Impossibly Forever: Two Books in One (Impossibly Duology) (29 page)

  
Opening the door, I peered back at him over my shoulder. “I am sure. She’s the
one I want to be with for the rest of my life.”

  
“Then…” he walked over. “You have my support, son.”

  
“Thanks,” I said in a low tone, stepping outside. That was one support I
needed. Mom wouldn’t be as easy to convince.

CHAPTER FORTY-NINE

Moya

  
Our Christmas dinner
went well as always, concluding with everyone
sharing and opening gifts in the living room. I gave Vanessa a charm bracelet and
navy blue gloves, and she gave me a jewelry set that included gold teardrop
earrings and a matching necklace and ring. She bought my mom a nice black hat
to wear to church, and I gave Patricia a sapphire lace shawl; a suitable gift
for Vanessa’s stylish mom.

  
As the evening turned into night, I’d given up on Daddy coming by. It’d
probably be too awkward for him, but I still would have loved seeing him on
Christmas for the first time in so many years.

  
Shortly after Vanessa and her mom left, Daddy’s car pulled up in front of the
house while I was coming up the steps of the porch. I stood still, peering
back, yet my insides were skipping with excitement.

  
He turned the car off and hopped out, coming through the gate and down the
walkway. “Hey, baby girl.
Merry Christmas.”

  
I turned fully to face him as he drew closer. “Merry Christmas,” I replied.
“Changed your mind about dinner?”

  
He shrugged. “I didn’t want things to be…you know me and Patricia never really
got along.”

  
“It’s okay,” I said dryly, pretending like I didn’t care.

  
“I got you something.” He handed me a small, green gift bag with an ivory bow
at the front.

  
Taking it from his hand, I opened up the bag and peeked inside. There was a
teddy bear wearing a heart-shaped silver necklace, daddy’s girl engraved on it.

  
“Thank you,” I murmured. “I got you something too. Wanna come in out of the
cold?”

  
“Sure.”

  
He followed me inside and stalled in the foyer while I walked into the living
room to get his card. Momma came out of the kitchen as I strolled back over to
him, drying her hands in a towel.

  
“Hi, Joseph,” she greeted him. 

  
“Marie. Sorry I couldn’t come by earlier—”

  
“It’s no problem. I knew you were apprehensive about that. I only wanted to
make up for something I took away.”

  
Daddy glanced away from her and stared at me with contentment in his
almond-shaped eyes. “That’s over now. Let’s move on.”

  
I cleared my throat and reached the card out to him. He took it with a smile.

  
“I couldn’t think of what to get you because I don’t know…” I stopped myself
from finishing as his eyes snapped up fast.

  
“Never mind about that,” he continued to smile at me. “This is a nice card. I
really appreciate it, baby girl.”

  
“I was thinking if you weren’t too busy tomorrow at your jewelry store, then
maybe we could spend a little time together.”

  
They both gasped, surprised at my bold step. I almost surprised myself too.

  
“Yeah, we can do that,” he replied excitedly.

  
“Great.”

  
We stood in the foyer, gazing around at each other. From the look on their
faces, I could tell they were as caught up in memories as I was. I hoped it was
the good ones, and not the day he left.

  
“I gotta get going,” he broke through the silence, turning to reach for the
door handle.

  
“I’m glad you came by,” Momma enthused, joy lighting up her exhausted eyes.
“And again, I’m sorry…for how I treated you.”

  
He waved her off. “Like I said, what’s done is done. I’m just glad to be back
in my girl’s life.”

  
Peering at me, he nudged my arm. “See you, baby.” Then he opened the front door
and left.

  
Momma squeezed my shoulder before turning to go back into the kitchen.

  
“Coming to help me clean up before bed?” she asked softly.

  
“I will,” I answered, staring out the window by the door, watching as Daddy
climbed inside his white Chevy Sedan and took off down the street.

  
“You used to do that when you were little, you remember?” Momma watched me from
the doorway, tears welling up her eyes. “Even then…I should’ve fixed it
sooner.”

  
“I don’t want to get into that now.” I walked past her into the kitchen, going
over to the sink to start the dishes. “It’s Christmas. We should be happy. Some
families aren’t like us. I mean, I can only imagine what Branden’s—” I quickly
pressed my lips shut. Branden’s family issues weren’t for me to talk about with
anyone, including Momma.

  
“What about Branden?” she asked, coming up to the kitchen sink.

  
“Nothing.
You rinsing?”

  
“Humph,” she placed the towel she was holding on top of the counter and started
to rinse the dishes I’d just washed. “Well, remember when I said you could tell
me anything?”

  
“Mmm-hmm.”

  
“I’m always here if you wanna talk, baby girl.” I could tell she was trying to
get it out of me, being her usual sweet and open self.

  
“Actually,” I couldn’t believe I hadn’t discussed it with her yet.

  
“What’s up?” she prompted.

  
“Branden wants me to go away with him next weekend, after New Year’s. Is that
okay?”

  
I didn’t meet her gaze, but I felt her eyeing me, pondering on what I just
said. I grew anxious, hoping she wouldn’t tell me not to go. Even if I was
nineteen, Momma still had the authority in my world.

