THE PERFECT CHOICE; CHAPTER ONE
Good afternoon everyone,
I know it’s been a long while since my last post. I have been working on my latest novel and I’m happy to say it will be released December 26!
It has been a long haul, but it has been a wonderful journey. If you read my previous novel, Soul Custody, you know all about Tanya Cambpell. Well now Tanya has a story of her own. You won’t want to miss Tanya in THE PERFECT CHOICE!
Here’s the first chapter. I hope you enjoy it.
Until next time,
Libra
Chapter 1
Tanya sat in the Florida home of her friend Simone Holiday and listened to her go on and on. “Tanya Campbell,” she said with a pointed finger. “I’ve heard everything about your horrible history with men, but after you meet Isaiah Scott, I promise you that this will be the year you say, ‘I do’.”
Tanya rolled her eyes and poured more of the Mojito cocktail into their flutes.
Simone glanced up as she raised her glass. “What?”
Tanya nudged her forward. “What do you mean what? If you’ve listened to anything that I’ve said, you know damn well that marriage is not on my vocabulary list. As I told you when you recruited me at Miami Bank six months ago, I’m focusing on my career as a CPA. If I can have some fun in the process, that’ll be even better.” She watched her friend shake her head and take another sip of her libation. She laughed. “Don’t look at me that way. Most people don’t find their soul mate in high school. My girl Gabriella can attest to that.
“I know I’ve been fortunate on the love front, but you can too if you just give yourself a chance.”
Tanya nodded and knew that Simone’s heart was in the right place. For the past three months she’d listen to her go on and on about her half brother Isaiah Scott. When her mother remarried, she met an up and coming real estate broker and with some good investments her mother never had to work and Simone wanted for nothing. She worked as a volunteer at a hospital, but for the most part, she had nothing but wasted time on her hands. And now, her main objective in life was to find all of her single friends a husband. Tanya was next on the list. All she heard was, “He’s so wonderful. He’s such a good catch.” Simone didn’t even know what he looked like let alone who he was. Her mother was never married to her biological father who lived in Chicago. When Simone was two years old, he later moved out of Illinois all together. Simone never knew an Isaiah existed until a year ago.
According to Isaiah, when his mother recently died, he looked through some of her papers and discovered their wayward father had another child. He was elated and looked Simone up. They’d been emailing once a month ever since. Simone was just as ecstatic and through the correspondence, discovered that he was the product of a previous relationship his father had, five years before her birth. Isaiah was a lifetime Chicagoan and the notable founder of a youth program there. As a result, he was the recipient of several awards and doing well for himself.
In any case, meeting Isaiah was the reason for the girl’s night. Simone was trying to convince her once again, to go on a cruise so that everyone could finally meet. Isaiah relayed to her that he was looking to settle down. She in return, relayed to him that she knew the perfect woman. He was more than eager to jump aboard.
“Tanya, what harm is it going to do? If you don’t like him, you can go on about your business and I’ll leave it alone.”
“I’m not going,” she said after a long pause. “Because of you and your bragging, everyone expects us to meet, hook up, and live in marital bliss. I hope you kept your word and didn’t tell him any of my business.”
“I didn’t tell him anything that I know you’d want to tell him yourself. I just told him that you were a very good friend of mine in the finance business who was looking to meet someone nice and settle down.”
Tanya doubted that. She’d seen Simone in action and if she knew you, she had something to say about you and how she could improve your life. They were good friends, but Simone was the type of woman that shared everyone’s business with everyone else. She didn’t see any harm in it, but in Tanya’s eyes, if Simone were gossiping about everyone else, she was gossiping about her as well. That’s why she only shared her deepest thoughts with her mama and her best friend Gabriella. “That makes me sound desperate. I’m sorry, but you’re going to have to hook your brother up with someone else. Blind dates put me right there on front street. He hasn’t seen me and I may not be his type. Hell, he’s probably not mine either.” She stared in the mirror on her left and slid her hand across her stomach that was now two inches wider than it was six months ago. “Some men don’t appreciate all I have to offer.”
