Scared and defeated, Harlow dropped her head.
“If he finds out where you are, he’ll storm your classroom and march you out at gunpoint?”
“You’re scaring me, Jody!” Harlow squealed.
“Well, it’s the truth. Don’t underestimate Skeeter. If he wants to get you, there won’t be anything the teacher, the principal, or nobody else can do about it.”
After leaving that terrifying image in Harlow’s mind, Jody settled herself on the living room couch where she openly lit and puffed on her crack pipe. She used to hole up in her bedroom or stay locked up in the bathroom for hours. But not anymore. Ever since the fire, Jody acted like she didn’t care who saw her sparking up her pipe.
Disgusted with her life, Harlow trudged to the kitchen. She was thinking about how much she despised her mother as she put a half-eaten cheesesteak in the microwave. While it heated, she decided that when Mr. Calvin came home from dialysis, she’d ask him to order her a PlayStation from one of those shopping channels he loved to watch. Or maybe she’d ask him to buy her a computer. Playing around online would allow for some sort of communication with the outside world.
She was starting to feel a little bit better about her predicament, and then she heard Jody making strange, gurgling sounds.
A mixture of fear and guilt sent Harlow running from the kitchen to the living room. Jody sat crookedly with her head pressed into the back of the rumpled couch. Froth seeped from the corners of her mouth. Eyes wild with disbelief, Jody grabbed at her own neck with both hands. It looked to Harlow like her mother was trying to strangle herself.
“What’s wrong, Jody!” Harlow shouted. She pulled at her mother’s fingers, trying to peel them away from her neck, hoping to give her mother some relief, a chance to catch her breath. Face contorted in a horrific grimace, Jody kept struggling, her hands gripping her neck.
“Be still, Jody. Move your hands.” Frantic, Harlow fought to pry her mother’s strangling hands away. She left scratch marks on her mother’s wrists and arms during the skirmish.
The look of shock suddenly left her mother’s bulging eyes, leaving them blank and unfocused.
Giving up in her struggle against death, Jody’s hands fell away from her throat and hung limp at her sides. A gush of bubbly saliva that looked like soap suds spilled down her chin. Jody released a strangled gasp and slumped to the side.
“Oh, God!” Harlow screamed. She had one eye on her mother and the other eye of the blackened pipe on the floor. She grabbed her mother by her frail shoulders and shook her. She pounded on her back. “Take a deep breath, Jody. Try to breathe.” She had to call an ambulance and get her mother some help. She looked around helplessly and chewed on her bottom lip. The telephone was upstairs in Mr. Calvin’s room. Jody was dying, and she was scared to leave her side.
So she screamed. “Somebody, help me! My mother needs help!” What should I do? On TV, people saved lives by blowing air into the dying person’s mouth. Intending to revive her, she puckered her lips over Jody’s saliva-smeared mouth and blew her breath into her mother’s mouth.
“Come on, Jody, breathe,” she frantically urged her mother.
Jody’s eyes rolled into the back of her head. Convulsing, her mouth gaped open, a torrent of the sudsy substance flooded out.
“I’m sorry about what I said. Jody, please don’t die. I wouldn’t ever hit you. I swear. I was talking trash.” It occurred to Harlow to call Ronica and ask her how to do CPR, but then she remembered that Ronica had burned up in the fire.
“I don’t know what to do!” Harlow wailed. “Help me!”
Jody released a long sigh. That disconcerting expulsion of air was the last sound that Jody ever made.
CHAPTER 39
Harlow rose early. She pulled back the drapes in her hotel room and gazed at the snow-covered streets. People with shoulders hunched from the cold hurried along the Parkway. Everyone seemed to be in such a great rush to get somewhere. It was so different from St. Croix where people went about their day at a leisurely pace.
She yearned for Drake. She’d spent Christmas Day alone and sequestered in her suite, reminiscing about her sad life and praying that she and Drake could move forward together.
He called to wish her a merry Christmas, and apologized for not being with her. She lied, telling him that she was spending the holiday with Vangie’s family. Relieved that she wouldn’t be alone, Drake rushed off the phone. Why didn’t he have time to talk? Surely, he and Talib weren’t bogged down in business on Christmas Day.
