Charisma
“HEY, DADDY!”
“It’s both of us on the phone. How are you, baby?”
I couldn’t help but grin because there was something magical about your parents loving on you.
I was their youngest and I didn’t care about the nicknames they continued to call me.
It made me happy and reminded me that I was still loved.
They were traditionally minded about a lot, especially wanting me to find a job to take seriously more than art, but I knew they wanted the best for me.
“I’m good. Work is good and I’m getting to work with a lot of art so that’s always a plus.”
“Art? I thought you were doing scheduling or something for a ranch.”
“It’s not a ranch although there are animals and such here. But it’s a rodeo school. But the owner has a large collection of art that came with the house. I’m helping him research and catalog all of it.”
“Oh, baby, that sounds amazing! It’s right up your alley.”
My mother’s tone sounded genuinely happy and I stopped moving around the kitchen to give my full attention to the conversation.
“You sound…happy for me.”
“Of course I am. We know that you’ve wanted to get back into something that was more artistic and I know I speak for the both of us that we’re thrilled you’ve found something.
You sound so happy.” My mother sounded excited and although I’d talked to her multiple times since I’d been in Texas, this felt different somehow.
After my conversation with Nate on the lake, I’d become more focused on myself.
My sketching had increased and I was working on a new piece.
“I am. Moving here has been something like a dream but it seems to be the best thing for me.”
“You know we miss you but we know we can’t hold on too tight to you.”
“You act like I’ve moved to Alaska. I’m right here in Texas. It’s only a few states away.”
“A few!” I knew because I was the youngest it would be hard for her especially since I’d lived with them the last few years. I surprisingly hadn’t been homesick but I wanted them to visit. And meet Nate.
“More than few but you know what we mean.”
“Well that was what I was calling to talk to you about.”
“What is it?”
“The art ties that the family I work for has are vast in the area. We’ve talked about some of the pieces I’ve done and I’m thinking of having them shipped to me.”
“Which ones?”
I took a deep breath before I responded. “All of them.”
“This sounds serious, baby.” My daddy finally spoke up instead of letting me and mama control the conversation. He was the one who would be shipping my work to me because he’d been there to help me crate it up. Daddy would make sure everything was packaged up well.
“Maybe. I feel better taking a risk right now when it really isn’t a risk. My job is good and it includes housing. The people I work for are incredibly nice. Y’all would love them.”
“Love them enough so that they would allow us to come and visit?”
I knew it wouldn’t be a problem and it would only work in my favor since Nate would be fine with them coming. Especially with what I needed to speak to them about. “I can ask but I’m sure the answer is yes. They have little houses that they call guest cottages all over the property.”
“I looked up the people that you work for. They seem to be an incredibly affluent family. Have they been good to work and live with?” My father still took his job seriously and wanted to make sure I was safe.
“They are very down-to-earth family. This town is so cute and small. It’s a big difference from being in the city but I still like it.
It’s peaceful. I can’t deny that I miss the beach sometimes but there’s a crazy amount of diversity here instead of just sand.
” Growing up in the Florida panhandle meant that you were only minutes away from the beach wherever you went.
It would take some getting used to being that far away from water, which is why the lake had been a pleasant surprise.
“You really sound smitten with Texas. Have you thought about what you’ve left back home?”
“We can always visit each other—”
“Not just us, baby. What about, Trent?”
That was the easiest segue in what I had to tell them. Like I’d told him, I wasn’t going to let him hold me up with his bullshit. “Trent and I are not seeing eye to eye about a lot of things.”
“Like what?”
“He isn’t being supportive about the creative things I want to do and it’s frustrating to me.”
“Is that it or is there something else?”
“Something like what?”
“Like the fact that he thinks your boss might be making the moves on you.” Of course my dad had already spoken to Trent. I wasn’t going to waste my time with whatever lies he might have planted in their heads about Nate. My happiness would show them who was the better man when it was all over.
