by Cheryl Faye
Although the ride from her salon to the police station was a short one, she felt his eyes on her the entire time. If only I had met him under some other circumstance, she thought.
It was almost two hours later when Myra was finally able to leave the police station. The detective she had given her statement to offered her a ride to Brooklyn but she declined. She called a taxi service. Barretto walked her outside and waited until her car came.
“You gonna be all right making it home by yourself?” he asked as they waited.
“Yes.” There were so many other things she wanted to say to him, but having him stand so close made her heart race. Finally, she gathered her courage and told him, “I don’t know what I would have done if you hadn’t come along. My keys to my shop and everything else is in this bag.”
“I happened to be in the right place at the right time. I’m glad I was able to be of assistance,” he humbly stated.
“You were a life saver,” she said.
A dark blue Lincoln Continental pulled up alongside of them. The passenger side front window slid down and the driver leaned over. “Somebody going to Brooklyn?”
“I am,” Myra replied.
Barretto stepped in front of her and opened the rear passenger door for her. “I’m sorry we didn’t meet under better circumstances,” he said, voicing her earlier thought.
“Me, too.” Myra then asked, “How are you getting home? We can drop you off.”
“It’s not that far. I can walk it.”
“No. Come on, we’ll drop you off,” she said and reached for his hand, refusing to take no for an answer.
Barretto smiled and acquiesced.
When the car pulled up in front of his building, he said to the driver, “My man, get this lady home safely. She’s had enough excitement for one day.”
“No problem,” the guy answered.
He then offered his hand to Myra, “Buenas noches, bonita.”
“Gracias.” Myra blushed but leaned over and kissed his cheek. “Usted es mi caballero en armadura brillante.”
Barretto smiled and exited the car.
As it drove away, Myra looked out the rear window. Barretto waved at her and for the first time in many years, Myra said a heartfelt prayer. “El Dios, déjame por favor verlo otra vez.”
In the days immediately following her ordeal, Myra could do nothing but think of Barretto Martinez. No man had ever occupied her mind with such undeniable persistence. When she met with Charisse the next day and recounted everything that had happened, she excitedly told of how she boldly kissed him when he left her, stunning Charisse as never before.
“You kissed him?”
“I had to. Risi, you had to be there. He was wonderful. I could tell the cop was getting sick of Barretto giving him orders, like when he told him to take me to change my shoes. He was so commanding, but when he looked at me and talked to me, he was so gentle.”
“So did you give him your number?” Charisse eagerly asked.
“No. He didn’t ask for it,” Myra said with a tinge of sadness.
“You should have slipped it in his pocket or something.”
“He knows where the shop is. Maybe he’ll come by there. Or maybe he didn’t ask for it because he’s married.”
“Did you see a ring?”
“No, but that doesn’t mean anything,” Myra said. “Lots of married men don’t wear rings.” After a few seconds of silence, Myra lamented, “I’ll probably never see him again.”
“I’ll say a prayer that you do,” Charisse told her cheerfully.
The following Saturday, Myra’s and Charisse’s prayers were answered.
Unable to get the beautiful chica he had assisted off his mind, Barretto decided to take a walk up to her salon. Although he’d been by there with her that night and saw that the salon was fairly large, he was altogether stunned when he saw the place bustling with activity. Hesitating briefly before entering, he eventually did so and walked up to the reception desk. A cheerful young Latina wearing too much makeup immediately greeted him.
“Buenos dias, señor. May I help you?”
“Si. I was wondering if the owner is in?”
“Oh, Myra? She’s in her office. ¿Su nombre?”
“Diga su Barry.”
“Uno momento,” the girl said and instantly reached for the telephone on her desk. Seconds later, she announced, “Alguien Barry nombrado está aquí para usted, Myra.” Pause. “No sé, él no dijo.” Pause. “Muy bien, uno momento.” Turning her attention to him, she asked, “Barry, who?”
“Barretto Martinez. We met a few days ago.”
Into the receiver, she said, “Barretto…. Muy bien.” She hung up the phone and said, “She’ll be right out.”
“Gracias.” Barretto turned away from the desk and looked into the shop. Every chair was filled with women either getting their hair or nails done. There were even a few chairs in the back where women were having work done on their feet. The waiting area was packed, too, and the noise of women’s voices speaking in both English and Spanish clashed with the reggaeton song coming from a hidden source. He noticed that numerous pairs of eyes seemed to covertly study him and he briefly felt as if he was under inspection.
Then he saw her coming from the back of the salon in his direction. Quickly surveying her beauty, her long brown hair was out, falling freely over her shoulders. She was wearing a pair of faded blue jeans that were molded to her small but shapely bottom. A t-shirt with the very fitting words, “Latin Beauty,” spelled out in rhinestones across her voluptuous breasts, was tucked smoothly into the waistband of her jeans and outlined her hourglass physique. Barretto felt an involuntary tightness in his chest at the sight of her.
“Hi!” She greeted him cheerily and reached out to hug him. “I’m sorry I didn’t realize who you were right away.”
Welcoming and returning her embrace, he answered, “That’s okay. How are you?”
