“How are you coping right now?” Vivian questioned after Shae had taken a seat as well.
“I guess I’m doing okay. I just try not to think about it, that’s all,” she admitted.
“I know it’s hard, but you are a very strong person. Not at all the scrawny little kid I remember,” she said teasingly, and Shae smiled.
Vivian was so beautiful. She resembled the actress Vanessa Williams Fox. “I hated the way Mama treated you. I wish I could make it all go away, but I can’t,” Shae told her.
“You may never forget, but it’ll get better in time.” Vivian sighed. “I still have nightmares. You know, I told her about it,” she said lowly.
“Told who, about what?”
Vivian stared off into the distance, her eyes vacant. “I told Mama about him raping me.”
“Mama knew about Percy?” When Shae confronted her, Mrs. Byrts had reacted liked it was the first she’d heard of it.
Vivian nodded. “Yes. I told her everything, about how he used to come into the bathroom. I told about him touching me while I was asleep. I even told her how he was trying to molest you, too. That’s when she started hitting me. She called me a liar and told me to shut up. She said there was no way that a man preferred a child when he could have a full-grown woman.” She shook her head. “It devastated me that she didn’t believe me. You’d think me being pregnant would be proof enough. I mean she never let us leave the apartment. How could I have gotten pregnant from anyone else?” She touched her cheek. “I had plastic surgery to cover the scars from that mirror incident,” she revealed.
“Well, you’re beautiful. You always were,” Shae told her.
“Thank you.” She smiled. “Once, I thought I’d be nothing without my looks. But, you know something? Looks aren’t important at all. I learned that from a very special person.”
“Oh? Who?” Shae asked.
“My husband, Richard.” She leaned back on the bench and crossed her legs as she talked. “Rich used to be a fireman until he almost died saving a child from a burning building. He got burned pretty badly over most of his body. At first, I couldn’t look past his physical appearance, but then I got to know him.” She smiled lovingly. “He’s wonderful and what’s most important is that he’s beautiful on the inside. I think you’ll like Richard. He’s a writer now.”
“A writer? Really?” Shae asked, impressed.
“Yes. He writes mostly children’s books and juvenile fiction. He’s well paid for it, too,” she said.
“That’s great.” Shae looked at Vivian. “So, what do you do besides work in that store?”
“That store happens to be mine,” she said proudly. “I come in on the days that I’m not at the college campus.”
“You go to college, too?” Shae asked in amazement. Vivian had her life together. She managed a family, ran a business, and attended college.
“Yes. I’m in my third year. Majoring in psychology. My minor is fashion marketing.”
“That’s wonderful! I wish I knew what I wanted to do,” she said dully.
“You’ll find yourself, eventually. You’re still young,” Vivian pointed out.
“You’re talking like you’re an old lady. You’re only twenty-three,” Shae reminded and Vivian laughed.
“Yes, you and Richard will love each other. He’s always telling me that I’m wiser than my years. You’ve got to come over as soon as you get the chance,” Vivian said, excited now.
“How many children do you have?” Shae asked remembering that her sister had mentioned kids. She couldn’t believe that she was an aunt.
“Oh, I have twin girls. They’re going through the “terrible twos.” Their names are Rasheda and Rameyra. That brings me back to something. How are Charles and Chris now?” Vivian shook her head. “I still find it hard to believe that Mother tried to poison them,” she said with bitterness.
“Yeah, me too,” she replied. “They’re doing good, though. Charles, for a while, they thought he wouldn’t make it. But, he pulled through. DCF turned them over to Aunt Bea. They said I wasn’t responsible enough to take care of them. At least, they didn’t get sent some place where we couldn’t see them.”
“Things have a way of working out for the best. Maybe you’ll get custody of the twins someday. Just keep the faith.” She looked at her watch. “Oh my goodness! How time flies! I should at least tell Mrs. Ferguson to close up shop. I’ll give you a lift home. That’ll give me a chance to see Toby.” They got up from the bench.
