Mama Dearest

by E. Lynn Harris

  “Hello?”

  “Yancey, this is Regan. Can you make an audition tomorrow morning?”

  “That was quick, but sure I can,” I said.

  “Like people say, I guess publicity good or bad keeps your name out there. We’ve had several calls about your availability. But this casting seems perfect for you.”

  “What is it?”

  “It’s for the role of a mother of a teenager on a new show by Disney. They’ve already ordered a full season of episodes, so I think it will be a good gig.”

  “What’s the name of the show?”

  “Madison of South Beach.”

  My heart instantly sank. I knew that was the name of Madison’s show. I started to tell Regan that there was no way in hell I was getting that job, but instead I asked, was she sure they wanted to see me? Regan told me they had specifically requested me.

  “Okay, I will go, but I won’t hold out high hopes,” I said.

  “Why is that, Yancey?”

  I sighed. How much more complicated was a client supposed to be? “Regan, it’s going to come out sooner or later, and this falls under information about me that I’m not so proud of,” I said.

  “I’m listening, Yancey. Tell me what’s going on.”

  “The star of that show is actually my daughter, but I gave her up at birth.“

  I heard a gasp of disbelief. “Does she know that?”

  “Yes, and I don’t think she’s a big fan of mine,” I said.

  She didn’t seem so sure. “Do you think the director and producers know that?”

  “I have no clue, but I would imagine any audition would also include a screen test with Madison.”

  “Then we just have to see, Yancey. I think you should still give it a try.”

  I wasn’t sure if she was hoping against hope, but in any case, we had nothing to lose. “Okay, if you think so.”

  “I do. I will send the script over right away.”

  “Send it to this address. Something is going on at my house so I’m crashing at a friend’s,” I said.

  “Where do you want me to send it?”

  “Send it to Eleven Central Park West in care of John Basil Henderson. It’s a doorman building and they know his apartment number.”

  She sounded impressed. “Okay, I’ll send it over right now. Let me know when you get it.”

  “I will. Thanks, Regan.”

  “Good luck.”

  CHAPTER

  5

  The day before her big party, Ava was annoyed. Kathleen Crowell of the Ebony Socialite website hadn’t returned her numerous calls. The party wouldn’t be a success if it wasn’t written up in the popular website, which told the comings and goings of the black elite in New York City and surrounding areas. In fact, many of her expected guests were people Ava saw mentioned on Kathleen’s site.

  Ava decided to give Kathleen one more chance to do the right thing.

  “ES for in the know and on the go with New York Society,” the friendly female voice answered.

  “Yes, Ava Parker Middlebrooks, of the Palm Springs Middlebrooks, for Kathleen Crowell.”

  “May I tell Ms. Crowell what this call is in regard to?”

  “No, you may not. Just put Kathleen on the phone.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “Excuse me, hell. I have left more than five messages for this woman, and I won’t stand for this kind of treatment. So if you know what’s good for you and this little website, you’ll put Kathleen on the line.” Ava exhaled loudly, letting out a breath she felt like she’d been holding for days.

  “I don’t know who you are, but you need to sign up for some sensitivity training. Hold on.”

  A few moments passed and then Ava heard a slightly gravelly voice come on the line.

  “Kathleen Crowell speaking.”

  At first Ava was shocked that she’d gotten through and stuttered for a moment but quickly regained her composure.

  “Kathleen, my love. How are you?”

  “Who is this?”

  “Did your little assistant announce me correctly? This is Ava Parker Middlebrooks, formerly of Palm Springs, California, and now of the Upper East Side of New York City. I’m sure we’ve met at several affairs. I have your card in my Rolodex.”

  “I don’t have cards.”

  “Then it must have been your assistant. I think we met at Sunday brunch at Lynn Whitfield’s, or was it the annual birthday affair of Reggie Van Lee of the Van Lees of New York and Houston?”

  “I know both Lynn and Reggie, but I don’t recall meeting an Ava Middlebrooks.”

