“But why?” she whined. “It wasn’t my fault. I’m not in suspense.”
“Suspension. And I know it’s not your fault. You did nothing wrong. But we have to wait until Principal Stone expels Queenie. She did a very bad thing.”
“She’s bad. Not me.” Pouted lips on Mya looked like she was awaiting a kiss. I couldn’t resist.
“Go to sleep. I promise to call the school tomorrow.”
“Mommy, I miss school and my friends,” Mya gave her final pitch.
Short Order
Lately, Jake had been thinking of what his life would’ve been like had he not met Venus. He wondered about the intersection of crossroads and how one change of events could realign your entire life. He was wondering if there was such a thing as fate, or did choices move the arrow to say, This Way.
He’d gotten exactly what he’d asked for, like the best off the menu. It happened sitting at a conference table while he was drumming his fingers on the glass top as she gave her presentation. Venus, Legend, and William—the marketing dream team had arrived to save his fledgling hip-hop clothing line. She was the leader of the tribe. She swished around in her tight skirt and her blouse tucked in to show a tiny waistline and flat stomach. He could hardly listen for watching her move around the room.
“Do you mind?” She leaned over him like a teacher in a classroom. He flattened his hand to stop the nervous habit. “As I was saying,” she continued. “You need to create a new brand, a new line, and gradually step out of the urban clothing box. It’s time to move on to bigger and better.”
“So you’re saying I basically need to recreate the wheel.”
“You do if you want to keep rolling,” she’d said, one hand on her glorious hip. She was all work and no play. A far cry from the women he’d surrounded himself with in his past.
“Let’s face it, these little baggy-pant–wearing boys eventually grow up. Let’s assume some of you actually grow up,” she’d said toward Legend. Their love/hate relationship was obvious from the start. “When they do, you want to be there to catch them.”
By the end of the meeting, Jake had made up his mind. He didn’t care about the rock she was wearing on her ring finger. She was smart, sexy, and business savvy. It was a list he’d narrowed down over the years. Three out of three, hitting the bull’s-eye.
“Would you have dinner with me?” he’d asked after they’d finished their meeting.
“No. I’m sure whatever we need to discuss can be done here, tomorrow morning.” She packed up her briefcase and marched out of his conference room. He watched her walk away. She turned back around and he could see she was glad he was still there, staring.
Rare to have a woman say no to him. There was pleasure in the chase. Nothing worth having ever came easy. Pursuing Venus Johnston became a vital part of enjoying his workday. As soon as Legend learned of his intentions he threw back his head and opened his white teeth for a boisterous laugh.
“That’s like taking a badger home as a pet because it looks like a rabbit.” He stopped smiling. “Badgers are one of the most vicious animals in the world. Carnivores. Don’t let her petite frame and smooth skin fool you.”
Jake never saw that side of Venus. She soon learned of her mother’s breast cancer and fell apart before his very eyes. She couldn’t make it through the day without battling tears. Her fiancé was two thousand miles away in Virginia. Vulnerability was hardly a level playing field. Jake hadn’t meant to take advantage of the situation. Could he help it if she needed a soft place to land? He ran a bath. Gave her a massage. Helped her get through the day, and she still said no.
He thought about the first night they’d slept together. When she finally came to him, ready, he’d wanted to be tender and caring because that’s what she needed. But once he held her and was deep inside, he lost all control. He made love to her like a man who’d been stranded on an island for too long. She was water for his tired, parched heart. After all, he’d sworn he’d never get caught up, lose the upper hand in a relationship again.
Yet she held his heart in his hand and there was nothing he could do about it. Now, six years later, he wondered if he’d made different choices, changed course, where he would be.
He slid into the covers of their bed. She was already on her side, pretending to be asleep. His shower must’ve lasted a lot longer than he realized.
“Good night,” he whispered to her back, afraid to touch her.
“Good night.” Her stoic reply confirmed the fact she was still mad.
