Back to Me (7 page)

He started back toward the truck. “Good. I'll see you at one o'clock. Now go inside and perform your saintly duty.”

“Whatever,” she said, rolling her eyes as she turned away. She went halfway down the walkway leading into the building and then retraced her steps. She couldn't have lunch with him. “I'm sorry, but I can't go. I forgot that I already have plans,” she said as he moved from the truck to the conveyor belt. “But we're still on for Tuesday.”

“No problem,” he said after setting the box down. “Have fun.”

“It's not a date.” For some reason Paige felt the need to explain. “I have a special session scheduled with my young entrepreneur group at my office.”

Her statement appeared to surprise him. “Are you serious?”

“Yes,” she answered proudly. He wasn't the only one with a heart to give back. While working at the food bank was her duty, Paige had a passion for mentoring. “I mentor a group of high school girls on Monday evenings.”

“I have to see this for myself,” he teased. “Would you mind if I came along and watched you in action?”

Maybe to gloat or maybe to prove she wasn't a bad person, Paige welcomed the idea of Dr. Sergio-Xavier Simone observing her and the girls. DWAP was her pride and joy, one of the few things she'd done right. “Sure. I'll meet you at my office.”

“I'll see you later, Sergeant.” Sergio-Xavier offered a salute and then resumed working.

“What the heck was I thinking?” Sergio-Xavier banged the steering wheel of his Chrysler 300 for the third time and still didn't have a logical answer to why he was parked outside of Paige's office with a picnic basket.

He hadn't meant to invite her to lunch, but the pain etched on her face had touched him in a place in which he didn't desire to be touched, at least not by her. True, he'd wanted her to eat crow for calling him a thief, but he hadn't expected the tears. She'd attempted to camouflage them, but he'd seen them. In an instant the hard exterior had crumbled, and what remained had shaken him to the core. Beneath the misguided religious fanatic shell rested a wounded soul crying out for help.

He looked upward. “Okay, Lord, I get it.” He appreciated his spiritual gift of discernment, but this was one time when Sergio-Xavier wished he could turn the gift off. “Father, please show me quickly why our paths have crossed. I know it's much deeper than buying property.” After the prayer, he sat there a while longer, waiting for an answer. When one didn't come, he collected the picnic basket and exited the vehicle. All the way to Paige's office building, he hoped she'd be pleased with his lunch selection.

Instead of greeting him, Paige pointed to the picnic basket and said,” What's that?” when she opened the door. Since she was in the office alone, she waited for him in the receptionist area.

To keep the peace, Sergio-Xavier simply answered, “Lunch. I thought we'd have enough time to eat before your class.” He noticed that she hesitated before stepping aside to allow him entrance. “Don't worry. I'm a doctor, remember? I took an oath not to murder anyone.”

“Whatever. I'm not going to let you ruin my day twice.” He expected the eye rolling, but the feel of her fingertips against his hand as she pulled him down the hall and into her office surprised him. “I didn't know you were picking up food, so I stopped at Subway.”

“I see,” he said, looking at the unwrapped sandwich on her desk. “I should have called. I'll just save this for dinner.” He turned, intending to take the basket back to the car, but her hand moved up his bicep.

“No, you will not. I can eat Subway any day of the week, but I will not pass up a chance to enjoy a real meal at your expense.”

Before he could devise with a comeback, Paige snatched the basket and in record speed unloaded the contents onto her desk. “What's in here? It smells delicious.” She gasped. “How did you know I love soul food?” she asked and then bit into a piece of fried catfish before he could answer. “Kevin must have told you.”

“Uh, actually, I haven't talked with Kevin in a couple of days.”

She attacked the catfish again.

“Had I known you like catfish so much, I would have gotten you some.”

She stopped chewing. “Huh?”

“The catfish
was
for me,” he explained. “I got the fried chicken for you.”

He watched Paige's eyes almost double in size. “There's fried chicken too?” she said, opening the remaining containers. “I don't eat like this often, because it's fattening, but I love fried chicken and catfish.”

As he leaned against the wall, uncontrollable laughter poured out of Sergio-Xavier. This Paige was hilarious and quite adorable with a chicken leg in one hand and a forkful of collard greens in the other. She didn't even bother using the plates.

