We Didn’t See it Coming (12 page)

The image became clearer to her. It was her sister, Noelle, with her head back and Baron leaned forward, kissing her. Noelle's breasts were partially exposed.

“No way,” Kenley mumbled. “Noelle making out with Mr. Chavis. And she acts like she so innocent.”

Kenley wondered what the image was doing on her father's computer. How did he get it? Why didn't he say anything about it? Why did Noelle and Baron Chavis pretend like they had no connection? But the big question to Kenley was when did her father learn about them? His cause of death was a heart attack. He had a look on his face as if he had gotten disturbing news. Was this what drove her father to his death?

She closed the file and wanted to run to Noelle and show her that she knew the truth about her.
Milandra would be mad.

Kenley decided to keep it a secret, for she would watch Noelle and Baron. See if they had the guts to come clean about their relationship. One thing she knew, Milandra would fight her for the laptop. But this was one fight her older sister would not win. This was hers to keep.

Kenley logged off the computer. She closed it down, unplugged it, and carried the laptop out of the office and back into the master suite where her sisters continued to pack their parents' belongings.

Milandra noticed her carrying the laptop. “Hand over Father's computer.”

“I'm keeping it for myself. Father always let me have fun on it,” Kenley said as she held it tight.

“No, you're not. There may be important files on there,” Milandra said.

“I'm computer smart. There's nothing on it. Father only used this one to surf the Internet, not for work. He would never let me play games on a computer he handled his business on.”

“Kenley, leave the computer in his office,” Milandra ordered.

“Can things ever go my way? Everything has to be what you say?” Kenley yelled.

“Don't bargain with me. Just listen,” Milandra said, going through her mother's jewelry.

“Look at you picking out jewelry you want to keep from Mother. Neither Noelle nor I get to have any say so on what you get to keep or take from Mother or Father.”

Milandra knew this was true, as always, because she was the oldest, and as the oldest she carried the role of being a mother figure to them.

Noelle, the peacemaker, jumped into the conversation. “Milandra, let her keep it. She's grieving Mother and Father, too. Come, Kenley, share some of Mother's jewelry,” Noelle offered.

Kenley recalled her mother wearing diamond studs. “Just save me a pair of her diamond earrings,” she said as she left the room. Noelle was saved from her revealing what she found on the computer. If Noelle had taken sides with Milandra regarding the laptop, her secret would have been known.

Kenley placed the laptop near her belongings. She wished she knew her father's password for his email. She would check for that, too, in search of more hidden secrets.

After a day of exhaustion, they were packed and ready to move out. Milandra called Nolan, the mover, to come move their things.

“I didn't know I would be hearing from you this fast,” he said as he held his cell phone to his ear.

“Yes, my sisters and I decided to get things over with. The sooner we get settled in our new lives, the sooner we can begin to heal and move on.”

Nolan made it over in less than an hour.

“You didn't bring help.” Milandra noticed he was alone.

“I can handle it on my own.”

“If you need assistance, I can get some of the help.”

“I'm used to it,” he replied.

Nolan carried the boxes out and loaded them into the truck. Milandra was impressed by how he took charge and had pride in what he did. He carried the boxes with caution to avoid any damages to their belongings.

Nolan placed the last box in the truck. He waited in the truck to follow them to the Houston Villa.

The sisters stood outside of the house. They held hands as they tearfully said goodbye to the Estate.

Many of the servants, including Elsa, watched as they stood tall in unison. Milandra was still suited down, as her mother would have been dressed. Her French roll was still neatly intact.

Noelle was casually dressed in a pair of slacks and a tank top. Curls fell to her shoulder. Kenley sported a pair of jeans and a tee shirt. Her hair was pulled back high into a ponytail.

A limo driver awaited the Houstons as Nolan watched from his truck.

Elsa went over and gave them each a hug. Other servants followed, crying for them. No matter what they thought of Mr. Houston, they knew the feeling of losing a loved one. They left the Houstons to say their final goodbyes.

“Maybe this is for the best,” Noelle said. “The house died the day Father and Mother did.” She cried.

