by Xyla Turner
Mindy shook her head. "Mom, I swear to you, there's nothing to tell. We're just friends. I don't have a problem with telling Shane that. I see your point but there's really nothing to tell."
Her mom nodded and said, "Okay, hon. What are you over here scheming up? Need some help?"
She laughed because her mom knew her well.
"Actually, I do need your help with this."
The more Mindy divulged her plan, the more her mother started to plan the wedding. Both of her kids were going to be married and both didn't know until their love was threatened.
Randall came back on Saturday evening, following a long week ending with one loss and three wins on the road. In the next two weeks, they'd have four home games and one away game. Mindy needed this information for her plan.
Her plan started on Sunday afternoon, since he was free. He wanted to have a car pick her up but Mindy refused. So, he finally gave her directions to his house. When she arrived, they called her by name, and led her up to his home. Well, more like a mini-mansion. It was close to her brother’s house and in a hidden part of DC.
Mindy tried to remember to shut her mouth as she parked her car next to the black Lamborghini that was parked in front near the multi-car, as in more than three cars could fit in there, garage. She wasn't sure how she'd pictured an NBA star living but she did not expect this. It didn't seem to match his personality or what she had thought was his. All of it seemed out of place, which made her want to stop what she'd planned and go back home.
Just as she was about to reconsider, one of her nicknames was yelled from afar causing her to turn towards the garage. She saw Randall in khaki shorts, a white t-shirt and sneakers.
"Minnie Mouse!" he yelled, then ran to greet her.
Mindy almost wanted to run because she wasn't sure if he planned to tackle her or what. Instead, she froze as he reached her, wrapped his long arms around her middle and lifted her short body towards him. In an attempt to gather herself, she held on to his neck as he squeezed the life out of her small frame.
"I missed you," Randall murmured in her hair.
"Hey, Jolly Green Giant," Mindy greeted him as she pulled back, her feet dangled about a foot off the ground. "Can you put me down, I'm a little heavy?"
He frowned and began to carry her to the front door.
"You're not heavy, Minnie. You're just short, which makes you think you look heavy but you're not. You're the equivalent of a tall pole just shorter. I could carry you all day. You're so cute, like a little mouse." Randall nudged her head.
Mindy pinched him and said, "Stop referring to me as little creatures. I'm not an animal."
"No, little one. You're just cute as one." He laughed.
When Randall finally stopped, they were in an industrial-sized kitchen.
"Great, Scott!" Mindy proclaimed. "This place is huge."
Randall shook his head. "Yeah, it's a bit ridiculous."
He placed her on the island counter in the middle and stood between her legs.
"Then, why'd you buy it?" she asked.
He looked into her eyes and answered, "Honestly, I went overboard in trying to create my own light. I’m the youngest of four children and everything my sisters did were top notch. Everybody in the family is a professor, writer or historian. Despite my athletic status, I come from a family of academic scholars. Believe me, I know a thing or two about trying to break away from the shadows of others.”
Mindy didn't say anything as the two of them continued to stare at one another. He'd just admitted that he had once done the same thing in trying to create his own platform like she wanted to do but now he had his own.
Wow.
She nodded and said, "Well, it's humongous and I'd love to see it all but we're on a schedule. So, we have to go."
"You still can't give me a hint?" Randall asked as his hands remained on her thighs.
"Nope!" Mindy placed her hands on his expansive chest. "Are you ready, because we need to leave now."
"Fine but I'm driving," Randall interjected.
"You can't drive my car. It's too small for you."
"I don't want to drive your clown car. It's a Mini Cooper, like you," Randall joked. "We're driving the Rover."
"Oh, the Jolly Green Giant truck!" Mindy exclaimed. "Fine, whatever. We need to go."
She pushed him back and hopped down from the counter.
"And stop putting me on countertops," she called back as her little legs stormed toward the exit with Randall in tow; laughing hysterically.
Chapter Six
They arrived at their destination with minutes to spare. The National African American Museum located on Constitution Ave NW in DC.
“Have you been here recently? It was redone a few years ago and it's really nice?” Mindy asked as she nodded towards the security guard.
"Actually, no I haven’t. Shame, I came here as a kid in high school but not since then." Randall looked around at all the exhibits, artifacts and paths to go. "Wow."
"You should see the hotel where Martin Luther King, Jr. was shot in Memphis, Tennessee. It's absolutely breathtaking." Mindy looked off to the side to ensure the waterworks wouldn't begin to flow.
"Hey," Randall pulled her chin back to face him. "It's like that."
She released a pent-up breath and said, "Oh yeah. I cried most of the time. It actually gives you a walk-through time up until where and when he was shot. The replicas of the Freedom Rider's bus, speeches by many that fought in the struggle and even where they think the person that shot him was located; were all brought to life. It was crazy."
Mindy tried to hone in her emotions as she remembered her walk through a memory she never had but could feel on so many levels.
"We should go then," Randall interjected. "I'll set it up. We'll make a tour of it."
She smiled and said, "You should go. I've been already."
"Nope, you're my road partner." Randall nabbed her hand. "Now, let's check this place out."