All Drake had to do was let Talib know that one of his men was dealing with blood diamonds. He had the evidence to prove it. So why was Drake lingering on the island?
Drake knew more than he was admitting, and Harlow had an ominous feeling that their relationship was hopelessly broken. Her suspicious thoughts went from Drake being with another woman to him being deeply involved in diamond smuggling.
Cabin fever was getting to her, so she sent a text to Vangie, letting her know she was in town. She invited Vangie and Nivea to join her for dinner.
Then she had a sudden thought. Taking a deep breath, she picked up the hotel phone and called for a car. There was something she needed to do. Something she’d been avoiding for a very long time.
Alone in the snow-covered cemetery, Harlow brushed a gloved hand against the letters that were etched in the granite grave marker. Her mother’s remains had been in an unmarked plot for sixteen years, and Harlow felt a great sense of relief now that she’d finally honored Jody’s memory. She’d bought the marker soon after she’d started enjoying Drake’s wealth, but she’d never visited the grave—had never had the emotional strength, until today.
The only thing Harlow had ever told Drake or her friends about her was that she’d died young. Without any known relatives, Harlow had been sent to foster care.
With that sad and vague description of her childhood, friends didn’t pry. They could surmise that her life hadn’t been easy. She’d shared only snippets of her life with her best friend, Vangie. Mostly, she shared memories of her living in a group home. She could never tell Vangie or anyone else the complete truth—that she’d survived atrocities that no child should ever suffer.
If purging was necessary to heal, then Harlow would be forever wounded. Her heart twisted at the thought of having to bear her soul. She couldn’t do it. One of the worst memories was losing her baby—that poor little infant that never had a chance.
“Merry Christmas, Jody,” she whispered, her throat tightening as she tried to erase the memories of so many Christmases without a tree, toys, or even a Christmas dinner. Most Christmases, Harlow was home alone or hustling to pay for Jody’s drugs.
Unable to stop the flow of tears, she raised gloved hands to her face and cried. Deep sobs from her soul.
When the tears finally stopped, she stood. She pulled off a glove and touched the top of the cold marker. “I forgive you, Jody,” she whispered. “If you made it to heaven, and I really hope you did, please kiss my baby for me.” Harlow gasped in anguish, tears rolling down her face. “I love my baby. Tell her that she’s always in my heart. I’ll never stop loving her.”
CHAPTER 40
Vangie called Nivea. “Harlow’s in town. She’s staying at the Four Seasons, and she invited us to dinner tonight.”
Nivea sighed. “I don’t go running when Miss Priss snaps her fingers. I have a date tonight.”
“You met someone new?”
“Sure did. And he’s hot.”
“I’m happy for you. What’s his name, and where’d you meet him?”
“Uh, I’d rather not divulge any information about my man.”
“Why not?”
“I think it’s best to keep my business to myself.”
“Nivea! You’re talking to me. You can trust me.”
“Don’t take it personally, Vangie.”
“Okay, whatever works for you. So, are you saying that you won’t be joining Harlow and me?”
Nivea let
out a long groan. “What time? Maybe I can rearrange my schedule.”
“Well, I told her that I had to pick up Yuri, but then Shawn agreed to get him—”
“Get to the point, Vangie. Do I really need to hear every aspect of your domestic life? What time should I meet you and Harlow?”
“Are you okay, Nivea? You’re sounding rather testy.”
“I’m great. But I’m losing my tolerance for bullshit.”
“Bullshit! I was merely trying to tell you that with Shawn helping out, I could go to the hotel straight from work.”
“You’re trying to rub your new relationship in my face. I would expect a little more sensitivity from a true friend.”
“I wasn’t rubbing anything in your face, but I’m not going to argue with you. Believe what you want. If you want to meet us for dinner, we’ll see you at six-thirty in the hotel’s dining room.”
“I hate hotel food,” Nivea said irritably.
It was Vangie’s turn to sigh.
