Brickhouse

by Rita Ewing

  “Anna, you have saved my life.”

  “It’s nothing more than you’ve done for me. I’ll never forget how you were there for me after Todd’s death.”

  Nona nodded. “But … I’m afraid. I’m thinking about what this is going to do to you and Anthony.”

  Anna’s eyes were sad. “This didn’t destroy me and Anthony. A wall has been building between us brick by brick, day by day. The only thing I can hope for now is that we don’t destroy each other.”

  “Oh, Anna.”

  Anna held up her hand. “Don’t feel sorry for me. Surprisingly, I feel better now than I have in years. I have the Children’s Literacy Outreach program that makes me very happy.” She smiled and took Nona’s hand. “And now I know that I will have you. Still here at Brickhouse, taking care of me and my body. And being my friend.”

  Nona hugged her. “I don’t know what to say. I’m so grateful. I won’t ever be able to pay you back.”

  Anna leaned away. “Just go kick that reverend’s butt. That’s all the payback I need.”

  “I think I can do that.”

  Anna smiled. “And once you get the reverend to see things the right way, please keep this information just between us.” She looked away, and her smile was gone. “I’m not trying to ruin Anthony. My husband is doing a good job of that all by himself.” When she glanced up at Nona, she was smiling again. “I think you have an appointment to make, girlfriend.”

  When they hugged again, Nona could feel her friend’s strength in her embrace. And with all that she’d been through, this was the first time that Nona was absolutely sure. Anna would be all right.

  twenty

  On the one hand, Nona couldn’t wait to be in front of Reverend Watkins and hand him the grenade that would blow his world apart. On the other hand, the thought of being alone with him made her want to throw up. It was the side of her filled with fight that pushed her to make the call.

  “Well, Ms. Simms,” the reverend said when she was put through to his line by his secretary. “It is a pleasure to hear from you.”

  She wanted to laugh–he wouldn’t be saying that in an hour. “Reverend, I would like to meet with you this afternoon, if possible.”

  “Sure.” She heard the smirk in his tone. “We can get together.” He paused. “I’m sure you want to finalize some things.”

  “That’s exactly what I want to do.”

  “Great. You know, Nona, I wanted to tell you this morning, but you left so quickly. This is going to be good for you too. You’ve worked hard all of these years. Now you will only have your restaurant to be concerned with. This is really for the best, you’ll see.”

  His words made her almost gag, but she’d let him have his moment. She glanced at her watch. “I can be there in an hour.”

  “Five o’ clock. That’s good,” he said. “By then everyone will be gone and I’ll be able to concentrate on you.”

  “Thank you,” she said, keeping as much civility in her voice as she could manage.

  When she hung up, she imagined that he was leaning back in his chair, his fingers entwined behind his head, wearing a smile of victory. She couldn’t wait to slap that smirk off his face.

  She made copies of the file and made a note to herself to put the originals in the safe, located in the building’s security room, on her way out. Then, she called Ray to take her to what she prayed would be the final meeting with Reverend Watkins.

  In the car, she couldn’t keep her thoughts away from the one paper in her arsenal that still shocked her. The one designed to destroy her and her business. She pulled that letter from the folder in her lap and reread the words that she’d just about memorized. She’d always known the reverend was a crook. But what amazed her now were the people willing to lie in bed with him. Make any kind of deal–for the sake of making money.

  She shook her head. Not only was she going to bring the reverend down, but she’d be going against old adversaries. And she was about to knock every one of them out–with a single Brickhouse side kick.

  It was just after five when she stepped into the receptionist area of the Harlem Empowerment Office, but there was no one behind the desk.

  “Hello,” she yelled out.

  A moment later, the reverend walked into the hallway. “Ms. Simms, it’s good to see you.”

  She wondered if he had purchased all the powder-blue polyester in the country and then had some tailor make him a dozen leisure suits.

  “Let’s go to my office.” He motioned with his hand, letting her walk ahead of him.

