Chapter 2
Alonzo had planned to go running Sunday before heading over to dinner, but nixed the idea because of the forecasted rain and settled for working out in his home gym. He adjusted the incline on his treadmill and kept up the steady pace. His mind drifted to his impromptu date with Kenya last night and a smile curved his lips. He’d been pleasantly surprised when she extended the invitation to join her, and even more so by how much he’d enjoyed himself. She was a perfect combination of beauty and brains and the short time they’d spent together wasn’t nearly enough for him to learn everything he wanted to know about her.
Alonzo loved the sound of her voice—calm and soothing, yet sensual and arousing. The sight of her tongue licking sauce off her lips had him fantasizing about doing his own version of a taste test. Because she’d been already seated when he first saw her, it wasn’t until she stood that he got his first look at her body in a fitted wrap blouse and slacks that skimmed every one of her generous curves. Her lush body pressed against his had rendered him briefly mute when he’d helped her up and led her out of the bar. The urge to kiss her had been even stronger as they stood next to her car and almost blazed past his control. It had more than caught him off guard because he hadn’t reacted so strongly to a woman in a very long time. However, the thing that intrigued him the most was her offhand comment about her ex-husband. Had she been injured because of his abuse? Rage swept through him at the thought of a man hitting a woman, making him push harder. Thankfully, she’d survived.
A beep sounded, indicating he’d finished his workout cycle. Alonzo slowed his pace and completed the five-minute cool down before stopping and turning off the machine. He grabbed the towel and mopped at the sweat running down his face, neck, and chest, then drank an entire bottle of water without stopping.
His cell buzzed and he reached over and read the text from his high school buddy, Deon Moore, inviting him over to watch the basketball games. He typed back: Heading to the parents’ house for dinner. Maybe next week.
Deon: Tell Mama Roz and Papa Zo I said hey.
Alonzo: Tell my beautiful goddaughter I’ll be by to take her to lunch soon.
Deon: Oh, hell no! The last time, I had to hear about Uncle Zo for weeks.
Alonzo chuckled, then sent: Don’t hate because she loves me more.
He burst out laughing at the string of expletives that followed. Standing, he headed to his bedroom to shower. He and Deon had been friends since high school when both played on the varsity football team at the wide receiver position. Deon had gone on to play professionally for a decade and a half before retiring and taking on a role in his family’s bed and breakfast. Alonzo had been Deon’s best man when his friend married the love of his life and had been humbled when asked to be godfather to their daughter, Kamryn. He’d fallen in love the moment Deon placed her in his arms. The now ten-year-old was a pure ray of sunshine and the more time he spent with her, the stronger he felt the pull of fatherhood.
While waiting for the water temperature in the shower to regulate, he stripped and tossed his clothes into the hamper. He moved beneath the warm spray and let the water run over his body. As he washed, his thoughts strayed to Kenya. She’d mentioned being married before, but did she have children? Or want them? Despite them only meeting last night, he experienced a relaxed camaraderie with her that had been missing from the other women he’d dated recently.
Alonzo finished the shower, dried off and got dressed. He sent a text to his sister to see if she wanted him to pick her up on the way.
She responded a minute later: Thanks, but I’m coming from the spa. Had to stop and pick up something. Leaving in a few and will see you there.
He pocketed the phone and left for the ten-minute drive to the Redondo Beach home he’d grown up in. Because his parents were expecting them, he used his key to enter, and he could hear the sound of Luther Vandross and Gregory Hines singing “There’s Nothing Better Than Love.” His mother loved Luther and all the male crooners of the seventies and eighties. The delicious smells of whatever she was cooking hit his nose and made his stomach growl. He hadn’t eaten anything since the scrambled eggs and toast at breakfast. Making his way to the kitchen, he stopped in the doorway and smiled at the sight of his parents dancing. After forty-five years, the two were still as much in love as when they married. It hadn’t been uncommon while he and Sonya were growing up to see them laughing, stealing kisses, or dancing to music playing or songs only they could hear. His father dipped his head and kissed his mother. Alonzo cleared his throat. “Y’all still do that kissing stuff? I hope you aren’t going to make Mom burn dinner.”
They sprang apart and his father glared at Alonzo. “I thought I taught you to knock.”
“Oh, hush, Lonzo.” His mother giggled, stepped out of her husband’s embrace and rushed over to hug Alonzo. “Hi, baby.”
