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  “Whew,” I said. “Being called to the principal’s office at the end of the day is never good,” I joked. “Somebody must have mentioned that I was off my game today, huh?” I offered.

  “Off your game?” she laughed. “Like that’s ever happened, Giselle. You’re one of the most dedicated and consistent educators in this entire district.”

  “Huh?”

  “Huh?” she mimicked, her smile broadening. “You know I don’t take time to blow smoke up anybody’s ass. You’re kick-ass, woman.”

  “Thank you, Madeline.”

  “No. Thank you. For your outstanding service to our youth. For your dedication to their futures. And I’ve heard that you’ve had to put a few parents in their places too. But your numbers for back-to-school night show a real respect on both sides. Parent participation isn’t always the highest. But yours are. So, again… thank you. You’re my kind of girl.”

  “I don’t even know what to do with all these compliments, Madeline. I’m humbled, though. Sincerely humbled. And it’s all a welcomed relief after the morning I had.”

  “Well, I’m sorry to hear that you had a shitty morning. But glad that I could make the end of the day better. I’m hoping that you can reciprocate and make the end of my day better too.”

  I laughed out loud, thinking she was cracking some kind of joke. But she sat on the other side of her desk, relaxed in her chair. Her hands clasped together in front of her. Seeing the seriousness in her eyes halted my laughter.

  Shit.

  “Umm… I guess that wasn’t—”

  “A joke? Nope. I really do need you to do something for me.”

  “Okay. Anything,” I said, seeking redemption however I could.

  “Anything?”

  “Within my moral compass. Yes.”

  “I like that response.” She leaned forward in her seat and straightened her posture. Instinctively, I did the same. “I know that you have heard the rumors of my retirement. Have you not?”

  “I have. I thought it was a joke. What are you? Like, late 40’s? Early 50’s?”

  “I’m 62. But that’s neither here nor there.”

  Sixty-two?! Hell no! She didn’t look it at all!

  “Compliments to the gene pool, then,” I told her.

  “Thank you. Yes, I’m 62 and ready for my next journey. Which I plan to begin as soon as you agree to accept my recommendation as my replacement…”

  28 | Giselle

  “Heyyy! What are y’all doing?”

  “No, what you doin’?” Skai asked. I could hear her smile through the phone.

  “She’s up to something, having both of us on the phone. Something is up!” my mother deduced. “Matter of fact, I see a glow. You pregnant?”

  “No!” I shouted. “Y’all gotta stop that!”

  “I don’t have to,” Skai spat. “I got more right than grandma to bug you about it, because me and that baby came out the same womb.”

  “And all three of y’all came out of mine. Now what?”

  “Oh no. I’m not doing this wit’ y’all today. I refuse. I’ll call back when the harassment is over.”

  “Nooo! Mama! Don’t go!” Skai pled. “I’m listening. You listenin’ Gram?”

  “Yep. All ears. What’s going on with my baby girl?”

  I inhaled a deep breath and then blew out a healthy puff of air. If we had FaceTime’d they would have seen the big cheesy grin on my face.

  “Okay, so I needed to call you guys because you’re my sounding board. I need all the advice I can get on this one. It’s not just a decision that I can run with, and make on my own. And since y’all know me better than I know myself sometimes…”

  “Lord. I didn’t know we had to listen to a whole dissertation before we heard the news.”

  “Gram, stop!” Skai scolded. “That’s not nice. Go ahead, Mama.”

  “My boss came to me today after school and… wait for it… She asked me to accept her recommendation to step into her role when she retires at the end of the school year.”

  “Wait!” Skai exclaimed. “As the principal?! Are you serious, Mama?!”

  “Oh baby, that’s amazing,” my mother said. “Of course, you have to do it! That can’t be what you needed our advice for. You were born for that role!”

  “Yes, Mama, you have to do it. That is so bomb!”

