Royce (14 page)

“Yes.”

“Okay Mr. Harrington, I think I have enough information to start my investigation.  I’ll contact you with any information I have or to let you know if the investigation must cease.”

“Cease?” Royce questioned.

“Yes if for any reason I find the person in question has good reason to be away from you I will cease my investigation,” Jameson said.  He was not going to find a married woman who left for her own reasons and now he suspected it was an affair. 

“I understand,” Royce said, he stood, shook Jameson’s hand and walked out, questions on his mind.  Maybe Jameson was right, maybe he should leave well enough alone?  Joy had left of her own accord; as a matter of fact Joy had left so quickly her house was still on the market months after they’d left they’d gotten out of there so fast.  It sat empty and forlorn until it sold. He drove to the office wondering if he was doing the right thing.

The next day Jameson went to the office of Abrams, Holmes & Holsted attorneys at law disguised as an accident victim.  He had his arm in a sling, brown contact lenses, a fake light brown mustache, a brown wig and fake crooked teeth, “I’m looking for Michael Abrams, I hear he’s a good lawyer and I need him to represent me in my accident case,” he said to the receptionist in this very southern and very Texan accent.  “Well sir Mr. Abrams is a tax attorney, he’s not a criminal defense attorney, we do corporate law here,” she said. “What, well which one is he on the wall here and which one of them can represent me?” He asked pointing to the pictures of the attorneys in two rows on the wall. “He’s that one,” she said pointing to the first picture, “And I’m sorry sir, no one in this office can help with a criminal case, who gave you that information sir?”  “Well I’ll be dog gone, nobody told me I just saw the name on the building is all,” he said and walked out the office and now he had a face.  He hung around and waited in the parking garage until he saw Michael coming down the ramp. 

He pulled out and followed him; he knew how to follow a car without being seen.  They drove for quite a while until they were in the outskirts of Dallas, in the suburbs and then he saw Michael pull into a very wealthy gated community, La Casa Madrid, he kept going, “Damn that’s going to cause a problem,” he thought, but his excitement was mounting he loved a challenge.

Royce went home that evening and after his initial uncertainty by the end of the day it was gone.  He needed to find Joy, he had to see her, and maybe Jameson was right he shouldn’t bother her.  Maybe that’s what he’d do, he’d get the information and wouldn’t use it, he’d just know where she was or maybe he’d go by and see her from a distance and leave.  He just wanted to make sure she was okay and see her one more time.  He needed to see her he knew that, and for the first time in months Tammy saw him smile.  He’d been so disheartened the past year, his smile was welcome. 
It’s about time he came out of his funk.  Maybe the old Royce was back.,
she thought.

Jameson knew what he had to do; he had to get in the gated neighborhood of La Casa Madrid.  He’d found Michael now he had to find out if Joy was still with him.  Over the next few days he set his plan into action, he had his paint shop paint a gas company logo on the side of his work truck.  He tossed cables and cords in the back, stitched a gas company logo on a pair of overalls and put in brown contacts, pulled his blonde hair up and put on a curly sandy blonde wig with sideburns.  Then he drove up to the gate, “Got a possible leak on…,” he paused to look at his clipboard, “On Guadalupe Street,” he said to the guard.  The guard went inside the little guard house and made a note on his books, then he opened the gate and Jameson drove through. 

Now to find Joy Abrams, he drove through the neighborhood and turned right; he was looking for 6 Guadalupe Street.  It was a beautiful neighborhood, all the houses done in Spanish style, red Spanish tiled roofs and beautiful stucco exterior in varying shades of gold, cream, white, gray, tall trees, but small yards,
Very nice and very rich
.   He parked between Joy’s house and her neighbor’s, that way it looked like he wasn’t here for anyone just a gas company man doing his job.  He hopped out of the truck with his clipboard, he fiddled around in back and found the orange spray paint and little orange flag the utility companies used to suggest they’d been working on something, he went to where the gas line was and pretended to be doing gas company work, then he walked to number six Guadalupe.

