All I Want for Christmas (4 page)

Nedra relaxed against the
imitation, red-leather back of the bench. “We already know some
things. For example, you know I’m a little obsessive compulsive
about being organized, and I arrive early for
appointments.”

“I wouldn’t call it
compulsive and being early is a great habit in a woman. Guys hate
to sit around waiting.” Carlos grinned. “What do you know about
me?”

“You know how to work hard
and be part of a team. If you’ve got an ego, you checked it at the
door at the holiday dinner. You seem to enjoy helping others.”
Nedra broke off when the waitress returned with their drinks and
took their orders. “So, how did I do?” she asked when the woman had
left.

Carlos gazed at her for a
time, as though seriously thinking over her words. Then he smiled.
“I did like helping people to enjoy themselves, and I was working
hard because I’ve never been a waiter before. You didn’t see my
slip-ups.”

“Ah, nothing major. You got
some desserts mixed and dropped a plate. No harm done.” Nedra
shrugged when his eyes widened. “My job was to be on top of things.
For a first-timer, you did just fine. Most of the volunteers aren’t
professional at serving.”

Carlos gazed at her in silence. “So you
expected me to have an ego?”

“Your mother is a judge and
your father was the first black man to own a Big Burger restaurant
franchise in this city. He eventually expanded to a total of six
cities, with two in Mississippi, before selling them and opening a
contract clean-up business.” Nedra stopped short. “Sorry, that
sounds like I’ve hired a private detective to investigate you,
which I didn’t,” she added quickly.

“Let me take a guess.
Dwayne Grover gave you a complete rundown on me and my family, in
between trying to get next to you.” Carlos laughed at Nedra’s scowl
at the mention of the man.

“How’d you know?” she asked
and laughed with him.

“I watched him watching
you. Besides, Dwayne makes it his specialty to know who’s who and
what’s what. He was like your shadow when he wasn’t chatting up
movers, shakers and reporters,” Carlos replied.

“You know him well, I see.
He does love schmoozing with powerbrokers,” said Nedra, leaning
back as the waitress arrived with their food.

“Steamed scallops for the lady and grilled
red fish for you, sir. Enjoy.” The waitress flashed a smile before
she scurried to the next table.

“I’m sure you move in the
same circles socially. Your mother also knows my boss,” Nedra
continued.

Judge Yvonne Jacobs had a
reputation for being temperamental and the worst kind of snob. She
was believed to have a queen-sized chip on her shoulder because she
had grown up poor in Dry Prong, Louisiana, without a pot to pee in.
People with any sense knew not to bring up that subject. Yvonne’s
last political opponent, and several lawyers who had been in her
court, found that out the hard way.

Nedra dug into her salad
and considered what she was getting into.
This is just dinner.
It was time to
remind herself not to go too fast.

“Yes, my parents have a lot
of friends,” Carlos said mildly.

Nedra speared a scallop with her fork and
then paused. “Your parents know appointed officials, doctors, bank
presidents and more. Don’t be so modest.”

“True, but they’re just
people.” Carlos cleared his throat. “And they are their friends,
not mine.”

“I see.” Nedra raised her
eyebrows as she gazed at him and decided to let it go. “So, you
know what I do for a living. What’s your profession?”

“I own a couple of car
detail shops. Saved and scraped up my pennies to open the first one
seven years ago. My father promised to match my funds and help me
to get a business loan, but I had to prove I had discipline,” he
replied, in between eating some of his fish.

Nedra smiled at him. “So
you can handle a dollar and like being your own boss.”

He laughed. “Some say I
have a problem with authority, but yes, I like the charge of taking
a risk and making it work.”

“A true entrepreneur,
following in your daddy’s footsteps.” She grinned at him and
savored her scallop.

“Only when it comes to owning my business,”
Carlos said sharply. “We’re different in a lot of other ways.”

“Alrighty, then,” added
Nedra and drank some water.

Carlos seemed to relax and then smiled. “You
know, it’s the usual father and son conflict. We always swear we’re
not going to be like our parents.”

