SKELETONS
Shimeka R McFadden
Six Kids & A Pen Publishing
All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2011 Shimeka Anderson
Cover Designed by Davida Baldwin at OddBall Design
www.oddballdsgn.com
Richard Bach Quote
www.thinkexist.com
This book may not be reproduced in whole or in part, in any form or by an electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission by the publisher, except by reviewers or catalogues no limited to online for purpose of promotion. For information address:
Six Kids & A Pen Publishing
Shimeka McFadden
1401 S Rodgers
Alton, IL 62002
www.sixkidsandapen.blogspot.com
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either a product of fiction or are used in a fictious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
ISBN: 978-0-615-49675-7
PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Acknowledgments
I would like to acknowledge my husband Kerri for enduring this six year journey with me as I wrote and revised Skeletons and to thank him for keeping me from hitting the delete button on many occasions. I would also like to thank my beautiful children, Takeyha, Asa, Peaceful, Javier, Boston and Januari for learning to like take out dinners, a messy house and a irritable mother while I prepped this book for publishing. I would like to say thank you to my sisters Tiffany and and Takeisha for having the understanding and love that only a sister can give. I would also like to thank my friends Artura, Chevon, Rachel, Erica, Loretta and Janita for all of your support and listening to me ramble on and on for hours and for over looking my bipolar moments. Last but not least I’d like to thank my parents, David and Donnia for allowing me to be who I am and for combining their DNA to create a very unique individual.
Thank you!
“The worst lies are the lies we tell ourselves. We live in denial of what we do, even what we think. We do this because we’re afraid. We fear we will not find love, and when we find it we fear we’ll lose it. We fear that if we do not love we will be unhappy.”
Richard Bach 1936
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Epilogue
About The Author
1
Jovanna
I hate Mondays.
Looking at me through pleading eyes Justin let out a heavy sigh as I pulled the red and black skull cap over my shoulder-length hair and pulled on the matching gloves. I hated when we fought, but I was determined to let him know that I was right.
“Are you ready?” he grunted as he grabbed the handle of my heavy Samsonite suitcase.
“There is no need for you to drive me to the airport Justin, I’m a big girl now and I’m sure that I can handle some things on my own.”
Sighing, he said, “Jovanna, you know that I am not about to let you drive to the airport alone. In the five years of our being together I have never let you drive to the airport alone so what makes you think that I will now.”
Rolling my brown eyes I yanked my heavy laptop bag up and walked out of the door without another word as Justin walked behind me with my suitcase in tow.
The ride down highway 170 to highway 70 there were no words between us, just the sounds of Musiq Soulchild singing sweet falsetto praises on how beautiful his woman is. Justin drove carefully down the highway because the roads were still slick from the snow storm that we had the other day and he didn’t want to risk crashing his tuxedo black Ford Super Duty truck. I could tell that he was still agitated from the conversation that we had last night by the way that he kept looking over at me, but knowing that it was in his best interest to keep quiet.
Pulling out my iPhone I called my assistant, Tony, who was already at the gate.
“Good morning, we are in route to the airport, but the streets are pretty bad so we are taking our time.”
“Good morning sunshine,” he sang back, “You don’t have to tell me, I know how St. Louis is about cleaning the highway after a snowstorm. I was not about to bring my baby out in this mess so I took a cab.”
“I am on my way, but did you confirm with Qwin’s publicist and manager that we will be at B.E.D at noon tomorrow??”
“Yes doll.” Tony said.
B.E.D is an exclusive lounge in South Beach that had beds for patrons to sit and lounge on instead of the usual tables and chairs. Since Qwin was turning twenty-one I decided to host the event there for a more sensual and upscale event rather than a hyped up club scene in New York. Qwin has been the artist of the year since he came out with his hit single, Bohemian Seduction. While I didn’t listen to his music, I was relieved to hear I was not hosting another party for a rapper because their parties tended to get out of control and I was tired of having my name attached to those types of events.
“Okay, I’m going to be on his manager by ten because I don’t want to get behind schedule.”
“Yes mother.” Tony chimed, “This is going to be a long three days honey.”
I sighed and looked at Justin and said “I know.”
After hanging up with Tony, Justin turned Musiq down and said, “Look Jovanna, I don’t like us not talking and you know that.”
I kept my gaze out of the window as if I were focusing on the snow.
“I don’t know what I did that was so wrong; I swear sometimes your period makes you crazy.”