“I’m great! How are you?”
Smiling, he replied, “Pretty good. I thought I’d come by and see how you were. You’ve got quite a busy place here.” He was genuinely impressed.
“Thanks. I have another salon across town. My cousin runs it for me. I don’t know nothing about doing hair,” Myra flippantly stated with a wave of her hand. “I just handle the money.”
Barretto laughed. “Well, hey, that’s what it’s all about, right?”
“Yeah.”
They stood awkwardly silent for the next few seconds.
“So, what’s up?” Myra finally asked.
“Oh, I was wondering if you’d like to go out sometime? You know, to dinner or a movie or something?” Barretto asked, feeling suddenly tentative.
“I’d love to,” Myra answered immediately.
“You would?”
“Yes. Actually, you should let me take you to dinner since you rescued me,” Myra added.
He chuckled. “Oh, no, I couldn’t let you do that.”
“What? Take you to dinner?”
“Yeah. Especially as payback,” he said.
“Well, I figured, it’s the least I could do.”
“You don’t owe me anything for that. I couldn’t stand there and watch what that guy did to you and do nothing.”
“Well, I really appreciate you being there for me. I’ll never forget it,” she said as she smiled up at him.
Barretto fell under her spell at that moment.
During their first date later that very day, they each revealed more about themselves to one another than they ever would have in the past. She talked about her family and her upbringing, being completely honest about her cynicism and fear with regard to men. He revealed how only months earlier he had caught the woman he had been engaged to marry cheating in his own apartment and how he’d sworn never to give his heart again. Making it clear that neither of them was in any hurry to get into anything heavy, they decided to take things slow and let nature take its course.
MYRA AND BARRETTO HAD BEEN DATI
NG for a little over a month when they were invited to Charisse’s house for a dinner party. To everyone’s surprise, Barretto, Stefàn and Devin knew one another. Barretto and Stefàn had competed against each other in several martial arts tournaments during their late-teens. Neither could say one had bested the other because they’d each been victorious during their various competitions. There was a mutual respect that was evident when they were reacquainted and they spent much of the evening talking about the early days of competing.
With Myra’s new relationship, Charisse noticed a positive change in her friend. Aside from the welcomed reduction in her usual cynicism toward men, she became more free-spirited. Barretto taught Myra how to drive and with her newfound knowledge, she wasted no time getting her driver’s license and buying herself a car. Conveniently, there was a garage a block away from her salon on Tremont Avenue, where she immediately reserved a monthly space so she could drive back and forth from Brooklyn to her shops. Getting from one salon to the other, she simply hailed a cab or used the cross-town bus. Her involvement with Barretto opened up a whole new world to Myra and the glow of her happiness showed on her face, in the way she carried herself and the way she related to people, in general.
CHAPTER 18
POPPING THE QUESTION
By the Advent season, Charisse and Stefàn had been dating steadily for almost five months. On several occasions before then, they had discussed their future together, specifically, the type of marriage ceremony they wanted, where they would like to spend their honeymoon, how many children, and so forth. They even talked about going into business together—literally, becoming their own bosses. Stefàn reasoned that with his real estate acumen and her accounting knowledge, they could invest in the real estate market and make a killing.
On Christmas, however, Stefàn planned to put into action all they had talked about in the past.
It had been Stefàn’s idea for them to host Christmas dinner at his house since it was the larger of their two homes. Although they had spent the Thanksgiving holiday between each of their families, they didn’t want to have to rush from one to the other so no one would be slighted. To Stefàn’s thinking, this would afford everyone the opportunity to be together on Christmas day, as well as be witnesses to his surprise.
Their parents had met earlier when Stefàn threw a barbecue over the Labor Day weekend, and had hit it off immediately. Barbara and Damaris assisted Charisse in preparing the dinner menu for Christmas.
Between both families, there were over twenty people in attendance, including nieces and nephews. Myra and Barretto were also present. The only immediate family member not there was Charisse’s brother, Johnny, who was in California with his wife’s family.
The menu consisted of the traditional roast turkey with stuffing— Charisse’s first; baked ham; roast beef and gravy; collard greens and string beans, both seasoned with pork neck bones; macaroni and cheese, which Damaris made and everyone raved about; mashed turnips; candied yams topped with marshmallows; cranberry sauce—jellied and whole berries; and homemade dinner rolls; aside from an array of desserts. Barbara had even made Stefàn his own personal German chocolate cake, which he promptly put away to save for another day.
Everyone exchanged gifts, but the children were the stars of the day and all went away with big smiles and full bellies.
After dinner, while the ladies put the remaining food away and cleaned up, the guys gathered downstairs in Stefàn’s family room to watch football on his wide screen television.
The conversation in the kitchen soon turned to the men.
“So, Myra, how’re things going with you and Barry?” Barbara asked, knowing Myra’s history and her cynical view of relationships.
With a shy smile, she replied, “It’s going very well. He’s a really great guy.”
“What did you get for Christmas?” Star asked.
“A pair of gold earrings and a matching chain and pendant.”
“Why didn’t you wear them?” Charisse asked.
