The Swede

by Maureen Smith

  Leilani raised both eyebrows at Scarlett. “Sounds like things are getting pretty serious between you two.”

  “Girl, no,” Scarlett said with an embarrassed laugh. “Don’t listen to Nadia. She’s just being dramatic.”

  Leilani laughed. “Nadia has never been dramatic, so now I know you’re lying.”

  “Seriously.” Trinity grinned slyly at Scarlett. “Should we all be on the lookout for wedding invitations?”

  “Of course not,” Scarlett insisted, her cheeks warming despite the cold. “Viggo and I aren’t thinking about marriage. We’re just having a good time and taking things slow.”

  Nadia gave her a private look that said she knew better, even if the others didn’t.

  “At least he’s European and not American,” Kandace said under her breath.

  Nadia looked back at her. “Meaning?”

  “Pay my sister no mind,” Jade interjected. “She’s just feeling a tad salty because she and Darrius broke up.”

  “What!” Scarlett and Nadia threw a shocked look at Kandace. This tidbit of news hadn’t come up on the hourlong drive. “What happened?”

  “It’s a long story,” Kandace huffed. “I’d rather not get into it right now.”

  “Okay,” they said gently. “We’re here whenever you’re ready to talk.”

  She waved them off and looked toward the mountains. Her eyes were watery. She was either about to cry, or the cold wind coming off the waterfalls was making her tear up.

  Scarlett and Nadia exchanged sympathetic glances. Kandace was a pain in the ass, but she didn’t deserve to have her heart broken. Darrius had never appreciated her, so she was better off without him.

  Nadia touched Jade’s arm. “You and Zion are still good, right?” She was referring to Jade’s college sweetheart, a statistician who bore a strong resemblance to that yummylicious actor Kofi Siriboe. “I know we spent most of the ride up here talking about our jobs and my wedding. I just want to make sure you and Zion are rock solid.”

  “Oh, we are,” Jade assured her. “We’re still going strong. Don’t worry.”

  “Thank God.” Nadia beamed with relief. “I really like Zion. He’s a keeper.”

  “I know,” Jade said with a glowing smile.

  Trinity regarded Scarlett, her lips pursed in thought. “Something just occurred to me. Can you even have a winter wedding? Doesn’t Viggo play hockey from October to April?”

  “Technically, preseason starts in September.” Nadia grinned at Trinity. “But I’m impressed that you know how long the NHL season is. Have you been watching hockey?”

  “No, but I remember that they play as many games as the NBA. Nelson taught me that.”

  “Oh!” Leilani suddenly clapped her hands together. “Scarlett can still have her winter wonderland wedding even if she gets married in the summer. She can just use fake snow! Pinterest has a ton of gorgeous wedding pictures where they had fake snow, and you couldn’t even tell the difference.”

  “Ooh, that’s a great idea,” Trinity enthused. “That way you still get the winter wonderland without the frostbite!”

  “Exactly!” Leilani said, flipping a loc out of her eyes. “Because honestly, I am not trying to freeze my ass off at some winter wedding. Although I am looking forward to visiting Sweden. I’ve heard it’s beautiful, and that would be an amazing destination wedding.”

  Scarlett laughed. “For the last time, I’m not getting married.”

  Trinity and Leilani traded knowing grins.

  Shortly afterward they left the château and headed back to Denver. Aunt Eden had invited her nieces to stay at her house that weekend, but they opted to stay with Nadia and Reid. They were nosy and probably just wanted to see what his place looked like.

  They were almost there when Trinity asked, “Is Reid home?”

  “Not yet,” Nadia answered. “He’s coming off a three-game road series and won’t be back until later. He and Viggo rode to the arena together to catch the team bus to the airport, so we’ll see them this afternoon.”

  A thrill of excitement ran through Scarlett. She couldn’t wait to see Viggo again. He’d been gone four days and it felt like an eternity. She wondered if the separations would ever get easier.

  “Is it hard dating an athlete who’s on the road so much?” Jade asked curiously.

  “Yes,” Nadia and Scarlett said at the same time. “It’s hella hard.”

