by Carl Weber
“Well, you’re gonna be standing out there by yourself.”
I was so mad my stomach was doing flips. I finished dressing in a flash.
“You know what, Lisa? Maybe we should reevaluate this relationship. ’Cause for a woman that has three black kids, you sure don’t understand black folks.” I could tell she was stunned by my comments, because I saw tears. I turned around and walked down the stairs. I was putting on a sweater when she called after me.
“Kyle, where are you going?”
“Out!”
“When are you coming back?” she asked sadly. She was at the bottom of the stairs now.
“I’m not.” I opened the front door.
“Kyle, I love you.” She had pleading in her voice.
“You know what, Lisa? Maybe love isn’t good enough anymore.”
I pulled my Range Rover into Wil’s driveway and was glad to see the lights were still on. I sat in the truck for a while, getting my thoughts straight. Had I done the right thing, leaving the way I did? I wasn’t sure, but I definitely needed to get away from Lisa at that moment.
I got out of the car and rang Wil’s bell. Diane answered, carrying little Teddy on her shoulder.
“Hey, Kyle. Come on in.”
“Hi, Di. How you doin’?” I kissed her cheek before walking by.
“I’m fine. A little morning sickness here and there, but I’m doing good. How ’bout you? You look a lot better than you did when I saw you at the courthouse this afternoon.”
“I feel a lot better,” I lied.
“Good. Wil’s in the den watching the Mets game. I’m gonna feed Teddy and go to bed. Good night.”
“Hey, Di, can I ask you a question?”
“Sure.”
“I’m thinking about suing the police for false arrest. What do you think?”
“If I was you, Kyle, I’d sue the hell outta those bastards.” Her eyes flashed anger. “What they did to you was dead wrong.”
“Thanks, Di. You’re an aw’ight sistah.” I wished my own wife could have shown me such unconditional support.
“Good night, Kyle.” She smiled gently and held her baby closer.
“Good night, Di.” I walked down the hall to Wil’s den. He was engrossed in the baseball game.
“Bang! If I was really a killer, you’d be dead.” I laughed.
“What’s up, Kyle?” He got up and gave me a brotherly hug, then turned his attention right back to the game.
“Who’s winning?”
“Five-two Cincinnati. Bottom of the ninth. Edgardo Alfonzo is up with the bases loaded, two outs.” I sat down and stared at the screen. I wasn’t as big a baseball fan as Wil, but I did like the Mets.
“Yes!” Wil screamed as Alfonzo hit a long fly ball. Wil was jumping up and down like a schoolchild. But the smile disappeared in a flash when Ken Griffey, Jr., stopped the ball in flight and prevented a home run. “Damn, damn, damn! How the hell did he catch that?”
I didn’t say a word as Wil had his tantrum. As cool, calm, and collected as he always was, Wil got crazy when it came to baseball, especially the Mets. Even Diane gave him a wide berth when he was watching a Mets game. It was her one concession to the game, since she had made him give up his season tickets when they got married.
“So what brings you over here, anyway?” Wil asked when he finally stopped ranting about Griffey’s catch.
“I need a place to spend the night.” I lowered my head.
“You need what?” Wil raised an eyebrow and sat back in his recliner.
“I need a place to stay. Lisa and I got into a fight.”
“A fight or an argument? A fight to me means somebody got hit.”
“An argument. You know I’d never hit her.”
“I never thought you’d be in jail, but you were,” Wil said a little sarcastically.
I shot him an evil look.
“I’m sorry, man. What I was trying to say is, I have no idea what goes on in your house, and I really don’t wanna know. I just wanted to make sure you’re not doing anything stupid.”
“I don’t hit women, Wil!”
“Aw’ight, so what happened? Why’d she kick you out?”
“She didn’t kick me out. I left.”
“Why?”
“It’s this whole interracial thing, man,” I stated simply. “I don’t know if I can handle it anymore.”
Wil picked up his remote control and turned the television off. He turned to face me, and the expression on his face was serious.
“It’s a little late for that, isn’t it? You got three kids with that woman.”
