Free A Love of My Own by E. Lynn Harris Page B

heard of him. Davis McClinton.”
    â€œWho hasn’t heard of him? I mean, that brotha is the big dog. I heard he might be the first black billionaire. Is that true?”
    â€œPossibly,” I said, feeling very small that I had lied about my plans to Basil. I just didn’t want to spend the evening watching him fawn over some beautiful playmate of a woman.
    â€œMaybe we can get together for breakfast or lunch. It might be hard for you to meet Talley because she’ll be in nursery school,” Basil said.
    â€œIs she a teacher?”
    â€œA teacher?” Basil asked with a deep laugh.
    â€œDid I say something funny?” I asked.
    â€œWho do you think Talley is?”
    â€œYour new lady,” I said.
    â€œTrue, but it’s not what you think,” Basil said.
    â€œWho is she?”
    There was a brief pause and then Basil said proudly, “Talley is my daughter. Ray, I’m a daddy.”
    â€œWhat? When did this happen? The last time I spoke with you, the biggest thing in your life was telling your father the truth about you. Now you’re a father? I can’t believe this,” I said.
    â€œIt’s a long story, but I can’t tell you how happy I am, Ray. Talley is just beautiful. She’s changed my life.”
    â€œSounds like it. Who’s the mother?” I asked. I hadn’t read anything in the entertainment magazine about Basil’s ex, Yancey, having a baby. Besides, she knew the real deal about Basil, and I didn’t know a lot of women who would knowingly take a chance with a man who slept with both sexes, unless you were Michelle Adams, Trent’s baby’s mama.
    â€œRosa. Remember the flight attendant I used to hang with? It’s a long story, and I can’t wait to sit down and tell you.”
    â€œAre you still hanging with her?”
    â€œNo, not like that, but we’re cool. Trying our best to be great parents to our daughter,” Basil said. I couldn’t believe how mature and serious he sounded. Maybe this parenting thing was more powerful than I could have ever imagined.
    â€œLet me give you my number. I’ve got to run, but I can’t wait to meet your little girl,” I said.
    â€œDo that,” Basil said.
    I gave Basil my office numbers and suggested that we get together soon. I didn’t know if I was looking forward to seeing him, but I knew it was something I had to do.

9
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    I tapped gently on Raymond’s office door and I heard a voice say, “Come in.”
    When I walked into his office, I smelled the strong scent of food, like somebody had been slaving over an oven or grill.
    â€œZola, glad you could make it. I hope you like ribs,” Raymond said.
    â€œI do,” I said as I looked to my left and noticed a table with a red and white tablecloth covered with a wooden picnic basket. There was a bottle of red wine standing beside the basket with two wine glasses. I hoped my new boss wasn’t trying to get me drunk in the middle of the day and try and have his way with me. I would hate to have to sue him for sexual harassment during his first month.
    â€œGreat. I thought instead of going to a noisy restaurant we could have lunch here in my office. I want us to have a chance to get to know one another,” Raymond said as he pulled out a chair. Hmmm, I thought to myself, I like this. Raymond was a gentleman, unlike that fool Seth Matthews, who held the position of CEO before he went wacko and was quickly escorted out of the building.
    â€œThank you.” I smiled as I took my seat. “Whatever’s in that basket smells good,” I said.
    â€œI hope so. I ordered ribs from a place around the corner called Virgil’s. Bristol said they have great food, although I’m sure their ribs aren’t as good as the ones we cook down in Alabama,” Raymond said.
    â€œSo, you’re a Southern boy. I should have known,” I said, wondering if