“I can’t believe the dude that parked my car tried to hit on me. I should report his ass to management. I bet he wouldn’t have come at me like that if I were a white woman. Black dudes are always taking liberties with sisters. It doesn’t matter how well-dressed or educated we are, they still think they’re entitled.”
“Was he hot?” Vangie asked, trying to lessen the tension.
“Hell no! He was all pimply-faced and scrawny. Had a mouth full of bad teeth.”
“Wow! He was that bad?” Vangie added.
“Yes! His teeth were all separated and crooked like an old-ass picket fence.”
Both Vangie and Harlow laughed.
“You’re as funny as ever,” Harlow said. “Good to see you, Niv. How are you?”
“I’ll be better after I have a stiff drink,” Nivea replied, refusing to acknowledge how nice Harlow looked and she refused to look at Harlow’s left hand. Nivea couldn’t come to terms with Harlow living the good life. It was infuriating. Harlow had barely made it out of high school. She never attempted to build a career. How does a fucking receptionist latch on to such a rare commodity as a rich, handsome, single black man?
“We’re having mojitos,” Vangie said.
Nivea wrinkled her nose. “I don’t want that girly shit. I want vodka—straight.”
Vangie and Harlow exchanged confused looks.
Nivea scanned the menu and told the waitress, “I’m sure that everything on this menu tastes like crap, so just give me whatever they’re having.”
The waitress blinked, offended by Nivea’s rude comment. “Do you want the grilled salmon or the Philly cheesesteak?”
“Surprise me. But bring me a drink right away.”
“Would you like to see the drink menu?” the waitress asked.
“No. A double shot of Absolut.”
“Mixed with…?”
“Straight,” Vangie blurted before Nivea had a chance to be rude.
After the waitress scurried away, Nivea leaned forward. “So let’s discuss the elephant in the room.” She held up her bare left hand. “Eric made a baby with some skanky stripper. As you can imagine, it got ugly. We broke up. My parents don’t know yet, and I don’t know when I’m going to tell them.”
“Oh, Nivea. I’m so sorry. That’s horrible!” Harlow said.
“Stop playing dumb, Harlow. I know Vangie couldn’t keep that juicy tidbit to herself.”
“Actually, she didn’t tell me anything,” Harlow remarked.
“Mmm-hmm,” Nivea murmured doubtfully.
“I didn’t,” Vangie said. “I’ve been too busy bringing Harlow up to date about my own life. About Shawn and what a good father he’s being to Yuri. How he’s paying most of the bills and has finally stepped up to the plate.”
Nivea rolled her eyes at Vangie and then finally turned her attention to Harlow’s left hand. “Your ring is gorgeous,” she said. “Some people don’t require an engagement ring, you know.” She cut an eye at Vangie. “Some people are so happy to have a man around, they’ll accept shacking up with the very man who ruined their life in the first place. Umph, umph, umph.” She stared at Vangie, mouth turned down in disgust. “You should be ashamed, handing out keys to Shawn when he never even paid any child support. Pitiful!”
Vangie leaned toward Nivea. “If you have a problem with me, just say it. Your comments are vicious and I’m starting to get pissed off.”
Nivea ignored Vangie. Though she resented Harlow’s large diamond, Nivea wanted to irk Vangie. “Drake has excellent taste. And you’ve obviously overcome your impoverished childhood.”
“I guess I have,” Harlow said, refusing to let Nivea get to her.
The waitress placed Nivea’s drink in front of her. She downed it in an instant. “Can I get another?”
“Certainly.” The waitress hurried away.
“Go easy, Nivea. You have to drive,” Harlow reminded her.
“I have other options. I can afford a cab. Or a limo. You’re not the only person with money, you know.”
“I wasn’t suggesting—”
Vangie patted Harlow’s hand, silently letting her know that it wasn’t worth her time to argue with Nivea.
“I can afford a lot of shit. And the money I do have, I earned. You won’t catch me depending on a man.” This time her derogatory comment was aimed at Harlow.
Vangie and Harlow gawked in surprise at Nivea’s nonstop insults. More amused than angry, Vangie smiled and shook her head.