“I promise you that Trent is not at all worried about all of that. We’re broken up.” I tried to keep my laughter out of my voice but it still crept through. That man was not worried about who was hitting on me. Only if he would have to explain to his family why we broke up.
“I just don’t want your head turned by someone that is being helpful to you. Not that Mr. Love isn’t a good man—”
“It’s Chisholm-Love. And he would tell you himself to just call him Nate.”
“Well, we know that you’re the most trustworthy kid so we’re not going to stress. Just let us know if anything comes up that we need to know about.” My mama was trying to gently tell my daddy to back off and I knew she was probably glaring at him to get him to shut up right now.
“Always. I’ll get with the family and see what days work for them. I can’t wait for y’all to see this place.”
“We miss you, baby.” My daddy’s voice had more emotion than I’m sure he wanted to reveal and it made me choke up.
“I miss y’all too. When I have the dates I’ll get your plane tickets.
It’s the least I can do as a thank you for everything y’all have done.
” I didn’t have any bills here either, especially with Nate paying my phone bill.
Besides gas to get to work, which was barely anything since it was so close, I’d been saving all of the money I earned.
Well except for my splurges on art supplies.
“Are you sure that your ending stuff with Trent has nothing to do with this Nate?”
I didn’t want them to have a negative opinion of Nate before they met him and I was sure Trent was trying to poison the well. I poured my tea and brought it with me to steep as I sat on the sofa.
“It doesn’t. My eyes have been opened to a lot that was lacking in my situation with Trent. Distance can bring a lot of clarity and it did for me. But enough about that, what’s been going on back home since I left?”
“You okay?”
I glanced up and caught Yzzy walking toward me with a look on her face I couldn’t quite read.
Since it was the weekend I’d taken my charcoal and pad and wondered around the property until I found a place that I could sketch.
I didn’t have an idea in mind so I let my subconscious guide what was going on the paper.
Unfortunately, all of it seemed to be the shape of a certain man I was supposed to be taking my mind off of.
This was going to be a big week for the family and I wasn’t sure why I was so nervous.
The open house at BCL had been perfect, with everyone complimenting Nate on how much progress had been made.
The entertainment area was the perfect spot for the open house because it allowed people to explore the business and still have fun while staying away from the house.
He’d kept me close, heaping praise on me for the reason the event and the business was so successful.
I was introduced to a lot of people who I would never remember and I thought we’d end the night with each other, but he’d said he was tired.
I felt like something else was up but I wasn’t sure what it was.
“I’m good.” I gave her a smile that obviously wasn’t convincing by the way her face morphed into a smirk.
“Oh, you’ve got that look on your face.”
Her hands went to her hips and she was studying me like I was one of her patients.
Her tresses were up in a bun to combat the spring heat that felt like summer.
I don’t know why I thought the slightly higher elevation of the Valley versus back home in Florida would bring relief but it was still the South and I should’ve known better.
“What look?”
She pointed to the spot on the ground and I nodded as she sat down. Yzzy was in leggings and a workout shirt and I’d clearly interrupted her exercise.
“The morning after look. I take it that Chisholm-Love charm got to you and now you’re worried.”
I battled the smile that was on my face since I didn’t want to acknowledge that she was wrong and Nate was being stingy with the dick. She bumped her shoulder with mine forcing the smile to break through completely. It had been a while since I’d had friends that weren’t judgmental.
She continued on without me responding. “Don’t be.
The rest of the family put the fear of God into Nate to leave you alone if he meant you no good.
The day after he met you all he could talk about was you and how special you were.
So don’t think that you’re out here unprotected just because your folks aren’t here.
We wouldn’t let anything bad happen to you and trust me, we’d get Nate in line. ”
The knot of worry that had somehow crept into my gut loosened and my chest seemed to expand at the thought of him talking about me to his family. “Thanks for that.”
