by Nia Arthurs
Ashanti’s thumb smacked against the screen and she put the phone to her ear. “Luke?”
“Ash, I’m so sorry. I wanted to drop by but something came up.”
“Is everything okay?”
“Yeah. I took Weng home and my uncle wanted me to stay over and…” She heard laughter in the background and the distinctive sound of a man speaking Mandarin. “Don’t wait up for me, okay? I’ll talk to you later.”
“Sure, but Luke, your mother—”
Click.
Ashanti pulled the phone away and glared at it. Did he just hang up on her again?
Deep inside, she knew it probably wasn’t intentional, but it was also the second time he’d done it today.
Ashanti tossed the phone into the couch and fumed. That stupid dream meant nothing. She would never fall for Luke.
She would never want to be a part of his family and nothing would change her mind.
Chapter Fifteen
Luke checked his phone for new messages. There were none—not from his parents, Ashanti, or Michelle.
His mom’s silence was the most unnerving. She’d been blowing his phone up non-stop since he introduced her to Ashanti.
Now what? She’d suddenly accepted his relationship with a black woman? After putting up so much of a fuss?
Yeah, right.
Luke was curious to know what she was plotting, but he wasn’t going to approach first. Despite Eddie’s suggestion to meet with his parents, Luke doubted that would change anything. They were at an impasse. One that would last for a while.
With Michelle… Luke hadn’t really expected a response from her. He’d texted a few times, just to see how she was doing, but in the back of his mind, he knew he had to plan a big romantic gesture to get her back.
He was working on that.
In the meantime, he’d leave her alone and hope that distance made the heart grow fonder.
With Ashanti… Luke didn’t know if he was avoiding her or if she was avoiding him. Either way, he hadn’t seen or heard from her in a couple of days. Which made him wonder if she had remembered the kiss and was hiding in embarrassment.
But that didn’t feel like her. Ashanti would more likely hash things out once and for all than stuff her opinions inside and keep quiet.
Luke had drafted a dozen messages to her since their estrangement, but he never sent any of them. What should he say? They’d kissed, but he was pursuing Michelle so it didn’t matter. Didn’t mean anything.
He still felt uneasy though. Hopefully things settled down in the next few days.
The bell above the door jangled and he glanced up to find his father walking through. Luke stiffened, waiting tensely while Yong Chung made his way through the rows of tables and to the counter.
“Dad,” Luke said, “what are you doing here?”
“Do you have a minute?”
Luke glanced around at the empty store. It was two o’clock, so his older customers were at work and the young ones were at school. He had an hour to spare until things picked up again.
Luke led his father to a table. “Do you want me to call Uncle Eddie or…?”
“No. I already told him I would stop by today.”
“I see.”
Awkward silence fell between them. Luke wondered what his father was thinking. There had been many moments in his life when he felt the weight of Yong Chung’s disapproval, but this was the heaviest his disappointment had ever been.
Luke was almost crushed beneath the weight of it.
“How is Mom?” he asked hesitantly.
“Do you really care?”
“Dad, come on.”
“She hasn’t been eating properly. She’s so worried about you that she can’t even bring herself to get out of bed anymore.”
“Are you serious?”
“What did you expect, Luke? You’re tearing our family apart. None of your other siblings gave us this much heartache.”
There it was again. His father’s propensity for comparing his children to each other was one of the main reasons they’d fled Belize as soon as they got the chance.
Jason, the youngest, was the last to go. He’d chosen to skip junior college and head straight to a foreign university right after high school.
Maybe Luke should have followed in his siblings’ footsteps and put as much distance between his family and him as he could. Then he wouldn’t be in this mess.
“Well?”
Luke sighed hard. “What do you want me to do, Dad? You threatened to disown me and take the café. As you can see, that hasn’t changed my mind. Isn’t it time we compromise? Why don’t you and Mom try and get to know Michelle before you judge her?”
“Michelle?”
“I mean, Ashanti,” Luke quickly corrected.
That was close.
“No way. Your mother already tried that.”
“Tried what?”
“Getting to know your ‘friend’.”
“What are you talking about?” Luke yelled.