  Nona could feel his eyes, watching her from behind, and for a moment she wondered if it had been a good idea to come alone. Maybe she should have told Allen.

  No, she thought. Reverend Watkins might be a snake, but he was a coward. And she was sure he was a smart coward. He knew that she could kick his butt anytime she wanted.

  “Nona,” he began when they were finally in his office. “Like I was saying on the phone, I don’t want you to feel bad about this.”

  “I don’t feel bad at all, Reverend.”

  He motioned for her to sit on the couch, but she chose a chair in front of his desk. He chuckled. “I’m glad because I don’t want us to be enemies. I’ve always liked you, and I promise we’ll work out a deal that will be incredible for you.”

  “I know we’ll be able to work something out.” She crossed her legs, and when she saw the tip of the reverend’s tongue slide against his lips, she tugged at the edge of her skirt.

  The reverend coughed. “Well, let’s begin. Why don’t you tell me what you expect in this deal?”

  For a second, she wanted to draw out the moment. Savor the knowledge that the reverend was about to drown in his own dirty pool. But she didn’t want to stay with this man a minute longer than she needed to, so she pulled out the paper that was most damaging. She slid it across his desk, and before he could put on his glasses to examine the page, she said, “I know about the deal you have with the New York Fitness Club, Reverend.” She paused and watched his eyes widen. “You know, you got them to do what I was never able to. I tried to convince Marilyn Gagney years ago to bring one of those clubs to Harlem, and you were able to do it.”

  “What is this?”

  “This,” Nona began, holding up the folder, “is what I need to stop you from destroying me.”

  She couldn’t remember a time when the reverend had been silent.

  “I can’t say that I blame you, Reverend. I mean, you are going to make a fortune by getting me out of Harlem, bringing the New York Fitness Club here and giving them a ready-made clientele–all of the members of Brickhouse. This really was brilliant.”

  “I don’t know where you got this–”

  “Well, if this isn’t enough for you, why don’t you take a look at these?” She handed him paper after paper of the deals he’d made–the kickbacks from the contracts he’d awarded, the percentage from the leases he’d negotiated. She let him soak in the damaging papers. “I’m sure you realize that I can bring you and everyone on that committee down with what I have here. Although I’m sure you’re the only benefactor. Isn’t it a shame that men may go to jail who had nothing to do with this?”

  When he looked at her, she almost thought he was going to cry. “What do you want?”

  She smiled. “I want Brickhouse. That’s it. I don’t really care about your other dealings. You’re a criminal, but the people of Harlem will find that out sooner or later. I have no doubt you’ll live your last days shriveled up in some top-security penal institution.”

  His wide eyes became as wet as his drippy hair.

  “But that’s not my concern, right now,” Nona said. “I keep Brickhouse and none of this has to come to light.”

  He shook his head. “I don’t know how I can do that.”

  “You’ll figure something out, because I have it on good authority that if any of this ever comes out, not even the mayor will be able to save your sorry ass.”

  “I don�
��t know how to change things.”

  “Oh, Reverend, you don’t have any imagination.” Nona leaned back in her chair and smiled. “All you have to do is say that you’ve had a change of heart. Not that anyone believes that you have a heart. But you can lie, like you always do, and say that when you reviewed the petitions, you were so moved that you had to listen to the people of Harlem.”

  He leaned back in his chair, taking the stance that he always did, but there was little arrogance in him now. “Well, Ms. Simms, you’ve certainly given me something to think about.”

  She raised her eyebrows. “You’re smarter than that, Reverend Watkins.”

  “I need some time.”

  “I understand.” She looked at her watch. “I’ll give you sixty seconds,” she said without looking up.

  “Ms. Simms, I can’t possibly–”

  “Fifty seconds.”

  “There are other people involved.”

  “Forty seconds.”

  “You can’t expect me to just change everything–”

  She looked at him. “In thirty seconds, this news hits the papers, and the only thing you’ll have to think about then is how you’re going to keep your cellmate, Bubba, off your greasy behind.”

