He seemed different, that much was without doubt—certainly not the arrogant and aggressive man he had been before. There was a gentle calmness about him now. Maybe it was his young daughter’s influence. Children had a way of changing a person’s world for the better—what was important one minute suddenly wasn’t anymore. But was he really different?
She didn’t know what to think. Her father obviously trusted him.
Her cell phone beeped with a text message from Nya, who was on her way to the restaurant. Janelle grabbed her purse and hurried out. Time enough later to worry about Tyson, her father and her future.
Janelle parked her car a block away and hurried to the restaurant. When she tried to open the door handle, it was locked, and the dark, smoky glass obscured her view. She looked at the decorative sign in the window. The Chesterfield was one of the most prestigious restaurants in the Baltimore area. Its chef was world renowned and reservations were almost impossible to get... So where was Nya?
She looked around and then started to leave. A few steps away, she heard the restaurant door being unlocked and opened. She turned, seeing a gorgeous man dressed in jeans and a T-shirt standing in the open doorway. With blond hair and sea-blue eyes, he looked as if he’d come right off a movie set.
“Excuse me. Are you Janelle?” he asked.
She nodded. “Yes.”
He smiled and deep dimples cut through his handsome face. “Hi, I’m Brad. Come on in. We’ve been waiting for you.” He held the door for her to enter. Once inside she looked around, amazed by the sheer splendor and ambience of the entranceway.
“Follow me. We’re in the kitchen, and lunch is almost ready,” he said, heading around the bar to the main dining area. “Nya’s already sipping champagne.”
“Of course she is,” Janelle confirmed. She knew her sister too well. Even in muted light and empty, the place sparkled and shone with stunning radiance.
“So, you’re Nya’s sister.”
“Yep, one of them.”
“I’ve known Nya for a while. I didn’t know she had sisters,” he said.
“She has two. We’re all stepsisters. Different mothers and different fathers,” she said. Brad turned and looked at her, confused. She smiled. “It’s complicated. Trust me, explaining it will probably give you a headache.”
They snaked through the spotless stainless-steel counters and wait stations to a small room beside the main kitchen, where Nya was sitting at a small round table, talking on her cell phone. When she saw Janelle she smiled, waved and quickly ended her conversation. “Thanks, Brad.”
He blew her an air-kiss and went back to the kitchen.
“Hey, girl,” she exclaimed with her arms open wide.
Janelle smiled and walked over to her. They hugged and laughed. “It’s so good to see you. Oh, my God, you look sensational.”
“You, too,” Janelle said.
“Well, yeah, of course I do, but I wasn’t exactly working in the middle of the desert. You’re practically glowing. Come on. Let’s sit down. Brad made us something amazing for lunch.”
“Brad, huh? Nice. He’s gorgeous.”
She smiled and winked. “We’re just friends. Long story, great ending,” she said just as her cell phone rang again. Nya looked at the number and smiled. “I need to get this.” She pressed the FaceTime accept button and smiled. “We’re here,” she said, turning the phone around so Janelle could speak.
“Hello, ladies,” Mia said, sing-songing a greeting to her two sisters.
Janelle beamed with delight at seeing her other sister on the video app on Nya’s cell phone. “Oh, my God, Mia, look at you. You look fantastic. How are you and how’s everybody?”
“I’m fine. We’re all fine. Everything’s great. I’m so sorry to miss our pre-Christmas lunch and shopping this year. But how are you?”
“I’m wonderful. It’s so good to see you. How’s my godson?”
“Our godson,” Nya joked.
“He’s amazing. Hold on a second. I’ll let you see him. He just went down for his nap.” Mia held her phone down to her sleeping baby in the crib. Both Janelle and Nya squealed with joy at seeing him and then silenced quickly. But it was too late. He began to stir and his lower lip pouted.
A second later his eyes opened. He whimpered and then started crying. “Aw-ww,” Janelle and Nya said in unison.
“Oh, well, ladies, looks like I’m back on mommy duty. I’ll call you guys later tonight. Have a great lunch. Welcome home, Janelle. I love you both,” Mia said, waving.
Janelle smiled as Nya ended the call. “It feels so good to be home. You have no idea.”
“It’s good to have you back. So, tell me, how’s my stepdad?” Janelle’s expression instantly changed. “What’s wrong? Is Ben okay?”
Janelle sighed heavily, shaking her head. “He’s fine, but to tell you the truth, I don’t know what to think.”
“What do you mean?”
“My dad had a heart attack and a mild stroke.”
“What? When?” Nya asked quickly.
“About six months ago. I didn’t even know about it. He didn’t tell me. Apparently, I had just left for Tanzania when it happened.”
“Oh, my God. And he’s just telling you this now?”
“No, that’s just it. He didn’t tell me. Tyson told me. Dad called him instead of me after it happened.”
“Whoa, wait a minute. Tyson, as in Tyson Croft—your Tyson Croft?” Nya asked. Janelle nodded. “Okay, wait, I don’t get it. Why did Ben call him and not you—or me, for that matter?”
“He told me that he hadn’t wanted to worry me and have me rush home to be with him. If Tyson hadn’t told me, I never would have known what happened.”
“Okay, start from the beginning. What does Tyson have to do with this and when did he come back into the picture?”
Brad brought their lunch. After a brief conversation, the two began eating as Janelle told Nya about her homecoming and seeing Tyson again and meeting his daughter.
“A four-year-old daughter,” Nya exclaimed.
“Wait, there’s more.” Janelle continued the story.
By the time the meal was done Janelle had told Nya everything about her father’s business problem and Tyson living in her home with his daughter.
Nya shook her head. “This is too unreal. I can’t believe it. I had no idea. I spoke with Ben a couple of weeks ago and he never mentioned anything to me.”
“I know the feeling,” Janelle said sarcastically.
“Okay, so Tyson is working with Ben now. You talked to him. He told you about what’s been going on, but what about the two of you?” she asked.
“What do you mean?” Janelle asked.
“You know exactly what I mean. Two and a half years ago you and Tyson were headed down the aisle. Then all of a sudden he’s gone and you leave for Africa. Now you’re back and he’s back. What