Chapter 12
Chapter Twelve
A fter a delicious lunch, Nancy helped Cynthia to her living quarters on the second floor. While she did that, the housekeeper escorted the rest of them to a small theater room. For Scarlett, it brought back fond memories of Ezra and how they occasionally hung out, watching one movie after another while snacking on whatever the cook created.
She still remembered the first time he brought her to meet his grandparents. Scarlett liked them from the start. From day one they treated her as if they’d known her forever, and she loved visiting them. She and Ezra would go there for dinner a couple of times a month, hang out, and play games. They might be up in age, but they were a lot of fun.
After Ezra’s grandfather died of a heart attack, Scarlett and Ezra made it a point to visit Cynthia even more, hoping to somehow fill the gap. She’d always been a strong woman, and though she grieved for her husband, she stayed active with various organizations. Continuing to live a full life. It wasn’t until after Ezra died that it seemed a part of Cynthia had died too. Still, the older woman remained kind to Scarlett, and their relationship continued to grow, especially after Bella was born.
“Scarlett, Cynthia would like for you to come upstairs,” Nancy said from the doorway of the theater room.
“Thanks, Nancy. I’ll head up shortly.”
“We don’t have to go, do we, Mommy?” Bella asked, a small tub of popcorn in her lap as she stared at the big screen. They’d been watching Shark Tale , one of Bella’s favorite movies, and Scarlett was thankful for the reprieve.
“No, honey. Tony’s going to stay down here with you.”
Before standing, Scarlett leaned over and gave Antonio a slow kiss. When she pulled back slightly, she licked her lips, tasting the butter and salt from his popcorn, then smiled.
The only problem with being this close and kissing this gorgeous man was she wanted to do it again, but next time with a little tongue. Hell, she was ready to do way more than just kiss him. Stripping him out of the Henley shirt that molded over his muscular body and showed off his wide chest, thick biceps, and flat abs would be a good start. Then, she’d work her way down.
Whoa. Don’t go there .
From the moment she’d opened her eyes that morning, Scarlett had been anxious to meet with Cynthia. Having Antonio along eased her anxiety. However, being so close to him throughout the day had wreaked havoc on every other part of her body. It started when he walked out of his bedroom that morning looking like a delicious snack. The shirt was one thing, but the nicely worn blue jeans seemed to highlight his tree-trunk-like thighs and long legs and had an effect on her that she hadn’t expected.
There was no question that she was attracted to his sharp mind, his kind nature, and his handsome face, but that body? Good Lord ! The man had her insides quivering with need and arousing her sexual desires, which had been dormant for too many years. Each passing day had her looking forward to getting to know every aspect of Antonio Jenkins.
Unable to help herself, she kissed him again, then stood and headed for the door.
“Mommy kissed you,” Bella said to Antonio in a conspiratorial whisper as Scarlett walked away.
“She did, didn’t she?” she heard Antonio say, and then he and Bella laughed.
Scarlett shook her head and smiled. She thought Bella would be too engrossed in the movie to catch that. Apparently not, but how she and Antonio moved forward was going to be tricky. Dating as a single mother wasn’t be easy, and at some point, she needed to talk to Bella. She already knew her daughter would be all in for having Antonio around more, but Scarlett wanted to make sure.
A few minutes later, she entered Cynthia’s bedroom and glanced around the enormous space. It was more like a two-room hotel suite. She crossed the sitting room area that included a sofa, loveseat, and an upholstered chair. The furnishings faced the wall-to-wall shelving unit which not only held a television, but also books and personal items. Including photos of her, Bella, Ezra, and Cynthia’s late husband.
The woman spent the majority of her time up here, usually hanging out in the sitting area. Scarlett had been surprised to find her sitting on the lanai when they arrived. She half expected Cynthia to be propped up in bed looking unhealthy like she had days ago. That hadn’t been the case at all. Instead, she was beautifully dressed and appeared well. During lunch, she’d been her usual sharp, witty, and charming self. Except for when she’d put Antonio on the spot regarding his intentions. That had been uncalled for, and Scarlett planned to tell her so.
Now, Cynthia was tucked in bed with mounds of pillows propped behind her. She seemed exhausted, as if the afternoon of entertaining them had worn her out.
Cynthia nodded toward the comfy looking recliner next to the bed. “Have a seat. I’m so glad you all were able to come for a visit. I’ve been looking forward to it all week.”
“I’m glad you asked us to. I really should’ve gotten us here sooner. I’ll try to bring Bella more often.”
“I hope you do, and feel free to bring Antonio as well. He’s extremely handsome. He reminds me of my Ezra,” Cynthia said, a wistfulness in her tired voice. “He’s as charming as I expected him to be, and a perfect gentleman. I can see why you’re so taken with him.”
Scarlett smiled. She was crazy about Antonio and the more she got to know him, the more she liked him. No doubt Cynthia had noticed how much she and Bella adored him.
“Why’d you ask him about his intentions?”
“I wanted to see how he’d handle himself. There’s no doubt in my mind that he really cares for you and Bella. By the way, I had my assistant look into the Jenkins family,” Cynthia said, as if she was telling Scarlett that she’d had her assistant search for the closest restaurant.
“Excuse me? What are you talking about? Why would you do that?”
“You’ve talked about the Jenkins family during many of our conversations. I got curious, and when you kept bringing up Antonio in conversation, I knew I needed to check them out. In all the years since Ezra died, you’ve never mentioned a boyfriend. Once you even said you’d never get married. That it will always be just you, Bella, your sister, mother, and your Aunt Rita, but now you’ve included Antonio and his family. I wanted to know more about him and his people.”
Scarlett struggled to remain calm, but anger stirred in her gut. “Why would you dig around in their lives? They are none of your business!”