  “It’s Ava Parker Middlebrooks, and I’m sure when you see me tomorrow, you’ll be the first one to give me a big old hug around the neck, sweetheart.”

  “Tomorrow? I’m going to the gala for the Alvin Ailey Dance Theater at the Met.”

  “Oh, I know, darling, and I was going to be there, too, but I had already scheduled my dinner party to celebrate the beginning of the New York social season. Everyone will be here—Flo Anthony, Reggie Van Lee of course, Susan Taylor, and Mikki Grant. It will be the best of New York. I mean, you must be here to get the proper coverage for your website. We’re talking an opening-page event,” Ava said.

  “First of all, I have never heard of you, and I know that all the people you’ve mentioned will be at the Ailey event. And how do I know? Because, Ava darling, I’m the co-chair of the event and all of those people have RSVP’d to me personally. So it must be some mistake. I’m sure your event will still be successful,” Kathleen said dryly.

  “But you must be here,” Ava said with sadness and frustration in her voice.

  “Ava, I’m sure one day you’ll have the pleasure of really meeting me but until then, have a good day.”

  “But—” Ava said before realizing that Kathleen had already hung up.

  CHAPTER

  6

  I guess we can cross Angela Bassett off our list,” Derrick said, setting a plate of scrambled eggs, toast and fresh fruit in front of Madison.

  This was their Sunday morning ritual—father and daughter breakfast, prepared by Derrick for just the two of them.

  “Why?” Madison asked.

  “She’s a regular on ER for their last season. Our producers moved too slow.” He patted her back, knowing how much Madison wanted her. “But we’re going to get somebody great to play your mother. They already talked to Lynn Whitfield’s and Vivica Fox’s people. But I don’t know about them either. It seems they’ve both been working a lot.”

  “I know, Daddy. And thanks.”

  He was puzzled by Madison’s bright expression.

  “For what?” he asked with a confused laugh.

  “I saw on the internet that Yancey got out of jail. I know it’s because of you,” Madison said.

  “It’s really because of you. It’s your money and your suggestion, sweetheart. I didn’t want to see her in jail as well, but I didn’t think of bailing her out. Besides, sometimes I really feel sorry for Yancey.”

  “Why?”

  “Yancey didn’t have the best family life when she was your age. When she told me some of the stories of what her mother did to her, I wanted to protect her. That’s one of the reasons I fell in love with her,” Derrick said.

  Madison set down her fork, lost in thought for a second. “I guess I could understand that but I don’t know why I felt sorry for her.”

  “Because you’re a good girl and have always thought of other people before yourself.”

  “I got that from you and Aunt Jenny.” At the mention of Jenny, Madison shook her head. “Boy, do I miss her. She would be enjoying all that’s happening to me. Wouldn’t she be so proud?”

  Derrick cut into his eggs and took a bite. He missed his sister too. “I got a feeling she knows what’s happening to you long before we do.”

  “So you think she’s in heaven looking down on us?” Madison asked.

  “Where else is she going to be?”

  “She was my an
gel here on earth.”

  “And will always be, Madison.” He stopped eating and turned to her. “Now let’s stop talking about this before I shed some tears. Did you look over the changes the writers submitted for the script? The ones around how your mother is introduced?”

  “Yeah, I did and the changes are fine,” Madison said.

  “Okay, I will let the director know.”

  “Hey Daddy, I just had a great idea.”

  “What, Maddie?”

  “Why don’t we get Yancey to play my mother?”

  Derrick looked at his daughter with a curious glance and then asked, “Are you sure?”

  “It will be perfect casting. Talk to the casting agent and have him call Yancey’s agent. But don’t tell him or her that I was the one who suggested it.”

  “Why not?”

  “If I know Yancey, and I’m not saying that I do, she might not want to be given a job because I suggested it.”

  “It sounds like to me you know your mother better than you’re willing to admit,” Derrick said with a smile.

