Perfect Fit - Brenda Jackson [112]
Rose raised a brow as Sage sat in the chair across from her. “So, what of it?”
“I was just thinking that it would give you something to do every day.”
Rose eyed Sage warily. “What will give me something to do?”
“If you were to watch the girls for Parnell.” Sage smiled. “You certainly seem to get a kick out of watching their father.”
Rose shrugged. “Well, that can’t be helped since he’s so darn good-looking. But like I’ve told you, I don’t do men with kids.”
Sage chuckled. “Yeah, and like you’ve told me lately, you aren’t doing men period, so what’s the problem? What are you afraid of ?”
It was a long time before Rose spoke. “Attachment. I never told you this, but I once dated a divorced guy who had a two-year-old son. While Mark and I dated, Little Mark became the world to me, and I think a part of me always figured that one day I’d be his stepmother. It was only later that I found out that while I was at Mark’s house taking care of his son, he was seeing other women. When I confronted him about it, he told me I was getting too possessive and broke things off. Ending things with him wasn’t so bad, but losing Little Mark is what really tore me apart,” she said sadly. “I often wonder if he remembers me. He’d be around twelve years old now.”
Sage crossed the room and sat down next to Rose on the sofa. “Hey, I’m sorry. Had I known, I would not have suggested it.”
Rose shook her head. “No, that’s okay, and like you said, you didn’t know.” Moments later, she stood, sighing deeply. “What time is Gabe coming to take us to his place for dinner?”
Sage glanced down at her watch. “He said he’d be here around four.”
Rose nodded, smiling. That gives me at least an hour to take a nap. I’ll see you later, girl.”
Sage watched as Rose quickly left and headed toward the guest room. She was sorry that Rose had had a past filled with men who just hadn’t wanted to do right. She hoped that Rose’s future was a lot better.
She then thought about her own future. She would continue to take one day at a time with Gabe, enjoying everything he offered. And when the time came for them to go their separate ways, she would learn how to deal with it and have no regrets.
Gabe raised his eyes to the ceiling. “Yes, Mom, everything is fine. And yes, I’ll be coming home for Grandma and Grandpa’s anniversary party. And no, I don’t need you to find me a girl to take. All right, Mom, I love you, too. Now may I please talk to Chris?”
Gabe ran a hand down his face when Christopher got back on the line. “Hey, man, I thought you agreed to keep Mama busy so she could stay out of my business.”
After a few moments, he said, “Well, maybe you and Maxi should adopt a baby or something.” He knew that due to a medical condition, Maxi couldn’t have any more kids, and they had talked about adopting. “Christopher Max needs a sister.”
Gabe smiled. “I don’t care if he’s a handful; that’s beside the point. Joella Blackwell needs something to do. If she wouldn’t drive me batty, I’d send for her to come and watch Parnell’s girls, but I’m not a glutton for that much punishment.”
Gabe chuckled at Chris’s reply. “Well, do something about her. I’m counting on you. Goodbye,” he said, quickly ending the conversation before his best friend could back down.
He stood and walked across the room and looked out of the window. His mother was determined that he not come to his grandparents’ anniversary party alone, and he didn’t plan to. He intended to ask Sage to go to Detroit with him, and he hoped she’d agree to do so.
“I talked to Parnell Cabot today,” Rose said as she dried the last dish Sage had washed.
Sage raised a brow and turned around at the sink. “Really? When?”
“Around lunchtime. I went out to the job site to see how things were coming along.”
Sage nodded and wondered if that was the only reason Rose had gone out to the job site, but decided to just listen and let her do all the talking. “And?”
“And he was there,” Rose said, placing the dish in the cabinet. She turned back around to Sage. “I told him that I had decided to hang around longer than I