A Sister's Secret

by Cydney Rax

  Alita wanted to cut off her sister’s head with hateful words. But even she knew that Burgundy was partially correct. She knew that Leno enjoyed being around his dad.

  “I hear what you trying to say, B. But when you think about it, Leonard’s timing is very suspect. Here, take a look at this.”

  Alita pulled out her cell phone. She went on the internet and pulled up articles that she’d saved as favorites: Yahoo Sports, Sports Illustrated, CBS Sports, SB Nation.com, and NCAA.com. Each of them had posted news story after news story about the best NBA prospects in U.S. high schools. They posted rankings and all the top basketball recruits. And in every single article Leonard Washington, Jr., got grouped in the top three. They mentioned his position, height, weight, age, city, high school, his stats, and of course, there was that professional headshot that displayed Leno’s fabulous smile and his signature haircut.

  “I think Leno made the mistake of letting his daddy know how hot he’s getting and the name he’s been making for himself as a basketball player. And those scouts have been hounding my baby. I don’t know how they got his number, but we been getting calls from Villanova, Syracuse, Duke, Michigan State, and North Carolina. It’s only gon’ get worse if he keeps his game up the way he has. See, here are articles on Leno Washington, the future of high school basketball. They say he is the best guard in the state.”

  “Ahh, so now his dad is suddenly taking a stronger interest in him.”

  “Yes, he is. But I think it’s his way of locking down a relationship with Leno, just in case the boy really does blow up and gets rich and famous. If it ain’t the little skeezers at school, it’s his own daddy trying to make a buck off of him.”

  “But I thought that his daddy’s schedule was too jam-packed for him to spend any real significant time with him.”

  “That’s the thing. You see, in his own way, Leonard is a superstar himself. He does very well at that car dealership. So when he asks for a little bit of time off, they don’t complain. And I could shoot myself in my own head because I’m the one who has asked Leonard for a couple of favors lately. Like I needed him to pick up Leno from school and take him to his doctor’s appointments and dentist. Things like that.”

  “Excuse me, Alita, but that isn’t called doing you a favor. That’s part of his fatherly responsibility. He shouldn’t get a clap on the back for that, or even child support for doing it.”

  “That’s what I’m talking about. Not when the child lives with me one hundred percent of the time.”

  “Okay, so this is why you suddenly want to change your name back to Reeves?”

  “Yes,” Alita said stubbornly. “I hate his ass, and I don’t want his name attached to my name.”

  “But, sweetie, you should really think this out carefully before making such a life changing decision.” Burgundy understood how Alita felt, but she was leery about her habit of making emotional decisions that weren’t thoroughly considered. A lot of people cut off their nose to spite their face and cause more harm than good.

  “I’ve thought about it. I want out.”

  A little while later they arrived downtown. Burgundy pulled up in front of the county clerk’s building. But she took one look at Alita and decided to circle the block.

  “Alita, I’m sorry, but by the look on your face, you don’t seem like you’re in any position to go up there and demand a name change. I think you should give it some time. There is no need to rush through this, baby. You are angry, and your pride is hurt.”

  “Why is he doing this?” Alita asked with sincerity. “Oh, what the hell. Why am I asking you about why men do fucked-up shit? Look at who you’re married to. Y’all’s relationship is so perfect I want to go jump out of a window.”

  Burgundy smiled and secretly felt so very relieved that she did not live Alita’s life. She felt sorry for her sister in ways she could never imagine.

  “Hey, Nate is a good man, but we do have our little issues from time to time.”

  “Oh, don’t tell me,” Alita said sarcastically. “You argue about which way the toilet paper should be placed in the bathroom. Or you argue about what color to paint the kitchen. Stupid shit like that, right?”

  Burgundy squirmed in her seat as she thought about how off base Alita was. “You’re partially right. Most of our disagreements are minor, but sometimes we get into it. Mostly about financial stuff.”

  “Nate is cheap as hell, isn’t he?”