Alonzo kissed her cheek. “Hey, Mom. It smells good in here.”
“I know,” she said, going back over to the stove to stir something in a pot.
Chuckling, he shared a man-hug with his father. “How’s it going, Dad?”
“It was going fine until you ruined a perfectly good kiss.” He winked at his wife, who blushed like a schoolgirl. He shifted his gaze back to Alonzo. “Still burning the candle at both ends, Son?”
“Not too much.” Alonzo, Sr. had fussed for weeks about Alonzo working so many hours at both jobs leading up to and when the spa first opened. It wasn’t until everything was up and running and he’d significantly cut back on his hours, did his dad relax. “I’m only at the spa for a few hours two or three times a week, so it’s not bad.”
“That means you have plenty of time to date again,” his mother said without turning around. Rosalind Bennett had been on his case about getting married again for the past six years, ever since he lost his fiancée in a mountain climbing accident, and it didn’t seem as if she would ever let it go. “You’re over forty, Alonzo. By the time you have children, they’re going to be confused about who’s the grandparent.”
His father burst out laughing.
“That’s just cold, Mom.” He shook his head.
“What? I’m just saying. And where’s your sister, by the way? She usually beats you here or you two come together.”
“She had to pick up something from the spa. She’s on her way. I’m going to check out the basketball games if you don’t need any help.” Alonzo met his father’s knowing smile and guessed the man knew Alonzo was trying make his escape.
“No. Everything should be ready in about twenty minutes.”
Without another word, he spun on his heel and made a hasty exit. Moments later, his father joined him in the family room.
“You sure left quick.”
His eyes focused on the game, Alonzo said, “I figured since I interrupted your big kiss, I should leave and let you finish.”
His father burst out laughing. “That’s your story, huh?”
“Yep, and I’m sticking to it.” He tried to keep a straight face, but couldn’t.
Shaking his head, his father settled into his favorite recliner and trained his gaze on the television.
Several minutes later, Sonya arrived. “Hi, Daddy.” She crossed the room, leaned down and hugged him.
“How’s my baby girl? You aren’t working too hard, are you?”
“I’m good, and no, I’m not,” she said laughingly. “You ask me that every time we talk and I always say the same thing.” She came over to where Alonzo sat on the sofa, dropped down beside him and kissed his cheek. “Hey, big brother.”
Alonzo slung an arm around her shoulder, hugged her and dropped a kiss on her temple. “Hey. Everything okay at the spa?”
“Yes. I just left my planner. You know I need that thing.” She tucked her feet under her.
“Yeah, I know. You and that planner are closer than some siblings.”
She rolled her eyes. “Oh, hush.”
“Dinner’s ready,” his mother announced.
Sonya was up in a flash. “I’ll help bring everything to the table, Mom.”
“Thanks, baby.”
Alonzo hit the off button on the TV remote, then stood. He and his father followed the two women to the dining room, with Alonzo stopping first to wash his hands in the half bath off the kitchen. Once everything had been brought to the table, they all took their usual seats—his parents at either end, he and Sonya across from each other in the middle seats.
“I can’t tell you the last time I had a fried pork chop,” Sonya said, grinning and rubbing her hands together. “Hurry up and bless the food, Dad.” Laughter floated around the table before their father recited a short blessing.
Along with the pork chops, his mother had prepared sautéed cabbage with bacon, candied yams, cornbread and sweet tea to wash it all down. “This looks good, Mom,” Alonzo said as he filled his plate. He hoped she had extra chops for him to take home because he didn’t eat fried foods often, but would definitely make an exception when it came to her cooking.
As if reading his mind, she said, “I made a few extra of everything for you two to take home. Oh, and I also made extra dessert—brownies and 7-Up cake.”
Sonya did a little dance in her chair as she chewed and swallowed. “You’re the best mom eva!”
“I agree. Thanks, Mom.” For the next few minutes, the only sounds were forks scraping plates and the occasional moan.
“So how are things going with Pamela, the young woman you met at that get together, Alonzo?” his mother asked.
Alonzo paused with his fork halfway to his mouth, then shoved the forkful of yams into his mouth.
Sonya sipped her tea. “He had a date with her last night. How did that go?”
“It didn’t.” He kept eating. When he looked up, three pairs of eyes were staring his way. Rather than explain, he just said, “Things didn’t work out, and I’m good with it.” He saw the questions in his sister’s eyes and knew this wouldn’t be the end of it.