Shae was so happy that she’d found her sister. After so many years of being apart, it was a miracle to be together again. On in impulse, she threw her arms around her. Vivian seemed startled.
“What was that for?”
“Just to let you know, I love you,” Shae said sincerely.
“I love you, too.” Vivian said, hugging her back. “I’ve missed all of you. I just couldn’t come back. I’m so sorry for deserting you.”
Vivian felt the guilt eat away at her. Maybe if she’d kept in touch she could have saved Ma Violet. Ma Violet. Dear Ma Violet. She had been Vivian’s lifeline back when she’d suffered from so much abuse. She’d run to Ma Violet when it got too bad to endure. Ma Violet always seemed to make things better. She’d calm the troubled waters, and Vivian would be able to go back home.
“You didn’t desert us, Vivian,” Shae said strongly. “Mama beat you almost every day. She might have killed you if you’d stayed. You had to leave to save your life. Nobody blames you for leaving. Daddy may have deserted us, but you didn’t!”
Shae remembered the night Vivian had left. She’d never forget trying to clean her sister’s blood from the floor. She didn’t fault Vivian at all. She’d done what she’d had to do in order to survive.
They went back to the store so that Vivian could get her purse and keys. She asked Mrs. Ferguson to lock up, said goodbye, and left.
Vivian drove a sleek Mercedes. Shae marveled at the leather interior.
“This is really nice,” she said in admiration.
“Richard’s gift to me for Mother’s Day,” Vivian told her proudly.
“Wow! Your husband buys you gifts like that? Must be nice!”
“You’ll find your own Richard one day. Besides that horrible Dana, did you date anyone else?” She took her eyes off the road briefly to glance at Shae. “Whatever happened to that little boy who was always around? He had the prettiest eyes and was brown-skinned. If I can remember, he had a birthmark on his face.”
“That’s Larry,” Shae said softly.
“Yes, that’s his name. Whatever happened to him? You two made the cutest little couple. It was plain to see that he was completely smitten.” Vivian chuckled.
“I lost my virginity to him,” Shae shared.
“Oh my God! Really? That’s a good thing, right?” Vivian glanced at her again then, back at the road.
“Yes. It was real special. Larry was- wow!” Shae could feel the heat rush to her face just from remembering.
“That good, huh?” They laughed.
“I miss him.” Shae sighed. She hadn’t realized just how much she actually did miss Larry until then. “He went off to college. I haven’t heard from him since. He told me to keep in touch but with everything that’s happened- well, I just haven’t called.” She didn’t feel comfortable telling Vivian the details behind Larry’s sudden departure.
“Things are looking up now. Maybe you should get in contact. Who knows, maybe the two of you can reconnect? Does thinking about him make your heart skip a beat?” her sister asked.
“Yes,” she said and smiled fondly as she pictured Larry’s face. It was a tender smile that Vivian didn’t miss.
“That’s how it is with Richard. Shae, you’re in love, sweetheart!” Vivian explained. “You don’t let a love like that slip away from you. You deserve happiness. Reach out and grab it, girl.”
Vivian pulled up in front Shae’s apartment, parked and shut off the engine.
“Who is that
young, tender morsel?” Vivian asked. Shae noticed David mowing the yard. He had his shirt off, and the sweat falling from his body made his skin glisten.
“That’s one of the landlord’s sons. He has three of them, and they are all fine,” she told her. Shae had seen all three and thought they resembled Chippendale models.
“Goodness! How can you stand it?” she asked as they got out.
“Vivian, I love Larry. I don’t really pay much attention to anyone else.”
“I may be married, but I have eyes. There’s nothing wrong with looking,” she stated as she closed the car door.
Shae waved at David, and he turned the lawn mower off.
“Hello beautiful ladies,” he flirted.
“David, this is my sister, Vivian,” Shae introduced.
“I see beauty runs in the family,” he complimented. “Nice to meet you,” he said to Vivian.
“And sexiness runs in yours,” Vivian whispered low enough for only Shae to hear. She giggled.
“Thanks for mowing my yard,” Shae said. “I thought I was supposed to do that.”