  “I’m just not sure. I mean, it’s an honor that she holds me in such high regard, but—”

  “But what? Mamaaa! Don’t reject this blessing. This came to you for a reason! How many teachers, administrators, or assistant principals could she have recommended?! They’re watching you be a bomb-ass—”

  “Skai…” my mother chimed in.

  “Gram, you’re really not going to check me on a little cuss word during an exciting moment.”

  “I absolutely am.”

  “That’s too much,” Skai said, with a hint of attitude. I could picture her face when she said the words, and I wanted to laugh. “Mama, what I was trying to say is that you’re on their radar as this great teacher and influencer. Out of all those other options, they feel that you have what it takes to lead that school! That’s huge, Ma. Huge.”

  “I agree with Skai. Baby, they had other options to choose from. They want you. And you’re perfect for it. You have the education, the experience, and the love of damn near everybody. I think the decision is a no-brainer. What would be your hesitation? What would make you think that you needed help making the decision?”

  “Right, Ma. You have the corporate background for leadership. You have the teaching background so you could mentor if that’s needed. You have the respect of your peers and your superiors. You got everything needed to run a successful school. Don’t not take this.”

  “It’s a huge commitment. I go from managing little kids for 7 hours a day to managing full-on adults 25/8. It’s a big responsibility.”

  “And you have an Assistant Principal. You have an Executive Assistant. You have office clerks. You have people you can delegate to. For every reason you come with that says you can’t, I’m going to come with even more that say you can. So, it may not have been me you wanted on this call. Because I’m not going to let you pass up on an opportunity to be a Boss! Well, even more of a Boss! I just ain’t. Not to mention, your man is in the big office and can assign even more staff if it ever gets too overwhelming—which I don’t think it will.”

  I listened with my full attention while Skai spoke. She was definitely my greatest accomplishment in life. I was so proud to be her mother. And even more than that, thankful that I was her mother. There were times where she was more the adult than I was. My voice of reason. I think having my mother on the call was more about ensuring that she didn’t feel excluded. It was actually Skai, who I needed to put me in my place, and force me to see things clearly.

  “Listen to your daughter being the parent,” my mother pointed out. “I say listen to her. Everything she just said mirrored what I was thinking. Without a doubt, I think this is an opportunity you should take. And you don’t have to take the seat until next year. So, you have time.”

  “Take the seat next year, but training will start way before that. If I accept the invitation to apply based on her recommendation, then they’ll begin looking at candidates for my job.”

  “Okay, so let them begin looking at candidates for your job,” Skai said. “Now, go home and talk to your man about your new opportunity so he can cosign everything we just said.”

  “Right,” my mother chimed in. “And then on Sunday, I’ll be over so the three of us can talk about it and I can officially meet this man.”

  “Lord. Okay, Mama.”

  “I’m jealous,” Skai said. “That food is about to be off the hook. Mama, you cookin’?”

  “Yes, she’s cooking,” my mother answered for me. “I’ll see you guys Sunday. And Congratulations, Giselle. I love you.”

  “Thanks! Love you too, Mama.”

  When it was just Skai and I on the p
hone, Skai concluded with, “Mama, I’m so proud of you. You deserve this. And I’m happy for you. Everything you did for me and my education was leading up to this moment. Take it. It’s yours.”

  “Skai…” I paused. “I love you more than the air I breathe. You’re just my everything. My decision is made. I’m going to go ahead and accept the recommendation.”

  29 | Giselle

  “How does that feel, baby?”

  “That’s rhetorical, right?” I purred through the intense pleasure.

  Zane laughed at me. “Not rhetorical at all. I really want an answer.”

  “You really… ohhh… damn. No, you really want praise and I’m here to give it to… mmm… give it to you. It feels amazing. You just don’t even know.”

  “So, I got next, right?”

  “See, when we do things, they’re supposed to be out of the goodness of our hearts. Not what we can get in return.”

  “Yeah, okay,” Zane guffawed. “Again, I got next, right? I service you. You service me.”

  “Zane, I will not be rubbing your feet. Nope. Not today, and not tomorrow either.”

