Chapter 19
Lola awoke to his phone going off before his alarm. Grabbing it from the nightstand, he swiped the screen to read the text.
Valentine’s Day. Instructions at clubhouse. On bar.
Typing in his standard reply, he tossed it onto the bed beside him. Throwing his arm over his eyes, he waited to be sure no other orders came on the tail end of that one. When nothing else came, he forced himself up and got dressed. Must be a busy day to begin this early, he thought as he made his way toward the kitchen for a liquid breakfast.
As usual, Mia beat him to the kitchen and was cooking. Today, she stood at the stove scrambling eggs.
“Sunshine, I don’t have time to sit down with you to eat. Sorry.”
She tilted her head and flashed him her sweet smile before pointing toward the coffee pot.
“Ah. I can do a quick drink,” he told her, grabbing a mug from the shelf. He filled the mug and stood, savoring each drop as Mia continued to flit about the space. “I gotta go,” he said, placing the empty mug in the sink.
Her gentle touch to his arm stopped him as always. When he turned back, she held out a travel mug and something wrapped in a cloth napkin.
“What’s this?”
She pointed to the flour tortillas and the skillet where she had cooked the eggs.
“Thank you. I needed this.” He leaned in as he relieved her of his breakfast and brushed his lips across her rosy cheek. “Happy Valentine’s Day,” he whispered.
***
The clubhouse was silent as Lola strolled toward the bar. As promised, his instructions were all laid out. He couldn’t help but huff a laugh with a shake of his head. Envelopes were lined up on the bar addressed to the old ladies and daughters. Next to the envelopes were instructions detailing what to deliver and where. Reading through the instructions, he organized them in order by time and place to make the deliveries efficient.
The first stop was the flower shop. Leaving with ten arrangements all securely placed in his Jeep, he set off for the jewelry store. With the single jewelry box tucked in the glove compartment, he headed to his first stop. With half the flowers delivered, he checked the time and headed for the next delivery.
Pulling up to the main entrance of the high school, he reached across the vehicle, popping open the glove box for the long slim present from the jeweler. He stepped to the ground and leaned into the back floorboard, pulling a rose from the arrangements, then headed inside. He had arrived at just the precise time to maneuver through the crowd of students on their lunch break.
“I need to see Skye Jarreau,” he told the secretary.
She glanced at the row of deliveries already lined up on the office desk and looked back at Lola with slumped shoulders and tired eyes.
“Point me in a direction and I’ll deliver them for you,” he told the older woman.
“You know, I shouldn’t,” she told him, “But even one less that I have to handle would be a blessing.”
“No problem. Which way?” he asked.
“Most likely in the cafeteria. Through those doors.” She pointed out the double doors across the lobby from the office.
“Thanks,” he said and headed into the mass of teenagers. Passing through the doors, he hesitated, searching the table-filled room for Skye.
“Can I help you?” a man asked. He didn’t appear to be much older than Lola, so no doubt he was a duty teacher.
“Do you know where I can find Skye Jarreau?”
The man studied Lola a moment, and Lola guessed he was deciding whether to trust him or not.
“You’re not a student here,” the man finally said.
“No, I’m not. Do you know where she may be?”
“Do you know her family?” the teacher asked, causing a smile to come over Lola. Wise choice of words.
“Let’s just say her father knows I’m here and there will be no problems.” Lola cocked his head. “Unless I don’t find her today.”
“She’s normally seated at one of the tables near that corner of the cafeteria.”
“Thank you. Sir,” Lola replied and strolled in the direction mentioned, spotting her as he reached near the center of the room.
He silently stopped behind her as she sat with friends. Taking the rose, he reached around, holding it in her line of sight. She spun in her seat as the table became silent, watching.
“I hope you don’t mind.” He dropped to sit on his heels next to her.
She threw her arms around his neck. “Thank you!”
“Are we making jealous or making a statement?” he whispered for only her to hear as she hugged him.
“Maybe both,” she whispered in return and straightened.
“I hope you don’t mind. I couldn’t wait until tonight,” he said.
“It’s beautiful. Thank you,” she told him, taking the rose from his hand.
He said nothing as he pulled the slender box from his pocket and placed it on the table in front of her. Hearing the gasps from across the table, he smiled. “Open it.”
Flipping the lid open, her eyes widened as he reached around her and lifted the simple bracelet from its box. Lola wrapped it around her wrist, locking the clasp.
“Can you stay?” Skye asked, her smile so large and genuine.
“I don’t want to butt in on your friends,” he said, looking around the table. “And since I’ll see you tonight for dinner, I should probably get back to work. But if you want to walk me to the door . . .” He let the thought trail off.
“Can you watch my stuff?” Skye asked the girl next to her. Then, she hopped to her feet and, side by side, they walked through the cafeteria and toward the large glass doors next to the office. Lola waved to the secretary, getting a smile in return.
“That was great. Thank you!” Skye said.
“I hope it does whatever you’re hoping for,” Lola told her. With that, he walked out and returned to his job of delivering flowers.
***
When he finally returned home late that afternoon, he carried in the last of the roses—a yellow one and a pink one. Finding Amber studying in the formal dining room, he stepped in.
