Just Be True To Me

Chapter 10

She woke up to Clifford’s steel grey eyes. Mia lay her head on his chest, hugging his waist as he hugged hers. “Last night was amazing.”

“I agree. I couldn’t stop thinking about it until I fell asleep. When I finally did, I dreamed about it.”

She slid her hand underneath the sheets, biting her lip between her teeth. “I want some more.”

His side of the bed turned cold instantly after he climbed out. “We don’t have time.” Without warning, he ripped the sheet from her. “Time to get up. We have a busy day.”

“We do?”

“Yes we do. Take a shower and I’ll get started on breakfast.” His instructions faded as he walked further down the hallway.

She spread herself out wide as she stretched. A crinkling sound appeared under her arm before something sharp poked her.

It was the picture.

Guilt flooded over her as she studied the faces. She looked in the direction of the banging pots and pans. Studying the face of the young boy presented an innocence that was no longer present in the man he grew into. The light was still present in the younger Clifford’s eyes. She slipped the photo underneath her lower back when he came bounding into the room.

“Why are you not in the shower yet?”

“You never told me what we’re supposed to be doing today,” she said. No shame followed her as she put her nakedness on display. Noticing him staring, she twirled in a circle. “Like what you see?”

“I would like it better if it was fresh out of the shower and getting dressed.”

She crossed her arms over her chest, the chill in the room causing her nip*les to harden. “I’m not doing anything until you tell me what the plan is. I don’t even have clothes.” Mia didn’t move after he disappeared, until she jumped at the bag that landed at her feet.

“We’re going on a road trip. Now hurry up and get cleaned so you can eat.”

“Yes, daddy.”

Clifford stopped in his tracks. His face was tight. “I respect your father too much to allow you to call me that.” It loosened. “We need to meet again so I can reintroduce myself. We can do it when we get back.” Her bottom hadn’t touched the bed long before she heard, “That’s not the shower.”

***

She read the sign aloud as they passed. “Welcome to Hartford.” Her head snapped in his direction. “Isn’t this—”

He held her hand. “With the recent development in our relationship, I wanted to show you where I come from.” He explained the history of the buildings he passed, some more than a century old, also pointing out his high school, church, and the local party spot. A right turn directed them into the parking lot of a small mom and pop restaurant. He stopped to talk to the man sitting on the porch before opening her door.

Mia immediately noticed the change in the man’s demeanor after he got a look at her. He turned his nose up and chewed more obnoxiously on his toothpick, spitting the shards into a pile on his right. His eyes were narrowed despite there being a cloud over the sun.

“She’s not your usual type.”

The comment put her on the defense. She lagged behind a bit.

“Darker than what you usually show me huh Grandson.”

“Stop it Granddaddy,” Clifford said. “Where’s your manners?”

“In there with your Grandma. What’s your name pretty girl?”

“Mia…Bishop.”

“Mia Bishop,” he repeated. “Mia Bishop. You from down south aren’t ya? They don’t make your color up here.”

“Larry, shut your mouth.” A white haired woman, standing just under five and a half feet tall stepped out of the door. She slapped the back of the man’s head. “Don’t mind him, dear. He’s still stuck in the ‘50s. I tried to beat the prejudice out of him, but he’s a tough sum-bi*ch.”

“You’ll have to put me in the ground before I stop speaking my mind. That girl is dark. I didn’t say I didn’t like it or that anything was wrong with it. I’m just telling you what I see.” He rubbed the spot she slapped. “Now if I call you an ornery bit—”

“You’ll have too much dirt in your mouth to say anything else.” She threw her arms around Clifford’s waist. “There’s my favorite person in the whole word. Cliffy, I swear, either you’re getting taller or I’m getting shorter.”

“You’re getting shorter,” Larry said. He managed to dodge her slap. “You get enough of tryna hit me.”

“Or what? You gonna kill me like you did your first wife.”

“I just might. Keep it up.”

She led the way into the building, which was small but comfortable. “Don’t mind my brother.” She pointed at her temple and circled her finger. “He’s still stuck in the Antebellum south. Don’t take anything he says to heart. He doesn’t know what he’s saying.”

“He’s right about her being pretty though,” Clifford said. “Mia, this is my Great Aunt Irene. She’s the person I trust most in my life. And –”

“I taught him everything I know about business. I hope you’re hungry.” She set a plate in front of each of them. “I made your favorite.”

Clifford rubbed his hands together. “She makes the best fried chicken.”

Mia laughed along between bites as Irene told her the most embarrassing stories of Clifford’s childhood. She couldn’t help but notice how at ease he seemed. It was the most she’d seen him laugh and smile. Not a word was mentioned about work or business aside from the state of the restaurant, which was doing extremely well.

“Thank you for that money Cliffy. We start construction on the new place next week,” Irene said. “You coming to talk to Governor Mason sealed the deal on the permits.”

Mia waited until she disappeared to ask about the money.

“That was why I switched the money from the accounts. Aunt Irene’s name is on the off-shore one.” He explained that she was his primary care giver whenever his mother was incapable.

She thought about the picture.

“Your name is going on it,” Irene said when she returned

“No,” Clifford said. “It’s your place. Your name deserves to be on it.”

“But if it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t even have a restaurant to name. His name should be on it, right sweetheart?” She winked at him. “Mia here is smart. So I know she’s gonna agree with me.”

She felt the warmth of his gaze boring its way through the side of her face. It was a moment to not only ingratiate herself with a woman that meant so much to him, but to also take a poke at him. “I agree with you, Aunt Irene. I’m actually surprised that Clifford doesn’t want his name on it. We both know how much he likes to be the center of attention.”

They exchanged a high five. “If you don’t keep her, I will.”