Risking It All (14 page)

“To friendship,
”
he said, but he didn’t sound too happy.

“Let me know if you need help finding a temporary rental when you get down here. We have clients all the time that are willing to rent their vacant house for a specific period of time. As a matter of fact, some types of homes usually sell quicker when they look occupied with furniture.
It’s like a win-win for sellers.
”

“That’s nice of you, Julissa. I may consider that in the future if I don’t find anything. Right now, I’ll be staying at the same hotel. Ed offered me to share his condo for a while, but I kinda need my own sp
ace for the time being, ya know, since my schedule is so crazy.
”

“Well
take your time and call me to let me know that you made it to Atlanta safely. Until then, we’ll plan to meet at my office next Friday to go to your closing.”

“Sounds like a plan.”

**

“Hey, honey. How’s your day going?” Michael
greeted her on the other end of the receiver.

It was around lunch time
when her called. One of her co-workers peeked in the door and motioned for her to join them in the
break room
. They
had
all
ordered Chinese take-out for lunch.
Her mouth watered for General Tso’s chicken and Chinese donuts. She was hungry as hell. Didn’t have breakfast this morning or anything. Today had been busy for her.

Julissa balanced the phone between her ear and shoulder.
“Hey, Michael. I’m at the office downtown. I had a few things I needed to get done here.”

“Oh. I just got through with my meeting at the office today. I was just heading home for lunch, but
—
”

“Michael, look, I know I promised to have dinner ready early, but I don’t think that’s going to happen. I have to place a few signs when I get done here today.”

“Don’t worry about it, honey. In fact, that’s not what I called you for. Why don’t you meet me down at Jay’s Deli for lunch?”

“Michael, I just ordered lunch. Besides, if I stop for lunch now, I won’t get any work done and who knows what time I’ll be home for dinner then.”

“You work too much, Julissa. You and I both. Besides, I already let Martha know that I’m going to be treating you to lunch.”

“What? You called my boss?” What was Michael thinking?

“Yes, don’t be mad. She and I both agreed that you work too much. She told me you have three months of vacation accrued that you never take. What’s up with that?” Michael teased.

“Y
ou never take me on any vacation
s
, so that’s what’s up
with that,” Julissa said
.

“Alright, you go
t me. All that will change. But
first, please meet me at the deli and I promise we can start planning our next vacation together.”

“What about my work?” Julissa looked at the stack of papers piled on her d
esk. Even though it was Friday and
the end of the work week, she still n
eeded to get her tasks
done.

“Martha said that her new assistant, Jenna, will cover for you. Come on, baby,” Michael pleaded.

“Well…”

“Good, I’ll see you in fifteen minutes.” Michael hung up the phone before she could protest anymore.

Julissa immediately walked the short distance to Martha’s office. She had already opened up her container of Chinese food and was eati
ng at her desk.

Martha looked up
, and wiped some sauce off the corner of her mouth
.
She held up a hand.
“Before you can say anything, he begged me and I couldn’t say no.”

“Martha! I have so much to do…”

“Look, you’ve got a good man, Julissa girl. I wish my husband of ten years would invite me to lunch every now and then. Go!” Martha moved her hand in a shooing motion as if she were shooing a dog.

“Those signs need to be out by dark
—
”

“Jenna lives in that neighborhood, so I asked her to put them up. Besides, you’ve done enough for one week. I heard you have a big closing coming up at the end of next week.
Go celebrate early or something.”

“Martha, Martha,” Julissa sighed. Just as she was about to leave, Julissa st
uck her head back into her door.
“By the way, Michael and I are having a little dinner party in two weeks. You and Fred are invited.”

“Thanks, babe. We’ll be there.”

**

Jay’s Deli was where Julissa ate lunch at all the time when she first started with the company. This was the deli where she had her first unofficial date with Michael. After bumping into her around the corner, he had followed her all the way to the deli apologizing. He paid for her lunch and even asked for her number. Back then was when Julissa never turned down a man with good looks and book smarts to go with it.

She spotted Michael seated on the outside at a table along the back corner. Ironically, this was where they had sat that first day.

“Hi,” she said.

He jumped up and extended the bouquet of white roses to her, kissing her on the lips. “Hi.” He pulled the chair out for her and she sat down.

“I wanted to ask what the special occasion was. Our third anniversary together is in about a month. Are we starting out early this year?” Julissa wondered out loud.

“You can say that.
”

Julissa smiled.

The waitress came and took their orders. When she was gone, Michael spoke. “So, you have just as much vacation accrued as I do? Why don’t we plan something for this summer? Just you and I.”

“That would be so nice! To
get away from work and everyone.
” Julissa was ecstatic.

“I was thinking maybe Hawaii.”

“Hawaii
! I’ve never been there. My mom has visited a few times, since she’s only about one state over.”

“I’ve got a friend whose
wife is a travel agent and
might be abl
e to hook us up,” Michael said.
“I spoke to your mother this morning.”

“What? Why? Is something wrong?”

“No, I just wanted to ask her how you would feel about a trip to Hawaii. You and I never talked about vacationing in the past, so I had no idea where you would want to go.”

