From This Day Forward: Multicultural Romance Read online

  “Thank you. Good-bye, Mr. Thomas,” she said and hung up the phone.

  After hanging up the phone, she exhaled.

  Doubt immediately began to consume her.

  Did I just give my notice?

  Am I crazy?

  I know how to run a restaurant, but I know nothing about opening one.

  But she took a deep breath and said a silent prayer.

  After a few minutes, she got excited as she began to realize her new reality. Loretta looked at the calendar. It was the end of February, and snowing and freezing out. Just a little over two and a half months from the day, she knew she’d be in Wine Country, starting a new life!

  Chapter 2

  Two and a half months later, Loretta peered out the window of the plane as it made its way toward her new life. The coastal cliffs of Northern California were beautiful. The valley was an emerald green and the ragged earth met the vast, blue ocean, as if they were old friends.

  She reflected on what her children had said when she told them she was leaving Detroit. She called her daughter and told her to get her brother on the phone so the two of them could be on the line at the same time to hear her news.

  “Remember when we went out to California to visit Velma?”

  “Yes,” they said in unison.

  “And you know how she’s been begging me to move out there?”

  “Yes?” they each said with a question in their tone.

  “Well, I’m going to do it. I’m leaving Detroit and moving to Bordeaux Valley.”

  There was silence for a few seconds.

  “Mom, are you okay?” her son had asked. “I mean, you’re not sick or dying or anything, are you?”

  “No Terrell, I’m not sick.” Loretta wondered why everyone thought she had to be sick or dying to make a life change.

  “I’m in perfectly fine health,” she continued. “This is actually something I’ve been seriously thinking about doing for a long time now, and when I got the money from your uncle, I thought, ‘why not’?”

  “Are you going to buy a house out there, mom?” Terrell asked.

  “No, it’s way too expensive. I’m going to stay with Velma for just a bit until I can find a place to rent.”

  “Cool, I can’t wait to come out,” he said. “When can I come for a visit?”

  “As soon as I get settled.”

  Loretta was waiting for her daughter to say something.

  “Well, Brianna, you haven’t said anything. What do you think?”

  “I’m happy for you, Mom. But are you sure you haven’t met someone online on one of those dating websites that you’re going to be with?”

  Loretta remembered leaving her laptop open one evening. Brianna was home visiting from college, and Loretta had darted in for a shower. She had been perusing Match.com, thinking about exploring online dating. Brianna came in to use the computer and saw the webpage open.

  “No sweetheart, your mama is just ready for a change. And who knows, maybe I’ll meet my knight in shining armor in Cali,” she laughed.

  “You never know, Ma,” Brianna said. “And he’d be lucky to have you. What about your job?” Brianna asked. “They are going to be shocked.”

  “They already are,” Loretta said. “I gave my notice today.”

  “Good for you, Mama,” Terrell said. “Are you going to open that restaurant you’ve always talked about?”

  “I’m going to give it a good try,” Loretta said.

  “I know you’ll do just fine,” her son said. “I’ll be out to visit on my summer break, so maybe I can pitch in and help you run the place.”

  “That would make your mother very happy,” Loretta beamed.

  “Count me in,” Brianna chimed in. “I love California!”

  Loretta remembered looking at the phone in disbelief after speaking with both of them. Her children were happy for her and very supportive, though that didn’t surprise her at all. What surprised her was that they had both committed to visiting that summer.

  “Well, I’ll be,” she remembered saying when she got off the phone. “Thank you, Jesus.”

  ***

  The loud voice came back on the overhead speaker as the plane started descending.

  “Ladies and gentlemen, as we start our descent into Bordeaux Valley, please make sure your seat backs and tray tables are in their full upright position. Make sure your seat belt is securely fastened and all carry-on luggage is stowed underneath the seat in front of you or in the overhead bins. Please turn off all electronic devices until we are safely at the gate. We should be arriving in less than twenty minutes.”

  Loretta was happy and nervous at the same time.

  She was glad she hadn’t traveled with a lot of bags. Most of her heavy winter clothes had been donated to the Salvation Army, and the furniture that she could not sell had been left in the home for the landlord to offer to the new tenants. Selling her old Chevy, she’d only gotten seven hundred and fifty dollars. But that was fine; she’d more than gotten her use out of it.

  “Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Bordeaux Valley Airport. The local time is three-twenty p.m. and the temperature is seventy-two degrees. For your safety and comfort, please remain seated with your seat belt fastened until the Captain turns off the Fasten Seat Belt sign….”

  Loretta strained her neck to look out the window onto the little airstrip. The valley was green and gorgeous.

  As she made her way to the baggage claim, she saw a flood of people hovering about. She noticed she was one of only two African-Americans who boarded the second plane to the tiny airport. The other one was an older gentleman in a business suit sitting in a plush seat near the front of the little plane.

