The Joneses (29 page)

She picked up my pillow and threw it at me. “He's not my boyfriend.”

“I'll cook us breakfast,” I yelled.

Charity did most of the cooking, but I had skills in the kitchen too. By the time they were dressed, I had bacon, eggs, and grits cooked and on plates on the kitchen table.

“Hope, good to see you again, under better circumstances,” Omar said.

“Yes, it is.” My face held a huge smile.

Charity kicked me under the table. I kicked her back. She winced in pain. I continued to smile. “So, what are your intentions with my sister?” I asked.

Charity spit out her juice. “Hope, that's none of your business.”

Omar said, “Charity, I don't mind answering her question. I intend on her being my lady. Right now, she has me on a ninety-day probation.”

He looked at her. They seemed to share some private joke.

“Looks like so far, so good,” I said.

“I don't know. Let me ask her. Am I doing okay so far?” Omar looked at Charity.

“Stop it. I'm not going to get double teamed by y'all. It's too early in the morning.”

He looked at me. “She may not want to admit it, but I think I'm passing.”

“It looks that way.” I ate my food and then left them alone at the kitchen table.

I know I promised Charity I wouldn't say anything, but Lovie called me and before I knew it I'd told.

“She has no business hanging out with that cop,” Lovie said.

“He's one of the good guys. Better him than someone like Tyler.”

“Still, I don't like this. I'm coming over.”

“If you come over, it'll look suspicious. She'll know I told you something.”

“You're right. Keep your eyes and ears open.”

I left Charity alone with her company and did the tasks she assigned me. It kept me busy for most of the day.

Charity walked in my room. “He's gone.”

I looked up. “I made a few phone calls. Check your planner. We're now booked up until September.”

She gave me a high-five this time. “Now, I need you to coordinate with some of the vendors I use to make sure they are available for the events. I'll take one month and you take the next.”

I scratched my head. “Sounds like I'm more of a coordinator slash planner than just an assistant.”

“Okay. Whatever you want to call yourself.”

“I'm glad you said that.” I passed her a card I'd printed out. “Event coordinator sounded better than assistant so I made a few cards to pass out to people. I gave them the business number.”

Charity didn't say anything. She simply stared at me.

“What?” I asked.

“Has the real Hope been abducted by aliens, and replaced with a clone? This can't be my sister. You are really taking this job seriously. I'm so proud of you.”

Charity hugged me.

“So, I take it you're okay with me calling myself that.”

“Call yourself whatever you want, as long as you get the job done.”

“Great.” I have some ideas for the website too. My excitement about her business made me forget all about asking her questions about Omar.

I
'd asked around about Officer Omar Underwood. He seemed to be on the up and up, but I still didn't like the fact he was dating my sister. I paced back and forth in front of the fireplace in my parents' living room.

“Do you know Charity has been spending a lot of time with the police?” I asked.

My dad eased back in his recliner. “Your mom told me about her and Omar.”

I threw my hand up. “Am I the only one who sees a problem with this? All of this has happened so fast. He's probably working undercover, and I do mean undercover.”

“Lovie, don't talk about your sister when she's not here to defend herself,” my mom said.

“Somebody has to be the voice of reason. It seems like you all have lost your mind.”

“I think you're just being paranoid. Ever since those cops stopped you, you've been acting a little different,” my dad said.

“You right about that. That could have been the end of my freedom. I'm not going to jail for anyone. You and Mom might not think anything is wrong with Charity spending time with this guy, but I do. He's a cop and if he sniffs around her long, she may let something slip.”

“Lovie, let it be. Your sister's old enough to handle her own affairs.”

“Do I have to remind you of what happened with Tyler?” The room was silent. “So, give me another valid reason I shouldn't be concerned.”

My mom replied, “Because Charity is more like your mama than you think. She won't slip and reveal anything to the officer. In fact, they are coming to dinner, so Lovie, please be on your best behavior.”

“Why didn't you tell me he was coming? I should leave.”

“You're not going anywhere. This is a family dinner, and I want all of my kids here,” my mom said.

“And what Lexi wants, she gets. You should know that by now, Son.”

I looked at them both. Less than thirty minutes later, we were all seated around the dinner table. My entire family seemed to be smitten with Omar. Since everyone else seemed to be afraid to approach the subject, it was left up to me to bring it up.

We were eating dessert when I asked, “Omar, have y'all caught Uncle Jason's killer yet?”

“No, but we're this close to.”

Charity said, “Oh, really?”

Omar looked around the room. “What I'm about to tell you can't leave this room.”

“Agreed,” I responded.

