Twenty-Seven
TWENTY-SEVEN
Holland
I woke to several Happy Birthday texts, including one from Ma, which was surprising. It said I love you . I appreciated that she hadn’t called, since I wasn’t ready to speak to her yet. I texted back Thanks .
The doorbell rang. I took off down the steps, and yanked the door open before asking who it was. Amy would have been so upset with me. On the other side, a scrawny delivery person was hidden behind a massive array of balloons and flowers.
“Holland Davenport?” he said, craning his neck around the bouquet.
“Yes, that’s me.”
Struggling to hand me his tablet, he said, “Sign here for me, please.”
I did and relieved him of the beautiful display. He looked grateful.
“Looks like somebody loves you. Happy birthday, miss.” He pointed at me and winked. I made the mental note that New Yorkers used miss the way Southerners used ma’am . I liked ma’am and vowed to continue to use it. I had to hold on to some things.
“Thank you!” I wondered who’d sent them.
With nowhere else to place them, I put the bouquet in the window and fished for the card.
Wishing you the happiest birthday. Your Neighbor—Noble.
“Oh! How sweet.” I brought one of the lilies to my nose and savored the scent.
I was grateful—happy even. But this reminded me of how hard it was to banish Noble to the friend zone. My body was already invested, and if I was completely honest, a small part of my heart was too. That’s why it had to be all or nothing. Making my way in New York was too important. My job was vital to my plan.
I looked through the window at the reason I’d run to the door in the first place. Amy and Patience were coming through the gate.
“Woo!” I burst through the door before they made it to the stoop.
“Ahh!” Our screams harmonized in a high-pitched chorus.
They dropped their bags and we hugged, jumping up and down together.
“I can’t believe you’re here!” I grabbed Amy’s bag. “Come on inside.”
“Happy birthday,” Noble’s voice broke through our reunion and radiated through me like bass.
“Hey, Noble. Thanks.” His smile was my kryptonite.
Amy and Patience looked at me with wide eyes. Amy flashed a knowing smile.
“Sis, is that your neighbor?” Patience’s whisper wasn’t a whisper at all. She scanned Noble from head to toe. “Hey, neighbor ,” she said and her megawatt smile was bright as sunlit diamonds.
“Girl. Come on inside.” I nudged her forward.
“Mm,” Patience strutted up the stoop. “Girl. If that man lived next door to me…”
There was no need for her to finish her sentence. We all knew I had already done what she was going to say she would do. Whether it was at home or work, it didn’t matter. I couldn’t escape Noble. At the office, I found it hard to concentrate if I knew he was in the building. I felt him before I saw him. I tried not to look at him. Janet seemed to be watching every time I snuck a glance.
Seeing Noble and keeping my distance was torture. I missed our playful banter, long talks, and the meals we shared. I missed feeling cared for when he cooked or checked in on me to make sure I was okay. Every part of me longed for him—the sound of his laugh, the safety of his arms, and the pleasure of his bed. But I needed to cool this thing down between us. I wanted this city, this house, this job—and Noble. I thought about still seeing him at home and just ignoring him at work, but I couldn’t seem to manage that. I was drawn to him in the most deliciously troubling way. It had to be all or nothing.
I had no business going so far so fast with him in the first place. Noble was an adventure—a fun, rule-bending, wild ride that made me feel truly alive for the initial weeks I was staying in New York. Falling for him wasn’t part of the plan and my decision to stay in New York had raised the stakes. Relationships were a complication I didn’t need while I was figuring out who I was.
When I snatched a glance at him before I entered my house, Noble was grinning and shaking his head. His parted lips and the sound of his laughter made me want to run to him. Instead, I mouthed, Thanks for the flowers and followed the girls inside.
“This is nice!” Patience said, slowly taking in the place. “But where are we supposed to sit? That little table and chairs are all you’ve got in here?”
“Renovations start next week,” I said. “I took some equity from the house. I’m gonna redo the kitchen and baths and get some furniture. You two have your own rooms on the second floor complete with very comfy air beds.”
Simultaneously, Amy and Patience scrunched their noses, looked at each other, and said, “ Air beds .”
“Hey!”
“Girl, we’re just joking,” Amy said. “Come here.” She wrapped her arms around me. “I missed you so much. How are you really doing?”
“Okay.” I nodded.