  “Nate is conservative,” she answered carefully. “My husband mostly insists on socking away a lot of money in savings and investments. And I have no problem with that. It’s smart to save some of what you earn. But we work hard for our money, and I enjoy splurging and treating myself now and then. And I love spoiling the girls, but he’s not really down for that. He hates to overdo things when it comes to the Natalia and Sid. If it were up to him he’d give them two birthday presents and that’s that. But I like to buy them like six or seven presents. Make their birthdays really memorable and special.”

  “Wow, how can a daddy that makes as much as he makes scrimp out on his own daughters?”

  “Don’t get me wrong. Once in a while he will spend,” Burgundy explained. “But he hates to buy things like the toy replica Mercedes-Benz cars that you see all the time on Instagram. Nate doesn’t play that at all. He will plug away tons of money, though, for the girls’ college funds or for us to take a nice family vacation or two every summer and winter.”

  “Hmm. Well, I may need him to give me a loan or something, because this name change shit’s going cost me two hundred dollars. Maybe he can help me pay that fee.”

  “You can forget about Nate helping you out on that. You know how he feels about mixing money and family.” Burgundy laughed when she imagined her sister going to Nate for a handout. “Knowing him, my frugal husband would make you sign a promissory note to make sure you pay him back. With interest. And if you didn’t pay up, he’d take you to small claims court and not think twice about it.”

  “Okay then,” Alita scoffed, “if he’s that petty and cheap, he’s way more of a bastard than I thought. Just like a man!”

  They fell into silence. The county clerk only processed name changes between one-thirty and two-twenty in the afternoon. Alita knew the line would be long; everything that had anything to do with the government always took forever. The clock was ticking; Alita had a decision to make.

  She spoke up. “I’ve made up my mind. Alita Washington has too damned many syllables. I’m going back to Reeves. I get sick of calling some company, and when I try to tell them my name they cut me off before I can finish. Plus, this’ll piss Leonard off if I do this.”

  “You’re so silly,” Burgundy muttered. “I know I am a Reeves even though I’m married. You really shouldn’t make this decision simply because you hate Leonard. Think about how it’s going to impact everything. Bank accounts, personal checks, changing your driver license, car insurance, your tax returns. Alita, I think you should give it more time, all right, sweetie?”

  “See, this is the shit I try to warn stupid-ass Coco about. Marriage is way more than sharing a last name. She’s such a fool to want to marry that guy. He isn’t ready. She’s not either.”

  “Alita, whether we like it or not, Coco is grown.” Burgundy chose her words carefully as she slowly drove away from the county building and hoped her sister didn’t notice. “Just like you have the right to make your own decision about going back to your maiden name, Coco has the right to decide if she wants to stay single or be married.”

  “But it’s a mistake,” Alita insisted.

  “And even if my middle sister makes a mistake and falls flat on her face, let her do it. As long as she doesn’t kill herself in the process, let her grow up in her own way.”

  Alita simmered in her seat, not acknowledging the fact that Burgundy seemed to be making her decisions for her. What did it matter to Burgundy if Alita wanted to change her last name and go through the hassles of doing something she felt she
needed to do for her life?

  She moodily stared out of the window as they drove farther away from the county clerk’s office.

  Burgundy cleared her throat. “I will take you back home, Big Sis, unless there is someplace else you want to go.”

  “There is,” Alita replied. She sat up in her seat. “I’m starving. That little piece of fruit just didn’t do the job. I want something to fill up my stomach.”

  “No problem. We’ll go to Morning Glory and check in on things.”

  Moments later the ladies were walking through the restaurant that Burgundy and Nate owned. It was a one-story facility that seated seventy-five; located in a busy part of town, it catered to the middle class and the working class. The lighting was bright yet soothing, furnishings modern, and atmosphere comfortable.

  All the staff greeted Burgundy as she blew through the front area, past the wide display table that showed off samples plates of various menu items. They headed straight into the kitchen.