“I always wear my mother’s cross on Christmas,” she explained.
“Oh, yeah, that’s right.”
“What did you get from Stefàn?” Star then asked.
Charisse smiled. “A mink jacket. I’ll bring it out and show y’all after we finish up in here.”
“What did you get him?” Barbara then asked.
“A Rolex watch and—
“And?” his sister questioned. “That wasn’t enough? I know you spent a pretty penny on that.”
“I don’t mind spending money on Stefàn, Nikki, because he appreciates everything I give him. That’s just how we do,” Charisse stated in a matter-of-fact tone. “I also got him a new helmet for his bike.”
“I wish he would get rid of that bike,” Damaris said with a frown.
“Oh, I hope not. I love riding that bike.”
“Y’all are both out of your minds,” Myra said.
“Stefàn’s no daredevil. He’s a very safe driver; otherwise I wouldn’t ride with him. We’re not trying to get ourselves killed.”
“I was kind of hoping he would give you an engagement ring,” Charisse’s sister-in-law, Suzette, said.
“Yeah, right,” Star agreed.
“When the time is right, he will,” Charisse calmly stated. “It really doesn’t matter anyway because we’re going to get married.”
“We all know that,” Barbara said, “but it would’ve been nice.”
“Maybe he’ll surprise you for the new year,” Nikki added.
“Maybe. Whenever he does it will be all right with me, so…,” she smiled and shrugged.
“Can you believe he’s even talking about getting married, Mommy?” Nikki said to Damaris.
“That’s a huge step in Stefàn’s world, but Charisse, you’ve inspired quite a bit of change in him.”
“I don’t think it was me. I’m pretty sure it was God,” she responded.
“You’re probably right,” Damaris answered. “Whatever the catalyst, he’s a better person—a better man, for it.”
“I always thought Stefàn would be the one to never get married,” Nikki said.
“They say there’s someone for everyone,” Barbara chimed in. “Obviously, Stefàn hadn’t found what he needed until he and Charisse met. No one, I don’t care what they might tell you, wants to grow old by themselves. God didn’t make men and women for them to live apart, he made us to live together.”
“In marriage,” Charisse added.
“Yes, in marriage.”
“I’m glad you two never moved in together,” Damaris said.
“There would be too much temptation if we did that,” Charisse said.
“What do you mean?” Star asked.
“Too much temptation to have sex.”
The room suddenly grew quiet.
“You make it sound like y’all have never done it before,” Suzette said, breaking the silence.
“We haven’t.”
The women looked from one to another, perplexed by Charisse’s statement.
“Y’all have never had sex?” Star asked.
“No.”
“Why not?” she wanted to know.
“Because I made a vow that I wouldn’t until I was married, and Stefàn respects that.”
“My brother, Stefàn?” Nikki questioned with wide eyes and a chuckle.
Charisse smiled. “Yes, your brother, Stefàn.”
“How long have y’all been dating?” Suzette asked.
“About five months.”
“But you’re going to marry him, so that shouldn’t count,” Star said.
“Our plan is to get married, yes, but tomorrow is not promised to any of us and there’s no telling what might happen from one day to the next. I promised God that I would not lay with another man unless he was my husband and as yet, Stefàn is not my husband; regardless of what we have planned. Besides, we’re not even engaged yet, remember?”
“Yeah, but—”
“Th
ere are no buts. We talked about this before we got together. He knew how I felt from the very start and cares enough about me that it didn’t make a difference to him. That is very special to me. No one has ever shown me that kind of love.”
“But don’t you get…horny, sometimes?” Star asked.
“Yeah. I didn’t say I was dead,” Charisse said with a chuckle.
The women all laughed.
“But we don’t act on it. There are so many things that Stefàn and I do together and we love each other more than just for the way we feel physically.”
“Did I hear my name?” Stefàn called as he walked into the kitchen.
“Wasn’t nobody talking about you,” Nikki teasingly fibbed.
He walked over to Charisse and put his arms around her as he nuzzled her neck. “Hey, baby. You miss me?”
She smiled up at him and wrapped her arms around his waist. “Of course, I do.”
They shared a soft kiss on the lips.
“It must be half-time,” Barbara said when John walked into the kitchen, followed by Mike, Devin, Barry and David. Nikki’s husband, Tony, soon followed with their son, Anton, in tow.
Packed into Stefàn’s large kitchen, there were soon several conversations going on at once. Some of the guys were there to get snacks—a slice of one of the many cakes or pies Damaris, Barbara or Charisse had baked; others wanted something to drink. Stefàn and Charisse had pretty much tuned everyone out and were still standing in a loving embrace near the sink.
Suddenly, Stefàn went down on one knee. Initially, Charisse thought he had dropped something, until she noticed that he was holding an open box with a diamond ring inside. Her mouth fell open and her eyes widened at the sight.
John Ellison noticed right away what was happening and nudged Barbara and Mike, who were standing on each side of him. The others then took notice and the room immediately became deafeningly still.
“We’ve talked about it many times, Risi, but I want to make it official. Charisse Marie Ellison, would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”