He thought about telling her a story, one that would set the record straight so she’d know why Sirena would never be an issue between them. The story would be brief and quick and to the point. But then there would be questions. The kind he didn’t like to answer.
He closed his eyes and hoped maybe tomorrow would wipe the slate clean. He didn’t want to be right, that maybe he’d made a mistake in his choice. He didn’t want to be the unlucky one who had to start over, find a new place for his heart to be safe. But the one thing he knew, he would never let himself be broken and hurt again. If she wanted out, he would clear the way.
Cash and Prizes
“Cee Cee, are we going to bring Pop anything back from Chick-fil-A? He likes the double piece with corn on the cob for a side.”
Sirena wrapped an arm around Christopher. “No, sweetie. I think Pop will be asleep by the time we get home. The movie let out pretty late.” They walked out of the theater in the mall and were greeted by a crowd of waiting fans.
She slipped on her Dolce sunglasses and prepared for the camera flashes. Even the local yokels had paparazzi, though here they were just guys who ran home to get their cameras. The word traveled fast that Sirena Lassiter and her little brother were watching Transformers at the Metroplex.
Christopher put up both hands, giving the peace sign. He enjoyed the attention, offering up his cheesiest smile.
“Slow down, little man,” Quincy ordered. He stepped in front of the boy to clear a path. Outside, the driver waited with the door open to the limousine.
“Are we going to go through the drive-through?”
“Sure, if you want. Anything you want,” Sirena offered.
“I don’t think we should. ’Cause the car’s so long. We might get stuck, or worse, knock over the ordering sign. Then they’ll charge us a million dollars.” He cracked himself up. “A million dollars for a Chick-fil-A double with sides.”
Sirena smiled and gritted her teeth. The boy was so corny. Larry was raising him in the same house she’d lived in, but the neighborhood had changed for the worse. To keep Christopher from being exposed he hardly let him go anywhere or do anything without an adult, namely himself. On his Wednesday Indian Bingo trips he left Christopher at the neighbor’s, Mrs. Winston’s house, which conveniently was her Bible study night.
“Can I open the sunroof?”
“Sure.”
“It’s like it’s my birthday or something.” He stood up and poked his head through the opening and screamed, “Yahooooo.”
“Your pops is going to be pissed when he hears about this,” Quincy chided. “Is it his birthday?” he asked after giving it a few seconds of thought.
“Can’t I do something nice for my baby brother? He’s cooped up with that crazy old man. They don’t even have cable. Who doesn’t have cable in the 2G’s?” She shook her head. “That’s why he’s coming to live with me for a while.”
Quincy stuttered, “You kidding?”
“I’m happy you have such high expectations of me.”
“No, it’s just that … who’s going to watch him? You’re gone all the time. I know you ain’t trying to leave him with Leshawn. She’ll have that boy doing shots and counting dominoes like a seasoned con.”
“I haven’t really planned that far ahead, and excuse me if I don’t feel the need to discuss this with you further.”
“My bad.” Quincy lifted his meaty arms and grasped Christopher by the waist. “Come on down, boy.
You ’bout to climb up outta here and be roadkill.”
“Aww, that felt good. Fresh air,” Christopher exclaimed. His ears and cheeks were red. His skin tone had always been fairer than Sirena’s. She had only two choices of who his father was, Jake or Tommy, and both men were her complexion. Maybe if her father let him out of the house once in a while, he would’ve darkened up. She just wished she could be one hundred percent sure. Her wish was that Jake would take one look at Christopher and see a distant relative—an uncle, his father, or brother. That Christopher looked like someone on his side and was undeniably his son. It would be too risky to take a DNA test. The book would be opened and shut before Christopher showed what a great kid he could be, a great son.
“We’re here, we’re here.”
“Why don’t you run inside and order whatever you like.” She handed him a fifty.
“Whoa … fifty dollars.” He pulled on the door handle and shot out like a rocket.
