Chapter 20
NAIJHEL
Iglanced at my watch for the ninth time in twenty minutes.
Next, I pulled out my phone and checked the tracker.
Two more minutes. I was generally a patient man, but I was a little nervous tonight.
I hated when I was operating out of my element, but I often felt that way when it came to Delaney.
If I screwed something up, I couldn’t handle it the way that I would with anyone else.
She was like fine china that had to be handled delicately.
She was strong and could endure pressure despite her seemingly delicate nature.
I paced the length of the room, back and forth, until I saw the black Jeep Grand Wagoneer pulling up the long driveway.
A smile tilted my lips, and I breathed a sigh of relief.
I prayed that she was in a forgiving mood, and if she weren’t, maybe what I had to offer would put her in one.
I had won half the battle just by having her show up.
Although she had called me last night, I hadn’t been able to take her call.
I wasn’t sure if she was calling to break things off or make up, which had me nervous.
I returned her call briefly this morning and told her that we needed to talk in person.
The only thing I told her was that Shane would be there to pick her up and some delivery people were coming by to prepare her for our meeting.
She asked what that meant, and I told her that she would see.
She called me when they showed up, but I refused to answer.
I knew she would try to send them away if I did answer.
I walked to the door of the old mansion that had been turned into a museum. The antebellum home was once a plantation home that was sold to a former slave after the Civil War ended. The same family of that former slave still held the museum.
I walked down the stairs and to the car before Shane could get the car parked. I opened the door and looked into her beautiful smiling face.
“Hey,” she greeted softly and shyly as I extended my hand to take hers.
“Hi, back at ya. I wasn’t sure that you would come.”
“How could I not when you sent a whole team to my house to make me over? You didn’t need to send stylists to do my hair, clothing, and makeup. Honestly, if I was going to come, I was going to come, and if not, then I wasn’t. I had already reached out to you, but seeing all that overwhelmed me.”
“Why?” I asked as she stepped out of the car.
“Because it felt like you were trying to buy my forgiveness.”
“I would never do that. Tonight was about seeing you in a way that I would like to see you, a dress that I handpicked, makeup that I wanted to see you in, and with your hair pulled up high and off your neck.”
She dipped her head and tried to hide her smile. I reached out and grabbed her chin with my index finger and thumb to tilt her head back up. “Don’t hide your smile, gorgeous. It’s one of the things that makes my day go from good to great.”
She rolled her eyes but kept smiling.
“Come on. We’ll let Shane go so that we can start our date.”
“What is this place, Naijhel? It’s so beautiful,” she whispered. Her voice was so low like she was afraid that if she spoke too loudly, it would break the reality and beauty of the moment.
I explained to her exactly what the French Colonial home used to be.
“It’s so beautiful and has been well maintained through the years. I love the symmetrical facade of French Colonial homes,” she declared, taking in the massive columns as we stepped up onto the wraparound porch. “Look, there’s even a gabled roof, a cupola, and balconies.”
I laughed. “I thought that you might appreciate the beauty of this place,” I admitted, stepping into the large foyer with its high ceilings. I led her to the grand staircase where an older gentleman awaited.
“This is Jordan, our tour guide. He’ll be giving us a tour of the place,” I explained.
She looked at me, and her eyes watered. I laughed as she widened her eyes and opened her mouth at the same time to wipe the tears forming in her eyes. “Why do women do that?” I asked.
“What?”
“Stretch your mouths open when you get something in your eye.”
“I don’t know. It’s a natural habit,” she replied, shrugging.
I looked at Jordan, who declared, “Don’t look at me. Man, I gave up trying to figure women out a long time ago. I’ve been married for sixteen years, and I still haven’t figured my wife out. Just love her.”
He winked at me as I stated, “I do.”
He gave us a tour of the house, and he finished in the formal ballroom where he left us.
“There’s something that I have to give you.” I led her to one of the tables in the ballroom and presented her with the gift wrapped box.
“What is this?”
“A gift. You’ll have to open it to see what’s inside.”
She looked at me shyly and then back at the box before she reached for it. I watched as her fingers trembled when she tried untying the ribbon on the box.
“Why am I so nervous?”
“I don’t know. It’s just a box,” I stated with a shrug.
