This Time Forever (7 page)

Chapter 11

Just as Renee had finished meeting with
one of the center’s clients, Liza was walking in.  “Hey, sunshine,” Liza said cheerily as she walked into Renee’s office.  Renee gave Liza a hug and said “Seems like I haven’t seen you in ages.  What have you been up to?”  Renee told Liza that Kayla and Matt had lunch with Elliott.  “That’s not all, though, Liza.   Elliott’s parents are in town.  They all had lunch together and Kayla said she and Matt are going to his place for a cookout this weekend.  “Oh, yeah,” Renee said “Elliott’s parents are here, too.”   Liza’s eyes widened and she said “Really?  When did they get here?”  Renee told her that she wasn’t sure, but she imagined that Elliott called them shortly after that day in her office.  “Well, now,” Liza said, grinning, as she leaned back in the chair she was sitting in.  “What to do now?”  Renee looked at her over her black rimmed eyeglasses and said “What do you mean?  There is nothing for me to do.  Kay and Matt are spending time with their dad and grandparents.   Liza looked at Renee for a minute before saying “You know good and well Elliott’s parents are not going to leave without seeing you.  Remember, you told me how well you got along with them, and how much they liked you?  I can’t imagine that they would not want to see the mother of their grandchildren.  Renee sat silently.  She had not allowed herself to really think about seeing Elliott or his parents.  The thought of them being in the same room together after all this time and after all that has happened was just too overwhelming.  As if she had read her mind, Liza leaned over Renee’s cluttered desk and said “I know it will be awkward seeing them. “  Renee said “Wait, you are getting way ahead, now.  Nobody has said anything about us getting together for any kind of meeting, awkward or otherwise.  Like I said before, the kids are spending time with Elliott and their grandparents.  That’s all.”  Liza shrugged her shoulders and said “Okay, but I’m just saying.”  Renee changed the subject and asked Liza what she and Joe had been up to.  “Girl, get this,” Liza said, “Do you know he mentioned something to me about having a baby?”  Now it was Renee’s eyes that got wide.  “What!  I mean, what did you say,” Renee said trying to keep her voice down.  “He said it half jokingly, but I think he was actually serious.  I just played it off and told him that if he thinks he is going to get around taking me on my trip to Spain by getting me pregnant, he could forget about it.”  Renee laughed and said, “So basically what you are telling me is that you two have been sexing like crazy.  Well, since I don’t have a sex life, I’ll just live vicariously through yours.”  They laughed and Renee said “Seriously, would you have another baby?”  Liza said, “When he brought it up, it was so out of the blue for me.  I have not even been thinking about another kid.  I mean, I’m so busy right now, not to mention the fact that we already have two grown children.  I do not want to be one of those women having a change of life baby, you know?”    Renee nodded her head in understanding.  Liza said, “Oh well, Joe is so busy with work too, he was probably just talking.  He must’ve seen a cute baby or something and started feeling all warm and fuzzy.  Liza and Renee talked on for a while longer.  As Liza stood up to leave the center, she said “Now you know in my mind that I believe I can see into the future, right?”  Renee laughed and said, “Yes, you have mentioned that several times in the many years that I have known you.”  Liza said “I can foresee your dry spell coming to an end before you know it, know what I mean?  And in case you don’t know what I mean, I foresee great and abundant sex in your immediate future, my child.”  Before Renee could reply, the phone on her desk rang.  Liza blew her a kiss and did a cutesy wave before leaving. 

After Renee left the center that evening, she went to the grocery store.  She hadn’t realized until this morning that her kitchen was practically bare.  Constance always made sure that Renee had enough food, but she was on vacation for the next two weeks visiting family.   As she was putting away her groceries, she noticed the light on her phone blinking.  When she played the message, she was positively floored.  It was Elliott’s mother.  She wanted Renee to call her so that they could arrange to have lunch.  Renee tried not to panic, but her heart felt as if it would pound right out of her chest.  She poured herself a glass of red wine and sat on her recliner.  She stared into space for several moments trying to figure a way out of seeing Lena.  She was not ready to see Lena or Ben, or Elliott for that matter, at this point.  She checked the time and rationalized that it was too late to return Lena’s phone call.  She would call her tomorrow.  Maybe by then she would have a solid excuse for not being able to have lunch with her.  She started to call Liza, but decided that it really was too late to call anyone at this hour.  She went back into the kitchen and finished putting away the groceries.  She was going to make herself a salad, but now she wasn’t hungry.  She finished her glass of wine, took a shower, and went to bed. 

