Love Becomes Her

by Donna Hill

  Ann Marie pulled a bottle of Courvoisier right out of her Gucci bag, took the top off like a pro and poured herself a healthy glass before Barbara could blink. She marched off to the couch and plopped down, then looked up at Barbara.

  “Can you believe it? She’s moving back in with me for heaven’s sake. What me gon’ do?”

  “What are you going to do? What about Raquel?”

  She sucked her teeth and waved her hand. “Raquel will be fine at some point. The question is, will I?” She took a long swallow of her drink that made Barbara wince, then began rambling in that rapid-fire way of hers, with her accent so thick you needed a translator to interpret.

  Barbara held up her hands. “Hold it, hold it. I’m really not understanding a word you’re saying, Ann Marie.”

  Ann Marie paused, dragged in a deep breath and looked up at Barbara with wide, imploring brown eyes set in a rich chocolate–brown face. She ran her hand through her bone-straight midshoulder-length hair. “How in the world am I supposed to get my groove on with my twenty-three-year-old daughter listening to dear old mom knocking boots in the next room? I’m not the church mouse on the block, if you know what I mean.”

  Barbara let out a bark of nervous laughter. If that was the worst of Ann Marie’s problems, she ain’t heard nothing yet. Tonight was going to be more than a little interesting.

  Chapter 2

  Barbara wasn’t quite sure what to say to Ann Marie at the moment, while she gulped down her drink and quickly refilled her glass without taking a breath. So Barbara opted not to press the issue. Knowing Ann Marie, she’d spill it all before the night was over.

  “I’m going to start putting the stuff out. Ellie and Steph should be here any minute.”

  “I’ll help you.” She put the top back on the bottle, shoved it back down inside her purse then pushed herself up from the chair. “Oh lawd.” She slapped her palm to her forehead.

  “What?”

  “Left de damn curry chicken right in de car. Chile got me so upset, can’t t’ink straight.”

  Barbara chuckled as Ann Marie snatched up her umbrella and darted back outside. She took the salad out of the fridge and put it on the counter next to the dressings. She always did a buffet-style dinner, so everyone was on their own to get what they wanted when they wanted it. She took a quick look around. Ice filled the ice bucket, there was a case of Coors Light in the cooler for Stephanie and four bottles of wine to supplement the wine that Stephanie had promised to bring, for everyone else. But apparently Ann Marie had other plans. Hmm. She’d never known Ann Marie to be a hard drinker and certainly not one to actually carry a bottle of liquor stashed in her purse. The sudden arrival of Raquel must have truly rocked unshakable Annie.

  Raquel had been out on her own right out of high school, which Barbara personally thought was much too young, but Ann Marie was adamant about Raquel standing on her own two feet and being a woman. “Can’t be having no two grown-ass women in one house,” Ann Marie had said. “Make for bad business. I’m the only queen in me castle. Ain’t sharing no throne.”

  From the day Raquel moved into a small studio somewhere in Brooklyn, Barbara had seen her maybe five times in all those years. One of which had been at her wedding. She’d been a beautiful bride. It appeared as if her husband, Earl, loved the ground Raquel walked on. What was so odd about that day was that Ann Marie seemed more relieved than anything else, as if now that Raquel was a married woman, whatever semblance of care and responsibility she had for her daughter was no longer anything she had to concern herself with. Ann Marie barely spoke of her, as if she were no more than some distant relative as opposed to her only child.

  Sad, Barbara thought. It was the one thing she’d always wanted in her life, a child of her own. Someone to love and nourish and watch grow up and become a wonderful human being. In her case, that was never to be. She knew that if she’d ever had children she would have spoiled them rotten and bragged about them to everyone who would listen. Ann Marie, on the other hand…

  The doorbell chimed.

  Ann Marie held a large tray in her hands and the mouthwatering aroma seeping out from beneath the foil made Barbara’s stomach knot in anticipation. If there was one thing Ann Marie could do and do well, it was cook. The girl put her foot in it every time. And right behind her was Elizabeth.

  Elizabeth hurried in with her tray, as well. “Red velvet cake tonight, ladies.”

