Delicious Destiny

Grant turned off the engine and turned and looked at Shari. “I had fun tonight,” he said, but didn’t move a muscle.

“I did, too,” Shari said, wringing her hands in her lap. If this was any other date, she might expect a kiss at the end of the evening, but this was Grant. A man she hadn’t seen in years, but with whom she shared a son. What was supposed to happen next? Her anxiety was only increasing because Grant hadn’t made a move toward the door. He seemed to be waiting for something, but what?

After several long moments, he said, “I guess we should get you inside.”

Shari turned and hazarded a glance in Grant’s direction. Desire lurked in those depths, but he seemed to be warring with himself about whether to act on it. She was disappointed when he finally pushed the door open and slid out of the driver’s seat. Seconds later, he was opening her door and pulling her out of the car.

Shari used her key to open the front door and turned on the foyer light. That’s when she heard the pitter-patter of little feet as her son Andre came bounding down the stairs to her. She bent down and he rushed into her arms. Her little boy had waited up for her.

“Someone should be asleep,” she scolded as she lifted her son into her arms.

“I know, Mommy, but you never go away at night,” Andre said, “and I couldn’t go to sleep. I missed you.” He planted a big, sloppy kiss on her cheek.

“I missed you, too,” she said, hugging him tightly to her chest, even though she was mortified that Andre had revealed her lack of a love life to Grant. But what could she do? It was already out there. Andre continued chattering on, asking her where she went and what she ate, but Shari barely heard a word because Grant was watching the two of them closely.

She felt so guilty holding Andre. How was she going to tell Grant that Andre was his son? And would he ever forgive her?

Eventually, she lowered Andre to the floor. “You go upstairs to your room.” Her parents had made a bedroom especially for their grandson, complete with a Toy Story theme. “And I’ll be up in a second to tuck you in. Mommy has to say goodbye to her friend.”

She watched Andre pad up the stairs to his room before turning to face Grant. “Thank you for a lovely evening. It was nice getting dressed up. I’d forgotten what it was like.”

Grant didn’t speak. Instead, he leaned down toward her and Shari’s heart caught in her chest. Was he about to kiss her? It was quite the opposite. He looked directly at her and said, “Were you ever planning on telling me?”

Shari was stunned by the change of events. “Excuse me?” She stalled, playing dumb, even though she knew that the truth had caught up to her.

“He’s mine, isn’t he?” Grant asked, looking up the staircase.

Shari was speechless and didn’t...couldn’t say a word.

“I don’t understand you, Shari. I gave you all night.” Grant shook his head in despair. “All night to be honest with me and tell me the truth about Andre. We talked about college and I confided in you about my failed marriage to Dina. I asked you repeatedly about Thomas, but instead, you still said nothing.”

Shari finally snapped out of her shock long enough to say, “I’m so sorry, Grant.” Her voice broke. “I...I didn’t know how to tell you.”

Grant took a sharp intake of breath. “You would have continued letting me think that Thomas Abernathy was Andre’s father, wouldn’t you?”

Shari nervously glanced up the staircase. Now was not the time or the place to talk about this. Not when Andre was within earshot. What if he heard them?

Grant must have realized the exact same thing because he said quietly, “Now is not the right time for this conversation, but trust me, Shari, this is far from over. We will talk in the morning, but know this. Now that I know Andre is my son, I’m not going anywhere.”

“I understand.” Shari nodded. “And I promise we’ll talk in the morning.” Her pulse was racing as she ushered him to the door.

“You had better believe it.”

Shari took his remark for what it was. A warning.

Chapter 4

Shari was a nervous wreck as she watched Andre eat his Cocoa Puffs in her parents’ kitchen the next morning. Grant knew that Andre was his son and Shari knew hell hath no fury like a father scorned. She could only imagine how upset she’d be if Grant had done the same thing and kept her from Andre. And the truth of the matter was she had no leg to stand on—legal or otherwise. Her only defense was he’d married her former best friend, Dina, and she couldn’t handle the betrayal.

Would Grant want shared custody? The thought caused Shari’s stomach to churn. She couldn’t lose her son. He was her entire world.

Her mother, Lisa Coopersmith Drayson, walked into the kitchen but Shari didn’t look up; she was too deep in thought.

“Good morning, baby doll,” her mother said as she bent down and kissed her forehead. “And how’s my grandson this morning?”

“Eating Cocoa Puffs.” Shari glanced up and looked at her mother. Many would say they looked like sisters because they shared the same big, brown eyes and long, dark hair that went past their shoulders. The only difference was that her mother was dressed fashionably in yoga pants and a sports top.

“Is everything okay?” her mother asked. “You look a little out of sorts this morning. Didn’t you sleep well in the guest bedroom?”

“No, I tossed and turned all night,” Shari replied. She couldn’t sleep because she had no idea what Grant intended to do.

“Well, we heard you get in late last night. Andre here was keeping one eye open and one eye closed,” her mother said, ruffling the thick curls on Andre’s head. “Must have been some evening. It’s not like you to stay out so late.”

“It was nice having some male company.”

“That Mr. Robinson is quite an attractive young man,” her mother commented. “And accomplished, too.”