Renee spent the night tossing and turning.  She may have slept for two hours, if she was lucky.   It was now 6 o’clock Friday morning and basically time for her to get up.   The only excuse that she could come up with for getting out of lunch with Lena today was to tell her that she had meetings all day.   She got out of bed and went into the kitchen where she made herself two egg whites, two slices of wheat toast, and poured a glass of orange juice.  Just as she was finishing her breakfast, her phone rang.   It was Kayla calling to see if she had any mango butter for her hair.   As Renee was walking to her bathroom she said “I don’t think I do, but I can stop by the boutique today and pick up some.”   Kay said, “Yes, that will be fine.  I’ll just come by and pick it up this evening.”  Kayla asked “Mom, are you okay?  You sound really tired.”  Renee stifled a yawn and said “Oh, yeah, I’m good, I just have a lot on the agenda today.  This new boutique opening is really a lot of work, but it’s okay.   Have you talked to Matt lately.  I tried calling him a couple of days ago, but he hasn’t returned my call.”  Kayla said “Well, you know he spends all his time with Victoria these days.   She was probably over there and . . . “  Renee laughed and said, “Girl, don’t tell all of your brother’s business.   “Alright, my bad,” Kay said.  Renee said “I better hurry and get ready.  I have got to go to the office today and then head over to the second boutique location.  I’ll see you later this evening.”  “Okay, see you then.” 

By the time Renee arrived to her office, it was 7:30 a.m.   She remembered that Lena liked to get up early, so she decided to call her about lunch.  When Renee heard Lena’s soft African accent, she was immediately transported back to a time when life seemed much simpler.  “Renee, it is so nice to hear from you.  Thank you for returning my call.”   Renee tried to keep her voice from trembling and said “Mrs. James, yes, it is very nice to talk to you as well.  How is Mr. James?”  Lena and Renee talked and exchanged pleasantries for a few more minutes before Lena said “I do hope that you will be able to have lunch with me today, Renee.  I’m sure you know that we were with Elliott the other day for lunch with Kayla and Matthew.  They are so beautiful, Renee, and so smart.”  Renee felt her heart start to beat rapidly again.  “Thank you, Lena, and yes, lunch today would be great.”  Renee could hardly believe that she had just agreed to have lunch with her.   She was doing exactly the opposite of what she told herself she was going to do.  She was supposed to be in meeting all day and would not be able to break away for lunch.  Instead, here she is telling Lena that lunch would be “great.”  They agreed to meet at Sylvia’s.   Renee asked Lena about how she would getting there and Lena said that she would call a cab.  Renee said “Why don’t I call Kayla or Matt to pick you up?”  Lena was resistant at first, saying that she did not want to disturb them, but Renee assured  her that it would be no trouble at all as they both have very short days on Fridays.   Lena said “Okay, that will be fine.  I will see you later, then.”  When Renee hung up the phone, she was in a daze.   She had to quickly remind herself to call Kayla to see if she would be able to pick up Lena this afternoon.  “So, you and Lena are having lunch today?”  Kayla was surprised, but pleasantly so.  “Yes, it was an unexpected invitation,” was all that Renee offered.  “Sure, I’ll pick her up and take her back to Elliott’s afterward.  Do you have his address?”  Renee gave the address to Kayla.  When she hung up the phone, she was sitting at her desk staring at her blank computer screen.   Genevieve came in and saw the blank expression on Renee’s face and asked her if everything was alright.  “Well, if you can call having lunch this afternoon with your children’s grandmother alright, then I guess it is.”  Genevieve’s eyes widened as she sat in the chair across from Renee.  “Oh, wow, Renee, things are certainly exciting for you, huh?   Renee replied “Without a doubt.”  Before Genevieve left Renee’s office, Renee said “I’m still going to meet with the decorator this morning about the finishing touches on the Manhattan boutique, and I am going over there before lunch, since I’ll be in the neighborhood anyway.  I’ll call you later to let you know how things are going.”   Genevieve said that would be fine and that if Renee needed her to do anything to just call her.    Just as Genevieve was leaving Renee’s office, Liza’s associate was waiting on the other side of the door, getting ready to knock. 

