“My daughter,” he replied smoothly. “She’s coming for a visit.”
Syneda smiled up at him. “That’s really nice.”
Syntel took a sip of his coffee. Then he tilted his head and a proud smile touched his lips. “Yes, and I’m looking forward to it.”
Syneda sat next to Clayton on the sofa. She glanced at her watch before turning toward him. “What if Syntel’s daughter doesn’t show up? It’s almost seven o’clock,” she whispered softly. “He’s been acting rather anxious since he mentioned she was coming.”
Clayton pulled Syneda closer to his side and pressed a kiss at her temple. “She’ll be here.”
Syneda lifted a brow, wondering how Clayton was so sure of that, and was about to ask him when she noticed Syntel and Senator Lansing returning to the room. The senator had arrived over an hour ago, and Syneda had finally gotten to meet him.
“I hope you’re right. I’d hate for him to be disappointed. He’s such a kind person,” she said softly before the two men approached.
Clayton smiled. His dark eyes slid lazily over the woman at his side. “So are you. And a rather beautiful one I might add. You look sensational tonight.”
Syneda basked in Clayton’s compliment. She was wearing an elegant eggshell-colored silk dress that was cut in modest, classic lines. “I wanted to wear something nice for the special occasion.”
Syntel and Nedwyn joined them and sat in chairs across from them.
“Tell me about your daughter, Syntel,” Syneda asked politely in an attempt to keep conversation flowing.
Unnoticed by Syneda, the three men looked at each other fleetingly before Syntel cleared his throat. “There isn’t much I can tell you about her, Syneda. The two of us will be meeting as father and daughter for the first time tonight. I only discovered I have a daughter a few days ago,” he replied quietly.
Syneda’s eyes widened in surprise. “I don’t understand. How could you not know you had a daughter?”
Sadness shone in Syntel’s eyes. “It’s a rather long and sad story.”
Clayton intertwined his fingers with Syneda’s. “We would love hearing it anyway, Syntel. That is, if it’s not too personal.”
Taking a deep breath the older man began. “Almost thirty years ago while attending college, I met and fell in love with the most beautiful woman to walk the face of this earth. I’ve never met or seen a more exquisite individual. But she wasn’t just beautiful on the outside, she was beautiful on the inside, as well. I lost my heart the first time I saw her.”
Syntel took a deep breath before continuing. “She’d been in one of Ned’s classes and, thanks to him, we were introduced.”
He paused thoughtfully before going on to say, “I asked her out and she turned me down.” He smiled at the memory. “In fact, she turned me down several times, but I refused to give up. Finally, she gave in on the condition that no one was to know we were seeing each other.”
“Why didn’t she want anyone to know the two of you were dating?” Syneda asked.
“Because I’m white and she was black. During that time interracial dating was not acceptable.”
Syneda nodded. She knew that even in this day and time, some people were pretty close minded when it came to interracial relationships. She couldn’t even imagine how such a relationship would have survived over thirty years ago. Some people refused to accept the fact that true love was color-blind.
Syntel stood, continuing. “She found out she was pregnant before we graduated but didn’t tell me. I had to report to the Air Force Academy the day after graduation. She used that time to disappear, telling no one where she was going. I nearly went out of my mind worrying, but in my heart I believed she would get in touch with me. But she didn’t. I never saw her again.”
“If you never saw her again, how did you find out about your daughter?” Syneda asked, totally intrigued with the story being told.
“A few days ago her fiancé showed up at my office and told me. He had hired a private investigator to find me with the sole intention of ripping me to shreds for hurting the woman he loved.”
A lump formed in his throat. “You see, Syneda, eighteen years ago, the woman I loved died leaving my daughter all alone. All alone but with a promise that I would come for her.”
Syneda startled and her fingers turned to ice as they clutched Clayton’s. She gazed deeply into Syntel’s eyes as he continued speaking. “I’m told her mother had a telephone call placed to me. It was a phone call I never received. That’s the only reason I didn’t come. There’s no way that had I gotten that phone call, I would not have come for my daughter.”
