Latonya narrowed her eyes briefly before replying. “Thanks. I guess I’ll see you downstairs, then.”
As he walked toward the door, he turned and glanced back before he made it out. Carlton smiled a slow, rueful smile as he allowed himself a small measure of hope. “Things are going to be okay, Tonya. I really believe that we’re going to be okay.”
Chapter 19
The quiet and somber mood of dinner didn’t exactly coincide with the supposed celebratory nature of the evening. Conversations were stilted and strained; no one knew what to say to one another. Latonya didn’t know what to say to Gran, her sister or Jillian. Glad that Pamela had fed the boys earlier and they didn’t have to sit through all the adult tension, she tried not to count down the seconds until she could return to her bedroom and end the forced reunion.
When she could take the silence no longer, she glanced at her sister. “So, Cicely, I hear you’ve finished graduate school. How did you like it? What are you doing now?”
“Well, I ended up getting a master’s in public policy. Carlton used his connections to get me a nice position in the mayor’s office.”
Latonya had no idea why Carlton’s actions surprised her. She had no idea how she felt about him maintaining a connection to her family and helping her sister. Latonya’s shock must have shown on her face, because Gran became more than happy to fill in the silence.
“Carlton has been very kind and very helpful to us in spite of the way you behaved. He didn’t hold it against us that you left your child as if you were some wild animal in the jungle. He still let us be a part of little Carl’s life so that he would know his family.” The clipped and judgmental tone that Gran used cut Latonya to her core.
“Now may not be the best time for this, Evelyn.” The elder Harrington, who hadn’t even looked up from his plate during the entire tirade, opined, clearly more concerned about the propriety of polite dinner conversation than the attack on Latonya.
Cringing at the sound of his voice, she made a point of glaring at the old man before turning her gaze to Gran. He bristled under her glare and kept his eyes on his plate from then on. How dare he try to regulate the conversation after his role in the chain of events!
She cleared her throat and tried taking deep calming breaths before she spoke. She respected her grandmother more than any other person in the world and she never wanted to disappoint the woman.
“I understand you have certain opinions about what happened, about what you think I did, and how I should have behaved. And you are more than entitled to them, Gran.” Latonya noticed that the timbre of her voice was shaky and realized that tears were not going to be far behind.
I have to hold it together.
Crying at the dinner table in front of everyone was not an option. Steeling herself, she continued, “Gran, you know I love you. I respect you and I would never want to do anything that would shame you or make you think poorly of me. I’m sorry that I disappointed you. I really am. But this is truly the last time I will apologize for it and that is the only thing I will apologize to you for. I owe little Carl other apologies, and we will work that out between us. I made a decision three years ago that I felt I had to make at the time—”
Gran’s voice broke as she cut Latonya off. “You didn’t contact us again. Your sister and I were so worried. If it hadn’t been for Carlton and little Carl, I might have had another stroke.” Gran’s tone softened as she spoke. “I swear, Peanut, when you came through that door, I was torn between dropping to my knees and thanking the Lord, or grabbing you and shaking you for scaring me like that.” Glancing up toward the ceiling, she closed her eyes. A single tear came down Gran’s cheek, and Latonya knew that her own attempts to get through the conversation without crying were a wash.
She had never seen Gran cry. The woman was the epitome of the strong black women who kept on keeping on. Anger, righteous indignation and steadfast strength were traits that personified Evelyn Stevens, not tears. The fact that she had caused Gran to cry almost made Latonya shed tears of her own.
Seemingly disturbed, Carlton spoke. “Why don’t we just table this discussion and just be happy that Latonya is back now and we have time together as a family to make a fresh start.”
Although somewhat certain that Carlton was only trying to be helpful, attempting to manage the small situation that had interrupted a staid and calm family dinner at the Harrington residence, Latonya couldn’t help but think that he had never been made to take his share of the blame for anything that happened.
She also realized that until he did she would never be able to forgive him and move on. The thought of that made her sad, because she knew that the day Carlton Harrington III apologized would be the day that skiing, ice fishing and ice hockey became leisure-time activities in hell.
Forcing her attention back on Gran, she said, “Gran, you’re right. Everything you’ve said is right. I never wanted to cause you stress. I’m sorry.”
