A Constant Reminder (23 page)

Did she? “One day. Not like tomorrow but yeah one day.” Roxanne took in a silent breath. Why had this conversation moved into a serious realm so quick and fast?

“I can understand that.”

Roxanne and Adam’s eyes wandered off to the children playing alongside the huge tree in the backyard. It seemed Roxanne’s declaration shut Adam up. Maybe she said too much but there was no way she was going to lie about it. Their relationship came with the freedom of speech and the freedom of expression.

They sat in silence and after a few minutes the picnic table was filled with family. Daniel had finished preparing all the food. It was chow time. Adam was seated next to Roxanne. He hadn’t left her side practically at all. That’s since they arrived.

Daniel and his wife Melanie were seated on the opposite side of the table with Uncle Bob. Melanie’s sister was on the other end.

Daniel’s co-worker and his wife were seated next to Roxanne. Everyone had stuffed their faces and the topic soon turned from current events to the very thing Adam and Roxanne had been discussing earlier.

“So what are you two having, a boy or a girl?” Uncle Bob asked Daniel.

“We don’t want to know.” Daniel answered.

“We want it to be a surprise.” Melanie offered. She pushed a large spoonful of potato salad into her mouth. Roxanne noticed how much she ate and remembered when she was pregnant she barely ate anything at all.

“Jesus Mel slow down.” Adam barked across the table and laughed out loud. He was so in tune with Roxanne. She had noticed Melanie stuffing her mouth also.

“Shut up.” Daniel chimed in. “She’s eating for two.”

Daniel raised his plastic cup to his wife’s mouth. “Here honey, have a drink to wash it down.” Melanie drank from the cup. “My fetus is thirsty.”

“I’m twenty-five weeks. It’s no longer a fetus. It’s a baby hon.”

Aunt Ilene had her nose turned up for some reason. “In my day we didn’t discuss such things in public and definitely not at the dinner table.”

“When we that? 2000 B.C.” Adam whispered for Roxanne’s ears only. She successfully held in her laughter.

“These young people grew up on that there MTV and they just say whatever the hell comes to mind.” Aunt Ilene added when no one backed up her statement.

“I’m sorry Aunt Ilene.” Daniel said. “You’re right. We should be more respectful.” Aunt Ilene exchanged smiles with Daniel. She liked him better than Adam. Daniel was a peacemaker whereas Adam was a shit-starter, in her opinion.

Adam couldn’t help himself. “I for one did not think anyone would get heated over a fetus. It’s not like we were talking about oral sex.”

Outraged, Aunt Ilene spilled her drink on the table and unto her lap. She immediately stood and tried to dry the spill with a paper napkin.

Aunt Ilene glared across the table at Adam. “You are a disgusting delinquent Adam Winchester Hardwick.

Everyone at the table tried to hold in their burgeoning laughter. Aunt Ilene stormed away from the table with Uncle Bob a few paces behind her.

Adam was happy his mother wasn’t there to witness his antics. He honestly didn’t think she would have cared. She had changed a lot since he got out of prison. She was more laid back now. He believed she had been dating a widower from her church but he would never dare bring his suspicions up.

She was allowed to date. His father had died almost ten years ago. He wanted happiness for her. He had found it with Roxanne and he wished the same for her.

Roxanne and Melanie had gotten into a deep conversation about female things that didn’t concern him. He heard something about purses and shoes and decided to stop paying attention.

Daniel had vacated the table a long time ago and it was time for him to follow suit. He walked away from Roxanne and Melanie. He passed a nearby table where Daniel was assisting their mother as she covered leftover dishes of food with their lids.

Adam walked up the stairs and unto the porch area. He stood and looked out to his family and friends. It felt good to be here. He felt a little choked up when he thought about how far he had come from his drug addicted days and his lonely days locked away from civilization.

“Hey! Hey! Attention!” He yelled across the backyard. His voice was deep enough to call almost everyone to attention, everyone but the children that were playing on the outskirts of the yard.