“Did you know Toni Jenkins-Logan’s husband, Craig, is a former detective turned law enforcement consultant?” Cynthia continued as if Scarlett hadn’t spoken. “Or that Luke, Christina’s husband, used to be the most sought-after defense attorney in Manhattan?” she said of Antonio’s cousin-in-law, who some members of the family referred to as the Thug Lawyer.
“Oh, and we can’t forget Ben Jenkins Sr. and his accomplishments. Antonio’s father is one hell of an attorney who does extremely well for himself and not just in the legal field. The real estate development company that he owns with his sons and some of his nephews has acquired some very valuable land recently.”
Cynthia recited more of her investigator’s findings regarding the Jenkins family and those who’d married into the family, including Martina’s husband Paul. He came from a long line of state senators and was a state senator himself until he got into the restaurant business.
It was frightening how much she knew about them, including the net worth of some of the family members. Scarlett hated how invasive the woman and her team had been, but she shouldn’t be surprised. With Cynthia’s wealth and connections, she could find out anything she wanted to know.
“If the Jenkins family is as impressive as the reports I’ve read, I’m glad you and Bella have them in your life.”
Scarlett stood, staring at the woman who she called a friend. There was no remorse in Cynthia’s tone. As if poking around in people’s lives was no big deal. Well, it was a big deal to Scarlett, especially since the Jenkins family were her family now. She knew for a fact that they were private people and wouldn’t like this one bit.
“You are way out of line, Cynthia,” Scarlett growled. “It’s one thing to be curious, but it’s another to invade someone’s privacy. How could you? What if they find out and think I had something to do with your snooping?”
“When I die,” Cynthia said. Scarlett opened her mouth to tell her to stop talking like that, but Cynthia lifted her hand. “Hear me out. I don’t know when I’ll take my last breath, but I’m tired. I’m also old as dirt, and I know my days are numbered. I want to make sure you and Bella are taken care of. I want to make sure you two are prepared for what’s to come.”
“What’s to come?” Scarlett returned to the recliner and perched on the edge of the cushion. “What are you talking about?”
“I told you about Ezra’s parents. They are not nice people. The two of them are money hungry, power hungry, and will do anything to get ahead. I’m telling you this because I want you to have an idea of what you’ll be facing when I die.”
Scarlett’s pulse amped, and she tried to push down the unease clawing down her spine.
“Bella will inherit the majority of my estate, and it’s substantial. But when Alberta and her husband find out that all they’re getting is this property, they will be livid. They will do everything in their power to find out what happened to my money and assets. There’s no telling how far they’ll go to get what my daughter thinks she deserves.”
The unease Scarlett felt moments ago suddenly turned into fear. “What are you saying? Is my daughter in danger?”
“No, they might try to use her or get to her money, but they would never hurt a child. At least not physically.”
Cynthia repositioned in bed, and it looked like she’d fall asleep at any given moment.
“Ezra’s father, Theodore, is a state senator running for reelection. That costs money. Don’t get me wrong, he and my daughter are doing well for themselves, but they are never satisfied. They always want more.
“As for Theodore, he will be seeking out any leverage, especially something that will make him more relevant and relatable. Like having a cute, smart, adorable granddaughter who will make him look good to his voters. He's the type of person who won't think anything of shoving Bella in front of the media, pretending to dote on her. When I tell you they are uncouth and only care about themselves, I'm not exaggerating.”
With her heart pounding hard enough to explode, Scarlett lurched out of her seat. Her mind reeled as she moved over to the large bay windows on shaky legs. As she stared out at the rose garden, a colorful sight that should bring her peace, all she could think about was how much Ezra disliked his parents. His description of them was similar to Cynthia’s, and Scarlett trusted their judgment.
Returning to Cynthia’s bedside, Scarlett released a tremulous breath. “I appreciate all you’ve done for Bella over the years, but please don’t think you have to do anything else for her. The college fund you set up for her when she was born was extremely generous. And I’ve been able to create a nice comfortable life for us, and I’m giving her everything I think she needs. Cynthia, Bella is fine. She doesn’t need a ton of money or properties or whatever you’re planning to leave her.”
“As far as I’m concerned, Bella is my sole heir. She deserves everything I have and more. You both do. I’m only leaving Alberta and her loser husband this house because my husband told her that it would one day be hers. But she’ll get nothing else from me.”
Scarlett didn’t know what to say. She rubbed her temples, trying to make sense of all this. She didn’t know exactly how much money Cynthia had, but Ezra once joked that his grandparents were wealthier than Oprah. That was over eight years ago. She couldn’t imagine the value of Cynthia’s estate now.
“You once said you’ll probably never get married, and that’s your right. You young women today are so independent and don’t need a man ,” she said that last part with air quotes, and Scarlett remembered spewing those words more than once. “But what about Bella?”
“What do you mean?” Scarlett wasn’t following, which seemed to be the case with most of this conversation.
“That girl needs a father and someone who can protect her.”
Anger boiled inside Scarlett’s gut. “Cynthia, I give Bella everything she needs, and I’m capable of protecting my child!”
Yes, Scarlett wished her baby girl had a daddy and lived in a two-parent household, but not because she didn’t think she could give her daughter what she needed. No, it had more to do with wanting Bella to grow up with a loving father the way she and Mahogany had.
“I appreciate what you’re trying to do, Cynthia, but if it means my child could be in danger, I won’t be able to accept your generosity.”
Cynthia waved her off. “Don’t worry, dear. You two will be fine, and I have an idea to ensure that.”
Scarlett was almost afraid to ask, but said, “And what’s that?”
“Ask Antonio to adopt Bella,” Cynthia said as easily as if she was ordering a pizza. “She’ll become a Jenkins. They are a formidable family, and I have it on good authority that they protect their own.”