You're All I Need (23 page)

Stunned, Jackie Edwards sat quietly on the sofa as Nia marched out of the room. The agitated click of her daughter's high heels faded as Nia marched down the hall. The slamming of the door punctuated her departure.

Minutes later, Greg Edwards peered into the family room. “Is it safe?”

Frowning, she looked up and focused on the man she married thirty-seven years ago. “What?”

“Can I come in?” he teased. “Is the coast clear?”

Nodding slowly, Jackie waved her husband into the family room. She had so much to think about and consider.

First, Nia never visited. She made a point of avoiding her mother unless something important came up. Her twin girls had always been close regardless of the relationship they had with their mother. Tia meant the world to her sister. Nia loved her twin and was completely devoted to her.

Jackie knew Nia would do anything to help her twin. No matter the situation, Nia let things slide off her back and went about her business unconcerned, unless it involved someone in her family.

Nia's accusations hurt. It felt like someone had flashed a light into her eyes while she was suffering from a migraine. Had she been treating her children unfairly? Was she being selfish? Did she deserve the things that Nia had said to her?

Greg crossed the floor and sank onto the cushion next to Jackie. Silence reigned as he sat by her side. After a moment, he reached for her hand and laced their fingers together.

“You heard everything?” Jackie asked.

He nodded.

“Am I wrong?” she whispered.

“Do you want the truth?” he questioned.

Jackie snorted. “No.”

He squeezed her hand. “But you need to know.”

She nodded.

Greg took a deep breath and let it out in one big gush. “Yes.”

Shutting her eyes, Jackie sat perfectly still. Greg was a constant who enriched her life. She couldn't imagine her household without this man. He never lied. No matter how painful, he always told her the truth. Before he'd tell a lie, he wouldn't say anything at all. Nia had always been a problem between them. Over the years, they had learned to live together, but Nia always presented the only real disagreement they had. Now, all of her problems with Nia were coming back to haunt her.

Guilt mixed with a hearty dose of pain made her feel like crying. Unfortunately, tears wouldn't make things any easier or better. She needed to sort this situation out. It was time to talk. “How do I fix this?”

“Which problem?”

Her head pounded. She squeezed her eyes shut and rammed her palm against her forehead, muttering sarcastically, “Thanks, my loyal husband. You are such a joy to be with.”

“You asked.” Shrugging, Greg chuckled softly and leaned over to kiss her on the cheek. “You stepped into it. I'm trying to keep you from bringing the funky odor and the mess into the house. Otherwise you'll smell up the whole place.”

Jackie rested her head against his shoulder. “Have I treated my girls differently?”

“Yes.”

“I didn't mean to.”

“You probably didn't. But, hon, you gave birth to two girls. You raised one and did what you needed to for the other. You put all the love into Tia. Nia got what was left. I never understood what was going on in your head, but I tried to compensate and make it up to Nia by being the parent she needed, the person she trusted and came to when things went wrong.”

Guilt-induced tears slid down Jackie's cheeks. She wiped them away with the back of her hand. Greg pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to her.

“Thanks.” She took the white linen from his hand and dabbed at the wetness sliding down her cheeks.

“You're welcome.”

How did I allow this to happen?
Jackie couldn't believe that she'd been so callous and uncaring. “I love all of my kids.”

“Yes, you do. But you forgot to show that love to Nia. You've always treated Nia differently from the rest.” He pressed his lips together. Jackie got the impression that he was considering how much to say. His face took on a determined expression and then he added, “Nia always came second. Tia was the one you put all of your time and interest into. Your heart went into anything dealing with her. You used logic when it came to Nia. You always had time for Tia no matter the situation. If Nia required anything beyond food and clothes, you left her to me.”

“I didn't mean to do that.”

“I know.” Greg patted her hand reassuringly. “But you did it and Nia realized that you favored her sister. We were lucky that the twins didn't hate each other. If anything, it made them closer.”