Quincy sucked in his cheek and tried not to appear too disgusted. “I’ll go. He shouldn’t be running around at night flashing dough. You see what kind of neighborhood we’re in?”
“If you’d stopped talking three sentences ago, you could already be in there with him.”
“So now I’m the babysitter, already.”
“Four sentences ago.”
Sirena watched his large massive self walk into the fast-food place and get beside Christopher while he ordered. She hadn’t planned for day care. The boy was nine years old; he could watch himself. At that age, she was already cooking dinner and doing laundry. By ten she was plotting her escape from dullsville, by eleven she’d let the teenaged boy who lived across the street sample her goodies, giving her the first and most unforgettable orgasm.
Everyone had to grow up sometime.
Larry wouldn’t be there to follow him around and take care of his every need. The same as he hadn’t been around for her. She turned out all right.
When they arrived back at the house, both the ambulance and a huge red fire truck were blocking Paramour Drive.
“Wow, what happened?” Christopher rolled the window down, taking in the excitement. Smoky air wafted into the limo. Sirena leaned past him to roll the window back up. The smell of someone’s pitiful dwelling up in smoke.
She wouldn’t be surprised if a neighborhood crack house caught fire. The entire area had gone to the dogs. As much money as she was giving her father, he could’ve moved, but refused. His house was paid for. If and when her career took a dive, he’d still have his home, he’d said, planning for her failure.
“What would you like me to do, Miss Lassiter?” The driver sat patiently with the car engine running.
“We can walk, I guess.” Their flight wasn’t till the morning, planned for after Larry had his first cup of coffee. She’d poured the contents of five capsules in his sugar bowl. His idea of a good cup was three parts sugar, one part cream, and a drop of java. By the time he finished drinking it, he’d be too numb to stop her from packing Christopher up and out the door. He might even be ready to listen to reason.
They got out and started the trek past the other run-down houses. Seeing the area now, Sirena couldn’t believe it was legal to plant so many boxes on one square block.
“Sirena, oh child, there you two are.” Mrs. Winston came toward them. Her rolled hair was tied underneath a scarf. She pushed her robe tight around her neck. “Your father … they’re taking him to the hospital.”
“Where’s Pop?” Christopher started running. Quincy latched on to his collar before he could gain any distance.
“Son, he’s in the ambulance.” Mrs. Winston’s voice shook. “I smelled the smoke before I saw it. Came outside and couldn’t believe your father’s place on fire. This is his evening tea and cigar time. I told him about smoking those old nasty cigars.” She crossed her hand over her heart. “They got him out in time, I think. God willing. Bless him, Lord, bless him.”
Sirena watched as the paramedics shut the doors on the ambulance. Larry had used the sugar prematurely. This wasn’t her fault. Who knew about evening tea hour? The windows were all that was left in the front. The door had been knocked down by the firefighters. She shook her head in disgust.
“Come on, we’ll follow the ambulance,” she said to Christopher, hoping it wasn’t too late. She only had wanted to put him out of commission for a minute or two, not kill him.
Satin, Bows,
and Fairy Tales
“You don’t think it’s too young for me, do you?” Miriam twirled around in the cloud of fluffy tulle. The bodice was fairy-tale white with a heart-shaped neckline.
“You’re beautiful.” I helped her with the matching veil.
She faced the mirror. “I really love it. Ben’s going to love it too. I feel like this is all new. I have butterflies in my stomach. I’m excited and nervous.” She wrung out her hands. “A brand-new start.”
“We could all use one of those,” I agreed wholeheartedly.
“Thank you for coming with me today. Jeanette had to go on a job interview. I couldn’t be mad at her for that.”
“No,” I blurted out. “But I could think of other things.”
“What?” Miriam turned around and faced me. “What’re you talking about?”
“Nothing. I just meant there are worse things to be mad at.”
“You’re still having a hard time with Jake? And here I am about to renew my vows. Trust me, I understand your frustration.” Miriam pushed back her long tresses.
