“Who’s Nick?” Simone asked looking suspiciously at the couple.
Kent moved to the refrigerator with his daughter, allowing Lotus to move forward with her obvious plan. “You still want some water?” he asked the little girl.
“Can I have some milk, Daddy?” Laurel asked, touching Kent’s handsome face.
He looked into identical eyes and smiled. “Now you want some milk?”
She nodded happily and he proceeded to fulfill her request. Lotus shook her head and turned to Simone.
“If she asked for a rainbow in the sky, he’d be outside doing a rain dance.”
Kent laughed. “If my baby wanted a rainbow, then dammit, it better rain.”
Simone laughed and watched as Kent poured the Almond milk into a little cup and frowned. “She got my baby hooked on this stuff,” he complained to Simone.
“It’s good for her…and you.” Lotus replied.
“Nah, I’ll pass.” He handed the cup to Laurel and she took it into her little hands.
“Thank you, Daddy.”
Kent kissed her face. “You’re welcome, baby.”
Winking at Lotus, he left the two women alone in the kitchen again. Lotus watched them go with a soft smile.
“She’s so smart and proper,” Simone commented. “For a toddler.”
“Thank you,” Lotus sighed. “Everyone thought Kent and I were the “crazy” ones, but we’re really just not afraid to be who we are, and we’re raising Laurel the same way. Her mind is a blank canvas and we let her learn and experience as much as she wants, without limitations from us.”
“Well she’s definitely advanced,” Simone agreed.
Lotus nodded. “She’s gifted.”
Shaking her head, Simone said, “That scares the hell out of me, then at the same time makes me want it…”
“What? Having a child?” Lotus asked.
She nodded. “Yeah, especially a daughter. What if I couldn’t protect her?”
“I think that when she is little, you keep her by your side and when she’s old enough…you teach her to protect herself,” Lotus answered.
Simone agreed. “That’s why I want these women to get armed.”
Lotus smiled. “Now back to Nick,”
“Okay, who is he?”
“He owns a gun range and several gun shops around the state,” Lotus explained and Simone nodded.
“That makes sense,”
Lotus frowned. “Of course it does, who did you think I was recommending?”
Simone shrugged. “Honestly, I thought you were on some matchmaking stuff…”
“Who me?” Lotus asked innocently. “I don’t get involved with people’s relationships.”
Simone gave her a look. “Trent, Isis and Callie?”
“Who told you about that?”
“Yeah, I thought so…”
Lotus took a breath. “I was young then…and a little brash with my abilities.”
“So you’re not trying to hook me up with this Nick?”
“Correct me if I’m wrong,” Lotus began. “But, didn’t you come in here asking for some help training the women in your program?”
Simone gave her a look. “Yeah, I did…but I don’t know about you.”
“Girl, the man owns a range and gun shops. You act like I’m sending you an accountant.”
“You know I don’t like those,” Simone agreed and they both chuckled.
“Honestly, Nick is exactly who you need,” Lotus told her.
Sipping her lemonade, Simone asked, “How do you know him?”
Lotus’ eyes lit up. “He was the agent assigned to guard me when all of that stuff went down with Warren Harding.”
Simone frowned. “Yeah, I remember that. That’s how you and Kent got together.”
“Yes, that’s when my protector answered his call.”
“And that’s why people think you’re crazy,” Simone teased.
Lotus smirked. “Whatever, I’ll have Kent contact Nick for you.”
Simone agreed. “Okay, I guess I can meet him. Who assigned him to you?”
“Trent was the leader then,”
“Oh, so Ray did…”
Lotus laughed. “Yeah…”
Simone continued to chuckle. “So this Nick knows Ray and Trent?”
“Yes, and they think very highly of him.”
“So, he’s dangerous…” Simone asked, circling the rim of her glass with a finger.
Lotus stared across the counter at her. “From what I understand, about as dangerous as they come.”
Simone nodded. “Hmmm…I can’t wait to meet him.”
Dinner with the Bakers was a hoot, as always. Simone enjoyed the parents before spending some quality time with her little homie, in her massive bedroom filled with toys. Simone stayed amazed at the little girl’s vocabulary and etiquette. She had to admit that Lotus and Kent were doing an excellent job raising Laurel.
As the little green eyes looked at her, Simone again felt her ovaries tingle. “Do you like your doll?” Simone asked her and was rewarded with a dimpled smile.