He rang the bell, he hoped she was home, or he’d have to fiddle around here all day until she came home.  The door opened and Jameson saw a tall black woman, and his mind went to the check list he had from Royce,
tall, check
, “I’m with the gas company investigating a possible leak…,” he stated and as he spoke his mind went through his list,
long dark hair, check,
not tousled though she was wearing it long and straight with a bang
, very beautiful, check, light brown silky smooth skin, check, shy smile
?  He didn’t see that she wasn’t smiling at him, her face showed her concern since he was talking about a gas leak in her neighborhood,
nothing to smile about there
, he thought, and she was facing him so he couldn’t see her derriere, the nice one his client had described. 

He felt he knew this woman intimately with the description his client had given him he knew more about her than probably a man should, “Yes, I checked out everything and there is no danger, I show this is the residence of…,” he looked down at his clipboard for the very businesslike affect he was going for, “Michael and Joycelyn Abrams.  Are you Ms. Joycelyn Abrams?”  “Yes, I’m Joy Abrams,” she said,
bingo, identity confirmed
, check.  “Thank you ma’am, sorry to bother you but we have to check these things, but no worries, it was a false alarm,” he said.  He had to reassure her or she’d call the gas company to inquire, and now she smiled,
beautiful smile, check
, and then he saw the reason his client wanted her found, it had been there in front of him the whole time,
I’ll be damn.

Royce had been on pins and needles hoping Jameson could find Joy, it had been a week now and he’d called and said the search was going as planned.  He’d found Michael and was now on the trail to find Joy, and Royce was perplexed, “Do you think she’s no longer with him?”  And his heart pounded in his chest, if Joy left Michael he would be on the next plane, train, whatever was fastest to get to her. “No, I’m not sure, I haven’t found her yet is all I’m saying,” and he had to contain his emotions for the let down. “Oh okay, keep me informed.” “I will sir,” Jameson said and hung up.  That had been days ago and every time his phone rang he jumped to answer it hoping it was Jameson.

Jameson left the neighborhood his mind in turmoil, wondering, questioning when he’d confirmed her identity.  She was Joy Abrams and she was just like his client described, very beautiful and now he wondered if he should tell his client her whereabouts.  She’d left for a reason and he thought he knew why, but should he be the one to disclose her location?  She ran, she left, it was an affair, she stayed with her husband, should he let his client know or leave well enough alone, he drove and thought.

Royce was at his desk, it had been a week into the investigation and his mind was on Joy.  Maybe she did leave Michael that’s why it’s taking so long, and he knew he hoped so.  He hoped she’d left Michael and he could go to her and see her, but if she hadn’t could he see her?  He didn’t know, from a distance maybe, but going to see her, he didn’t know if she’d want that.  He didn’t know if she’d want to see him after what he’d done.
Maybe seeing her in person is not such a good idea. I’ll just have Jameson take a few pictures from time to time
, he thought,
Spy on her without her knowing…yeah, that’s best
, his phone rang and startled him.

“Royce Harrington,” he said into the receiver, “Mr. Harrington this is Jameson, I found her sir,” and Royce’s heart did a hard flip in his chest that hurt and his mouth dropped open. “Fine,” he managed to say, “Where can we meet?” “Same as before,” Jameson said. “I’m on my way,” Royce wanted to get the information in his hands as soon as possible,
Joy oh Joy,
and he was smiling and happy.  He’d found Joy.

Jameson decided it wasn’t up to him to decide if Ms. Abrams wanted to see his client, it was up to her.   She’d determine if she wanted to see him or not, but to him it was clear there was unfinished business between them, so he went back to his office and finished his assignment.  He typed up his report and called his client. 

Royce walked into The Meridian.  He saw Jameson at the bar and as soon as Jameson saw him he made his way towards him and after they shook hands they found a table away from the other patrons and sat down.  Royce was excited with anticipation, “Did you see her or get pictures?”  He asked as soon as their drink order was placed. “No pictures, but yes I saw her.  I spoke with her and she is well,” Jameson said. “You spoke with her,” Royce asked in awe, “Did you advise her of my involvement?”  He asked afraid now.  “No, no, that was not why I spoke with her, it was to confirm her identity that is all,” Jameson said and he could see the emotions playing havoc on Royce’s face, happy, shock that he‘d spoken with her and fear for some reason.  “Oh good let’s see what you have,” Royce said his stomach in knots and his emotions ping ponging all over the place. 