  The others chuckled, their faces pressed to the window as Nadia turned into the long driveway that led up to Reid’s house. It was three large stories of wood and glass that blended into the beautiful mountain scenery. It looked like something out of Architectural Digest.

  Admiring murmurs filled the SUV.

  “No wonder you moved in with him,” Jade joked.

  Nadia chuckled, pulling into the garage. “I didn’t have much of a choice. The man wouldn’t take no for—”

  Shocked gasps interrupted her response.

  “Damn! How many cars does he have?”

  “One is mine,” Nadia said.

  “I see yours. So that means he has—” Trinity counted “—four, plus the one we’re in and the Harley. Damn, six rides?”

  “I know.” Nadia sighed. “He’s ridiculous.”

  Leilani smirked at Kandace. “I guess he is balling after all.”

  Kandace’s pinched face made the others crack up.

  “Look at that Tesla,” Jade said admiringly. “What’s that other car right there? It looks like some sort of spaceship.”

  “It’s an SSC Ultimate Aero,” Nadia replied, cutting off the ignition.

  “Ooh, my brother loves those!” Jade squealed excitedly. “But he says they cost almost a million dollars!”

  Nadia was silent. She’d always been intensely frugal, so she didn’t like discussing Reid’s money and how he spent it.

  As everyone climbed out of the SUV, Kandace pointed to the Zenith GT. “So that’s the car he bought you for Christmas?”

  Nadia nodded, looking uncomfortable with all the attention.

  Her cousins crowded around the car to peer through the tinted windows, oohing and aahing.

  “Can you take us for a spin later?” Jade asked eagerly.

  Nadia smiled. “Sure.”

  After the girls retrieved their bags, Nadia led everyone inside the house. There were more awestruck exclamations as they passed the huge chef’s kitchen and headed toward the living room.

  “Wow,” Trinity marveled, glancing around in awe. “Reid’s house looks like a model home.”

  Nadia smiled. “His sister Avery decorated it. She’s an interior designer.”

  Jade admired an ultramodern chandelier dangling from the high ceiling. “I didn’t know hockey players were balling like this.”

  “Neither did I,” Trinity agreed.

  “Look at this view!” Leilani squealed from across the living room.

  The others hurried to the floor-to-ceiling windows and breathlessly exclaimed over the stunning mountain views. Scarlett had done the same thing the first time she came to Reid’s house.

  “Okay, ladies,” Nadia announced cheerfully. “Grab your bags and follow me upstairs so I can show you to your rooms.”

  Half an hour later, they left the house and went to get mani-pedis. They had a good time laughing and joking about the strippers and sex toys they planned to have at Nadia’s bachelorette party. Watching Nadia blush like a virgin made them laugh and cut up even more. Even the nail technicians got in on the teasing. Kandace was conspicuously quiet.

  They left the salon and headed to the country club that Scarlett and Nadia’s parents belonged to—the same club that had hosted the bachelor auction. Scarlett would have been cool with some tacos and a margarita, but Nadia had made dinner reservations at the clubhouse restaurant because she knew how much her cousins enjoyed fine dining. She had a new platinum card and she was treating, so Scarlett wasn’t about to complain.

  When they arrived at the restaurant, the hostess
escorted them through the chandeliered dining room to a table overlooking the manicured gardens.

  Once their entrées were served, Kandace could no longer hold her tongue.

  “I guess I shouldn’t be too surprised that Nadia and Scarlett are with white boys,” she said in a snotty tone. “They grew up in Denver. They went to white colleges instead of an HBCU like the rest of us. They both listen to eighties music. Scarlett plays in a rock band and only hangs around white boys—”

  “Ryu is Japanese,” Scarlett interjected.

  “Okay, one token Asian. I stand corrected.” Kandace did an eye roll.

  Scarlett shared an amused glance with Nadia. “I’m waiting for her to break out the w word. You know it’s coming.”

  Kandace smirked. “You mean ‘whitewashed’?”

  Scarlett snapped her fingers. “And there it is, folks!”

  The others rolled their eyes and shook their heads at Kandace.

  “Don’t start,” Jade warned her.

