Chapter One
It’s the Little Things
Chloe
“I never want to get out of this bed.”
“Same, but we have to. You’re already late. Your mother has called twice. And I told Crystal I’d definitely be there today.”
“Woman, sto p with all the logic and sense and let me look at you.”
Patrick rolled on top of me. The bed sheets tangled around our bodies were still warm and damp from our lovemaking. He brushed my hair away from my face with his hand and then tucked it behind my ear.
“How do you look so beautiful first thing in the morning?”
“One, it isn’t first thing in the morning. Two, I’m sure I look a hot ass mess.”
“You’ve got a hot ass, but look a mess? Never.” He reached down and cupped my right breast, slowly rubbing the nipple between his thumb and finger.
“Patrick, this is why you’re late. Stop it.”
“Your protest would be more convincing if you didn’t close your eyes and moan right after.”
He kissed me and pressed his body hard against mine. We were both going to be late.
***
Two hours later I was three train stops away from my uncle’s restaurant and Patrick was headed to his parent’s house. I had nothing to do with that. Patrick decided all on his own to spend as much time as he could with his parents because his mother was still struggling. Understandably, having her children around seemed to help. Even though I felt for her and her concerns about how our relationship would be received, I wasn’t willing to break up with Patrick to ease them.
I tried not to think about that as I walked the few blocks from the train station to the restaurant. I hadn’t seen my family since Christmas, and it was now February. Crystal wouldn’t tell me what was so important over the phone, just that she and Uncle Troy wanted to speak with me in person. The restaurant was about half full when I entered. Home Sweet Home offered a weekend special brunch and, even though it was Saturday, they saw more business on Sundays when the after-church crowd hit. Crystal and Uncle Troy were seated at a booth near the kitchen. I made my way over and slid into the booth across from them.
We exchanged pleasantries, but I was dying to get down to business. My curiosity had me bouncing out the booth. Uncle Troy took a deep breath before speaking.
“I’m finally retiring,” he said. I thought I sensed a bit of uncertainty.
“He’s sure. This isn’t a joke and I didn’t put him up to it.” Crystal placed a hand on his arm and he patted it then nodded.
“No, it’s not a joke. Yes, I’m sure, but I wouldn’t go so far as to say you didn’t put me up to it.” Uncle Troy chuckled and Crystal rolled her eyes. “In all seriousness, Chloe, it’s what I want. I want to be here for as long as I can to see my granddaughter grow up, and that means taking it easy. Besides, now that somebody’s back, I gotta make sure I’m here to keep an eye on him as well.”
Crystal shook her head but didn’t argue. We accepted that she and Jermaine were a couple again, but we didn’t have to like it.
“Well, I can’t say that I’m surprised,” I said. I wasn’t convinced that Crystal could get him to agree to retirement quickly, but I knew she’d eventually do it. At the end of the day, she had her daddy wrapped around her little finger. “I take it you’re going to run the restaurant?”
Crystal nodded. “I am, but we’ll be making a few changes and that’s why we wanted you here today.” She looked over my shoulder towards the front of the restaurant and smiled. She raised a hand to signal someone over. I turned to see who it was and watched as a tall black man wearing a black coat over dark grey suit approached. Uncle Troy stood to shake his hand.
“Michael, thanks for coming. You know Crystal. This is my niece, Chloe. Chloe, this is Michael Dixon.”
We shook his hands and I scooted over so
It’s the Little Things
Chloe
“I never want to get out of this bed.”
“Same, but we have to. You’re already late. Your mother has called twice. And I told Crystal I’d definitely be there today.”
“Woman, sto p with all the logic and sense and let me look at you.”
Patrick rolled on top of me. The bed sheets tangled around our bodies were still warm and damp from our lovemaking. He brushed my hair away from my face with his hand and then tucked it behind my ear.
“How do you look so beautiful first thing in the morning?”
“One, it isn’t first thing in the morning. Two, I’m sure I look a hot ass mess.”
“You’ve got a hot ass, but look a mess? Never.” He reached down and cupped my right breast, slowly rubbing the nipple between his thumb and finger.
“Patrick, this is why you’re late. Stop it.”
“Your protest would be more convincing if you didn’t close your eyes and moan right after.”
He kissed me and pressed his body hard against mine. We were both going to be late.
***
Two hours later I was three train stops away from my uncle’s restaurant and Patrick was headed to his parent’s house. I had nothing to do with that. Patrick decided all on his own to spend as much time as he could with his parents because his mother was still struggling. Understandably, having her children around seemed to help. Even though I felt for her and her concerns about how our relationship would be received, I wasn’t willing to break up with Patrick to ease them.
I tried not to think about that as I walked the few blocks from the train station to the restaurant. I hadn’t seen my family since Christmas, and it was now February. Crystal wouldn’t tell me what was so important over the phone, just that she and Uncle Troy wanted to speak with me in person. The restaurant was about half full when I entered. Home Sweet Home offered a weekend special brunch and, even though it was Saturday, they saw more business on Sundays when the after-church crowd hit. Crystal and Uncle Troy were seated at a booth near the kitchen. I made my way over and slid into the booth across from them.
We exchanged pleasantries, but I was dying to get down to business. My curiosity had me bouncing out the booth. Uncle Troy took a deep breath before speaking.
“I’m finally retiring,” he said. I thought I sensed a bit of uncertainty.
“He’s sure. This isn’t a joke and I didn’t put him up to it.” Crystal placed a hand on his arm and he patted it then nodded.
“No, it’s not a joke. Yes, I’m sure, but I wouldn’t go so far as to say you didn’t put me up to it.” Uncle Troy chuckled and Crystal rolled her eyes. “In all seriousness, Chloe, it’s what I want. I want to be here for as long as I can to see my granddaughter grow up, and that means taking it easy. Besides, now that somebody’s back, I gotta make sure I’m here to keep an eye on him as well.”
Crystal shook her head but didn’t argue. We accepted that she and Jermaine were a couple again, but we didn’t have to like it.
“Well, I can’t say that I’m surprised,” I said. I wasn’t convinced that Crystal could get him to agree to retirement quickly, but I knew she’d eventually do it. At the end of the day, she had her daddy wrapped around her little finger. “I take it you’re going to run the restaurant?”
Crystal nodded. “I am, but we’ll be making a few changes and that’s why we wanted you here today.” She looked over my shoulder towards the front of the restaurant and smiled. She raised a hand to signal someone over. I turned to see who it was and watched as a tall black man wearing a black coat over dark grey suit approached. Uncle Troy stood to shake his hand.
“Michael, thanks for coming. You know Crystal. This is my niece, Chloe. Chloe, this is Michael Dixon.”
We shook his hands and I scooted over so
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