The two walked through the museum, exhibit after exhibit, and Mindy with tissue after tissue. Randall didn't not feel it but his wasn't expressed through tears. It might have been an occasional squeeze around Mindy's shoulders, her hand, or her middle as he kept her close. She practically guided the tour of the various exhibits because she knew so much about it. When they were finished and ready to leave, he turned and said, "How many times have you been here?"
"About ten times," she admitted. "I like this sort of stuff. Makes me appreciate life a little bit better."
Randall nodded his head and asked, "Okay, Ms. Bossy Pants. Where to now?"
"Well, that was it for today." She laughed. "I just wanted to show you some stuff about the district that you might not have explored recently."
"Well done oh little one." He smiled down at her. "Well, it's my day off, so let's make a day of it. Up for a ride to Baltimore?"
"Uh, I probably shouldn't. I have to make sure the preparations are in order for tomorrow," Mindy replied.
"Minnie, what could you have planned that requires you planning all day?" he asked. "Come on. I'll have you home by nine. That leaves some time to plan since you're knocked out around eleven."
She thought about it for a little and then conceded. "Okay, sure."
"Great." He clapped and they set about their journey.
It was a beautiful Sunday drive down the Baltimore-Washington Parkway. The two of them ended up near Morgan State University where Randall showed Mindy where he used to hang out every summer in basketball camp. They discussed the gentrification of Baltimore, DC, and Philly, the state of justice in America, and the role they felt they should play to fix the various wrongs done to the community.
By the time they ate at another hole in the wall restaurant with extremely delicious food and finally made it back to DC, Mindy was knocked out in the car.
"You're home." Randall nudged her lightly.
She jumped up with wild eyes.
"Oh my God. I'm sorry." Her head frantic
ally turned back and forth as she gathered her bearings.
"It's fine, Minnie." He held out his hand for her to take to help her exit the truck. "I got you."
She looked at him and took his hand. This time instead of going inside, he stopped at the front door and said, "So, what's on the agenda tomorrow? I have practi..."
"Practice, I know. I have your itinerary. Tomorrow, you'll receive a note with details." Mindy smiled and held the door open.
"Alright, little one." Randall took a step back and said, "Till then."
"Oh, okay." Mindy nodded, when she realized he wasn't coming inside. "Uh, see you tomorrow."
She went to close the door but his hand stopped it.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"Nothing. What do you mean?" she asked.
"You seemed surprised or unsettled." Randall noted. "What happened?"
"Uh, I guess I thought you were coming in, which is fine. I just assumed." Mindy laughed nervously. "Nothing major."
He stepped back in his original spot; pulling Mindy out the door towards him.
"Trying to give you your space, Minnie Mouse." He tapped her small little nose. "You said you had something to do and needed to get prepared for it. So, I'm trying to leave you to it. That's all. Want me to come in? Help you?"
Mindy laughed.
"Uh, no. Like I said, it wasn't a big deal. I just wasn't expecting it. That's all. We're good." She pulled away. "We’ll touch base tomorrow."
His eyes held hers because he wasn't convinced that it all was fine but he'd let it go.
"Alright, Minnie." He pulled away and jogged down the stairs to his car.
On his way home, he called his sister Jasmine and asked, "How do you know when you’re in love? It takes a long time, right? Like years, not weeks or months, right?"
"Randall Jefferson, are you in love?" his sister exclaimed. "Oh, wait till I tell Chelsea and Margie."
"No, that's why I'm calling you, big head." Randall sighed as he drove through the streets at accelerated speeds. "You can't be in love in a matter of months?"
"Yeah, you can," she said, correcting him. "Sometimes, Randall, you just know. There's no explaining it. Nobody knows it until it bites you in the ass. Then it's too late. What are your symptoms?"
"Symptoms? You are such a researcher." He laughed. "Well, for starters, she's so cute I want to keep her, so I can just look at how cute she is. Two, she's smart, aware, humble, and funny. Three, she just does it for me. I don't know how to explain it but I just left her place and I'm growing sick of playing the friend role."
"Wait, what?" His sister's voice raised. "She put you in the friend zone?"
"Well, she says she did but she hasn't," he clarified. "It's complicated."
There was silence on the phone until Jasmine spoke up and said, "It sounds like you are falling in love brother. Falling hard."
"Shit," Randall muttered.
Jasmine burst out laughing at him but he just kept driving while shaking his head at the dilemma he was now forced to deal with.
His heart.
The next day, he hadn't heard from Mindy until after practice. She had a messenger deliver a note and a bag full of good food to the locker room.
"Man, what is that?" Tone asked. "Better yet, who sent it?"
"Don't worry about it," Randall shot back.
"Yo, what is that smelling like my mama's cooking?" somebody yelled from the other side of the locker room.
"That's Randall's food smelling like that. We're all in here hungrier than hostages and he gets food specially delivered." Tone kept eyeing the food.
Randall knew he needed to get out of their because these grown men were prone to play keep-away and they would surely do it with his food. He nabbed his bag, shoes, and food then shouted bye to everyone as he left.
"Leave that food here?" someone yelled.
