Too Little, Too Late (7 page)

Hosea smiled. “That’s all I need.”

“Just remember, son, there’s a reason why your mother named you Hosea. She knew when you were still in her womb that you would hear the voice of God.”

He smiled. It had been over ten years since his mother had passed, and finally, he’d found a way to have joy whenever she was mentioned.

“I hear Him, Pops. All the time.”

“Just make sure that you listen. Especially in situations like this. Especially with your marriage.”

“Always do.”

“And know that you can always come to me.”

“That I know.”

The two men hugged as if all was okay. And inside, Hosea prayed that all he’d told his father was true.

“Y
A WANNA WALK OUT TOGETHER
?”

Hosea glanced up and tried not to smile. But he couldn’t help it. Every time he looked at Natasia, memories stretched his lips into a grin.

“Yeah.” He stood. “I’m ready to get going. I’m sure Jasmine has a ton of things for me to do before we get on the plane in the morning.”

Natasia nodded. “I’ve gotta pack myself. Can’t say that I’ll be sorry leaving the Ritz. Not that I don’t love that place, but even the best hotels get old after a week. It’ll be great to have an apartment in Los Angeles.” She paused, looked at him. “I just wish I was going to be staying at the Fairmont with you. Are you sure there’s nothing you can do?”

Before he could respond, her cell rang. He pressed the elevator button as she flipped her phone open.

“Yes, this is Ms. Redding.”

The elevator pinged and the doors slid apart. Natasia held up one finger, asking Hosea to wait.

He nodded. And listened.

“You’re kidding,” she said.

She frowned, and he did the same.

“No, I mean yes. I’m still interested. Definitely. I’ve been waiting a long time.” She paused, looked at Hosea, bit the corner of her lip. “Tomorrow? Well, that’s not possible.” More silence. A deeper frown. “I understand. Can you give me a couple of hours?” When she closed her phone, her face was etched with worry.

“What’s wrong?”

She waited as if she wasn’t sure what to say. “That was the adoption agency. Actually one of the connections from Africa.” She started at him and said, “They have a baby for me, Hosea,” in a tone that sounded like she didn’t believe her own words.

He was as stunned as she was. “Wow.”

“And they want me to come to Malawi. Tomorrow.”

“Wow.”

“I know,” she said as they stepped into the elevator.

He waited until they got into the lobby before he asked, “What are you going to do?”

She shook her head. “I don’t know.” She walked out of the building with slow, halting steps. She was in a trance. “I’ve been waiting, but I don’t know…is this the right time? What about my job? What about this show?”

He shrugged. “I don’t know what to tell you.”

“I need to talk to Steve. Maybe I can work this out, at least with my job in Chicago. I should be back in a few days…or weeks. I don’t know.” Her eyebrows bunched together.

Gently, he held her arm. “Do whatever’s best for you, Natasia.”

She looked down to where he held her. When she glanced back, he wasn’t sure what he saw in her eyes—regret, fear. “I’ll call you.”

He stood still as she walked, still unsteadily. And after just a few steps, he wondered if he should follow her.

No,
he decided. This was her life. He didn’t need to be part of it.

When she was out of sight, he began walking north and he thought about how quickly life changed. Natasia had come back to him, and just as fast, now she was gone.

Maybe this was a sign. Maybe his father had been right. He didn’t need any complications in his life.

All he would do now is call Natasia in a few days and wish her well.

J
ASMINE STROLLED TO THE
front of the plane with a wide smile. With Natasia gone to another continent, she had no concerns. She’d even tossed away her fears about running into Brian. Los Angeles was too big a city for that to happen.

She plopped into the seat next to Hosea and strapped herself in. She’d been waiting for Hosea to tell her that Natasia had left the show, but he’d said nothing. She wasn’t worried, though. After days of planning, the call had been made yesterday. And this morning, Natasia was on her way to Malawi.