“I don't believe that. In my heart, I feel this is a temporary move. God is giving us a chance to heal. There are too many wonderful family memories in this house for any pain to flow through it right now. God is letting us relieve our pain somewhere else. When we come back, we'll restore the house with nothing but joy,” Milandra said.

“I'll be back and forth. Since Miss Half is half, then she'll be sharing half of the house with me. Don't worry, I'll be watching her. She won't turn my parents' house into a whorehouse,” Kenley said.

“Kenley, be careful. People can be real vicious at times,” Noelle warned her.

“Please. Let Miss Half bring it on,” Kenley said.

The driver opened the door and they got into the limo.

• • •

Reaching their new home, the Houstons noticed the pine straw was raked and used as skirts for the trees.

“You had a gardener to clean the yard?” Noelle asked.

“No. I don't know who tidied this,” Milandra said, surprised.

They got out of the limo. Nolan stepped down from the truck. He called. “I hope I did a good job on your yard,” he queried.

Noelle and Kenley left Milandra to talk to him. They could see Nolan was focused on their sister.

“Please, whatever the cost is, add it to the bill,” Milandra said.

“That won't be necessary.”

Kenley ran outside with a cold soda in her hand. “Milandra! Thanks for having supper on the stove. Fried chicken, potato salad, and string beans. The refrigerator is filled with cold drinks. I was wondering what we were going to do about food,” Kenley said.

“You didn't do that, too? Did you?” Milandra asked.

“My pleasure.” He smiled.

Milandra pulled out her checkbook. “Please, let me pay you.”

Nolan pointed to his truck. “I'm going to empty your boxes out of my truck to work up an appetite. All I ask is to let me have a bite to eat when I finish.”

“Of course you may share a meal with us, but that's not payment. You're eating the food
you
purchased.”

“Yeah, but I'm eating for free at your home. And, I get to look at beauty for free while I eat.” He smiled.

“All right, I see you can be as stubborn as me,” Milandra admitted.

Nolan went on to unload the truck. Kenley giggled. “Milandra has a boyfriend,” she teased.

“Hush, he might hear you,” Milandra said as she pulled her sister to walk toward the house.

The aroma of fried chicken filled the house. Noelle sat at a wooden oak table as she bit into a chicken leg.

“This is delicious,” she said. “Nice and crispy.”

“You know we can sit down at the table and have supper together,” Milandra said.

“This is a snack,” Noelle said.

“I'll have a snack with you,” Kenley said as she took a chicken wing out of a KFC box.

“Come, Milandra, have a chicken wing,” Noelle said.

Kenley sat down at the table next to her sister. “She's not hungry for chicken; she's hungry for the mover,” Kenley instigated.

Milandra tried not to blush. “Nonsense!” She left the room and went on the patio deck. She called Baron.

“Hello,” he answered.

“Hello, Mr. Chavis, this is Milandra. Any new update on how we can fight my father's will?”

“Sorry, Milandra, but there are no loopholes, yet. Realize that even if I find one, we could be in court for a very long time.”

“Whatever it is, I want the estate back. Father should have left this house to her; it's enough space for one person.”

Milandra jumped when Nolan came up behind her and tapped her on the shoulder.

She turned around to come face to face with him. She immediately said to Baron, “I have to go.” She clicked the phone off.

“Talking to your man?” Nolan asked.

“No, my lawyer.”

“Didn't mean to interrupt you. I'm finished bringing in the boxes.”

“Hungry?” Milandra asked.

Nolan patted his six-pack. “Oh yeah!”

Milandra insisted that he go in first, but Nolan, being a gentleman, said, “Ladies first.”

He watched her from behind. He feasted his eyes on her curves. He would have to do overtime to get with her.

Milandra felt his eyes on her. Never had she felt so uneasy in front of a man. She had been around many of her father's workers, but none brought her this much tension.

Back in the kitchen, her sisters' plates were left with chicken bones on them.

“Thanks for the food. The chicken is good,” Kenley said.

Noelle got up and disposed of her plate.

Kenley left hers on the table. “We should have brought some help with us.”

Milandra agreed. “I'll make a call and start interviewing help tomorrow.”