I turned and looked into his blue eyes with heat in my brown ones, “Don’t you even go there Justin.” I stabbed. “Don’t blame your insensitivity on my hormones.”
“How am I being insensitive?”
“Do you realize that the wedding is in five months Justin and it is kind of disconcerting when my soon-to-be husband refuses to help me with the favors, the cake, the musical selection or the seating arrangement for the reception?” I shot.
Uncomfortable with being put on the spot Justin rubbed his goatee, and said “That is not being insensitive, that is what we are paying a wedding coordinator for.”
“These are personal touches that I don’t want Trisha to make.” I huffed.
“Why are we paying her then?” He asked. “You have planned hundreds of weddings so if you want to plan your own wedding then let’s get a refund from Trisha.”
I rolled my eyes, “I knew that you wouldn’t understand.”
“When I pay a contractor to flip a house for me, I don’t go in and lay
down the flooring because that is what I’m paying him for.” he said in his New York accent.
“What are you talking about Justin? Are you really prepared to compare our wedding, the most important day or our lives, to your job of flipping houses?”
Justin’s back was in a corner, “That is not what I’m saying Jovanna.”
“That is what just came out of your damn mouth!” I shot quickly, “So clarify what you meant!”
Justin could see that I was angry.
“First of all, cursing me isn’t necessary and secondly I didn’t mean what I said in a way to demean our wedding or our marriage. You were the one who said that you were not going to coordinate our wedding because you were under enough stress so I assumed that you paid Trisha to handle all of the wedding details and all we did was say write a check, show up and say I do. I never intended to have to pick out party favors or make a seating chart, but if that is what you want then I will help you. I just don’t want to fight.”
Giving in Justin turned Musiq back up.
Looking at my pale, soon-to-be husband who was badly in need of a tan, I smiled and turned my gaze back to the highway taking comfort in the fact that he was worried about my stress level and not trying to skip out on helping with our wedding.
“Justin, I do this for a living and I just want our day to be just as special as everyone else’s day. Just help me with the seating chart because I know how your family feels about our union and I don’t want my friends to be subjected to their hateful scowls during my reception.” I said softly as we continued our ride to the airport.
Tony looked as handsome as ever in a pair of antique washed black jeans and a thick sweater and tied it all together with a pageboy cap and ebony pea coat as he waved to us in front of the luggage rack; Justin laughed “Wow for once he doesn’t have on every color of the rainbow.”
I have to admit Tony was eccentric in his dress, usually wearing something that let people know who he was, what he was and that there was no shame in his game. However, Tony knew how to separate business from pleasure so when we were conducting business he was always on point and made sure that he was dressed to impress.
“It’s about damn time.” He said as he took my suitcase from Justin. “Hey Justin how are you?”
“I’m fine Tony, I almost didn’t recognize you.”
Tony laughed, “Yeah I had to tone it down for these bitches in South Beach, but honey I still got it.” He said adjusting his cap.
Justin laughed, “Jovanna, call me when you get to your hotel.”
“I always do Justin.” I smiled, relieved to have put this argument behind us.
Justin kissed me softly on the lips and shook Tony’s hand, “Take care of my lady, she is all that I got.” He said before he walked out of the airport.
“Girl you got him whipped like cool whip.” Tony joked as we walked to the security check. “But I must say that Justin is one fine white man!”
“Keep your mitts off of my fiancé you whore.” I laughed.
Standing in line I pulled out my iPhone to send a text to my girls, Santana and Asteria:
Hey ladies, just wanted to let you know that I’m about to get on the plane headed to South Beach for the 21st birthday bash for Qwin and I will be back in St. Louis Wednesday evening, but you know that I’ll always be with you in spirit and via text.
Kisses
2
Santana
Monday morning and we are running late as usual.
Reading Jovanna’s text pissed me off even more; as we rushed around the house trying to get out of the door, she was headed to the warmth of South Beach to throw a party for that young fine ass new artist, Qwin. While I love my job as Senior CPA for Gold’s Medical Supply, I envied the life that Jovanna lived; she was always mingling with celebrities or hosting one of the most talked about events, I think that I am in the wrong line of work.
“Malik and Mya let’s go!” I yelled from the bottom of the stairs at my twelve-year-old son and nine year-old daughter who were taking their own sweet time to get out of the door.
Michael, my husband, walked into the kitchen with a frantic look on his face, which usually meant that he couldn’t find something. Grabbing his coffee cup off of the island he tried to take a sip, but ended up spilling coffee on his suit as he too was in a hurry to get to work.