“This is sweet. Thank you,” she told him, smiling. “You do have a soft side.”
“Don’t tell anyone. I’ll deny it.”
“I bet you would,” she agreed with a laugh.
“What are you working on?” he asked, leaning over to read the paper in front of her.
“English. I’m writing an essay for my study group,” she explained.
“Ah. I’ll get out of your way then. You got this,” he said, backing from the room.
Next, Mia. Where to begin looking? The door under the staircase stood open. She must be there. He strolled over and stepped inside. “Busy?”
Mia jumped to her feet.
He held out the pink rose.
“Thank you,” she signed and lifted the delicate petals to her nose, breathing in the faint fragrance. Holding up a finger, she reached down and lifted a sheet of paper from the coffee table where she’d been sitting when he arrived.
“What’s this?”
She tapped the page in his hand.
He looked down. A poem. In her handwriting. “I didn’t know you wrote poetry.”
She tapped the lines on the paper, then his chest.
He began reading. This is . . . He reread the last lines. Me. This is about me. Us. Our friendship. “I don’t know what to say. Thank you.” As usual, her smile said more than he ever realized a simple gesture could relay.
Before he could gather his thoughts, the voices of children running through the foyer interrupted their exchange. It was like the club had radar to interrupt at the most inconvenient moment. He turned toward the door.
“There you are,” Skye said. “You were great today. I told Dad all about it. And after you left, I got a lecture.”
“From your dad?” Lola wondered.
“No. From the guy who just stares at me all day. He’s so hot. Today, he walked up to my locker after lunch and asked what I was doing with an older man.” She squealed with excitement.
Mia signaled for her to continue.
Skye glanced toward Blade, now standing in the doorway, then continued. “I said I didn’t know what he was talking about. Told him you graduated two years ago and that’s not old. Then I asked if he remembered you.”
Lola laughed. “You got his attention.”
“I want to ask him to prom, but Dad and Mom both say he needs to ask me. But he doesn’t talk to me. And I know for a fact he doesn’t have a girlfriend.”
“You have a prom date, so don’t worry about that, you’re going,” Blade said.
“Dad!” Skye whirled, throwing her hands to her hips.
“You’ll have fun. Lola here will make sure of it.” Blade raised his brows.
Skye twisted her face and pushed past her father. “Mom’s right, you’re unbelievable.”
Lola’s hands flew in the air. “Prom? I’m too old for that.”
“Nonsense. You’re the only one of us who can pass. We’ve already established that.” Blade threw his arm over Lola’s shoulder, walking with him into the foyer. “You’ll be at prom for my baby girl. As her escort or in the shadows. Put it on your calendar. Make sure she has a good time, and if anyone touches her, take care of the problem.” Blade slapped Lola’s back and moved away.
Zane shot through the door with Kingsley close behind. He headed straight for the dining room, where Skye and Jacob were settling at the table with homework next to Amber. Kingsley ran past Lola and into Mia’s arms. “What’s going on?” Lola wondered aloud, now seeing Junior enter followed by Rash.
“I told you to be home before six, didn’t I?” King reminded him.
“Yes,” he replied, the word rolling slowly from him.
“What do you think all the letters were? We’re taking the old ladies to dinner,” King informed with a laugh. “Don’t worry, we thought of you too. Our gift to you is that we’ll pick them up before bedtime.”
Brick walked in as King opened the door to leave. He dropped the diaper bag on the bench next to the door and herded the kids into the house. Mercy ran past her brothers and toward Zane before they disappeared down the hall to the playroom. Settling the infant into Lola’s arms, Brick said nothing before turning back to leave. As he opened the door, he paused. “Nine,” he told Lola with a nod then disappeared.
Nine. That meant three hours with a house full of rambunctious kids. What else could possibly happen?
“What’s for dinner?” Skye asked, taking the baby from Lola’s arms.
He grinned. “I did promise you dinner, didn’t I? Only I didn’t say I was cooking. Better get some take-out ordered.”
“Oh. Can I do it? I know what everyone likes,” Skye offered.
“Knock yourself out,” Lola agreed just as the door swung open yet again. Cowboy appeared with Chasity on his hip.
“Where’s Sunni?” Lola asked, instantly grinning.
“Not where you are,” Cowboy shot back. “Take good care of my baby girl. I’ll pick her up later.” He handed Chasity to Lola and walked out just as the others had.
“Let’s go find something for you to play with,” he told Chasity, walking across the room. He stopped at the threshold of the dining room, taking in the scene there. Amber was surrounded by school-age children with homework, and she appeared to be enjoying it. Zane, along with KO’s boy, Theo, and Blade’s son, Jacob, were comparing homework. Skye was on her phone, rattling off a list of food stuff while holding Brick’s newborn, Gracie, on her lap.
Moving down the short hallway and stepping into the playroom London had set up, Lola discovered Mia on the floor with the small children, every one of them playing and having a good time. He placed Chasity’s feet on the floor and watched her toddle off toward Mia. He leaned into the door jamb, studying the evening. Things had a way of working out.