Heard It All Before

by Michele Grant

She took a deep breath before saying, “Guess I’ll see you around.”

  “Yeah, you take care.” I hung up the phone before we could drag it out any longer.

  Chase looked up from his cars. “You didn’t tell her to come back, Daddy.” He pinned me with an extremely accusatory look coming from one so young.

  “Well, ah, no, son, I didn’t.”

  “Doncha miss her, Daddy?”

  “Yeah, I do, Chase.”

  He shrugged and shook his head. “Then I don’t get it.”

  “Well, when you get older, you’ll understand.”

  “How old, Daddy?”

  “I’ll let you know.” Just as soon as I found out.

  Jewel—Saturday, May 27, 1:21 p.m.

  I was still fuming a bit as I pulled into the parking lot of the rec center. I had gone over it and over it in my mind, and I knew I was doing the right thing for me. It just pissed me off. Why couldn’t he cave in? Why couldn’t he come to me and say, “Look, let’s do whatever it takes to make this work. You’re too important to me to lose.” Hey, that sounded good. Maybe I would use those exact words. Still chafed a little that it had to be me to do this thing. But after plenty of thought, I finally got it. I had played some games with Roman—I had held Jaquenetta over his head, and I basically told him I hated how he lived his life, that I didn’t respect the things that were important to him. I wanted him to fit into my world (which he did), but I made little effort to fit into all of his. No wonder he wanted to know why I loved him; I had basically taken potshots at every element that made him who he was. After being taken for granted with Jaquenetta, he wasn’t having it. You either accepted him for him or moved on. It took me a while but now I knew. Stubborn pride and humble pie made lonely bedfellows.

  You know what else? That was my man. No how, no fly girl, hot mama was going to snag my man because I couldn’t learn to bend a little. Well, I was here. I was willing to make a few concessions and see where that led. If it didn’t work out after this, at least I’ll know I tried.

  I got out of the car and checked the reflection in the car window. I looked good. Denim shorts, button-front T-shirt with not two but three buttons undone—never hurt to remind the boy what he was missing. I took a last look and swung my hair in the wind a little. Yeah, I was tight today.

  I’d deliberately waited until I knew the game would be just about over to arrive. I found which court he was playing on just as Demetrius was coming down from the game-winning layup.

  “Looking good, Demi,” I called out.

  “You too, Jewel.” Demetrius smiled.

  “Jew-Ro!” Roni Mae called out, and I felt a flash of déjà vu. Matter of fact, it was about a year ago this time that I strolled in here and laid eyes on that boy for the first time. Looking over, I waved at Roni. She looked nothing like that outlandish character from last year. As I walked toward her, I saw Greg come off the court and exchange a high five with her. I was amused by this friendship they had formed. I gave them another two weeks before they gave in and hit the sheets. Funny how things turned out.

  “Hi, Greg. Roni.” I smiled at them both.

  Greg leaned over and gave me a kiss on the cheek. “Good to see you. I guess you’re here for Romeo?” He nodded toward the court. Roman was standing there looking at me, still clutching the basketball in his hands.

  I smirked at him. Greg had proved himself a man through this past year. I couldn’t resist teasing him a little. “So, Samson, you think you found your Delilah?”

  He grinned. “Naw, been there, done that. Got the strength sucked right out of me. I’m looking for a more stable sort these days.” He looked right at Roni. She hid a smile and turned her head.

  I laughed. Who’d’ve thought anyone would refer to Roni as stable?

  “Miss Joo-well! Miss Joo-well!” Chase catapulted himself out of nowhere into my arms. Like father, like son.

  I hugged him tight, kissing his little cheek. I missed him as much as I missed Roman. “Hey there, Chase. You got so big. How’s it going?” I stood up with him as he started to chatter in my ear. I sent a smile toward Roni and Greg. “Talk to y’all later.” I tuned in half of what the little sweetie was saying as I started toward his dad, who had yet to uproot himself from the middle of the floor. When we stood right in front of him, I stopped and gave him the old twice-over. Still made my mouth water and then go dry.

