Page 60 of When Love Takes Over
He stared at me for a moment before saying, “I just have one more question.”
“What’s that?”
“Did you protect yourself?”
“I had Dr. Lathan do a full physical workup, and he tested us for everything. We’re clean.”
He burst out laughing, and I had no idea what I’d said that was funny.
“I was talking about yourfinancialassets, although it’s great to know you’ve protected your physical ones as well.”
I chuckled. “Oh, damn. I misunderstood. Yes, I protected my financial assets. We signed a contract, and aside from paying her tuition and giving her a hundred grand, if this doesn’t work out, I don’t owe her anything.”
“A hundred grand,andher tuition?”
“I know it’s a lot, but not only do I think she deserves it, . . . she’s worth that and more.”
“You really like her, don’t you?”
“I do, Pops. I found a diamond in the rough. She’s a rose in a field full of weeds.”
“Does she like you?” Pops asked.
“What are we doing here? I feel like I’m in third grade.”
“Well, does she?” he continued.
“She says she does, but she’s kinda guarded and with good reason.”
“You may just be the man to help her let her guard down.”
“That’s the goal.”
I’d never been more ready to leave my family’s presence and go to the privacy of my own space than I had today. After the conversation with my parents, we all ended up in the kitchen, where my grandfather had been picking Malyah’s brain.
It was interesting to watch Gramps interact with Malyah because no one else in the family shared his love and passion for baking. His excitement as they discussed different recipes was heartwarming.
When Gramps finally gave Malyah a moment to breathe, my mother took his place. It was evident that Malyah enjoyed my grandfather’s company, but she wasn’t as receptive to my mother, which was understandable.
Dinah Goode didn’t come from money, and I wouldn’t say she married into it either. AlthoughSweet, Savory, and Goodewas a multimillion-dollar company now, it wasn’t when my parents met, although it was hugely successful back then.
She went to law school and eventually became an attorney, earning an impressive salary. Unlike the women in her circle, she contributed to our family's wealth. The women she surrounded herself with were born into wealthy families with legacies that stretched back several generations.
Sometimes, I think she worked too hard and did too much to fit in with those women, and I wasn’t fond of her behavior when she acted that way. The woman who raised me was down-to-earth and never bougie, and I wished she didn’t feel the need to be any other way.
Obviously, Malyah didn’t know her the way I did, so when my mother’s interactions with her were snooty, it was off-putting. Malyah kept her at arm’s length, and I couldn’t say I didn’t blame her. She gave short, direct responses to my mother’s questions, but remained polite and respectful.
My father was quiet and observant, but his disposition was welcoming. The few times he and Malyah interacted, it ended in laughter because of something funny one of them said. Overall, considering how the morning started, it ended on a better note.
By the time we parted ways with my family and headed down to my apartment, she’d warmed up to my mother some, but I could tell she still had reservations. I was sure she’d have some questions about the change in my mother’s demeanor, because I sure as hell had a few.
After we unpacked our cars and put most of her things in the guest room, we showered separately. I went first because she wanted to put some of her things away. Once she showered, she joined me in bed.
“Today’s been interesting,” she said after resting her head on my chest.
“That’s putting it mildly. How do you feel?”
“Mentally exhausted. I was a bit overstimulated.”