  “Mother … boy, does that sound strange.”

  CHAPTER

  7

  I put my key in the door, but for some reason it wouldn’t open. Had the jail given me someone else’s keys? Every time I tried to insert it, I felt resistance. I turned and looked at Basil. “That’s strange. Something’s wrong with the door.”

  “Your key’s not working?”

  “No, and something feels different with the lock.”

  “Why don’t you ring the bell? Maybe your mother is here,” Basil said.

  She gave him a cold “are you kidding” look. “Are you sure you want me to do that?”

  “Why you ask that?”

  “We are talking about Ava. You two don’t have the best relationship,” I said, understating the obvious.

  “Ava and I don’t have any relationship. I’m just trying to help you get into your house. And I can deal with Ava.”

  “Okay,” I said, ringing the doorbell. No answer. I pulled out my cell phone and tried Ava’s number again, but it was still disconnected. I then called Lyrical’s and the voicemail picked up immediately. I left her a message asking her to give me a call and if she had seen Ava.

  “No answer?” Basil asked.

  “No.” I felt something was up, but what? In spite of all the publicity around my arrest, I hadn’t heard from Ava. I thought that she, like Marcus, was steering clear of all the bad press. However, standing there at the door, locked out of my own house, I began to suspect more was at play. “Maybe I should just wait until Ava comes here or maybe get a locksmith to come and let me in,” I said.

  “You could just come to my place. You’ve been through a rough three days, Yancey. Just chill at our place until you figure out what’s going on,” Basil said.

  That wasn’t a bad idea. I sure didn’t want to wait around for hours. “Are you sure that’s okay?”

  “Yeah, it’s cool, and maybe if Raymond is there, you can talk about your case,” Basil said.

  “That’s a good idea. But let me check something real quick,” I said as I pulled out my phone to call my real estate agent. After a few rings Sharon picked up.

  “Weeks Realty, this is Sharon.”

  “Sharon, is Matilda in? This is Yancey Braxton.”

  “Hello, Ms. Braxton. Ms. Weeks is on vacation. Is there something I can help you with?”

  “I’m at my brownstone and it seems the locks have been changed.”

  “Oh yeah, the new owner did that.”

  “The new owner? What are you talking about?”

  “Your mother, Ava Middlebrooks. The day of the little incident she brought a quick claim deed insisting we take the house off the market again. Before she left Ms. Middlebrooks asked me for the recommendation of a good locksmith because she was getting the locks changed. I thought you knew.”

  “Bye Sharon, I will handle this,” I said.

  I joined Basil at the bottom of the stoop. An alarm bell was ringing in my head. I was more and more certain that Ava was up to no good.

  IT WAS MY FIRST day on the set of Madison’s Disney show, and I was more nervous than I had ever been in my life. I knew all of my lines and it was going to be great being in front of the camera again, but I couldn’t calm my nerves. I didn’t want to disappoint the director, Derrick, and most important, I didn’t want to disappoint Madison.

  I took a look at myself in the makeup mirror, dabbed on a final dash of orange-red lipstick and left the small dressing room that I was given. As I walked down the hallway, I came up to a door with a huge gold star on it with Madison B. right underneath it. The door was slightly ajar and I could hear voices inside, one which I immediately recognized as Derrick’s.

  I walked in and saw Madison seated in front of a mirror with a stylist putting the final touches on her hair. Madison at first didn’t notice me enter the room. I watched for a moment in silence, admiring her beauty but also her incredible confidence for a girl so young. I had to admit, she reminded me of myself when I was her age. I was looking at a younger mirror image of myself in more ways than one.

  But there was a difference. That being she had a loving, responsible parent guiding her along the way. It was easy to see Derrick had done an extraordinary job raising her, and suddenly I felt a deep inferiority to them both. Also a deep debt, which was why I needed to speak to them both.

  The stylist had finished and collected her gear when Madison saw my reflection in the mirror.