The feelings of confusion and anger swelled inside of her and began to overwhelm her. In a small voice she confessed, “Nia was always so hard to handle. She wanted to play baseball with the boys. She couldn't keep still. Always busy. It was like working with a wiggly worm. If I put a dress on her, she'd come back with it torn and dirty. She complained loud and often when I dressed her and Tia alike. Nia became too much to deal with. She'd never sit quietly; she always had so much to say and do. I didn't know what to do with her.”

“Nia was never your typical little girl, that's for sure. One thing I do know is that all she needed, all she ever wanted was for you to love her. Baby, you gave birth to her. Your job was to accept her the way she was.”

“I didn't do that, did I?” Jackie twisted the handkerchief around her hand.

“Nope.”

“I feel like a bad mother.”

“You weren't a bad mother. You just didn't give her what she deserved. God is good. He's given you an opportunity to fix all of that and help Tia at the same time.”

“I don't want Tia to go,” Jackie whined. The sense of loss that she had felt when Chris and Tia announced their engagement filled her once again. She was going to lose her baby to a life apart from her. More than that, Tia would leave the country. How was she supposed to have a relationship with her daughter when she lived thousands of miles away?

“That's okay. I understand your feelings. I don't want her to leave, either, but she's grown and deserves a chance at happiness, even if it means her leaving us to live in another country. We can't stop that. No. I didn't say that right. We shouldn't stop her.”

“Greg! What if something happens while she's living in France?”

He patted her hand. “We raised her right. If it doesn't work out, Tia knows how to come home. She also knows that we're here for her.”

“I don't trust him.” Jackie scrunched up her face.

Laughing, Greg leaned back in his chair. “You don't trust anybody.”

Sitting straighter, she pointed out, “I liked Darnell until he started messing around on my baby.”

“No, you didn't,” Greg contradicted. “You tolerated him because he didn't interfere with you and Tia. If he'd been a tiny bit more aggressive or demanding, Darnell would have seen the wrath of Jackie Edwards.”

She shrugged and then admitted, “I really didn't like him that much. He needed to go, the dirty dog.”

“I know. From the beginning, Chris was different. He loves Tia, but it's up to her to decide where she wants to be. It's her decision. He's not going to cater to you or beg. It's about his life with Tia. She's got to choose. I respect him for that.”

“True, but that can make for a controlling man.”

“Chris isn't controlling or demanding. He expects Tia to be the woman at his side.” Greg stroked her cheek with his fingertips. As usual, Jackie felt the same love she carried for this man for almost forty years. “Just as you are for me.”

“He's a white boy. We've skirted around all the issues, but we can't ignore that one. It's too huge.”

“No, we can't,” Greg agreed. “And I worry about how that one fact will change her life, but it's Tia's life, not ours. This isn't Romeo and Juliet. No one will commit suicide if things don't work out. She has a right to choose, and it looks as if she has chosen Chris. All we can do is support her and help her in any way that we can.”

Jackie opened her mouth to comment, but Greg raised his hand and cut her off.

“You don't like or trust him. I get that, but feelings don't reflect the fact that he happens to be in love with our daughter. Jackie, baby, Chris is a good man. Sometimes I watched him when they were here. If we asked Chris to drink twenty gallons of her dirty bathwater, he would.”

Giggling, Jackie agreed. “I know. I've seen that look, too. That's what clued me in on his feelings the first time he came to dinner. I knew something big was going to happen, and I wasn't ready for it.”

Greg sobered and asked, “What do you need to do?”

“Talk to my girls. Let them know that they both mean the world to me. Make sure Nia understands that I love her as much as I do Tia.”

Nodding, Greg said, “Excellent.”

She folded the handkerchief into a neat square and handed it back to Greg. He shoved the cloth back into his pocket. Jackie asked, “Can we suggest to Tia that she think about the situation a little longer? Make her see the error of her ways?”