Adam raised his voice and waved his hands above his head to attract more people.

“Hey I got something to say!”

Jane halted in her tracks with a bowl of French rolls in her hands. Soon everyone had gathered at the bottom of the stairs. Adam stood at the top looking down on them.

Adam smiled at the mass of family and friends. “I want to thank everybody for coming to my mother’s barbecue. Thanks mother so much. You are the perfect hostess.” There was a smattering of claps. “It was my idea to bring everybody together because I wanted to publicly declare my love for my girlfriend Roxanne Potts.” Adam extended his hand in Roxanne’s direction. “And hopefully change the title girlfriend, to fiancée.”

Adam dug deep into his front blue jean pocket and produced a black velvet ring box. “Roxanne come on up here.” Adam waved Roxanne toward him.

Roxanne heard her name. She had it a few times but it took a few seconds for her to comprehend. She moved to join Adam. But what was happening hadn’t really registered with her. She followed Adam’s lead all the time so when he said
come here
. She just did it, no questions asked.

He never abused the power he had over her. So she did what he commanded. This time was no different. She slowly moved up the stairs and it didn’t hit her until her eyes actually focused in on the black velvet box.

She reached the top of the porch steps and stood beside Adam. She blinked a few times and she examined him. She smiled to hide her awkwardness.

One second she was looking up into his blue gray eyes. The next he just drifted down to one knee. Her eyes followed his gracious movements. She felt hot, sweaty and a fleet of butterflies in her stomach. She wasn’t much for crowds and attention. At this moment all the attention was directed on her.

It wasn’t because she was the only black person there. It was because something magical was happening. She looked out at the crowd and remembered there was another black person at the barbecue. He worked with Adam’s brother. She smiled inside at the silly thought.

Roxanne spotted Daniel’s brother in the crowd recording her with his camera phone.

She looked back down at Adam on one knee. Her right hand quickly shot up to cover her mouth. The velvet box was now open.

“Roxanne Yvette Potts, will you marry me?”

Roxanne looked into the black velvet box, at the five-karat marquise diamond engagement ring with platinum band. Adam raised the box closer to her face. She looked around at the faces of the guests. She was somewhat embarrassed.

“Hey Roxy.” Adam bellowed and snapped her back to him, the ring and the proposal. “Roxy, this is a pretty nice ring.” Adam winked.

“Oh Adam.” Roxanne gushed and she wasn’t sure what words had come from her lips.

Adam rose to his feet. “Does that mean yes?” Adam raised one eyebrow.

“Yes, yes.” Roxanne mumbled.

“She said yes.” Adam thrust his fist in the air. He quickly placed the ring on her finger. Things were happening so fast that Roxanne didn’t have time to process them.

Everyone in attendance clapped his or her hands. Even the children had taken notice and joined the celebration.

“Congratulations bro!” Daniel yelled over the clapping.

Roxanne and Adam gave each other a big hug. Roxanne buried her face in Adam’s rock hard chest and soaked up his manly scent.

She pulled away to kiss him. They had become so in tune with each other that he knew exactly when she wanted to be kissed. She also knew exactly when he wanted the same. Adam planted a tender kiss on her lips and she closed her eyes. She giggled when he pulled away. He was holding her hand.

Roxanne looked at into his eyes. “We’re getting married.”

“We are.”

“I will love you forever. I promise.” Adam whispered in her ear.

“I love you.” Roxanne placed her fingertips on his chest.

This was turning into one of the best days of Roxanne’s life. She had spent the entire day at Adam’s mother’s place. Adam had this bright idea about the men playing football out back and that idea was soon seconded by every able bodied man in attendance.

The men took over the back yard and the woman all moved to the side of the house. The land was so vast that the women were out of the men’s way in their occupied space.