“I've got to get a picture of this,” he said and pulled out his cell phone. “I never thought I'd see you on the verge of gluttony. Just don't choke. I can't perform the Heimlich and snap a picture at the same time.”

The stoic Paige returned, but only for a brief moment. “I am not a glutton,” she snarled, then dug into the yams. “If you want some, you better come on.” She smiled and offered him a fork.

After snapping several pictures, Sergio-Xavier joined her at the desk and ate, all the while wondering what was happening to him. Paige's pleasure in the meal he had selected pleased him more than it should have, and he couldn't stop thinking about the feel of her hand on his body. How was it possible to dislike someone and enjoy being in their presence at the same time? When he looked up at the contentment resting on her ebony face, Sergio-Xavier knew the answer to that question was a long way off.

 

 

“Ms. McDaniels, I am truly impressed. You're awesome with those young ladies. DWAP can't help but be successful.”

Paige didn't bother hiding the huge smile before turning around and acknowledging Sergio-Xavier's compliment. “Thank you,” she answered humbly, but she felt like screaming. For two hours she had taught and mediated between eight high-strung teenagers. For once Seniyah had arrived on time, and Jasmine had kept the insults to a minimum and hadn't taken over the class, but the tension had remained. By the time they had finished the team-building activities and had redefined DWAP's goals and mission, the group was motivated to work harder and work together. Jasmine and Seniyah had even called a truce by shaking hands.

“I wish I could take all the credit for today's session, but I can't. I had a little help.” She nodded at him. “Thank you for assisting me.”

“What did I do?”

Paige thought the twisted facial expression was cute, and she said as much, in her own way. “Those young ladies are a handful, but with a handsome man in the room watching them, they were on their best behavior. I even caught some of them gawking at you. If it wasn't too much to ask, I'd invite you to every session.”

“I doubt if my presence made a difference at all. Those young ladies are smart. With proper guidance, I can see them going far in the business world.” He paused, as if he had remembered something. “Do you really think I'm handsome?”

Giggles Paige hadn't heard since she was a teenager poured from her. Without giving thought to her actions, Paige pinched his cheek and said, “You're more than handsome. You are fine, which is why I don't like you.” His sudden move backward from her touch sobered her. “I totally agree with you. Those young ladies will go far, especially Seniyah,” Paige added to save face.

“Seniyah?” he questioned, still beyond her reach.

“Yes. Seniyah is remarkable.” Paige started collecting the used paper for the recycling bin to hide her embarrassment. “Oh, did I mention she has a full scholarship to Stanford and she's graduating at the top of her class?”

He walked around the table, straightening the chairs. “I was under the impression that your star student is Jasmine, the one with the blue hair.”

Paige thought the idea absurd. “No way! Jasmine is ambitious, and with a lot of help she may actually leave the hood one day. She'd need to learn proper English first and settle on a normal hair color.”

“True,” he agreed. “But that's why she has you to teach her.”

Satisfied the conference room was clean and ready for Monday morning, Paige turned out the light and started for her office. “I'll teach her what I can about business, but it wouldn't surprise me if Jasmine never left the hood. It's part of who she is.” Paige stopped abruptly and turned around, causing him to walk into her. “Did I mention her brother is a street pharmacist and she plans to attend community college to collect financial aid? Isn't that crazy?”

He chuckled. “Crazy, but not unheard of. People do it every day. For some, it's taking advantage. For others, it's called survival.”

She continued the trek to her office. “Call it what you want. At least Seniyah earned the money that will be given to her.”

He entered her office but didn't sit down. “Seniyah, that's the one who sat on the end, in the black wool coat, right? The one who kept her head down and participated only when you directly asked her a question?”

“That's her,” Paige said with resignation. “I know I have my work cut out for me.”

“I'll say this at the risk of starting another argument, but make sure you're working with the right person for the right reasons.”

He was right. She didn't like the implications of his words. “And just what do you mean by that?” she asked, standing behind her desk.

“Jasmine may be rough around the edges, but she is hungry and shows natural leadership ability. Based on what I've seen of the two young ladies, I'd place my money on the one with blue hair. That's just my opinion.”

