Evidence of Desire: Hero Series 3 (9 page)

“Hi, Ms. Henry. Parker here. I’m just checking to make sure everything is still a go.”

“Every thing’s all set, Dr. Hayden. The event block covered it. You should not be disturbed.”

“You’re a peach. I owe you.” He reached for the bag.

“Well, Christmas when comes around I like chocolate…all kinds of chocolate.”

He chuckled. Ms. Henry was in her late sixties. He didn’t have any concerns that she was flirting with him. “I’ll get you the biggest box I can find.”

“I’ll be keeping an eye out for it too.”

“Good. I’ll be around shortly.” After he hung up, he wrote a short note to himself to order candy and flowers for Ms. Henry when he got back to his office. The woman had truly helped him out and he wanted to show his appreciation to her.

With the bag in hand he left his office. He found Glen before the fossils case. Forensic Entomology was his friend’s specialty. It was the reason Parker brought him on to work this exhibit with him. No one knew dead insects like Glen Hammond.

“I’ll be at lunch if anyone is looking for me.” Parker paused beside his friend and science colleague.

Distracted, Glen glanced in his direction, seeming to take about a full minute to process what Parker was saying to him. “Ok. Gotcha. Lunch.”

Parker smiled and walked away. He understood the way Glen’s mind worked, because it was the way his own ticked. It didn’t take but an insect crawling across a floor and he’d become observed. Analyzing, figuring it out.

Only difference between him and his friend was that Parker loved one thing more than the study of spiders…Sonya. It had taken him a few years to get his head out of his work to understand he lost the most precious thing of all, but he was back on track.

“No if I can just convince her to let me back into her heart again.”

When he exited the double glass door that led to the garden area that was heavily used in the spring for weddings and other celebrations, he inhaled a deep breath of fresh air. The day was perfect. Charlotte was having a mild winter this year and today was an example of the great weather, at six-nine degrees. There was a crispness to the air, but the sun was high in a cloudless sky making it warm enough to just need their blazers for comfort.

Moving along the path toward the gazebo area, he saw the sign at the start of the well-trimmed hedges with a posting on it that read CLOSED FOR PRIVATE EVENT. Continuing on, he spotted the small round table set up with two chairs and a small round vase filled with short stemmed pink lilies.

Ms. Henry’s candy box just got bigger.

At the table he pulled out the food and water bottles. Nothing fancy, just sandwiches and fruit. It was a lot of times how they spent their nights when they were both home.

“Parker? Are you around here?”

Turning at the sound of Sonya’s voice, he went back down the path. The hedges were set up that anyone just happening buy couldn’t see what was going on around the gazebo, for more privacy.

“Hi, beautiful.” That word didn’t seem like enough to describe her standing there in the winter garden with the sun causing the reddish tones in her brown hair to halo her lovely face.

She had strict features. Her body, encased in the suit made the plain uniform look good. High full breasts, narrow waist and rounded hips. His mind reminded him that he knew what she looked like beneath those clothes. Well, he used to. She’d filled out with maturity in all the places. His body heated with image of him peeling off each layer and discovering her womanly body all over again.

One. Two. Three cleansing breaths had his body calmed before his pants started to show the evidence of his response to her.

“What going on?” She pointed to the sign before her.

“Nothing,” his voice was still rough from his wayward thoughts. He cleared it. “I just wanted to make sure we could relax and not be disturbed by visitors touring the gardens.”

He held a hand out to her.

She eyed him for a moment, as if she was trying to determine if he was up to something. Nodding, she moved around the sign. “Okay.”

Their touch sent sparks of electricity up his arm when she placed her hand into his. Trust.

Walking back along the large flat stones, he led her to the table.

“Oh, that’s pretty.” She took a moment to look around at all the winter flowers and thick greenery. “I don’t come back here enough.”

“Time can get away from us when we’re trapped inside walls working all day.” He pulled her chair out.

“So, true.” She settled into the chair. “I don’t know the last time I even walked the entire museum.”

“One day we will have to remedy that and take a stroll through the whole museum.” He sat across from her.

She scrunched her nose up.

“Okay, maybe not the whole place.” He chuckled. “We can skip my section.”

“Sorry.” She actual lowered her head a little and appeared contrite.

