Clif gave a satisfied nod. “Good to hear.”
“Good to say,” Alex shared. “The sessions must be helping, I’ve been able to really talk about the crap I been holdin’ inside. I haven’t had any of those damn crazy-ass dreams—”
“And you’ve handled the craziness of that paper without breakin’ a sweat.”
Alex chuckled. “Maybe, but, man, there was some shit that nearly drove me crazy. ’Specially during the three weeks you went off on that damn news editors’ seminar.”
“But none of that old ... stuff came into play?” Clif surmised, tugging on the cuffs of his silver-blue sweatshirt.
“None of that ‘old stuff’ came into play,” Alex confirmed, “I’m not sayin’ I’m Mr. Nice Guy now, but the angry-at-the-world nigga I was is definitely tryin’ to make his exit.”
The waitress returned with the drinks and Clifton raised his cognac in toast. “All the best to you, man,” he said and they clinked glasses.
Casey Williams was laughing, his arms outstretched as Topaz ran toward him.
Casey grunted in appreciation as they hugged. “I missed you so much,” he whispered, giving her another tight squeeze. “You look so good, smellin’ like the tropics.”
Topaz backed away, a look of playful doubt coming to her lovely, dark face. “Is that good or bad?”
Casey’s boisterous laughter returned. “It’s definitely good.”
They took their seats at the cozy table Casey had managed to snag before the lunch crowd began to descend.
“So how was it?” he asked, as they studied menus.
“I went back to New York for a while,” Topaz sighed, smoothing one hand across her hair pulled back into a chignon. “Then we spent a couple of weeks in the Keys, then on to Jamaica. My parents went all out for the trip and we had the best time.”
Casey was watching her in his usually probing manner. “I’m glad to hear it. You needed that.”
Topaz shrugged, fiddling with the scoop neck of her emerald-green top. “I was just happy to see my parents having so much fun. Especially when they’ve been so worried about me.”
“You’re their baby and you been through a lot.” He leaned forward, bracing his elbow on the edge of the table. “So ... how are you?”
“Okay. Not great, but okay, and I’m fine with that. For now,” she said, in an honest, refreshing tone. “The guys are planning some sort of party to celebrate the deal with Mecklen Gas. They’ve invited most of the old crowd from the block. I’d like for you to be there,” she added, laughing when Casey began to clap his hands.
“Speaking of your guys, have you thought about rebuilding the shop?” Casey asked.
Topaz shrugged. “I thought about it, but I’m not really settled on a decision.” She hesitated then. “I am in the process of selling the house.”
Casey allowed his distress to show. “Yeah, I saw the sign. I guess you waited to tell me, ’cause you knew I’d try talkin’ you out of it.”
“Casey, I’m sorry,” Topaz whined, extending her hands across the table, “I just think I need a change of scenery. Right now I’m staying at the condo.”
“Change of scenery,” Casey sighed, folding his arms across his chest. “Change of scenery from the neighborhood or change of scenery from Charlotte?”
Topaz would not answer. Her expression, however, provided a clear enough response.
“Does it have to be that way, Paz?”
Casey’s soft question forced Topaz to shake her head. Weariness crept into her eyes for the first time that day. She thought about her last conversation with Alex. Knowing his plan to turn himself in overwhelmed her. Then, when Clif informed her that Alex had resumed therapy, she was even more overwhelmed. Desperate to escape the emotional whirlwind, she opted for another lengthy getaway. “I haven’t seen him in almost six months and it still hurts,” she finally admitted, “but that feeling is numbing slowly but surely.”
“Well, there you go!” Casey bellowed.
Topaz grimaced. “I can’t stay around here, never knowing when we may run into each other ...”
“It may not be that dramatic, you know?” Casey pointed out, while tapping his fingers against the menu.
“We were engaged, Casey. Our entire relationship’s been dramatic. How could this be any different?”
To that, Casey had no reply. He and Topaz sat in silence close to three minutes.
“So how is he doing?” she finally inquired.
Casey shrugged. “I don’t know what the brotha’s on, but he ain’t nearly as closed off and scary as he used to be. I feel a lot more cool around him now,” he expressed.
Topaz grinned. “I can believe that, ’specially since you’re Mr. Big Stuff at the QC Happening now.”
Casey chuckled, nodding slowly to accept her compliment. “It ain’t just me. Hell, everybody up in that paper feel more at ease around the man now.”
Topaz leaned back against the padded high-backed chair. The smile she wore relayed her mood. She found Casey’s words refreshing, but bittersweet. Obviously, Alex was coming to grips with his ghosts. How she wished they hadn’t had to let go of one another in order for him to do that. Still, as she’d often said, “Sometimes things just have to be a certain way.” Clearly, this was one of those things.
“Might do you some good to see him,” Casey suggested, focusing his brown gaze on the tabletop. “You’ll see how good he’s doing and it might help you put it all behind you,” he added.
Topaz closed her eyes briefly, smoothing both hands over her sleek, straight hair. “Casey, that sounds so good. I miss him so much ... but seeing him would do me no good. Casey, I think I gave Alex all I had to offer. I told him over and over again how much I wanted to be there for him. At first, I thought he didn’t believe me,” she whispered, her eyes misting with tears. “I thought that he thought I was just sticking by him because I pitied him. Now I know he couldn’t accept my help because he didn’t think he deserved it and, Casey, he didn’t need to be bothered with that. He needed to concentrate on getting himself better.” She spoke in a decisive tone, folding her arms across her chest. “I told him as much when I broke the engagement,” she confided. “I won’t lie that a part of me still hopes he’ll come to me. But I can’t let myself hold on to that.”
“Shh ...” Casey urged, brushing his thumb across her cheek when he saw a tear there. After a moment, he leaned closer to pull her into a hug.