“No fair, Michael. You can call my parents to find out all my secrets, but I only get
lucky if I ask and you tell.”

Michael’s mom and Julissa didn’t get along that well. When she came to visit Michael from time to time, they would exchange hellos, how are
you
doings, can I help you with dinner, what a nice dress…But, Julissa could tell that Michael’s
five nine
, blonde, skinny mother didn’t really appreciate th
at her son was with a black woma
n.
It was as though she sometimes forgot
that her son was practically black himself. Michael grew up never knowing his father because his mother got pregnant at
a young age and his father
was only allowed to visit on certain days and certain times.
Apparently, her parents weren’t happy about her pregnancy.

“Hey, I don’t mind telling…”

“What did you talk about with my mother, huh?”

“About Hawaii, of course.” His Adam’s apple moved up and down as he swallowed, letting Julissa know that he was nervous.

“Uh-huh
…and?”

When Michael didn’t offer up
an
y more
information, she decided not to push the issue.
“I have the dinner menu ready for the party you’re hosting. I’m thinking about having a selection of heavy hors devours, wine, and champagne. How does that sound?”

“Great. Make sure you don’t forget dessert. I think everyone will love to try a few of your homemade pies.
The key lime, especially.
”

“Whatever you want…”

The waitress brought their food and drinks. “Oh, it looks delicious,” she said, admiring her salad. She unrolled her napkin, preparing to spread over her lap, as she always did. The silver salad fork and knife slid on the table along with something else.
Something very shiny.

There, amongst the fork and knife was the biggest
diamond ring she had ever seen.

“Oh, my God!” Julissa shrieked as if she had seen a mouse, surely causing the people beside them to stare. “Michae
l, what is this?” Her heart pounded
in her chest.

Michael picked up the ring.
“Julissa…I love you. I told you a
long time
ago that you were the only woma
n for me and I promised myself
that I would make you my wife.”

“Julissa, will you marry me?”

“Oh, God!” Julissa shrieked out loud again. “Yes!”

He slid the ring on her finger and seemed surprised when Julissa jumped up to
kiss him.

“She said yes!” Michael hollered loud enough for everyone sitting
in the restaurant to hear him
.

Everyone
clapped
loudly.

“Congr
atulations!” The waitress who’
d taken thei
r orders said
.

She was so caught up in the moment that she couldn’t think straight
.
This was what she’d been waiting for. It had been what she’d wanted from him after all this time.

Julissa
always knew in her heart that Michael was a man of his word.

Her mother and Shanice were among the first people to learn of the engagement. Christina was still u
nreachable by cell phone and Julissa
couldn’t wait to surprise her when she got back, which would be in another week. Right now, Christina was probably having the time of her life aboard a cruise ship with Richard.

Ever since Michael proposed things had been going fairly well for them. They were communicating and they hadn’t picked any fights with each other so far about little things. Even though, they had not set a date, Julissa had bought almost ever
y wedding and bridal magazine on
the shelf when she saw them. She was making Michael’s favorite dinner tonight, Mexican, and she would be sure to discuss with him about setting a date, so that she could tell Devon, who w
ould be her wedding planner
.

It was Friday and yet the most difficult thing she had to do was face Quinton at the closing table this afternoon. Last Friday, the day Michael proposed, he left a voicemail on her cell phone to let her know that he had made it to Atlanta. He had called her again on Monday and Tuesday about meeting up for dinner. The email that Julissa sent to him on Wednesday stopped all replies and phone calls.

Quinton,

I must still stick by my word that you and I can never be together. Not in the way that you have been suggesting. You promised when we first met that you would never come between Michael and I. I still rely on you to keep that promise. Please meet me at the lawyer’s office for your closing and we will find some time afterwards to go back to my office and maybe pull a list of properties if you are still interested in buying your new home.

Julissa

Now, as she walked up to the lawyer’s office and spotted Quinton’s familiar Range Rover, she felt nervous
, but yet anxious
. She hadn’t seen him in two w
hole weeks. With the way how news passed so quickly between their circle of friends, she was certain that
word of her engagement
to Michael
had already gotten to him.
Maybe it was why he hadn’t been as persistent as before.

Quinton was already in the waiting room of the office and he stood up and greeted her. “Hello, Julissa.” The smile he gave her reassured her that everything was alright.

“Hi, Quinton. It’s good to see you.”

Th
ey exchanged a hug
. She realized that she missed his smell.

“You must be Julissa Lorenzo, Mr. Brennan’s realtor,” the receptionist came from behind the desk and extended her hand to Julissa. “I’
m Cindy. Since you both are here
, I’ll go ahead and take you back to the conference room and Mr. Insley will be going through your paperwork for closing.”

They followed Cindy to the empty conference room, who instructed them to take a seat on one side of the table. “Can I get you guys any coffee or water?”

“No, thanks,” they both said in unison.

“Oh, my! That is a lovely ring!” Cindy’s eyes widened as she focused on the
huge rock on Julissa’s finger
. Cindy reached o
ut. “May I?” She took Julissa hand
and admired the platinum, solitaire engagement ring. “Wow. T
his is gorgeous.
Where is the wedding, may I ask?”