  “Oh my. What’s the occasion?” Barbara stepped aside to let her friends in. “You only do red velvet for something major.” She shut the door and the bell rang again. She snatched it back open.

  “Damn, just close the door in my face. I know I only bring wine but I still can beat all y’all in spades.”

  Barbara laughed. “Sorry, girl, I didn’t see you.”

  “Yeah, yeah.” She stepped in and took off her Burberry trench coat and hung it up on the rack in the hall.

  She looks much better than this morning, Barbara quickly observed, shutting the door for the final time. Maybe it was just the rain that had her looking so out of sorts. She went into the living room where Ann Marie and Ellie were already seated around the coffee table, snacking on celery sticks and dip.

  “Y’all don’t waste any time,” Steph said, announcing her arrival, then taking a seat next to Ellie on the couch. She reached for a carrot. “How’s everyone doing?” She took a delicate bite and looked from one woman to the next.

  Ellie sighed.

  Ann Marie sucked her teeth and rolled her eyes.

  “Damn, what did I do?” Stephanie asked.

  “Nothing,” they muttered in unison.

  Steph glanced up at Barbara for some kind of hint as to what was going on, but Barbara only shrugged in response. “I’ll get the wine.”

  “Bring plenty,” Ellie said.

  Ann Marie got up and followed Barbara into the kitchen. She lowered her voice. “Don’t say nutin’ to dem about Raquel just yet. Okay?”

  Barbara looked at her, perplexed. “Fine, but why not?”

  “Me really don’t wan’ talk ’bout it tonight. Still too pissed and upset.”

  “Annie, it really—”

  Ellie walked in. “What’s taking so long? And what are you two whispering about?”

  “Nutin’.” Ann Marie took two bottles of wine and the ice bucket then walked out.

  Ellie watched her leave. “What’s with her?”

  “I wish I knew.” She put her hands on her hips. “The question is, what’s with you? What was that phone call about this morning? You had me worried.”

  “I can’t talk about it right now.” Her eyes suddenly filled and she sniffed loudly. “It’s just so fucking awful.” Her mouth trembled and she covered it with her hand.

  That was the second time in one day that Ellie had cursed. It was something she didn’t do and it sounded like a foreign language coming out of her mouth.

  “Ell.” She put her hand on Elizabeth’s shoulder. “What is it, sweetie?”

  She just shook her head. Just then, Stephanie burst into the room.

  “Ann Marie forgot the Coors. Are they in the freezer? You know I like mine icy cold,” Steph chattered, oblivious to the cloud of tension in the room.

  Ellie sucked in a breath and darted for the bathroom down the hall.

  Steph frowned then put her hands on her hips. “What is wrong with everybody tonight? Feel like I’m at a wake and no one told me.”

  “Probably the crappy weather.”

  “I guess.” Steph sounded unconvinced. She stepped closer to Barbara. “Listen, about this morning. I’d really appreciate it if you didn’t say anything to the girls.”

  “Wouldn’t think of it,” Barbara said. What’s one more secret among friends?

  Chapter 3

  Ann Marie dealt the first hand of spades while the ladies ate, drank and drank some more. Before the first game was finished, two bottles of wine were empty and Stephanie was on her third bottle of Coors. They were on a roll.
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  “Somebody up in here is cheatin’,” Ellie said, then began to giggle.

  “I don’t see what’s so funny. I’m losing,” Stephanie grumbled. “Think I’m being taken advantage of.” She turned the empty bottle up to her lips, frowned then looked around for another one. Not finding one, she pushed herself up out of the chair, stumbled once, righted herself and headed for the kitchen. “The rest of the wine out here?” she yelled.

  “In the fridge. And bring some more ice,” Barbara called out.

  Ann Marie got up. “I’ll help before her drunk behind breaks something.” She zigzagged her way to the kitchen.

  Barbara looked across the table at Ellie. They broke out laughing. Just another Friday night with the girls. A time to let their hair down and act the fool without recriminations.

  “Good to see you laughing, Ell. You had me worried.” She finished the last of her wine.

  Suddenly, as if someone had slapped her, Ellie howled in some kind of agony that scared the hell out of Barbara and had Stephanie and Ann Marie falling all over each other to get into the living room.

