He didn’t want to get me started on what lengths Melinda would or wouldn’t go to get what she perceived as hers. In the time I had known her, there wasn’t anything I would think she wasn’t willing to try to see if she could get what she wanted. She was ruthless in her pursuit to the top, and that didn’t always make for a good leader, especially when her employees couldn’t trust her.
“So, Tasha told you about this?” he prodded.
I nodded. I didn’t want to explain why or how I learned about it, but I just wanted him to know that he could trust the information. “You know me Joe, and you have for a long time. I wouldn’t say any of this to you if I didn’t know that it was legitimate. I don’t fight dirty and I don’t rattle any unnecessary cages, but this one needs rattling. Tasha didn’t get a fair shake.”
Joseph nodded. “Your reputation is the reason that I’m listening to you, because I do trust you wouldn’t come to me with a half-ass argument. Tasha shouldn’t have lost her job if someone snooped and got her stories from her. The fact is that I have noticed that the stuff coming from Nina’s ‘What’s Up Now’ column hasn’t been as good as the story that got her the promotion. Her column has taken a free fall over the past month.” He pondered all that, and I waited patiently to see what he would say next. “I’m going to look into it and if I find validity in what you say, then I will be sure to take matters into my own hands and Melinda or Nina won’t get away with it.”
“That’s really all I’m asking of you.” I stood to my feet, as Joseph got up. “Thank you!” I reached out and shook his hand. “Will you call or text me when you decide what the next steps will be?” I asked, hopeful he would get to the bottom of it soon.
“I will definitely let you know.” He walked me to his office door. “Thank you for coming in,” he said.
I nodded and left his office, then headed down the hall and out of his office building. I was hopeful that, at least, Melinda would be taken down a peg, and, at best, Tasha would be back where she belonged with Melinda out on the street. I would hate to see Tasha go as my babysitter, and Cody would probably kill me for getting her old job back, but I wanted her to live her dream, doing what made her happy. That was really the most important thing.
Chapter Sixteen
Tasha
Trip to Atlanta
It wasn’t easy finding time where Cody was able to take a few days off school and Matt was able to take time from work, but eventually we had a couple where we could head off to Atlanta. Moving away from Atlanta was one of the hardest decisions I made, but in the end, it was the right choice. Atlanta was a safe place for me, and I wanted to go somewhere where I could experience life without the comfort of my family or the hometown feel. Moving to Miami had been tough, but a great experience. I was excited to be headed home to see the few family members I still had. On the trip there, I told Matt and Cody about my close-knit family.
“Ever since my mother passed away a few years ago, Aunt Clara has been my rock. She recently found her old love of her life, so we haven’t talked much in the past few months, but you just wait until you meet her. You’l
l know why she’s so special to me,” I said.
“Oh baby…I know I’m going to love everyone in your family,” Matt said. He reached across my lap and touched my knee. I smiled at him.
“I hope so. I just wish you could have met my mother.” I didn’t want to wallow in my self-pity about my Mom’s untimely death and her not being able to finally meet the man of my dreams, especially when Matt had lost family members too. “She would be tickled pink about me bringing a man home.”
“I would have loved to meet her, even if she was only half as wonderful as you.”
“Yeah, it’s hard losing a parent.”
“I know. Have you ever thought about looking for your father?” he asked.
I shrugged. “He took off before I was born, so don’t really know much about him and, since he hasn’t looked for me all this time, I’d like to keep it that way.”
“I can definitely understand that,” Matt said, dropping it.
“So, basically while we’re in Atlanta, you’ll meet my Aunt Clara, my cousin Destiny, her husband, Jacob, and my lovely niece and nephews.”
“You really have tiny family like us, Tasha,” Cody spoke up from the backseat.
I laughed and nodded. “That’s right, I do, but certainly the ones I have love me enough to make up for it.” I turned around and smiled at him. “Always remember, it doesn’t matter the amount of people you have in your corner, but the amount of love in your corner.”
Cody nodded, casting a glance towards Matt. “I know what you mean.”
That made me smile. It was true that Cody certainly knew what it was like to live in a small family with a lot of love. No matter how many people made up a family, as long as you were loved, that was the important thing.
When we arrived in Atlanta, we got our luggage and rental, and within an hour pulled into the driveway of Destiny and Jacob’s home. I couldn’t wait until the time came that I could get out of the car and run into Destiny’s arms. We were like sisters growing up. Even though we hardly ever saw one another, every time we did it was like no time had passed between us.
When Matt halted the car, I saw the door open and Destiny stepped outside. I flung my passenger side door open and jumped out of the car. I could hear Matt laughing in the background as I hurried to greet her. She held one of her arms open in a welcoming fashion and in the other was her bundle of joy, Jacob Jr. We hugged on the front porch of her home, and I kissed little Jacob’s chubby leg.
“It’s so good to see you,” I said, breathing in the Atlanta air, getting full of home. “And he is just precious!” I said smelling his little neck. I loved the smell of newborn babies.
“Thank you, and good to see you too, cuz,” she said, hugging me again. “Who do we have here?”
I heard the rustling of feet on the pavement and turned around to find Cody and Matt with the suitcases, and they were now a step behind us. I beamed at Matt, proud to say that we were in a relationship.