“Anyway, I wanted to tell you about my revved-up sex life,” Vangie said, directing her conversation to Harlow.
“Oh boy. I’m not sure I’m ready to hear this,” Harlow said, blushing.
“Well, you would think Shawn just met me. He can’t get enough. I go to work walking all crazy from all the sex I’m getting. I swear I must have gold between my legs because no matter how many times he smashes, he still wants more. Seriously, I can’t make it through the night without Shawn easing up behind me and trying to steal some pussy while I’m asleep.”
“Considering the fact that you were depending on an assortment of sex toys for your pleasure, you should be pretty thrilled about Shawn’s ravenous sex drive,” Harlow said, laughing.
Nivea received her second drink, took a swig. “I guess Shawn has been away so long that the old pussy that he got sick of five years ago has started to feel like new pussy.” Nivea laughed loud and inappropriately.
Speechless, Harlow and Vangie exchanged shocked, wide-eyed looks.
Nivea gave a feigned innocent shrug. “I’m just sayin’…”
Fed up with Nivea, Vangie let her breath out slowly. “Why are you being so obnoxious? What’s wrong with you?”
“Nothing’s wrong with me. You can’t stand hearing the truth.”
“You keep throwing slurs; it’s obvious that you have a problem with me. So spit it out. What’s up, Nivea?”
“I hate seeing you go down a path of destruction. Shawn is no good and you know it. Don’t forget, I was with you and Yuri when he dumped you for that little hoochie five years ago. I witnessed his ignorant ass publicly dumping you with no consideration for his infant son.”
Embarrassment flashed across Vangie’s face, and then her expression hardened. “Did I make slurs when you announced that you were marrying that box-lifting, big-bellied bum? No, I didn’t. I never said an unkind word about your mismatched relationship,” she retorted, gesturing with her hand in a confrontational manner.
“Well, it’s obvious that you had your nose turned up, but unlike me, you weren’t woman enough to speak your mind.”
“I don’t go around making cutting remarks and deliberately trying to hurt feelings. And I especially wouldn’t try to hurt someone that I consider to be a close friend.” Vangie rolled her eyes at Nivea.
Harlow nodded her head. “Nivea, you’re really not yourself tonight. You’ve been making sarcastic and snide comments from the moment you sat down. What’s going on with you? Are you on your period or something
?”
“Oh, that’s really original.” Nivea pulled her cell out of her handbag, glanced down, smiled and began texting. Finishing her message, she looked up. “Listen, I wish I could stay longer. But I have things to do.” Nivea flung a twenty on the table. “That should cover my drinks. You can send back that nasty-ass food I ordered.”
Harlow waved her hand. “Keep your money, Niv. This is my treat.”
“Great,” Nivea muttered, picking up her money.
“Drive carefully,” Vangie said in a tone that contradicted her words.
“Don’t worry about me, chica. The person you need to be concerned about is that no-good baby daddy you allowed to come back into your life.”
Nostrils flaring, Vangie rose from her seat. “I’ma fuck you up, Nivea. Say another word.”
“Calm down, Vangie,” Harlow soothed. Vangie flopped down in her seat.
“Good advice, Harlow, because ya girl was about to get a blast of pepper spray.”
With those words, Nivea threw on her coat and sashayed out of the restaurant.
CHAPTER 41
Vangie shook her head. “I swear I was on the verge of punching Nivea right in her sarcastic mouth.”
“I’m glad you restrained yourself. Nivea’s going through something. She’s always had a bitchy side, but her behavior tonight was deplorable.”
“I don’t know if our friendship can survive whatever she’s going through. That bitch is acting like she’s lost her damn mind. I believe she really would have pulled out some pepper spray and used it on me. Nivea needs to get some help.”
“She is acting a little off. And she’s particularly furious with you, Vangie. I wonder why?”
“Jealous.”
“Because you got back with Shawn?”
“Obviously. But she’s also upset about you.”
“Me? What’s my crime?”
“You rocking that big-ass, flawless ring. Drake is rich, handsome, and devoted to you. Look, she pretty much admitted that she was jealous of you when I told her that Drake got down on his knee and proposed to you.”
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