  “Lookie, Daddy, it’s Joo-well!”

  “So it is.” A slow grin spread across his face. “Go get Daddy’s bag and bring me some water, okay, Chase?”

  “Sure, Daddy!” I let him slide down me and watched him run off.

  “So, what brings you out?” he asked.

  I reached forward and grabbed the ball out of his hands. I was doing an okay dribble action. “I thought we could talk about a little one-on-one action, player.” I swiveled and made a halfhearted move toward the basket.

  He immediately started to guard me, crowding behind me and trying to reach around for the ball. “Oh, yeah?”

  “Yeah, I thought, maybe this time around, we could try to compromise. Instead of playing by my rules or your rules, we could make some up together?” I shuffled to the right.

  He followed. “Sounds like an interesting game plan. But why you wanna play at all?”

  “I love the game; I love the players. Everything about them, where they came from, how they got here, where they’re going tomorrow. It’s something I can’t do without. I want to be involved in all four quarters. Why are you still on the court, Romeo?” I tried to pivot and he blocked my move.

  “Well, now, I always thought this was the only game in town.”

  “Some things were said and done during the last few little scrimmages,” I started.

  “Things get said in the heat of competition. Crazy things get done. You can’t take it all to heart. Just as long as you’re loyal to the team.” He was letting me off the hook.

  I went for the fast break but forgot you really can’t fast break in strappy sandals with cute little heels. I proceeded to trip over my foot and started falling backward. Roman lunged to catch me, but the ball was in his way and he fell too—right on top of me.

  I grinned up at him; he smirked down at me. “Right back to where we started, huh, player?”

  “Give or take a coupla feet, yeah.” He turned serious. “So, we gonna do it right this time?”

  “I’m willing if you are.”

  “Ah yeah, I’m willing.” He shifted on top of me. Good thing the gym was just about deserted.

  “Ready and able, too, I notice.”

  “Glad you noticed.” He started to lower his head.

  “Hey,” I said softly.

  “Yeah, Bijou?”

  “We need a twenty-four-hour rule.”

  “What is that?”

  “When we have a disagreement—”

  “When we fight, um-hmm. Go ahead.”

  “We have to reconnect in twenty-four hours, decide if it’s gonna be big or something we can work out quickly. What do you think?”

  “An updated version of the don’t-go-to-bed-angry rule?”

  I laughed. “Yeah, something like that.”

  He smiled. “I like it. And we both have to reach out, no matter who started it.”

  “I can’t promise I’m always going to cave in.”

  “I don’t need you to cave; I just need to communicate. You can’t shut down on me. Let’s make this promise; we’ll trust each other. I won’t blow up.”

  “I won’t play games.”

  “I won’t shut you out.”

  “I won’t shut down,” I promised. Teasing, I added, “These sure sound an awful lot like vows.”

  He laughed. “True dat. Check it—I didn’t freak out at your reference to marriage.”

  I was starting to get the good vibe about us again. “So, we’ll take it a day at a time.”

  “A day at a time ... together.”

  “Deal,” I agreed.

  “Sealed
with a kiss.” His lips grazed mine once.

  Chase came running up. “Here’s your water, Daddy. Whatcha doin’?”

  “Forgetting where I am, son. I could sure use a cool drink.” He stood up and pulled me to my feet.

  “You comin’ home with us, Miss Joo-well? Daddy was gonna barbecue.” Chase held his hand out. Roman shifted his stuff to one hand and held out his.

  “Now that’s an offer I can’t refuse.” I took both outstretched hands.

  “We cool now?” Little Chase had a way of cutting to the heart of things. He got it from his dad.

  I looked over at Roman and raised a brow. He nodded. So I answered, “Yeah. We cool.”

  There was more to say and specifics to be settled, but for now, I was right back where I belonged.

  34

  Enough Is Enough

  Renee—Monday, June 13, 8:08 p.m.

  That settled it. I’d just gotten off the phone with Keisha. She said she and Arthur are talking about getting married. I’ll be damned! It should have been me a week ago. Oh, I could just scream. I decided to call my homegirl for a little consolation.