His words were like a slap in the face. In my confused rage, I hadn’t thought about my kids. My anger and hurt were directed entirely at Lisa, but my girls would definitely be affected if I left.
“Now what’s going on, Kyle? You never had a problem with this interracial shit before.” Wil looked worried.
“Yeah, I did. I just never said anything.” I didn’t look him in the face.
Wil sat up in his chair. I think he was more than a little surprised.
“Do you remember me asking you way before you got married if you were going to be able to handle an interracial marriage?”
“Yeah, I remember.”
“So what happened in seven years?”
“I don’t know. It’s hard being married to a white woman, Wil.”
“It’s hard being married, period,” he reminded me.
“I know.” I sat back in my chair. “But it’s different with a white woman. When you walk down the street with Di, people don’t stare at you. The other day a sister threw a cup of coffee on me. I’m sure it was because I kissed Lisa before I stepped out of the van.”
Wil’s eyes got bigger, but he didn’t say a word. He just sat back and listened.
“It’s not always that serious. Sometimes it’s just dirty looks from strangers on the street, but shit like that is always goin’ on, Wil. And Lisa acts like she just can’t see it.” I sighed heavily. “After today, I just can’t take it anymore.” I was angry again.
“What happened tonight?”
I explained to Wil everything that had happened, and even added a few things that that had happened in the past year. I needed him to understand how so many little incidents had added up to this huge blowout.
“Kyle, I don’t agree with Lisa, but maybe she’s afraid of what might happen. Cops can be pretty vicious when they’re crossed. You wanna subject your family to that?”
“If that was really her problem, why didn’t she say that? She said I always make everything into race. But this time, somebody’s gotta make a stand, Wil.”
“Okay, Al Sharpton.” He moved up in his chair and sat at the edge. “Do you wanna get a divorce, Kyle? ’Cause that’s where this is leading.”
I thought about it a second. I was mad, I was real mad. But three hours ago I was making love to Lisa. I couldn’t just remove that from the equation. There were parts of our marriage that I really loved.
“Answer me, man. Do you wanna get a divorce?”
“Nah, I just want her to see things my way.”
“You said it yourself, she’s never gonna see things your way. So there’s gonna be times you gotta stand on your own, and other times she’ll be by your side.”
“Easy for you to say, Wil. Your wife’s a sister. She always stands by you.”
“Who, my wife? Are you fucking crazy? Just ’cause we act like the Huxtables don’t mean we are.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.” Wil yawned. “Look, man, it’s getting late. I gotta get up early in the morning. I want you to go home to your wife and kids, bro. Talk to Lisa. You may not agree on everything, but you guys are a family.”
“Aw’right, man. But if you hear a tap on the window, it’s me.”
I didn’t get home until after one in the morning. I’d gone over to the Roadhouse Bar for a drink to calm my nerves. When I walked through the door, Lisa was waiting for me. Her hai
r was a mess and her eyes were red. She’d obviously been crying ever since I left. I walked over to her and wrapped my arms around her, hugging her tightly.
“I’m sorry, Kyle,” she sobbed. Her body went limp, and I had to hold her to keep her from falling.
“It’s all right. We just have a difference of opinion.” I repeated what Wil said to me. I wasn’t sure if I believed it, but it was the right thing to say at the time.
“Ohhh, Kyle, I was so scared you were going to leave me. I was more scared of that than I was of you going to prison.” She squeezed me tighter. “If you want to sue them, go ahead. I won’t stand in your way. Just please, please don’t leave me.”
“It’s not about you standing in my way. It’s about you standing by my side,” I told her, trying to keep my voice calm.
She lifted her head, looking into my eyes. “I promise I’ll stand by you.”
I nodded my head, and neither of us spoke another word. We walked up the stairs, arm in arm. When we got to our room, she kissed me passionately from my heck to my ears and back to my lips. Smiling a sad, exhausted smile, she guided me to the bed and straddled me, rubbing her hands across my chest. She slid off the oversized T-shirt she was wearing. Everything seemed to be moving in slow motion as she moved seductively, trailing her tongue down my stomach, closer to her final destination. Once she reached it, she sat up with a confused look on her face.
