“Oh, now you feel he had a responsibility.” Areal inched forward on the sofa and leaned on her walker. Her voice rose, seemingly two octaves at a time, with each accusation. “You took away his responsibility and his choice when you gave away that baby!”
The telephone rang. Areal stopped ranting long enough to answer by the third ring.
Sasha could tell by Areal’s body language that the call would probably bring more bad news.
“. . . Well, how soon can you get here? I don’t give a flying hoot about what you’re going through. Bring cash or a credit card, I really don’t care which. I paid for Sasha to get here and you’re gonna pay for her to return.” Areal slammed down the receiver.
“Jasper will be here in about an hour,” Areal replied to Sasha’s silent question. “You may want to lie back and rest for a moment. He’s putting you on the red eye back to Las Vegas.”
“Thank you,” Sasha said softly.
“Don’t thank me. If I had to pay for it you’d be taking the train back.” Areal’s tone suddenly softened as she saw the drained look on her sister’s face. “I’m assuming that you had enough wits about you not to check out of your hotel room.”
“No, I didn’t check out.”
“So, what excuse will you give when they ask where you’ve been or why you didn’t show up at that conference election or whatever it is that’s going on?”
“I will have to come up with something.”
“You mean to tell me that you haven’t made up an excuse?”
“No, I haven’t.”
“You’ll probably have to lie.” Areal looked away. “It’s not like you don’t know how to lie.” She turned back and looked at Sasha. “I don’t go to church anymore, but even I know that God said He wouldn’t judge a liar. Liars ain’t worth God’s time or effort.”
The corners of Sasha’s eyes, again, filled with tears. She was more frightened than she’d been in years. Everything her sister said was true. She’d maneuvered through life and customized her salvation to her liking. And now judgment was upon her. Her cover of well-rehearsed Bible verses and unorthodox bullying was about to be pulled back. She’d be revealed as the hypocrite. If necessary she could and would accept that indictment. But how would she explain giving away a child? And it wasn’t just any child. The two-day-old baby was her niece. She’d chided and bullied Areal at a time when her sister was the most vulnerable.
Sasha and Areal started pulling small details from each other as they tried to reconstruct what had gone wrong. Each of the sisters had a piece to the puzzle and in a calm manner they tried to put it all in perspective, the good, the bad, and the ugly parts of earlier years.
They discussed how Areal was pregnant by not just any married man. She’d become pregnant by the illustrious Deacon Jasper Epps. The man sang spirituals as though he were born to do it. Areal remembered how churches for miles around bombarded him with their need for his vocal sermons. He could growl like the Mighty Clouds’ Joe Ligon, or push out notes so smooth he’d make Smokey Robinson wish he could sing gospel.
After high school, Areal and Jasper had become closer when they formed a singing duet. They’d called themselves the Harmonizing Pair. Three months hadn’t passed before they were taking harmony to another level. Jasper’s excuse for the affair was the “my wife just don’t understand me” one. Areal didn’t have an excuse. She just wanted to make music whether in or out of bed.
Sasha again recalled how only a year later, Areal, Jasper, and she had returned to their home church after a long absence from being on the road. And it was at that church where the affair was uncovered. The three of them had become fearful when the traveling prophet had revealed Areal’s pregnancy. Of course, Areal had hidden her swelling belly very well, so she thought, and the prophet hadn’t mentioned Jasper at all.
The revelation that Sunday had jump-started an unholy pact between them. It was Sasha who convinced Areal of the unforgiving shame and humiliation that she’d bring to the family if she kept the baby.
Areal remembered arguing with Sasha in front of Jasper. “What do I care about bringing shame to this family?” Areal had declared. “That man loves me. We’ll work something out.”
“You’re the biggest fool I know!” Sasha said, as they waited for Jasper to join in the conversation.
“You do love me, don’t you?” Areal’s eyes pleaded but somehow she’d known better.
Neither sister wanted to bring it up but it was time for the entire truth. They talked about the day Jasper finally revealed his true self. It’d happened on the same day Areal revealed her basement level of desperation.