  “You’re being unreasonable.”

  She glanced at her watch again. “Ten seconds.” They were silent until Nona stood. “What’s your decision?”

  “Ms. Simms, I don’t believe–”

  She walked to the door.

  “Fine,” he yelled out.

  She took her time turning back to him. “Brickhouse stays.” Her question really was a statement.

  He glared at her and nodded.

  She smiled. “You’ve made the right decision.” She glanced at the folder on his desk. “And you can keep those papers. I have plenty of copies.” She returned his stare. “Have a good evening.”

  Nona almost ran from his office, and instead of waiting for the elevator, she trotted down the stairs, needing to release the adrenaline that was raging inside her. She was out of breath when she got to the car.

  “Do you want to go home, or back to Brickhouse?” Ray asked before he started the SUV.

  Nona looked at her watch. “You know what? We still have thirty minutes. Let’s pick up Kelly from the doctor. I’ll call Odessa.”

  She called her housekeeper, then leaned back in the car as Ray turned south onto Park Avenue. New York City. This was her home, and now she knew for sure … it always would be.

  “Mom, what are you doing here?” Kelly asked.

  “I wanted to spend some time with my daughter, is that okay?”

  Kelly smiled. “Yeah, that’s great.”

  Nona looked over Kelly’s shoulder to Dr. Rutherford’s closed door.

  “Mom, let’s go,” Kelly said.

  Nona nodded and took her hand. “So how was your day?”

  “School was okay, but it was good with Dr. Rutherford.”

  There was a pang in Nona’s heart as she and Kelly climbed into the Escalade. Although she was so pleased that Kelly agreed Dr. Rutherford had been a good idea, she still wished that Kelly would open up to her. But the doctor had assured Nona that would come with time.

  “Anything you want to tell me about?” Nona asked as Ray pulled the car into traffic.

  “Not yet.” Kelly paused. “I hope that’s okay, Mom.”

  “Of course. As long as you’re feeling better.”

  “I am.”

  Nona squeezed her hand. “Good. Well, I want you to know that everything is fine with Brickhouse. The zoning committee has decided to let everything stand the way it is.”

  “Mom, that’s terrific. But I knew it was going to work out. I’ve been praying for you.”

  Nona squeezed her hand. “I know you have. Thank you, sweetie.” She looked out the window. “I think I want to celebrate.”

  “That sounds like a good idea.”

  “Let’s stop at Baskin-Robbins.”

  Kelly hesitated. “Before dinner?”

  “Now who’s the kid and who’s the parent?”

  Kelly laughed. “I just didn’t think we should have dessert first.”

  “Since today was such a good day for both of us, let’s do something different.”

  A few seconds passed before Kelly said, “Okay.”

  “Ray, there’s a Baskin-Robbins on Seventy-sixth Street. Can we stop there?” Nona aked.

  In the store, Nona ordered a double scoop of Strawberry Crunch.

  “I’ll just have a small vanilla yogurt,” Kelly said.

  The clerk nodded.

  “Is that nonfat?” Kelly asked.

  The clerk nodded again.

  Outside the store, Nona said, “Let’s take a walk around the block.”

  While Kelly chatted about her day at school, Nona watched her dip the tip of the spoon into her cup, taking the smallest nibbles. Within minutes, Kelly tossed the still half-filled cup into one of the street trash cans.

  Nona finished her ice cream, then put her arm around Kelly’s shoulders as they continued to walk and chat. She wanted to go back and get that cup of yogurt. Tell Kelly that she was beautiful, and wonderful, and smart, and the perfect daughter. And with all of that, it was certainly safe to eat.

  But she said nothing, following the advice of Dr. Rutherford. You cannot force Kelly to eat. Nona remembered the doctor’s words. Kelly’s been opening up. I know she’s getting better.