“And,” Patience said with a colorful acrylic-tipped finger in the air. “Can we just go ahead and address the big ol’ elephant, so we can get on with the night?” She flipped her long braids behind her shoulder. “I don’t want it hanging over our heads and spoiling our fun this weekend.”
I cut my eyes to the ceiling.
“She wastes no time,” Amy said. “But she’s right.” She folded her arms over her chest.
“I know you may not want to hear this, but Ma is distraught. She’s been crying every day since she got back. Granted—” Patience popped her lips “—she should be upset, what she did was…not good, but this whole thing is tearing her apart. All of us.” Patience’s eyes softened. “But, Hollz, she loves you with everything in her, and she wants to make it up to you—when you’re ready, of course. Just remember, these past twenty-five years, she’s been an amazing mother. You were her special one. You still are. No matter what, we’re still a family.”
“She’s right, Hollz. You have to find a way to forgive her. Don’t carry this. It’s too much to hold on to. You’ve got a whole new start and a lot of living to do.”
“I hear you.”
My phone rang just in time. I was done with the conversation. I retrieved it off the window bay and declined the unknown number for the third time that morning.
“Let’s get your bags to your rooms.”
Lugging her bag up the stairs, Patience said, “I can’t wait to get out. One thing I know for sure, the men here are freaking gorgeous. That New York Swag is a real thing. Your neighbor has it. I can tell.”
After a brief tour of the empty rooms, I took them to my room.
Amy’s hand went to her mouth. “Oh! This is an adorable blast from the past. How sweet. Now I wish I could have met Aunt Goldie.”
“Dang. It looks like this room was designed by a six-year-old Disney princess. It’s cute, though,” Patience said, smacking gum.
“After I renovate, I’ll move into my aunt’s room on the second floor. Right now, I’m enjoying the cute pink throw-up room.” We all laughed. “Get situated, so we can go eat. I found a place that has an amazing brunch. I can’t wait to show y’all around.”
My phone rang again as I left the girls to get situated. It was the same unknown number. Curiosity got the best of me, so I picked up but remained quiet a moment to see if it was computer generated.
“Holland Davenport?”
“Who’s asking?”
“Kenny Robertson.” Silence filled the line.
Who was Kenny Robertson?
Several beats later he said, “I believe I’m your father.”
Almost dropping the phone, I backed my way to the window and sat, thinking my knees might give at any moment.
“H-how did you get this number?”
“From a Patricia Davenport.”
Ma , I mouthed. “What did she say? How did she find you?”
“She emailed me and we arranged to speak. She was quite convincing, so I wanted to explore this and confirm that it’s true. Yona Reeves was your mother, right?”
“Yes. How did you know Yona?”
“College.” I could hear the smile in his voice. “We attended Hampton University together.”
I stood, then sat back down. “I don’t know what to say.” Too antsy to stay still, I kept moving, feeling the blood course through my veins.
“I’d like to meet so we can talk. I’d love to confirm if you are my daughter.” He paused. “That is, if you want to…”
“Sure… I…um… When would you like to meet? Where are you?” The questions fell fast.
“Queens.”
“New York?” I asked as if I didn’t know where Queens was.
“Yes. I teach in Manhattan. I could meet there too. Whatever works for you.”
“I’m in Brooklyn,” I said, the shock fading.
“I’m happy to come to you. Just tell me when. Evenings and weekends work best for me.”
“Sure. Um, there’s a coffee shop nearby,” I said.
“Great. I’d love to do this sooner rather than later.”
Amy and Patience came down the steps and watched me circle the living room as I talked. Unspoken questions knit their brows.
“Okay,” I said. “Can I reach you at this number?”
“Yes. This is my cell.”
“All right. I have to go,” I locked eyes with Amy. “But I’ll check my calendar and get back to you.”
“Looking forward to it. Good talking to you, Holland.”
“Yes. You too.”
“Who was that?” Patience asked, finally clearing the bottom step.
“And why do you look like you saw Casper the Possibly Friendly Ghost?”
“Y’all. That was my—” I paused before saying “—father.”
“ What? ” they said in unison.
“Yeah. And he wants to meet.”
“Whoa!” Patience spun around. “Why is your life a whirlwind right now? That’s crazy.”
“How did he find you?”
“Ma.”
Patience and Amy swapped knowing glances.
“Enough about this. I need brunch and bottomless mimosas,” I said and headed upstairs to get dressed.