One good reason, p.2
One Good Reason, page 2
“Did she offer a reason?”
“Come on, Adele. You and I both know the reason. She wants the unimaginable.”
“Are they unimaginable, though? At one point, you were willing to give those things to me.”
“You,” I clarified. “Back then, I was willing to give you anything.”
“And you know, just like I know, that those things are impossible with me. I’m far too old for such.”
“We can go round for round about said things, but I would much rather not. I’m stuck licking my wounds and could use a friend.”
“God, Harvey.” Craning her neck, she leaned in. “You love her?”
“Immensely,” I admitted. “Just not enough to bend in the way I feel. I could have done forever with Dahlia… would have done it, in fact, had she not switched up on me.”
“She’s a woman. Those things are inevitable.”
“Not for you.”
“I’m pushing sixty-seven, darling. Of course, I don’t want it. I had one marriage and when it ended in divorce, that wasn’t a road I was willing to travel down again. I say that to say, you should open up your heart to Dahlia. She’s the only one that lasted as long as she did. That should count for something.”
“You know what’s funny? You speak so highly of her, and she faults you for me being the way I am. I think she said it was my ‘sick admiration’ for you that kept me from wanting to take the final step.”
“It’s easier to blame me than to accept the fact that she stayed even after she was told those things wouldn’t happen. Women tend to do that, you know.”
“I know. I was once in her shoes. I get how hard it is, and maybe I shouldn’t have let it get this far.”
“It happened, it’s over, and now you are a free man. Date around.” She waved her hand in the air animatedly. “It’s plenty of women in Atlanta that would love the opportunity.”
“I think I’m good for a while.” I shrugged dismissively, not wanting to obsess over my failing love life.
The woman Dahlia accused me of admiring so much was twenty-one years my senior. What started out as her wanting to teach me how to please a woman easily morphed into me falling in love with her. Adele was my first love, the woman whom I credited for me being the man that I am today. Of course I admired her, she taught me a lot.
It was me who had the idea of taking our relationship further than just sex. Adele was fresh out of a divorce and expressed not wanting to go down that road again. While I understood and respected her, I secretly held a certain level of resentment toward her. Our situation made me feel like women would dangle the possibility of something long-term in your face only to snatch it back when it no longer benefited them. Looking at things on the other side, I now realize it’s exactly what I had done to Dahlia.
Dahlia and I just happened. It was never anything that was supposed to go further than a few dates and late-night sessions. Over time, she became my friend and from there, a relationship formed. Because of my history with Adele, I let it be known from the beginning that outside of the lavish lifestyle, quality time, and having her on my arm for everything, I couldn’t and wouldn’t offer anything more. She chose to stay around. It would have been easy to call her a kept woman, but that would be the furthest from the truth.
Dahlia worked hard at everything she did, so I was confident that she could survive without me. Because of the fact that I didn’t see a long-term future with her, I had my lawyer draw up an agreement that stated if and when the relationship was dissolved, she would walk away with an undisclosed amount of money. I kept my end of the bargain, regardless of how much it pained me to let her go. I loved her, indeed, but the only woman that I’d ever seen a future with was the one sitting across from me now. Since that wasn’t a possibility, I had long decided that it was no longer a goal of mine.
TALITHA HOWARD
My mind was spinning from all the chatter in the room. It was hard to make out words because they were being hurled at me by five different people. I tried to listen to everyone’s reason and while I agreed with a few of them, there were also a few that I could give two fucks about. It wasn’t until I heard someone mention getting the state involved that I snapped out of a haze.
“If we let Medicaid send her out a nurse, I would have to sign over the house,” I argued.
“And why would that be a problem?” my egg donor countered. “You’re not here during the day. God knows what you got going on up there in Alanna.”
“I work in At-lan-ta,” I enunciated to correct her mispronunciation. “Besides, we all know how Gema feels about her house. It took her and Papa Joe thirty years to pay off their mortgage. It would be absurd to just sign over their hard-earned work to the state.”
“Mama ain’t getting no better Tali,” my uncle Meat blurted out.
This family “meeting” or whatever they were calling it had been scheduled for the past two months and instead of his ass coming home for it, he decided we could just call him on FaceTime. That was part of the reason I was pissed the fuck off. I didn’t ask for much. When it came to Bertha Mae, all I asked her five kids to do was watch her while I went to work. Everything else I had taken care of since the day my grandad passed.
“You think I don’t know that? I’m here twenty-four seven. The only time I’m not is when I have to go to work. I sacrificed everything for y’all mama. I didn’t get to go away to college and get the full experience.”
“Alanna sure the hell ain’t Warner Robins.”
“Litha, let the girl talk,” Uncle Willie Earl rasped, halting my egg donor right in her tracks. Out of all my Gema kids, Uncle Willie Earl was ‘bout the only one with good sense.
“Willearl, don’t start no shit with me. I be the one taking mama to her doctor appointments.”
“Only cause Tali be up there at work. You act like Alanna ten hours away. The girl goes to work and comes straight home to mama. It’s a wonder she got time to herself.”
“Well, how ‘bout you see to her the next time?” She pouted and folded her arms across her chest.
