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Chapter Fourteen
When Desiree opened the door to find Jaden on the porch, surprise registered across her face. “Jaden, right,” she asked, holding a finger out at him.
“Yes, how are you, Desiree?” His voice dripped with a profound thickness.
“Much better than the last time you saw me. Claudia’s not here.”
“I’m aware. I would like to speak to you and Ms. Stevens for a moment if at all possible.”
“Oh, sure,” she widened the door allowing him entrance. “My mom is in the living room, this way.”
He followed Desiree to the living room where Adeline sat with her feet propped up on the couch watching soap operas. Upon his entrance, Adeline’s face brightened. “Jaden, how are you, son?”
Jaden sauntered to Adeline and bent down to scoop her up in a tight embrace, “I’m doing just fine. How are you, Ms. Stevens?”
“Oh, I’m spectacular. Been having these girls fussing over me ever since that incident.” Adeline rolled her eyes, and Jaden chuckled.
“That’s what they’re supposed to do.”
“Yeah, I hear you, but I’ve had enough. You think you want to be fawned over until it happens. Then suddenly, you have no tolerance for it. Know what I mean?”
“As a matter of fact,” Jaden drawled, “I do.”
“I’m sure.” Adeline swept her legs off the couch and sat up. “What brings you by today? I know you didn’t come by just to visit lil ole me.”
“I would’ve checked on you sooner, but it’s been hard for me to get in touch with Claudia for more than five minutes. Any idea why that is?”
He glanced from Adeline to Desiree.
“I told that girl to get out of the house. Her last couple of days have consisted of her going back and forth to work. She’s also got this fundraiser she wants to put together, but I’m afraid she won’t have enough money to fund it unless she pulls from her savings. And she won’t do that because she likes to save every penny she has.”
“She went to the bank for a loan, ma,” Desiree injected. “But other than that, I may have something to do with your short conversations.”
Jaden held a firm eye on Desiree. “Why is that,” he asked smoothly.
Desiree sighed. “I’m hard on her, I always have been. It’s a long story, but I know she likes you a lot and I don’t mean to be so intolerable.”
“What can you do to fix that, Desiree?”
Jaden’s question was more of a statement. He was telling her to do something about it. His bravado made Desiree smirk.
“I’m not sure, I guess lighten up.”
“I’ve got an idea,” Jaden’s bass-filled voice drummed.
“Yeah?”
“Yes, I want to take Claudia on a trip. If you could hold things down here at the house without troubling her. That would be a start.”
“A trip, huh?” Adeline said. “Where are you going?”
“I’ll let her tell you when she gets back.”
“When are you leaving?” Desiree asked.
“Tonight.” Jaden glanced from Adeline to Desiree. “Would that be a problem?”
The two women shrugged. “What about her business?”