  “Yancey. How long have you been standing there?” Derrick asked. I noticed Madison looking away. If she couldn’t look me in the face now, how was it going to be once we hit the set?

  “I’m sorry. I just want to speak to the both of you before we begin filming,” I said nervously.

  “What’s going on, Yancey?” Derrick asked.

  “I just want to thank you both for not vetoing my chance to get this job. I’m really grateful for the chance,” I replied.

  “This wasn’t about old relationships, Yancey. It was about who was best for the job, and the director clearly thought it was you,” Derrick said easily. Madison was still ignoring me and was now preoccupied with a script.

  “That’s nice of you to say, Derrick, but I know if you or Madison would have said something, this wouldn’t have happened. Also, my lawyer finally discovered that it was you who posted bail for me and I want to thank you.”

  “You don’t have to thank me, Yancey. It wasn’t all me,” Derrick said as he looked toward Madison.

  “Madison?” I said. She didn’t move and her eyes remained on the pages.

  “Madison. Yancey is talking to you. Don’t be rude, little girl.”

  “What?” Madison quizzed.

  “You were the reason your father posted my bond?”

  “What are you talking about?” Madison asked, clearly dodging my question.

  “You were the reason I got a chance to audition for this role as well, weren’t you?”

  She pretended to be engrossed in adjusting her hair. “Stop talking crazy,” Madison said. She was no better at lying than her father.

  “Madison, tell the truth,” Derrick said.

  “What do you want me to say to her, Daddy? Do you want me to tell her that I thought that since she did such a rotten job being my mother in real life that we thought she might be able to do it in a make-believe world? Is that what you want me to say?”

  “Is that how you feel, Madison? I wouldn’t blame you if you did. Because you’re right about me being a rotten mother because I was young like you,” I said.

  “So that’s your excuse? You were too young? Do you know how many young mothers out there make it work every day? Young ladies who didn’t have the support and love of someone like my dad. Why don’t you just tell the truth and say what’s so? Your career was more important than being a mother. My mother. But looks like you get the chance, if only for a few hours a day.”

  “Madison, stop it.
Don’t talk to Yancey like that,” Derrick said.

  “That’s okay, Derrick. Madison is right. I was selfish. She is telling the truth.”

  “That was a long time ago, Yancey. You’ve got to stop beating yourself up,” Derrick said.

  “Daddy, why are you taking up for her?” Madison asked with disappointment.

  I looked at Derrick and saw the man I had fallen deeply in love with. The first person who I felt really loved me for me. Madison may have missed out on some things, but how lucky she was to have Derrick for her father.

  “Derrick, would you give me a few moments alone with Madison? I promise this won’t take long,” I said as I looked at Madison, who was now looking down.

  “Sure, I can do that. But both of you need to be on set in ten minutes.”

  “We will be there,” I said as Derrick walked out of the dressing room, pulling the door behind him.

  For a few moments the room was dead silent as Madison continued to look down and I glanced around the room searching for what words to say.

  “Madison, I understand your feelings about me. You wouldn’t be normal if you didn’t harbor harsh feelings about me. What I did was wrong, but I didn’t know better. Even though my mother was around, she was never a mother to me, and I now realize she never loved me. She left me helpless to love you. It wasn’t until I met your dad that I knew what love was,” I said.

  “Are we running lines? Is this for the script of some movie you did?” Madison asked.

  “This isn’t a movie, Madison. This is life,” I said.

  “Yeah, right.”

  “Madison, I know I can’t walk in here and ask you to understand. It looks like from the wonderful young lady you’ve become that Derrick did a great job,” I said.

  “How would you know that I’m a wonderful young lady? Don’t believe the hype, Yancey. I could be a bitch just like you. We do share the same blood line,” Madison said.

  “You could never be the rotten woman I was,” I said.

  “Was?”

  “It’s never too late to change, Madison. You’ll learn that as you grow older,” I said.