Glancing at her watch, she figured that her nemesis was probably forty thousand feet in the air on her way to adopting a child from the same country as Madonna had. Maybe one day, Natasia would call the mega-star to arrange a play date—if she could find her own baby. Jasmine chuckled.

“What’s so funny?” Hosea lowered the newspaper he was reading.

“I was just thinking about something Mae Frances said.”

“Is she settled in back there?”

“Not really. She’s fussing about having to put Jacquie down. And she’s threatening to curse out anyone who tries to make her strap her grandbaby into that big ol’ seat.” Jasmine half-sighed, half-laughed. “You’re going to have to handle her.”

“I’ll take care of Nama.” He leaned closer to his wife. “But first, I want to take care of you.”

The moment their lips touched, a voice spoke from above. “Hey, guys.”

“Natasia!” they exclaimed together.

“What are you—” Jasmine stopped. She wasn’t supposed to know anything about Natasia not being there. But Hosea asked the question for her.

“What are you doing here?”

Natasia lowered her voice, speaking only to him. “I decided this wasn’t the time. Being with you, I mean, being on the show is where I’m supposed to be.”

“What about the baby?”

“Believe me, there are plenty of people waiting. And I’ll have another chance.” She paused. “Don’t worry. I’m fine. I’m doing the right thing.”

Jasmine bounced back in her chair. Folded her arms. Did nothing to hide her disdain.

“Well, at least you made the flight.” He glanced at his watch. “Just in time. We’re gonna take off soon.” Hosea pointed toward the rear of the plane. “There’re a couple of seats back there.”

Natasia’s glance followed Hosea’s finger. She frowned. “I need to be sitting with you.”

Jasmine eyes widened.

“I’m sitting with my wife.”

“But I have work to do.”

“Then you
will
be more comfortable in the back. You can use the tables.”

Jasmine inched to the edge of her seat. She was ready to bounce up and smack her if Natasia said anything else.

Hosea said, “I’ll check with you once we get in the air.”

With a deep sigh, Natasia took another look at Jasmine. “Okay…darlin’. I’ll be waiting for you.”

Jasmine pressed her legs into the seat, willed herself to stay in place and not show out on this corporate jet.

Once alone, Hosea leaned over and kissed Jasmine’s forehead. “Sorry ’bout that.”

“I thought…” Jasmine pressed her lips together. She couldn’t even ask what she wanted to know.

Hosea said, “We’ll be taking off in a few. I’m going to check on Mae Frances and my pumpkin.”

Jasmine tried to breathe herself back to calm. She didn’t really need to ask anyone what had happened. Natasia had decided not to adopt the child. Had decided that being with Hosea was more important.

It was clear—she was not giving up. And she proved it with the way she’d just thrown herself at Hosea right in front of Jasmine’s face.

Jasmine shook her head. Even in her wildest days she’d never been that blatant.

“Well, it took some work,” Hosea said, sliding back into his seat. “But Jacquie is strapped in and so is Mae Frances.”

As the three flight attendants demonstrated the safety procedures, Hosea held Jasmine’s hand. She wanted to pull away, punish him for ever knowing Natasia. But she had no reason to be mad at him. He wasn’t the one who was acting like crazy was part of his DNA.

When the jet angled into the air, she reached inside her purse and pulled out the lottery ticket she’d purchased the day she formulated the plan to send Natasia back to Africa.

She looked at the numbers and then tore the paper into tiny pieces. It was obvious, any kind of luck she’d had had run out. Now she was going to need some special kind of blessings to take care of this woman.

Hosea took a sip of the soda the flight attendant handed him. “You okay?” Jasmine nodded and once again, he reached for her hand. “Listen, I know Natasia is a little difficult to take.”

“Is that what you call it?” She paused, lowered her voice. “It’s a lot more than that, Hosea. She’s crazy.”

“Don’t you think that’s a bit of an exaggeration?”