Nolan listened to them. He went on and made himself a plate of food.

“Are you going to eat?” Nolan focused his attention on Milandra.

“Yes. Kenley, prepare me a plate of supper.”

“Me? I'm not one of the help.”

Nolan placed his plate on the table. Next to his seat he pulled a chair out. “Have a seat, Miss Houston,” he said as he flagged Milandra.

Kenley playfully went to sit down.

“I forgot there're three Miss Houstons in this kitchen. I meant you, Milandra.”

“Excuse me.” Kenley giggled.

Noelle pulled her by the arm. “Come on, baby sister, I think you need to go with me. Let's start unpacking.”

Milandra sat in the seat. Nolan's mannerism was the class act she loved. As fast as she took a seat, she went to get back up. “I haven't cleansed my hands.”

“Don't move,” he said.

Nolan ran over to the sink and wet a paper towel. He brought it back to her. Milandra wiped her hands while he made a plate of food for her.

“What part of the chicken would you like, Miss Houston?”

“I'll take a leg. That'll be fine.”

Nolan placed the plate in front of her. He folded a napkin in front of her with a fork on top of it. “Enjoy your meal,” he whispered in her ear.

Nolan sat down and took charge, blessing the food.

Milandra sat erect eating her food. Taking small bites of the chicken, she constantly wiped any food particles from around her mouth. She had never felt so nervous eating in front of a man. Her father would have forbidden it. She was defying him at this very moment, but her inner being led her to stay put in the seat.

Nolan noticed the trembling in her hands, that she wasn't relaxed. He broke the ice by making small talk. “My belly has been waiting for a meal all day.”

“You haven't eaten today?” Milandra asked but kept her eyes on her plate.

“I drink water all day in this heat. It keeps me hydrated.”

“Speaking of drinks, I have to hire help right away. A Southern table must always have a pitcher of cold homemade iced tea.”

“No problem, I'll be your temporary help.” Nolan got up and went to the refrigerator. “You can have iced tea, but it's not homemade.” He held up a gallon of store bought lemon tea.

“I never had iced tea from a container. I'll try it.” She smiled.

Nolan filled two glasses for them. He placed one in front of her.

She took a sip of it. “It's nice and lemony.” She smiled. “I'll buy several containers for the house.”

Nolan grinned. “You should only buy a couple at a time. You want it nice and freshly brewed.”

“Will do.”

Nolan saw that Milandra became somewhat more relaxed around him. But more work had to be done to get her to want him as much as he wanted her.

“Is there anything else you need done around here?”

“Well, starting tomorrow, I'll have help around here. I won't bother you, unless I need something moved.”

“Oh, that's no good.” Nolan wondered what he could do to keep coming to see her.

“I offered you a job that you don't need.”

Nolan laughed. “Yes, you did.”

“I promise, if I need your help, I'll call you.”

“That's it; you wouldn't call a friend just to say hello?”

Milandra looked up at him. “We're friends now?”

“I thought you knew that,” Nolan teased. “I'm not the type of guy you would have for a friend?”

“Nolan, I have no male friends.”

“You have one now. Me.”

He got up out of his seat and cleaned his spot. “Finished?” he asked, looking over at her empty plate.

Milandra handed her plate to him. She got out of her seat. “I guess I'll go help my sisters unpack. I'll walk you out.”

Nolan made his way to the front door. “Milandra, you made my day.”

“With all that my sisters and I have been through, you have alleviated some of our problems. So I graciously thank you.” Milandra bowed her head.

“Speaking of problems, your Jacuzzi in the backyard is malfunctioning. Also, out near the ramped walkway to the lake, there's a slope in the ground. Come, I'll show you.”

“How do you know all of this?”

“Let's just say I made sure everything was safe for you ladies to move in.”

Nolan led the way out back. The walk to the lake gave them a peaceful view of the sun starting to disappear among the clouds. He came to the slope in the ground. “Right here,” he said as he tapped his shoe on the spot. “It needs some filling in with dirt.” Nolan looked down at her ankle to see a diamond anklet. “I wouldn't want you to twist your ankle.”