on the grill.”
“Who’s coming, aside from Tariq’s new girlfriend?” Shawn asked.
Austin popped a meatball into his mouth before responding. “Remember my friend from high school, Taylor Price?”
“Yeah. Y’all were pretty tight back in the day.” He turned to Giselle. “Taylor and one other guy used to be over here all
the time studying.”
“I bet you guys did more playing around than studying,” she teased.
“Not really, because we were all in advanced placement classes, and Mom wasn’t having it.”
Shawn laughed. “No lie. Mom did not play when it came to school. Wasn’t there a group of you guys who always got together?”
He nodded. “Yes, that’s how we reconnected. One of my buddies found out I’d be home, so we all went out for dinner on Thursday.
Taylor and I have been talking every night, and when she asked how Mom was doing, I told her she could see for herself when
she came for dinner.” The doorbell rang. “That’s probably her.” Austin rushed out.
“I guess he’s anxious to see her,” Giselle said. “Did they date in high school?”
“Nah. They were just close friends.”
She recalled seeing those types of relationships from afar, but she could count the number of male friends she had on one
hand and still have most of her fingers left over. None of them would she consider close. More like acquaintances.
Austin came back a minute later holding the hand of a pretty woman with straightened hair that fell halfway down her back
and skin the color of dark honey. She stood a couple of inches taller than Giselle’s own five-four height, and her sleeveless
jumpsuit showed off slim, toned arms.
“Oh my goodness,” Mama Yvonne gushed. She quickly washed and dried her hands before pulling Taylor into a crushing hug. She
held her away and smiled. “I haven’t seen you since your high school graduation. You haven’t changed one bit. Still pretty
as ever.”
“Neither have you. I’ve missed seeing you and getting all those great snacks you used to fix for us.”
She patted Taylor’s cheek. “I’ve missed you too, baby. Well, you can get all that and more today.” The sliding glass door opened. “Aaron and Vince, look who’s here.”
Another round of greetings ensued.
Mama Yvonne said, “I was just telling Taylor she hasn’t changed a bit.” She smiled at Taylor. “And you don’t have to wait
for Austin to be in town to visit. You’re just like a daughter to me, and you’re more than welcome to come anytime. I was