He held back an emotional choke. “I loved
your
mother deeply and I believe she loved me. You’re living proof of just how much she loved me, and the sacrifices she made. It was her choice not to continue our relationship because of the problems she felt we would have endured as an interracial couple, but it wasn’t my choice not to know about you.”
He took a deep breath. “There’s no way I can turn back the hands of time and undo everything you’ve endured because of your mother and me. All I can ask is that you find it in your heart to give me a chance, and to allow me to become a part of your life. A life I’ve already missed twenty-eight years of sharing.”
Syneda was transfixed in place, unable to move as her shocked mind absorbed Syntel’s words. Tears clouded her eyes.
Clayton’s gaze intercepted Senator Lansing’s nod. Neither he nor the senator was noticed as they slipped from the room, leaving father and daughter alone.
“I still can’t believe S. T. Remington is actually my father.” Syneda lay in bed with her head cradled on Clayton’s shoulder, staring at the roaring fire in the fireplace. She had returned from talking with Syntel for over two and a half hours to find Clayton pacing the floor waiting for her. She had walked across the room and gone into his arms without hesitation. Then she had cried while he had comforted her.
Clayton leaned on one elbow, smiling down at her. “You may as well get used to the idea. As soon as the media finds out, everyone and their mama will know it.”
Syneda nodded. “Syntel and I talked about that, too, and wondered what would be the best way to handle it.” She smiled. “One thing is for sure, he doesn’t want to keep me a secret.”
She snuggled closer to Clayton. “For so long I wanted to hate the man who fathered me, the man I thought let me and my mother down. And now I find it was all lies. Just listening to him talk let me know he loved my mother very much.”
Clayton wound his hand in Syneda’s silky hair. “Yes, he did. It’s just sad your mother allowed what society thought dictate her happiness. Who knows, they could have married and lived happily ever after.”
Syneda’s smile faded. “Somehow I doubt it. Just look at what Syntel’s father did. I don’t believe his family would have accepted a marriage between him and my mother.”
Clayton raised a brow. “Why are you calling him Syntel’s father? He was your grandfather.”
“But I can’t think of him that way. He didn’t think of me as his grandchild, did he?”
“No, he didn’t.” Clayton had to agree with her on that. “But he’s dead now so what he thinks really doesn’t matter anymore, does it?”
“No, but it hurts to know he didn’t want me as his grandchild.”
“And how do you feel about having Syntel for a father?”
Syneda looked up at him. “Scared, overwhelmed. I’ve had eighteen years of bitterness to fester inside of me. It will take time for all of it to completely go away. It won’t dissolve overnight and he understands that. We’ve decided to take things one day at a time and get to know each other. There’s so much we have to catch up on, so much I want to share with him and so little time. I have to begin making plans for our wedding soon. With Christmas right around the corner, June will be here before you know it.”
Clayton slipped out of bed to put another log on the fire. When he returned to bed, Syneda couldn’t help noticing the serious expression he wore. He pulled her back into his arms.
“Do you want to postpone our wedding for a while?” he asked.
Syneda raised a confused brow and looked at him. “No, why do you ask? Do you want to postpone our wedding?”
“No. I just didn’t want you to feel rushed about anything.”
She threw her arms around him. “Oh, Clayton, the day I marry you will be the happiest day of my life. Syntel and I will have plenty of time to get to know each other, both before and after our wedding.”
Clayton smiled, feeling relieved. “So the wedding is still on?”
“Absolutely.”
They kissed with all the deep longing and all the love they had for each other in their hearts. Both of them had waited years to find true, everlasting and eternal love.
“Clayton?”
“Umm?” he asked, brushing small kisses against the base of her throat.
“Have you thought about where we can go on our honeymoon?”
He paused thoughtfully before placing another heated kiss on her lips. He was beginning to ache for her all over again. “No, sweetheart, I haven’t thought about it. Any suggestions?”
“Yes.” The palm of her hand gently caressed his chin. “I heard St. Thomas is a beautiful place that time of the year, and I’ve always wanted to go there.”
Clayton was grinning. “St. Thomas? Will I get the chance to preapprove the clothes you bring along?”
Syneda smiled. “Do you think you need to?”
“Yes.”
Suddenly they were laughing together.