Jameson pulled out a file from his briefcase and handed it to Royce, “Everything you need is here, her home address, her phone number, all the information you need to contact her,” and Royce took the folder, his life line to Joy, “Thank you,” and he wrote a check to Jameson with a bonus.  The waitress brought their drinks and he opened the file, “Did she look okay, how was she?”  He asked as he scanned down the page. “She’s as you described,” and Royce looked at him. “She’s a very beautiful woman as you said” and Royce smiled, “That she is,” and Jameson was waiting for him to mention the other thing but he didn’t, so he left it alone.  Royce saw what he needed in the file.  He’d hoped for pictures but he knew he didn’t ask for that, he’d only asked for contact information, “Is there a way to get pictures, maybe some photos of her?”  “Yes, but it would take more time and stealth, but I’d be happy to accommodate you with photos,” Jameson said.  “I’ll let you know then, but for now I have what I need,” Royce drank down his drink in two solid gulps; he needed it to calm his nerves.  Then he shook Jameson’s hand and left with the precious information in his hands.

He sat on the information for two days, one minute determined to see her, the next scared she might not want to see him and changed his mind.  Then he thought of calling her, but that wasn’t good enough.  He looked at her address,
Los Colinas, you did move far didn’t you Joy
, he thought, Los Colinas was at least forty-five minutes away from The Enclave,
No chance of ever running into anyone from the old neighborhood there
, he thought.  And then on the second day he got up from his desk, combed his hair, straightened his tie, went down to his car and drove to Joy’s following the directions in the file.  He drove to the gate and the guard came out,
Shit
, he thought,
I didn’t know it was gated, but now I’ll know if she’ll see me or not,
he pushed the button to roll down his window, “Royce Harrington to see Joy Abrams,” he said to the guard. “Yes sir,” he said and went into the little guard house and picked up the phone. 

Royce saw him talking, and then hang up, “Okay sir, third street on the right, Mrs. Abrams is expecting you,” the gate opened and Royce drove through, his stomach bunched and fluttered.  Joy agreed to see him, that was a start, but he didn’t know what to expect, would she tell him to go away, that she only agreed to see him to tell him to keep away from her.

He turned right onto Guadalupe Street and drove to the end of the cul-de-sac and found number six,
Beautiful house, very stately
.  It was the middle of the afternoon so her children should be in school,
Good, they could be alone as they talked
, and he hoped she would at least talk to him a little before she told him to never set foot near her again.  His heart was thumping and beating wildly, it was all over the place from excited to scared as hell, back to excited, then back to scared as hell.

He walked up the walkway and rang the bell and Joy answered.  For a moment Royce just stood there looking at her,
Damn, she’s still beautiful. 
He tried to smile, but he had no idea if it came across. “Come on in Royce,” Joy said, she was smiling at least and he walked across her threshold and she closed the door.  He was vaguely aware of the immense beauty of the house, the hand scraped dark as coffee hard wood floors, the gold textured walls and Joy’s exquisite taste but he was more interested in her.

“I expected this day to come, I just didn’t know when,” she said.  She looked at him, and before he knew it he took her in his arms and hugged her and she hugged him back.  He wanted to hold her until his heart settled down, just to feel her real in his arms and he held on tighter than he should. 

She released her hug and looked up at him.  “It’s okay you’re here Royce,” she said.  Joy could see he was having a hard time, he was smiling, he was happy, so happy, she could see that, but his eyes showed every emotion.  They went from fearful, to happy, to sad; they were all over the place.  “I knew this day would come,” she said and led him inside her house.  They walked to the family room, Royce was watching her behind, she had on short blue jean shorts and a white t-shirt with buttons across her breast.

She led him to a dark brown leather sofa and he was grateful to get off his shaking legs, “You want something to drink?” “No, no, I just want to talk to you, see you, make sure you’re doing okay,” he said.  He wanted her to know right off he wasn’t stalking her.  “I know Royce, I knew this day would come and now that it’s here I don’t know what to do, but I was going to contact you, but I kept putting it off and now you’re here and I’m glad this day has finally come,” she said almost in disbelief, and Royce just looked at her wondering how did she know he was going to find her when he didn’t know until a week ago.

She got up and went over to a blanket on the floor and picked up a baby,
oh, Joy has a baby?
  He’d been so focused on her he hadn’t even noticed a baby lying there on a blanket, toys all around.  She came back to where he sat and turned the baby to him.

“Royce I’d like you to meet your son Justin Royce Abrams.”