Jasper had finally admitted that he’d never had intentions of ever leaving his rich wife or ruining his so-called church and public reputation or social standing. When he finally came around after a month’s absence, he gave a substantial amount of money to Areal for her “troubles.” As if he were doing everyone a favor by contributing financially to a situation he helped create and hoped she’d have the good sense to take care of. He’d had a lot of nerve evading blame for a mess partially created by his roaming libido.
“There ain’t no more money, so don’t ask for none,” he’d said as he’d hurriedly peeled off several hundred-dollar bills as though each would wash away his part.
“Why are you treating me like this?” Areal finally asked him.
“It’s what God would want me to do. After all, I do have a conscience.” He’d answered as though he were insulted by the question.
Jasper never mentioned where God or his conscience had been when he was committing the adultery.
Soon after, Areal had no choice but to move away. She left immediately for New York, because she knew no one there. She eventually settled in the Bronx and Sasha joined her.
To make sure that no paths would lead back to them, after Sasha got Areal settled in their Bronx apartment, she suggested that the birth not take place anywhere near there.
Again, the sisters left for a place unfamiliar to them. They’d made up their minds to travel to Syracuse, New York. It was a big city and they could get lost in it. But Areal’s baby had other plans. They’d made it only as far as Amsterdam, New York. Two weeks later, Areal returned to the Bronx without a swollen belly, or a crying baby.
Sasha might’ve orchestrated the adoption but it had also been Areal’s choice, when she’d given birth, not to see her newborn or know who adopted the baby. At first, she hadn’t known whether she’d given birth to a boy or a girl. Not seeing the baby meant she’d closed the door to any possible relationship with the child. And it also slammed the door to any further meaningful relationship with Sasha.
Areal found it much easier to blame Sasha for bullying her into giving up the baby. But it wasn’t that easy when it came to Jasper. She’d never told him that she didn’t have an abortion. She was convinced that there’d be no relationship at all with him, if she did tell the truth, so she’d taken his money without remorse.
However, just like a lot of women in her situation, common sense somehow gave way to a familiar disrespect for herself and a sexual need when a few months later, they reconnected. As soon as he’d contacted her under the guise of making sure she was all right, she was trapped.
“I thought you didn’t want to have anything to do with me,” she’d reminded him.
“I need you.” Jasper’s tone was confident and with good reason.
Three words—that was all it took to reignite their illicit affair. Areal had convinced Sasha that everything was fine and that Sasha was no longer needed.
Though Sasha initially didn’t believe Areal had gotten over the baby’s adoption so soon, she caved in. Sasha had returned to South Carolina thinking that she’d solved all of their problems. Of course, as fate would have it, Areal didn’t have much time to mourn the baby she’d had and never seen. She became pregnant again, and by Jasper.
Sasha refused to return to New York a second time. The second pregnancy was an insult and she�
�d not help her sister again. She also didn’t know at that time that Jasper was once more the father. Sasha reasoned that her older sister was just stupid and a slut.
Of course, Jasper hadn’t changed even if Areal had. He’d stopped visiting her in New York for good once he saw her belly start to swell.
Areal, alone, gave birth to a second daughter and named her Ima. Areal never listed the father’s name on the birth certificate because that would mean revealing to the world that she and Jasper had rekindled their affair and how stupid she truly was.
Areal’s relationship with her daughter, Ima, went on to become problematic, but Areal was never sorry she hadn’t aborted the second baby. She’d kept Ima in name only and more out of condemnation than love. It wasn’t long before Areal had returned to her old nomadic ways, and by the time Ima was six, Areal had deposited her with two other cousins, and a perverted uncle. Areal’s other brother and sisters wanted nothing to do with Areal.
When Sasha finally decided to forgive Areal, she repaid Sasha’s kindness by depositing Ima on Sasha’s doorstep.
