Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 81488 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 407(@200wpm)___ 326(@250wpm)___ 272(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81488 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 407(@200wpm)___ 326(@250wpm)___ 272(@300wpm)
Playing the role of dutiful boyfriend, he’d offered several times to assist her, but she kept shooing him away. In all of that time, the mystery woman who’d not yet been introduced flitted about. Eventually, she leaned against the house at the bottom of the deck steps, set her wine glass down on a table with stacks of napkins on it, and began to scroll her phone. ‘The Way You Sway,’ by Blake Aaron, was playing, and the smell of cigars, perfumes, barbecued meats, and citrus citronella mosquito candles filled the air. Genesis startled him when she practically fell into his lap. He grabbed her close, squeezed her, and planted a kiss on her cheek.
“You’re workin’ more than you’re having fun. Sit down and relax a while.”
“This is relaxing for me. Besides, Mama needs help finishing up the potato salad. Well,” she got back onto her feet and swiped a bit of something from her shirt, “it’s already finished—it’s just not in the correct serving bowl. Anyway, let me introduce you to Rosie.” She began looking around, apparently trying to spot her.
“Rosie, your best friend that you tell me so much about?”
“Mmm hmm.”
“She’s here?”
“Yeah. I just saw ’er like twenty minutes ago.”
Roman looked back over at the table covered in stacks of napkins. The woman he’d seen with the cagey way about her was face down, glaring into her phone, the light from the screen making a spotlight off the tip of her nose.
“Is that her?” He pointed across the way, certain now that it was.
Genesis quickly spun in the direction he was gesturing towards. “Yes, that’s her. Hey! Rosie!” She waved her arms about and yelled over the music—Raphael Saadiq’s, ‘Still Ray.’
Genesis walked away, leaving him there in a swirl of mist, happy faces, pouring liquor, and a thumping base. He unfastened a button on his shirt, allowing a bit of air to get to his chest, and flipped the pendant of his necklace over: A gold tree, the branches long and winding. A dark-skinned man looking dapper in a gray hat and matching tweed vest approached him.
“You need somethin’, man? Jay is almost finished on the grill. Hope you ain’t too hungry. We got snacks in the kitchen, though. Know you been here a minute.”
“Oh, no, I’m fine. Thank you, though. I appreciate the courtesy.”
“Yes, siiiiir!” They slapped hands, and then without asking, the man placed a cigar in his palm. Roman glanced over at Genesis who was standing with Rosie, both of them laughing their heads off. Seconds later, the cigar was lit, and the man in the tweed hat that smelled of heavy cologne was gone. Roman leaned back on the swing seat, puffing and relishing the night air. The entire vibe was right up his alley.
I could see being a part of this family… I mean, I already sort of was. Tony’s father always treated me like one of his kids. I’m glad Genesis got to grow up like this. I bet she’ll make a great mother. I bet her children will be able to trust her. Our children… As he fell into a bit of a daydream, he could sense someone else approaching.
“Roman, this is Rosie.” He scanned Genesis’ face, which was now dotted with sweat beads. She’d removed her braids the prior day, and her natural hair was set in a high bun, the thick, textured waves beautiful—like an ocean made of black yarn, felt and velvet. Roman got to his feet and extended his hand.
“Nice to meet you, Rosie.”
The woman smiled politely and shook his hand. “Nice to meet you, too.”
“Genesis!” someone belted from across the way. “Come here, girl, and tell Trudy here about that gal you met from Bangladesh whose husband vanished into thin air! Didn’t she end up in the witness protection program or some jazz like dat?” Some older man chuckled. Genesis’ lips flattened as she rolled her eyes.
“Y’all, I’ll be right back. I see my Uncle Pooh is using me for entertainment again.” She grunted as she walked away.
Roman took a long draw of his cigar. He could almost hear what should have been the old Western stand-off music playing from the cowboy movies as Rosie’s gaze hooked onto him and didn’t let go.
“The Good, the Bad and the Ugly main theme song by Ennio Morricone,” he announced as the name finally came to him. She gave him a quizzical look, then burst out laughing.
“Is that what you think? That I came over here to rumble with you?”
He shrugged coolly and slowly sat back down. She joined him, sitting a few feet away. “I don’t know. You’re looking at me like you’re worried about my presence here.”
Just then, Penny sauntered by. She slowed and looked at them. Rosie turned towards her. If looks could kill.
“What. Do. You. Want?” Rosie asked through gritted teeth.