Royce was stunned.  He looked at her then the baby, then back at her and then the baby.  He stared at the baby and the baby looked at him and he saw his blue eyes staring back at him and he smiled at the baby and the baby smiled back and he saw Karen’s smile and Karen had his smile.

“Oh Joy, oh my god Joy,” he said once the realization sunk in.  Joy had his child and she was smiling.  This is what Jameson saw that day, a tall woman holding a baby and when the baby turned to look at him he looked just like his client
.

“I know.  It’s a shock isn’t it?”  

“Understatement of the year,” he said chuckling.

“Would you like to hold him?”  He nodded and Joy handed him his son.  Royce pulled him to his chest and hugged him, “Oh my God,” is all he could say.

“That’s why I knew this day would come.  I wanted to contact you and tell you, I kept telling myself to do it, and I made myself promise I’d do it before he turned a year” she said looking at Royce smile and stare at his son, “He’s four months old,” she said.

“Oh Joy,” Royce said smiling at his beautiful son.  This was beyond his wildest dreams, that one of those nights of loving Joy they’d made a child.

“I don’t want anything from you, I just wanted you to know about him,” she said, “Michael has agreed to raise him as his son.”  Royce was half listening; he was more enthralled with his son, the son he made with Joy than what she was saying.  “I just wanted you to know so in case he wanted to find you one day you wouldn’t be shocked,” he heard that.

Whoa, wait
, “What?  What do you mean in case he wants to find me one day?”

“Well Michael and I are going to raise him as our son Royce.  You don’t need to be involved, we think its best and less confusing considering the circumstances,” and he stared at her.

“But he’s my son Joy, my son,” he said looking at her in disbelief.

“Royce think about this.  I know he’s your son and I paid homage to you and gave him your name.  I wanted him to know that one day, but it’s the best thing to do, the best way to handle this,” she said.

He was dumbfounded, “To keep him from his father, that’s the best way to handle this,” he asked, “You want me to know about him and stay away is that what you’re saying?”

“Well…yes Royce, we think it’s the best way…,”

“We who?  You and Michael, because I sure don’t Joy.  He’s my son, I just found out I have a son, a beautiful baby boy and you want me to forget that and hope he comes to find me one day!”  He said incredulously.  He looked at her for understanding, because to him this didn’t make any sense, “You want to keep him from me because…because why Joy, I don’t understand.”

Joy looked away and he saw her wipe a tear, “Because it’s best, the best thing to do Royce.  You know how he came about, you know you and I should have never been together and if it wasn’t for The Club we wouldn’t have been.”

Ouch!  It felt like she slapped him and he was stunned for a moment before he regained his composure, “I don’t know if I can do that Joy.  I don’t know if I can do it your way,” and he didn’t he had a son, a son with Joy and once she put him on his lap all he thought was
I’m going to be there for you little guy, I’m your father
, and in the next instant she was taking that away from him.

“Royce please,” she said and he was looking at her in disbelief.

“Is this why you left so soon, did you know then Joy?”

She was sad now, “Yes.”

He was stunned again, “You knew then you were having my baby and didn’t tell me!”

“No, I didn’t know it was your child, I knew I was pregnant and I was going to tell you that …night,” she saw him wince, “I was going to tell you but you know what happened, then I was afraid.  I didn’t know what they’d do to me after what they’d done just because you and I had been together, I didn’t know what they’d do if they knew I was having your child,” she said and he wondered who was this
they
she was talking about, was it their friends?  The people who’d acted crazy that night he had to admit, or was it white people in general?  “I know Joy, it was a crazy situation that night, but I wished you’d told me anyway, called me or something and I could have been there for you,” he said and she looked at him now, her shame in this clear.  She’d hidden this from him, she knew that, “I know, I’m sorry Royce, but it wasn’t until he was born that I was sure he was yours and Michael had agreed and understood there was a possibility he wasn’t the father and he’d accepted it and to be the baby’s father but I wanted you to know that’s all, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.”

Joy had planned on telling him that night, and Royce didn’t know she’d found it easier to tell him than Michael.  He was going to be to the first to know, she wanted to tell him, talk it over with him and get a feel for where he was at on it, but she didn’t.  His friends butted in and ran her away and she didn’t tell him that although Michael had agreed to raise his child he was mad as hell about the condoms, or lack thereof.