  “What happened?” they screeched. They turned accusing eyes on Barbara, who was stunned into open-mouthed and wide-eyed silence as Ellie bawled and railed like a baby.

  Ellie jumped up from the table, nearly falling down in the process. She grabbed the edge of the table to keep from going face-first on the floor.

  Barbara hurried to her side. “Ell, calm down. What is it? Tell me, honey.” She put her arms around her and led her to the couch.

  Stephanie and Ann Marie sat on the floor at Ellie’s feet.

  “What got you so twisted, chile?” Ann Marie cooed, patting Ellie’s knee.

  Stephanie patted the other knee. “You can tell us.”

  Ellie sniffed hard, her body shuddering. “He… he… The bastard!”

  “Who? What bastard?” Ann Marie asked.

  “Matt!”

  “Matthew? Your husband?” Stephanie asked.

  Ellie nodded her head hard. “Don’t say his name.”

  The three women looked at each other in confusion.

  Barbara sat down next to Elizabeth. “Ell, just tell us what’s wrong. Maybe we can help.”

  “No one can help me. No one.” She covered her face with her hands and cried harder.

  “Oh, damn, she’s drunk,” Steph said.

  “Oh, shut up. So are you.” Ann Marie patted Ellie’s knee a little harder.

  “I know that.” Stephanie said with conviction. “What’s your excuse?”

  “What!” Ann Marie tried to stand up and couldn’t. “You want a fat lip?”

  “Who’s gonna give it to me, you?” Stephanie started to giggle. “Take off those damn high heels and I’ll just step over you and be done with it.” She laughed harder.

  Barbara cringed. Ann Marie hated nothing more than to be taunted about her height.

  Ann Marie snatched off her shoe quicker than a flash of lightning and raised it over her head ready to bean Stephanie. Not before Barbara, seeing disaster unfold, reached out for the shoe before it connected, but instead tumbled in a heap on the floor between the two would-be gladiators.

  Seeing Barbara on the floor set them all off into a fit of near-hysterical laughter, until Ellie’s piercing voice broke through the cacophony.

  “Have you all lost your mind? Doesn’t anyone care about my problem?”

  The laughter stopped as abruptly as it started. Three sets of eyes rested on Ellie’s tear-streaked face.

  “We would, but you won’t tell us what it is we’re supposed to care about,” Stephanie murmured.

  Elizabeth looked from one concerned face to the next. She swallowed and wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. “Matthew wants a divorce.”

  Barbara’s mouth opened and all she could say was her dear friend’s name.

  Ann Marie whispered, “No,” then covered her mouth.

  “Not you and Matt,” Stephanie muttered.

  Barbara scrambled up off the floor and sat back next to Ellie. “What happened, Ell?”

  Ann Marie sat up. “You bot’ seem so happy.”

  “When did this happen?” Stephanie asked.

  “This morning. Over breakfast.” She laughed. “Grits, eggs and homemade hash browns just the way he likes them.”

  Barbara put her arm around Ellie’s shoulders and squeezed. “Ell, what did he say?”

  Ellie drew in a breath. “He said…he can’t live with me anymore. He…doesn’t…love me anymore. He’s in love with someone else.”

  “Matt?” Stephanie asked incredulously.

  Ellie nodded.

  “Who is she? ’Cause it sound to me like she need her arse whipped.”

  “Ann Marie,” Barbara scolded. “That’s not going to solve anything.”

  “Maybe not, but it would make me feel better.”

  “Yeah, me, too,” Stephanie seconded.

  “I’ve met her. Sweet young thing. Not much older than our daughter! Can you believe that? Oh God!” she wailed.

  “Oh, girl, it’s probably just a fling. A midlife crisis or something. You know how men get. He’ll come to his senses,” Stephanie offered.

  Ellie reached for her purse, tucked near the arm of the couch. She opened it and pulled out a thick set of folded papers. “Does this read like a midlife crisis to you?” She sniffed and shoved the papers toward her friends.

  Barbara opened them up. It was a petition for divorce. She passed them to Ann Marie, who then handed them to Steph.