“Have you seen the keys to my car?” he asked as he fumbled with a cup of hot coffee in one hand, his briefcase in another while trying to clip on his lackluster blue tie. I just shook my head. Michael felt that he could not operate without his morning cup of coffee every day, even on the weekends.
I grabbed my purse and the keys to my van as I tried to help him look for his set of keys, “Where did you have them last Mike?”
“I don’t remember.”
It always seemed to amaze me how my husband could manage an entire call center with over two hundred employees, but couldn’t manage to keep up with his car keys.
“I keep telling you to put your keys on the key holder when you come in the door.” I fussed with my hand on my ample hips.
Mike looked at me blankly and said, “Well that is kind of a moot point, don’t you think Santana?”
Rolling my eyes I called for the kids once more, “Let’s go, you two have ten seconds to get your butts down here or you will be left to walk to school in the snow!”
Malik, my handsome caramel-skinned son walked in first zipping his book bag and grabbing his lunch from the island counter. “I’m ready, but I can’t find my iPod.”
Sighing, I grabbed his blue iPod from off of the top of the refrigerator, “This was left on the island last night. What have I told you about putting your things away?”
“Thanks.” he said as he checked the battery power on it.
Mya skipped in the kitchen, her braids swaying with her movement, “I’m ready mom.”
Mike walked in the room frantic, “Kids have you seen my keys?”
“Dad you left them in your bathroom.” Malik said, “I used some of your cologne and I just saw them sitting there.”
Mike ran back upstairs to our bathroom.
“What did your daddy tell you about using his cologne without his permission?”
Malik shrugged as he walked out of the door behind Mya.
The kid’s school was only a five minute drive from our house in Barrington Downs, but today it seemed that people wanted to drive slower than normal. I turned on Grand National Drive when I almost rear-ended a woman who was too busy talking on her cellular phone to see that I had the right a way.
“Dumb bitch!” I yelled as I laid on my horn.
“Mommy just used a bad word.” Mya corrected me from the back seat. “Daddy said that God’ doesn’t like bad words.”
“Not today Mya, mommy is stressed enough.” I said, “Did you grab your book report from off the dining room table?”
“Yes mom.”
“Mom, do you think that I can go to De`Vante’s house after school today?” Malik asked.
“You have been spending a lot of time over his house lately; what are the two of you up to?”
“Just hanging out and playing video games since I can’t have a Playstation of my own like a normal kid.”
“Daddy said that video games are too violent and not Christian-like.” Mya sang.
“Did De`Vante ask Pam about this?” I asked ignoring my daughter.
“Yes and she said that it was okay and that she’d drive me home by seven o’clock.”
“Alright, but call me as soon as you get over there.”
“You don’t trust me?”
“Malik, just call me when you get over there, it’s not about trust, it’s about knowing that you are alright.”
After dropping the kids off at school I made my way down the highway as I frantically tried to avoid the rest of the manic drivers on the road while cursing MODOT for not having the streets cleaned by now. As I pulled into the parking garage my phone lit up, it was
my new assistant, Tabitha.
“I’m in the parking lot Tabitha.” I said clearly irritated by the call.
“Mr. Gold and Mr. Berganstein are expecting you in this meeting and I want to make sure that you are not late.”
“I’m running late, but I’m going to be in the meeting on time.” I said as I grabbed the finance reports out of my briefcase and power-walked to the elevator up to the tenth floor of our building. While I didn’t have the exciting job that Jovanna had it more than paid the bills and allowed me a lot of free time off to be with the family so I put up with it.
3
Asteria
Bring me some of that good South Beach weather back! Love you.
Asteria
I typed Jovanna a reply as I began my day at Gods & Goddesses Salon where I work as business manager and co-owner with my twin sister Pandia. Our mother was a Greek mythology buff and thought that it was cute to name us after Grecian Goddesses. While I didn’t know a lot about Greek mythology I did my research and found out that Asteria was the Goddess of night and falling stars and Pandia was the Goddess of light and beauty. Just like our names, Pandia and I were like night and day.
I always got into the salon before any of the other stylists because I liked to make sure everyone’s station was fully stocked and clean before we started our day. Pandia fusses at me saying that I spoil the stylist and that it was not my job to stock and clean their stations. However, I wanted the stylist at their stations and ready to work when they came into the salon; it was not productive to have them running around looking for this and that while a client was in the chair. Besides after dropping my son off at daycare, I didn’t have anything else to keep me busy.
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