Fall Black In Love 1: When Henry Met Millie (22 page)

  “Momma, I’ve hurt Tauri enough. I know that.”

  “Are you staying in Detroit?” Henry asked suspiciously.

  Victoria shook her head. “No, Detroit has never been my home. I live abroad now. I finally found a place where I felt settled.”

  “I told you, I came to see you.” She smiled at them. “You look so good, both of you.”

She looked around again. “Even this house still looks good.”

  Henry and Millie stared at their own child. Even with all she had done, their love for her had not diminished.

  “You look well Victoria,” Millie told her as she came to embrace her.

Victoria couldn’t hold back the tears as she hugged her mother. “Thank you Momma,” she whispered.

When they separated, Henry opened his arms. “Come hug your Daddy, pretty daughter.”

She rushed into his arms, laying her head on his chest. “Daddy…”

Henry rubbed her back. “You hurt us, but we never stopped loving you,” he told her softly.

  “Thank you. I needed you to tell me that…. I’ve always loved you both and Tauri. I regret that I couldn’t be what you all needed but I promise I won’t be a distraction. In fact, I’m leaving in a few hours. I had to build up the courage to come here and face you.”

  “I’m not the little girl that ran away and I accept the consequences of my actions. I lost my parents and my only child, but I know that you all are okay and I can leave in peace knowing that.”

  “What do you want us to tell Tauri?” Millie asked.

  Victoria smiled sadly and pulled a card out of her bag. “If Tauri ever forgives me or wants to talk to me, here is my information. I’m not wandering anymore. I’ll be at this location.”

Henry took the card and looked at the information. “Take care of yourself Victoria.”

  “You too Daddy…” Victoria hugged her parents again before leaving out the door. Henry pulled Millie close and they stood holding one another tightly still reeling from the short visit.

“Did that just happen? Was our daughter just here?” Millie asked.

Henry sighed. “I know. I can’t believe it myself.”

  “I’m glad that she’s okay. I worried about her so much.”

  “I know you did Millie. I did too.”

Millie looked up at him. “She’s grown up.”

He nodded. “It took some time, but it seems like it.”

  “Should we tell Tauri?” Millie asked concerned. “She’s pregnant and I don’t want to add any stress to her.”

Henry looked at the card still in his hand. “Let’s wait until after the baby and she’s settled.”

  “And make sure that Victoria is going to stand by her word,” he finished.

  Millie agreed. “Yes, I would never set Tauri up for more heartache and Rion would get his hands real dirty if that happened.”

  “Both him and those Negus,” Henry affirmed. “We’ll keep this from them for now and keep tabs on our daughter.”

Millie shook her head. “I hope she’s telling the truth.”

  “I know someone who can find that out for us,” Henry told her. “And while you’re meeting with his wife this morning, I’m going to pay him a visit at his bookstore.”

******

  Most people knew George Shaw as the mild mannered owner of a chain of African bookstores and Orion and Corvus Shaw’s father. When Tauri had begun dating Rion and the two families had met, Henry had recognized the man for who he really was.

  Henry had been involved in Detroit policing issues in the city since the election of Coleman Young and still continued to this day. He’d worked with the department to diminish the complaints of brutality in addition to the recruitment of new black officers.

  There had been one undercover officer who’d served previously in military intelligence for the Army. He was a top undercover agent due to his non-assuming personality. He was known to eliminate his targets before they could even figure out who he was.

  George had left that life behind to serve his community by opening culturally centered businesses and helping to mentor the youth. George didn’t broadcast his background and skills, but chose instead to train the Negus to carry on what he’d dedicated his life to.

  The Negus consisted of his two sons and their three friends. They were the Kings in the city and it was their mission to protect and grow the city they all loved. He had groomed them all along with the help of Khalid Lewis, a bona fide and dedicated Black Panther and the
onHoHHHHHH
Honorable Benjamin Williams.

  Pulling up to the bookstore, Henry made his way inside and spotted George stocking shelves. When George saw him, he smiled.

  “Mr. Patterson, please don’t tell me that Mrs. Patterson has strangled my wife,” he held out his hand to Henry.

Henry shook his hand. “No, not that I know of.”

George pointed to a chair then both men had a seat. “Maybe the baby will mellow them out.”

Henry nodded and George studied him. “So this isn’t just a social call,” he surmised.

George watched as Henry shook his head slowly.

  “Is it about Orion?” George asked.

  “It’s about his family,” Henry answered and pulled the card out of his pocket.

George looked at the card. “Victoria Patterson?”

  “She’s Tauri’s birth mother. She left her when she was six months old and never returned until today,” Henry explained. “She says she doesn’t want trouble and I’m hoping that’s the case, but I need to know for sure.”

George looked at the information on the card again. “You want me to check her out?”

Henry nodded.

  “And if she’s not on the up and up?” he asked.

  “Then we have a problem.”

George handed the card back to Henry. “Okay.”

  “You don’t need this?” Henry asked.

  “I memorized it already,” George informed him.

Henry laughed. “Still sharp as ever huh?”