“As much as I’d like to have a sister-in-law, I’m kind of glad.”
“Sonya. That’s not nice,” their mother said.
“Neither was she,” Sonya mumbled and forked up some cabbage.
For once, he agreed with his sister, and if he saw Pamela again, it would be too soon. Alonzo was glad she’d shown her true colors early on because he hated wasting his time. And had he gone out with her, he would’ve missed out on the most fascinating woman he’d met in a long time.
Sunday morning, Kenya dragged herself out of bed. She hadn’t slept well last night because thoughts of Alonzo kept her up most of the night. From his engaging smile, piercing warm brown eyes and solicitous manner, he was everything she had always hoped to find in a man. The only thing that could have put the night over the top would have been a kiss. A couple of times while they stood next to her car, she thought he might, but ever the gentleman, he didn’t. Part of her had been disappointed, but the other part said a kiss would only complicate her muddled feelings. He had turned out to be every bit the perfect date as her sister had said.
After breakfast, she did her laundry, then mentally prepared herself to finally start sorting through her paternal grandmother’s things. When she’d moved in with Genevieve Grant to help after her stroke two years ago, Kenya never imagined living in the three-bedroom, two and a half bath Ladera Heights home without her beloved GiGi, or that the house would now be hers. But then neither did her father and his family. They’d all been pretty much MIA during GiGi’s recovery. If she was being honest, those relationships had been strained for years, particularly with her father. Her parents divorced because of his infidelity, but GiGi kept her relationship with Kenya’s mother until her death two months ago. The two women had bi-monthly lunch dates and loved going to farmers markets and swap meets, as GiGi called flea markets. Sadness surfaced again and Kenya felt tears stinging the backs of her eyes. Willing them back, she headed down the hallway that separated the other two bedrooms from the primary one her grandmother and grandfather used.
Kenya wandered over to the fireplace and picked up a framed photo of her grandparents taken on their wedding day. The look of love between them was unmistakable. Because her grandfather had passed away when Kenya was six, she didn’t remember much about him. She also didn’t have the opportunity to see him do all the loving things GiGi always raved about, something she’d never experienced in her own short-lived marriage. Placing it back in its spot, she studied the one next to it of her and GiGi when Kenya received her master’s degree. A smile curved her lips as she recalled GiGi telling everyone they passed, “My granddaughter is going to be a psychologist.” Between the two of them, Kenya didn’t know who had been more excited.
She halted her trip down memory lane because it only served to make her sadder. Instead, she turned her attention to the large walk-in closet. Kenya had been given specific instructions to donate GiGi’s clothing to her church, along with her beloved Toyota Camry, which would go to a struggling young couple with two children from that same church.
Forty-five minutes into her task, the doorbell rang. As she made her way to the front of the house, Kenya chuckled thinking she wouldn’t be surprised to find her sister on the other side of the door wanting even more details. Instead, she saw her mother.
“Mom. Hey.” Kenya hugged her and stepped back for her to enter. “You didn’t tell me you were coming over.”
Her mother laughed. “I didn’t know myself until thirty minutes ago. I remember you telling me you were going to start going through Mama’s things today, so I figured I’d come and help you.”
Her mother’s words evoked another surge of emotions. “You’re the best mom ever.” Avis Grant had been there through every good and bad thing in Kenya’s life, even those times when Kenya didn’t know she needed her. Like now. She hugged her again. “I’m going through her clothes right now. I can’t believe how many outfits she had.”
Laughing as she followed Kenya back, her mother said, “She liked to look good.” When they got to the room, she stopped short. “Whoa. Okay, I didn’t realize it was this much.”
“Exactly. And I lived here with her for two years. I’m scared to start going through everything else.” Sharing a smile, the two women got to work folding and boxing up the clothes and shoes. As they packed, they chatted about memories attached to some of the outfits, hummed along to the music that Kenya had turned on and caught up on each other’s lives. Kenya had to take a few breaks in between when the back pain kicked up.
“I think we need to take another break,” her mom.
Kenya glanced over at the nightstand clock. “Goodness. It’s been almost three hours. I didn’t realize we’ve been working that long.” She slowly got to her feet and stifled a moan. “If you’re hungry, I can fix us an early dinner.” It was close to five. She had planned to eat the leftovers from last night, but it wouldn’t be nearly enough for two, so Kenya planned to take them to work for lunch tomorrow.