“She’s so pretty,” Laurel touched Simone’s long dark hair. “Like you, Simone.”
“Oh, Laurel…thank you.”
“Are you gonna come back and play with me again?”
Simone hugged the girl. “Yes, the next chance I get, I promise.” She breathed in her sweet scent and embraced the little body, while closing her eyes.
Laurel pulled back. “Wait! I have something for you, too!”
Simone blinked as the girl ran to her little desk in the corner and grabbed something from the drawer. She returned with a picture she had drawn. Simone took the paper and studied it. It was a woman, with long, dark hair, that she presumed was her. Then there was a man with green eyes, a chocolate woman and a green-eyed little girl.
“This is beautiful,”
Laurel pointed at the picture. “That’s Daddy, and that’s Momma, and that’s me…and that’s you, Simone!”
“Well, thank you Laurel. I’m going to hang this on my wall.”
Kent appeared at the door. “Okay, baby. It’s time for a bath and bed. I came to rescue Simone.”
Simone hugged Laurel close. “I never need to be rescued from this angel.” She turned to Laurel. “I’ll see you next time.”
“Bye, Simone.” Laurel kissed her cheek before running to her father.
Kent picked her up and looked at Simone. “Thanks for being so kind to her.”
Simone stood. “Are you kidding? Thank you for sharing her with me.”
Kent nodded. “How are you doing?”
“I’m really good.” Simone told him. “When the Uncut Diamonds ended, I wasn’t sure what my next steps were going to be, but I’ve found my footing.”
He smiled. “Good, you know Lotus and I are always here. You’re family…”
“Thanks Kent, that means a lot,” Simone told him. “You and Lotus have been such a help to me, I can never repay you.”
“Girl, stop,” Kent told her. “We love you.”
Simone smiled. “I love you guys, too. Especially your little green-eyed monster.”
Kent stared at his daughter. “She is, too…she has Lotus’ sweet face, but she’s all mine.”
Laurel wrapped her arms around his neck and laid her head on his shoulder.
“And she’s got you wrapped around her finger,” Simone pointed out.
He nodded. “Just like her Momma.”
“Just like her Momma what?” Lotus said, entering the room.
Kent smiled. “My baby is sweet and beautiful, just like my Little Momma.” He kissed her lips and headed out the door with his daughter.
“Damn, I love him,” Lotus said, shaking her head.
“Well, I’ve had enough of you two lovebirds with your perfect babies and almond milk, so I’m going to go home to my empty apartment and have a glass of wine.” Simone told her with a smile.
“It won’t be empty for long,” Lotus told her cryptically.
Simone stopped. “You know I hate when you do that.”
“I can’t help it,” Lotus shrugged. “It’s the gift.”
Hugging Lotus, Simone then looked at her. “Thank you for dinner and playtime with your baby, now come walk me to the door.”
Together the women walked to the front porch and Lotus watched as Simone got into her car. Once she drove off, Lotus went upstairs where Kent was bathing Laurel. He looked up and shook his head.
“She’s going to hurt you,” he warned.
Lotus joined him at the tub, while Laurel played with the toys in the water. “No, she’s not. She’s going to thank me.”
He smirked. “Okay…”
“I’ve been waiting for the opportunity to introduce them. I knew he was the one for her, but I had to be patient, and now the Universe has set up the perfect opportunity,” Lotus said happily, handing a toy to Laurel.
“Okay, but if this goes left, I had nothing to do with it.”
“And I’ll happily take all the credit at their wedding,” Lotus boasted. “Simone deserves happiness and I just hope that she’ll accept it.”
Kent looked at his beautiful wife. “That’s why I love you, Lotus. You have the biggest heart of anyone I know, and you’re never afraid to do what you think will help someone else. I’m so proud to have you as my wife.”
Lotus touched his face. “Thank you, Kent. This is why I let you give me green-eyed babies…”
******
Simone drove to her apartment, listening to some mellow music, intent on having her a glass of wine and jumping into her bed. Her phone rang and she saw the Women’s Center number show up on her dash.
“This is Simone,” she answered.
“Sorry to bother you, but we have a situation here,”
“A situation?”
“Yes, one of the husbands followed his wife here and he threatened to shoot up the building. Police are here now,”
Simone slowed down. “What the hell? Is anyone hurt?”
“No, he left before the police arrived, but the other women here are pretty shaken.”