“That’s ridiculous, besides, you can lose that by the time we go on the cruise.”
That evening was several weeks ago and unfortunately endless debates wore her down. Before she knew it, she was booked on eight-day ‘let me fix you up’ Caribbean cruise, and now she was sitting in the seat of a Southwest Airlines plane. It was already off to a horrible start. Because of a scheduling mix up at the bank, she had to travel to Chicago for an unexpected business meeting. It wasn’t too bad because it was her hometown, but she was arriving a day later than everyone else. She closed her eyes and thought about the week that was to come.
“Excuse me, is this seat taken?”
She looked up at an older man with a newspaper and smiled as she moved her purse. “No, it’s not taken sir. Have a seat.”
He sat down and squeezed her into the window. “I didn’t mean to bother you, but I don’t like sitting in the rear. I’m a nervous flyer.”
She smiled. “It’s fine. I don’t like the rear either. I wanna be able to get the hell outta here.” She looked around and the crowded plane. “I guess everyone is taking advantage of the low rates this time of year.” A screaming baby disturbed her and she looked down the aisle and put her index finger to her lips.
“You don’t like kids?”
That was a question that always gave her pause. Should she lie to appease him or tell the truth? It wasn’t that she didn’t like kids; she just didn’t think children were in her future. That didn’t sit well with some people. When Gabriella asked her to be her daughter’s godmother, it was enough for her. “I don’t have a problem with kids,” she finally said. “But I’m not in that space.”
He smiled. “My daughter used to say that too, but like I told her, you have plenty of time to change your mind. I have four children myself and two grandchildren. They’re the best things in my life.”
She smiled. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to be rude, but I have some work to do and then I’m going to try and take a nap.”
“I have my newspaper.”
She looked out the window as the plane rose above the clouds. Maybe Simone is right and this vacation won’t be so bad. Maybe Isaiah will turn out to be a nice guy who loves everything about me and we’ll live happily ever after. She smiled. And maybe you’ll win the lottery. Keep dreaming girl.
Thirty minutes passed and a breath escaped her as she signed the last form. She closed her eyes and her mind drifted back to thoughts of the cruise. The Royal Caribbean was one of the finer cruise lines. They would be embark on the Navigator in Ft. Lauderdale, and after sailing for a day, it was set to dock in three ports including Puerto Rico, St. Martin, and St. Thomas. If she were lucky, she and Isaiah would at least have a mutual attraction and she could get her some. It had been a while and she wouldn’t mind having a little fling. Others may not agree, but she was a sexual woman and she wasn’t afraid to take control and show it.
A nudge forced her awake a couple of hours later. She struggled to open her eyes and saw the man pointing to the illuminated sign above her head.
“We’re in Ft. Lauderdale.”
She squint her eyes and heard the flight attendant tell her that they were about to land and she needed to fasten her seat belt. She half smiled. “Thank you.”
***
She retrieved her carry on, joined the line, and exited the plane. She shielded her eyes with her hand and pulled the thin fabric from the crevices of her body. A man with a warm smile pointed to one of those outside clocks. It read 98 degrees. She shook her head and returned his smile, but she didn’t complain as she pushed her luggage to the curb and held up her hand.
After waiting ten minutes or so, a taxi pulled up. He leisurely got out and her eyes followed him as he approached her. “I guess this is a busy time of the morning for you all.”
He nodded his head and wiped his brow with a handkerchief. “Yes, I can’t begin to tell you how busy it is. You headed to the marina?”
She nodded and looked around. “I am. Can you make sure that my bags are taken care of? I’m trying to avoid ironing my clothes.”
He nodded in the affirmative and after he put her bags in the trunk, they were on their way.
She looked out the window. “How long does it take to get to the marina?”
“It’s straight ahead and to your right miss.”
Still new to Miami and to cruising, she hadn’t had a chance to familiarize herself with most parts of the city, and she knew nothing about Ft. Lauderdale. The sight of the approaching marina intensified the uneasiness in her stomach. “Damn, it’s amazing.”
