A Price to Pay for Everything

by Kameisha Jenkins

Charles and Marc had shared several intimate phone conversations over the last two weeks, including his decision to file for a divorce. The announcement spliced Marc’s loyalty, but he remained as diplomatic as the situation would allow. He knew his father withheld many of the details of his mother’s antics to preserve his respect for her.

  “Young man, how goes it?” Charles responded, attempting to sound upbeat.

  Marc used the opportunity to bring his father up to speed on the auction, Reggie, and Sherise.

  “Sounds like you got a lot on your plate. Are you sure you’re gonna be able to come down in a few days for your mother’s party?”

  “You know me pop. I got it under control.” Marc said as he smiled at his own reflection in the salon mirror.

  “Well, alright Joe Cool. Try not to break too many hearts tonight. My man.” Charles let out a wide mouthed laugh as he spoke to his son.

  “I’ll do my best.” Marc responded with equaled enthusiasm.

  “Make sure you call your old man in the morning to let me know how it goes, hear?”

  “No doubt, pop…so you’re gonna be there too, right?” The sudden silence between the two men left Charles uncomfortable as he struggled to avoid the topic of Ilene’s party. He didn’t want to address the issue head on.

  “To tell you the truth, man, I’m not sure if I can deal with your mother putting on airs for her wanna be bourgeoisie friends. Any other time, she talks about them like it’s going out of style. Plus, you know with things in our marriage the way they are, she acts like she would rather see me dead than at this stupid party. Did you know that she cursed out the hotel manager for refusing to let her bring in cigar rollers from Cuba? She is ridiculous with it.”

  “I feel you pop, but you know how important this is to her. She would go all out if it were for you or me, too.”

  “I hear you. I just don’t know son.”

  “Man, just stop through for a minute. If it gets ugly, you can bail and I’ll cover for you.” Charles’ camaraderie with his son warmed his heart.

  “Alright then, but you know I’m not going to the play the role. I am gonna stop and grab a drink, maybe talk to couple of colleagues and I ‘m out, as yall say.”

  “Then you’re out, pop. Fair enough.”

  Marc’s stylist motioned to let him know she was done and removed the cape from his neck.

  “Okay dad, looks like I gotta run. I’ll call you in the morning.”

  “Alright black man. Talk to you then. Love you man.”

  “Love you too, pop.”

  As Marc ended the call, he smiled at the stylist who managed to make him look like a sleek cross between John Legend and Enrique Eglesias. He left her a twenty dollar tip and headed outside where he was able to wave a cab in less than four minutes.

  On the cab ride home, he read one of Sherise’s six text messages. Predictably, she went to the condo he bought and fell in love with it. Suddenly, her text messages were filled with “thank yous” and “I really appreciate this”. Marc knew better than to test his good fortune and chose not to respond to her for fear of opening a door to the angst that he had easily avoided all day.

  When arrived home, he showered and brewed some green tea. He jotted down the brief biography that he would give to the mc to read as he was being introduced. Marc was sure to include his business affiliations, volunteer efforts, gym regiment, and of course, his description of an ideal romantic date, come with a candle lit dinner, a little Anthony Hamilton playing in the background. Champagne and strawberries for dessert and a full body massage to relax the lucky lady would culminate the date. The massage was usually the thing that made the women go crazy when his bidding started. Satisfied with the picture he painted of himself, Marc phoned Reggie, whom he knew would be dripping with excitement for the event.

  “Yo!!!!!!!!!!!! Are you ready or what dawg?” Reggie answered the phone excitedly while the punchy lyrics of DMX blasted in the background.

  Marc knew that Reggie regularly listened to the New York rapper when he needed to get hype in the gym. He remembered that Reggie was usually one of the escorts that met the potential bidders and it gave him first dibs on the women.

  “Am I ready? The better question is...are these chicks ready for me?” Marc responded with the confidence his day of preparation ushered in.

  “True. I just gotta throw my jacket on and call up a few honies to make sure they will be there to boost the bids.” Reggie said as he inspected his Ralph Lauren Purple Label ensemble.

  “So I guess I’ll meet you at the spot then.”