  It was clear to Nona that Kelly was trying. After her third session, Kelly had agreed that Dr. Rutherford had been a good idea. And Nona could tell just from conversations that Kelly was feeling better about herself. Surely normal eating couldn’t be far away.

  Kelly was doing better. Brickhouse was going to stay in Harlem. Nona squeezed Kelly in a hug. With just a little patience and a lot of tenacity, life had certainly turned out better than good.

  Allen groaned when his toes hit the edge of the shower stall. He grabbed a towel, wrapped it around his waist, and hurried to the telephone. He shivered in the cool room as water dripped from his chest onto the carpet. His forehead creased with concern when he glanced at the caller ID.

  “Nona, what’s wrong?” he asked as soon as he put the phone to his ear.

  “Nothing. I’m sorry to call you so late.”

  Allen glanced at the clock. It was five after eleven. Nona never called him once she left Brickhouse. Years ago she’d established that home time was for Kelly.

  “Don’t worry about it being late. What’s going on?”

  “I have incredible news.” She took a breath. “Our fight with Reverend Watkins is over.”

  He slumped onto the bed, reminded that she was losing her business because of him. “I know this is tough, Nona. But it’s for the best.”

  “Oh, no, Allen. The fight’s over, but not that way. Reverend Watkins has backed down. He’s agreed to let Brickhouse stay.”

  Allen stood, moving as if he’d heard her words in slow motion. “He’s agreed?” he asked, knowing her words hadn’t reached his brain correctly. “How? Why?”

  Nona chuckled. “Let’s just say he wants to stay out of jail.”

  The chill that Allen felt when he first jumped from the shower was replaced by a heat that made him feel faint. “What did you do?”

  She hesitated. “Nothing. Reverend Watkins just realized that he messed with the wrong woman. But the key is we won’t have to deal with that counterfeit preacher ever again.”

  Now it felt as if ice were pumping through his veins. He knew for sure that Nona’s words weren’t true. They would never be rid of that man. “I don’t understand. What happened, Nona?”

  “Nothing happened that you need to be concerned about. The most important thing is that it’s over. I had planned to tell you in the morning, but I couldn’t wait. And I wanted you to sleep better tonight too, knowing that the fight is over.”

  With this news, Allen was sure that he wouldn’t sleep at all.

  “Thank you, Allen.”


  “For what?”

  “For being there for me and telling me the truth. Even when I didn’t want to hear it. You were right, but God gave us a last-minute reprieve.”

  Allen swallowed the lump in his throat.

  “Good night,” she said before she hung up.

  He returned the phone to his nightstand and slowly fell onto the bed. How did Nona get the reverend to back away? A million scenarios flashed through his mind, but he couldn’t find one that made sense.

  Reverend Watkins was not the kind of man who walked away from anything. There was more to this story, and Allen knew it wouldn’t have a happy ending. Would the reverend call Nona in the middle of the night and tell her about the drugs? Would there be a front page article in the New York Post tomorrow about drugs being supplied through Brickhouse?

  He took the towel from around his waist and wiped the perspiration that once again covered his body. When his cell phone began to ring, he stared at his jacket folded against the chair next to his bed. Another lump, larger this time, choked him. He tossed the towel onto the floor, grabbed his cell phone, and looked at the incoming call number. He didn’t want to answer.

  “What do you want, Watkins?”

  “Don’t use that tone with me, Allen. You have some big problems right now.”

  The reverend’s speech sounded slurred, as if he’d been drinking. “I told you I was not playing games. But I guess you didn’t believe me.”

  He stood, in the middle of his bedroom, naked, listening and waiting for the reverend to pull the trigger that would destroy him.

  “Why didn’t you tell me what your boss planned to do?”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Last time I talked to Nona, she agreed to move to LA.”

  “That’s not what that bitch said tonight. She threatened me.”

  He wished he could smile. He wished he could cheer. He wished he’d been a part of that meeting–when Nona brought this man to his knees.

  But he could find no joy, knowing that Nona’s victory was fleeting.