Sugah & Spice (18 page)

             
“I know that if Simone is back, Mya is also. We have to at least tell Espresso
,
so that he can be prepared if he runs across her. You know how he felt about her and how devastated he was when she left him.”

Coffee agreed. His dear friend hadn’t been the same since. “Yeah, I know. He is not going to take this news well but you’re right, we have to warn him. I only hope that we are not too late. Mya is his weakness and he will still do anything for her, Java. She and Simone are poison. Espresso deserves so much better than her.”

Java remembered all the pain each of them endured during that particular time in
th
eir lives. She didn’t wish any of it on even her worse enemy, then again, Xavier was the cause of that pain and she would show him pain in the near future.

“Do you want me to call him? I can tell him. I should be leaving the office soon and I can just drop by his office and let him now,” Java said.

“No, I’ll tell him. I will call you later, after I speak with him and let you know how everything turns out. But in the meantime, what should we do about Simone?
The way she looked at Sugah in class today, she knows that something happened between us. She looked pure evil. But I must admit Sugah held it together. The way those two were staring at each other, I thought that World War III was about to take place.”

Java was impressed, intrigued by hearing how well Sugah didn’t allow anyone to punk her or show signs of weakness in front of an enemy. She was even more than what Java thought she was.
More like her than she thought.
Java was great because she knew that Sugah would have to use those
emotions when she ran across Xavier, or he would eat her alive, spit her out and leave her in the gutter. He didn’t care about anyone or anything but himself. Java hated him even though she had once been madly in love with him. How could someone be so spineless?
She was brought back to reality by the sound on Coffee’s voice.

             
“Sis, are you still there,” Coffee asked. He wasn’t used to Java being so silent when they spoke. This alarmed him. He knew the wounds should have healed by now, but her situation was different. There was a child involved.
His heart ached for his sister and his nephew, whom he had never gotten to know. Their family had been cheated. What made a man hate a woman so badly that he took away her child? He couldn’t wait to confront Xavier to get answers. His sister didn’t deserve such harsh reality. Her silence told him that she was thinking about the past. He wanted to console her, but didn’t know how.

Finally Java spoke again. Her voice sounded funny, like she had been crying and her nose was stopped up.
“I’m fine. I was just thinking about all this. When will life stop throwing curve balls, Coff? I don’t know if I can take many more. I have tried to let go and move on with my life
,
but I just can’t. My son is out there somewhere and
he
needs his mother. He probably thinks that I abandoned him. Who knows what lies Xavier has fed him all these years. Coff, he is twenty years old now. What if I never find him? What if we cross paths every day and don’t know it? How can a mother just allow something like this to happen? I should have fought back.
I should have tried harder to find h
i
m.
” Java was losing it.

Coffee wished that he was next to her to comfort her but they were in two different places. “Sis, I’m so sorry. We will find him soon, I promise. Xavier won’t get away with this.
I assure you with my life, he will pay dearly for all the pain he has caused you and our family.”

But he had, Java
thought, feeling lower than low
.
Java blew her nose. She wiped her face and looked around he
r office. She would give it all up for a chance to get the lost time back with her son. “It’s fine, really Coff. You didn’t have to tell me anything but you did. Thanks for always looking out for me. If I hadn’t gotten involved with Xavier in the first place, none of this would be happening right now. You saved me and now it’s back to bite you in the ass.”

Coffee smiled. “I would gladly do it all over again, in a heartbeat. Don’t ever think that you caused this to happen. You were in love with a man, who had us all fooled. You didn’t know. How could you have known? Don’t beat yourself up or dwell on the past. We will get through this too
, together
. We will find him,
Sis
. And he is going to love you. Children never forget their mothers. Everything is going to be okay, trust me.” Java loved her brother now more than ever. She trusted him with her life. She knew that he would do everything in his power to find her son, his nephew and make Xavier pay for all the pain and heartache he caused their family.

             
The two siblings talked a few more minutes and then hung up. Coffee prepared to leave his office and Java finished up some last minute documents concerning Sugah’s upcoming photo-shoot.
The fashion show was something she looked forward to attending.
It was her baby.
Java loved fashion. She wanted to see Sugah in action firsthand, not just hear about it. At first she wasn’t so sure that she could pull the first assignment off but was extremely impressed when she had. Sugah was about to make new friends, in high places, with deep pockets but Java hoped that Xavier and his organization of wolves in sheep’s clothing didn’t go after her. Wishful thinking, Java acknowledged. If she knew Xavier like she knew she did, he would definitely try to manipulate his way into the likes of Sugah. She only hoped that Sugah was smart enough to see a snake when she saw one, not fall for bullshit like herself.
In that moment, Java wondered where Sugah was. She picked up the phone on her desk, dialing her number. When Sugah answered, she felt relieved.

             
“Hey Sugah, its Java
, how are you?
I was calling to check on you
,
to see if you had all the information regardin
g the shoot on Thursday
. It sounds like you’re driving. Did I catch you at a bad time,” Java asked. Sugah smiled.

“Hey girl, nice to hear from you,
I’m great. How are you?
I am driving
but I can do two things at once
.
” Sugah laughed. Java heard the laughter in her voice and couldn’t help but smile too. The girl had a way of making people feel good.
“
I am meeting my mom for lunch. And yes
,
I think I have everything under control but if something comes up, you will be the first one I call. What’s up?” Java felt at eas
e
just listening to the excitement in Sugah’s voice about meeting her mother for lunch. She wondered if her child would ever feel the same about her. “Java, hello…hello,” Sugah called out
looking at her phone to see if the signal had dropped
.