  “Yep, we’re in suite 524. You can pick up the key at the desk.” Reggie replied referring to the hotel where the event was being held. They always booked suites for the night in the event they had overnight guests.

  “Sounds like a plan.” Marc responded and ended his conversation with Reggie.

  He then took a shower, dressed himself, and sprayed his Issey Miyake cologne in the air and walked into it’s mist. He was ready for whatever the night had to offer. Sherise was happy and out of his hair. He made sure he tucked a few condoms in his overnight bag, and turned out the lights as he plunged into the brisk night waiting for him.

  Chapter 34 Sherise

  “Girl, it’s nice, aint it?” Sherise asked her friend LaChan as she gave her a tour around the tour story condo that Marc purchased for her and the baby.

  LaChan walked behind her, reviewing what Sherise was able to get yet another man with deep pockets to finance. She recalled the Cadillac Escalade and jewelry that Sherise once owned, the regular shopping sprees, and the occasional weekend getaways that she was invited to, as an alibi, of course. This time, Sherise looked like she made a major come up. She had played the role of the quiet mistress to athletes, club owners, and the random entertainer for years beautifully, until now. Sherise coyly suggested at their brunch at Jaspers in that marriage was on the horizon for her and that her little bundle of joy was her ticket to easy street.

  LaChan wondered why she had chosen such a man so low on the totem pole, since she herself, was married to one of the linemen from the Baltimore Ravens. Sherise had helped her run scheme after scheme to finally capture Baltimore’s most eligible and highest paid bachelor. Her pay off was a six carat keepsake that others called a wedding ring to keep her quiet about his little indiscretions with another player’s wife. Sherise’s voice reminded her of their reality.

  “I think I’m gonna put some leather furniture in here. Scratch that. I’m gonna go down to Feodore’s and get one of those European designed sofas that Marc has. Those things are like 6 grand a piece. I can’t have OUR baby living like her daddy is poor.” Sherise remarked as she rubbed her rotund belly.

  “I can’t believe that fool actually came out of his pockets and bought you a condo. It’s amazing what men will do when they wanna feel like they in control.”

  “Well right now, he can think whatever he wants. I aint trying to mess this up.”

  “I hear you, but what are you gonna do when the baby comes?” LaChan’s seriousness caught her friend off guard as she began to nervously play with the rings on her fingers.

  “Nothing…technically, it is his baby. And anyway, I know he is starting to feel guilty about not being arried to the mother of his child, so it’s just a matter of time before he pops the question. Marc aint like those other knuckleheads. He got class. I just have to play my position. You know how we do, give him a little space. Make him think that I’ve backed off.” Sherise’s devious smile was mirrored by LaChan’s.

  “I guess you’re right. I’m still trippin that this fool told you to quit your job at the salon because of the baby. Now you got him paying your bills and buying you a condo and shit.”

  Sherise chose not to respond to the slight stretch of the truth that she offered her friend. Marc actually demanded that she continue to work and only agreed to support her financially after she continuously cried and whined about how much her back hurt and how the fumes from the chem
icals could affect the baby.

  “Speaking of bills, girl let's go. We got a little shopping to do.” Sherise sprang from the plush carpet and grabbed her coat. LaChan followed.

  “Cool, you know I’m down for a little retail therapy. But what do we need to get?” Sherise’s devious smile returned.

  “Something classy and sophisticated, maybe even formal. We got somewhere to go tonight.”

  “Oh, okay, let’s do the damned thing then. I just need to know one thing. Are there going to be men there who can sponsor a sister?”

  “No doubt. In fact, I hear they’re the best that the chocolate city has to offer.” Sherise smiled again as she locked the door to the condo that Marc purchased to keep them apart.

  Chapter 35 Natalie

  Natalie paced the floor in her hotel suite peering at her black Jimmy Choo stilettos, wondering if the cocktail dress she selected from the boutique in the lobby of the hotel made her look too provocative. While Eric was dressing in his tux, she phoned her best friend Elise and tried to get a second opinion.

  “Girl, how can something be too sexy? If it’s short and black, it’s perfect.” Elise laughingly responded to her friend’s description of the long-sleeved lace and sequined Rheem Accra mini slip dress.