  “Hello?” Jew-Ro sounded all breathless.

  “Jew-Ro, have you talked to Keisha?”

  “Uh, yeah. I told her congratulations. What’s up?”

  “Wanted to see if you wanted to hang out this weekend.”

  “Roman and I are taking Chase to SeaWorld this weekend, but next weekend is wide open. How are you doing?”

  “A little down ... you know.”

  “Renee, it’s gonna take a little time for you to get back on track with everything.”

  “I really blew everything the hell up, didn’t I?”

  “You did it up, girl. Big Willy style,” she said drily.

  We paused for a minute and then we both started snickering. “Oh shit, I really did. God, it’s good to laugh about it. Thanks for hanging with me, girl. I know I’m a handful.”

  “Two handfuls and some still spills over, girl. But you my girl. As long as you don’t drop the drama at my front door again, you and I are good.”

  My girl, she’ll back your play as long as you stick to her rules. Fair enough. “We cool, girl?”

  “We cool. Listen, girl, I’m kinda in the middle of something. Can I call you back?” I heard her giggle and rolled my eyes before putting down the phone. Still didn’t think Roman was the guy for her, but I’ve learned my lesson about getting in other folks’ business.

  Stacie was all geeked behind Trick’s doggish ass and Tammy had whoever the freak of the week was. Roni, well, who knew what Roni was up to, but she looked so damn good lately, it made me sick.

  I had to get my shit correct. How could this have come to pass? My program was NOT tight. Mere months ago, everyone was telling me how lucky I was, how I had it all. How far I had fallen. Sitting at home all the time, waiting on the “Cajun broke one” to remember he lived here. What was so great about great sex if immediately after you wanted to kick the guy out of bed and tell him to go away till next time? Oh yeah, something had to give around here. I needed to be back out, on the mac move. I couldn’t go out weak like this behind Beau.

  “Beau!” I called him from out of the bedroom. “Come here for a minute.”

  “Eh, Renee?”

  “Baby, it’s time.”

  “Time for what, ’tite chou?”

  “Time for all good things to come to an end. You got to rise up outta here.”

  “Ah, but douc—”

  “Nah, none of that shit. Pack up your fly gear and roll out. If you’d like, we can still swing a little episode every now and again.” I leaned up and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “Bye, Beau.” Yes! I was back in control of my shit. I was strictly looking out for me. After all, if Renee didn’t look out for Renee, who would? My problem was that I let that love and lust nonsense get in the way of my goal. Was trying to live large and get paid up in here.

  Beau went back to the closet and started getting some stuff together. I already had my organizer out when he came back through with a garment bag and his shaving kit.

  “It was real, chére. We get together from time to time for old times’ sake, no?”

  “Sure, why not?” I was scanning the Cs.

  “I come back Friday and get the rest. We’ll have a petite party; I’ll bring champagne.” He set his key on the countertop and grinned. One thing was for sure—his was a heart you didn’t have to worry about breaking.

  Ds, Es, Fs ... Franklin, Jhorry, attorney-at-law. Yeah, I wonder what he’s up to nowadays? I sent Beau an absent smile as I reached for the phone. “Okay, baby, but call before you come over.”

  “Always,” he said, and went on out the door.

  As I locked the door behind him, the person I was calling picked up. “Hello?”

  “Hello, is this Jhorry?”

  “Yes.”

  “This is Renee Nightingale. I don’t know if you remember me—”

  “Oh, but I do, Renee. I never thought you’d call, though. I heard you were engaged to Gregory Samson.”

  I laughed. “How do these rumors get started? No, no, I’ve been spending a lot of time working on getting myself together. I’m free as a bird. Just came across your number and thought I’d give you a call. Hope I’m not interrupting anything?” In other words, how single or need I skip to the Gs?

  “No, no, I’m pretty much my own man these days. This must be my lucky night, huh?”

  “Could be, Jhorry. Sure could be. So tell me, what’ve you been up to lately?”