Roxanne sat at a table with Melanie and Jane Hardwick. Melanie’s younger sister had disappeared. Roxanne couldn’t remember her name. She wondered why she should remember it. Then she realized that she had once dated Adam. Her name was Amy. Roxanne wondered if Adam had slept with her but decided not to ask him. Did it really matter now? She was going to be his wife.

“You ladies have just taken both my sons away from me. I’m about to be a grandmother. I feel much too young to be a grandmother.” Jane looked over at Melanie’s swollen belly.

Melanie peered over at Roxanne. Roxanne knew better than to address the comment Jane mentioned. She wasn’t thinking of having any children just yet.

“Look at it this way. You gained two daughters.” Melanie chimed.

“Of course darling, I do.” Jane took a delicate sip from her teacup. “I’m just so happy for Adam and Roxanne. I have to say I was a pleasantly surprised. He didn’t even tell me his plans. I’m his mother. Can you believe it?”

“I thought you knew.” Roxanne said just to not feel like a mute mannequin.

“No, no. I guess he doesn’t tell me everything. Roxanne dear let me see the ring.” Jane ordered more than asked.

Roxanne lifted her hand. She watched as Jane took it. Roxanne’s heart rate had calmed down since the proposal. Her hands were no longer cold and clammy. Jane leaned in and examined the ring.

“Oh it’s just completely adorable.” Jane noted while Melanie looked on.

“Yes Roxanne it’s really nice.” Melanie added.

“Thank you.”

“I have two daughters-in-law and I’m a step-grandmother and a soon-to-be grandmother. Everything is happening so fast.” Jane said and Roxanne wasn’t sure if that was a dig at her. “Roxanne have you started to plan the wedding?”

Roxanne squinted her eyes. “No I was shocked when Adam asked me. We never really discussed getting engaged so soon.” They hadn’t discussed marriage until that day. There was no way Roxanne would tell Jane or Melanie that little fact. It would make this seem trivial or like it was done on a whim.

“I guess in your case you didn’t have to. When you love someone that’s all that matters.” Jane stated but Roxanne took it as if she was asking if she loved her son.

“I love Adam.” For some reason unbeknownst to her, Roxanne wanted to make it clear that she loved Adam. Maybe Jane worried that Roxanne was with him for his money but that was far from the truth. She loved him when she thought he was just a guy that changed oil.

Morgan suddenly came skipping toward them. A little redhead boy was chasing her. Morgan was running slowly with a fancy plastic cup in her hand. She ran right up to Roxanne.

Morgan tripped and fumbled on a small patch of raised grass. Morgan spilled the red watery drink all over Roxanne’s white shirt.

“Momma I’m sorry.”

Roxanne grabbed a napkin off the table and began to dab the large stain.

“I told you not to run around with food in your hands.” She calmly scolded.

“I’m sorry. It was an accident.”

“It’s okay. You kids go play.” Jane dismissed them with a wave of her wrist. She had that ability.

Morgan and the little red head boy turned on their small heels and ran away.

“Hey leave the cup on the table.” Roxanne called out to Morgan.

Morgan returned to the table with the cup in hand. She placed the cup on the table and ran off with the little boy.

“You’re just too wet. I could give you a shirt to wear.”

“Oh no thanks. I’m okay, really.”

“Roxanne please you’re soaking wet. Adam still has clothes in his old room upstairs. Go get a T-shirt or something. I would go up but my feet are killing me. Why did I give Maria the day off?” Jane giggled. Roxanne assumed Maria was the maid.

“It’s really not a big deal.”

“You’re family now. Go on into the house and get something to wear.

“Okay. Which one is Adam’s room?”

“Just go upstairs, turn right. It’s three doors down. He has a hideous sign on his door. You will know it when you see it. His dresser drawers are bare but I’m sure there’s something in the closet you can change into.”

Roxanne stood up on her feet. She headed toward the house. She noticed Adam laughing and joking with his brother, some cousins and Uncle Bob in the backyard.

Roxanne trekked up the porch stairs. She walked through the French doors that led to the kitchen. She walked through the dining room to the front of the house.