Yzzy grinned that glint in her eye far too devious for her to be thinking anything wholesome. “It’s no problem. Besides, I’ve been there. The nights where you wonder if you’re making the right decision. Thinking of everything that could go wrong if you don’t work out.”
I pulled at the blades of grass around me as her words resonated with me. “How did you move past that and let Sampson in?”
“I didn’t have a choice.”
My brows dipped and despite the way she was smiling I needed more information before I could just take her joy at face value. “I think you need to explain.”
“I was in love with Sampson fairly quickly. Only his issue with his ex kept me away. It was a brief doubt but I’d been waiting so long to be with him that the doubt didn’t last.” She was now leaning back against the tree trunk recounting that time with fondness.
I could tell the stress was worth it for her.
“We haven’t known each other that long.”
She acknowledged my concern with a nod but I could tell she wasn’t going to let that be a hinderance to her point. “But you know what you need to think about when that doubt starts to creep up?”
“What?”
“What Nate has showed you the entire time you’ve known him. If he’s been a man of his word. The family that he comes from and is imbedding you deep within. No man who isn’t serious provides you with additional protectors if he’s just looking to play.”
She was smiling but it was the gentle kind even though she should’ve been gloating.
“This is true. I just worry that my situation will push him away.”
“Then get rid of it.”
“My friend—”
Yzzy interrupted and I thought it was sweet that she was going so hard for her brother-in-law. “Answer me this. Is your friend worth losing Nate over?”
“No. Because the friendship hasn’t really been there lately. But I’ll feel bad—”
She pointed at me interrupting me again. “And that I’m sure is what he’s counting on. Don’t be a pawn for one man and miss out on the one meant for you. I’m happy to see Nate happy. And you look at home here. I’ve always grown up with a sister and would love to add another to the brood.”
She nudged my shoulder and I knew how much she loved her sister.
I tried not to eat dinner with their family more than a few times a week because I didn’t want to impose.
But over the weeks I’d lived here, I understood how highly she thought of her sister.
This lady was already like the Beyoncé of siblings in my eyes based on what Yzzy thought of her.
“I just keep thinking that he’s been so good. Not perfect but like…nothing short of amazing. And it’s just who he is. I don’t want to risk not having a beautiful future because of a past that isn’t serving me.”
Yzzy squeezed my hand providing me comfort while I was being vulnerable.
“And there’s your answer. My doubts were never louder than my hopes.
Never louder than my faith. I had a lot of time for Sampson to instill that hope but to also make me question him.
But in the end he was everything I’d ever wanted and more. ”
“A fairy tale.”
“No if it was a fairy tale his ex would be in a grave somewhere I could let Snow shit on everyday.”
My mouth dropped open because this lady had to be terrible the way everyone, even sweet as could be Yzzy, was talking about her. “Yzabel.”
“Don’t let the occupation fool you. I’m slightly unbalanced with someone trying to get at my husband.” She folded her arms looking every inch a menace.
“I see that.”
“You’ll be the same way. Not that they’re ever ones to wander but so many women are after them for the money or the fame. Not the men. He already knows you want him for him.”
I thought about the Rachel bitch that we had in fact got put on probation with her job after we spoke with her boss. Mitch had come to the open house to apologize in person and to thank me for the heads up. “I already have.”
Yzzy grinned at my words as she leaned against me and the tree. We were both wearing tank tops to fight the heat and I was happy to have a female friend in the area to confide in. Despite being Nate’s sister-in-law, she was a girl’s girl and wouldn’t have him out here cutting up.
“This is a story I gotta hear. Tell it to me while I flip through these drawings you’ve done of Bucky.”
“I didn’t—”
She gave me a look that told me to not bother lying.
“Girl, you’re talented that I can see every feature on his face, including his damn eyes that you somehow made sparkle.
Try that lie with someone else. I’m ready to hear how Nate had you ready to buck up on some broad and if we need to go finish what you started. ”