  I let brother man ramble on, and I started jotting notes down. You had to have a plan, right? You couldn’t chew your cabbage twice and let the grass grow under your feet. It was dog-eat-dog out there, every sister for herself. I was just trying to get mine, know what I’m saying?

  35

  Takin’ a Shot

  Gregory—Saturday, June 18, 1:06 a.m.

  “Hello, you’re on the air with Veronique on the Love Line. What can I help you with this evening?”

  I smiled. “Hello, Veronique, I have a problem.”

  “Okay, what’s your name?”

  “Well, you can just call me G.” I clicked off the lights around the room and lit some candles.

  “G.” I could tell she recognized my voice by the way she said it. “What seems to be the problem, G?”

  “Well, I’ve got this friend ...”

  “Uh-huh. A male friend or a female friend?”

  “Oh, she’s very female.”

  “Sounds interesting, tell us about it.”

  “Well, see, I’ve known this lady for quite some time now.”

  “Um-hmm.”

  “We started out as casual acquaintances, and then we kind of fell into this attraction thing.”

  “An attraction thing, G?”

  “For lack of a better word. It just came upon me one day that she was sexy as all hell. Oh sorry, can I say hell on the radio?”

  “This late at night, you sure can. Say anything you like; it’s just starting to get interesting.”

  “Anyway, I was involved with someone else at the time; the situation was complicated, and we never really did anything about it.”

  “I still don’t see the problem, G.”

  I grinned. “Well, let me spell it out for you. Since then, we’ve gone into a friendship-like relationship. She saw me through some rough times and pretty much hung in there for me. Now, I appreciated that, but I need—I want—more.”

  “More?” Her voice took on that molasses quality. I was gonna have to have this girl but soon.

  “Much more. I want to be with her. Physically, emotionally, sexually. But she still wants to be buddies.”

  When Roni spoke, she sounded kind of breathless. “Well, maybe she just needed to hear you say it.”

  “Well, if she’s listening, let me say it to her directly. I want you; you know who you are. I want you—in every way, as my friend, my lady, my lover.”

  “Are you sure, G?
This seems like a big step, especially based on your past history and all.”

  “I know what I want. It’s time to move on. You gotta either live today or sit thinking about what you missed tomorrow.”

  “That’s, uh”—she stopped to clear her throat—“that’s very well put, G. I’m sure your lady friend is listening and appreciates the words.”

  “I’d do a lot more than talk if I could see her tonight. Maybe she could come over and show her appreciation.”

  “Maybe she could.” I could tell she was smiling by the sound of her voice. “Well, listeners, we’re going to have a slight change in our programming for this evening. For the next hour, you will hear uninterrupted love songs for all you ‘Candlelight by Moonlight’ lovers out there. After that, E. Z. Groove will be here to take you on into the wee hours. Live, love, and laugh, Dallas.”

  She switched over to music and said into the phone, “Hold that thought. I’m on my way.”

  “I can hardly wait.” I turned up the radio and smiled into the darkness.

  36

  Meeting in the Middle

  Rome & Jewel—Sunday, June 26, 9:31 p.m.

  Rome

  It was a great day we had today. Went over to Moms and Pops for dinner and on the way home, I swung by this house. It was a big old rambling house, in need of some tender, loving care before it’ll be all that. Right off of Central near Walnut Hill. Located almost exactly halfway between her house and mine. Pulled up in front the house and hopped out. Miss Jewel looked at me like I was crazy, so I opened up her door, took her hand, and pulled her out. We walked to the front door and I pushed it open. She stepped inside and stood there with her mouth open. I went on in and she followed behind me.

  “It’s beautiful!” she said as I showed her around.

  “You like?” I asked as we stood in the kitchen, looking at what was once a beautiful hardwood floor.

  “I love it. Whose is it?” She smiled at me.

  “Ours,” I said smugly, and turned away to examine the moldings in the living room.

  “Beg your pardon?”

  “Ours if we want it, baby. Greg’s got the papers ready for us to sign anytime we want.” I smiled. “We’ve been going out for just over a year. You mentioned a few times that I don’t seem to compromise. How does this strike you?” With a smile, I headed up the stairs to let her take that in for a while.