  “Aww, that’s cold! But not to worry. Because I have something else that you can rub.” He held up one of my feet, and surveyed it on all sides. “And I think it’s about this size too.”

  “You are sooo nasty!” I nudged his shoulder, and threw my head back in hearty laughter.

  “Like you’re not,” he said, commencing to massaging my feet.

  I swear it felt so good, I wanted to go to sleep. But that wouldn’t have been me, being good company at all. But it felt that good.

  “I own it. But I also know who brought it all the way out too. Having me all hypnotized at sex clubs, in exotic hot tub thingy’s and stuff like that. That was you!”

  “Technically, that was Skai. I was just a pawn in the scheme.”

  “A pawn?! You need to stop it! I can’t with you!”

  He shrugged his shoulders, smiling big. “Well, I mean, you raised her. Like mother, like daughter. I was innocent in all this. Recruited and seduced far away from home.”

  “Okay, that’s it!” I snatched me legs off of his lap so that I could keel over in laughter. I couldn’t stop. He had me cracking up. “You did not just say that stuff!” I shrieked, as caught my bearings again. “You are wild, sir. Just a whole lotta wild.”

  Zane’s expression turned semi-serious as he was looking at me. He reclaimed my legs and place them over his thighs, and began massaging my calves.

  “Uh-oh. What’s wrong?” I asked.

  “Nothing is wrong. I was just thinking about what you told me earlier, about the detective coming to see you about your friend. I don’t know what’s going on or where she is, but it just makes me think about how you could’ve been wrapped up in all that bullshit with her life. I mean, don’t get me wrong. I hope she’s okay. I don’t wish anything bad on her, but the way that people bring others into your space not knowing what kind of energy they bring with them, is some dangerous shit. That man sat down and ate with us. Was in close proximity. Her house is down the street from you, which means he frequented that place. Imagine her coming over and bringing him, uninvited. Then boom, he’s a part of your life too. Just like that. And look who he turned out to be. Some damn dope dealer with who knows what kind of dangerous ties to the streets. Scares me to think that we might not have been here like this… happy. You know?”

  I reached over and rubbed the side of my baby’s face, hypnotized by the soft hairs beneath my palm. “I know. But we’re here, and I’m good, and I’m safe. I hope Kameelah is too. Detective Matheson said that he would keep me abreast of any new developments, so I’m not going to let it get me down.”

  “That’s good. Don’t let anything get you down. Not when you have so much to look forward to, with your offer and all.” Zane smiled, then offered me a wink. “That’s a good deal. And you deserve it. I think you’re going to kick ass in that position. And you have a lot of big people backing Madeline’s decision to recommend you.”

  “My nerves had me by the neck earlier. But now the excitement has kicked all the way in and I’m ready for the new phase. Looking forward to it all.”

  “That’s good, baby.”

  “My mother thinks so too. And speaking of my mother…” I paused briefly to read the look behind those blue eyes of his.

  “I’m listening,” he said.

  “She’s coming to dinner on Sunday.”

  “Okay. I’m ready to meet her. But you say that like it’s not a good thing. Like you’re nervous about it.”

  “I am, kinda. She’s pretty candid with her words.”

  “Baby. I’m a grown man. I can handle myself. How else would I be able to show her, with full confidence, that her daughter is in good hands? I got this.”

  Okay, Zane. You say that now, was what I wanted to say.

  Cicely McCall is a different breed of woman. But he’d see on Sunday. I just hoped he didn’t suggest I go home for a few days once he met her!

  30 | Giselle

  “Baby, you’re cutting the Velveeta wrong,” I told Zane, who was standing across from me on the other side of the center island. He looked cute as ever standing over the marble cutting board giving his best effort.

  “What do you mean? You said blocks.”

  I slowly pulled his chopping board to me then sliced a full square from the Velveeta block. “Now, you cut this block into about four rectangles. Then set them aside.”