“Or we can have something delivered,” Avis countered. “I saw you wincing when you got up. How long has your back been bothering you?”
She shrugged. “A couple of days. I had to break out the cane yesterday. And ordering something works for me. Anything in particular you want to eat?” Grabbing her phone off the bed, she opened the DoorDash app. After throwing out several choices, they decided on seafood. “Delivery should be about forty-five minutes.”
“Sounds good. I have time to do a few more things while we wait, and you can sit and rest that back. Have you started going through her papers yet?”
Once a mother, always a mother. She reclined on the bed. The look her mother gave said arguing would be useless. “Not really. I’ve been dealing with all the notifications to creditors and the bank. Phaedra helped a little.”
“If you need me to do anything, please let me know. You can’t take on all this alone. Her sorry ass kids should be doing some of this,” she muttered.
Kenya let out a little laugh. “Mom?”
“Oh, did I say that out loud?” she asked innocently. “Seriously, though. Mom knew exactly who would be the best person to handle her affairs. Has your father called?”
Sighing, she said, “Yes. He’s called about four times, mad that GiGi didn’t leave him anything and saying a good daughter would share with him and Aunt Ellen.”
“He has a lot of nerve. If Gerald and Ellen had been anywhere close to good children then maybe Mama would’ve left them something. Neither one of them were there for her these past few years. I remember her almost begging them to visit, but they didn’t have the decency to show up. Mama told me your father stopped by a few times, but was gone in less than five minutes. Oh, Ellen called once or twice, then had the audacity to fall out over the casket with all that hollering. I wanted to slap her trifling behind into the middle of next week.” Avis waved a hand. “Ooh, let me stop. They just make me so mad.”
“It’s okay.” Her mother’s thoughts mirrored her own and, admittedly, she’d wanted to do the same. GiGi had often said Avis was more like a daughter to her than her own.
“Where do you want these boxes?”
“I’m going to stack them in the garage for now, so it’ll be easier when they come to pick everything up this week. I’ll bring in the dolly from the garage.” As she left the room, she heard her phone ring. “Mom, can you answer that and tell whoever it is to hold on?” She went to get the dolly and came back.
Her mother smiled and held out the phone. “It’s someone named Alonzo, and he has a very nice voice,” she whispered. “Is this the date you told me about?”
“Yes. Well, no. I’ll explain later,” she added at her mother’s curious look. Kenya took the phone. “Hey, Alonzo. I didn’t expect to hear from you today.”
His low chuckle flowed through her ear. “I did say I’d call you. Is this a good time to talk?”
“Yes, now’s fine to talk. And you did. I mean, I know you said you’d call, but I thought it would be later in the week or something.” She was rambling and took a deep, calming breath.
“Actually, that was my original plan. Would you believe me if I told you I wanted to hear your voice and didn’t want to wait that long?”
She nearly swooned and sank down onto the bed. No man had ever said anything like that to her before. Clearly, she’d been hanging out with the wrong men. “I don’t know what to say. I’m flattered.”
“It’s the truth. So, how’s your back today?”
Kenya had met this man less than twenty-four hours ago and he was inquiring about her health. “Not too bad. I took some pain medication last night, and it helped a lot. I still have to pace myself.” She probably needed to call it a night with the packing and moving boxes because she could feel her back tightening up again.
“I’m glad to hear it. What does your schedule look like in the next couple of weeks? If you’re opposed to getting together during the week, we can wait until the weekend.”
Did she really want to wait for the weekend to see him again? Once again, her anxiety surfaced, but she pushed it back down. She’d promised to go out with him again, and she always tried to keep her word. And he’d been the perfect gentleman. She had a couple of late evening meetings this week and remembered she’d made plans with her sister for next weekend. “My schedule is a little busy this week and weekend, but I’m free Wednesday or Thursday of the following week, any time after six.”
“Wednesday of next week works for me, too. How about I pick you up at seven? That’ll give you a few minutes to unwind.”
“Seven on Wednesday is perfect.” And she planned to be ready. Kenya still couldn’t believe what he told her about that other woman’s stunt.
There was a pause, then he said, “I feel like I’ve known you for a long time, instead of less than twenty-four hours.”
“Same here,” she said softly. “It feels strange, though.”