His heart swelled even more for her. He understood her fear of spiders. Knew of her childhood, but the fact that she would feel even a little bit sorry that she couldn’t visually appreciate his work moved him.

Reaching his hand out, he covered hers as she grasped her napkin. “It’s alright, Sonya. I understand.”

“Thanks.” She didn’t immediately pull away from him, instead offered him a small smile as they sat there for a moment.

He let her go.

“What’s in the container?” She tapped the top before placing her napkin in her lap.

“Open it and see.”

Leaning forward she sniffed at it first, trying to pick up a scent.

Laughing, he shook his head. “You never change. Do you still shake and weigh gifts before you open them.”

“Maybe.” Her cheeks tinted pink. Lifting the white styrofoam lid she peered inside. “Sandwiches and fruit.” She peeled back the top dark slice of bread and her eyes light up as she stared at him.

“Smoked turkey and honeyed ham with sweet Dijon mustard on pumpernickel. No lettuce, no tomatoes and no cheese.”

“I shouldn’t be surprised that you remembered.” She pulled off a plump green grape and tossed it into her mouth.

“Well, you ate it every Monday night for dinner when we married. It is ingrained in my brain.” He touched his temple.

She shook her head. “That’s not just it. I saw the folder.”

He stared into her clear hazel eyes. They were giving nothing away. Picking up a half of his ham and cheese, he held it. “My sister came down some weeks ago and helped me unpack. We came across it and I thought you’d get a kick out of seeing it.”

“Seeing where we started.”

Silent for a moment, he watched her.

A bird chirped from inside one of the bushes another tweeted back.

“Right now, I don’t want anything but for you to enjoy this beautiful day and your moment in the sun. Your patience was tested and you’ve earned it.” He meant that both figuratively and literally.

“It sure was. I’d about given up hope.”

“I’m glad Kravers finally worked it out.”

They prayed and began eating. He listened attentively as she talked about the various artifacts she had top on her list to bring to the museum. Her face was radiant and joy danced in her eyes as she described the uniqueness of a collection of tribal sculpture.

“Enough about my work. I could go on for days as you know.” She wiped her fingers then the corners of her mouth.

“You’re telling me,” he joked followed by a loud exhale.

She chucked her balled up napkin at him.

He caught it and winked at her.

“How’s Jessie the angel?”

“Angel. We must be talking about someone other than my sister.”

“Oh, no. If you said your sister came to see you only a few weeks ago and helped you unpack and you’ve been here for months.” She shook her head. “That means you were living out of boxes.”

“Et tu Brute?” He rolled his eyes.

She laughed. “Yes, me. I think you still owe me for unpacking our little apartment in California.”

“I’ll pay whatever the cost.” Pulling out a tulip from the centerpiece he passed it to her. “I loved that apartment.”

That wasn’t what he wanted to say. He wanted to tell her that he loved her, still. However, he didn’t think she was ready for those words. Earlier he had spoken to her about patience and he needed to preach the same thing to himself.

Her fingers brushed his, when she slipped the flower from hold. “It wasn’t great. But, it was good for a time.” She sniffed the bud as she stared off toward the garden of the colorful winter flowers.

Beyond the field of well-tended flowers was the south lawn. He could imagine it full in the spring and summer with people having picnics and reading beneath some of the big trees.

“I should get back.” Not waiting for him to assist her, she stood. She started collecting the food containers.

“Leave them. I’ll take care of it.” He rose then stepped toward her. “Thank you.”

“You deserve the thanks, you bought it. Set all this up.” She gestured toward the table arrangement.

“I would have been sitting here staring at the bushes if not for the great company.”

“Probably.” She offered him a shy smile. “Well, I have a lot waiting for me.”

Taking her by the hips, he kept her in place. “Wait, Sonya. I know all of this still maybe too soon for you. I respect that, but I want to spend more time with you.”

“Parker.” She placed her hands on his chest.

Unsure if she was going to push him away or not, he held tighter. “I’m just asking for time with you. Not a commitment. We had something special once.”

Her fingers flexed against him.

His muscles tightened beneath her touch.

“Okay. But, it can’t be the next week.”

“No problem. Your plate is full with the exhibit. I understand that. Thursday is Thanksgiving. Please tell me you have plans.”

“I have plans.”

“Sonya?” He drew her closer. They still weren’t touching but he could feel the heat of her body.