Areal confessed to Sasha she’d finally changed her ways when one of the irate wives of one of her frivolous affairs had pointed a pistol at Areal and fired. That’s when Areal decided to change courses. From that point on she only dated widowers.
The two sisters, both tired of rehashing their pasts, dozed off where they sat. They woke about the same time at the sound of heavy footsteps and a hard knock at the door. It’d been years since they’d heard those sounds, but they knew without question that it was Jasper.
24
When Chandler arrived at Bea’s hotel room, he wasn’t prepared for an inquisition. He was still a bit off kilter from dodging Alicia’s shameless elevator flirting. So, if he’d known she would take it so bad, he’d never have told Bea that he saw Sasha leave the hotel with a suitcase.
“Sasha’s a coward!” Bea hissed. “I’m sitting here with my pinky toe all busted and she leaves me. I would’ve stayed for her.”
“Don’t get so upset. I took the liberty of calling down to the desk and apparently she didn’t check out of her room. She’s probably just out on the town.” Chandler thought his revelation had diffused the situation. He thought wrong.
“She went out on the town?” She looked at Zipporah for sympathy and dabbed at an imaginary tear. “I’m sitting here with a ruptured pinky toe and Sasha goes out on the town.”
“Your toe was stepped on. It wasn’t ruptured.” Again, Chandler had opened his big mouth and inserted his foot. One look at Bea’s face, which had turned a dark purple, told him to change paths.
Meanwhile, Zipporah’s head swung back and forth between Bea and Chandler, as she tried to keep up with what appeared to be a vast difference of opinion or a conversation straight off the cartoon network.
“But, you don’t really like her,” Chandler reminded Bea. He managed a nervous laugh before continuing. “I’m surprised that the two of you have tolerated each other all these years.”
“I thought they served on the same Mothers Board back at their home church.” The words had left Zipporah’s mouth before she could stop them. She looked quickly to Chandler for help.
“That little skinny Smurf doesn’t take up much room on a pew or a chair, so I do tolerate her.” Bea laughed at her observation. She didn’t want to talk about Sasha. She wanted to know more about Zipporah.
Bea didn’t get a chance to continue her inquisition. Chandler interrupted with his news. He explained to Zipporah that an opportunity for her to sing was dropped in his lap. While Bea sat back and tried to interject more complaints, Chandler watched a wide smile creep across Zipporah’s face at the news.
“You’ll need to be ready by nine o’clock tonight,” he explained. “You’ll have to rush to have a costume fitting.”
“Things are moving so fast,” Zipporah gushed. “I’ll have to thank your friend.”
“So who’s gonna take care of me if you two go running off?” Bea had started to complain again, but one look at Zipporah’s face stopped her. “Don’t worry. I’ll be just fine. You go and sing.”
Bea heard the unselfish words but had a problem believing that she was the one who uttered them. She’d never had children and never wanted any. She narrowed her eyes and looked at Zipporah and Chandler as they stood by the doorway. Her sudden feeling of curiosity was beginning to change to caring. Bea couldn’t figure out why she felt she needed to take care of Zipporah. She also knew she could barely take care of her own needs as her bladder reminded her.
A short time later, Chandler was on his way taking Zipporah to Alicia’s office for an official introduction. Zipporah was very chatty almost to the point of girlish giggling. Chandler couldn’t take his eyes off her. The more excited she became the more he did, too. As soon as the elevator stopped and they stepped off, Zipporah thought her heart would stop, too.
“This can’t be happening,” she murmured. Her shoulders drooped and her smile fled, dragging the color in her face along with it.
“What’s wrong?” Chandler asked, feeling as if he were watching a human chameleon in action. “Are you nervous? You shouldn’t be.” He tried to take her hand but she snatched it away.
Zipporah didn’t have time to explain the earlier dismissal and humiliation she’d received in this same office. She’d barely gotten her heart under control when Alicia came through the office door. She slowed her walk to one that almost resembled an amateurish and comical striptease.