  Sherise eyed her reflection in the mirror caustically. “The lady at the boutique said it was a mini dress. My coochy is about to show. Only Beyonce can get away with wearing shit like this.”

  “Girl please! If I were you I would pull a Britney Spears on their asses. And since when has Miss I-got-it-going-on-and-fuckyou-if-you-don’t-know been afraid of a little attention?”

  “Elise, this is a classy event. Politicians and important people will be there. I don’t want to walk in the room and they are like ‘what the hell does she have on’?”

  Elise exhaled loudly.

  “I bet they will be saying ‘what the hell does she have on’, but they’re gonna follow it up with ‘how can I take it off of her.’” The women laughed at Elise’s attempt to calm her friend.

  “And anyway Nat, it wouldn’t hurt if you had a little indiscretion while you’re out there. I mean, girlfriend, it might be time for you to get politically incorrect in the nation’s capital.”

  “With who? These old farts are old enough to be my damned daddy. I already know the bachelors are either gonna be gay, which is why Eric is so excited, married, or have some drama that involves some crazy female trying to keep them faithful. Keep it real girl, I am going for the food.” Natalie laughed at her own comment.

  “I hear what you’re saying. I just think it would be a shame to let a perfectly good opportunity to have a meaningless one-nightonly affair go to waste.”

  “That’s because you’re a slut.”

  “Wrong, bitch. Sluts don’t cum and actually care if people think they’re a ho. Shit, those little skinny white broads on Sex and the City opened up a whole new way of looking at it for me. I am sexually liberated, damn it.”

  “Are you really gonna use the Carrie Bradshaw alibi?”

  “Listen, say what you want. My skin is clear and I am ALWAYS white girl happ. If I were you, I would handle my business. You know my saying, a-dab-of-dick-will-do-ya! If I weren’t showing a house to this ball player and his agent, my ass would be on the first thing smoking to go with you.” Natalie burst out into laughter as Eric emerged in a Kenneth Cole black tuxedo with an iridescent London Morning tie.

  “Girl, Eric looks like he is ready, and I am getting hungry. So, I’ll call you later.”

  “Okay, baby girl, have a good time. Gimme twenty dollars…”

  “I aint got it, I aint got it.”

  “Broke ass.”

  The two hung up the phone simultaneously. Eric smiled at his sister’s ensemble.

  “Somebody’s giving them the business in that dress.”

  “You like it? I think it’s a little too provocative.”

  “It’s exactly what you need. Hopefully you can land a man and get out of my face for the night.”

  “Why the hell is everyone so bent on me finding a man? What the hell is the big deal?”

  Eric eyed his sister and shook his head.

  “The fact that you don’t have a clue what the big deal is…is why you need a man.” Natalie rolled her eyes at her brother’s pun and they left the hotel suite.

  The ballroom was decorated in a tasteful pallet of amethyst and antique gold. The event designer walked a cautious line of gaudy and grandiose that Natalie approved of. Eric had quickly coupled with his new friend that worked at the hotel and they chatted endlessly about the room’s design and who could have put such a lavish ensemble together.

  Natalie struggled to convince herself that she was not the third wheel as the two began to talk enthusiastically about a church in the DC area where there was a large gay population that was actually welcomed to participate in the ministries of the church. Natalie didn’t know how she felt about the topic, so she remained silent. She knew that if her mother heard about the place she would be the first suicide bomber to attack a black church in America. Eric’s friend, Allen, sensed Natalie’s disconnection and spoke to her.

  “Girl, you doin’ your thang in that dress. You definitely hurtin’ me.” Natalie smiled curiously at her brother’s date, unsure now of what team he played on. He noticed her confusion.

  “Don’t worry sugah. I still get down on the other side. Just because I prefer tulips, don’t mean I can’t tell when a rose is beautiful.”

  “Thank you.” Natalie gushed as Eric eyed his date with suspicion behind his back.

  “Excuse me, I ‘m gonna go mingle.” Natalie said as she left their table.

