Treasure My Heart. AlTonya Washington
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happy.”
Grimacing, Oliver relieved her of the folder. “Anyone ever tell you you’ve got a weird philosophical outlook? Sunny too.”
“I’m not trying to put you down, Olive.” Vectra smiled off the teasing criticism and squeezed his arm. “You’ll understand once you’re ready to.”
But what if I’m never ready to?
Petaluma, CA
Located in Sonoma County, Petaluma was a picturesque historic town about an hour’s drive from San Francisco. It boasted an impressive reputation as a shooting locale for several major Hollywood films.
The town was also well-known for its numerous poultry farms. It was how Minka Gerald’s grandfather Bryant Gerald had earned his first million in a time when such success was virtually unheard of, especially for an African-American man.
Bryant’s business savvy motivated him to not only experiment with cutting-edge methods and techniques to streamline his farm, but also to branch out into other lucrative areas of industry. Those areas had taken him to billionaire status long before his passing seven years prior.
Minka parked at the top of a brick horseshoe drive, and frowned amusedly as she stepped out. “Well, hey!” she said to the portly mocha-skinned gentleman who strode down the five semicircular steps.
“Gram Z. said you were leaving on vacation,” Minka said as she drew close for a hug.
Claudio Moritz put a kiss to both of Minka’s cheeks. “I decided to take a later flight when Zena told me you were coming up for a visit,” he explained.
“How is she?” Minka sighed, looking toward the palatial Georgian home set in an expansive estate. She smiled when Claudio grunted a laugh.
“Kickin’ ass and not bothering to take names, because she doesn’t care whose ass she kicks,” he said.
“Hold on now.” Minka wagged a finger at the seventysomething Haitian. “You’re supposed to be handling things so she won’t have to kick any asses.”
“Are we talkin’ about the same woman?” Claudio’s expression was one of mock surprise. “About yea high, moves around this place like hell on wheels and’ll curse you out like a sailor if you even hint that she needs to slow down? That woman?”
Minka’s laughter echoed in the crisp air. “You are her first cousin, remember?”
“Lovely.” Claudio fixed Minka with a teasing look of woe. “If your own granddad couldn’t get that woman to slow down, how in Hades do you expect me to?”
More laughter soared between the two. Claudio was the first to sober.
“She still misses him.” He looked toward the house.
Minka nodded, knowing as much. “I guess one never gets over their true love.”
“Especially when it’s a first love,” Claudio added with a decisive nod.
Minka put a refreshing smile in place. “Can you tell me what she wants?”
“No idea.” Claudio put on a phony display of innocence when he shrugged. “What else could it be when grandmother and granddaughter spend time together, except the sweetest things?”
“Mmm-hmm, sweet things like when I’ll make her a great-grandmother.” Minka sighed, her tone only playfully agitated.
Claudio added a chuckle as he nodded. “Will it make you feel better to know there will be talk of business too?”
Minka read Claudio’s caginess and knew that he’d tell her nothing of further use. “Thanks for the info,” she said and pulled him in for another hug before they parted ways.
The stateliness of Zena Gerald’s home was equally evident on the interior. Rooms were posh, yet comfortably designed.
The house, with its open spaces and picture windows that revealed views of rolling greens, sky-blue hues and colorful floral splashes, gave one the impression that they were standing in the middle of a breathtaking watercolor painting.
“Babylove!”
Minka turned into the sound of her grandmother’s melodic voice and rushed into the woman’s embrace. Though she had just seen Zena a couple of weeks earlier, it always felt like months between the visits. Minka adored spending time with the energetic, outspoken woman.
“Thank you for being prompt.” Zena Moritz Gerald cupped her granddaughter’s face and gave a squeeze.
“I just saw you a couple of weeks ago.” Minka patted her grandmother’s hands where they lay on her face. “Did this just come up?”
“It’s a talk we’ve needed to have for quite a while.” Zena planted a soft kiss on Minka’s mouth and then hugged her. “We shouldn’t postpone it any longer.”
“Gram Z....” Gently, Minka took hold of the woman’s arm when she would’ve walked away. “Is everything okay?” Her dark eyes were assessing her grandmother’s slender figure.
“Oh!” Zena rolled her eyes. “It’s nothing like that. I feel very fine. Although...” She intentionally let the word hang while her expressive eyes scanned the high ceiling of the foyer. “I do feel like I’m wasting away roaming around this house and that god-awful office building of your grandfather’s.”
“That building is a work of art.” Minka took her grandmother by the arm and led her from the foyer.
“Work of art or not, it’s hard to enjoy it if you don’t want to be there.”
“Which I’m guessing is what brings us to the purpose of this visit?” Minka continued to prompt.
“Your father was slated to be the one to take over, being our only son and only child,” Zena explained as they walked down a short corridor leading to a sun-drenched parlor. “But...you know how that’s turning out...”
Silence settled as grandmother and granddaughter covered the distance to the parlor. Minka walked ahead of Zena as they entered the room, which opened on to a split-level wraparound terrace, part of which overlooked a pool below.
“Your parents said nothing about coming back to the States when I spoke to them last week,” Zena said while taking time to water-spritz the arrangement of lilies and yellow tulips on the glass stand just inside the door.
Minka’s parents, Brice and Leslie Gerald, had lived in France for the past four years. Minka knew that Zena hoped they’d return, but Minka could hear the lightness, the happiness in her parents’ voices whenever she spoke to them. Returning to the States was definitely not on their agendas at the moment.
“They’re not coming back,” Zena confirmed. “Not to work anyway, which means the job is yours, my love.” She spread her hands, as if offering Minka a prize.
Minka’s eyes widened. “Gram Z....you said...you said you’d never do that to me no matter how much I wanted it. It was one of the reasons I went to work for Sim.”
“You’re right, honey, I did.” Zena began to walk through the parlor, water-spritzing the various arrangements of flowers brightening the space. “I said that because I wanted you to get out there and get more experience. You going to work for Qasim was a godsend.”
Minka could only frown. She wasn’t sure what question to ask next.
“Being over at Wilder, where no one knew your background, your family, your...money, I’d hoped you’d gain more than just a reputation as Qasim’s efficient, take-no-prisoners assistant.”
“Ah, jeez...” Minka closed her eyes. “Gram Z.—”
“I wanted you to come out of there with a husband, or at the very least some kind of meaningful relationship.”
“Gram, I wouldn’t