  “Hello, Mrs. Taylor,” said Darius, the breakfast chef. He was a nice looking man, with a bald head, goatee mustache, and in his late-forties. As she and Burgundy walked by Darius, he stopped and openly gaped at Alita.

  “Excuse me,” she barked. “May I help you with something?”

  He grinned at her and continued staring until Alita dashed out of his sight. They ended up in the business office. It was an oversize space with an executive desk, three comfortable guest chairs, a credenza, standard bookcase, and no windows. Several security cameras monitored the cash registers, kitchen, hallways outside the restrooms, plus the front entrance and the parking lot.

  “Ohhh,” said Burgundy as she took a seat in her swivel chair. “It looks like someone here was checking you out, Sis.” She kicked off her pumps and stared at Alita for a moment or two.

  “Are you serious? Girl, please. I’m not thinking about that man.”

  “Good,” Burgundy replied and took a seat at her desk. “Because Darius is as married as I am.”

  Alita stopped in her tracks. “See, that’s the shit I’m talking about.” She twirled around and stormed back toward the kitchen.

  “Hey, Lita, please don’t.”

  But it was too late.

  By the time Burgundy reached her, Alita’s long skinny finger wagged in front of Darius’s reddened face.

  “Don’t you dare try to holler at me with your cheating, married ass.”

  “What did you say?” he replied.

  “You heard me. Let me see your hand.”

  Darius refused to comply. Alita snatched his left hand and stared. There was no ring.

  “Um, ain’t you married?”

  “What I am is nothing you should be concerned about.” Darius seemed furious, but one look at Burgundy’s face and he thought twice about telling her off.

  “Well, I heard you were married,” Alita hastily explained. “And I don’t fuck around with married men. If they cheating, they lying, and if they lying, I don’t want their monkey asses. They immoral and they dicks probably don’t even work half the time. That’s why the wives ain’t putting out and y’all gotta go around searching for side pussy.”

  “Whoa whoa whoa. Side pussy? That’s what you think?”

  “That’s what I know.”

  Darius threw up a hand. “Okay, Sister, sheesh. I get it. You hate men and you aren’t ashamed of it. Now, can you let me get back to doing my job?”

  “That’s what your ass should have been doing in the first place. Minding your business, cooking pancakes, and keeping the hell away from me.”

  A few of the other kitchen workers tried hard to not burst out laughing at Darius. He was the type who, while he was cooking, liked to look out inside the eating area to see what pretty ladies had entered the restaurant.

  Burgundy yanked her sister’s arm. “C’mon, Alita. Everyone, please get back to work.” When Alita turned her back, Burgundy whispered, “Sorry” to Darius. But in her mind she was thinking he got exactly what he deserved.

  The two women returned to the business office, and Burgundy closed the door solidly behind her. “Alita, I swear to God, you will never get a man acting the way you do. I really wanted to introduce you to my good friend Shade Wilkins. But now I’m having second thoughts.”

  “Good. Don’t even waste your time. Told you I wasn’t interested anyway.”

  Burgundy crossed her arms over her chest. “You are going to need an attitude readjustment, like real quick. I know you despise Leonard, but you can’t allow so many negative feelings rile you up. Why can’t you take a compliment?”

  “B, you told me that man is married.”

  “He may not have been wearing his ring, but yes, he is married, not blind. Men are men. And the ones that have a wife at home may still look at a woman whom they find attractive. They’re just admiring her beauty. It doesn’t mean they’re outright dogs. You could have simply ignored the guy.”

  “Does Nate take long looks at women? Flirt with ’em? Undress ’em with his eyes?”

  “Not in front of me,” Burgundy assured her. “He is way too respectful to let me catch him doing anything like that. But, hey, it doesn’t mean that he’s not above admiring a nice looking woman from time to time. Houston has a million pretty women, and a lot of them like to eat here.”

  “Does your husband walk around Morning Glory checking out pretty women?”