She sat down. “Really? It's a good thing you're not a gambler,” she teased. “I'd take all of your money.”

“I bet you'd try, in the name of the Lord, of course.”

A comfortable silence filled the space. Paige straightened her desk and then checked her e-mail.

“It's been real, but it's time for me to go. Is there a garbage can out back?” Sergio-Xavier said a minute later, breaking the silence.

“Huh?” Paige looked up from the computer. She had been so engrossed in her e-mail, she hadn't noticed he had collected her garbage and was standing at the threshold.

He held up the tied bag. “I'll throw this out on my way out.”

She looked down at the clock on the computer screen. It was almost six o'clock. She stood up and stretched. “It is getting late, and I should be going as well. Thanks for lunch.”

“No problem, but next time I'll get you a double order of catfish. It won't be for a while.” He patted his stomach. “I indulge in that many calories only once a month.”

“And don't forget the German chocolate cake, either,” she shamelessly added and then walked around the desk. “So what do you have planned for this evening? A hot date with your beautiful Latin girlfriend?”

His cocky smile returned, and for the first time, Paige noticed the right dimple. “You would think that.”

“Well, am I right?”

He smirked. “Of course not. I don't have a Latin girlfriend, or one of any other nationality, for that matter. I am totally single.”

Although the declaration surprised her, Paige was relieved to know he wasn't attached. “Are you serious?”

“If I had a girlfriend, do you think I'd spend my day with you?” His smile let her know he was only joking. “I do have an engagement tonight with an African American and Latin beauty. My six-year-old niece is preforming in her school's play, and I promised I'd be there.”

“That's great.” His sense of family touched her, but at the same time she didn't want him to leave. “Have fun.” She retrieved her briefcase to conceal the emptiness that threatened to overwhelm her once again.

After Paige turned off the lights and locked her office door, Sergio-Xavier followed her, with the picnic basket in hand, down the hallway once again and outside to the parking lot.

“What are you doing tomorrow?” he asked after dumping the trash in the large receptacle. “That was a stupid question. Of course you're going to church. What I meant to ask was, would you like to attend service with me?”

“Do you actually attend a service, or do you watch a telecast?” she teased.

“You're laughing, but I know you're serious. Why don't you join me and see? With your distorted view of the Word, you need all the church you can get. You should get daily downloads on your smartphone.”

Paige wanted to return the insult but couldn't think of anything, because she was actually receiving daily downloads already on her phone. “Maybe next time. I have to sing with praise and worship at the eight a.m. service.”

“That's perfect. I attend the eleven o'clock service.”

“Well, I . . .” She struggled to find an excuse. “I volunteer for the second service as well. And I go out with the home care ministry, and then there's the night service.”

“You don't have to attend every service to be saved. Besides, you'll hear a solid Word at my church.” He reached into his back pocket and pulled out a card. “Here's the address. I'll be waiting for you outside at ten forty-five.” He stuffed the card into her hand and then walked toward her car. She followed. “Now get inside,” he ordered after taking her keys and unlocking the door.

Paige obeyed, but not without a protest. “Just how do you know I'll be there?”

He smirked. “That's easy. You're nosy, and you can't wait to judge if my relationship with the Lord is as strong as yours.” The huffing and puffing that followed didn't move him. “I'll see you tomorrow.” He closed the car door and walked away.

Paige glared at him through the rearview mirror, but she didn't say anything. Once again Sergio-Xavier had read her like a book. She would show up tomorrow, and then she'd gloat.

 

 

Two hours later, as Paige settled into her quiet bedroom, depression visited her once again. Her parents had each other. Kevin and Tyson had a wife and a child to keep them company. Even the nosy prayer warriors had friends. Paige had nothing but an old, faded image.

Just as she reached for the light on the nightstand, her cell phone alerted her of a text message. After wiping away tears, she read the message and then laughed out loud. Sergio-Xavier had sent her the photos he'd taken of her earlier, while devouring lunch.

Even with greasy lips your face is beautiful, was the message attached to the photo of her eating a fried chicken wing.

Dr. Simone will definitely see me tomorrow,
she thought before she turned out the light and laughed herself to sleep.