“Kyle, are you still mad at me?” That’s when I realized I was barely erect.
“No, baby, I’m just tired. Do you mind if I just hold you?” She lay down on my chest and I wrapped my arms around her. Within minutes we were both asleep.
6
Allen
It was around seven when I sat down at the dinner table with Ma. She’d fried up a few porgies and made some collard greens and corn bread for dinner. Mmm, mmm, mmm, that fish was some kinda good. If there was one thing I loved about living with my mother, it was her cooking. She could take a can of Spam, an onion, and a few potatoes and make your taste buds sing.
We’d been sitting at the dinner table about twenty minutes, and Ma hadn’t said one word. I’d just started my second plate when she got up and walked into the living room. When she returned, she had tears in her eyes.
“What’s wrong, Ma?” I wasn’t used to seeing my mother so silent and weepy.
“Allen, baby, you know how much I want a grandbaby, don’t ya?”
I nodded my head though I was a little confused. Ma placed her hand on mine when she sat down and handed me a small jewelry box. I looked at it, then looked at her. I had no idea what she was up to.
“What’s this for?” I asked.
“Just open it, baby.” Ma’s voice sounded so tiny all of a sudden.
I opened the box and had to do a double take when I saw what looked like at least a two-carat diamond.
“Where’d you get this from, Ma?”
“That’s my mama’s ring.” She took the ring out of the box. “It’s the only thing in the world I have to remind me of her. I want you to give it to Rose, son.” She handed me the ring.
My eyes got watery when I realized what Ma was doing. The sentiment alone made tears come to my eyes. Even with all her eccentric ways, I always knew Ma loved me. She’d tried hard to restrict me to the confines of her world. Giving me this ring was way out of character for her. This was as if she was setting me free. It was as close to blessing my marriage as she was ever gonna come, and I was truly touched.
“Ma, I can’t take this ring. This is Granny’s ring. Rose will never understand the sentiment it has. Why don’t you give it to your first granddaughter?”
“No, Allen. I want you to give it to Rose, if you really love her. This way both of us will be sure you’re getting married for the right reason.” Ma put her hand on my shoulder and kissed my cheek.
“Okay Ma, I’ll give Granny’s ring to Rose.” I wrapped my arms around my mother and both of us began to cry. “We’re gonna have a whole house full of grandkids for you.”
I took the following day off from work and drove over to Rose’s job at North Shore Hospital in Manhassett, Long Island. I’d spent most of the day trying to come up with a romantic and unique way to propose. I decided to take her to dinner at Louie’s Seafood Restaurant before proposing to her on a midnight jazz cruise.
When I showed up at the hospital, Rose was leaving the building with two other nurses. She didn’t spot me at first, so I whistled to get her attention. She said goodbye to her two friends and headed toward me, greeting me with a warm, happy kiss.
“Well, what brings you here all dressed up, handsome?” I was wearing my best suit and had just gotten my hair cut. “Mmmmm, lookin’ good and smellin’ good too.” She smiled.
“Thought I might take you out to dinner. You always said you wanted to go to Louie’s in Port Washington. We have an eight o’clock reservation.”
“Ohhh, Allen, really?” I nodded and she smiled from ear to ear, kissing me again. Then she stepped back abruptly.
“Allen, I can’t go to Louie’s lookin’ like this. Look at me.”
I glanced at her nurse’s whites and smiled. I liked the way she looked in her uniform. She looked pure, conservative, and untouched, which was a huge difference from the tight-fitting mini dresses and revealing, low-cut outfits she usually wore.
“You look aw’ight, baby,” I reassured her.
“Pleasssse, you got to be kidding. You think I’m goin’ to Louie’s dressed like this? Not on your life. Take me home so I can get dressed.” What had happened to the sweet woman who was so happy to see me a minute before?
I looked at my watch. “Hold up, Rose. I ain’t driving all the way back to Queens. Do you know how hard it was to get eight o’clock reservations at Louie’s?”