  
“Well,” she exhaled, rinsing the utensils. “That means you two will be very
much alone together.”

  
I pressed my lips tighter, letting her do the talking.

  
“I guess
it’s
okay.”

  
“Really?”
I snapped around and smiled at her
excitedly. “You’re not going to tell me don’t go.”

  
She twisted and looked me in the eye. “Aside from the fact that I know Branden
and I think he’s a nice guy who I can trust with my daughter, I also trust you
as an adult. I mean, I have to cut the apron strings soon before I end up
choking you with them.”

  
I couldn’t help smile. “Thanks, Momma.”

  
She waved me off and we continued doing the dishes, switching the conversation
to work and me starting one next year.

  
There was a clothing store in the plaza near school that was looking to hire
after the holiday, and I’d gotten the position. It was a good thing because by
then Branden would be back in school, and I’d get to see him even if I worked
on weekends.

  
Although, if the coach of our college hockey team liked what he saw during
tryouts—which he might, since Branden was so great from what I’d seen in those
YouTube videos—that meant we’d see each other less.

  
It scared me, because as understanding as Vanessa was at first, Calvin’s
responsibility to his basketball team contributed a lot to their relationship
coming to an end. Would hockey affect mine and Branden’s as much?

***

  
It snowed on Thursday evening when I got home from spending the afternoon with
Daddy, turning into flurries by Friday morning.

  
I felt bored at my house with Momma at work and Branden helping out Ashton with
his travel plans, so I walked over to Vanessa’s around the corner to hang out
for a while.

  
“Where’s he taking you, anyway?” she asked, sitting Indian style on her gray
rug as she painted her fingernails a bright orange.

  
I lounged on her bed, flipping through the current issue of Cosmopolitan
magazine. “I don’t know. He says it’s a surprise.”

  
She tittered in a knowing way, blowing on her fingers. “I bet ya’ll are gonna
do it.”

  
“No we’re not,” I acted shy.

  
“Humph! Girl, there’s only one reason why a guy takes his girlfriend away for
the weekend to have privacy, and we both know what that is.”

  
I tossed a pillow at her on the floor. She squealed, “Moya, my nails!”

  
Peering down at her, I stuck out my tongue and chortled. Vanessa shot up to her
feet and jumped on the bed, hitting me with her pillow. We laughed so loud that
Patricia called out from down the
hall.          

  
“Girls!
I have company. Relax!” she hissed.

  
“Sorry!” we replied at the same time.

  
“Who’s here?” I whispered. “I didn’t see anyone when I came in earlier.”

  
Vanessa rolled her eyes then laid flat on her back, exhaling. “It’s probably
that guy she’s been dating.”

  
I
laid
down beside her. “You don’t sound as if you
like him.”

  
“I don’t,” she scoffed. 

  
“How come?”

  
“I just wish…sometimes I wish my dad was still here. I guess I can’t accept
that he’s dead and not coming back.”

  
I inched closer and squeezed her hand. “I’m sorry, girl.”

  
“It’s okay,” she played tough. “Shit happens.”

  
“You all right?”
I asked, noticing her eyes were
turning red and watery.

  
She shrugged then sat up, moving down to the edge of the bed. “I’m good.
Anyway, let’s not get all sappy.” She spun and smiled at me. “What you doing for
New Year’s Eve? Now that you have a man, you have to come out with me and
Warren.”

  
I sat up and leaned back against the headboard. “I guess we will. Branden wants
us to be together too—”

  
“Of course he does. He’s hungry like a wolf.”

  
“Stop.”

  
“I’m serious, girl. You have him hooked. I saw the way he was all over you the
night of the festival. Mmm-hmm,” she pointed her finger and winked at me. “He’s
not the only one. You have this longing about you when you’re with him. I’ve
noticed it all.”

  
“Anyways,” I slid off her bed and pulled down my sweater. “Let’s decide where
to go for New Year’s Eve. Momma and Patricia are gonna stay home as usual to
watch TV until the ball drops.”

  
Vanessa got up and walked over to her closet, chuckling. “They’ll be fast
asleep by the time the clock strikes midnight.” She took out her plaid, woolen
coat. “That’s why we are gonna go to Club 207 in downtown Baltimore to get our
grooves on,” she stressed on the word as her body moved in a slow grind.

  
I laughed, amazed by her unending silliness. “You’re something else, you know
that?”

  
She straightened and headed for the room door, giggling. “I know. That’s why
you love me.”

  
“Indeed, I do.”

CHAPTER FIFTY

Branden

  
When Moya told me
where she and Vanessa wanted to go for New Year’s Eve,
I knew what that meant. Club 207 was nestled right in the middle of Baltimore’s
Collegetown, but if you wanted to get in, you had to look sharp.

  
I decided to wear my blue shirt over dress pants with a pair of black shoes. I
even had a haircut earlier today so my appearance would look worthy of standing
next to Moya, who was surely going to be all dressed up tonight. I looked
forward to seeing her.

