“Lord have mercy,” Tony whispered. “It must have been hard for you.”
“Well, I had my grandparents and my siblings. I have a brother, Gary. He is the oldest. My sister Sydnie is three years older than me. My other two sisters, Tina and Lisa, are twins and they four years under me. They are all out in Vegas, except Lisa. My brother, Gary, couldn't cope with life, mentally, after everything. Tried to commit suicide all the time. He's been institutionalized for years," she looked at the ground, momentarily. "Anyway, my sophomore year of college, I lost my grandmother to a stroke. My grandfather passed away just months later. I guess he gave up. Loneliness is a killer too, you know.”
“So, what happened to your mother motivates you to help other women?”
“It’s what motivates me the most," she looked up and into his eyes.
“Well, my parents raised me to the best of their ability. My pops was always a hard worker. He’s retired now. He owned a dry cleaners, just outside of Brooklyn. My mother didn’t work, but she made sure my two sisters and I had good food in our stomachs, dressed nice, and went to church every Sunday. Something happened when I turned about eleven. I started getting into a lot of trouble. My pops worked all the time and I was always at home in a house full of women. My mom, and my two sisters. I just felt kind of neglected. I mean, he took care of home, but he worked hours on end to do it. He had to come and get me from the police station one time too many, for stealing or whooping on somebody who thought they was tougher than me and my boys. I got in a gang when I was in my late teens and started selling drugs.” he paused for a moment. He wasn’t sure if he should tell her all the negative about him, but figured he started , so he may as well finish. “Karla, I’m interested in you, very much. I don’t want to hide anything about me. I want to put all the cards out on the table, if you don’t mind.”
Karla was listening attentively. “Go on, I’m listening,” she said.
“I went to prison for selling drugs. I did seven years in Federal prison. I don’t have a speech or some crazy excuse, like most men who have done a bit in prison. I can only tell it like it is. I don’t wish prison on my worst enemy. I see myself in some of the young men I work with. That’s why I’m trying to prevent them from going down the same path I did. It’s not worth it. I took something negative about me and turned it around to save other’s lives. One thing I know, is that you can have parents who stand by your side and people who love you all around you, but if it’s in you to be rebellious and do wrong, you will rebel and do wrong. That’s why I try to help the guys to search deep within themselves to find out what’s making them do the things they do, so that they can avoid it or get help for it. My parents sent me to Georgia when I was a teenager to live with my grandparents. I resented my pops for sending me to live with them. My grandfather is Pastor Mitchell of Serenity. Him and my granny were so deep into religion and the more they tried to hold me down, the more I ran away. I ran away to a life of crime. Their prayers kept me alive,” he chuckled. “ I believe I’m still living off their prayers. I have completely turned my life around.”
Usually, Karla would have had something negative to say about someone who had been to prison. “That’s really a wonderful thing you’re doing, Tony. And I don’t judge you for the mistakes you made in your life. I also didn’t know you were Pastor Mitchell’s grandson.”
“Yeah. I’m the oldest grandson. I’m named after my grandfather. I’m actually the third. My father is Anthony Mitchell junior.”
“I saw pictures of the young lady in your living room. She has your eyes. Is that your daughter?”
“Yes, that’s my daughter. Her name is Serene. She’s fifteen years old. She comes to stay with me every summer. She will be here the middle of next month. Her uh, her mother and I sort of messed around when I first got out of prison and tried to settle down in New York again. We never had a relationship. We were, like I said, just messing around. Things weren’t working out very well for me, with jobs and everything. So I moved back to Georgia. I was at work one day. She called me and told me she was pregnant. I’ve been in my daughter’s life ever since the day she was born. Though we have always lived miles apart, we‘ve always had a special bond.”
“She’s gorgeous and has such a beautiful name.”
“Thank you,” he smiled. “So do you want children?”
“Someday,” she replied.
He grabbed Karla’s hand and looked into her eyes. Her heart started racing.
He kissed her hands softly.
“Has anyone ever told you that you look like that actress Nicole Parker Ari?”
She giggled. “Yeah, I get that quite a bit.”
“Yeah, I hear Anfernee Hardaway all the time. You know the basketball player?”
“Oh, yeah! I remember. You do kinda favor him,” she giggled, as she studied his facial features. Tony was forty two years old, but had a very youthful appearance about him.
She stopped laughing when he leaned forward and kissed her lips. To her surprise, she kissed him back. Their kiss lead to an embrace. He began to rub her shoulders, then her back. She felt her pussy begin to get warmer and wetter. His hands roamed to her hips.
She pulled away. “N-no. I can’t.”
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
“I just can’t. I gotta go.”
She left with many emotions whirling around in her head. She was afraid that he just wanted one thing from her. She was wondering if he was worth giving her body to. She was turned on and curious about what it was like to have a man love her, physically.