“Ohhhh, that makes sense. Take me to a five-star restaurant dressed like I’m going to dinner at McDonald’s.” She folded her arms defiantly.
“I’ll tell you what. Let’s go buy you something to wear. There has to be a mall or boutique around here.” A huge smile cropped up on Rose’s face and her eyes turned into dollar signs. There was no doubt in my mind she knew exactly where a store was.
“There’s a Macy’s right down the block. They got this bad DKNY dress I was lookin’ at and I saw the perfect shoes to match it. Don’t worry, baby, this ain’t gonna take long at all. Matter of fact we probably got time ta get my nails done.” Rose looked more excited than a kid in a candy store.
I knew this little shopping spree was gonna cost me three, four hundred but it didn’t upset me. I’d saved almost three G’s when Ma gave me Granny’s ring.
“We ain’t got time ta get your nails done, Rose,” I told her.
“Okay, baby.” She smiled. “Let’s go.”
Rose was right. It didn’t take long at all for her to pick out a dress. Especially since she had the dress and shoes on layaway. I don’t know why, but somehow I felt like I was being set up. The whole outfit cost me close to five hundred bucks after Rose insisted on a matching handbag. Despite the money I had dropped on it, I had to admit she looked stunning as we walked out of Macy’s.
“Allen, can I get a pair of earrings?” She pointed at a small jewelry store by the entrance to Macy’s.
“Sure, why not?” I smiled, tapping my suit pocket to make sure Granny’s ring was still there. What was another hundred bucks, when I wouldn’t be spending a couple thousand on a ring?
When we walked into the jewelry store, Rose walked right over to the counter and greeted the jeweler.
“Hey, Henry. You still got those earrings I was looking at the other day?” she asked sweetly.
“Sure, Rose,” Henry answered like she was an old friend, or at least a very valued customer. He opened the glass case and handed her a pair of emerald studs.
While Rose was trying on the earrings, I took a look at a showcase filled with engagement rings. None of them even compared to the size of Granny’s, but I wanted to a get an idea of what they cost.
“This is what you’re looking for, sir,” Henry said, startling me. He handed me a small box with an engagement ring. He pointed toward Rose, who was now checking out some more earrings in the display case. “She likes this one.”
“Does she.” I looked at the pear-shaped diamond ring that he’d handed me.
“Yes, sir. It’s three-quarters of a carat, with a good color and quality,” he assured me in his best salesman’s voice.
“How much?”
“Rose is a good customer. For you, eighteen hundred, regularly twenty-three.”
If I didn’t already have a ring, I would have brought that one on the spot. The price was right, and more importantly, I already knew Rose would like it. I was surprised, though, at the ring’s size. I had no idea she would settle for anything less than a carat. The ring I had originally planned on buying her was a carat and a half and almost three grand. Granny’s ring was at least two carats, so I figured Rose would be thrilled by the rock when I gave it to her.
“Oh, Allen, isn’t it beautiful?” Rose approached from behind.
I looked over my shoulder and smiled. “Yeah, it’s real nice.”
“I’m gonna take these earrings, Henry.” Rose handed him the empty earring box. The gems were still in her ears.
“Well, sir, what about that ring?” Henry smiled at me, then at Rose. He was trying to put me on the spot for the sale, and I sure didn’t appreciate it too much.
“I’ll be back to talk to you real soon. When I’m alone, okay?” Both Henry and Rose smiled as I slapped down my MasterCard to pay for the earrings.
Dinner was fantastic, and the atmosphere at Louie’s set the perfect romantic mood. We shared our gourmet dinners, feeding each other across the candlelit table between sips of champagne. Every once in a while I would rest my hand over my jacket to feel the box that held Granny’s ring. I was full of anticipation. The night was young and would only get better when I got down on my knees in front of the woman I loved.
After dinner we strolled over to the town dock and boarded the Sound of Music, a three-story cruise ship that was going to take us around the island of Manhattan. The cruise was great, and so was the band. We were the only blacks on board, but that didn’t matter. Most of the people on board were our age, and let me tell you, they could party.