When she finally opened it, her eyes widened, and her mouth dropped. “Naijhel!” she shrieked.
“I’ll take that to mean you like it,” I teased with a chuckle.
“It’s beautiful. Where did you get it? I’ve looked all over for this.”
“I had to do a lot of research, pull a few strings, and pay a pretty penny, but it was worth it to see this smile on your face, lovely.”
She traced the elegant, rustic Acadia finish of the clock with its beautiful patinas, burnished details, and distinctive columns. The Ava Maria chimes struck, causing me to smile. It was seven on the hour.
“Naijhel, it sounds so beautiful.”
“I was hoping that you would make it in time to hear this with me. I was nervous waiting for you to arrive on time. I calculated how long it would take for the tour, and we had just enough time for me to present it to you before it chimed and gave it away.”
She laughed and wiped the tears that fell from her eyes. “It’s beautiful. Thank you so much!” she exclaimed, throwing her arms around my neck. She kissed me and then pulled back and stared into my eyes. “How could I have ever doubted you? You get me.”
“I accept your apology, ma’am. Can you show your appreciation by giving me this dance?” I asked.
She rolled her eyes as I set my cane aside and took her hands in mine.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
“Trying to win back the heart of the only woman I’ve ever loved.”
“You don’t have to win something you haven’t lost, baby.”
“You’ve been upset with me.”
“I had every right to be.”
“So, what made you start speaking to me again?”
“It wasn’t that I was no longer speaking to you. I was just extremely upset, and I needed time to work through that. Besides, I called you last night, and you didn’t answer my calls. In fact, I called repeatedly, and after the first time, my calls went to voicemail.”
“I was caught up in something, and my phone died. I’ll bet you thought that I blocked you.”
“It occurred to me,” she answered just as Bleu Harmony stepped out onto the stage.
Delaney gasped and pointed at the stage. “Do you know who that is?” she whispered and stopped moving.
Chuckling, I replied, “I do.”
“She’s my favorite singer.”
“I’m aware.”
“You really do pay attention, don’t you?”
“I told you that you mean the world to me, Delaney.”
I stared into her beautiful face as we danced in silence until she rested her head on my chest. I knew that I hadn’t made a mistake as it related to Clayton. There were no regrets within me.
“Are you ready to eat?” I asked after Bleu Harmony had finished her set and been introduced to Delaney, who she graciously took pictures with.
“Yes, I can eat now that Bleu’s gone. I can’t believe that you did that.”
I grabbed my cane and led her to a table that had been set up for our dinner. “There’s nothing that I won’t do for you, Delaney. Nothing.”
A small orchestra came in and took Bleu’s place as we settled down for our dinner.
“You made some accusations the other day when you were upset with me, and I want the chance to clear them up.”
“Okay, I’m listening.”
“I’m not in the mafia, and I never have been.
Yes, our firm represents people who are affiliated with crime organizations, but that’s as close as my ties go.
Have I had to do some illegal things to handle business?
Yes, and I always will where my family is concerned.
But I will never put you all in harm’s way. ”
She stared at me and shook her head. “I know that you said I shouldn’t ask these questions, but I’ll ask you once more. I hope that you’re honest with me, because I’ll know if you aren’t.”
“I’m listening.” My belly tightened, and I prayed that she didn’t ask me anything about Clayton, because I didn’t want to lie to her, but I might have to.
Relief filled me when she asked, “How can you afford all this? A boat, private catering, bringing Bleu to sing for an intimate date night, closing a theater and a museum, and cars for hire? And now that clock that arrived this evening? A clock I’ve searched for forever.
You’re an attorney. Granted, you are a partner, but still. How do you afford all of this?”
“You’re right. I did invest a lot in to finding that clock. Not just money, but a team of people to track it down, negotiate with the current owners, and persuading them to part with it in exchange for something they had been seeking, a priceless painting that my family has owned for years.”
“You did that? For me? But why?”
“Because you’re worthy of it, Delaney, and there’s not a thing that I won’t do for the woman I love.
My firm is very lucrative, and I make a wealthy living from that.
But you’re right about that, too—that’s not where everything comes from.
My maternal great-great-grandfather was a wealthy white man whose parents owned a tobacco company.