“No. And when someone who’s crazy is after you, let me tell you, she’ll do anything to get you.”

He grinned. “You sound like you’re speaking from experience.”

She pouted. “Baby, don’t make fun. I’m being serious.”

“I know you are. But it doesn’t matter what Natasia does. There’s nothing she can do to get me. She could stand up here butt-naked twirling a hula-hoop around her belly and one around her neck, and I wouldn’t care.”

Jasmine couldn’t help it, she laughed.

“There’s nothing Natasia could say or do that would take my eyes away from you.”

“But, Hosea, she’s so disrespectful.”

“Okay, I’ll talk to her. Because if it bothers you, it bothers me.” He squeezed her hand. “I’ll tell her I ain’t having it.”

“Thanks, babe.”

“Now, I’ve got something for you.” He grinned. “Wanna become a member of the Mile High Club?”

Another voice spoke before Jasmine could respond.

“Excuse me.”

She didn’t have to look up to know the devil hovered over them.

“Hosea, I wanted to go over the schedule so that I can tell the staff it’s a go in the meeting tomorrow,” Natasia said.

“Tomorrow? No one’s going into the studio until Thursday.”

“That’s your schedule. But I’ve called a meeting with the producers.”

“Natasia, give everyone a chance to enjoy the Fourth of July before we work them to death.”

“You may have time to relax, but I don’t. So anyway, can I have just a bit of your time now?”

Hosea shook his head, but Jasmine said, “Babe, it’s okay. I’ll check on Jacquie and Mae Frances.” She whispered, “Maybe you can talk to this heifer about showin’ some respect. And after that, you can talk to me about that Mile High Club thing.” She kissed him.

She didn’t bother to look at Natasia. Just strutted by her as if she knew her game and didn’t even care.

“Mama!” her daughter exclaimed when Jasmine settled into the seat next to Mae Frances.

“Hey, baby.” She lifted Jacqueline onto her lap. “You having a good time with Nama?”

Jacqueline nodded and leaned against her mother’s chest.

Mae Frances tilted her head close to Jasmine’s. “I guess she decided against Malawi,” she whispered as she peeked toward the front of the plane.

“I guess she wants Hosea more than she wants a child.”

“She’s sure determined. Had her eyes on you and Preacher Man the entire time while the plane was taking off. Almost fell out of her seat trying to see what you were doing.” She paused. “I don’t know, Jasmine Larson. This one might be real trouble.”

Jasmine turned her glance back to where her husband sat. The high seat-backs restricted her view; she could only see the top of their heads. Hosea and Natasia sat a little too close, but she was determined to stay right where she was. She needed to give Hosea time to give Natasia the message that he wasn’t interested in her little games. And she needed to give Natasia time to know that she wasn’t concerned about her two-bit tricks either.

After a few minutes, Jasmine stood and rested her daughter in Mae Frances’s lap. “You’re still okay with Jacquie being back here with you?”

Mae Frances nodded. “I’ll take care of this little darling. You go take care of that skank.”

“Mae Frances!”

“What? That skank oughta be glad I prayed the Sinner’s Prayer or else I’d be up in her face telling her what’s really on my mind.” She paused. “Hmph, good thing I’m saved.”

Jasmine laughed and turned toward the front cabin. She was going to do exactly what Mae Frances said. She was going to take care of that skank.

M
AE
F
RANCES YELLED FROM THE
hallway, “Are you guys ready?” and with her fists, she banged on the door.

“Nama!” Jasmine grabbed Mae Frances and pulled her inside the suite. “Are you trying to get us evicted? The Fairmont is not that kind of place.”

“Hmph.” Mae Frances paraded into the suite across from hers. “This ain’t no better than where I live.”

Jasmine couldn’t deny that. The Fairmont was an elegant hotel that housed short-term-lease apartments on the top levels. But the elite Park Avenue building where Mae Frances lived was equal in splendor to this place.