“It’s no big deal.” David shrugged. “I don’t mind helping out.”
“It was nice meeting you, David,” Vivian purred, wearing a big smile.
“Likewise,” he replied and returned the smile. His smile made him look like a model on the cover of a fashion magazine. He restarted the mower and went back to cutting the grass.
“I think he might have a touch of jungle fever,” Vivian told Shae as they went inside.
“He’s just being nice.”
“No one mows somebody’s yard to be nice. That lil’ Brad Pitt look-a-like has a crush on you. You sure you don’t need a lil’ milk for your coffee?” Shae laughed, happy to see that Vivian had a sense of humor. She hadn’t turned out bitter because of all the abuse that had taken place in her childhood.
The two sisters sat and talked until it was time for Toby to arrive home from school. When he walked through the door, he didn’t notice that they had company.
“Shae, my first day was tight!” he said with enthusiasm. “I already like this school. I don’t think I’ll be skipping none of my classes either,” he told her then stopped and stared at Vivian. He didn’t say anything, just stared.
“Toby, it’s Vivian,” Shae told him, excitedly.
“I- I know who she is,” he finally said. Tears formed in his eyes, and he took a step forward but hesitated.
“Toby!” Vivian had tears in her own eyes. “Come here.” She opened her arms and he rushed into them.
“Where did you go?” he choked out. “Why did you leave us?” The question wasn’t an accusation. He only wanted to know. He’d been about eight years old the last time he saw his oldest sister.
“It’s a long story.” Vivian sighed. “Let’s sit down and talk.”
Shae made coffee for herself and her sister. Toby grabbed a soft drink from the refrigerator. Vivian told them about the night she’d left home for good. She ran off to Ma Violet’s. Once Ma Violet took one look at her, she rushed her to the emergency room. She’d suffered a concussion and had three cracked ribs.
Once she recuperated, she went to a residential group home for runaway teenagers. That was where she began to put her life back together. After that, she went to a place called the Young Women’s Residence, a long-termed shelter for abused girls. She got the opportunity to go back to school and to develop job skills. She’d also undergone months of individual and group counseling. She remained there until she turned eighteen.
She got hired as the clerk typist at the residential group home and was able to afford an efficiency apartment. She met Richard and fell in love. The rest, as the saying goes, was history.
CHAPTER TEN
Things fell into place for Shae. Her job was going well. Toby did a complete 360-degree turn-around. She’d gotten to meet her sister’s husband and her nieces. She felt happy for the first time in her life.
At times she found herself thinking about Larry and it would dampen her spirits. She couldn’t forget the way things ended between them. She knew that he’d left thinking the worse of her. After all, she’d told him she’d prostituted herself out to Dana. She wondered if he’d ever forgive her for lying to him.
She remembered the card he gave her the last day they’d been together. That was the awful day that Dana had beaten her. It was also the day Charles and Chris almost died, and her mother had been arrested. The card was the only good thing that had came out of that day.
She searched through her box of keepsakes until she located it. Not knowing how Larry would react or if he’d even be at the number, she picked up the phone and dialed.
After she waited for the receptionist to connect her to the right room, a voice came on the line.
“Hello?” It didn’t sound like Larry.
“Hello, is this Larry?” she inquired.
“No, wait a minute. I’ll get him. Who’s calling?”
“My name is Shae.”
“Okay. Hold on a second.”
“Hello?” Larry’s voice sounded like music to Shae’s ears.
“Hi, Larry. I was thinking about you, so I called,” Shae said into the phone.
“Wait a minute, uh, who is this?” he asked, sounding confused.
“This is Shae. Shae Byrts from Florida. We grew up together. Remember?”
