Page 24 of Surrender to Love

“Morning. How can I help you?”

Without an invitation, he sits in one of the chairs directly across from me. “I just found out you are a member of DAZ,” he begins.

“All the purple and white and my cup,” I say, then turn my tumbler so he can clearly see my sorority letters on it. “Did that give it away?” I ask with a smirk. Clearly, he already ascertained I’m a proud member. My office screams it as well as the pillows in my seating area.

“My bad. I never even peeped that,” he lies with a huge smile.

Why is he here now?

“Well, I’m an OAK man,” he says, referring to our brother fraternity. “And I was wondering if I could be of service while I’m here.”

“We already have a faculty advisor, Dr.—"

“Emmanuel Redmond,” he says, finishing my sentence. I hate that shit. “I talked to him already.”

“Then, good. You sound like you are all set. Just make sure you don’t overwhelm yourself this first semester.”

“I think I can handle it. I’m pretty good at handling a lot on my plate.” His eyes dart toward my breasts and I want to roll my damn eyes but I don’t reveal my true annoyance with him. I just blow him off and pretend I don’t see his inappropriateness.

“Well, as long as my classes are taken care of and my students are learning, you’re good,” I say, then stand. “It’s almost time for your class this morning. I would hate for you to be late.”

“Oh,” he says, then stands. “Maybe we can sit down soon so I can share some ideas I have for OAK.”

“That wouldn’t make sense. As you mentioned, you are aware that Dr. Redmond is their advisor, not me. Just speak to him. Have a great day and class,” I say, then sit back down and pick up my desk phone. When he stares two seconds too long, I add, “You can leave my door open.”

He finally takes the hint and walks out. I shake my damn head. I don’t know what bothers me the most, his objectifying behavior or his arrogance and audacity that leads him to believe I like it.

As if his impromptu visit wasn’t enough, as soon as I place my phone back on the receiver, it rings. The minute I hear the person on the line, my chest tightens. It’s my mom. I haven’t talked to her since she called three weeks ago with her daughter’s news. I love my mother with everything in me, but after that call, admittedly, I have been ignoring her. When she calls my cell, I send it to voicemail. I guess that’s why she called my office phone.

“So, you are alive and breathing,” she says sarcastically, but I also hear a tinge of hurt in her tone. However, I’m hurt too. That call should never have been made to me, but nevertheless, I love and respect my mom so I keep my tone even, emotionless.

“I am. How are you, Momma?”

“Just calling to see if you paid my bills.”

“They are all paid and I transferred your money for incidentals.”

When I divorced Raquan’s cheating ass, Mireya referred me to the best divorce attorney. With Crescent Falls being an at-fault jurisdiction, Raquan’s ass had to pay. Although I didn’t want shit from him, my attorney told me to pursue and take alimony. My best friends agreed with my attorney, so I did.

Raquan was ordered to pay alimony for ten years or until I remarry. The first year, I didn’t touch it. Then I decided to finally get my mom out of The Manor. I put a down payment on a home for her in Crescent Pointe, and now, I use the money to pay her mortgage, utility bills, and incidentals. It would be so easy to just give her the money outright, but my mother has a slight lottery addiction, scratch-offs and the number drawing ones. Instead, after I pay her bills and give her an allowance, I have about eight hundred left. That goes right into my investment account Alex handles. That was the best decision of my life because the account is sitting very nicely at six figures.

“Thank you, sweetheart,” she says, then there’s a long ass pause.

“What’s up, Momma?” I ask, because anytime she can’t gather her words, something is up. “Did you spend it already?”

“No. No, I didn’t,” she says defensively. “You can see my account activity anyway, so I know you know I haven’t.”

“Then, what is it?”

“Can you come over after work?”

“Momma, I’m not coming over there if it’s got anything to do with your other child,” I say adamantly.

“It’s not, Rah-Rah. I promise. Just come over so I can show and tell you,” she says cryptically.

“You’re scaring me, Momma. I’m just going to come over. I have a student meeting at noon. As soon as it’s over, I’m coming to you.”

“Okay. I’ll fix lunch.”