Back to Me (24 page)

Confirmation came just as she settled into bed; she had to talk to Sergio-Xavier. If anyone could help her pull off her plan with such short notice, it was him. Plus, she missed him and wanted to hear his voice. Without any more thought on the matter, she dialed his cell phone.

He answered on the second ring. “Hello, Mrs. McDaniels. Is everything all right with Paige?”

Paige covered her mouth and giggled. Obviously, Sergio-Xavier had checked the caller ID and had thought it was her mother calling.

“Paige is doing great at the moment.” When she heard his breathing accelerate, she released the one she'd been holding.

“Paige,” he finally answered in a subdued tone. “You sound great. How are you?”

If he wanted to play games, so could she. “I would tell you, but my man might get jealous.”

“What man?” he yelled into the phone.

“The one who bought me a new mattress, who calls my mother every day to check on me, and who sent that fabulous dinner over. He might have a problem with me conversing with my ex.” The line was silent for so long, Paige thought he'd hung up. “Sergio-Xavier, are you there?”

“Of course. I'm always here for you. I was trying to come up with an excuse for my actions, but there isn't one, other than the obvious.”

She grinned at the phone. Her mother was right; her man was not gone. He had just needed some space and time to heal. “I love you to, and thank you for everything, but that's not why I called. I need your help.”

“Anything for you, sweetheart. Just say the word and I'll move mountains for you, or at least try to.”

Even through the sarcasm, she heard the sentiments his heart would never acknowledge again. “Oh, that's so sweet. If you were here, I'd kiss you.”

“Ms. McDaniels.” His public voice had surfaced. “Stay focused and get to the point.”

Once Paige poured out her plan, a sense of peace overwhelmed her and she had to stop talking and shed silent tears.

“Wow, babe. That's wonderful,” Sergio-Xavier said after a long silence. “I am so proud of you for even considering such a thing. I think you're on the way to identifying your purpose. You're growing. Now stop crying. We have a lot of work to do in ten days.”

“Do you think we can pull it off?”

“Ms. McDaniels, we don't have to be a couple to work together on a worthy project. We can accomplish anything together as long as you keep your mouth shut.”

Paige ended the weekly staff meeting, which she conducted remotely through Skype, and limped into her kitchen for a cup of tea. Her ankle had healed enough for her to hang up the crutches, but the limp would remain for a few days. Thanks to Skype, Paige had been able to keep an active office presence. Despite her physical absence, new listings had been pouring in steadily, and thanks to record low interest rates, more qualified buyers were dropping in. The real estate office seemed to be taking care of itself, which had freed Paige to focus on her new project.

In the three days since embracing what God had placed in her heart, she'd had minimal sleep. She'd worked on the computer throughout the night, electronically submitting letters and requests and filling out forms. During the day, Paige had made so many phone calls, her mouth had run dry, but she'd never complained.

“Sergio-Xavier's mother will be here any minute,” Paige told her mother, who was busy arranging refreshments.

“I know. You've told me three times,” her mother teased. “I don't know why you're so nervous. You've already met your future mother-in-law once.”

Paige stopped short of rolling her eyes. “Ma, this is business, not personal, and she's not the only one coming.”

Sergio-Xavier had suggested that Paige and Teresa work together on the project for the girls. Paige was hesitant until she learned that Teresa Simone practiced business law as a profession. So far the information Teresa provided had proved invaluable and had cut the red tape to almost nil.

Tyson's mother was also coming to the planning session. As a socialite and the wife of a judge, Beverly Stokes had mastered raising money. Pastor Drake would provide spiritual advice and would represent the faith community. The president of the local board of Realtors had also been invited. In all, Paige had selected seven people to help bring her vision to fruition. What was amazing to her, and definitely God's doing, was that no one had declined her invitation. Even the prayer warriors were on board.

Sergio-Xavier had also been invited, but she doubted he'd come. He'd said he preferred to work behind the scenes, without an official role, to avoid a conflict of interest later. For once, Paige clearly heard him and accepted it without jumping to conclusions.