“If you think for one minute, Clayton Madaris, that you’re going to start dictating what I can or cannot wear once we’re married, you’re out of your mind. We need to get a few things straight. No man is going to—”
Clayton kissed her to shut her up. When he lifted his head, his eyes gleamed with amusement. “One thing is for sure, sweetheart, with you I’ll never be bored. I can’t wait for June to get here.”
“Neither can I,” Syneda said, pulling his head down for another kiss. “Neither can I.”
A beautiful day in June
C
layton Madaris glared at the seven men standing on the other side of the room. Three of them, Alexander Maxwell, Trevor Grant and Trask Maxwell, were his closest friends. Two others were his brothers-in-law, Daniel Green and Raymond Barnes. But his full glare, the darkest it had been in months, was directed at his two brothers, Justin and Dex, who stood nonchalantly by the window.
“What do you mean Uncle Jake’s not coming?” he finally shouted after taking in the announcement Justin had just made. “He has to come! He’s in the wedding!”
Jonathan Madaris, dressed elegantly in a white tuxedo, stood leaning against the mantel as he watched his youngest son begin pacing the length of the room in angry strides. He could feel the tension growing in the room. Clayton was a nervous wreck as it was, and at the moment the last thing he needed was his brothers playing devil’s advocates. He made a quick decision to intervene before he had a murder on his hands instead of a wedding.
“All right, settle down, Clayton. Jake will be here. He called and said he’s running a little late but he’ll make it in time for the wedding. Justin and Dex were just teasing you.”
Jonathan then turned his serious attention to his other two sons. “Justin Stuart and Dexter Jordan, behave yourselves. Your brother is nervous enough as it is. Don’t make matters worse. And I might add that at least he thought enough of me and his mother to let us share in his wedding day. Something neither of you did.”
Justin grinned at his father’s observation. “I would have loved having you and Mom at my wedding, but if you’ll recall, I didn’t know about the wedding myself until an hour before the ceremony was scheduled to take place. You have Clayton to thank for that. He schemed with Lorren to pull that one off. So he won’t be getting much pity from me today.”
Dex Madaris, whose charcoal-gray eyes were warm with amusement, chuckled throatily before coming to his own defense. “I would have loved inviting you and Mom to my wedding, but unfortunately I had to move fast and marry Caitlin. From all appearances, Clayton was trying to make a move on her. I didn’t know at the time that he was doing it just to make me jealous.”
Clayton had stopped his pacing to listen to what his brothers were saying. He couldn’t stop the slow smile that spread across his lips. “The way I see it, both of you owe me a lot of gratitude for Lorren and Caitlin. Without my intervention neither of you would be happily married men.”
Dex and Justin looked at each other before smiles of agreement covered their faces. It was a known fact that they loved their wives dearly. “You do have a point there, li’l bro,” Justin said, grinning.
“However, your situation hasn’t changed. Although we were teasing you about Uncle Jake, you still have to deal with your other problem. There’s no way Gramma Madaris is going to let you see Syneda before the wedding,” Justin continued. “It’s a tradition that the groom sees the bride for the first time on their wedding day when she walks down the aisle. So the way I figure it, you have a couple of hours to go.”
Clayton began his pacing again. “This entire thing is totally ridiculous. Gramma has deliberately kept Syneda from me all day.”
Jonathan Madaris shook his head. “You know how your grandmother is, Clayton. She’s not doing this to torture you. At your sisters’ weddings, Raymond and Dan couldn’t see them, either. And if I remember correctly, at the time you thought the entire thing was downright funny.”
“Well, today is my wedding day, and I don’t find anything funny about not being able to see Syneda. And I’m not going to stand for it a minute longer.”
Justin chuckled. “What are you going to do? Force your way inside that room where Syneda and all the ladies are being held hostage by Gramma?”
A devilish gleam appeared in Clayton’s eyes. “That’s not a bad idea.”
Jonathan Madaris straightened his stance, recognizing immediately the look of defiance in his youngest son’s eyes. He could just see Clayton going head to head with his mother. “All right, Clayton, don’t do anything foolish. Your grandmother—”
“Means well, Dad, but this time I can’t abide by her wishes.”