Chapter 20
Angie
“I gotta pull it together,” Angie looked at herself in the bathroom mirror. She called in sick to work two days in a row, hadn’t so much as touched her hair, or bothered to leave her house for anything. Depressed was never a word that she would have ever thought would describe her. She never wanted for anything. Her father, the renowned attorney, Sterling Anderson Pierce, made sure of that. Her mother was just as generous. They had called to check on her the day before. If she dared call home and tell her father what happened, he would have a more than a few words for Brandon Whitmore, and then try to persuade Angie to move back to California. She didn’t feel like going through any of it. She just wanted to forget Brandon ever existed. She decided to call her parents in a couple days, when she was feeling better. If they asked why she was late calling back, she planned to say that she was constantly in out-of-town, business meetings. She hated lying to her parents, but they were overprotective of her, because she was their only child.
She couldn’t believe that Brandon had broken her heart the way he did. He was completely emotionless. She kept her phone by her for the couple of days after the incident, hoping he would call and say he was sorry, or that everything was a joke. He didn’t. She thought about what he said about Nasir. She didn't know how to ask him if the rumors were true. She decided to just leave things as is. Whenever he called her, if ever, she would just be conveniently busy. She didn't want to be mixed up with a man who could possibly be on the down low.
She pushed the thoughts of Brandon and Nasir out of her racing mind. She took a long hot shower, hot curled her shoulder length hair, and put on a few touches of makeup. Once she was fully dressed, she admired herself in the full mirror. She looked at her brittle nails, and immediately called Daphne to make a manicure appointment.
“I can squeeze you in, but you better hurry up. I got a three o’clock coming in. Hey, Ladies night tonight? You feelin up to it?”
“Yeah, it’s still on. Nothing’s changed.”
“Cool.”
“See you in a half hour.”
Chapter 21
Ladies Night #3
Nobody had time to stop at the Halo for drinks. At Angie’s, Karla was the first to show up.
“You’re looking mighty bright and giddy. What’s new with you? Did you get some?”
Karla rolled her hazel eyes. “You’re still on that? No, I didn�
�t get some.”
“I’m just teasing, Karla”, Angie laughed. “Roni wont be here tonight. Said she’s going to get some rest.”
“Oh, good. She needs to. So, what’s on the menu?” Karla said.
“Well, I felt like piggin out tonight, so I’m ordering pizza. I have Haagen Daas icecream, and some Krispy Kreme donuts, too.”
“Woo-kaay, that means I’m starving tonight,” Karla said.
“Oh no, I have plenty of fruit, yogurts, and granola bars, if you‘d like.”
“Sounds good. Or if you can make part of that pizza veggie for me.”
“I’m just waiting on Daph to get here, then we can order.”
About forty five minutes later, Daphne came strutting through the door, dressed in her white baby tee, with her lesbian pride logo on it, and the matching rainbow wristband.
“Hey ya’ll. Smells like it’s about to rain out there.”
Angie and Karla were watching The Temptations movie. They didn’t notice what Daphne was wearing.
“Hey Daph. I’m ordering pizza. What do you want on it?”
“Ham and pineapple is fine for me.”
“Okay, so ham and pineapple, veggie, and pepperoni and green olives. I’m about to make the order now.”
“While we are on the subject of food, don’t think I don’t know that you guys hate my veggie egg rolls!” Karla said.
“Why would you think a thing like that?” Angie fought to keep a straight face, but failed within seconds. After a minute, she was laughing so hard that tears fell from her eyes. “Man, them shits are so nasty, Karla! I can’t even lie. Then you have the nerve to bring sweet and sour sauce, like they are the bomb diggity or something!” Angie was laughing even harder. Daphne was slapping the kitchen counter and laughing uncontrollably.
Once Angie stopped laughing so hard, and had dried her eyes, she added, “Now, I like some of your other food, but you have to realize. You are damn near a total health nut. Your taste in food is much different from ours. Don’t take it personal.”
“Oh, I never did. I just had to let it be known,” she was smirking.
Daphne was still laughing too hard to comment.
After the pizza arrived, they sat and talked. Daphne’s stomach bubbled with apprehension, as she prepared her confession speech for her friends. She was glad that Roni wasn’t there. It made things a little easier, with one less friend present. However, she still planned to tell her in person.
She took a deep breath. “I guess I’ll start. Um- I don’t know where to start with this one, but I can’t keep my life a secret from you guys anymore.”
Karla noticed the shirt that she was wearing. Then, the wristband. She already knew where things were going.
“You guys always complain about how I don’t say anything about a guy, when we have girl talk. Well, just to make a long story short. It’s because I’m not into guys. I’m a lesbian,” the last three words she spoke, “I’m a lesbian” gave her an indescribable relief. She felt like she’d just stepped out of a cage she’d been locked in for years.
Karla and Angie were silent for a few moments. They looked at each other. Neither of them knew what to say.
“Well, congratulations.” Angie looked silly.
“Hey, you’re still my friend, no matter what. I accept you for you, not for your sexuality. And nice shirt. It’s pretty cool.”
“I didn’t mean congratulations, like it’s some accomplishment you made or anything. I’m sorry. I just didn’t know what to say. You shocked me. I can’t lie. I have seen so many men chase you and want you. It’s no wonder you never had a boyfriend in all these years, cuz you damn sure could’ve pulled many!” Angie laughed. “I love you, girl. No matter what,” she walked over and hugged her.