“Hopefully, not in a bad way.”
“No. But this has never happened to me before.” Kenya looked up and saw her mother watching her with a strange look on her face. She’d completely forgotten about her presence and quickly changed the subject. “Um, how did dinner go at your parents’?”
“Just as I expected,” Alonzo said with a chuckle. “Fried pork chops, candied yams, sautéed cabbage, cornbread, and for dessert 7-UP cake and brownies. I’m definitely going to have to do an extra workout because I enjoyed every single bite, and had seconds.”
Smiling, she groaned. “I’m getting hungry just hearing about all that great food, and I love 7-UP cake.”
“I’d be more than happy to bring you a slice, since Mom sent me home with enough leftovers to last a few days.”
Kenya was so tempted to take him up on his offer. More than that, she wanted to know if the attraction she’d felt the night before was real and not just a fluke.
“Speaking of leftovers, I hope you aren’t cooking today. You’re supposed to be taking the day off, remember?”
“No, but I’m taking them for lunch tomorrow. My mom is here and we ordered in.”
“Then I won’t hold you. I need your address, though.”
“I’ll text it to you when we hang up.”
“Sounds good. I’m really looking forward to seeing you again, Kenya.”
“Same here. I’ll see you on Wednesday.” Kenya disconnected and closed her eyes briefly. She was excited about the date, but apprehensive, as well. Then she remembered she was supposed to text him her address, and sent the information. Noting the time, she said, “We still have a good fifteen or twenty minutes before the food arrives, Mom, so I’m going to store a few more boxes.” She made a move to stand and her mother waved her back down and sat next to Kenya.
“Oh, no, honey. You sit right there and tell me all about this Alonzo. Is he the guy you met last week at the conference and went out with last night?”
“No.”
Avis lifted a brow. “No? Then when did you meet him?”
“Last night at the bar where I was supposed to meet Greg, who had me sitting there for twenty minutes before calling to let me know he wasn’t coming because he didn’t have room in his life for someone with a disability.” He’d said a few other things about him liking to be on the go and not having time to slow down to wait for her. He needed a woman who could keep up with his active life. She decided not to share that part with her mom, especially with the fire in her eyes. Kenya placed her hand on her mother’s. “It’s okay, Mom. Really. I called Phaedra to tell her and I got a little teary. Alonzo happened to be sitting at the bar and noticed. He came over to see if I was okay.”
Her mother sat up straight and a smile curved her lips. “Really? And now he’s asking you out on a date?”
“Actually, I invited him to join me last night.”
“What? I don’t believe it. That sounds more like something your sister would do.”
She laughed. “Because she was the one who badgered me to do it after hearing his voice. I had a really nice time with him, though. He seems…I don’t know…different. It was like we’d known each other for much longer.”
“I see. How old is he?”
Kenya shrugged. “I have no idea, but I’d put him somewhere around my age or a year or two older. We didn’t really get into any of those details.”
“I hope he wasn’t there just to pick up a woman and capitalized on what he thought was your vulnerability. I don’t want to see you hurt again.”
“I don’t, either. And from what he told me, the reason he ended up there was because the woman he had planned to have dinner with deliberately tried making him wait. He overheard her talking about it to a friend when he assumed she was getting dressed.”
“What kind of nonsense is that? I don’t know about these young women today, playing all these games with men, then crying about not being able to find a good one. Just ridiculous!” She shook her head in disgust.
“I agree.”
“So where’s this first real date going to be?”
“I have no idea.” Kenya had been so caught off guard, she’d forgotten to ask. “I figure we’ll go out for dinner.”
“I was watching your expression, baby. I know Brad did a number on you, and you’ve kept yourself out of the dating game for six long years.” She held up a hand when Kenya started to speak. “Hear me out, Kenya. Yes, I know you’ve gone to dinner with a few men here and there, but I know you haven’t let yourself truly enjoy those dates. You said Alonzo was different. When you go out with him next week, I want you to do something different. Enjoy the moment. Don’t think about what happened in the past or what could happen in the future. Just be in that moment with him. Can you do that for me? You have such a beautiful heart and it’s full of love. That love is meant to be shared with the right person. But you won’t know it unless you allow yourself to feel again.”
Her emotions rising, she nodded. “I’ll try.” It was the best she could do. She didn’t even know if her heart was capable of giving that love to someone again.