Tayah stepped in front of the long mirror to get a picture of how she looked in her emerald green evening gown, which pulled in her waist and flared out to her ankles. The fabric was smooth and lustrous, like Princess Satin used frequently in wedding dresses. Her glossy, thick hair was tossed in an updo, held steady by two Japanese hair sticks. She stared down at her feet, and turned from side to side to see if her open-toe shoes added or took away from the look she was going for. Her jaws relaxed into a pleasing smile, as she gently picked up her necklace from the nightstand and then snapped it around her neck. Only one thing was missing: Phillip.
They'd agreed that he would be her escort to the festival's volunteer banquet; to help her celebrate a night of giving back to the community, but at a quarter past six with no sign of him in sight, she knew she had to make this move without him tonight. He was becoming quite a bore. A few weeks ago she would have been fuming mad, but lately so much stupidness had happened between them that she was feeling okay about not having that fool around. She didn't need a drunk embarrassing her tonight, but by the same token, she didn't want to go to the banquet alone. She wanted to share the joy of tonight with the people she loved. She doubted her parents would be there, considering the drama they were trying to deal with, which was colossal, compared to hers. She preferred that they thrash that church stuff out at home, rather than create a scene in front of her friends and associates.
Maybe she should call Abraham. He was like a father to her. She was sure he would have no problem escorting a beautiful woman to the event. But it was so last minute, and with the event beginning in forty-five minutes, she knew it would not be fair to impose such a request on him. However, there was one other person she could call, but she dared not. She dared not revisit that embarrassing scene from this morning, but if she were to be honest with herself, somehow, that embarrassment had unfolded into something else. But it’d been there all along, hidden beneath her fear of exploring the unknown.
The signs were real and she couldn’t ignore them any more than she could ignore the growing rift between her and Phillip. Even more so, she couldn’t ignore the effect Dominic was having on her brains. Thanks to Phillip, his dirty accusations only added to her confusion.
Although she tried, she couldn’t get the image of Dominic’s body out of her mind. And she knew better than anyone not to entertain thoughts that would only intensify her ungodly desires. However; it was a struggle for a young, hot-blooded, woman in her predicament, craving the attention of her husband. He hadn’t touched her skin all month and the last time that he did, it was dull and unimaginative. He was not the type to be big on romance – he gave a hug here and there and a kiss in between. He gave a box of chocolates on Valentine’s Day and a perfume set on her birthday. The gifts were the same every year.
Suddenly, she chided herself. Who was she kidding? She could rationalize all she wanted; she was only making excuses to indulge in her lust for a man who wasn’t her husband – something she needed to quit doing while she was ahead. She quickened her pace when she saw the clock strike six-thirty. If she didn’t leave then, she would definitely be late.
She grabbed her emerald green, velvet purse and was about to stuff her BlackBerry in it when she noticed the blinking red light. She paused and contemplated checking it. She’d made peace with her husband not accompanying her tonight, but she really didn’t want to read some lame text from him explaining why he couldn’t make it. He’d been doing that a lot lately and it bugged the heck out of her. She checked it anyway and immediately the tips of her ears flamed when she saw that it was from Dominic.
Haven’t heard from you lately, but I hope that your night will be as radiant and as breathtaking as you are. Only thing though, I wish it was me next to you and not Phillip.
Now why had he allowed the devil to use him to say that? Tayah thought inwardly, but she couldn’t stop the smirk that pulled her freshly painted lips into a pout. If he only knew, Phillip was not going anywhere with her, at least, not anytime soon. Her heart was beating so fast that she had to take a seat on her bed to catch her breath. Dominic always knew what to say, and how to say it, all at the right time. She could really use the company tonight, but she didn’t know how to ask him. This would have been so easy to do before all of these strange feelings started coming over her.
Thank you. And it seems you just might get your wish. Phillip will not be able to make it tonight.
She reread it and then pressed Send. She smiled, knowing this tidbit of information would make Dominic very happy.
You for real? Girl, why didn’t you say something? Just give me the directions and I’ll be there. Wait. Do you want me to pick you up?
Why couldn’t Phillip show her this much attention? she thought, as she typed her response back to him.
No, that’s okay. I’m running a bit late. I’ll meet you there.
Aw’ight, girl. No sweat.
She stood up, still dizzy from the exchange. This wasn’t right, God knows this wasn’t right, but it felt so good. Besides, what harm was there with two friends being there for each other, especially, when both of them were going through similar circumstances. They’d both been let down by people they cared about. As far as she was concerned, she didn’t see anything wrong with it. She took one final look in the mirror and then made a quick exit through her front door.
7:15 p.m.