“Oh shit!” She heard the phone hit the floor. Seconds later, Larry got back on the line. “I’m sorry! It was just a shock. That fool Clarence told me it was someone named Cherika. Sweetheart, how have you been?” he asked thickly, overcome with emotion. He cleared his throat, recovered and laughed happily. “What’s going on in ya life? Tell me everything. It’s been so long.” Shae gave Larry a brief outline about what had happened after he’d left. “That’s fucked up! You mean to tell me he actually tried to kill you?” he exclaimed when she relayed the part about Dana. “Baby, you’ve been through hell. I should have been there to watch out for you.” They talked for quite a while. He updated her on his own life.
“I found out that there’s a new art gallery right there in St. Pete and the owner is willing to promote my art. So, I’ll be coming home. I was too eager to get away in the first place.” He paused. “I never should have left you, Shae.”
“That was my fault,” she told him, remembering her lie.
“Aw- Shae. Let’s not talk about that. All of that is in the past. I’m getting ready to move back to St. Pete.” He hesitated, then said, “Maybe, if it’s alright with you, we could pick up where we left off?” he asked gently. “I mean, if you ain’t seeing someone, that is?” he added.
“There’s no one,” she told him.
Larry let out a relieved breath. “You know, I’ve been thinking about you constantly. I tried to forget you, but I just couldn’t. I couldn’t even force myself to date no one else,” he revealed.
“You’re just saying that.”
“No, it’s true! In spite of everything, I still love you. I’ll never stop. Never.”
“I couldn’t get over you either,” she told him. “That’s why I called.”
“I’m glad you did. Well, I better get off this phone. My roommate needs to use it. But, I’ll see you in about two weeks,” he told her. “The semester will be over, and I’ll be coming home.” She gave him her new address then they hung up.
Shae felt so excited! Suddenly, thoughts of how wonderful lovemaking had been with Larry filled her head. He had been her first love. Being with him had made her feel like she’d died and gone to heaven. Then, Dana raped her, and it had felt like she was in hell. She wondered if she’d ever again feel the way Larry had made her feel. Since Dana had taken a part of her that she could never get back, she felt that something was missing. It could only be replaced with a lot of patience and love. Would Larry have enough of either, or would he walk away after hearing the real reason she’d lied to him? Shae didn’t want to risk losing him again, but knew she had to tell him the truth. She
just didn’t know when she’d tell him, but it was imperative that she did.
Vivian threw a cookout at her house in celebration of the family being together again. Shae had just finished braiding her hair into a French braid when she heard the doorbell. She answered the door and there stood Larry. It was totally unexpected. For a moment, she thought he was a figment of her imagination. She’d done nothing but think about him constantly since their phone conversation.
“Larry!” she squealed and threw her arms around him. His hard body symbolized he was indeed real.
“Wow! What a welcome home. Maybe I should leave more often,” he joked.
“I missed you so much.” She stood back to look him over. He had left a boy and returned a man. His features were more defined, and he had acquired muscles. As far as she was concerned, he was the best looking man she’d ever laid eyes on.
He held out a dozen, long stemmed, white roses. “Oh! Larry!” she gasped as tears formed in her eyes. No one had ever given her roses. Not even Dana with all of his money and fine jewels. Somehow, coming from Larry, the simple gesture had a magnitude of meaning.
“Can I kiss you?” he asked. Dear Larry. He was always the perfect gentleman. Shae turned her face up to his in eagerness. “God! How I’ve missed you,” he groaned and crushed her to his chest. Their lips fused together. Shae felt her heart flutter. The magic hadn’t disappeared. The question was, would it last once he found out that Dana had raped her?
“Larry, come on inside,” she told him as she pulled away. “There’s something I have to talk to you about.” He came in and closed the door. “It’s about what I told you concerning Dana.” At the mention of that name, Larry’s eyes slanted in anger.
“I don’t want to hear about that. You did what you thought you had to do. Like I said over the phone, it’s all in the past. Let it rest.”
“But you don’t understand. It wasn’t like-”
“Shae, are you ready to go?” Toby asked as he entered the room. He looked really nice in casual attire. “Oh? I didn’t know somebody was here. What’s up, man?” he greeted Larry then did a double take. “Larry, man, where the hell have you been?” The two of them slapped hands then talked for a while until Shae reminded Toby that they had to go.
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