He crossed one trousered leg over the opposite knee and gave her a direct stare. “You were widowed at a very young age, yet you have decided to raise your son on your own.”
“That’s a choice I wanted to make.”
“Why?”
“Because once he was born, I made a vow to myself that it would be just he and I.”
“You never thought that your son would need a man in his life?”
“Do you think Kenny having a man in his life would make him any different than he is now? He’s a good student, an obedient son, and I trust him not to get into trouble,” she added, answering her own question.
“You have beaten the odds, Justine, because even kids who have both parents in the home can end up in trouble. I apologize if you think I was saying that you were unable toraise your son on your own. You really deserve a medal, because Kenny is a fine young man who has made quite an impression on my mother.”
“What about you, Francis? Has my son also impressed you?”
Frank smiled. “Yes. Your son and his mother.”
What Justine had suspected, yet she hadn’t wanted to acknowledge, was that Francis D’Allesandro was interested in her. If certain circumstances in her life hadn’t occurred, she would have been flattered by his attention. There were a few men who’d flirted with her even though she was wearing a wedding band. It was different with Francis, because he was aware that she wasn’t married.
“What exactly do you want me to give you, Francis?”
He slowly blinked. “What makes you think I want you to give me anything?”
Justine sighed and shook her head. “Maybe that came out all wrong.”
Frank laced his fingers together, bringing the forefinger of his left hand to his mouth. “My giving you the typewriter isn’t a tit for tat. And if I’m going to ask you for anything, it would be for us to become friends. I’m going to give you my business and home telephone numbers. I want you to call me if you need my help with anything.”
Justine’s eyebrows shot up. “That’s it?”
“Yes, Justine. That’s it. What …” His words trailed off when her telephone rang.
“Excuse me, but I need to answer the phone.” Justine scooted over on the sofa and picked up the phone off an end table. “Russell residence.” She went still when she heard Norman’s voice again. “Can’t you take a hint that I don’t want to talk to you? And I want you to stop calling me.” She started to hang up but then found her wrist trapped between Francis’s fingers.
“Give me the phone,” he whispered.
Justine complied and released the receiver.
“Is there something wrong with your hearing?” he askedNorman. “She told you to stop calling her. If you don’t, then maybe I’ll have to convince you that she means what she says. Yes, man, I’m threatening you. Stop or you’ll find yourself in more trouble than you can get out of. Now fuck off!” He slammed down the receiver. “Who the hell is this creep who believes he has the right to annoy a woman who wants nothing to do with him?”
“Norman Robinson, an orderly, and we work at the same hospital.”
“Has he ever bothered you at work?”
Justine shook her head. “Never. He will stop by my office and wave, but nothing beyond that.”
“If he bothers you again, then let me know. Maybe he needs a face-to-face to convince him I mean business.”
Justine couldn’t ignore the rush of panic making it impossible for her to draw a normal breath. Francis’s voice was low, his words lethal. “Because he’s never made a pass at me at work, I don’t think he’s going to call me again.” What she didn’t tell Francis was that she prayed Norman wouldn’t call her again, because she didn’t intend to spend her life monitoring annoying telephone calls.
She’d allowed two women to manipulate her in the past, but that was when she was a frightened seventeen-year-old girl. Fast-forward almost twelve years, and now that she was thirty, she had no intention of repeating that phase of her life. It had been the reason why she didn’t want to marry. She didn’t want a man telling her what she could or could not do. There were occasions when she realized Kenny did need a male figure in his life, if only to teach him how to treat a woman. She’d felt guilty depriving him of a father whenever she saw him staring at other kids with their fathers. However, the guilt was short-lived whenever she recalled how and why she’d become a mother. Justine had tried to erase the memory of being blackmailed and humiliated when she surrendered her will to avoid going to jail, while she’d been forced to give up her virginity to a man she didn’t love. Justinedidn’t blame Dennis Boone for getting her pregnant, but his manipulative wife and mother-in-law.
There had been a time when she’d become physically ill when she saw a photograph of Dennis and Precious Boone with their young son Michael in theAmsterdam News. It had taken her a while to stop staring at the boy she carried beneath her heart, whom she would never be able to claim as her own. However, her twins had compromised. Michael resembled his father, and Kenneth, his mother.
Reaching for Francis’s hand, she gave it a gentle squeeze. “Thank you for running interference for me.”
He brought her hand to his mouth and kissed her fingers. “There’s no need to thank me.” He released her hand and took off his suit jacket. “I think it’s time we get your typewriter unpacked and set up.”
“After that’s done, what do I have to do to convince you to stay for dinner?”