  She spotted several political figures that she wanted to question about their stance on educational cutbacks in Houston’s fifth ward, but decided not to ruin the mood. Instead, she positioned herself near the hors d’oeuvres table and munched on smoked salmon canapés while eavesdropping on the conversations of those around her.

  She soon grew bored of the boastful monologues of the professional athletes who congregated near the beautifully sculpted ice bar and moved towards the lobby to see the crowds coming in. She felt her cell phone vibrating in her small black purse and reached in to grab it as she walked out of the door. Unable to put her hands on it, she looked down into the small bag to retrieve it. Just as she was able to look up, she walked directly into one of the guests and nearly lost her balance. Embarrassed, she apologized profusely for being so clumsy. She couldn’t help but inhale his scent as he grabbed her arms to steady her. She indulged in how soft his hands were.

  “No problem. That’s a nice dress.” He said as he flashed a dazzling smile and stepped to the side to continue his path. Natalie hated to let the opportunity pass her by, but allowed him to disappear into the crowd.

  “Good job Natalie.” She said to herself as she looked to her infamous cell phone. She had just missed Heath’s phone call. She promised him that they would connect. She had been trying to reach him threvious night, but got his voicemail. Her hormones had been screaming for her to bed him, or anyone for that matter, before she had a melt down. She failed to pack her trusty love tool and was not sure that she could make it through the next few nights in the chocolate city.

  After eying a few women decked to the nines, looking like they were in the place to catch their husband, Natalie tired of the scene. She wanted a drink so bad she could taste it, but was afraid of what the outcome would be. She heard the mc ask for the crowd’s attention and perked up. Natalie grabbed her bidding paddle and watched the lips of the bald brother with a goatee that looked so exact it could have been painted on.

  By the time she had reached her seat where Eric now sat frowning with his date, the rules of the auction were being explained. Natalie leaned over and whispered in Eric’s ear.

  “What’s wrong with you?” Eric’s eyes rolled to the back of his head as his date frantically typed on his Blackberry that was now in full view.

  “C
an you say married? This fool told me that if his wife shows up to say I am his homeboy from college! I guess he’s not exactly out of the closet, more like peeking out of the window. I wanted to haul ass out of here, but the damned drinks are free, so I said fuck it! This clown had the nerve to tell me he got us a suite for tonight.”

  Natalie wanted so desperately to laugh in her brother’s face for being such an incessant flirt with every person he met, but resisted and quietly looked around to see if there were any irate women headed for their table.

  “Looks like we’re cool. We just gotta keep a low profile, you know, be on the down-low.” Natalie chuckled as Eric shoved her in the ribs for her well-timed pun.

  The soft jazz playing suddenly came to a halt when the bald headed brother finished thanking the corporate sponsors for their support. Suddenly Angie Stone’s anthem to black men, ‘Brother’ started playing.

  “Alright ladies, you know what that means. It’s time to put your money where your mouth is. You say there are no good brothers in DC, and I say we got twelve reasons in here tonight to say that you’re wrong. Get your cameras ready, because you’re gonna need ‘em. We have chocolate city’s finest for you tonight. This first brother is a patent attorney and partner in a downtown area law firm, has no kids, no baby momma drama, and plenty of time to give to the lady that wants him bad enough tonight. He is offering a candlelit dinner aboard the Odyssey Cruise Line, private salsa dance lessons, and a full body massage after the dance to help you work out the kinks. He says his favorite book is the bible and enjoys long walks on the beach. Ladies, please meet Mr. Roberto Alvarez…”

  Natalie and Eric quickly turned their attention to the stage where the Puerto Rican and Black bachelor emerged drenched in baby oil, and wearing silk boxers and the matching robe. His fraternity's brand was prominently displayed on his chest. Natalie thought he was attractive, but a little too short to invest her money in.

  Eric discreetly raised his paddle a few times, to the dismay of his date. Eric and Natalie exchanged wide eyed glances as the women easily placed bids of fourteen hundred, then fifteen hundred, and finally a winning bid of eighteen hundred for the Afro-Latino lover. Though the amounts pledged were completely tax deductible, Natalie refused to bid over five hundred dollars on any of the bachelors. She felt anything higher made the women look desperate, and she was not going to go out like that.