“I’m so glad ya’ll are still the same with me. I wore my rainbow stuff to the shop today and nobody said anything, but I could tell they were shocked, by the way they looked at me. Now, my male clients are even more interested in me. I’ll bet they think they can get some kind of freaky threesome type shit going on with me.”
“Oh, you know that’s what they’re thinking, girl!” Angie said.
“Yeah, well, I have a girlfriend. I’ve been with her for over a year now. Her name is Jas,” Daphne said, proudly.
“Okay, so, don’t be offended by this question, Daph, but you are like totally feminine. So, is Jas also feminine, or is she a butch?” Angie asked.
“First of all, she’s a domme or a stud. If she heard you call her a butch, she would go off. Women who are the dominant ones or tomboyish ones in the relationship don’t like to be referred to as a butch. That’s so outdated. That’s like calling her a dyke, or bulldagger, or muff diver,” she laughed.
“Oh, okay. Thanks for filling me in,” Angie said.
“And actually, we don’t even like labels. We’re just two women who love each other very much.”
“So, where did you meet her?” Angie asked.
“She’s in the hairstyling and makeup business, too. She cuts hair and does it all. She came to my shop a few times and nobody knew she was actually my girlfriend. They all thought she was just there on some type of business.”
“So, when do we get to meet her?” Karla asked.
“Soon. I want all of you to meet her. I have to tell Roni. Please let me tell her, you guys. Something like this would sound much better coming from me. Besides, she’ll feel left out if I told you both, but not her. Is she doing any better?”
“I would say so. She was telling about the guy from the Wall Hole, you know the dude she hired on her second shift. Johnny, I think is his name. She said he’s been over there playing doctor on her,” Angie laughed.
“Oh my goodness, didn’t she just get down and dirty with the moocher recently?” Karla added.
“Well, she hasn’t done anything with Johnny. I was just making a joke. She said he came over and made her dinner and watched a movie with her, then went home because it was late. She said he was a real gentleman. I think she likes this one, seriously.”
“That’s good. It’s about time for her. She deserves to be happy,” Daphne said. “So, we all know about your incident with Brandon. Has he called you since?”
“Hell no. I don’t think he will,” Angie said, with a hint of sadness in her voice.
“I wouldn’t want his ass to call me. What he did was foul. Then that lousy tramp had the audacity to come to your house and get in your face, as if you knew about her. I hate women like that. When you called me, I kept thinking about how much it sounded like a soap opera or an episode of Cheaters,” Karla said.
“Yeah, Ang, you are better than that. I mean, so what if he does have a large bank account and his family owns Whitmore Law Firm. Your heart is priceless. Forget his punk ass! There are plenty more successful brothers who would treat you better than he ever did,” Daphne said.
She started to tell the girls about Nasir possibly being bisexual, but didn’t. She was glad that she’d been tested regularly for stds, including HIV, and had been negative. She always used protection with Nasir, so she wasn’t really worried anyway. In her opinion, some things were better left unsaid. Even if the girls were her best friends, she didn’t feel the need to tell them every minute detail of her life. She also knew that they didn’t tell all, when they had girl talk; and she was fine with that.
“Karla, anything new with you?” Angie asked.
Karla hesitated, then a broad smile spread across her face.
“Yeaah, c’mon spill it! It’s written all over your face!” Daphne laughed.
“Okay. I met this guy at church. He happens to be the Pastor’s grandson. He’s a mentor for the youth, and he has this passion to help keep children, especially boys, out of trouble, off the streets, and give them hope for a better future. He’s intelligent, he’s sweet, he’s romantic, he’s older than me, but we can work around that.”
“Uh, how much older?” Daphne asked.
“Well, he’s forty two. You do
the math,” Karla grinned, taking a slice of veggie pizza from the box.
“Twelve years aint bad,” Angie said, wiping her mouth with a napkin.
“Yeah, he’s not a Viagra patient, yet” Daphne laughed.
Angie and Karla laughed too.
“I’m telling you, I am really curious about what it feels like, now. I’m getting more and more ready to feel it, but when we kissed and everything the other night, I don’t know, I just- something in me wouldn’t let me do it.”
“Do what?” Daphne was lost. She’d missed the last ladies night and was unaware that Karla was still a virgin.
“Have sex with him.” Karla said.
“But you talk like you never had sex before, or something ,” Daphne said.
Karla didn’t reply.
“Uh--am I missing something here?” Daphne looked back and forth at the two.
“You weren’t here the last time we all got together. So you didn’t know about me. I’ve never experienced sex before. I know your next question is gonna be why. It’s just because I’ve had so many issues with men for a long time. A man took my mother’s life. I have seen women in my family get abused by men. And every time I look at one of my clients, it makes me more and more vigilant against the dirty bastards who hit them. Sometimes, I think I take things out on the men who wouldn’t dare do such a thing. Sex is so intimate and bonding, that I’ve always wanted to be married first. Well, I’ve absorbed so much of my time into my career that I know marriage is way down the road for me. And, now, I ‘m going crazy wondering what it’s like.”
“ Hey baby, I can show you what it feels like,” Daphne joked, as she tugged at Karla’s shirt.
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