Chapter 10 #2
I’d never met her, but her spirit was just as soothing as Noah’s.
I loved that, and I knew it was what I needed.
Once they walked away, RJ hugged me, then Sonya.
Her husband gave me a polite nod. Sharee and Exodus both hugged me and offered their condolences.
Graham was standing in front of me when they walked away. I swallowed hard.
He gave me a tight smile, then extended his arms. I hugged him loosely, still embarrassed for how I treated him through text.
He kissed my cheek and stepped aside for his parents to shake my hand.
Once they’d walked away, I noticed some record execs from my label.
They offered their condolences as well, then walked away to be seated.
I sat next to my dad, thinking about how I didn’t even want to go to the repast. I just wanted to go home.
When the line to view Bilal was done, the funeral director went to the casket and prepared to close it as tears fell down my cheeks.
I closed my eyes until I heard the preacher speak.
I opened them in time to see them walk away.
Everyone was standing, and they began singing a congregational hymn.
I took a deep breath and stood with everyone else, hoping my participation would make the time go by quicker.
“Do you need anything, Arlie?”
I shook my head. Kimaji’s mom had taken me home, and Kimaji stayed with me.
Once we left the cemetery, I refused to go back to the church to “fellowship” with a bunch of people who were only there for a free meal.
Kimaji had let Noah and everyone else know that I was going home, so I assumed they would be doing their own thing afterward.
When I heard the doorbell ring, I huffed loudly. I didn’t know who was at my house. The media wasn’t here when we got here, thankfully. They’d probably followed the family car back to the church, not knowing I had come back home.
The knock at the door had me damn near holding my breath, trying to make as little noise as possible. “It’s me, Arlie.”
The door opened, and Maj walked in. She closed it behind her and sat on the bed next to me. She grabbed my hand, and said, “You have guests. Sonya, her husband, Sharee, Noah’s wife, and Graham’s mom are in the kitchen about to cook for you.”
My eyes widened. “Are you serious?”
“Yeah. They went to the store and got stuff to make a gumbo . . . your favorite.”
I lowered my head, silently begging the tears to stay in place. “Is Graham here too?”
“Yes. So is Noah, RJ, Exodus, and Graham’s dad.”
“Okay. Let me change.”
She nodded and left out. Tears cascaded down my cheeks.
I was thankful for people that truly cared about me.
I pulled out a pair of jeans and a T-shirt as someone knocked on the door.
That couldn’t have been Kimaji. I went to it and opened it to find Graham standing there. I stepped aside to let him inside.
The minute I closed the door, I rested my head against it, and said, “I’m sorry.”
His arms wrapped around me from the back. “For what?”
“For how I spoke to you through text and for the bullshit in the media.”
“You get a pass. You didn’t know I knew about your brother, and I didn’t make it any easier by telling you that I did. As far as the media, it’s okay. I knew the risk I was taking.”
I frowned slightly and turned to him. “What do you mean by risk?”
“Because I was in uniform, they realized where I worked. Executives for Premier Wings saw it and wrote me up for violating the ethics clause. I didn’t sign it though.
They basically wrote me up because it cast somewhat of a negative light on the company.
The media made it seem like I was there uninvited and used my access through Premier Wings to get at you. ”
“I have to make a statement. I feel really bad now.”
“Don’t. I could have said no and just got at you when we landed in Houston.”
I nodded, then walked around him. I wondered if he’d gotten to meet his bio mom. He seemed so sensitive right now. Surely my situation wasn’t the whole reason for that. If he had met her, that would explain his tenderness a bit more.
I turned to him, and he said, “I’m sorry. I’ll wait out there while you change.”
“That’s not necessary.”
“Yes, it is,” he said with a smirk on his lips as he scanned my body.
I gave him a tight smile and nodded. I smiled after he left out and breathed out a sigh of relief.
He was so soft with me just now, the total opposite of the person I had gotten accustomed to dealing with.
In his gaze, I could see the things he wasn’t saying.
He wanted more. Why else would he be here with his parents if he didn’t?
Even if his parents were connected to Noah’s label, he wouldn’t have come with them, simply to prevent them from getting the wrong idea about us.
I quickly put on my jeans and T-shirt, then made my way to the front. When I entered the room, everyone that was seated stood. “Thank you. I’m truly at a loss for words.”
Noah walked over to me and put his arm around my shoulders.
“Let me introduce you to everyone. This is Sonya’s husband, Shawn.