“Mothers and daughters have
the same issues; older sisters and younger sisters, too,” she said
with a nod. “I promised myself that I wouldn’t make the same
mistakes I watched them make.”

“Whoa, this is getting a
little heavy for our first date. I wanted us to have fun, not
relive family drama.” Carlos placed a hand on her arm.
“Sorry.”

Nedra’s body responded to
his touch, practically screaming for more ‘fun’ with him, but in
private. “It’s okay. I’m having a good time. Not that we’re going
to rush anything. I mean, like go back to my place.”

Dead silence stretched for several
moments.

Carlos cleared his throat.
“I don’t expect you to. By fun, all I meant was enjoying some good
conversation and getting acquainted. Despite my reputation, I’m not
looking for a quickie with you, Nedra.”

“No, no. I had a huge brain
fart, blurting out that stupid thing about my place,” she replied.
“Maybe I’ll have some wine. Sheesh.”

Carlos laughed and signaled the waitress, who
responded promptly. “Bring another wine glass please. My friend
would like to taste mine.”

“That’s our best, too,”
replied the waitress with a smile. Moments later she returned and
set the wine on the table.

“Thanks.” Carlos carefully poured about half
of his glass into Nedra’s. Then he gazed at her and leaned forward.
“I think you’ll like it.”

Nedra felt another flash of
heat. “Looks really, really good.” She sipped the wine as she
continued to look into his eyes. “Hmm, hints of apricot and pear,
with a smoky undertone. Wonderful flavor.”

Carlos nodded slowly. “You’re a wine
enthusiast. Something else we have in common. When can I see you
again?”

Get your mind straight,
girl. Don’t make the same old mistake you’ve made before. No taking
him home too soon, only to have him go ‘poof!’ like a ghost. You’re
better than that, and you deserve more.
Nedra repeated to
herself the mantra
of her support group of girlfriends, all trying to recover from
being ‘desperate females’ on the hunt for Mr. Right.

She sipped some more wine,
savoring the taste as it slid down her throat. Her reply would be a
kind of test, but would Carlos get impatient or annoyed? He seemed
content to let her decide what she wanted; a man willing to wait
for something
of value. Nedra’s emotions
swelled. This felt different from her recent dates with men who had
expected her to prove
she
was worthy of
their
attention.

“Well, next week will be
hectic at work after the holidays,” she answered. “I may have to
work late for the first few days.”

“So, let’s get together on
Sunday afternoon for coffee and dessert after dinner. L’auberge
Casino has a great little cafe with a river view.” Carlos held up
one palm, dramatically. “Truth time…”

“Oh?” Nedra’s stomach
tightened. Was this the first bad news to prove this date was too
good to be true?

“My mother expects me for
Sunday dinner at least once a month,” he explained. “I haven’t been
to her house once this month and I missed most of Thanksgiving
dinner, but if Sunday is too soon..?”

“No, I’d like that,” she
replied, and sighed inwardly. “I wouldn’t want you to disappoint
Judge Jacobs. I have a feeling that future family dinners would be
tense.”

“You have no idea,” Carlos replied and gave a
grunt.

“Oh, I think I do. ‘Ain’t
no drama like family drama.” Nedra shook her head.

Carlos tilted his head to
one side. “We’re going to have a lot to talk about. I feel
comfortable talking to you. Most times women try to pump me for
information on my parents. They rush to get all my stats, including
what I’m worth.”

“Get out of here! No woman
is bold enough to ask about your money, surely?” She asked,
grinning.

“True story; one woman
asked my net worth. She was an accountant and in a hurry. Tick
tock.” Carlos tapped his wristwatch and laughed.

“Oh Lord, do I know that
phrase. Being forty with no kids, my mother...” Nedra stopped
short. “I’m older than you.”

Carlos waved away the
difference and shrugged. “Forty isn’t that much older than
thirty-five.”

“Forty,” Nedra repeated in
a low tone.