Even if Chandler didn’t notice, which was hard to believe, none of the feminine antics displayed were lost on Zipporah. There was no doubt in Zipporah’s mind. She immediately recognized Miss Cowing as the same woman who hadn’t even let her sing at a recent audition after taking one look at her. She still had the same pasty complexion and that same uppity attitude. If Zipporah had any doubts, they were removed as soon as the woman walked past her without a glance and put her arm through Chandler’s.
“You work fast,” Alicia cooed. “But quick is good— sometimes.” She lowered her eyes in appreciation of his masculinity before continuing, “And then, sometimes not.”
Zipporah watched intensely. The woman had acted, again, as though she didn’t exist.
Chandler gently guided his arm out of Miss Cowing’s unwarranted and possessive grip. “Alicia—” he let his warm smile disarm her while he turned on the charm—“this is the answer to your dilemma.”
“Who would that be?” She’d seen the young beauty but her flirtatious style required that she let the woman know who was in charge.
It only took a second for Zipporah to realize that the woman hadn’t recognized her from before. With Chandler obviously the man-toy the woman wanted, Zipporah instantly relaxed. She’d recognized the game and decided she’d play along. It was also clear that there was nothing more than a business interest on Chandler’s part. She’d seen the way he maneuvered out of Miss Cowing’s grasp and kept to their plan.
As much as Miss Cowing would’ve loved to dismiss Zipporah, she couldn’t. Zipporah nailed the vocals, singing a cappella effortlessly. Alicia watched her and somehow, her instinct told her that Zipporah’s performance was just as much for Chandler as it was for her. As for the costumes, they’d fitted Zipporah as if they were tailor-made. Even she couldn’t fit into a size 4 and look that good.
After the audition, Chandler walked Zipporah out. He showered her with praises and promises of nothing but good things happening for her.
Zipporah didn’t know if she were walking or gliding, she was so high on life at that moment. But Zipporah’s happiness was only on loan. Chandler suddenly offered to drive her home instead of letting her wait on a bus. He’d said he was making the offer so she could have a chance to get everything together. Zipporah panicked. There was no way she’d let him find out she lived in a homeless shelter. She didn’t know how to get out of taking his offer when it made so much sense.
Chandler had just taken his keys out and was about ready fo
r them to go to the underground garage when his cellular phone rang. He turned to Zipporah. “Just let me take this call. It won’t be long.”
Zipporah looked flushed but she was grateful his phone had rung. Her mind raced. She just couldn’t let him discover she lived in a homeless shelter. All she needed was a few weeks of making money and then she could afford a place she’d be proud to call home and he could visit if he still wanted. Until then she needed an excuse to keep him away and not jeopardize her chance to sing at the Luxor.
“I’m sorry, Zipporah,” Chandler apologized. “I’m afraid we’re going to have to have a change of plans.”
“Why?” She could feel her heart racing, fearing she was about to lose this precious opportunity.
Chandler saw the immediate change and concern. He prefaced his reply with a smile. “They’re going to need you to come in earlier to go over the music. You’re good but they can’t be too careful. It’s normal.”
The color returned to her face. “I’d better get home and prepare.” She had an idea. “I’ll take a cab home.”
“I’ve something else in mind.” Chandler flipped open his cell phone as he spoke. The excitement built as he dialed a number. He spoke briefly, turning his shoulder slightly as though the conversation were private. “It’s a done deal,” he said.
“What is?”
“I’ve gotten you a room right here at the Luxor. You can relax and do whatever you need and still be ready for tonight.”
Chandler read the question on Zipporah’s face and answered, “It’s paid for.”
“Really . . . ?”
“All you need is some type of formal I.D. It’s in your name. I didn’t want to be too presumptuous.”
“I believe I have my driver’s license with me.” She wasn’t certain. She hadn’t driven since arriving in Las Vegas and hoped it wasn’t back at the shelter locked away, with her other important papers, in their office. She laughed nervously and reached inside her bag for her wallet and an excuse she’d need for not returning to the shelter by curfew.
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