Page 13 of Still Forever
“Are you ladies ready to order yet?” The waitress came over and asked.
“Just drinks for now; we’re waiting on another person.” My mother said as my eyes shot up from the menu. After we placed the drink orders and I knew what I wanted, I closed the menu and waited for her to explain.
“Who’s joining us? Daddy?” I got excited for a second. My relationship with my father was one that I cherished morethan anything. He’s nothing like my mother. He always let me be myself and express myself, however I saw fit. Growing up, whenever I wanted something and she said no, I ran to my daddy full speed.
“No, I had someone I wanted you to meet,” she said, never taking her eyes from the menu. I felt a lump in my throat, already suspecting she was about to push her own agenda again, even though we’d talked about boundaries before.
“Mama, you know how I feel about being blindsided. Didn’t we discuss boundaries?” I shot back as I took a sip from my sparkling water. I’m my parents’ only child, but my mother tends to forget that I’m not a child anymore. I’ve had many talks with her about communication.
“We did.” She said as she gave me a tight-lipped smile, closed the menu, and placed it on the table. I know that what she actually wanted to say was “we did, and I don’t care.”
I groaned.
“How are you feeling these days?” She cleared her throat and changed the subject.
“I guess I’m better. It’s either be okay or drown in misery,” I admitted. It had been over two months since I had seen or spoken to Jaxon. Cameras guarded that estate like the White House, so I know that he had seen me leaving with my things. I fully expected him to come and ask me what the issue was and see if he could make it right, but he didn’t say anything. He didn’t pick up the phone and call me or use the burner to reach out when he realized that he was blocked. Nothing. He didn’t even put up a fight when I fired Zo, whom I had been using for the last three years.
As a psychologist, I know that pulling a stunt like moving out to show him that I was serious is wrong. But as a human, with real feelings, who felt like I wasn’t being considered, it was myfinal resort to get him to understand how life would be without me. Seems like the only person who learned their lesson was me.
It took me a while, but I finally got the message loud and clear. Not that I wanted him to choose. But if it ever came down to it, I wouldn’t be his choice.
“Don’t beat yourself up about it. He did you a favor; you were too good for him anyway.” She scoffed.
“Mama, please don’t start.” I sighed.
“I’m serious. You’re actually royalty, and their family claims to be, but they run in the streets like hooligans. Robbing and killing people at will. You were never meant to be in that lifestyle.” She rolled her eyes.
“Ma! I thought you liked him. Don’t call him that. Their family doesn’t rob or kill anybody either.” I got defensive. I was trying to keep my composure, but she was starting to piss me off. Over the years, their family had been nothing but kind to me and her, so the fact that she had these feelings took me by surprise.
“Call it what you want. Laundering, robbery— same thing. I did like Jaxon. Still do. He’s a nice man, but I don’t like what his family stands for. Especially by putting you in the middle of it. I’m your mother, and I’ve learned to let you find your own way. Even if I think it’s beneath you. But I’ll die on the hill that you’re too good for that lifestyle.” She said as she picked up her coffee and took a sip.
“Okay, Mama,” I said as more of a warning than anything else. Before she could respond, she gave her attention to something behind me. Just as I was about to turn, a man came to the table and stood there.
I sat there, confused, wondering who he was and why he was just standing there without explaining why he had interrupted us. But Karen made sure I didn’t have to wait for answers much longer.
“Kennedy, I want you to meet our new engineer at Davenport Oil. Taj Banks. Taj, this is my daughter Kennedy.” She said through a smile.
“Nice to meet you, Kennedy,” he said as he smiled and extended his hand to shake mine. I placed my hand in his as he shook it.
“Likewise,” I gave a fake smile. Out of habit, I looked over his features. He was tall, brown-skinned, clean-cut, and handsome. But I was confused about why I needed to meet a person at a company I wasn’t employed by.
“You’re more beautiful in person.” He complimented me. My brows furrowed. “In person” means that she’s been showing him pictures of me. If looks could kill, the one I gave her would have done the job. She plastered a silly grin on her face and took another sip from her drink.
“Join us, Taj, we haven’t ordered yet.” She said as she pointed toward the empty chair next to me. The entire five seconds it took him to come around my chair and take a seat, she avoided eye contact with me.
If I knew anything about my mother, she was using my breakup as an opportunity to play Cupid. She wanted me with someone thatshewould accept. Someone who was safe and looked good on paper. That probably went to art galleries and drank kale smoothies. But I wasn’t going to take my frustrations out on Taj. So, for the next hour, we all sat there, having brunch and laughing.
From what I had seen, he seemed like a nice guy and was easy to talk to. But he wasn’t Jaxon. He wasn’t the person that my body craved, and it’s the only thing I could think about as he sat beside me, smelling like something other than Creed.
“I have a meeting in a little less than an hour. The tab is already covered. Thank you for the invitation, Mrs. Davenport. Kennedy, can I have your number? I would love to take you outsometime.” Taj said as he started to excuse himself from the table.
“Um, sure,” I said as I took his phone and dialed my number. Then I hung up once my phone rang. I would probably block him as soon as I made it to the car anyway.
“Take care,” he said before he walked away from the table.
I turned and watched as he disappeared further from my sight, before I turned to her and grilled her.
“Ma, what was that?” I asked through slits in my eyes.