The Heights Waterfront was the place to be tonight. It was considered the premier waterfront venue for hosting special events, such as the volunteer annual banquet. Conveniently located on the Riverwalk, north of the Straz Center, Tayah was pleased with the spot when she stepped out of her vehicle and looked at the picturesque scene surrounding her. The committee had been divided over choosing this place, simply because it was too big to decorate and too windy during this time of year, but she was impressed, to say the least.
Thankfully, the weather was serene and the company they’d hired to spruce up the site had done an excellent job, worthy of recommendation. But they would not be dining outdoors tonight. Inside, with over seventy thousand square feet of space, fifteen hundred people gathered to enjoy one of the most anticipated events of the year.
The atmosphere shook with live music from Sounds of Blackness, as they performed one of their old time favorites, “Everything’s Gonna Be Alright”. The message of the song fit the theme for tonight. 'Life is hard, but we will make it.' She looked on, searching for familiar faces, but the ballroom lighting made it a bit of a challenge. Fortunately, Ian had reserved tables for the committee members and their guests and had marked them with special decorations.
But she didn't want to move on without Dominic. She would wait near the entrance until he arrived. When several minutes had expired, she decided to check her BlackBerry to see if he'd sent her a message, but she discovered her phone wasn't in her purse.
Maybe it'd fallen out in her car seat, she thought.
As she contemplated whether or not to walk back to the parking lot, she felt a gentle touch on her shoulder. In response, she turned around to see who wanted her attention.
“Abraham! Mother!” Her expression fell somewhere between surprise and disappointment. On one hand, she was pleased to see her mother, but on the other hand, she wished it were Dominic. It felt as if she'd been waiting forever for him to arrive. She took her mother by her hands. “I wasn't expecting you to come. This is certainly a warm surprise.”
“Anything for you, darling,” Michelle leaned in and kissed Tayah on her cheek. “You look lovely.”
“As do you, mother!”
“You do look lovely, dear,” Abraham said, kissing Tayah, also. “You light up the entire room.”
“Oh, Abraham, thank you,” Tayah said, feeling a bit awkward calling Abraham by his first name, but it was what he preferred. “You’re too kind.”
“Where's Phillip?”
“Where's daddy?”
Both Michelle and Tayah had spat out their questions the same time. When Tayah looked into h
er mother's eyes, she got all the answers she needed. Even makeup couldn't hide the distress stitched into her mother's visage. The way things were going, Tayah wasn't sure if her parents' marriage would last another six months. But her daddy had taught her from a child that nothing was too big for God to handle.
“Phillip couldn't make it,” Tayah said, trying to make it seem as if it was not a big deal, but deep down inside of her, she too was falling apart.
“Well, we're here,” Michelle said. “And that's all that matters. We'll follow and sit with you.”
“Of course. I will have it no other way.”
Tayah gaped at her watch for the tenth time. It was nearing eight o'clock and she began to doubt if Dominic would actually show. Sounds of Blackness left the stage and Ian took the podium. His voice boomed through the speakers as he excitedly announced the lineup for the evening. He promised them that it would be a night of nonstop fun. Tayah looked through the doors behind her and tried to remain optimistic, but disappointment had already begun to sink in.
“You guys ready,” she smiled. “Let's go and find our table.”
“Tayah!”
She froze and then turned around slowly, recognizing his voice. “Dominic!”
He neared her, his eyes heavy with apology. “I texted you several times. I missed my exit and got caught up in that seven o’clock traffic.”
“I don't have my BlackBerry,” she said, and then smiled, her eyes showing that she was extremely pleased to see him. But then again, she’d always been pleased to see him. “And, I'm right here fussing at you in my mind. I was starting to think you wouldn't show.”
“C’mon, Tayah. I would never do that to you.”
When he said those words, she felt that he truly meant them. She couldn't stop staring at him. The black tuxedo he wore, with his hair and beard freshly shaved, he looked as if he'd stepped right off the cover of a GQ magazine.
“Dominic, Tayah didn't say you would be joining us,” Michelle said, stepping in next to her daughter.
“First Lady Paxton…”
She waved him off. “Enough with that crazy stuff. Why can't I get people to just call me Michelle?”
Her casual air took Dominic by surprise. He thought about a sensible response, but the only thing he could do was offer her a bashful smile. First Lady Paxton was what he’d always called her.
“Where's Abraham?” Tayah inquired.
“I don't know,” Michelle said, looking around behind her. “He was right here a minute ago. Give me a second, I'll go find him.”
“I want you to know right now that I will not sit at the same table with Abraham,” Dominic said when Tayah turned to face him again. “Why didn’t you tell me he was here?”
She touched his arm gently. “Dominic, how long do you intend to avoid him?”
“Not until he stops sleeping with that prostitute.”
Chapter Thirty-Two