“I don't want to tarnish his reputation with you all, but Jason Milton had a few enemies. We found a business card that led us to one of his customers. They didn't have an alibi and, let's just say, I think we have our man. I'm not the main one working on the case, but that's the last I heard.”

“Can you tell us who?”

“Not until we tie up some loose ends. I'll be sure to let y'all know so your minds can be at rest.”

I guess Charity sleeping with the officer paid off. He felt comfortable giving us the inside scoop.

My dad said, “Son, thank you for this great news. We appreciate the hard work you and your comrades have done to bring Jason's killer to justice.”

“I just got a promotion, too. I'm no longer officer. My title is officially Detective Underwood.”

My mom held up her glass of wine. “Here's to your promotion.”

We held up our glasses and clicked them in his honor. “Congratulations.”

Although Omar seemed cool, I still had my reservations about him.

Charity walked Omar out to his car.

I stood at the window and watched them.

My dad patted me on the back. “See, Lovie, told you we didn't have anything to worry about.”

I would drop the issue for now, but I still had my eye on Omar.

Lovie paced the floor. I jumped in front of him, and he stopped. “Lovie, stop stressing. Your sister's going to be okay.”

In my opinion, Omar was a good man. I didn't feel we had anything to worry about.

Charity returned to the living room with a huge smile on her face. “Isn't he the greatest?”

Hope looked up from her seat. “I like him. He's cool.”

Royce said, “He seems to be okay. Time will tell.”

Lovie remained quiet and took a seat.

I glanced at the faces of each one of them. I thought about the trials we'd gone through this past year. But through it all, we made it.

I sat on the arm of Royce's chair. I gently rubbed his arm. I looked down at him and smiled.

Royce placed his hand on my leg. “Your mother and I have decided to renew our vows on our thirtieth anniversary.”

I looked at Charity. “So that means we have about a year to plan it. Charity, I'm going to trust you to handle it for us.”

“And me,” Hope said.

Charity said, “Yes, Hope's my new event coordinator.”

“Congrats, baby.” I winked my eye at Hope.

“I'll walk you down the aisle,” Lovie said.

“Of course, dear. I wouldn't have it any other way.”

“The colors can be purple and gold,” Charity said out loud.

“Or red and white,” Hope added.

The doorbell rang. I looked at Royce. “Were you expecting someone?”

He responded, “No. I'll go see who it is.”

Royce went to the front door. Curious, I followed behind him, but remained in the hallway.

I heard a voice say, “Are you Royce Jones?”

I walked closer to the doorway and saw two police officers standing in front of Royce.

“Yes,” Royce responded.

The officer pulled out a pair of handcuffs. “Royce Jones, you are under the arrest for the murder of Jason Milton.”

“No, don't put those on my husband,” I screamed out. I ran up to Royce.

The kids rushed out of the living room.

Royce looked at Lovie. “Get your mom.”

Royce held his hands out, and I put my hands on top of his.

One of the officers said, “Ma'am, we need you to move.”

Royce looked down at me. “Baby, it's okay.”

No, it wasn't okay. “They can't do this. You're innocent.”

Lovie grabbed me and pulled me out of the way.

The officer read Royce his Miranda rights as he handcuffed him. “You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you…”

I cried out, “You've made a mistake. Royce didn't kill anyone.”

Royce looked at me. “Call our attorney.”

I stood there feeling hopeless as the officers escorted Royce out to their police car.

“Daddy,” Hope shouted.

“I told you Omar couldn't be trusted,” Lovie said.

“Omar had nothing to do with this,” Charity responded.

Lovie and Charity went back and forth. I did my best to tune them out as we stood in front of the house, and I watched the love of my life driven away in the back of a police car.

Now was not the time for me to fall apart. I had to pull myself together. Royce needed me. My kids needed me. I wiped my tear-stained face with the back of my hand.

I retrieved the cell phone from my pocket. “Mitch, Royce's been arrested. They are charging him with Jason's murder, but he didn't do it.”

Mitch, our attorney, said from the other end of the phone, “I'm on my way to the station now.”

“I'll meet you there.”

By now we're all walking back inside of the house.

“No. You stay put. I'll call you when I know something.”

I ended my call with Mitch.

Charity stared at me with fear in her eyes. “Mom, what are we going to do? Dad could go to jail for a long time.”

“If I have to spend every dime we have, Royce will not go to prison for a crime he did not commit.” I said it with conviction and meant it.

I started walking down the hallway, but stopped. I turned around and faced Lovie, Charity, and Hope. “Kids. There's no need to look sad. We're the Joneses. Together, we can and will get through this.”