“I’m on my way,”
Turning her car in the other direction, Simone made a beeline to the building. When she arrived, she saw the squad cars outside and hurriedly made her way inside. She was stopped by an officer and identified herself.
“I’m Simone Jenkins. I’m the Manager here.”
He nodded. “We need to speak with you.”
“We can talk in my office, but I need to check on the staff and clients first,” she told him.
“Sure, I understand.”
Simone located her evening manager in a group room with a few clients.
“Is everyone okay?” she asked.
“Yes, we’re fine.” The manager answered.
“Tell me what happened, Brandy.”
“Mrs. Polk came in this evening after an altercation with her husband. He followed her here and when we wouldn’t buzz him in, he lost his mind. He started threatening to shoot up the facility, if she didn’t come out, so we called the police.” Brandy explained.
“Where is she?”
Brandy sighed. “She’s in one of the rooms. She wants to leave and get her kids, but it’s too dangerous.”
“Where are her kids?” Simone asked.
“At her grandmother’s house.”
Simone nodded. “I’ll go get them.”
“Simone? We can send the police,”
She shook her head. “No, they might call protective services and that’s just another problem on her plate, and they’ll probably scare the hell out of that poor grandmother.”
“How are you going to get them?” Brandy asked. “What if he’s there?”
Simone looked at her. “I hope he is…”
Brandy looked confused.
“Listen, I’m going to speak with the police and then I have a mission.” Simone informed her.
In her office, Simone sat with the officers and answered their questions. She relayed all the information that she had available and they assured her they would be on the lookout for Mr. Polk.
Simone told them that Mrs. Polk would be safe at the Center and that her children were fine and would be joining her soon. Satisfied, the police departed, and Simone, with the address to Mrs. Polk’s mother’s home, exited the building and headed to her car.
As she walked, her phone rang and she looked down, not recognizing the number. “This is Simone Jenkins.”
“Hello Simone Jenkins, this is Nick Webster.”
She paused. “Who?”
“I apologize for calling so late and unannounced but Lotus Baker just called me and insisted that I contact you. She says that you need my help, right now.” He explained.
Simone shook her head. “That damn Lotus.”
“I’m sorry Mr. Webster. Lotus shouldn’t have bothered you.” Simone said in a neutral tone.
There was a pause. “You’re in a crisis. I can hear the inflection in your voice.”
She blinked, knowing full well that she’d deliberately calmed her voice. “Excuse me?”
“You tried to hide it and if I wasn’t well trained, I wouldn’t have picked it up at all.” Nick explained. “Let me help you,”
Simone continued to her car and climbed inside. “Look, I don’t know what Lotus told you, but…”
“Okay, Simone…I’ll find you.”
She froze and stared at the phone, with the ended call signal.
“Who the hell?” Simone said, then shook her head and got back to her mission.
She started the car and entered the address into her GPS. Driving, she told herself to call that damn Lotus when she got the chance. That girl could go too far sometimes…
Simone arrived ten minutes later outside of the darkened home. She hadn’t called, because she didn’t want anyone possibly alerted to her arrival, and prepared to ambush her. Stepping out of her car in jeans and tennis shoes, Simone touched the weapon on her waist and quietly closed the door.
Looking around the neighborhood, she scanned the surroundings before heading toward the front porch. She turned back as a car’s headlights came down the street and passed her slowly. She couldn’t see the driver, but she felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand up.
With the car now out of her sight, she turned back to the front door. Just as she was about to knock, the same car came back in the opposite direction with tires screeching. Simone reached for a gun, just as something was propelled out of the driver’s window.
The next thing Simone knew the porch was on fire. She let out a shot at the car as it sped away, then went into action, getting to the people inside the now burning home. She banged on the deadbolt, steel door, yelling.
“Open up! It’s a fire!” Simone screamed, then ran to a window opposite the growing flames.
She raised an arm to smash it, when she was stopped in mid-air.
“I’ve got it!”
In amazement, Simone watched the man use a booted foot to kick open the window. After smashing the extra glass, he quickly dove inside and Simone followed. They saw a scared woman with three kids coming down the stairs and Nick moved like lightening, scooping up all of the little ones.
“Help the woman!” he ordered, running towards the back door, as the flames began engulfing the living room.
Simone could hear the cries of the children as this man ran with them to safety. She grabbed the elderly woman. “Let’s go!”
When they got out of the back yard, Simone heard sirens and firetrucks as the group continued to move away from the burning home. When they were in a safe distance, Simone turned to the man, still holding the children.