The cabbie looked in the rear view mirror and smiled. “I get that all the time.” He pulled up to the curb. “If you’ll wait just one second, I’ll open your door and get your bags.”
“Thank you,” she said as she got out.” She gave him a tip and followed the line of earthlings summoned to the ship. Movement was slow, but faces were full of wonder and excitement. Once there, she showed her documents, checked her luggage, and waited a ridiculous amount of time until she got the key to her cabin.
Upon entering, she nodded and was satisfied by her accommodations. It comprised a queen-sized bed, sofa, loveseat, desk, and a mini-bar, but that wasn’t what excited her. She opened the doors to the patio and looked out. This is what I’m talking about. I can’t wait to see a sunrise.
She glanced down at her watch and wondered where Simone and the rest of the match up crew were. They were supposed to meet her in the lobby, but they were nowhere to be found. She slid the doors closed and shrugged her shoulders. There was no way she was going to go back down and look for them. “I guess they’ll see me when they see me.” She got a whiff of herself. “You need a shower.” She walked into the bathroom and turned the nozzle. She didn’t think anyone would appreciate her personal creation of sweat and Juicy Couture.
***
“Man,” Malik Anderson said to his boss Isaiah Scott on the phone. “I still don’t think this is a good idea. Why can’t you just be upfront with your sister and tell her that you’d rather wait and meet her friend in Florida? I’m sure she would understand and appreciate your honesty.”
“That’s where you’re wrong. For one, I already committed myself and Simone wouldn’t understand because she can’t get inside the mind of a man. That’s why your behavior is mind boggling to me. How many times have you been on a date only to realize that you have nothing in common and in addition to that, you’ve spent an infinite amount of money that you can’t recoup?”
Malik heard him talking, but disengaged from the conversation. He knew the only reason Isaiah didn’t tell Simone he wasn’t coming was because she wouldn’t approve. Isaiah told him that his sister had been planning the event for months. Initially, Isaiah was excited about meeting this fabulous woman that would make all of his dreams come true. However, when some of his associates on his board of directors told him that it might not be a wise choice, he conjured up a plan to send Malik instead. Malik was to meet her, feel her out, and give Isaiah daily reports.
“Of course I’ve been on dates before, but I would never agree to go on a blind date. I like to see the treat before I purchase it and I don’t feel good about the deception. If she finds out, you’ll regret it and I’ll be right there with you.”
“We’re going to have to agree to disagree on this one, and after you give it more thought, you’ll agree that this works out for the both of us. I’ve was there for you and your mama and I’ve never asked you for anything in return, not even when she couldn’t pay her medical bills after her hysterectomy.”
It saddened Malik to hear him bring that up once again. If his mother hadn’t had that operation, she could have died. He was just starting out in his career at the foundation and he couldn’t afford to pay her medical bills. He asked Isaiah as a favor and agreed saying he never had to worry about reimbursing him. That was only the beginning of the things Isaiah had done for them. He said he thought of him as the younger brother he never had. Malik and his mother were beyond grateful and would have done anything for him.
“Malik I need you to handle this business for me. Just pretend like you’re the average cruiser there to have a good time. Once you get the information I need, you can have all the fun you want.”
Malik laughed. “How am I going to have any fun when I’m taking care of business for you? The cruise is seven days. It’s going to take me at least that long to gather all the information you need. There will be no time for fun. But Isaiah, after that, my debt is paid. You got it?”
“Malik, are you serious? This has nothing to do with that man. I thought you were doing this out of friendship. I would never ask you to do it because of what I did for your family. You know how I feel about your mother and I’m sure you’ll find a way to have a good time. You are the admitted ladies’ man. Do what you do.”
“That’s debatable and I’ll say it again. I don’t know why you would agree to let a woman that you just met set you up in the first place. The person you’re supposed to be with is already pre-destined. You can’t make it happen.”
Isaiah cleared his throat. “No, you’re wrong about that. Now that is a belief that Simone and I share. She told me that she met her husband through her father at a country club. And let me inform you, my sister wants for nothing. If you’ve listened to nothing else I’ve told you. Listen to this. Life doesn’t always play out the way you want. When it doesn’t, you have to make things happen for yourself. I’m getting older Malik and I don’t want to be alone for the rest of my life. I want to spend it with a wonderful woman. Otherwise, what’s the point?”