I was sick to death of that wig and the lies that went with it. “Thanks for understanding.”
“Okay, unzip me and let’s go to lunch. I’ll starve myself tomorrow.”
Miriam and I had an outdoor café seat at Salvo’s uptown. It was her favorite restaurant. They served Cuban cuisine and tall mojitos with fresh mint and real sugarcane.
“You’re going to love the black bean soup. It’s just like my mother used to make.”
“Beans, beans, good for your heart, the more you eat, the more you—” I rolled my eyes. “You know the rest.”
“What’s with you today? You’re usually so optimistic about everything. Seeing the brighter side, the big picture.” Miriam looked concerned. She pushed back the corners of her long strands of hair.
I sucked the last of the rum from the bottom of the glass. I crunched loudly on the homemade tortilla chips and salsa. Learning to keep my mouth shut had made me look impossibly glum.
Miriam eyeballed me. She blinked suspicion. “Tell me what is really going on.”
“You’re just like my mother. She feeds me, then asks me a million questions. Everything is fine. Please, let’s celebrate the way we should have before I so rudely ruined your bachelorette party.”
The waiter saw the empty glass and rushed over. “May I get you another?” He was authentically Cuban. Miriam said something to him in Spanish and he went away.
“Does that mean I don’t get my second drink?”
“Yes, exactly. I told him you were unstable, right now was not a good time for liquor. But for me, I ordered another.”
I busted out in laughter. “Good one.”
She didn’t break a smile.
“It’s nothing, I’m just dealing with tons of issues. You know about Mya and the school. They haven’t agreed to take Queenie out. And I’m not about to let Mya return until they do. She misses school.”
“Then let her go. She’s a tough, smart cookie, like her mommy. She’s going to be fine.”
I bowed my head, knowing it was the truth. Standing on my resolution was only harming my own child.
“One down. Next.”
“I’m worried about my mother, my dad, my husband, my good friend … Vince. Shall I go on?”
“You have your health, your family intact, and your friend will have to fend for himself.” She opened her hands. “And for my next trick, I will make your stress disappear.” The waiter left one mojito. She slid it in front of me. “Drink up.”
“I once believed that finding the man of my dreams would solve all my problems. Having a friend, lover, and spouse all rolled into one would be the elixir for life’s ever-changing dilemmas. I once believed no harm could come to me once I was safe in a good honest relationship. A woman believes this even when she sees signs. Great big arrows with sharp points coming your way. And yet we still believe.”
“Whoa, okay.” Miriam wasn’t expecting this when she’d asked me to start talking.
“I have to go.”
“What do you mean you have to go?” Miriam stood up as I did. She couldn’t believe I’d just walked away. I stood at the edge of the café, staring out.
Walking on the opposite side of the street were Sirena and a boy. So distracted, I nearly knocked over a waitress. She gave me the evil eye. Sirena’s attention trailed in my direction as if she felt my energy all over her. As if she knew someone was watching. But someone’s always watching—she knows that too.
They actually stopped and posed while a man took their picture. Another passerby stopped her; this time he asked the boy to take the photo using his camera phone. Sirena grinned as if the day had infinite possibility—not just this day, but all the ones ahead. The boy handed the camera back and pulled out something from his front jeans pocket.
An inhaler.
“Venus, what in the world is goin’ on?” Miriam caught up with me, out of breath and disturbed. “You’re goin’ to have to tell me, right now. Are you on medication?”
I pointed like I’d seen a ghost.
Her eyes followed. “Sirena.”
“She’s got a boy with her.”
“So what, it’s her baby brother. What’s the big deal?” She realized I had no clue of what she was talking about. “She has a little brother. They’ve been together in pictures before.” She pulled down her sunglasses and gave a hard stare. “Yep, that’s him. Just a little guy. Innocent. Can we go back and finish our lunch?”
Un-Nappily in Love Page 19