  “What? I’m just saying. Scarlett and Nadia have always been the whitest black girls we know.”

  Nadia looked a little stung, but Scarlett just laughed. “That tired insult has never worked on me. But keep trying, boo. It obviously makes you feel good.”

  Leilani scowled at Kandace. “It’s just ignorant as fuck on so many levels. I mean, Nadia only dated black guys before she met Reid, and Scarlett is an equal opportunity lover who dates across the rainbow. Not to mention that her favorite drummer is Cindy Blackman and her favorite superhero is Misty Knight—both black women. Plus she mentors aspiring black drummers through that summer youth program.” Leilani snorted. “Not that she and Nadia have to prove their blackness to you or anyone else.”

  Kandace gave a haughty sniff and turned up her nose. “All I was trying to say is that I could never be with a white man,” she declared loud enough to turn heads at other tables.

  “Will you keep your voice down?” Jade hissed.

  “Why? I’m not ashamed to let people know that I’m all about black love.”

  Trinity smiled. “That’s good, Kandace. Black love is beautiful. You know I love my brothers.” She chuckled. “But it’s really not necessary for you to shout it from the rooftops every hour on the hour. I mean, every time I see you on Twitter or Facebook, you’re telling the whole world how you’re not checking for white guys. I’m like, okay, sis, we get it. You don’t like white peen. Cool. Do you. But the more vocal and antagonistic you are, the more suspect you seem. Seriously. It’s like ‘Hmm, methinks this chick doth protest too much.’”

  “Exactly,” Leilani agreed with a chuckle. “I certainly don’t get all worked up over people who aren’t on my radar. If I’m not checking for you, I’m not talking about you. Now pass me the bread.”

  Everyone laughed.

  “No, I’m serious.” Leilani pointed to the basket of warm rolls. “Hand them over.”

  More laughter rang out as Trinity passed the basket to her sister. Leilani helped herself to another roll, took a healthy bite and groaned. “These are so good.”

  Kandace primly cut into her chicken. “I don’t understand why certain black women are bothered when they see black men with white women.”

  Jade chuckled at the random remark. “I know it has never bothered Scarlett, Nadia, Leilani or Trinity. But c’mon, Kandace. I’ve heard you make a few comments over the years. You’re telling me it doesn’t bother you the slightest bit anymore?”

  “It doesn’t,” Kandace said smugly. “In fact, I cheer the brothas on because I know they’re sticking it to the white man by taking their women.”

  Disbelieving groans went around the table.

  “On the other hand,” Kandace asserted, “black women have no business sleeping with white men and having babies with them.”

  “Excuse you?” Leilani challenged. “Who died and made you Gatekeeper of Black Wombs?”

  The others laughed as Kandace threw her a dirty look.

  “It’s a serious question,” Leilani said, looking around the table. “I’m honestly not trying to throw shade or offend anyone. I’m just trying to understand why certain black women get so angry about other black women’s interracial relationships. Not all sisters,” she emphasized. “Certain sisters. If you think I’m lying, just watch what happens on social media any time a black female celebrity gets engaged or married to a white dude. Sure, she gets high fives from a lot of sisters. But more than a few are ready to burn her at the stake. Seriously. The level of vitriol is a real head-scratcher. I mean, I know why some black men get in their feelings, but what about those black women? Like you,” she said, pointing her fork at Kandace. “If I want to suck and fuck a hundred white peens, what’s it to you? Why should you care if white boys get my juices flowing? Why are you all up in my drawers?”

  Kandace stabbed her fork into her chicken. “I just think it’s wrong, that’s all.”

  “Why?” Leilani pressed.

  “It just is. Black women need to stick with their own men.”

  “But not vice versa?”

  “No,” Kandace insisted. “I told you, it’s different for black men.”

  Leilani shook her head at everyone. “I’m sorry, but that’s some next-level crazy.”

  “It’s not crazy,” Kandace argued.

  “Yes, it is.” Leilani wiped the corner of her mouth and tossed her napkin onto her empty plate. “Let me tell you ladies a little story.”

  Everyone chuckled. They knew how much Leilani loved her stories.