  “What type of wife would I be if I had to keep my man on a tight leash?” Burgundy sounded defensive. “I’m so busy doing what I have to do, working and taking care of the things concerning Natalia and Sid, and the barbershop and the restaurant; shoot, I really don’t have time to keep an eye on Nate. He’s grown and he will do what he wants to do. But I’ll bet anything that ninety-nine percent of the time, my husband chooses to do right by me.”

  Alita’s voice was icy. “A lot of men would give anything to be married to a naïve, trusting bitch like you.”

  “Now wait just one minute,” Burgundy protested. “I have never ever cursed you, Lita. And not because you haven’t deserved it.”

  “I know, B . . . sorry. I didn’t mean it.”

  “No, you always say exactly what you mean, and that’s your problem. You need to think before you speak. You’re the type to bite the hand that feeds you. I don’t have to take time out of my busy day to drive you around taking care of your personal business. Nor am I obligated to do half the stuff I do for you. Family or no family.”

  Burgundy’s angry outburst at her sister was rare. Alita knew that if nothing else Burgundy was always down for her sisters. Her biting words stung Alita beyond belief.

  “Oh, I don’t know about all that,” Alita said, feeling embarrassed and indignant at the same time.

  “Well, it’s time that you learned. You can’t treat people any type of way and expect them to want to be bothered. This includes strangers and family.”

  Alita wanted to clap back at Burgundy, but for a rare moment wisdom kicked in. Burgundy was kind and generous in many ways, but Alita knew even she had her limits.

  “Ooh, those paintings nice, B. I like ’em a lot. You so cultured. How much they set you back?”

  Burgundy ignored Alita and focused on reviewing data on her computer.

  After ten minutes of staring at paintings, Alita nearly screamed. “I can’t stand keeping quiet and feeling ignored. I’m bored to death.”

  “No problem. I thought you were hungry anyway. In fact I hear your stomach growling and sounding like wailing cats. Go to the kitchen and tell them I said to make you a special. Tell Jordan Andrews. He’ll hook you up.”

  “You sure?”

  “Yes, I’m sure, silly rabbit.”

  “Thanks, Sis.” Alita happily bounced to her feet. It sure felt good to have a relative who was in charge of her own restaurant, and a good one at that, for Morning Glory was known throughout the city for its mouth-watering food.

  Alita forced herself to smile with confidence as she entered the kitchen. She looked
around warily, hoping no one remembered the scene she had made in there fifteen minutes earlier. She even waved at Darius when she ran into him, but he simply rolled his eyes and made sure to scoot out of her way when she walked by.

  Alita located Jordan Andrews, whom she’d met on a previous occasion. She greeted him pleasantly and sweet-talked him into asking another cook to prepare her a French toast special.

  “Make sure anybody except that Darius guy cooks my food.”

  Once Jordan solicited help from another worker, Alita happily wandered into the dining area and found an empty seat. The place was nearly packed, as usual.

  As she waited for her order, Alita kept herself preoccupied by examining the menu that she was already familiar with. She beamed with pride at the impressive food offerings and at the tiny color photo of Nate and Burgundy located on the back.

  As happy as she was for Burgundy, why was she the sister with enough talent to create something so good that people were willing to pay for it? When Alita surmised that she didn’t have anything that people would buy, she laughed to herself.

  “I only got one thing that people would pay to get, but hey, that ain’t for sale.”

  When she felt the presence of someone quietly standing next to her, Alita became startled and hoped to hell it wasn’t Darius.

  It was Elyse. The girl had a sullen look on her face and seemed to be submerged in thought. Seeing her there was shocking. It was very rare for Elyse to be found anywhere outside of Burgundy’s house.

  The girl wore a long-sleeved gray shirt that had the name of the restaurant embroidered in pink on the left pocket. She also sported dark gray slacks and black loafers. She even wore a name tag.

  “You work here now or something?” Alita asked.

  Elyse shook her head.