She met his gaze. “I’m being honest. I’m going to spend it with Charmagne and her family in Baltimore.”

“Good. Tell her I said hi.” He didn’t trust that she would hide in her office working for the holiday. “I’ll be in Ellicott City with my family. You want to ride? I could drop you off on my way to Maryland.”

“No. I have plane tickets. DC holiday or summer traffic and I don’t get along.”

“It is a beast.” Lifting a hand he brushed the side of her face with his knuckles. She stood before him the tip of her nose and her cheeks of her pale brown skin slightly reddened from the light wind. “I’m going to kiss you.”

When her gaze lowered to his mouth, it was all the invitation he needed. He angled his head and placed his lips against her.

He expected resistance, but she leaned into him.

A groan clawed up the back of his throat, as he held onto his sanity. He could give into the passion roaring inside of him. They were at work. This wasn’t the time or place. When he unleashed his desire for her he didn’t want there to be any chance of them being interrupted. Besides, he wanted her to know she could trust him.

As he pulled back, her lips followed for a moment before they parted.

He smiled and stepped away.

She opened her eyes and looked at him. They were clouded with need.

When she licked her lips, his body tightened.

“I should go.” She blinked, exhaled then turned and headed toward the path.

“Why should she think it devil's art, that all my songs should be, of love and lovers, broken heart, and wild sweet agony?”

“Fruit of the Flower by Countee Cullen.” She turned and stared back at him over her shoulder. “When did you become a poet, Parker?”

“I’m not. I took some wise advice from a persistent woman.”

“Good advice.” With that she was gone.

Parker took a moment and glanced up at the blue sky again, inhaling the clean air that held a hint of Sonya’s scent still. It indeed had been the perfect day for an outside lunch.

“Now that I’ve see it with my own eyes, I can believe you’re pregnant.” Sonya stepped back from hugging Charmagne holding best friend’s hands away from her body so she could see her round belly.

“Believe it.” Charmagne laughed. “I am lugging all of this around for a few more months.”

Releasing her friend’s hands, she placed her hand over friend’s distended stomach. “Wow. At only four and a half months, you’ve really popped out.” Sonya was amazed at the transformation of her friend’s body. She looked more like six months in size.

“I know.” Charmagne cut her eyes toward her husband who was standing beside her looking proud.

Charles chest was swelled so high he looked as if he was going to beat on it any moment to declare his manhood.

Men. Sonya thought. They get to participate in the fun of creating a child but none of the malformation of the body.

“What going on?” She asked looking at the husband and wife who were having some sort of secret conversation with their eyes.

“Tell her, sweetheart.” Charles placed his hand on the small of his wife’s back.

A wide smile stretched across Charmagne’s face as she looked back at her. “We found out yesterday that I’m so big so quick because I’m carrying twins!” Her friend screamed with excitement.

“Twins!” Sonya joined on the high volume of communication and hugged her friend again. “That’s wonderful news.” When she released Charmagne, she finally greeted Charles with a hug as well. “Way to go, papa times two.”

Now the tall, linebacker size man appeared a little bashful at the praise as he stepped out of the hug and casted his gaze toward the floor for a beat. “Thanks. We’re excited.”

“Charles has a set of uncles on his dad’s side that are twins. So, it wasn’t a distant possibility that it could happen.” Charmagne explained.

“I’m happy that you all get to gift the world with two sweet bundles of joy.” She meant her words wholeheartedly. Her best friend and her husband were two of the gentlest and generous people she knew.

“You’re kind to say that.”

“You know I mean it, girl. Now put me to work.” Sonya commanded.

“I sure will. Follow me into the kitchen and you can get your famous lemon pound cake going, while I finish prepping the turkey. Charles will take your bag up to your room.” Charmagne led the way through the foyer directly into the kitchen as she chattered.

Sonya handed her coat and purse to Charles as she dashed behind Sonya.

“It looks like you have been some kind of busy up in here.” Sonya noticed the pots bubbling and steaming on the stove. There were piles of vegetables already chopped and waiting to go into things on the counter.

The island had empty bowls and ingredients that needed to be put together for various dishes. At the far end of the center workspace was the turkey. A very large bird at that.

“How many people are you expecting?” Sonya pushed up the sleeves of her sweater before washing her hands.