He does a lot of the photography for the label.
Their son Tristan does as well, but he couldn’t be here today.
This is Devin Taylor, Shawn’s brother and Graham’s father.
His firm handles the accounting for YKMN. You met Exodus already, as well as RJ.”
I smiled slightly at everyone and nodded.
They did the same. Then Noah took me to the kitchen.
“TAZ is my wife. She’s also a singer who recently signed to my label.
No one in the family really calls her TAZ.
We call her Tee or Taryn. My mama, Raqui Brooks, wanted me to give you her love as well as my daughter and son, Noelle and Jax.
This is Sidney Taylor, one of the attorneys for the label and Graham’s mother. ”
She nodded slightly and gave me a tight smile.
I could see she was sizing me up. Everyone knew of our involvement, thanks to the media, and it made me slightly uncomfortable.
Noah led me back to the front room, so I sat next to Kimaji.
She was in a full conversation with Devin’s dad.
She was so good at math and was inquiring about his firm.
I had to assume Graham had introduced her to his parents as his sister.
I sat there awkwardly until Noah asked, “Did anyone from your label show up?”
“Yes. I fired my manager right before everything started. She just got to town and was busy trying to explain herself while I was in the procession about to view my brother. My emotions got the best of me, and I fired her on the spot.”
He slowly shook his head. “Don’t worry about anything right now. You need anything?”
“No. Y’all have done enough. I can’t believe you came all the way from Baltimore.”
“So umm . . . I was already in Houston. Growing up, my step-dad’s father claimed me as his grandson. He still does, so I came to see him.”
“Oh okay.”
“When I found out about your brother, we just extended our stay and sent our baby girl, Brooklyn, back to Baltimore with my mama.”
“I appreciate you so much. Let me turn on the TV.”
It was way too quiet in here. After doing so, I made my way to the kitchen. The ladies were all seated at the island. “Thank y’all for cooking for me.”
“It’s our pleasure,” Sonya said. “You are a part of the family.”
I glanced at Sidney to see the smirk on her lips. “I can see you’re uncomfortable, SOLA.”
“Please call me Arlie,” I said to Sidney.
“Arlie. Okay. Don’t ever let nobody make you feel uncomfortable in your own home. Secondly, you and Graham are grown. That ain’t my business unless you want it to be.”
I smiled tightly and took a deep breath. “I just don’t like to be perceived negatively.”
“Shiiiid, that’s the story of my life,” Sonya said and laughed.
I couldn’t help but chuckle with her as Sidney rolled her eyes playfully. To say they were sisters, they looked nothing alike. “I think it’s cool that two sisters married two brothers.”
They glanced at each other and smiled, like there was an inside story I wasn’t privy to.
“Mm-hmm,” Sonya said. “Let me check this roux.”
She turned and went to the stove as Sidney stared at me. I could feel my face heating up. Finally, she said, “Graham picked a beautiful woman to be plastered all over the internet with.”
I couldn’t subdue my laughter. She joined me. “Umm… thank you?” I said in a questioning manner.
“That’s a compliment, along with the facts. The paparazzi seems to love you.”
I slightly rolled my eyes. “I still haven’t figured out why.”
“You haven’t? I have.”
My eyebrows lifted, but I remained silent. I didn’t know what to say, nor did I know where this conversation was headed.
“When your purpose is strong, people are drawn to you to try to stifle you. Baby, your aura is strong. There are people who are afraid of your potential. Don’t you think people that know you are feeding the media?
They will do whatever they have to do to be a hindrance to you fulfilling it.
Satan won’t win. The man you are signing with has claimed power over him.
It’s time for you to do the same. Stop putting yourself in compromising situations.
Graham is my son, but that nigga is a ho.
However, God still used him. Imagine if he aligned himself in God’s will. Same for you.”
Once again, I was left speechless. I stared up at her and let a tear fall down my cheek.
She walked over to me and said, “Graham is changing. He would have never had us at a woman’s house.
All of this was his idea. He wanted to provide you with overwhelming support.
Don’t tell him I told you, but he’s smitten. Honestly, I think you are too.”
I brought my hands to my face, covering it. If she could see that, then I was sure everyone could. She put her arm around me, and said, “Go spend time with him and tell him how you feel. I’m pretty sure he will reciprocate.”
When she walked away, I said, “Thank you.”
I spun around on my bar stool, and my eyes landed on Graham. He was staring right back. God, I hope she’s right.