So that she could focus solely on administrative matters, Paige had designated Reyna and Marlissa the program coordinators. Paige had complete confidence they would plan an event the ladies would remember forever.

“Don't worry, baby. This new venture is going to be everything you want it to be and more,” her mother assured her just as the doorbell chimed.

As she walked to the front door to answer it, an excitement Paige hadn't experienced in years settled in her spirit. Ten minutes later, when Teresa Simone and Beverly Stokes handed her the contributions they'd collected in just three days, Paige cried like a baby.

“When God gives a vision, He always gives provision,” Teresa reminded Paige while rubbing her back.

 

 

“Good-bye.” More words flowed from Paige's lips in a steady stream long after she was fully awake from the dream. She lay flat on her back, staring up at the ceiling, waiting for the tears to fall. None came. She turned onto her left side and squeezed her pillow. Still nothing. Finally, she sat up and removed the old, faded sonographic image from the nightstand drawer. The tears flowed heavily then, and so did the giggles.

For the first time since that fateful day, Paige didn't feel guilt and condemnation. Instead, joy and laughter overwhelmed her. Without any consideration of her recovering ankle, Paige got out of bed and went forth in a personal praise and worship service.

“Ms. Paige, you've got to hold your head up straight, or else your twist is going to be lopsided,” Jasmine warned. At the last minute, Paige had decided to change things up and wear a French twist for the big event.

Paige was trying to keep still, but the anticipation was too much to contain. Her future and the future of the seven giddy young ladies roaming around her house, getting dressed, depended on this evening's success. This was a genesis for them all. In ten days, with the help of her newly established board, she had doubled her original goal, and the checks were still coming.

“I'm trying,” Paige whined, “but I'm just too excited.”

“It's not like you haven't been to a fancy dinner before,” one of the girls commented.

“You're right,” Paige readily agreed before she let it slip that tonight wasn't just a fancy dinner with her and Sergio-Xavier. She changed the subject. “I'm so glad you guys suggested getting dressed over here. Y'all know I needed some help deciding on a dress that would look good with flats.” With her ankle still being a little sore, Paige didn't want to risk reinjuring it by wearing heels.

“That emerald-green, strapless dress is bangin',” Jasmine hollered. “Dr. Simone is going to love that. Even in those flats your legs look good.”

“Whatever, ladies,” Paige said, brushing off their teasing, because she agreed. She'd Sergio-Xavier in mind when she express ordered the knee-length dress online.

Although they talked on the phone daily about the project, not once had she and Sergio-Xavier discussed their status, and she hadn't seen him since he walked out on her at the hospital. Instead of dwelling on his physical absence, Paige rested on the comfort that Teresa had given her before leaving after the board meeting. “He wouldn't have sent me here if his heart wasn't with you,” Teresa had said on her way out the door.

Paige felt like a proud mother as she visually inspected the young women around her. Jasmine was right; her cousin could sew. The dresses were masterfully tailored to accent each girl's figure. The young ladies looked fabulous, but something was missing.
That's it!
Paige thought after further visual inspection of their hair. For the first time since she'd met them, the divas were all wearing their natural hair color. A few tracks and hairpieces had been attached here and there, but all of these matched their natural color.

Paige giggled at the irony of it all. Tonight she'd planned on asking Jasmine to spray some green in her hair to match her dress.

“You're not losing your mind, are you, Ms. Paige?” Jasmine teased when the doorbell sounded.

“He's here,” one of the ladies announced and then headed for the front door. The remaining girls squeezed in front of the full-length mirror for one last dress and hair check, and then followed suit.

Paige retrieved a little plastic Baggie from the nightstand and grabbed her purse before joining them. When she reached the living room, the ladies were admiring the wrist corsages Sergio-Xavier had presented to them.

“Dr. Simone, you think of everything. If things don't work out with you and Ms. Paige, we'll take you,” one of the girls teased.

