Page 30 of At Your Service
“Yes,” Riley said, looking over her shoulder at her. “Sunday dinner is a Gold family tradition. It takes place at six every Sunday evening, unless we’re all out of town. Then it’s usually a phone call from wherever we are in the world.”
“Because, above all else, family is first,” Marva said.
Nina looked at her and could almost hear her father quoting another African proverb. Jacoby did that often, especially after Lynn had left them. It was as if he’d thought by pouring the teachings of the importance of family from his ancestors into their heads, they would never make the same mistakes.
“Nina, are you okay? You seem so different now. Would you like me to order you something to eat before I go?” Riley asked after her mother had opened the door and they’d walked through.
Nina stayed in the apartment, placing her hand on the doorknob to steady herself. “No. Thanks, really, for being so kind to me, but I’m okay. I have some stuff in the refrigerator and I’m going to have a bath and just chill for the evening.” Or wallow in how much she’d missed by not having a mother-daughter relationship to lean on, or even a sister relationship that didn’t feel like everyone was leaning onherall the time.
Marva stepped close, cupping Nina’s cheek. “All will seem better in the morning,” she said before kissing Nina’s forehead. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Riley smiled at Nina. “Yes, tomorrow. But call me tonight if you just want to chat.”
“I will,” she said with a nod, really believing that she would reach out to Riley if she could no longer bear the silence or her thoughts tonight.
Nina was lying in bed two hours later, watching some old movie on the television, when her cell phone rang. She glanced over at the phone and saw her father’s name on the screen. It was as if Jacoby had somehow known she needed her family tonight.
Nina smiled as she answered. “Hi, Dad. How are you?” She sat up, the pillows behind her back.
“Not too good since I found out my daughter’s been lying to me.”
Oh no, what had Daisy or Angie done now?
“Who’s been lying to you and about what?”
“You and you know what.”
Okay, she had to refrain from replying with a “what” because her father wouldn’t like that. Instead she rephrased her question.
“I don’t understand what you’re saying, Dad. What’s going on?”
“How’s it possible that my oldest child is getting married and I didn’t know about it? Just who is giving you away and to what type of man? I don’t understand these young folks that don’t respect any kind of tradition. He couldn’t come ask me for your hand in marriage? Or maybe you didn’t want him to.”
CHAPTER TEN
“IT’SNOTWHATyou think, Dad,” she replied after the silence had stretched too long and she knew her father was getting antsy for a response.
“Well now, I think I can still read pretty well. Daisy brought me my papers when she went to the market for me the other day. And I sat out on the back porch like I always do and read them. Damn near choked on my coffee when I saw those pictures of you and some guy named Major Gold announcing your engagement. What kind of name is that for a man, anyway? And now you’re in that big city planning some fancy wedding when you know I’ve always told you girls that you should have a traditional African wedding. It’s what your grandparents always wanted.”
Damn, he was bringing up the African wedding.
After going on permanent disability leave from the hospital where he’d worked in the maintenance department seven years ago, Jacoby had developed a routine of fixing a pot of fresh-ground coffee every morning. He’d pour that coffee into the old, stained, white carafe with the faded flowers on the front and take it to the back porch with him. There he’d sit from eight to ten, listening to the birds and smelling the fresh morning air—at least that’s how he explained it.
She should be pissed at Daisy for taking him the paper with her picture on it, but then again, at least her sister was doing her part to help take care of him.
“It’s my job,” she said and then wanted to snatch the words back.
“You’re working as some man’s fiancée?”
That sounded awful.
“His family’s company is the one I came here to meet with. They’ve agreed to give me a six-week trial period.” She paused and took a deep breath. “In exchange for this opportunity, I agreed to be the guy’s fake fiancée. It’s to help with a sales campaign they’re running. That’s all, Dad. It’s not real.”
And that somehow didn’t make it sound better. She was sure her father would feel the same way, which was precisely why she hadn’t told him these details.
“Why would you agree to such foolishness? Running around with some man you’re not in love with, trying to fool the world into believing you’re something that you’re not.”
“I need this deal to work, Dad.” It was as simple as she could explain her reason for being there.