  Ann Marie pushed up from the floor, crossed the room to where she’d left her purse on the table and pulled out her bottle of Courvoisier. She put the bottle under her arm and collected their glasses. She handed a glass to each one and began to pour. “We need a real drink after that.”

  “You ain’t lying,” Stephanie said.

  Barbara took a hearty sip that went straight from the pit of her stomach to her head. This really was serious.

  Chapter 4

  Silence hung over the quartet for a good five minutes as they worked on digesting the startling information that Elizabeth had shared. The only sounds were the wail of Miles Davis’s trumpet on the stereo and the steady beat of rain pounding against the windows.

  Finally, Barbara found her voice. “Have you spoken with a lawyer, Ell?”

  Elizabeth nodded. “This morning. Right after that bastard left for work.” She sniffed.

  “What did your lawyer say?” Stephanie asked.

  Elizabeth wiped her eyes to make room for more tears. “He said if I wanted to fight it I could and that basically I could get everything since he…he cheated on me!” she wailed. “I can’t believe it. I had that little hussy in my house.”

  “Don’t worry about that now,” Ann Marie said. “Just take Matt—I mean that bastard’s bags and set them on the curb.”

  “I don’t know if I even want to live there…too many memories.” She lowered her head.

  “But you deserve that house. You put your heart and soul into it all these years. You stayed home so that he could pursue his degrees and his career. You raised your kids there. That’s your house,” Stephanie insisted.

  “She’s right, Ell,” Barbara said. “And it’s worth a fortune. I wouldn’t give it up. Let him find someplace else to live.”

  Elizabeth sighed heavily. “I guess. Besides, where would I go? I certainly can’t live with Desiree or Dawne, they have their own lives. Ohhh, what am I going to tell my daughters?” She erupted into a new wave of tears and sobbing.

  “Your daughters are grown and doing their t’ing. They are mature young women. They will understand. At least you don’t have to worry ’bout dem moving back in wit’ you like some daughters,” Ann Marie said with disgust. “And really upsetting your life.”

  Stephanie turned to Ann Marie. “Like who? I know Raquel didn’t move back home.”

  Ann Marie sucked her teeth. “Girl show up on me door bag and baggage. What me gon’ do?” She sucked h
er teeth again.

  Elizabeth leaned forward, her red-rimmed eyes wide. “Raquel left Earl?”

  Ann Marie looked from one to the other. “Yes.” She muttered something that no one could understand. “Grown chile ain’t got no business moving in wit’ her mudder.”

  Elizabeth reached for Ann Marie’s hand. “Annie, something awful must have happened for her to leave Earl. Did you talk to her?”

  “Me too upset to talk.” She shook her head.

  “But don’t you even want to know what happened?” Stephanie asked, perplexed.

  “What can me do even if she tol’ me? Nutin’. What me gon’ tell Phil when he come back next week?”

  “Phil!” the trio sang in unison.

  “Girl, you have got to be kidding,” Stephanie croaked.

  “He’s fine and everything, but that’s your child. What are you worried about him for?” Elizabeth asked.

  “I have a one-bedroom apartment for a reason. Don’t keep no company that’s not sharing me bedroom, if you get what I mean.”

  “But that’s your daughter, Ann Marie,” Barbara scolded, unable to fully understand Ann Marie’s total lack of concern for her child. It was unreasonable and cruel, not characteristics that she associated with Ann Marie. But when you put folk’s backs up against the wall there was no telling if they were going to come out swinging or singing. She always felt that Ann Marie’s relationship with her daughter was not all that it could be, but this turned her stomach. There had to be more to it than what Ann Marie was saying.

  “Yes, she’s my daughter wit’ a ’usband.” She pushed herself up from the floor and fixed herself another drink. “I don’t want to talk ’bout it no more.” She took a long swallow and for an instant her gaze connected with Barbara’s, and Barbara was stunned to see fear in Ann Marie’s eyes.

  “You know what’s best for you and your daughter,” Barbara said, letting Ann Marie off the hook. “But don’t let a man come between you and your child. That’s all I’m gonna say besides pass me the bottle. I really need a drink now.”