Paige cleared her throat to alert the divas to her presence before she'd have to beat one of them down for flirting with her man, even if they weren't officially together. “Good evening.”

The divas rushed over to Paige and showed her the floral box. She only half listened to them rant and rave about the corsages; her eyes were glued on the fine man in the black tuxedo, with the dimple.

“Oh, hi, Paige,” Sergio-Xavier responded casually, but the rapidly pulsating vein in his neck betrayed him.

“Ms. Paige, I think this one must be for you.” Jasmine had to say it twice before Paige heard her and looked down at the beautiful red rose corsage. “Let me pin it on for you.”

Jasmine's body blocked Paige's unobstructed view of Sergio-Xavier, but she still managed to maintain eye contact with him while Jasmine had pinned on the flowers.

“What do you think, Dr. Simone? Did I do it right?” Jasmine asked over her shoulder.

“It's lovely, simply perfect,” he answered, never breaking eye contact with Paige.

Paige blushed. “Can Dr. Simone and I have a moment alone, please?”

The girls left the room, but not before warning Sergio-Xavier not to try anything frisky.

“Those ladies are too much—,” Paige began, but Sergio-Xavier cut her off with a soft kiss on the lips. “Have you forgiven me?” she asked after returning the kiss.

His arms rested around her waist. “Any lingering harsh feelings were dissolved the second I saw you in this dress. You're absolutely stunning. I am so grateful this house is full of people right now.”

Her heart knew the truth, but Paige needed to hear him say it. “That's just physical.”

“You can't begin to imagine how much I've missed being near you,” he admitted, drawing her closer. “To answer your question, yes, I love you. I never stopped. I needed to give you some space to resolve your issues and release the guilt and condemnation you'd been carrying. As much as I love you, I can't heal you. Only God can do that. I had to move out of the way so I wouldn't be an obstacle, but I was never far away. I also needed time to nurse my wounds and to make sure my heart was in the right place and attached to the right person. ”

She stepped from his embrace and reached for his hand. “I have something to show you.” She placed the Baggie in his hand.

He held it up and saw that there were ashes inside it. “What's this?”

“I burned it,” she answered without emotion. “I burned the old ultrasound picture. I let it go.” She didn't have the chance to read his facial expression before he collected her in his arms.

“I am so proud of you,” he whispered repeatedly in her ear.

“Hate to break this up, but shouldn't we be leaving? I don't want to be late for my first fancy dinner. We still need to take pictures,” Jasmine announced.

Paige and Sergio-Xavier broke their embrace to find that the divas had clutch purses and camera phones in hand, ready to take pictures.

“Ladies, put those away,” Sergio-Xavier said between chuckles. “I promise there'll be plenty of opportunities to take pictures at the restaurant.”

“Oh, okay,” they said, almost in unison. In a nearly synchronized motion, the ladies stuffed the phones inside their purses. “We're ready,” they chorused.

Sergio-Xavier walked to the front door and held it open for them, but the divas didn't move. Instead, they looked back at Paige and waited for her to lead the way. Paige thanked Sergio-Xavier for holding the door open; the divas did likewise as they exited the house.

Outside at the limo, all eyes were on Paige again. The ladies appeared to concentrate on how Paige first sat on the seat and then lifted her legs into the limo. Each one did the exact same thing and then thanked the chauffeur, as Paige had done.

“They're imitating you,” Sergio-Xavier whispered in Paige's ear.

“I know,” she said, reaching inside his jacket for his handkerchief. “I hope I don't let them down.”

“You won't.”

Near the end of the thirty-minute ride, Jasmine pulled out a sheet of paper and the girls huddled around her.

“What's that?” Paige wanted to know.

“It's the table place setting I pulled from online. We're just reviewing it so we won't come across as not having any class. You know, using the dinner fork on the salad.”

Paige couldn't wait to see how they'd react when they found out the true purpose behind the evening.