Read Online The Other Side of Divine by Vanessa Davis Griggs - Free Book Online Page B

man has hurt her so far?”
    Miss Crowe nodded. “Absolutely I do. But Gabrielle is a grown woman. She’s able to make her own decisions. All we can do is keep our eyes and ears open. And if we need to step in to protect her, we just have to pray we can and do and that she’ll have the right mind to listen. But he’s her father.”
    â€œYeah. And I know how important a father can be in a little girl’s life.”
    â€œPrecisely. And it doesn’t matter how old a daughter is. She’ll always be a little girl looking for love and attention from her father if he appears to be trying to give it, sincere or not.”
    â€œWell, you met him,” Zachary said. “Do you think he’s a threat to her?”
    â€œI don’t know. All I know is even though he’s like a stranger about to dwell among us—all of us really, because you know I’m not going too far from Gabrielle, not at this point—he’s still her father in need of a place to stay.”
    â€œThank you, Auntie. Because we’re too close to becoming husband and wife now for someone like him to come in and mess everything up,” Zachary said with a harsh edge to his voice.
    Miss Crowe nodded. “I know, Zach. And you know I’ve been doing what I can when it comes to working on your mother. But she’s still bound and determined that you’re not going to marry Gabrielle.”
    â€œWell, my mother is not going to stop us. But Gabrielle’s father—”
    â€œBenjamin Booker,” Miss Crowe said. “But he says everyone calls him Bennie.”
    â€œWell, Benjamin ‘Bennie’ Booker, whatever his name, is not going to get in the way of our happiness, either. I’ll respect him as long as he’s on the up and up,” Zachary said. “But the first sign that he’s up to no good—”
    â€œZachary,” Gabrielle said, almost sprinting across the room toward him.
    He hugged her tight. “I hope you don’t mind,” Zachary said. “But I just felt like coming over for dinner and eating with my family.”
    â€œHow coincidental,” Gabrielle said, looking at Miss Crowe with a sly grin. “You just happened to show up right after my father arrived. Isn’t that something?”
    Miss Crowe turned away from Gabrielle’s stare.
    â€œAre you all right?” Zachary asked, gathering her up by the shoulders as he looked into her beautiful brown eyes. At thirty years of age, the good doctor knew when he should be on high alert.
    â€œI’m good,” Gabrielle said with a smile. “I would have liked to have been forewarned about my father coming today. But what’s done is done. We’re moving on from the hand we’ve both been dealt.”
    â€œThe table is set and the food is probably cold,” Jasmine said, strolling into the den. “I’ve never had so much trouble getting people to do right in my life.” She was being completely and purposely overdramatic.
    â€œComing right now,” Gabrielle said, raising her index finger in the air. “And if we have to microwave our plates to reheat our food, then that’s what we’ll have to do.”
    Zachary was the last one to step out of the den. He and Bennie, almost having bumped into each other, were now face to face.
    â€œHello,” Bennie said. “My name is—”
    â€œMr. Booker,” Zachary said. “Pleased to meet you. My name is Zachary Morgan. I’m Gabrielle’s fiancé. Please forgive me for not shaking your hand, but since we’re about to sit down and eat, I’m sure you wouldn’t want to contaminate your clean hand by shaking mine.” Zachary smiled.
    â€œIt’s okay. I’m sure whatever germs are there won’t kill either me or you,” Bennie said, holding out his hand to Zachary.
    Zachary looked down at his hand, then at Gabrielle. He took Bennie’s