Malik shook his head and listened, but his mentor could never convince him of that. He would never choose to meet the woman of his dreams that way.
“Malik, did you hear me?”
“I’m here man.”
“As I was saying, I have plans and if she’s all Simone says she is, she could be my future wife. Haven’t you heard of those dating sites? They wouldn’t be so successful if it weren’t true. Listen, I’m a good man and I have plenty to offer to the right woman. If this woman is it, I’m going to give her the world.”
Malik opened his suitcase and unpacked. “That’s my point. You can’t find that out second hand. You should be the one spending time with her, but I can see how determined you are, so I concede. What’s her name again?”
“Her name is Tanya Campbell.” He became silent for a second. “I’m serious man. Get in touch with me as soon as you can get an idea of who she is. I don’t want to put any pressure on you, so I’ll leave the details to you. In case you forgot, I want to know about personality, looks, future goals, everything. I need her to be the kind of woman I can show off at the board room and brag about amongst my enemies, got it?”
Malik glanced at Isaiah’s name on the menu. “Yep, I know and before you get on with your day, think about what I said. At least tell your sister so I can have an ally.”
“I’ll think about it, but can’t promise you that. What I will do is leave her a message and tell her that I couldn’t make it.”
Leave her a message? “And what if you can’t get a connection? Have you thought about that?”
“I have and that may happen. It may happen with you, but I’ll just have to take my chances.”
He laughed to himself. “She deserves a better explanation than that and so does Tanya. Be the man she expects you to be and tell her the entire story. That’s all I’m saying.”
“I’ve made my decision. Also Malik, to put your reservations at ease, I called the cruise line and explained the situation. Everything is supposed to be cleared up, but there may be a few glitches.”
“Glitches?”
“Come on man. No more negativity. I’m sure you can handle anything that arises.”
He nodded. “I’ll keep you up to date and see you in seven.” He hung up the phone, shoved the menu in the drawer, and unpacked the rest of his clothes.
***
Tanya heard a loud bam at the door and stuck her head out of the shower. “Who is it?” she yelled in an irritated yet cautious voice. If it was the room steward she wasn’t answering. She didn’t feel comfortable being in the room with him alone.
“It’s Simone,” she sang.
Oh, she grabbed a towel opened the door. “Why are you beating on the door like that?
“I’m excited. Aren’t you?”
Tanya grinned. “All I’ll admit is that I’m intrigued. I’ve been waiting for you to get here,” she said as she walked away from her. “I thought you were going to meet me in the lobby.”
Tanya watched as Simone walked her 5’7” mocha colored frame into the cabin and collapsed into the chair in front of the small desk. She crossed her long legs. Simone had the perfect body, the one that women envied and men desired. “I’m sorry about that, but it was out of my control. Girl I was so angry. Let me tell you what happened. When we got here, they had our luggage mixed up with someone else’s. It took forever to get it straightened out, but everything is fine now. What have you been doing?”
Tanya shook her head and looked down at her towel. “I unpacked and took a shower. This whole day has been exhausting mess.”
Simone smacked her lips. “Um hum, I guess that’s what traveling is about. Stanley and I have been on so many trips I can barely keep up. I guess I should learn to be more patient.” She critiqued her nails and suddenly her face expressed a sinful grin. “So, you ready to meet your future husband tonight?”
“You’re pushing it. The only thing I’m going to do tonight is see if we have any chemistry and if I’m lucky, I’ll get me some. If not, I’ma do what I have to do. I haven’t been with anyone since Harold and I’m horny as hell. Speaking of horny, look,” she said as she walked over to the nightstand. “I got a whole box of colored-coded ribbed condoms.
Simone reached over and pushed her. “Why do you have to act like that? You don’t want to meet my brother, but you’re willing to sleep with a stranger?”
“Like I said, if he plays his cards right, he’ll be the one that gets lucky.”