"Hell no," he yelled back as his foot crossed the threshold of freedom only to run into reporters.
"Randall, Randall," they started to yell.
He immediately turned the other way to go the long way around to the player's parking garage. When he was finally in the safety of his Rover, he pulled the note from the bag and it read:
Jolly Green Giant,
This is for you. Another hole in the wall place that I know you've never had before. I hope I got what you like right. I figured you'd be hungry after practice. Enjoy and eat it while it's hot.
Checkmate.
Mindy
The smile that spread across Randall's face almost ached as his heart began to pound. This woman was looking out for him and things were starting to become clearer about her role in his life and the one he wanted her to play. His fingers pressed one number that speed dialed Mindy.
"Hey, little one." He laughed.
"Hey, did you eat the food yet? What do you think?" she asked with anticipated excitement.
"No, just got in the car. Bout to head over to you, so we could eat it together. It's no fun eating without you," Randall admitted.
"Ahh, I'm out right now. Shopping for a dress," Mindy informed him. "Nothing like retail therapy."
"Ugh." He made a noise. "When will you be home?"
"We just got here, so no time soon. Go on and eat. Let me know what you think," Mindy said before someone called her name. "Yeah, I'm coming. Hey, Randall. I have to go but enjoy."
"Okay, Minnie. Have fun," he said before hanging up.
Once he made it home, he reheated the food and almost inhaled the delectable combination of lasagna, homemade garlic bread, and a side salad. It wasn't like anything he'd ever tasted but he needed to get the restaurant's name from Mindy to add to his hidden gems list.
The next day, he received a text early in the morning from Mindy, telling him to check his front door. He immediately called her and asked, "What are you up to at this ungodly hour?"
"Just check your door!" She laughed.
Randall mumbled and dragged himself down the stairs to open the door, where a basket sat with a checkered cloth covering it.
"You see it?" she asked.
"Yeah, what's this?"
"Open it, silly."
Once he did, he saw plates with steel tops over them. Despite the wrapping, the aroma wafted in his direction and he said, "Dang. Woman, where'd you get this from?"
Picking up the basket and carrying it to his kitchen island, he began to pull out all three plates. I The first one contained a piping hot omelet. The second one included pancakes and turkey bacon. The third contained berry crepes.
"Wow!" Randall exclaimed. "This smells delicious."
"Well, let me know what you think. I'll talk to you later," Mindy replied.
"Wait, come on and eat with me," Randall rushed out. "When I did this before, it was to spend time with you."
"I have to work. Sorry." She sounded upset. "Uh, maybe on Thursday. I have this thing tomorrow evening but I'll be free the next evening."
"Fine," Raymond replied.
"Okay, well. Enjoy." She hung up.
She didn't know but she just agreed to a date that he planned to hold her to.
Chapter Seven
"Mindy, are you ready to present the award?" Diamond asked her future sister-in-law.
They were at the Cunningham Foundation fundraiser for a charity of Matthew’s, one of Shane’s teammates and co-captain. His daughter was on the Autism Spectrum and he wanted to promote awareness. All of the guys had a charity or two they supported. Mindy used to think they did it for a tax write-off but she soon realized that some of them genuinely cared to contribute to something bigger than themselves or to a cause which directly affected someone they cared about. It was good but it was grueling when they selected her to give an award to the highest donor. She was Shane's little sister, so she had to say yeah because that could possibly impact his relationship with them, or so she thought.
"I guess," Mindy mumbled as her stomach flipped once again.
"You'll do great. Don't worry. The worst t
hat can happen is you puke but you haven't had a thing to eat, so you're good," Diamond said offering this lovely piece of advice that provided no comfort at all.
"Thanks Dye. You are full of inspiration today," Mindy sarcastically responded as Diamond burst out laughing.
"I try, girl. I try."
As the evening progressed and Mindy made her rounds, she couldn't help but feel like something was off.
Once the ceremony started, introductions were made calling out the many celebrities. There were actors, actresses, professional sports players and various members of the media, including the reporter, Diamond Reeves, who was also Shane’s plus one.
"And now, here to introduce our highest donor is Mindy Sinclair of the LULA Foundation," the master of ceremonies announced.
Confidently, she made her way up to the podium and said, "Welcome everyone. As you've heard, I'm Mindy Sinclair from the LULA Foundation. LULA Foundation is a charity that was created and run by my father, Darius Sinclair, and is now managed by my brother, Shane Sinclair. We at LULA have always believed that the stories behind any contribution is a story worth telling and the same goes for the Cunningham Foundation. We appreciate, acknowledge and willingly accept any contribution and this award doesn’t take away from every other dollar or twenty-thousand dollars that is given. We appreciate you all. This award is going to the highest contributor and that person is, Sally Nelson. Please come up."
She waved her up while everyone clapped, hooted and yelled their congratulations. She was a short woman who was dressed in an all-black, wrap-around dress, with four-inch heels that made her seem taller than she was. Mindy was accustomed to these tactics because she implored them often enough to know the struggle.
"Thank you for all that you do," Mindy said as she handed the woman the award and gave her a huge hug.