  “Oooh, oooh, fannncy,” he teased, taking back his items from me. “Let me be all specific like you showed me.”

  “Yes, baby. Be all specific with it.”

  “What are we doing with this cheese after it’s cut?”

  “I’m going to make a roux with some Cracker Barrel and cheddar. We’re mixing them with some half & half and some other good stuff.”

  “Roux?”

  I gave Zane a side-eye and shook my head. He had offered to help me with the food, but if I had it to do all over again, I would’ve sent his ass to play golf for a few hours. Now we were on full Q&A when I would usually have my music blasting while I created. Bless his heart.

  “Yes, baby. Roux is like a sauce. So, I’m basically going to make a sauce to pour over the noodles. You’ll see. And it’s good you’re going to see because sometimes, homemade macaroni is all I want. And if you can make that as good as you made those potatoes, you’ll win all kinds of cool points with this girl.”

  “In that case, I’m watching each and every step to perfect it. Mine might end up better than yours.”

  “Tuh! Dream on! Don’t go getting ahead of yourself, mister.”

  “We shall see. And I just got done with the cutting. Where do you need me next?”

  “At the sink. There’s greens in there soaking. I need you to section them for me, then clean them.”

  “You got it.”

  “I like having you as my cooking partner. You’re so obedient.”

  “Ha! Obedient, huh?”

  “Yep. And it’s so, so, sooo sexy!”

  Around three, the food was done and sitting pretty covered in foil on the double islands. Baked chicken breasts smothered in gravy, the prettiest macaroni & cheese I’d made in a long time, baked sweet potatoes, collard-mustard greens mix, and homemade cornbread muffins. I had also made a banana pudding, and there were three different wines out.

  I didn’t know why I made so much food. But something told me that my mother would be judging. She would swear that I forgot my roots since I was in a relationship with a white man. I didn’t want to have her giving slick shots or anything like that. So, trust me; at first, I was going to do salad, grilled chicken and maybe some roasted potatoes. But I figured she could take some plates back to her homies in the development. Earn her some bragging rights. Not that she needed them. From what I had seen whenever I visited her, she was popular as hell.

  “Look at all the magic we made,” Zane said, when everything was laid out. “Everythin
g’s pretty and piping hot. And since we have an hour and about ten minutes before your mother arrives, why don’t we shower together and knock two birds out with one stone.”

  He came up and wrapped me in his arms and started to plant his kisses everywhere on my face and down my neck.

  “That’s too risky, Zane. You know how we do. If we get in that shower, we might not hear the door. That would not be good.”

  “Which is why I wouldn’t let that happen.” He was slowly, and slyly walking me to the part of the house where we were set, to engage in sin.

  As badly as I wanted to resist, I couldn’t deny that I was turned on after watching him help me with every single dish that had been cooked. From the macaroni to the banana pudding, he was right there. He didn’t make even a single excuse to leave the kitchen. He didn’t protest when it came to cutting up vegetables. He was down for it all. That was hot to me.

  There wasn’t much for me to take off, since I was wearing nothing but an oversized t-shirt. Once that thing had been peeled off and my shower cap was in place, the session was on.

  Holding onto the sides of the marble bench inside the shower, my hips swerved in slow, circular motions, doing my part to get Zane snuggly inside me. My disadvantage was that water always made me tight. It took us a few thrusts and a little maneuvering, but we finally got into the groove. Zane held on tight as he moved in and out of me. He’d open me up, then close me around him, sending my arousal through the roof of that enclosure.

  For some reason, in the shower is where I was my loudest. I didn’t hold back as I called out to him to go harder, go deeper. As he obliged, his groans grew just as loud. Our enthusiasm matched stroke for stroke.

  I knew when Zane was near his peak because his speed increased. He stayed closer, with deeper, longer, more prolonged strokes. And right when he could take it no more, he exploded from behind me. And simultaneously, my orgasm came rushing in time to join.

  My legs trembled with weakness when he was done with me. I was ready to sit down and regroup.