  The last time she’d visited Velma, they stayed at her condo in a larger neighboring city. But she’d long since moved to the more rural area of Bordeaux Valley that required she change planes. Her nerves were a little jittery from the flight, but she had landed safe and sound.

  Two flights had come in around the same time, so there was a delay in the bags hitting the luggage carousel.

  After returning from the ladies room, she stood at a distance trying to get a signal on her cell phone. She knew Velma would be waiting on her out front, but she wanted to call her anyway.

  A tall, bronzed man came up and stood beside her.

  “If that’s T-Mobile, you won’t get a signal in here,” he offered in an unmistakable Italian accent, watching her fiddle with the phone.

  She looked up at him and smiled. Handsome to say the least. His broad frame towered over her five foot, five inch frame, standing at least six feet, two inches. His naturally bronzed skin made him look like he was right off the pages of Italian Vogue for Men. The man appeared to be in his mid-40s. He was fit, with a washboard middle. Most men his age had a little belly, but Loretta could see through his shirt he was very fit. He looked like he’d been an athlete in his younger years.

  “Thank you,” Loretta said, trying hard to tear her gaze away from the squared-jawed stranger who sported a face full of sexy stubble. The little bit of gray flirting at the edges of a head full of dark, wavy hair gave him a naturally distinctive look.

  She did have T-Mobile, and her bars were hovering low on her LCD. “My girlfriend told me I needed to change phoneservicers before I came, but I guess I thought I’d be okay for a little while.”

  “You’re welcome to use my phone,” he said, his eyes patrolling her body.

  Alonzo didn’t mean to stare, but the woman was beautiful, and her curves were just right. In the little Italian village where he was born and raised, the women had a little meat on their bones, which he preferred.

  Something about this lady reminded him of the beautiful women he grew up admiring. She was short, with pretty skin, and a head full of thick, natural hair pulled back in a bun. Her body was shapely with curves springing out from her waist over a full bottom. Her ample bosom could not ignored, and her smile was warm and inviting.

  If this was the
new help, he was sure to be in trouble, because it had been a long time since a woman had given him a stir like she was doing.

  Loretta knew she would have felt his dark eyes on her even if she didn’t see them. They landed right on her generous bosom, as most men’s eyes did. Short, Loretta was a beautiful, full-figured woman. Her curves were accented by jeans and a soft, rose-colored top that came to a low-cut V in the front. A light, silky, pink scarf adorned her neck. Caramel-colored skin that had not seen the sunlight in what felt like ages in the cold Detroit winter would finally get some color in the California sunlight.

  “Thank you --,” she started, in response to his offering his phone.

  “Alonzo. Alonzo Thornton,” he said, as if she should recognize his name. He smiled and put out his hand to shake hers.

  “Thank you, Alonzo,” she said, smiling back, reaching to shake his hand. “But the call can wait.”

  The people sure are friendly out here, she thought.

  “Do you have many bags?” he asked, still standing next to her.

  “No, just a couple,” she said hesitantly.

  “Pep can help take your things to the car out front,” he said, nodding to the uniformed driver who was coming her way with a smile. The short, dark man wore a chauffer’s hat, black suit, and stark white shirt. He came and stood next to Loretta, as if at her beck and call.

  “Excuse me?” Loretta said, confused.

  There was a look of confusion in Alonzo’s eyes, too.

  “I like to personally greet all of our new household hires at the airport,” he said.

  “New hire?” she asked.

  Alonzo’s brows furrowed. “I’m sorry, are you Nettie Williams, from Domestic Servants International?” he asked.

  “Nettie Williams? From Domestic Servants what?” she asked, her eyes glaring up at him.

  Understanding filled Alonzo’s eyes. “My apologies,” he said. “I thought you were the new maid for the vineyard’s estate. I shouldn’t have assumed.”

  “You’re right, you shouldn’t have, mister!” Loretta shot.

  She looked around at the group of white people staring at her. Her voice was loud. But she didn’t care; she was angry. How dare he assume she was “the help” because she was the only woman of color in the place?

  The chauffer hung his head a little and smiled at her moxie.

  The luggage carousel started moving, and lucky for this indignant man, her bags were part of the first few.

  Loretta stormed past the dark stranger and his chauffer, yanked her bags off the roller, threw them in the pushcart, and headed for the EXIT sign.

  Alonzo watched the pretty, feisty lady strode away. His eyes were glued to her generous backside as she walked away.

  The chauffer saw him admiring the lady as she made her way toward the exit. Shaking his head, the chauffer responded, “Mr. Thornton, if you do ever see that woman again, you know you won’t have a snowball’s chance in Hell, right?”

  “I’m afraid I do, Pep,” he said, sighing. “I’m afraid I do.”

