“I know my daughter doesn’t do anything she doesn’t want to.”
I chuckled and rose to shake his hand.
“I’ll see you in a couple of days,” he stated before departing my office.
I watched his back as he left.
****
Chanel
“So, how do you want to play this?”
Xavier looked at me as he turned the car off. We were outside the Italian restaurant he owned. His mother had chosen it for our double date.
“Play what?” he asked me quizzically.
“Tonight? I mean, I could be the bad cop, and you play good cop. You know, you butter up your mom and Todd with your usual charm, and I can do the bad cop, firing off twenty questions,” I joked.
Xavier looked at me like I was one fry short of a Happy Meal.
“Okay, I guess you want to be the bad cop. It makes sense, since she is your mom, and you want to make sure this Todd guy is on the up-and-up.”
He gave me a half-grin. “You’re crazy.”
I shrugged. “Sometimes.”
“Nah, but thank you for agreeing to this. I know it’s been a minute since you’ve been around my mom since finding out about her and your pops.”
I sighed. “Yeah, I won’t pretend like this isn’t awkward, but I’m working on letting the past remain in the past. My father and I are still figuring one another out. And your mom is a huge part of who you are. I don’t want there to be tension between us.”
Xavier pulled my face to his and pressed his lips to mine. A quick kiss. “Thank you.”
“Okay, so now give me the dirt.”
He raised his eyebrow at me.
“Don’t give me that look. I know you’ve had Todd looked into. Did you find anything interesting?”
“Nah, he’s as clean as a whistle. Makes his money legit via his landscaping business and raised his two sons after his wife died in their teens. Dated a few women but nothing serious. His oldest recently graduated from UCLA and the youngest is in his sophomore year at Howard.”
“See, I knew you’d done your research. Okay, so I’ll be the good cop to make him feel as ease. Ask him a little about his sons and whatnot, and you’ll do that intimidating face you do.”
“You’re a trip. Let’s just enjoy the evening, a’ight?” He laughed, getting out of the car and coming around to open my door for me.
Minutes later, we were shown into a private dining area where Wanda and Todd were already there waiting.
“Hey, Mama,” Xavier greeted, placing a kiss on her cheek.
Wanda looked good as she stood wearing a black skirt and pink silk top that flattered her almond toned skin. Her hair was in her typical twist out, with spirals framing her face. The smile on her face as she greeted Xavier was effervescent.
“Baby, this is Todd,” she introduced. “Todd, this is my son, Xavier and his girlfriend, Chanel.”
I looked at Todd, who appeared to be beaming next to Wanda. At approximately five-nine, he was a few inches shorter than Xavier, but with his copper-toned skin, dark brown eyes, greying hair, and confident look, he had an appeal to him.
“Pleasure to finally meet you. Your mother’s told me so much about you. This is a nice place you have here.” Todd waved his hand around, acknowledging the restaurant.
“Thank you.” Xavier extended his hand, shaking Todd’s. “My mother has told me a good deal about you as well.”
