Page 55 of The Best Man: Unfinished Business

“Whatever Robyn wants to do to keep her business alive I want to support her.” Kwesi seemed sincere.

“She’s a special woman.” As if Harper didn’t already know that?

Of course, Robyn’s special. I married her.

Does dude think he’s telling me something?

Harper’s inner voice was giving him agita. His face was cool, however.

“That she is. No doubt.” Harper tried to maintain his calm.

After a beat Kwesi responded with a smirk. “Well, you must have had some doubt, right?”

What? Dude was looking right in his face with a slight, nearly imperceptible smile. Harper, to maintain composure, looked down at the floor and away from Kwesi’s gaze to gather his response. “Well, marriage—relationships are…complicated.” Harper turned his head to face Kwesi with his final word.

Kwesi lifted his chin, broadened his smile, and nodded. “Amen, bruv. Complicated, indeed. But I’m working hard to make it less complicated as I get older. At least that’s my plan.” It sounded like he was going to say more like “my plan with Robyn.” He didn’t, but Harper was sure he heardit.

“I hear that.” Harper meant that in more ways than one.

“So…what’s your plan?” Kwesi asked. Nigga, what? Harper cocked his head sideways at Kwesi’s expectant stare.

“Sorry to keep you waiting,” Robyn announced as she breezed into the room wearing a wrap dress you might see Accra socialite women wearing, alluring but not overly sexy.

Shoulders exposed, waist accentuated. Kwesi took a beat before pulling his eyes away from Harper, turning to Robyn with a smile and rising to greet the queen in their presence.

Harper’s eyes lingered where Kwesi had been seated for just a second before he shook it off with a scoff. This dude…

“No worries, luv. I would have waited longer for this result.” Kwesi dropped that compliment like a veteran of relationships (complicated or not). “You look amazing.”

She did. Robyn looked as gorgeous as Harper had ever seen her. Her bright multicolored dress hugged her curves, perfectly celebrating her shape. Her cleavage was tasteful and inviting. Kwesi leaned in to kiss her and Robyn gave him her cheek. Harper noted it. For my benefit? he wondered.

“I don’t want to get lipstick on you,” Robyn said, smiling. She turned toward the kitchen. “Oh my God, did you bring these for me? They’re gorgeous.” Women really do love flowers, Harper noted. He was out of practice.

“Of course.” Kwesi’s smile was brilliant now, beaming at Robyn with pride.

“You look nice,” Harper added abruptly.

Robyn started to respond just as Mia entered the room in her pajamas and some DVDs fanned out for Harper. “Is it time for dinner, Daddy? What are we gonna watch?”

“Hello, Ms. Mia,” Kwesi said.

“Hi.” Mia’s response was flat, not rude, but not exactly warm either.

“Doesn’t Mommy look pretty?” Harper asked Mia.

“She helped me get ready.” Robyn beamed at Mia.

“Uh-huh,” Mia responded without looking at Robyn.

“Isn’t that sweet?” Harper smiled. “Maybe you can help Daddy improve his look. Get him looking handsome before he hits these Cantonments streets,” Harper said. Right away, Mia looked confused.

“You’re going with them, Daddy?”

“No, honey…” Robyn said quickly.

“I could. We all could go.” Harper tried to sound like he was kidding.

“Harper…” Robyn cut her eyes at him.

“I’m playing.” He looked from Robyn to Mia with a smile. “I’m playing, honey.”

“Not funny, Daddy.”

“You know we have a whole night planned of kebabs, My Little Pony, and Supa Team 4, and we need to get some reading done before bed,” Harper assured her.

“Sounds like a full evening,” Kwesi remarked.

“Yup.” Mia’s gaze never left her father in the entire exchange. Harper noticed, pulled his daughter into a loving embrace, and kissed her forehead.

“Y’all have a good time, and we’ll see you when you get back.”

“Harper…” Robyn warned. It was one word, but it communicated so much.

“Oh. Oh. Ohhhhh. Right.” Harper too communicated a lot with an economy of words. “Of course. Have a good time. We won’t wait up…”

Robyn made motions toward leaving. “Mia, come give me a good-night kiss.” Mia, who had settled on the couch, exhaled without looking at her mom.

“You come to me,” she responded, not budging.

“Excuse me?” Robyn and Harper both snapped their heads around to her.

“Mia. Be nice. And show your mother respect or you can go to bed right now,” Harper commanded. She looked at him, did a slight eye roll, and gotup.

“You’re already on thin ice, young lady.” Robyn pursed her lips. Her daughter marched up to her and turned on a fake smile, cocking her head to one side and stepping on her tiptoes to kiss her mom’s cheek.

“Bye,” Mia said and headed back to the couch with Harper.

“Okay. Remember, your daddy will be going back to New York at some point,” Robyn warned.

“And it’ll just be me and you. Okay?” Mia shrugged without looking at her mother.

Robyn headed toward the door as Kwesi ushered them out but then turned back to look at Harper.

“You two enjoy yourselves,” she said, eyebrows raised on her face.

The look in her eyes said, Your problem now, Harper, as she headed out of the door with Kwesi.