  Digging his hands in his pocket, Alonzo felt like a complete idiot.

  Chapter 3

  “Loretta!” Velma screamed, running toward the doorway to hug her friend’s neck.

  Loretta let go of the pushcart and ran to meet her friend.

  “Oh, Velma, it’s so good to see you,” she said, embracing her friend.

  “You, too, you, too. Look at you, you did it!” Her friend was tall with pretty brown skin. Her features were strong, and her slightly cross eyes were wide and kind. Long, thick locks hanging from her head made her look a little like Whoopi Goldberg. Dressed in a moo-moo made of colorful African fabric, she looked beautiful.

  “Thanks to you, Velma,” Loretta said. “Thanks to you.”

  “Oh, come on now, that’s what friends are for. Follow me, the truck’s right out front.”

  Loretta followed Velma out to her pickup truck.

  “You’re still driving this old truck,” Loretta said playfully as she put her bags in the back bed.

  “I sure am,” Velma said with pride. “No sense spending good money on a new one when this one runs just fine. Besides, me and Xena are real good friends.”

  “That’s right, her name sure is Xena,” Loretta said. “Lord, Velma, you can well afford a new vehicle.”

  “I know, and that’s why I can because I spend my money on stuff I need, not stuff I want.”

  “Girl, will you never change?” Loretta giggled, stepping up into the large black pickup.

  “Nope, sure won’t,” she said, as they sped in the distance to her home in the countryside.

  Loretta gasped as they rounded the curve to Velma’s home. After they drove up a slight incline, the ocean in the distance opened up like light from the heavens. A two-story, limestone home sat in the distance right at the edge of the water.

  “Welcome to mi casa,” Velma said with pride.

  “This is beautiful, Velma,” Loretta gasped.

  “God has been kind,” Velma said.

  “I knew you had a successful funeral home business, but I had no idea you lived like this.”

  “In the industry, we say mortuary practice, not funeral home business,” Velma joked. “And thanks for the vote of confidence,” Velma chuckled, swatting her friend playfully on the shoulder.

  “You know I don’t mean it like that,” Loretta said as Velma pulled the truck up into the finely manicured yard.

  The house sat like a mini-manor off to itself on at least three acres. The endless Pacific was not too far in the distance. Loretta spotted a small yacht parked under a little landing to the right of the house. Steps from a private pier led directly into Velma’s backyard.

  “Is that your boat?”

  Velma followed Loretta’s gaze.

  “It sure is. I got my captain’s license several years ago.”

  “You are a real Renaissance woman,” Loretta said, proud of her friend.

  “I don’t know about that,” Velma said, moving a handful of long, thick dreadlocks from her shoulders to her back, “but it is fun to try something you’ve never done before and become a master at it.”

  Loretta unbuckled her seatbelt and hopped out. “Well, I want to be like you when I grow up.”

  “Oh stop,” Velma laughed as she got of the truck. She waved Loretta toward the front door. “Just remember, I have plenty of room and you’re welcome to stay with me as long as you need to.”

  “Don’t temp me,” Loretta teased as they entered the mini-mansion filled with marble floors, high ceilings, dangling chandeliers, dark wood, and fine furnishings. “I could get used to this.”

  ***

  A little later that evening, the friends were sitting on the back verandah, sipping wine and catching up.

  “Loretta, you’ve done well with Terrell and Brianna.”

  Loretta had just finished talking to Velma about her daughter studying business at the local college and taking cosmetology courses on the weekends. Brianna had plans to open a string of beauty salons right in the neighborhood when she graduated. She’d also told her about Terrell not being that into college.

  “It’s good you insisted he at least finish the two years,” Velma chimed in.

  “He promised he would, but he said he would likely check into joining the Navy after graduating.”

  “You’ve done a good job, Loretta.”

  “Thank you, I’ve done my best.”

  “You should be proud of yourself.”

  “I’m proud of them is what I am,” Loretta said, taking a sip of the red wine out of the tall, square-bottomed wine glass. “They have never given me any problems, and they have blossomed into fine young adults.”

  “Praise God,” Velma said, lifting her glass.

  “Amen to that,” Loretta laughed.

  “So when are you going to start dating again, Velma?” Loretta asked a little later. “It’s been over four years since, well …” Loretta’s voice trailed off.
She didn’t mean to bring up an old hurt that she knew still haunted her friend.

  “To be honest, that’s nowhere on my radar. I actually like being by myself.” She did not let her eyes meet Loretta’s. “I mean, I have a career that I’m crazy about, I have the home of my dreams, I’ve got my companion Xena out there in the yard,” she said referring to her pickup truck, “and my best friend in the whole world just moved here. I have everything I need,” Velma said, letting her mind drift to a secret she’d been harboring for four years now.