“Oh, gracious. Since everyone heard about the pregnancy the guest list has exploded. Well my family was supposed to come, but Charles parents and siblings decided they wanted to be here too. And they are all coming for Christmas as well.” Charmagne exhaled, but was still smiling.

“Oh, Lord. Thanks for the Christmas warning, I’ll mail out my presents.”

“Sonya, I’m sorry. I know you don’t care for things like this. I hadn’t seen you in so long, I was afraid you wouldn’t come.” Charmagne paused in the process of pouring a bowl of melted butter over the turkey and looked at her.

I probably wouldn’t have.
Since her family was none existent, Sonya never did well with large family gatherings. The biggest family get together she enjoyed was when her and Charmagne’s girlfriends from college and their husbands and children got together for an event. That was family to her. But, other than that she became uncomfortable being inundated by so many people she didn’t know.

“I miss you too. I would have flown in for the leftovers and maybe stayed for Cyber Monday shopping with our laptops and Charles special hot chocolate.” She winked at her friend.

“That sounds great. Except I would have to have mine minus the
special
.” Her friend poked out her bottom and rubbed her belly.

Sonya nodded in agreement. Charles special was a healthy amount of bourbon poured into the mixture after it was doing cooking, he would let it marinate for a few minutes before pouring it into large mugs and topped with a dollop of homemade whipped cream.

“Well, maybe virgin chocolate is not so bad.” She went to the side of the island where two glass bowls sat before a mixer.

Charmagne tossed a kitchen towel at her. “You are so wrong.”

Taking the towel off her shoulder, she laughed. “If everyone on Earth is coming, why don’t you have more hands in here with you?”

“Girl.” Charmagne placed a hand on her hip. “I would go insane. I don’t mind all the work. But, I need space to do it in. Besides I’m only doing a few of the side dishes, the bird, ham and your famous cake.”

She looked at all the ingredients for her pound cake sectioned off. “Since you know all of my ingredients I don’t know why you always call it
my
famous cake.”

“Easy. No one does it like you. Trust me, I have tried but I must be doing something wrong, it comes out heavy and just not right.” Charmagne waved a hand around while she explained.

“That’s because you probably treat the mix like you do that turkey,” Sonya pointed at the bowl of combined seasons in her friend’s hand that she was shaking over and into the gaping cavity of the poultry. “You want to just dump everything in at once and shove it into the oven.”

“It works. My bird is always raved about.” With the season done, Charmagne was making a tent over the turkey with a brown paper bag.

“True. But, a cake needs more time…love…patience.” While she spoke in a low sultry voice, Sonya measured out the flour and poured it into the small glass bowl.

“I don’t care whatever it takes just make two.” That came from Charles who entered the kitchen. “Sonya, need one I can offer to my guest like a great host and the other I can stash away that my lovely wife and I can eat once we have our house back.”

Sonya laughed.

Charmagne drew her husband close to her. “See that’s why I love you. You’re a smart man.” She slipped her hands around his neck.

He wrapped his around Charmagne’s burgeoning middle. “Don’t forget potent.” He planted a kiss on her lips.

“Oh, brother,” Sonya grumbled. “God gives a man two kids with one shout and the world never hears the end of it.”

Glancing back, he smiled at her jest. “Just call me, Iron Man…I get the job done.”

“Crazy man.” Charmagne caressed his chin.

“We are not worthy. We are not worthy.” Executing an exaggerated bow, Sonya teased him. She liked Charles. In the years he and her best friend had been together, he’d treated Charmagne like a precious queen. Sonya and he had become good friends as well.

Charles and Charmagne had dated since freshman year. However, unlike her and Parker they’d taken a year to plan their wedding after college instead of rushing headlong into marriage. She eyed the happy couple and her heart ached. The Alexanders had made it.

The Haydens had not.

Turning away, Sonya gave the couple a little privacy and focused her attention back to her cake prep. She would begrudge her best friend any of her happiness. The
hero
in her life or the babies she was about to have. Just because her situation didn’t work out, Charmagne still deserved all the happiness.

“I’m headed out to get the paper products and ice for the drinks in the cooler. You need anything else?” Charles released his wife.

“Nope. Thanks, Iron Man, for chopping all the vegetables for me.” Charmagne joked him on the superhero he mentioned earlier.

Intuitive, Charles opened the top oven then placed the heavy bird inside. When that was done, he headed out the kitchen. “My pleasure, honey. Sonya, you good?”