After her meeting with the decorator, Renee left the office and went to The Skin and Hair Boutique II.  This boutique was different from the one located in the city in that it specialized in services for those who opted to maintain their hair without chemicals.  It also carried Renee’s skin and hair care line, Beautifully You.  When she arrived, she was pleasantly surprised to see that the building phase was indeed nearing completion and that decorating could soon begin.  After doing a careful inspection of the face and skin care rooms as well as the salon, Renee was satisfied that everything was running on schedule.   She checked her watch.  It was now 12:30.  She knew that she needed to leave in order to make it to the restaurant on time.   She had been so busy during the morning that she did not have time to think or worry herself about seeing Lena today.  However, when she got into her car, her stomach felt fluttery.  She calmed herself and pulled out into the street.  She arrived at Sylvia’s without a minute to spare.  She did a quick check of her reflection in the rearview mirror before going into the restaurant.   When she arrived, she saw that Lena had already been seated and that Kayla was sitting at the table talking with her.  When Lena saw Renee she said “You are as beautiful as ever.”  Renee suddenly felt like a shy teenage girl.  She gathered  herself quickly and said, “Lena, no one is as beautiful as you are.”  She truly meant that.  Lena’s dark skin was smooth and taut, her eyes and smile were as bright as ever, and her figure was still trim and fit.  Her hair, though now mostly gray, was still thick and beautifully curly.  “It’s no wonder that you and Elliott have such beautiful children, Renee.”  Kayla stood up and smiled at her grandmother and mother.  “I am going to check out your new boutique and that dress shop across the street from it.  Is it okay if I come back in about an hour?”   Renee took a deep breath and told her that would be fine if it was okay with Lena.  They all agreed.  “Oh, before you go and before I forget, I want to take a picture of you two,” Lena said as she took her camera from her purse.   Before she could protest, Lena was already standing there ready to take the picture.  She and Kayla smiled for the camera as Lena snapped the picture.   Lena then asked one of the waitstaff to take a picture of the three of them.   After their photo shoot, Kayla left and Lena and Renee were left to chat.  “I’m so glad that you could join me today, Renee.  I had the sinking feeling that perhaps you would not be able to on such short notice.”  Renee said “I must admit that I was surprised, but pleasantly so, Lena.  No need to thank me.”  They exchanged a few more pleasantries before ordering salads.  Lena finally said, “You know this was such a surprise, albeit a very pleasant surprise for all of us, right.”  Renee almost choked on her sip of water at Lena’s bluntness.  She had forgotten that when Lena had something to say, she just said it without mincing words.   “Yes, I’m sure it was, or is.  I don’t have any excuses.”  Lena could see that Renee was getting upset and she had not wanted to upset her.  “Please tell me what happened.  You and Elliott were so close.  Ben and I thought you two would marry at some point, but then you left so quickly and without very much explanation.”  They sat in silence for a moment and Lena said “I remember you called after you went away.  Is this what you wanted to tell Elliott?”  Renee took a deep breath.  She explained to Lena about how her mother, Maggie, had practically thrown her out when she found out that she was pregnant.  She told her that her dad, Dennis and his sister had helped her, that Dennis divorced Maggie and remarried.   “She took it very personally, Lena.  As if I had done something to purposefully bring her down.  She made it all about her.”  Lena sat in silence for a while before she spoke again.  “Renee, trust me, I do know about how much influence a mother can have over her children.  Having heard this now puts things into perspective for me.   When Elliott told us about Kayla and Matt, he was a mixed bag of emotions.  He was happy to find out he has children, but he feels that you kept them from him without cause.”  Renee could barely face Lena.  “I know he hates me and I can’t blame him.”  “He doesn’t hate you.  He’s just going to have to sort through things at his own pace.”  Lena asked Renee about her life in New York, her job, and of course Kayla and Matt.  Despite its initial awkwardness, their lunch turned out to be very nice.  Renee was getting ready to pay the bill when the waitress brought it to the table.  Lena took it from her and said, “I’m paying.  I invited you to lunch, so please allow me.”  Renee did not argue.  Shortly afterward, Kayla returned and was excitedly talking about how she couldn’t wait until the new boutique was officially opened and that the new dress shop had very cute clothes but they were very expensive.  Lena and Renee hugged, with Lena promising to be in contact with Renee.  “Bye, Mom.  I’ll be over later this evening to pick up the mango butter if that’s okay with you.”  Renee said that it would.  When Renee got into her car, she checked her phone for any messages.  There was one call from Liza, but she decided to return her call once she got back to the office.