“No. Nia was right. Our daughter is miserable. We can't let this continue. Thanks to you, Tia believes she can't leave until your mother is back on her feet. That was wrong, baby. It's time for you to let her go. Tia has done all of the things you have expected of her. Now it's time to let her lead the kind of life she wants. If you need someone to spend time with, go shopping with Nia.” He sighed heavily and added, “I'll even go with you, but I think Nia would be happy to be with you. It's past time for you two to get to know each other better.”

“I think you're right.” Jackie picked up the telephone and punched in a number.

Frowning, Greg watched his wife. “What are you doing?”

“This is the first step to making everything right.”

Tia climbed the basement steps, lugging a basket of clean laundry. She turned down the hall to her living room and dropped onto the sofa. Worn out, she pulled a pastel green towel from the basket, shook it out, and then folded it. Once she finished this load, Tia planned to start dinner. Lately, nothing appealed to her. She thought a salad might perk up her appetite.

The doorbell rang. Tia groaned. She really didn't want any company right now. For the first time in days, she would have one evening in her home without family and friends. If she sat quietly and pretended no one was home, maybe whoever stood at her door would go away.

Someone jabbed the doorbell a second and then a third time. This person didn't plan to leave. Sighing, Tia rose. If it was a family member, she could hurry them through their visit and send them on their way.

Tia headed for the front of the house and opened the door. Surprised, she stared at her visitor.

“Hi, Tia-Mia.”

“Hello, Momma.”
What is she doing here?
Tia wondered. She glanced past her mother and saw only her car parked in the lot. “Is everything all right?”

“Mmm-hmm.”

“What about Grandma Ruth?”

“Doing great.”

“Oh.”
Then why are you here?
Tia wondered. “Is Daddy with you?”

“No. He's at home.” Smiling hesitantly, Mrs. Edwards's shaky hand brushed away a lock of hair. “Can I come in?”

“Of course.” Tia opened the door wider and stepped aside.

If everyone was doing fine, why had she received this unexpected visit? Tia's forehead crinkled into a frown, and her belly cramped into knots. Something didn't feel right. Tia snatched a quick look at her mother. She'd never seen her look like this. Lack of confidence was not one of her mother's characteristics. Normally, Momma practically oozed confidence. If she could bottle it, they'd live in Malibu instead of Detroit. “I was in the living room folding up towels. Come on in.”

Mrs. Edwards followed Tia down the hall to the living room. The older woman perched on the edge of the couch, tightly clenching the strap of her purse sitting at her side.

Tia studied her mother's hand clenching and unclenching the leather strap as she returned to her previous spot and resumed folding towels. “What's on your mind?”

“Chris,” Tia's mother stated.

Tia dropped the towel she was folding. She reached down and picked up the square of terry cloth. “Sorry.”

“How is Chris? Have you heard from him?”

She gazed at the striped fabric and muttered, “I don't know. He's in France.”

“He hasn't called? Sent you a note?”

“No. Nothing.” Why couldn't her mother leave things alone? Tia didn't want to think about him. It was still far too painful.

Nodding, Mrs. Edwards continued to question Tia. “What about work? How are things going there?”

Tia felt as if she were on safer ground, so she let her guard down. “Busy. I don't know if I told you this, but Adam and Wynn are going to have a baby.”

That brought a smile to her mother's face. “Really? Was it a surprise, or were they trying to have a baby?”

“Definitely a surprise. I've never seen Adam happier.”

“Good for them. And Chris's position? What's happening with that? Does Adam plan to fill it or leave it open until Chris comes back?”

Surprised, Tia blinked several times. How had her mother brought the conversation back to Chris so smoothly?

“I don't know,” Tia muttered softly as she concentrated on matching up the stripes on her towel set.

Mrs. Edwards licked her lips and leaned closer to Tia. “This is hard for me, but I have to do this.” She took a deep breath and let it out. “I'm sorry for everything you've gone through since your grandmother took sick.”

Tia's eyes widened. Where had this come from? “It's okay. Grandma needs me.”