Glancing up, she nodded. “I’m straight. I don’t need anything. Thanks.” She went back to her dessert.

“I’m out. I’ll be back.” He was gone.

A few minutes later there was a jingling sound of keys then the front door opening and closing.

“Okay, Charles is gone. What up?”

Frowning, Sonya glanced at her. “Well, I already have two artifacts shipping to the museum from Johannesburg, which still leaves about seven more for the first showing. I have to now be at work at four in the morning to reach my colleagues in South Africa but it is more than worth it.”

She’d already told Charmagne the news about her new section at the museum and the ugliness that had ensued during the meeting that same night when she got home.

Charmagne was eyeing her as she gathered the chopped fresh collards and headed to the sink. “That’s great. I’m so glad that things are really coming around for you at work.”

“So am I.” Picking up the mixer, Sonya began to cream the sugar and butter together in the larger bowl. It was easy for her to smile as she spoke about the changes at her job. “There are times I can’t believe it’s finally happening. I pinch myself at least three times a day to make sure it is not a dream.”

“I’m sure.” Charmagne filled the sink with water and then shook a heavy amount of salt over the leaves before she started to wash them in the briny bath. “Anything else going on?”

Sonya used the fact that she had to concentrate on pouring the eggs into the batter one at a time while still mixing to not look at her friend. “Like what? You know me, work, work, work.” She let out a half-assed laugh.

Charmagne didn’t join in.

Peering up at her friend after she dropped in the last egg, Sonya tried to gage what her friend was leading to with the questioning.

“I’m going to give it to you straight, Sonya.” Her friend pulled her hands out of the water then reached for a towel to dry them. “I’m worried about you.”

That portion of the mixing done, she switched the hand mixer off and set it the counter. “Why? I’m fine.”

“Are you? Really?” Sonya arched a brow at her and stood before her with one hand on the counter and the other hand that still held the towel on her hip.

“Ye—”

The finger her friend raised cut off her words. “Then why did I have to hear from Charles that Parker is not only back in the U.S. but he is living in Charlotte? At your museum.”

There was no anger to her friend’s tone but the hurt in Charmagne’s voice caused heaviness in Sonya’s stomach.

“I’m sorry.” It was the only thing that came to her mind as she looked away from the hurt in her best friend’s gaze. “There’s no excuse really that I can make. I should have told you. It’s just—”

“Hard for you.” Charmagne spoke from beside her then placed a hand on her stomach. “I remember those months when you moved back here from California and you were staying with Charles and I until you found a place. You were a wreck and trying to put on a brave face.”

Sonya folded herself into her friends embrace. She recalled those days of depression as well. In the three months she had lived in this house she had cried herself to sleep many nights wishing for Parker. Wondering if she had made a mistake in taking the job instead of staying with her husband. However, her pride kept her in DC. Soon the ache of losing the man she loved went away and she could function.

Or so she told herself.

“That’s no excuse.” Sonya blinked away the tears and stepped back. “That’s no excuse. We talk about everything. You’re my best friend and I’ve wanted to tell you…I just didn’t know what to say.”

Charmagne, the mother to be, wiped away the river of tears streaming down her cheeks.  “How is it working alongside him?”

“Well, we don’t really see much of each other. We are both really busy for the most part with our separate responsibilities. Did Charles say anything else?” She asked. She planned to tell her friend everything, but wanted to know where she should start.

“No.” Charmagne folded her arms in the small wedge of space between her swollen belly and breasts. “I know he knows something else, but refuses to break the
brotha
code
.” She made air quotes.

Laughing, Sonya ran a hand over her hair feeling relieved that she could finally share this with her best friend.

“Is he at your museum by coincidence?”

“Charmagne, I don’t know. I want to say yes.” She exhaled and her mind returned to the lunch he’d set up for them in the gazebo.

“But…” her friend prompted.

Sonya met her gaze. “He’s been doing things, saying things about us and wanting to take me on dates that leads me to believe that he may have got himself a position there because I was there.”

Standing silent for a moment, Charmagne stared at her as if she were trying to read her.

“What?” Sonya folded her arms over her chest, mirroring her friend’s posture. “I know you have something going on in that mind of yours, Magne.”

“I’m just wondering… You’ve been talking about what Parker wants. What do
you
want?”