  “The Negus keep me on my toes. They have a big job on their hands.”

  “They’re well trained,” Henry complimented.

George nodded. “I’ll let you know what I find out. This shouldn’t take too long.”

  Henry took a deep breath. With every fiber of his being, he wanted this not to become an issue. His Millie had been hurt enough along with his baby girl. No matter what, he would protect them…even from their own blood, if necessary.

  “Whatever it is George, I need to know.”

  “I hear you Mr. Patterson.”

Henry gave him a look. “This is between us for now.”

  “Unless or until it touches Orion,” George told him. “I won’t keep anything from him that affects his wife.”

  “Agreed.”

Epilogue

Present day…

 
Henry and Millie sat patiently in the adjoining waiting room, in the private suite at the hospital. In the other room Tauri was delivering the next generation. Pam and George Shaw sat along with them while Rion was at his wife’s side.

  George excused himself to take a call while the women chatted happily about the upcoming arrival. When George returned he gave Henry a nod, then Henry walked over to meet him. The two stood watching the women as they began their own private conversation.

  “Everything checks out on your daughter,” George began. “The information she gave on the card was all accurate. She lives at the address she listed in Paris, has been there a few years. She worked her way through college and medical school.”

  “She’s Dr. Victoria Patterson and specializes in Women’s Health. Never been married, no children; a few relationships that ended amicably. She’s fluent in French and makes frequent trips to Africa volunteering her services.”

  “On the surface, she appears on the up and up,” George told him.

  Henry breathed a sigh of relief as he watched his wife. The joy on her face made him smile. She was so excited about this new baby and he didn’t want anything to ruin her happiness…or Tauri’s.

  “So she has no family of her own,” Henry commented.

George looked at him. “Just you, Mrs. Patterson, Tauri and a new grandbaby.”

Henry digested his words.

  “Maybe she realizes that,” George added patting Henry on the shoulder.

  The nurse approached them with a smile. “Hello, Shaw family members. There’s someone here to meet you!”

  All the adults rushed into the room where Tauri sat on the bed. Rion stood next to her, holding the baby smiling down at his wife. He looked at his family as they entered the room anxiously.

  “Well?” Pam asked impatiently.

Rion smiled, “It’s a boy!”

  “Oh my god!” Millie said happily putting her hands to her face.

She went over to Tauri and rubbed her forehead as Henry followed. “How are you ReRe?” she asked.

  Tauri smiled at them. “I’m fine Granny. Orion was right here with me.” Her gaze connected with her husband as Pam and George looked at their new young baby god.

Orion winked at her. “One down, four to go.”

Tauri frowned. “This is not the time to start that.”

Millie shook her head, then kissed her granddaughter. “I’m so proud of you.”

Henry was next, taking Tauri’s hand and bringing it to his lips. “That’s my baby girl.”

  “I love you both so much,” Tauri told them while tearing up. “I’m so glad you’re here with me today.”

Orion moved to her side. “Are you okay goddess?”

Tauri nodded as he wiped her cheek. “I’m just so happy.”

  “Thank you for my son,” Orion leaned down and kissed her softly. “I’m so happy too.”

  “Looks like we’re going to have another ballplayer, Honey,” Henry told his wife as she stood to her feet.

She laughed. “Looks like it.”

The door opened and everyone looked up.

  “What’s up Negus!” The four men chanted in unison. Lance’s wife Khayla was also among the bunch.

  “I heard we got a baby Young God!” his brother said coming over to him.

Rion nodded. “Yes, we do.”

Corvus grabbed him in a big bear hug. “A little Negus.” He turned to Tauri. “What’s up my Nigist?”

She laughed at her brother-in-law’s antics. “Hi Corvus.”

  The rest of the group greeted them as Henry and Millie got their turn with the baby. Staring down into his chocolate face and dark eyes, they smiled.

  “He looks like you Rion,” Millie commented stroking the tiny cheek.

Henry agreed. “Yes, he sure does.”

“What’s his name?” Khayla asked.

  Rion looked down at his wife and they both smiled. “His name is Orion Patterson Shaw,” he announced proudly.

  Tauri looked at George then at her granddaddy. “We wanted him to carry the names of all the incredible men that he is a part of.”

  Henry felt a tug at his heart and looked down at Millie with the baby boy in her arms. She smiled up at him, feeling his emotions.

  “You see this Millie?” he asked as his eyes misted.

She looked at the beautiful baby boy. “I see him Henry…”

Ase’…

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Hotep Fam,

Thank you for reading When Henry Met Millie. I hope you have enjoyed the my first 20
th
Century Historical/ AA Romance novel. I so enjoyed writing Henry and Millie’s journey of love. This was a different write from my other series and touched me in a different way, but deeply still.

Fall Black In Love will be an annual volume celebrating black love of old. Thank you all for of your support and encouragement on all my projects. I appreciate you so much!

Be sure to sign up on my website at www.dcamille.com for updates and information on upcoming releases. Also, feel free to visit me on FB, Twitter, and Instagram

Ase’

D. Camille

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