Rolling my eyes at her dramatic ass, I chewed the bottom of my lip. “I tell you what. How about I buy me a house in Atlanta and take Gema with me? That way y’all can do whatever the hell y’all want with this one. Hell, from where I’m sitting, it looks like neither of you are willing to step up anyways.” I doubted either of them would agree, but what choice did I have?
My job at Youth Villages was in Douglasville, which was two hours away from my hometown. I worked Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and the back and forth was starting to put a strain on my body. I mean, shit, I had been doing it for the past ten years. I could have found a job closer to home, but nobody was willing to pay me more than what I was currently making. It was clear as day that I couldn’t trust none of Gema’s children to look after her while I was at work, so the only solution was to move and bring her alone.
“Now you wait a minute, Tali. You know I agree with you half the time but uprooting my Mama from her house ain’t gon’ do no more good than signing it over to the state,” Louise, the baby of the bunch, shared.
“And you’ve been to how many appointments?” I spat.
“Y’all be quiet and let Tali talk. Damn,” Betty Jo bellowed.
You would think the five of them would be grateful that someone was willing to take the responsibility off their hands. I mean, after all, they did treat their mother like she was a burden. Hell, I was really the only one that took care of her. Granted, my mama took her to her appointments and checked on her daily, but it was all done for a reason. Gema had heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and a list of other ailments that people her age get. Her children knew she wouldn’t be around too much longer, which is why my mama liked to play her close.
Everybody was more concerned ‘bout what they would get after she perished. It was the same thing I dealt with when Papa Joe passed. They were pissed off when my grandparents' attorney read the will. My papa knew how his kids were, which is why he left everything to me. I didn’t ask for it and offered to give it to them. My aunt Betty Jo was the one that told me I deserved it.
From the time I was five years old, I had lived with my grandparents. When I graduated high school, they sent me off to Spelman in Atlanta for college. My sophomore year, my granddad had a massive heart attack and passed, which is why I ended up moving off campus and back into the house with my granny. For two years straight, I drove back and forth between Atlanta and Warner Robins so I could be with Gema full-time. When I finished my bachelor’s, I took online classes to gain my masters.
I had been successful at my job for years and made enough money to live comfortably. Not only could I afford to move, but thanks to the money I inherited from my grandpa, I could afford to hire a nurse for Gema without having to sign her house over to the damn state.
“I don’t give a damn what she got to say. My Mama not moving to no damn Alanna.”
“And I guess you can do better.”
“Don’t start with me, Betty Jo.”
“No, you don’t start Litha. Had this been anybody else suggesting it, you wouldn’t bat an eye. But cause it Tali, you wanna oppose. You need to get off that high horse and try to mend things with your daughter. Mama ain’t gon’ be here much longer. You gon’ need that girl one day.”
“Long as I got Joe Lee, I’on need nobody.”
Swiping away the lone tear that rolled down my cheek, I shook my head. Nothing out of my mama's mouth surprised me nowadays. It’s the same shit I’d heard since the day Gema and Papa Joe packed my shit up and moved me out of her house. My mama abhorred me and sadly, the feeling was mutual. I could’ve argued with her but this meeting was for a bigger purpose. Deciding to put my ill feelings to the side, I turned to the siblings.
“Listen, we can argue all day ‘bout Gema health and everything else, but the fact remains the same. I’m her primary caregiver, whether I’m in Atlanta or not. And to be frank, I didn’t have to ask either of you for permission.
I did it out of respect, but since we can’t agree on anything, let me make something clear. When I find a house to purchase, I am going to pack me and Gema’s things up and move. I’m not stopping either of you from spending time with her. I also don’t mind bringing her down here for a few days, but she will be coming with me, and I will hire a nurse. If I have to find an in-house one, that’s what I will do. Not now nor in the future will I ever agree to signing over her house.
I don’t ask any of you to pay for anything where the house in concerned now, so per usual, don’t worry about it. I’ll take care of everything,” I stated with finality.
“You can’t just up and move my Mam—”
“Yeah, Litha she can,” Uncle Willie Earl cut her off.
My mama was seething and instead of continuing to argue, she hopped up and stormed out of the house, making everybody shake their head. They acted like her antics were something new, but I was used to it.
“That girl act like the world owes her something.”
“Mama and Daddy should’ve put something on her ass when she was lil’.”
“All of y’all contributed to her attitude. My Mama is the oldest and acts like she is the youngest one.”
“Listen Tali. I’on see nothing wrong with you taking Mama. If you can find somebody to be there with her then that’s all that matters to me,” Betty Jo said. After Uncle Willie Earl second her statement, the rest of them reluctantly agreed as well.
That meeting didn’t go as well as I planned for it to go, but the outcome was really the only thing that mattered. Now all I needed to do was lock down a realtor so I could find a house suitable enough for me and Gema.
When I decided to become a social worker, I knew I wanted to work with troubled youth. I, myself, came from a troubled past. It wasn’t until my grandparents stepped in that life got better for me. I was excellent at my job, and I knew it. However, I would be a fool to remain stagnant therefore, I was always on the hunt for something that offered more opportunity as well as more money.
