Chapter 4
Chapter 4
I t was Friday. Date night with ZsaZsa. To say he was anxious to see her would have been an understatement for James. The girl had completely captured his mind. They had talked to each other every night since the rally, and each conversation was deepening their connection. What he had discovered was she was indeed a conscientious princess who cared very deeply about her country. She was also very easy to talk to with just about anything and much more mature than any girl he had met before. To him, it was now clear why ZsaZsa and Phire were close friends. They thought about world issues, not just the next new dance step or who was doing who in Hollywood. It was for those reasons he was leaving for Richmond right after his noon class. Since that would put him there way too early for their date, he decided to stop to visit his mother, who lived a short drive from the campus where ZsaZsa attended school.
On the drive to Richmond, he marveled at how whenever he talked with ZsaZsa thoughts of his future came into play. He was still trying to decide what field of law he was going into when he remembered a conversation he had with his cousin Taylor about her going to law school when she already had a big singing career with tours that sold out around the world. The response was simple and it resonated with him, their grandparents were rich, they were not. If they wanted to live at the level they were accustomed to, they needed to work and have a backup plan. That’s what he needed, James thought, a backup. He was going to attend law school, that was a given, but he had to wonder if that was the thing that would fill his heart with joy. ZsaZsa did, he smiled as he looked out the window.
Thoughts of ZsaZsa still filled his mind as he drove through the neighborhood where his mother lived. The homes were huge, and the lawns were beautifully manicured as he drove through the gated community. He knew everyone could not live like his parents. Hell, he wasn’t sure he could live like them. His mother lived in a million-dollar home. As for his father, well, he lived at a very different level.
The home in Richmond, which they called the compound, was on twenty-seven acres and the home in Fairfax, where they lived while working for the president, was on two acres of land. The Brooks estate, where his grandparents lived, was close to ten acres of land. Every home James had ever lived in, had a suite he could call his own. Even here at his mother’s house, he had an entire wing to himself.
Pulling into the garage, he looked through the windshield to see his mother standing in the entrance to the mudroom with a bright smile on her face. The one thing he could say about his family was that neither his mother nor his father ever used him against the other.
As a child, they both put his wellbeing above anything that was happening between them. When it was time for him to be with his mom, which was during the week while he was in school, there were never any arguments. When it was time for him to be with his dad, which was usually on weekends and holidays, the exchange went well. Now that he was in college, the roles were reversed. He stayed in the dorm at Georgetown, which was closer to his father. He really did have great parents, and Ashley, his stepmother, was a plus.
When his father married Ashley, James was thrilled at the prospect of having younger brothers and sisters. As a big brother, it was his job to protect, guide, and set an example for them. He took his role as a big brother seriously. It was clear to Jayda, Jaden and Anthony that they could talk to him about anything. Even when it came to boyfriends and girlfriends. Anthony wasn’t at that age, yet, however, Jayda and Jaden certainly were. Both had discussed their interest in the opposite sex with him. He did his best to guide them. He could not remember how many times he had told both of them they were too young to get serious about any one person. Here he was doing the exact thing he advised them against.
“You look more and more like your father every day,” his mother held her arms out to him. “To what do I owe the honor of the presence of my son?”
James laughed as he hugged his mother. “What is going on with you today?”
“I’m happy to see you,” she said as she closed the door behind him. “Let me take your coat. It seems to be getting a little chilly out there.”
“Mom, I can hang up my own coat.” James dropped his knapsack on the floor, then hung up his coat as he walked into the kitchen from the mudroom. “I don’t smell anything in the kitchen. Where is Dana?”
“I gave her the weekend off. I’m going to the Dominican Republic for a few days.”
“You and the ladies are doing a getaway?”
“No,” she smirked.
He then took a closer look at her. Katherine Stallworth-Brooks was a beautiful woman. He always figured she was a knockout in college, that’s why his dad fell hard for her. Even now in her late forties, his mother could turn a head or two. “You aren’t going with the ladies.” James raised an eyebrow somewhat surprised. “Who is the lucky man?”
“I’m not going with a man. I’m going to meet him there.” She blushed as she walked into the adjoining family room.
“Playing it safe. I like that,” James said as he sat in the family room near the fireplace with her. “So, tell me about him.”
“He reminds me a lot of your father. He’s a bit conservative but has the mischievousness of Vernon.”
“Oh, a combination of the two men that confused my paternity.”
James laughed. It was a running joke with the Brooks family about his paternity. Somewhere along the line, his mother had slept with his uncle Vernon while she was still married to his father. Until recently, his true parentage was in question. Not for him. He was raised as the son of James Brooks. He was named after the man. To his way of thinking, what a piece of paper said did not matter. James Brooks was and would always be his father.
“Not funny,” she smiled. “But yes. It’s a great combination and I’m looking forward to spending some time with him.”