“Who are you?”
His dark eyes looked down into her confused face. “I’m Nick Webster. I told you I’d find you.”
******
Simone loaded the grandmother and the children into her car after speaking with the police for the second time that evening, along with Nick Webster. She’d explained everything, starting from her leaving the center, to the cocktail thrown on the porch.
She now looked up at the man standing next to her vehicle.
“Thank you,” Simone said quietly. “I guess Lotus was right. I couldn’t have gotten them all out by myself.”
He nodded. “I’m glad I was here.”
“How did you find me?” Simone asked, confused.
“I used to be Special Ops…I tracked your number and followed your GPS.”
She shook her head. “Damn…”
“It’s not something that I do to women, but Lotus was worried about you and I picked up that something was wrong when I spoke to you,” Nick explained.
“I’m trained to not let that show,” she told him.
“I’m trained to uncover it,”
Simone glanced into the car, where the woman sat consoling the children. “I should get them to their mother and find arrangements for them.”
Nick agreed. “You didn’t get the plate of that car?”
She angrily shook her head. “I should’ve paid more attention. I knew something was wrong.”
“Well, you got the make and model. I’ll do some checking myself. When I pulled up, all I saw was the fire.”
“Will you let me know if you find out anything?” Simone asked.
“Of course,” Nick answered. “I’m supposed to be meeting with you about some gun training.”
“That’s right,” Simone said quietly. “When would you be available?”
“I’ll stop by your Women’s Center tomorrow. I’d also like to check out your security with this guy still on the loose,” Nick informed her.
“Do you think it’s the husband?”
Nick shrugged. “That, I don’t know, but what I do know is that whoever it is, they’re going to wish they hadn’t done this.”
Simone felt a rush at his softly spoken, deadly threat. She held out her hand. “Well, thank you Mr. Webster.”
He took her hand firmly. “Nick…”
She smiled. “Simone…”
“I will see you tomorrow, Simone,” he told her, releasing her hand. “But first, I’m going to trail you back to the Center.”
She put up her hands. “I’m not even going to complain at this point.”
He nodded, then opened her door for her. When she was settled inside, Simone turned back to the family. “I’m going to take you somewhere safe.”
The grandmother looked relieved. “Thank you. Thank you for saving these babies.”
“You’re welcome.”
“And thank that man too,”
Simone turned back to the windshield and watched Nick walk towards his dark vehicle.
“I will…” Simone answered, starting her car.
She watched her rearview mirror as he followed behind her. Back at the building, she waved at him before ushering the family inside.
Mrs. Polk ran to hug her grandmother and her children. “I’m sorry,” she cried. “Did Ja’Traveon do this?”
Simone frowned and shook her head.
“I don’t know,” the grandmother answered. “I had put the kids to bed and the next thing I knew, somebody was yelling ‘fire’ and these people came through the window to get us.”
Mrs. Polk turned to Simone. “Thank you for bringing my family.”
Simone pulled her to the side. “Do you think your husband would try to hurt his own kids?” she questioned.
The woman shrugged her shoulders. “He has a temper and when he gets mad, he just loses control.”
Simone lifted a brow. “He seems to get mad often,”
She looked away. “I’m always doing stuff that he don’t like.”
“What happened this evening that brought you here?”
Mrs. Polk squirmed. “He was drinking tonight…”
“And he became violent again?” Simone questioned.
She nodded. “I ran and took the kids to my grandmother’s.”
Simone placed a hand on her shoulder. “I’m going to let you take care of your family tonight, but tomorrow, I need to see you.”
“Okay, Ms. Jenkins. Thank you for everything,”
“You’re welcome,”
Simone watched the woman reunite with her family and then Brandy joined her. “I’ve put her family in one of the rooms upstairs.
“Thanks Brandy,” Simone said, watching the children console their mother. “The police are staying in the area, but if anything happens, call me immediately.”
“I will.”
With one last glance at the children, Simone walked out to her car, headed home to get a few hours’ sleep and a shower, before returning. Driving to her apartment, she looked in her mirror and saw a dark car following her.
Outside her building, she gave a wave to the man who’d trailed her home. He gave a short wave in return and waited until she entered the building. Upstairs in her apartment, Simone turned on the lights and walked over to the window, just in time to see the dark car pull away.
Heading toward her bedroom, Simone smiled. “Damn, he’s fine…”