Cicely, who had been sitting virtually mortified through the entire discussion, spoke up. “Let’s change the subject. I haven’t seen my big sister in quite some time and I for one do not want to waste one more moment belaboring to whom and for what she should or should not apologize. She’s home and I have a beautiful new nephew to boot. I for one am going to enjoy them both.”
“Amen! I agree with you, Cicely.” Jillian stood and gave each person in the room with the exception of Cicely and Latonya a harsh, pointed stare. “While I appreciate being included as a part of the family in this welcome-back dinner. I have to say, if you all are going to spend the time attacking Latonya, then I’d rather not be included. She’s alive and she’s back. Let’s just thank the Lord and move on.” With that she put her napkin down on the table and walked away.
Before she made it fully out the door, she turned. “Sweetie, I sure am glad to have you back. Your Gran and I made sure your little boy didn’t forget you. I’m making cookies with the boys tomorrow afternoon, and I’d love it if you joined us. Good night, all.”
“She always was a drama queen.” Rolling her eyes at her friend’s retreat, Gran turned to Latonya. “Peanut, you know I’m happy to have you back. I love you. You just scared me, that’s all. I’m sorry if I was harsh.” She rose from her seat and walked to Latonya.
Latonya got up and they embraced the way they should have in the beginning. Not wanting to be left out, Cicely got up and joined in on the hug.
“I love you. Don’t forget that. And know that you always have a place to go if you ever have to leave here again. You hear me? You always have a place to go.” Gran squeezed her tightly before letting go.
“Yeah, Peanut!” Cicely agreed. “I have my own place now and you and the boys are always welcome.”
Latonya’s voice choked. “Thanks, Gran and Cicely. I know that and I appreciate it.”
“I’m going to go check on that ornery old Jillian before we head out,” Gran said. “I’ll tell you that mouthy woman needs Jesus!”
“I hope you all aren’t leaving yet. I feel like we have so much catching up to do. Cicely, I want to hear all about your new job and the graduations I missed.” Latonya surveyed the smart and competent young woman that her sister had become and her heart swelled with pride.
It seemed that Cicely had accomplished everything Latonya had wanted for her. She decided she would at least thank Carlton for all he’d done to help her grandmother and her sister. He didn’t have to do that and she knew it.
“Let’s go and talk while Gran mends things with Jillian. Then we can go and check on Pamela and the boys. I can’t believe how big little Carl has gotten.” Latonya grabbed Cicely’s hand and together they headed out of the dining room. She glanced back at Carlton before leaving and gave him a hesitant smile. She fully intended to thank him for helping her family later.
Carlton watched his wife leave the room and pondered the smile she’d given him. Was it too much to hope that the smile meant she might one day find it in her heart to forgive him?
“Well, that was a fiasco.” Grandfather’s gruff voice broke through Carlton’s wondering.
The dinner hadn’t gone as smoothly as the younger Harrington had planned. But the end result was worth it. Seeing the genuine happiness on Latonya’s face once she’d worked out her differences with her grandmother made it all worth it. “Things worked themselves out just fine.”
Grandfather harrumphed loudly, causing Carlton to give him a pointed look. Carlton wouldn’t tolerate any of the nonsense his grandfather pulled early in their marriage.
“Listen, Grandfather. I know you have never approved of my marriage and you are entitled to your opinions. But you will respect my wife or you won’t be welcome in my home. Latonya has graciously decided to remain here for the children’s sake. And I fully intend to win back her heart and her trust. I want to make my marriage work and I won’t let anything or anyone stop that.”
Grandfather’s jaw dropped and the older man suddenly looked every bit of his seventy-plus years. “Did she say something…anything about why she left?”
Carlton’s eyebrows furrowed. “What do you mean? She left because I kicked her out. I should have trusted in our relationship.” He paused and studied the older man. “I don’t know what you saw or thought you saw between her and Weatherby. But I do know that my wife didn’t have an affair. I know that now in my heart and soul.”
Grandfather opened his mouth and shut it quickly. “Well, it would appear you know everything, then. I only hope that you don’t end up regretting any of this.”
