Page 29 of Rude Boss 2

“Now I see where you get it from,” he says.

I smile through the sadness – the first time I’ve smiled today. I glance at the connection our hands have made – the connection he initiated. His fingers are threaded with mine – looks like they belong. Likewebelong…

He says, “I’m just kidding—wanted to make you smile.”

He squeezes my hand again and glances over at me.

I busy myself with looking around the waiting room. People are staring over here and for a split second, I wonder why until I realize Essex is like a celebrity around here. They probably know him or have seen him on TV.

I ask, “Don’t you see these people looking at you?”

“I’m used to it.” He looks up briefly and returns his attention to me. “Your mom must love pictures.”

“She does. She has several gallery walls and the way she’s arranged them looks pretty. Looks like an interior designer could’ve done it.”

“The more you talk about her, the more I’m realizing how much you’re like her.”

I smile sadly. “It’s true. I am like her, but if you knew my father, you’d say I’m like him, too.” I blow a breath and roll my wrist to see the time. “My father is taking it pretty hard, but he’s trying to be tough. That’s how you men do—so afraid to show a hint of emotion.”

“When we emote, society judges us as wimps. Maybe we’d show more emotion if there wasn’t a stigma attached to it.”

“Who cares what society has to say? Jesus was perfect. He cried.”

“No, he didn’t.”

I snap my head back and look at him sideways. “Yes, he did. He cried when his friend died.”

He grins.

“You’re telling me Jesus had a homie?”

Tickled, I ask, “Why are you being silly?”

“Ay, you need to school me or maybe not. I don’t think you know what you’re talking about.”

“Oh, yes, I do. Sylvie Bailey loves the Lord, and she taught me things.”

“So, it was your mother who told you this.”

“It’s in the Bible, Essex.”

“If you say so. This is the first time I’m hearing anything about this,” he confesses.

“Oh, how sad. See, that’s why you’re so mean. You don’t know the Lord.”

He flashes a killer smile that makes my stomach flutter and says, “I’m not as mean as you make me out to be. When I walked into the conference room at work this morning and didn’t see you, I knew I had to be wherever you were.”

“Even though I told you not to come.”

“Yes, even then. I’ll always be there for you, Tessie.”

I turn to look at him, wondering why he’s confidently making such a statement where I am concerned. You’d think the man has known me for years. I stare into his eyes – those enigmatic dark eyes that bore into me. I still have no idea what I’ve done that has him leaving work to be here by my side. And he told me he’d always be there for me. Why?

“Essex, I—”

“Hey, man,” Dad says, walking up to us. Essex releases my hand, stands and says, “Mr. Bailey, it’s good to see you again. I just wish it was under better circumstances.”

They shake hands. Dad says, “Yeah, me too.”

---