“I’m here, Sugah. I was just listening to the way your voice lights up when you speak about your mother. I didn’t know she was in town. How long is she here for,” Java wanted to know.

             
“Oh, she arrived a few days ago and will be here until probably next week. I’m not really sure about that, Java. Why do you ask?”

             
“I just wanted to know if you minded if she came to the fashion show. I can get extra tickets for her and anyone else you want to come. I didn’t mean to pry, Sugah. I just thought that she would like seeing you
strut your stuff on the runway.”

             
Sugah suddenly felt bad about questioning Java’s motives. “I didn’t mean to sound rude but you can never be too careful about people’s intentions, no offense. I have been burned more times than I care to remember, so I hope you understand why I’m so cautious.”

             
Java admired Sugah more every time she spoke with her. “None taken, at all, in fact, that is a really good way to be, Sugah. That way no one gets the chance to take advantage of you. You are a very smart young lady. No wonder we all thought you were much older than what you are. You are way wise beyond your years, girl. Keep up the great work. But seriously, do you think your mother would want to see the show?”

             
“If she knows that I’m in it, yes she will. I will run it pass her and let you know something this evening. I think my mom has a new man in her life and she may already have plans with him this weekend. You know how that goes,” Sugah said laughing. Java joined in her laughter. She certainly knew, all too well. “Yes, I do. Okay, just let me know something so that I can get the tick
ets. I’m sure she can persuade he
r
new
beau to come to the show. You do know that men do anything to be with the wom
e
n they want to be with, right. It’s just the way it goes. We do the sa
me thing to be with them too.”

             
Both women laughed.
“You are definitely right about that, Java. I am glad you called. Thanks for thinking of me and wanting to help. I really appreciate it. I’m sure my mother and Mr. Blakemore would love to come to the show but let me just throw it out there first.
I truly appreciate you for taking time out of your busy schedule just to check on little ole me.
”

             
“
No need to thank me girl. I see myself in you. Wait a minute…what did you just say? O
h wow!! Really, Mr. Blakemore and your mom got a thing for each other? I think that’s sweet. If your mother is anything like you, he would be a fool not to
take advantage of this time with her. They probably make a nice couple.
I wo
uld really love to meet her while
she is in town, if that isn’t a problem, Sugah.”

“Why would that be a problem? Do you think it’s wise under the circumstances? What if she asked questions and if I know my mother, she well?”

“Then we will tell her that you work for me at my firm. Stop worrying girl, damn you giving me a headache, you sound just like me when I was your age. Calm down, if you
don’t think it’s a good idea for
me to meet your mother, it’s cool.
Well, anyway, I’ll let you get back to driving. I look forward to hearing from you later. You do have my home number, right?”

             
“Yep, I have all of your numbers. I made sure of that the first night we met. Thanks again, Java. I’ll speak to you later.
And I would be honored to have you meet my mother. I know that she will adore you. I’ll let you know when, when I call you later.
Have a nice afternoon,” Sugah said before hanging up the call. She was pulling up in front of the Blakemore estate and was in awe. After she gave her name to the security guard, at the front gate, she was allowed to enter onto the premises.

             
The driveway was lined with beautiful oak trees, on both sides. The lawn was freshly cut. Sugah loved the smell of freshly cut grass. She breathed in the fresh air, smiling. The drive to the main house was about a mile long. When she pulled up in front of the Mexican inspired home,
Sugah
couldn’t close her mouth. It looked like a house straight out of Architects digest. The structure was big, bold and modern. The stucco roof
,
a
dded
character and charm to the home. Sugah couldn’t wait to see the inside of the home if the outside had any inclination as to what she had to look forward to. The landscaping complemented the home, adding depth and life to the house. Huge bay windows and a massive wooden door, created the perfect accent and ambiance to the style of the home. Sugah took it all in, impressed by what she saw. Mr. Blakemore had impeccable taste, she gathered. Before she could ring th
e doorbell, which looked like an actual
little bell used to call everyone for dinner, her mother opened the door and wrapped her arms around her.
“Oh….my baby, my baby is finally here,” Charlotte Payne called out.

             
At first when
Sugah
called her mother to see where they would go for lunch and learned that lunch was being prepared at the Blakemore Estate, she was pissed.
She feared that Richard would be there joining them and that she wouldn’t have quality time
alone
with her mother.
Now
,
Sugah was happy to be in the presence of such great Architectural brilliance. Espresso would love this place she thought as she
was able to catch her breath and enter
the home
when
her mother finally let her go.

The foyer was open, which gave way to a huge great room, contemporary style dining area and kitchen. Dark wood floors added innocence and integrity to the space. Many plants lined the space. The French doors were open, as the gentl
e
breeze went throughout the home.
Salt water quickly filled Sugah’s nostrils.
Sugah later saw that the breeze was coming in straight from the ocean, which set in the background
, as the perfect backdrop,
to
the home. The furniture was contemporary chic, which went well with the design of the house. The color scheme was bold, full of rich colors of red, orange, blues and hints of brown. Everything added its own charm but worked well together. A long hallway on the left side of the home housed four bedrooms, with on-suite baths. A wooden staircase set to the right of the space that led up to the master suite and sitting room. A study, theater room, game room, home gym and private ball room was on the bottom level of the home
.
A
s they walked toward the back of the home, Sugah saw a patio area, with a bar and infinity swimming pool, overlooking the ocean. The scenery was amazing. She felt like she was on vacation
,
somewhere exotic and expensive. Her mother gave the grand tour like she had been living there all of her days.
Sugah suddenly wondered where Mr. Blakemore was.
“Shall we”, her mother said waving her hand toward the spread on the nearby table.