  “As all of you know, I volunteer at a battered women’s shelter back home. It’s in a low-income urban community, so most of the women who come through the doors are women of color. I’m so inspired by these brave women who escape the most horrifying situations in order to give themselves and their children a better future. I watch many of them rebuild their lives by getting an education, starting new careers and developing talents they never knew they had. And sometimes they even find love again. One sister named Monica just got engaged to this wonderful black guy she met at her new job. She brought him by the shelter to meet everyone, and he’s just a big ol’ teddy bear,” Leilani said with a twinkling smile. “He reminds me of Hollywood from Queen Sugar.”

  Everyone laughed fondly. “Hollywood is the best!”

  “Yesss! He’s my favorite character on that show.” Leilani laughed. “Anyway, we were all super happy and excited for Monica. But two days later when another black woman brought her new man, a few of the sisters were upset because he was white. I was like, ‘Seriously? Y’all are gonna hate on this man just because he’s not black?’” She shook her head. “It breaks my heart when we tear one another down for any reason. I know other races do it too, but they’re not my top concern as a black woman. We’re such beautiful, dynamic, multidimensional women. I love it when we’re united, and I absolutely hate it when we’re divided.”

  There were vigorous murmurs of agreement.

  “I’m not trying to tear anyone down,” Kandace said defensively. “Anyway, Lani, you’ve only dated, like, two white guys your entire life. You know why? Because deep down inside, you know it’s wrong.”

  “Really?” Leilani propped her elbow on the table, rested her chin in her palm and leaned forward expectantly. “Do tell.”

  Kandace forked up a dainty bite of chicken and ate it before answering. “When black women sleep with white men, it’s a betrayal to our ancestors who were raped by their slave masters. Every time a black woman has sex with a white man, she might as well be raping our ancestors all over again.”

  As another wave of groans swept around the table, Scarlett stared incredulously at Kandace. “Are you for real right now?”

  Nadia pinched her thigh under the table, reminding her to keep her composure. Scowling, she picked up her glass and chugged her wine.

  Trinity looked wryly amused. “What’s ironic about Kandace’s double standard is that there’s nothing white women could ever do that would stop black men from
fucking, dating and marrying them.”

  This drew a chorus of “So true!”

  Trinity sighed. “The bottom line is, people should be judged on an individual basis, not as one big monolith.” She reached into her Chanel handbag and pulled out her phone. “Have you guys ever visited the Black Women in Europe™ blog?”

  Heads shook around the table.

  “Oh, you have to check it out,” Trinity urged. “It was created to celebrate black women living in Europe. The blog founder is this brilliant sister who really promotes the idea of black women broadening their horizons and just having a global outlook on life. She has a ton of great articles and resources on politics, culture, education, integration, you name it. And she features a plethora of accomplished black women from all over Europe. I’m telling y’all, I’ve been so inspired by her blog. She’s originally from Washington, D.C., but she lives in Sweden with her husband. Yes, she’s married to a Swede,” Trinity added, giving Scarlett a sly nudge and a wink.

  “A Swede, huh?” Scarlett grinned. “Now I definitely have to check out her blog. What’s the address?”

  “I’m sending you guys the link,” Trinity said, typing into her phone. “Black Women in Europe™ is a wonderful blog. Definitely go check it out.”

  “Will do,” everyone said enthusiastically. Even Kandace stole a peek at her phone.

  “I see you,” Trinity teased.

  Kandace quickly put her phone down.

  Trinity looked around the table. “The legacy of slavery and racism in this country has done a serious number on all of us. I think Kandace’s views are a bit, ah, extreme. But I know several black women who have similar reservations about dating white men, particularly Americans. That’s why I think it’s so important to get out of your box and see that the world is so much bigger than the U.S. Seriously. Black women of the diaspora are doing big things around the globe, and it’s a beautiful thing to see.” Her eyes twinkled. “You know something else that’s interesting? I’ve been meeting more and more African-American women who are open to dating Europeans. I travel a lot for my job and let me tell you, European guys are definitely interested in black women. And they’re not afraid to show it.”