A couple of days ago, I ran across a job posting for the L.H. Youth Center a few miles from my current job and decided to apply. The position was for a director, and I had all the qualifications except for one that they were asking for. Clearly, that didn’t matter because I was called for an interview earlier this week.
With the starting salary they were offering, I knew for a fact me and Gema would be alright.
Pulling up to the center, I took a quick glance around the neighborhood. While the area looked desolate, the building was extremely nice and looked to be kept up. Whoever the owner was had done a good job keeping it in pristine condition given its surroundings. After checking my reflection in the rearview mirror, I shut off my car, grabbed my briefcase and purse off the passenger seat, and headed for the front door.
“Talitha Howard, here to see Marsha Rapier,” I mentioned to the receptionist.
After checking the screen for my name, she issued me a name tag and directed me down the hall to a large conference room. On my trek through the building, I took in my surroundings and was thoroughly impressed. I could definitely see myself working here.
Coming upon the conference room, I peeked through the opened door and realized it was empty. I halfway expected someone to be sitting there waiting for me. Since there wasn’t, I took a seat and removed my resume from the folder inside my briefcase. My nerves were starting to take over. Hell, I hadn’t interviewed for a job of this caliber in over nine years. I had a lot to be scared about. However, I was secure in my work history and my willingness to learn and adapt to any environment. This job was mine, and I didn’t have a problem claiming it.
My interview with Marsha went exceptionally well. Honestly, it felt like two old friends catching up. The icing on the cake was when we both discovered that we had pledged the same sorority. Marsha was calm and inviting. She had taken me around the building and introduced me to the staff. Out of everyone I had met, Rossi was the one I was most smitten with. I learned if I was offered the position, he would be my right-hand man.
The minute he opened his mouth, I could tell he was gay, and I loved me a good Judy. I was sure if I got the job, he and I would make a great team. After touring the athletic portion of the building, Marsha and I were walking back toward the conference room.
“You have any questions for me, Talitha?”
“Just one. If for any reason you didn’t move forward with me, what would be the reason?” That question was one that I asked everyone I interviewed with. It gave the interviewer the chance to expound on your strengths and weaknesses.
For example, if she were to say I lacked knowledge in grant writing, that would make me take a course to learn that skill. At Youth Villages, I served as a liaison between residential staff and counselors, so I didn’t have to write any grants. I took every bit of constructive criticism well and used it to further develop my skills.
After a brief pause, Marsha turned to me and grabbed ahold of my elbow. Glancing hastily over her shoulder, she whispered, “If the decision were up to me, I would offer you the job on the spot. However, the final choice has to be run through the owner.”
My head leaned to the side so I could get a glance at whom she was referencing. When his eyes rolled up to meet mine, I swear it felt like a lump had suddenly formed in my throat. Not only was he handsome, but he looked intimidating as hell. The way his brows furrowed together as he stared at me had my palms feeling clammy.
“That’s Lawton Harvey, the owner.”
“Wow. He looks uh… scary,” I chuckled lowly.
“He’s harmless. I’m sure this is hard for him,” Marsha breathed out before strolling away.
Following behind her, I probed, “Hard for him how?”
“This job used to belong to his ex. We don’t know what happened between the two of them. All we know is he walked in one day and told us she resigned. Before then, we hardly ever saw him here and now, he makes it a point to stop by a few times a week.”
“Maybe her leaving is a good thing. Especially if it’s his company, and he was hardly here.”
Lifting a single shoulder, she shrugged. “Maybe, maybe not. I’m going to put your resume on the top of his stack.”
“Thank you, Marsha,” I sighed. “I would really love the opportunity to work here. I think what you guys are doing is great for not only the kids but the neighborhood. Lord knows we could use more doctors and lawyers and not Kia boys or the water boys.”
My saying that garnered a hearty laugh from Marsha. “Our kids are something else. Don’t get me wrong, they’re not perfect. We do have a few bad apples, but we strive to make a difference in each soul that walks through those doors.”
“Working at Youth Villages has me realizing we can’t save them all. I’ve never given up on a child and I don’t plan to start now. If I can make any little difference in their life, then I’ve done my job.”
“And that right there is why I feel like you’re the perfect candidate for the job. Give me until the end of business Friday. Whether we move forward or not, you’ll hear from me.”
Tipping my head, I smiled with my eyes. “Thank you again.”
“You’re welcome.”
After grabbing my things out of the conference room, I walked out of the building with my head held high. I was confident walking into the interview, but walking out, I had a different air around me. I had this thing in the bag and now all I had to do was wait for my official offer. Now that I had nailed my interview, the only thing on my heart was getting back home so I could take Gema out to dinner. I wanted to celebrate my new potential position with the number one lady in my life.
CHAPTER 1
Lawton
Snatching the cover down from my waist, I stood from the bed and stretched. The mattress in my condo didn’t hold a candle to the one at my estate. Making a mental note to order a new one, I walked toward the en-suite bathroom so I could handle my hygiene and get my day started. I had a few meetings lined up this afternoon, but a more pressing matter would have me shooting out of town before the sun could fully rise. After relieving my bladder, I started the shower and shed the silk pajama bottoms.