“I need his name, address, social security number, and every contact you have for him.” James said in a joking manner but was serious. Hell, this was the first time his mother had ever mentioned a man to him. Yes, he wanted to know all that he could. If need be, he would get Calvin to do a background check on the man to ensure his mother’s safety.
His mother burst into laughter. “You are your father’s son. He asked for just about the same information. Only, all he needed was the social security number.”
“You told Dad about this date?”
“It’s not a date, it’s a get to know each other trip,” she corrected. “And yes, I did speak with your father about it.”
“You two are the most congenial divorced couple I have ever experienced.”
“Have you experienced many?”
James thought. “Come to think of it, no.”
“Keep it that way.”
He smiled. “In other words, don’t go into family law.”
“Good lord no, not if you can help it.” She glanced at him. “Have you decided to follow in your father’s footsteps and go to law school?”
“Yes, I have. However, I have no idea what branch of law I want to go into, hence the hesitation of selecting what law school I will attend.”
“Well, whatever you do, try to stay away from politics. Your poor father is turning gray trying to deal with Congress. Thank God he has Ashley to balance him out.”
“You really like her, don’t you?”
She smiled. “I do. I think she is the perfect person for James.”
“Not you?”
“No,” she shook her head. “I loved your father, don’t ever doubt that. But he needed a woman who would be down for him no matter what he decided to do. I was needy when we were married. Your father was driven. He had a passion for helping others. He was determined. Your father was always destined to do exactly what he is doing now, serving the country in a special way. I wanted to live the life of the rich. Travel, have grand parties, and plenty of diamonds. James gave me everything except for him. Ashley supports him in everything he does, but she has her own life as well. What’s even better for him is that she is not a ’yes’ wife. She will put his ass in place when needed.”
“Oh, I’ve seen it happen many times,” James laughed. “But you are right. She does support him in many ways. I’ve heard them discuss issues with serious problems happening around us. He treasures her advice and listens.”
“That is important when picking the person you are planning to spend the rest of your life with. You have to have what it takes to support each other. That and friendship are the two most valuable aspects of any relationship.”
“What about trust?”
“That’s a biggie. You have to trust the person you choose to share your life with. That is the person with whom you will share your deepest thoughts,” she advised. “I completely destroyed your father’s trust in me. There was no way we could recover from that.”
James could see the regret in her eyes as she spoke. He thought for a long moment then asked, “We never discussed that situation. Over the years the one thing I have come to know is that you loved Dad at one time, and he loved you. Why did you sleep with Uncle Vernon while you were married to his brother?”
“Whew, are you sure you want an answer to that question?” She held his gaze.
“Yes, I would like to try and understand.” James replied while asking himself if he really wanted to hear her answer.
She exhaled then spoke. “Your father was a dedicated man to his cause. His time and energy all went to that thing, whatever it was at the moment. There wasn’t a lot of him left for me when he came home. Vernon, well…” she hesitated. “Was a very different man than what he is now. He was in an unhappy marriage, with a bitch of a wife. On that particular evening, he was angry. I did not know why until later, but he had just found Connie with another man. While he did not love her, his pride was injured. He was drinking when I ran into him in the upstairs parlor. Your father hadn’t come home, and I was looking for something to distract my anger at him. Vernon offered me a drink, and we both wallowed in our sorrows. It didn’t take long for us to both be falling on our ass drunk and one thing led to another. The moment it was over, I knew it was wrong. As for Vernon, well for him it was something he could throw in James’ face. During that time Vernon had to have anything that James called his. And well, it could not get much better than being able to say he’d had his wife. Only he never had a chance to say it. James walked into the parlor with flowers in his hands, presumably for me, only to find his wife naked and in the arms of his brother.” She hesitated. “Lord, I thought your father was going to kill Vernon that night. And he would have if it wasn’t for your grandfather. I thought the look in Gwen’s eyes was bad, but it was nothing compared to the hurt I saw in your father’s eyes. Though he forgave me years ago, I will never forgive myself for hurting him in that way.”
“Do you realize each time we have our serious talks, you always mention Dad?” James asked. “Are you still in love with him? Is that why you haven’t allowed any other man to get close to you?”
“Which of those questions do you want me to answer first?” She gave him a lopsided smile.
“Only one,” he chuckled. “I believe the answer to, if you still love him, will answer the other.”
She stood. “Do you want a drink?”
James laughed. “It’s two o’clock in the day Mother.”
“Which means it is cocktail hour somewhere in this world,” she said as she walked over to the bar and poured a drink.
“Does that mean I’m not going to get an answer to my question?” He walked over and sat at the bar across from her.
“Why are you asking?”
He smiled, then exhaled.
“You’ve met someone?” She set her glass down and poked him in the shoulder. “You little devil. Who is she?”
James blushed. Only his mother could make him do that. “Her name is ZsaZsa.”
“ZsaZsa,” she looked away thinking. “Where do I know that name from?”
“She is Prince LaVeré’s little sister.” James replied.
“Oh,” his mother looked surprised, then pensive. “How did your father take that bit of information?”