Mae Frances stood in the middle of the living room and folded her arms. “You guys aren’t ready? You got me out of my bed so that we could do this. I’m only going because you bugged me.”

“Really? I thought you were going because you wanted to see Los Angeles.”

“I live in New York!” Mae Frances growled. “Why would I want to see Los Angeles?” Then Mae Frances glanced out the window that overlooked Griffith Park. And she smiled at the view.

Jasmine called out to Hosea and he came, carrying Jacqueline on his shoulders.

“Nama!” Jacqueline giggled.

“How’s my heart?” And then, “How’re you, Preacher Man?”

“Peeker Man!” Jacqueline cheered.

Hosea rolled his eyes. “Are you ready?”

“I’ve been ready,” she huffed. “Just waitin’ for you slow folks.”

“Slo’ pokes!” Jacqueline said and they all laughed.

Jasmine grabbed her bag just as the telephone rang. Still chuckling, she answered, “Good morning!”

“Let me speak to Hosea.”

That voice took all of her cheer away. “Who is this?” Although Jasmine already knew.

A sigh. “Natasia.”

“I’m sorry, but we’re on our way out,” she said as if she were talking to a telemarketer. “May I take a message?”

“Let me speak to Hosea, Jasmine. I don’t have time for your little games.”

My little games? Oh, this hussy is about to be cursed out.

“This is about work,” Natasia continued, “and it’s important.”

Jasmine rolled her eyes. What she wanted to do was hang up, pretend this call never happened. Instead, she waved her hand toward her husband.

“What’s going down?” Hosea said into the phone. A second later, his eyebrows rose. “Natasia, I’m not coming in. It’s the Fourth of July and I have plans.”

Jasmine held her breath and prayed that her husband would fight for his freedom and his time with his family.

“Who called this meeting?” More silence. Then, “Is Triage there? Let me speak to him.”

“Mama,” Jacqueline called, trying to take her attention away. “Look!” She held up her teddy bear.

Jasmine smiled at her daughter, but quickly turned back to her husband.

“Triage, what’s happening?”

By the time Hosea said good-bye, Jasmine knew her day was ruined.

“I have to go into the office. Looks like the studio wasn’t expecting our team for another two weeks.”

“How did that happen?”

“I don’t know. Natasia caught the mistake.”

“She’s the one who probably caused it.”

“Anyway,” Hosea continued, as if he hadn’t heard his wife, “she’s called in everyone to redo the schedules.” He sighed. “Sorry about this, darlin’. But you and Mae Frances go on to Disneyland.”

“No.” Jasmine pouted.

“Please don’t make me feel bad. I’ll get to the office, take care of business, and then I’ll catch up with you guys down there.”

“No.” Jasmine shook her head, unwavering in her discontent. “We’ll just stay here.”

“No we won’t,” Mae Frances piped in. “You go to work, Preacher Man. I’ll take care of your girls.”

“Thanks, Nama.” Hosea turned to Jasmine, kissed her forehead. “I promise I’ll make this up to you.”

Jasmine was still standing in place, arms folded, when Hosea rushed from their suite. “I can’t believe this. She calls, he runs.”

“That’s not what happened. His work called. And he’s been running to that job since you met him. That’s nothing new.”

“But what’s new is Natasia.” Jasmine paused, chewed on the corner of her lip. “She has more power than I thought. Just working on the show gives her too much access to Hosea.”

Mae Frances waved her hand as if Jasmine’s words meant nothing. “You’re the only one with access to Preacher Man. Look, we’ve been in L.A. for one day and haven’t even begun to fight. She’ll be gone soon enough.”

Jasmine nodded, although she felt far from confident.

“Mama!” Jacqueline ran to Jasmine and wrapped her arms around her mother’s neck. “Dada?”

Jasmine lifted her daughter and hugged her. “He’s at work,” was all she said, even though her thoughts continued.
He’s at work. And he’s with Natasia.