Back to Me (25 page)

“Wow!”

“OMG! We're right on the beach!”

“This is incredible.”

Paige's chest swelled with pride as she listened to the girls' approval as they rode the elevator to the second level of the beachfront restaurant. Due to the incredible response, the entire upper level had been reserved for the newly formed nonprofit organization Divas with a Purpose. Paige's vision for the organization extended beyond a high school business and entrepreneurship class. Her goals included mentoring at-risk young ladies in business and in life skills and community outreach. She wanted to go beyond college preparedness and offer the girls financial assistance to further their education. Each year the organization would select seven young ladies and train them in everything from personal hygiene to public speaking and career planning.

“Look at that!” one the girls exclaimed, pointing at the banner hanging over the sign-in table. “That has our name on it.”

While the ladies admired the logo that Paige's brother had created, Paige checked in at the contribution table. She reached into Sergio-Xavier's jacket again for his handkerchief when Teresa showed her the check from the Simone Family Community Fund and Beverly Stokes announced the total sum she'd collected from the superior court judges. As Paige was standing there, people, some of whom she'd never seen before, stopped at the table and placed checks in the contribution box.

Sergio-Xavier rubbed her back. “Come on, sweetheart. Let's look around.”

The ladies accosted Paige before she took a single step. “Ms. Paige, what's going on?” one of them asked. “Why are you crying? Is something wrong?”

“Everything is perfect,” Paige told them, then wiped her face and interlocked her arms with two of the girls. “Come on. I have a surprise for you.”

Paige entered the banquet room and stood there in complete awe. Reyna and Marlissa had done an outstanding job of decorating the room in vibrant colors that matched the printed programs on the tables. The banner hanging above the head table read
DWAP FIRST ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIP BANQUET.
The room was filled nearly to capacity with agents from her office. Both Kevin and Tyson had filled tables with people from the hospital and Tyson's law practice. Pastor Drake and Restoration Ministries occupied two tables, and Pastors Reggie and Julia from Sergio-Xavier's church had filled two more tables. Members of the Simone family took up at least four tables. Paige's musical idol, Marcus, had even brought his family out for the occasion.

Paige walked past the “prestigious” people and the live band and continued on to the most important tables in the room.

“Ms. Paige, what are all these people doing here?” Jasmine asked as she and the other girls followed closely behind. “Who are these people?”

Paige stopped in her tracks. “They're here because they're investing in your future,” Paige answered, knowing the girls wouldn't understand. Then she continued on. She heard a loud collective gasp behind her when she finally arrived at the most important tables.

“Mama, what are you doing here?” one of the girls asked.

“Grandma, is that you?” another asked.

“How did my brother get here?” Jasmine wanted to know.

“Daddy?”

Paige stood back and watched each diva's reaction to seeing her parent or guardian and family members seated near the head table. She'd assigned Mother Scott and First Lady Drake the task of going out onto the highway and into the hedges to compel the families to come. Paige could only imagine what the prayer warriors had done and said to get the families on the bus the church had sent for them. It didn't matter to Paige that they wore jeans and miniskirts, had tattoos and body piercings, and smelled like smoke. The important thing was that they were there to support their children.

After hugs, kisses, and a few tears, Paige shook hands with everyone and personally thanked them for coming. She paused at the end of the table and gave Mother Scott and First Lady Drake a high five. The prayer warriors had the Bible open and a bottle of anointing oil on the table.

“So, my baby is really going to college?” a mother asked.

“Of course,” Paige answered and hastily excused herself. It wasn't time for that yet. “Come on, ladies. There are some people you need to meet.”

Strategically, Paige led the girls around the room, introducing them to major contributors and then community leaders, and finally, to her parents and some of the people from her church. Paige was impressed with how well the ladies followed her lead and greeted everyone and held eye contact.

“Ms. Paige,” Jasmine asked, once they were heading to their seats, “how did you get all these people to come out for us? I mean, the way people are smiling and taking pictures, it's like we're celebrities.”

“Welcome to the life of a true diva,” Paige teased. “Now, have a seat, and I'll be right back.” Paige didn't consider herself a groupie, but her favorite artist was in the building, and he was a contributor. It would be rude for her not to thank him personally and ask for a photo. She beckoned the photographer and made a beeline to Marcus's table.

“How's your ankle holding up?” Sergio-Xavier had snuck up from behind while she was telling Marcus how much she enjoyed his music.

“Fine, and you're jealous,” she answered back, only to have the two cousins double-team her.

“My little cousin has nothing to be jealous of, seeing how he and Lizzie had you sliding all over the floor,” Marcus teased.

“Babe, make sure you hold on to your seat tonight,” Sergio-Xavier added. “I wouldn't want you to reinjure that ankle.”

Paige pouted and looked to Shannon for help.

“Sorry. I can't help you. Everyone in this family is fair game,” Shannon explained.

Paige realized then Sergio-Xavier's arms were resting around her waist. He was making a public statement that she was his. “Come on. It's time you met my parents,” she told him. She stepped away, but he didn't budge.

“I already did. In fact, your dad and I played golf together three days ago.”

Paige's jaw dropped at the exact second Reyna announced that it was time for the program to begin.

 

 

Paige barely touched the four-course meal. Between the butterflies floating around inside her stomach and the incessant questions from the ladies about why their pictures, along with brief bios, were printed in the program, she couldn't eat. Sergio-Xavier's fingertips stroking her calf underneath the table didn't help, either.

Paige uncrossed her legs and, ignoring Sergio-Xavier's protest, reviewed her speech for the umpteenth time.

“Are you nervous?” Sergio-Xavier directed the question to Paige, but the ladies were so tuned in to their mentor, they became part of the conversation.