Before anyone could say anything further, Clayton stalked out of the room and headed down the church’s long hall, which was adjacent to the corridor where Syneda was. Without knocking, he walked right into the room.
Ignoring the gasps and surprised expressions of the numerous women in the room, his gaze collided with Lorren’s. “Where is she?”
“Clayton! You know you can’t come in here. Your grandmother will have a fit if she finds you here.”
“Where is Syneda, Lorren?” His patience was beginning to wear thin.
Lorren glared at him. “Clayton Madaris, you just march right back out that door—”
“Where is she, Lorren?” he asked again.
Seeing the determined expression etched on his face, Lorren pointed to another room. “She’s in there with your mother getting dressed.”
Clayton turned to the other women in the room who were staring at him like he’d gone crazy. “Please make yourselves scarce for a few minutes.”
Felicia was the only one brave enough to speak up. “You can’t run us out of here, Clayton. This is where we belong. You’re the one out of place.”
“Out!” Clayton shouted like a madman to the women staring at him. “Out! Now!”
The room quickly emptied.
“What on earth is going on out here?”
Clayton turned when his mother came into the room. A frown covered her face when she saw him. Leave it to her youngest son to be difficult on his wedding day. “Clayton, what are you doing here?”
“I want to see Syneda, Mom.”
“That’s impossible, Clayton. You know how your grandmother likes traditions. She will have your hide when she returns, and she’ll be back any minute. She and Mama Nora left to give last-minute instructions to the florist.”
Clayton looked deeply into his mother’s eyes, pleading understanding. “I don’t mean to cause problems, Mom. Really I don’t. But I need to see her. These past few months have been hell. I’ve barely spent any time with her at all. First it was Syntel demanding most of her time, and then it was you, Mama Nora, and Gramma spending all that time with her planning this wedding. And let’s not forget all those bridal showers she had to attend. I feel like an outcast.”
Marilyn Madaris was startled by her son’s admission. Insecurity was something he rarely had to deal with. Even as a child growing up, he’d always been totally sure of himself. Too sure of himself at times.
She took a deep breath. “All right, Clayton. I’ll give you five minutes. Syneda is in there.”
Clayton gazed at the closed door. “Does she know I’m out here?”
Marilyn Madaris grinned. “With all that racket you were making, how could she not know.” A firm expression covered her face. “Five minutes, Clayton, that’s all you got. Besides,” she said, chuckling. “I have a feeling someone has alerted your grandmother to your behavior and she’s on her way to toss you out on your rear end.” She turned and left the room, closing the door behind her.
Clayton walked over to the other door and opened it. His breath caught in his throat.
Standing in the middle of the room wearing her bath-robe was his soon-to-be wife. The essence of her radiant beauty almost brought tears to his eyes. Her hair was arranged on top of her head in a bevy of soft curls. It was a very exquisite-looking style.
Clayton thought his heart had stopped beating when she smiled at him. “Causing problems, Madaris?”
He returned her smile. “Don’t I always where you’re concerned?” He locked the door before walking over to her. “I had to see you, Syneda.”
“You weren’t supposed to see me until the wedding.”
Clayton raised his hands to cup her face. “I know, and I’m sorry if I’ve ruined this day for you by not sticking to tradition, but I had to see you. It doesn’t matter when I see you, Syneda. Your beauty will always have me spellbound.”
Syneda’s heart burst with happiness. She thought he looked so handsome dressed in his white tuxedo with tails, and didn’t hesitate to tell him so. “You look so good in a tux.”
“Thanks. I have something to tell you,” he said quietly, taking her hand in his.
“What?” Syneda asked. A nervous tremor touched her.
“I just wanted to tell you how much I love you. So much has happened since you agreed to marry me. We really haven’t had a chance to spend a lot of time together lately.” He placed her hand over his heart. “Every beat you feel under your palm is for your heart only. I love you very much and will spend the rest of my life showing you just how much. From this day forward, I am eternally yours.”
Tears glistened in Syneda’s eyes. “And from this day forward, I am eternally yours.” She repeated the words he had just spoken. “I love you so very much, Clayton.”