  
Receiving a text from Warren saying he was almost at my house, I grabbed my
leather jacket from the closet and treaded downstairs.

  
Mom was lying on the sofa, snuggled up in grandma’s blanket as the light from
the television emanated the dark living room. It felt strange seeing her like
that, curled up with something of sentimental value.

  
I paused at the front door, watching her, wondering if I should even utter a
word to pull her out of whatever misery she’d drifted into. By the lost
expression on her face, I knew she wasn’t watching TV.

  
Mom peered up as the headlights from Warren’s car blared through the beige
curtains overlaying the two story windows. She appeared frazzled, confused, and
lonely at the same time.

  
“I’m going now,” I called out to her.

  
Her head snapped around. Slowly she rose from the sofa and walked over to me.
“Oh…I thought you were staying home like your brother.”

  
Baffled by what she’d said, I glanced up the stairs as I confirmed, “Ashton’s
home on New Year’s Eve?”

  
When I met her eyes again, they appeared sunken, dark circles beneath them.
“Are you okay, Mom?”

  
She shrugged and feigned a smile as she answered, “Never been better.”

  
Not in the mood for this, I slanted and lowered my hand to the door handle.
“Warren’s waiting for me. I gotta go.”

  
“Happy New Year, Branden,” she said with an empty look on her pale face.

  
“Are you trying to stop me from leaving?”

  
Mom wrinkled her forehead. “No. Why’d you think that?”

  
“Because of the way you’re acting, and how you look.”

  
She touched her face. “How do I look?”

  
“Tired.
Sleep deprived. Sad…” my voice drifted as I
thought of another reason, the one that could be the meaning behind her
depressed mood.
“Like you miss Dad after all.”

  
She stiffened. “I absolutely do not miss that—”

  
“Please don’t. I’m tired of hearing you call each other names. It makes me feel
horrible, and I don’t want to feel like that tonight. So don’t.”

  
Mom pressed her lips shut, biting her tongue. She gazed up at me with pitiful
eyes. They almost convinced me to stay, until my cell phone buzzed inside my
jacket. Taking it out, I saw Warren had called.

  
 I looked back at her and said, “Sorry, but there’s someone waiting for
me. Someone who makes all this…disappear.”

  
She parted her lips to speak, but then turned around. “Have fun,” she muttered
instead over her shoulder.

  
“Thanks.”

  
I walked out the door, eager to put it behind me so that I could have fun
tonight with my friends, and the girl I loved.

  
“Hey man, what took you?” asked Warren when I treaded down the stone entrance
towards his Dodge Challenger.     

  
“You don’t want to know,” I replied, hopping inside the car. We agreed earlier
to take only one since Downtown Baltimore would be hectic tonight, where
parking was concerned. Leaving mine behind would be less of a hassle, and I
liked his so I thought, why not?

  
Warren took off right away, heading to Berlin Heights to pick up the girls.
When he pulled up outside Moya’s house and we walked up to the front door, my
jaw dropped when she answered, wearing a body-hugging black dress with matching
sheer tights. It showed off her curves more than ever. Not to mention her hair
was put up into a sexy bun, displaying her cute gold earrings, with a few curls
dangling in the back. She was also wearing the bracelet I’d given her for
Christmas.

  
I cleared the tightness in my throat to compliment her, “You’re beautiful.” My
voice came out hoarse.

  
Moya grinned knowingly, shattering my cool even more when she replied in a
sultry tone, “Thank you.”

  
Vanessa appeared behind her, looking just as nice in a red dress. I glimpsed
Warren at the corner of my eye to see his reaction. He was as dumbstruck by his
girlfriend’s attire as I was of mine.

  
“Ready to go?”
Vanessa asked, putting on her coat and
handing another to Moya.

  
“Sure thing,” Warren replied.

  
She stepped outside and walked down the front steps with him, I waited behind
for Moya to lock up.

  
“Your mom’s out?” I asked when she finished and turned around.

  
“Oh no, she’s over by Vanessa’s house. She usually watches the ball drop with
Patricia.”

  
“I see. Hope they weren’t mad you girls are going out instead of staying home
with them.”

  
“They’re not,” she shook her head. “Momma used to let Vanessa drag me out with
her and Calvin. She’s actually more excited than we are that I have a boyfriend
now to hang out with on New Year’s Eve, instead of being a third wheel.”

  
I smirked. She hit me lightly on the arm. “Don’t laugh at me.”

  
“I’m not.”

  
Reaching the car, I opened the backdoor so she could climb inside, hopping in
beside her. Vanessa was already settled in the front seat. Warren drove off the
moment I closed the door.

  
The entire time I couldn’t keep my eyes off Moya. How wonderful it was to be
with such a beauty. She picked up on me watching, turning to glance into my
eyes as if her feelings compelled her to.

  
Not a minute later, she snuggled up to me, leveling her head on my shoulder for
the remainder of the drive. She smelled as good as she looked; the floral scent
of jasmine was soft, refined, yet it managed to set my senses on high.

  
I wasn’t sure how much longer I could bear, but it’d definitely be hard trying
to keep my hands off her tonight.