A chorus of “Yes,” and “Of course” floated around the table.

“I'm
so
nervous,” Jasmine said, weighing in. “When the waiter offered me a shrimp cocktail, I said, ‘No thank you. I'm too young to drink.'”

“And I ate my salad with the dinner fork,” another girl added. “Now I don't know what to do.”

“Stop fretting,” Paige said between giggles. “You're doing fine, but I would advise you to have some tissues on hand for later.” She took a sip of water without explaining and resumed reading her speech.

Reyna returned to the microphone and announced that it was time for some entertainment.

“That's my cue! Hold on to your seat, sweetheart.” Sergio-Xavier pointed at the ladies. “One of you might need to sit in her lap to keep her from falling off her seat.” He winked, and Paige rolled her eyes at him as he walked away.

“What's Dr. Simone talking about?” one of the girls asked, and then they all laughed in Paige's face once she told them about Lizzie and the floor. The laughter stopped once Sergio-Xavier began playing Lizzie with precision. By the time he finished “The Greatest Love of All,” Paige and the divas were leaning to one side.

Tara recited the spoken word, and representatives from the community gave congratulatory remarks and well wishes to Paige and the DWAP board. When Beverly Stokes introduced Paige to make the presentations, Paige changed the setup at the last minute. Instead of standing at the podium alone, she brought the divas onto the raised platform with her. Ignoring their nervous comments, Paige positioned them on both sides and stood in the middle, at the mounted microphone.

She reached over and handed Sergio-Xavier her index cards, deciding to speak from the heart. “Before I present to them what they believe is a simple recognition certificate for their successful completion of the junior entrepreneur program . . . ,” Paige said, then stopped and chuckled along with the audience. A moment later she continued. “There's something I'd like to say about these awesome young ladies you've so generously invested in.”

Paige took a deep breath and then let the words flow. “When I first met you seven young ladies, honestly, I didn't like you. I had a misconception about what a diva is. I thought the term meant a sassy mouth, disrespectful, loud hair, long nails, spiked heels, tacky clothes, and an attitude of entitlement. For a long time I didn't allow myself to see you in any other light. I am ashamed to say, I didn't envision much of a future for you. I expected you to become another statistic. Your disposition made you difficult to handle, so I basically ignored you and went down the path of least resistance. For that I am so sorry.” Paige's heart ached at the disappointment on their faces, but she wanted them to get the complete picture.

“Somehow, while riding on my high horse with my head in the clouds, things changed. I ceased being the mentor and became the mentee. I was no longer the instructor, but a student. I learned more from you than I was capable of teaching. Sure, I can teach you about numbers and balancing books, but the seven of you taught me about purpose—my purpose.

“From you I learned that a true diva is not just a mere woman who looks good on the outside, but a woman who is true to herself on the inside. She's a woman who may not have the best of everything but always makes the best of every situation. She doesn't lament that she doesn't have something, but multiplies what she's given and shares with others. She takes the lead and makes things happen, instead of waiting for a handout. A diva is that ride-or-die chick who will not hesitate to break rules and will go looking for a friend who's missing in action. Most importantly, a diva is not ashamed or afraid to ask for help, and she admits when she doesn't have it all together.”

Paige paused and placed her arms on the shoulders of the two girls closest to her. “I'm almost twice your age, but I learned all that from you seven beautiful young ladies. Through you, I have learned my purpose, which is to mentor genuinely and to nurture more ladies like you. I have also rediscovered who I am. The first day we met was the beginning of my journey of finding my way back to me. For that, you're my hero.”

Paige nodded toward the band, and piano notes filled the air. She proceeded to serenade the divas from her heart with Mariah Carey's “Hero.” At the conclusion of the song, Paige didn't see the standing ovation she received. The divas nearly toppled her in a group hug. Sergio-Xavier had to brace her from behind to keep her from falling.

The divas were still shedding tears when Paige announced their names one by one and presented them each with a plaque and a certificate from DWAP for a full scholarship to the college or higher-learning institution of their choice. When she finished, Paige sat down before the girls could topple her. Sergio-Xavier's arms were no match for the stampede of hugs and kisses from the divas and their family members.

The scene left Paige both emotionally and physically spent, and she had to step outside on the balcony for some air. She smelled Sergio-Xavier's scent before she felt his arms around her waist.

“Since tonight is all about the divas, I won't propose formally to you this evening.” He kissed her exposed neck. “Let this serve as an official notice that your days of being Ms. McDaniels are numbered.”

“Oh, really?” She leaned to give him better access.

“Really. It'll take my contractor ten months to build the house.”

She turned around, filled with a sense of naughtiness. “You know,” she said, fingering his lips, “it's not like we're homeless. I mean, we don't have to wait for the house to have a place to live. I have a house. You have a loft.”

He smiled that wicked grin she loved. “We don't have to have a big wedding, unless you want one.”

“I hear small weddings and big receptions later are in.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

“There's only one major problem with this plan. Who's going to tell our mothers?”

“Oh yeah,” Paige said, pouting, and then thought for a moment. Her mother would kill her if she eloped, and she was sure Teresa wanted a big wedding. “Let's send them a text on the way to the airport.”

Hearty laughter erupted from Sergio-Xavier before he cupped her face and kissed her. “I love you, and I'm very proud of you. Now, let's go make some babies before all your eggs dry up.”

She slapped his arm. “That's why I don't like you. Your mouth is always ruining the moment.”

“If you'd been kissing me, my mouth would have been too occupied to ruin the moment.”

Instead of a devising a comeback, Paige accepted the dose of her own medicine and gave the doctor what he wanted.