“I don’t understand you. Isaiah isn’t like that. He wants to use this opportunity to get to know you. I’m trying to help you,” she said with a ‘tude. “Can’t you be optimistic and leave yourself open to a new experience?”
“I am leaving myself open. I left Chicago and everything I loved to move to Florida, didn’t I? Look Simone, I’m not even sure I believe in that hypocritical institution; ‘love and marriage’, it’s an oxymoron.” She flung her towel on the bed and rummaged through the lingerie drawer. “I’m going to be Tanya and if he doesn’t like me for who I am, I don’t want him.”
Simone frowned. “Marriage is not a hypocritical institution.” She looked at her voluptuous friend and stared. “I see you got waxed,” she said slowly.
Tanya nodded as she adjusted the sides of her lace thong. “You see right. I got me a little landing strip and it was so worth the pain.” She stood near the bed. “Do you know that they have dyes and stenciled cut-outs that you can apply down here?”
Simone made a face as she walked over and pointed to the designated spot. “There?”
Tanya rolled her eyes and grabbed Simone’s hand. She slapped it between her legs. “Yeah prude, they put it right here on your pussy.” She giggled.
Simone quickly removed her hand. “Do you have to talk like that? And stop lying. I’ve never heard of that.”
She giggled again. “Stanley would probably lose his mind if he saw you with one. And I’m not lying. It was in USA Today and I saw it at one of those specialty stores last week. You know I had to buy some. I got red, yellow, and hot pink lips. I got the stencils with some cute shapes and letters too. Let me show you. I brought them with me just in case.”
Simone stood proudly. “No, that’s quite alright. You keep that to yourself. I must say I could never do that if I were your…”
Tanya glanced down at her slightly protruded stomach and her full thighs. “My what?” She picked up her robe and shielded the front of her body.
“Nothing, I didn’t mean anything girl. You know how beautiful you are.” Simone exhaled. “Anyway, we’re all supposed to meet for dinner at five thirty. Don’t say it’s too early because it’s already set and it can’t be changed.”
Tanya lowered the robe and struggled with her strapless bra. She knew exactly what Simone meant to say. She knew she wasn’t a size four as Simone was. She’d been battling with her weight since she was a teenager and she hated it. “Thanks for the FYI.” She put on her robe and belted it tight. “Five thirty’s fine.”
Simone winced. “I wonder if he’s already aboard. He wrote he would make contact when he boarded, but I haven’t heard from him.”
Tanya walked over to the closet and looked at the evening gowns she brought along. “Why didn’t you all ever have a phone conversation? That’s weird.”
She shrugged. “Isaiah didn’t want it that way. He didn’t want any pictures either. I couldn’t figure it out and I don’t care. I have a brother.”
“Whatever, we have to dress for dinner right?”
“Did you hear what I said?”
She laid a couple of gowns on the bed and then looked at her. “I heard you and I’m sure he’ll contact you. Should I wear the red one or the white one?”
“Either one looks great with your complexion and you have such a pretty face. You’re going to have all the men on this ship turning their heads.”
“I’m going to go with the red. I have a feeling most of the women will wear white or black and I want to stand out.” She looked at her friend. “I like your hair like that. Did you go to Shelly?”
She primped her short cinnamon dyed bob. “Yeah girl, it was packed up in there too. I’m glad I called her last week. You know how she speaks. ‘You’re lucky your ass called or you would have been shit out of luck.”
Tanya laughed. “I know right?”
Simone smiled. “You have all of that beautiful hair on your head, but I like it better straightened. It makes you look more sophisticated. He’s going to love that.”
“I thought it was time for a change, but I liked my curls and they were low maintenance.” She didn’t want to tell her the real reason she straightened her hair. A man from her previous relationship, Harold, convinced her that straight hair would look better on her. It wasn’t because she would have scolded her, it was because Simone would have agreed with her behavior and she didn’t know how to feel about that. “I have to flatiron it every day if I want it to look like anything. “Okay, get out so I can get ready for your brother.”
“Make sure you wear your hair down and promise me you’re going to be on your best behavior.”
Tanya made a face and closed the door.