“I haven’t really told him-told him.” James explained. “I’ve only mentioned her to him when we first met, but I haven’t talked with him about my growing feelings for her.” James explained.
“I’m getting the scoop before your father?” His mother walked around the bar and sat next to him. “I better take a seat for this one. Okay, talk to me.”
James exhaled, “Well, it’s only been a week since I met her. But it’s hard to describe how I feel when I hear her voice or see her smile. Talking with her is like a breath of fresh air. I don’t have to lower my vocabulary or watch how deep I go into a topic. For the first time I feel like I’m learning as much as I’m teaching when we talk.” He laughed. “I know that sounds crazy, but I can’t tell you how many times I’m talking to a girl and see the lost look in her eyes. Every time I get to look into ZsaZsa's eyes, I see the world and all its possibilities. I just…” he took a breath then looked at his mother. “I like how I feel when I’m with her. It’s like when I’m with my boys, we can talk about anything without concerns about it going anywhere or being questioned about its meaning.”
“Oh my, she gets a ranking with the boys. And it’s only been a week,” she smiled.
“I feel just that free with her. Talking with her is like being with the boys, but better. I feel like I can talk with her about anything, you know. At night when I go to sleep, I see her face and I’m at peace. It’s hard to explain and I’m still trying to figure things out. But I like her… I like her a lot.”
His mother sat there smiling at him with tears on the brims of her eyelids. “You’re falling in love.” She exhaled. “My baby is falling in love.” She hugged him.
“I don’t know about that. But she is special to me,” James exhaled.
His mother released him then sat back. “Is she pretty?”
“Yes,” he sighed. “She has these wonderful big brown eyes that sparkle when she laughs,” he smiled, “Mom, it brightens the room. Even her presence changes the atmosphere when she walks in. You have to hear her talk.” He chuckled. “She has this accent that makes everything sound good. She could be talking about dog shit, and it would sound special.”
“Watch your language.”
“Sorry Mom,” he shrugged. “I just know she is the woman for me. Get this,” he could feel his excitement building as he continued to talk. “We’re in the middle of the student center, right, and she just blurts out, I’m not sexually active. I was so shocked by her words I had to look around to make sure no one else heard.” He laughed.
“Were you asking her to have sex with you?”
“No, we weren’t talking about anything. We had just left this rally and walked into the food court, and she blurted it out.” He replied. “She does that all the time, just says what she is thinking. I don’t have to try to figure out what’s going on with her.”
“How did you feel about her declaration?”
“What declaration?”
“About sex?” his mother asked. “How do feel about her not being ready for sex?”
James shrugged. “I have plenty of girls I can have sex with. I can wait until she is ready. She’s nineteen and to be honest I would feel better having sex with her when she is a little older. For now, I want to know everything about her.”
“Here is what I know. You did not bring up anything about ZsaZsa’s physical attributes until I asked. Usually, the first thing out of your mouth when you talk about girls is how thick they are. That, in itself, lets me know your mind is on a higher level with ZsaZsa. So, I’m going to give you this advice. Be upfront and honest with her about your feelings. And make sure you talk with your father before you think about having sex with her.”
James frowned. “Mom, I’ve been having sex for a while now. I don’t need to talk to Dad about that.”
“Yes, you have been having sex. When you are ready to be with ZsaZsa talk to your father about making love. There is a difference. Trust me on this. Now promise.”
“Promise?” James frowned at his mother.
“Yes, promise. You will thank me later.”
James held her gaze for a long moment. “Okay, I promise.”
“Good,” she stood and walked back to her drink. “And the answer to your question is yes. I still love your father and always will. However, he is with the woman he should be with and with some luck I may have found a man to replace him.”
“Finally,” James exclaimed then laughed. “Seriously though. I hope this man is all you want and need. But I would feel better if I, at the very least, knew the man’s name and what he does for a living. And I need a contact number, in case of an emergency.”
“Who are you…my father now?” She smirked.
“No, I’m a concerned son for a mother who is stepping out for the first time in years. Besides, I'm not asking for anything more than you always request from me.”
“All right, I’ll text you the information, James the second.” She smiled.
“Thank you,” He looked at his watch. “I’m going to the student center for a while. I have a little bug I need to squash before it’s time for me to pick up ZsaZsa.”
“Okay, do me a favor, take time to have a talk with LaVeré before you get too deep into his little sister. I only ask this because he may have some concerns about her getting involved with an American. Since he and your father are very close friends, you want to try to avoid any missteps that could cause hard feelings between the two.”
James nodded. “I can do that. Thanks for the talk and have fun on your weekend date.”
“Are you going to be staying here while I’m away?”
“No, I’m going to be at the Richmond house,” James replied. “The guys are meeting up at the compound. If things go well with ZsaZsa, I’ll probably try to see if she will go out with me on Saturday after I meet up with the guys.”
“Have fun and be safe.”
“Will do,” James replied, then kissed his mother, grabbed his coat and left for the university.