Doesn’t matter,” Carlos put his hand on her
arm again. “Believe me.”

Nedra nodded and they kept
talking… for hours. They stayed in the restaurant until almost
midnight. Carlos joked that the management would flick the lights
to get rid of them.

When they parted, he hugged
her with just enough warmth, but no suggestive groping. During her
ride home, Nedra felt like she was floating. She replayed the
wonderful evening in her head all night.
Carlos Jacobs might not be the one, but he was sure doing
everything just right for now.

Chapter 3

The following Tuesday after
work, Nedra met with her youngest sister, Gaylynn, and two friends,
Maida and Imani, at a little grocery and cafe. All four of them
worked in city government, but in different departments. Capitol
Grocery Store was popular with city employees and young
professionals. Many lawyers could be found there, especially when
court cases dragged on into the evening hours.

Nedra and Maida had been
friends since high school. Maida had two kids and was divorced,
while Gaylynn had two kids and a live-in boyfriend, and Imani had
been engaged three times, but no wedding. They ordered a big
platter of appetizers: hot wings, tiny meatballs, cheese sticks,
two types of dip and some potato skins. Talk about the trials and
triumphs at their various offices soon died away, and turned to
their social lives, which usually meant dating.

“Let’s go to the Upstage
Theatre on Saturday night,” suggested Imani. “They’re putting on
their first whodunit play. My friend’s cousin wrote the script.”
She patted her ruby red lips with a dainty series of motions. Her
stained napkins looked bloody.

“I love a good mystery. Let me see if I can
get a babysitter. Mama has been acting all funny, so I can’t depend
on her.” Maida grimaced.

“You mean she’s got her own
life and doesn’t want you dumping the little darlings on her,”
Imani retorted. She laughed and then ducked as Maida pretended to
aim a swat at her head.

“Yeah, the nerve of her having a man and a
social calendar,” Nedra chimed in. “Look, Miss Eleanor deserves
some fun.”

“Whoa, whoa! Get off my
back, please,” Maida said. “I want Mama to be happy. I also don’t
want her to get hurt by some slick-talking church deacon. He looks
shady to me.”

“Your mama was dealing with
men before you arrived on this earth. Let Mrs. Tullier have her
fun. Besides, if it doesn’t work out, she can handle it,” Gaylynn
replied, waving her hand. “Our mamas are made of stuff that these
young girls today need to model.”

“Including us?” Maida
reached for a potato skin and scooped up some of the
dip.

Imani nodded. “We could do
better following their lead.”

“Well, they’re human, like
anybody else. They made mistakes too,” Nedra put in. She had grown
up convinced that her own mother nagged her late father too
much.

“
I didn’t say they were
perfect, but take my mother: she didn’t let men walk all over her,”
Imani said.

Nedra, Gaylynn and Maida
exchanged glances. Maida cleared her throat loudly and Nedra took a
big sip of her strawberry lemonade to keep from commenting. Gaylynn
had no such hesitance. Imani’s mother had four ex-husbands and
counting.

“Baby, ordering men around
and giving ultimatums doesn’t work very well,” Gaylynn answered,
giving Maida and Nedra another glance.

“Y’all can stop giving each
other the side eye. You have to be two steps ahead of a man.” Imani
waved a chicken wing in the air.

“How many steps ahead are
you?” asked Gaylynn, raising a professionally arched eyebrow at
her.

“I suffered a few frogs to
find my prince. I’m the only woman at this table wearing an
engagement ring,” Imani replied with a superior smile. “I’ll text
Errol and see if he’s working the night shift on Saturday. If he’s
working then I’m in for the play.”

Gaylynn heaved a sigh.
“She’s got a point. I hate her, but she’s got a point.” Her live-in
boyfriend seemed to be allergic to wedding talk.

Maida peered at Nedra over
the rim of her glass as she drank. “Don’t be so smug, Imani. You’re
not the only one who can catch a good man.”

Imani blinked at her. “Say
what?”