Studying the carpeting, Mrs. Edwards shook her head. “No, she doesn't. It was never about her. I needed you, and I used her illness as a way to keep you near me.”

“Momma, you don't have to—”

Jackie Edwards placed a hand on her daughter's arm. Her voice quivered as she spoke, “Stop. I'm sorry. I haven't been very fair to you lately. To be honest, I've been horrible. You didn't deserve it. Tia, baby, I was selfish. I didn't want you to go. I shut my eyes to how much it hurt you when Chris left.”

“That's between Chris and me. Don't worry about it.”

“I do. It's not just between you and Chris. I made it our family's business. Truly, I never had anything against Chris. He was nice, handsome, and respectful. What worried me was the way he looked at you. Almost from the beginning, I could tell that you meant something very special to him and it scared me. I also could tell that he was no pushover, not like Darnell, who went along with everything. Chris wanted you and went about finding a way to have you.”

Tia's head began to pound with the pressure of all this. “Momma, why are you telling me this stuff now? I don't understand.”

“Your sister came by the house today.”

“Nia? For what?” This situation was getting creepier by the minute. “What does that have to do with me?”

“It had everything to do with you. She wanted me to know how miserable you were and how you missed Chris.”

Tia hid her expression by lowering her gaze. Yes, she missed Chris terribly, but she didn't want to upset her mother.

“Nia loves you more than anyone else.” Mrs. Edwards ran her tongue across her lips. “Your happiness is important to her. Your sister made me acknowledge some hard truths about myself.”

Tia smiled. Yes, she knew Nia always fought for her, but this battle was between her and Chris. It had nothing to do with her parents or her siblings.

Her mother cupped the side of Tia's face and said, “I'm sorry. I've been selfish. Nia was right. You do deserve to be happy. I want you to call Chris and tell him that you're on your way to France to meet him.”

Her heart leaped for joy, and then reality set in. She wasn't sure Chris would want to see her. “I can't, Momma.”

“Why not?”

“I'm not sure Chris wants to see me. Plus, my plane ticket expired a few days ago. I can't afford to buy another one.”

“Is that all?” Jackie Edwards reached into her purse and pulled out a computer-generated form. She handed it to Tia. “I think this will solve your transportation problem.”

Tia gazed questioningly at her mother. “What is this?”

“It's a ticket to Paris, silly.”

“I don't understand.”

“I'm sorry. I was wrong. I don't know what's going to happen in the future. I don't have a clue about tomorrow. Hell, I could drop dead tomorrow. I hope I won't, but nothing is promised. I do know that I want you to be happy. Chris loves you and completes your world. So, I'm saying go be with him. Call that man. Tell him you're on your way and get on a plane to be with him.”

She dropped the towel in her hands and reached for her mother. Tia held on tight to the older woman. “I love you, Momma.”

“I know. And I love you.” Jackie Edwards let out a shaky breath. “It's time for you to have your own life, family, whatever. Go pack. Your flight leaves in about three hours.”

“Three hours!” Tia yelped. “Oh my God. There's no way I'm going to be ready.”

“Yeah, you will. Whatever you don't have, buy it in France.”

Nodding, Tia rose and moved around her mother. The older woman caught her hand as she passed. “Tia-Mia?”

Already planning her wardrobe, Tia glanced at her mother. “Hmm?”

“Always remember that your family is here for you. There's a lot of stuff that you've never encountered before. I wasn't joking about the race thing, the cultural thing, or even about his family. Be ready for a lot of changes in your life.”

“I know, Mom.”

“Actually, I don't think you do, but that's okay. Remember, I'm only a phone call away. If you need me, call because I'll be on a plane to get to you as soon as I can.”

Tia grinned. The lioness was back, and she didn't plan on anyone betraying or hurting her cub. “Okay. Is that it?”

“No. You tell Chris that I'll be watching to make sure he treats you right. And if things go bad, he'll have to answer to me.”