Slowly Clayton pulled her into his arms. He couldn’t help looking at her lips, full and sensuous. A shock of overwhelming heat spread through him. He suddenly felt hot and hungry for the woman he was about to marry.
“Clayton Jerome Madaris! Open this door!”
The sound of his grandmother’s demand from the other side of the locked door echoed loudly in the room.
“I think I’m in trouble,” he said to Syneda as his mouth hovered closely over hers. “I may as well make it worth my while, don’t you think?”
Syneda nodded, smiling. “Definitely. There’s no trouble like big trouble,” she replied seconds before placing her arms around his neck to bring her body more fully against his.
Clayton’s mouth moved hungrily over hers as Syneda’s lips parted for him. She made a small, soft sound when his tongue entered her mouth and rubbed against hers. The byplay was deliciously erotic and promised things to come later.
The heady taste of Clayton made a glowing heat blossom deep within Syneda’s belly. The masculine scent of him was embedded in her nostrils, and the desire for him was an ache deep within the core of her.
“Clayton Madaris, if you don’t unlock this door, I’ll have your father and brothers break it down!”
Abruptly Clayton ended the kiss and looked down into Syneda’s passion-filled face. He enfolded her tightly in his arms. “I’d better do as she said, or she
will
have them break the door down.” He leaned down and kissed her again. “Remember how much I love you when you walk down that aisle to me.”
Syneda nodded. Love was shining in the depths of her sea-green eyes. “I’ll remember.”
Clayton smiled as he unlocked the door to discover not only his grandmother, but his parents, the minister, Mama Nora, Syntel and the entire wedding party crowded around the door. His grandmother had an annoyed and a disgusted expression on her face.
Before she could say anything he leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. “She’s all yours now, Gramma, but in just a little while, she’ll be all mine.”
Whistling the tune of the bridal march, a much happier Clayton Madaris walked past the crowd of stunned onlookers.
Reverend Moss checked his watch. He then smiled at the faces of the men lined across the room all dressed in white tuxedos. Everyone was accounted for. He frowned when his gaze came to rest on Clayton. He shook his head. Even after the ruckus he’d caused a few hours earlier, Clayton Madaris didn’t have the decency to look guilty or ashamed.
“Well, then, gentlemen, it’s about that time,” he said, adjusting his glasses and smoothing his white robe. “If you’ll just follow me, we can get things started. We don’t want to keep the bride waiting.”
Before turning to leave, he gave Clayton a stern look. “And no more shenanigans out of you, young man. I’ve had enough excitement for one day.”
Beautiful white candles lined the aisles and the altar of the church. The sultry sound of Whitney Houston floated through the building as she enchanted and dazzled the wedding guests by singing a song. Senator Lansing, who was a close friend of the Houston family, had made the arrangements for Whitney’s special appearance.
When Whitney’s song ended, Syneda watched her six bridesmaids drift down the aisle dressed in tea-length peach gowns. Lorren and Caitlin were her matrons of honor. Lorren handed her her floral bouquet while Caitlin was busy straightening her train.
Caitlin had given birth to another girl, Ashley Reneé, and Lorren had presented Justin with another son, Christopher Stuart.
Lorren gave her best friend’s hand a little squeeze. “I’m so happy. I’ve always wanted this for you. You deserve to be happy.”
Syneda smiled as tears misted her eyes. “Thanks for always being there for me.”
Lorren returned her smile. “And thanks for always being there for me. I have something for you. It’s something borrowed.” She placed on Syneda’s wrist a beautiful pearl bracelet.
“Oh, Lorren. It’s your mom’s bracelet.” She hugged her friend. “Thanks.”
When the wedding coordinator took the two flower girls off to the side to give them last-minute instructions, Syneda found herself alone with her father.
The past five months had been somewhat stressful for both of them. After her initial shock had worn off, Syneda went through a few weeks of resentment at Syntel Remington’s appearance in her life. As if she had told him in the beginning, she had had eighteen years of hurt and anger to deal with. But through it all, he had been understanding and refused to let her put distance between them or deny him a place in her life as her father. He had braved, tolerated and survived her overwrought and, at times, pushed-to-the-limit emotions. Now she was grateful he had not taken her behavior personally.