“Watch your tone, young man,” Yong Chung warned. “It was a few nights ago. She went to her house to talk things out. Make her see reason.”
Luke scrambled out of his chair. “Mom went to see Ashanti?”
“Yes. She claims the young woman snatched her wrist and left a bruise. I barely talked her out of calling the police.”
“I have to go.” Luke skated to the counter to grab his keys. “Tell Uncle Eddie I’ll be right back.”
“Luke?” Yong Chung rose, a bewildered expression on his face.
“Sorry, Dad.” He bowed quickly and opened the door.
“Luke! Get back here! I haven’t finished speaking to you!”
Luke slammed the door on his father’s words and jogged down the stairs. He pulled out his phone and pressed zero to speed dial Ashanti’s number.
He got her voicemail.
Luke cursed and thrust his door open. He dove into the driver’s seat, barely managing to get his key in the ignition. He started the car just as the café’s doors sprung open and his dad barreled through.
Yong Chung waved and shouted to get his attention.
Luke ignored him and threw the stick into drive. His tires squealed against the pavement as he took off. Belizean scenery blurred outside his window. Pale fingers dug into the leather of the steering wheel.
Why hadn’t Ashanti told him about the visit from his mother?
Luke stepped on the gas and charged down the highway. He headed toward the Madalon buildings and kept calling Ashanti’s number. It went to voicemail every time.
He spotted the tower in the distance and sped into the parking lot, throwing his vehicle between the designated white lines.
The sun glinted off the sea of car hoods in the lot. Coconut trees waved from select points in the mostly gravel yard. Luke pocketed his keys and jogged toward the tinted glass doors of the ground floor.
He knew where Ashanti worked, but he had never visited before. Mostly because Ashanti always found her way to the café. Also because she was constantly out of the office and chasing leads in the community.
He hoped that wasn’t the case today.
A blast of the cool air shocked him when he stepped into the tiled foyer. The room was empty save for a wilting plant wedged in the corner and a large desk. Two elevators buzzed in the walls to his left.
Luke wanted to zip straight for the elevators but figured that wouldn’t fly well with the man who was sitting behind the desk and eying him warily.
He approached and shoved his hair away from his forehead. “I’m looking for Ashanti Lane. I need to see her. It’s urgent.”
“What’s your name?” the guy said dryly, reaching for the telephone.
He sucked in a breath before answering. “Luke Zhang.”
The receptionist tilted his head and stared Luke down while he waited for someone on the other end of the line to pick up. Luke knew the moment they did because his entire countenance shifted and his voice warmed, sou
nding much friendlier.
“Hey, Stace. I’ve got a Luke Zhang down here looking for Ashanti?” He waited a few beats, nodded and glanced at Luke. “Alright. I’ll send him up.”
“Is she in?” Luke asked.
“Just take the elevator to the third floor.”
“Thank you.” The words flew behind him as he bounded toward the elevator and got inside.
On his way up, Luke wondered what Ashanti and his mother had discussed. If it got heated enough that Ashanti resorted to violence, he knew his mother had crossed a line. Or several of them.
The elevator stopped and the doors opened. He saw another glass door down the hallway and followed the path. The moment he stepped inside, he was drawn into a room filled with books. Newspaper clippings were pinned on every available surface.
A telephone rang in the distance. A man darted across the room, stopping from one cubicle to another.
Luke stood stupidly in front of the chaos. Where was Ashanti? She’d called him up here so he had expected her to be close by when he walked in.
Was he supposed to look for her?
Luke took a step forward when he noticed a small woman with tan skin and straight, dark hair barreling toward him. She had a pair of thick square glasses perched on her nose and her smile was wide and welcoming.
Luke got the sense that he should know her, but he didn’t.
“Hi!” Her voice was sultrier than he’d imagined. Because of her sparkling eyes and small stature, he’d expected a chirpy, child-like sound.
“Hey. I’m looking for Ashanti.”
“Yeah, she’s not here right now.”
Luke balked. “What? But the guy downstairs said…”
“Oh, don’t worry. She’ll be back soon. My name is Tara. We met at the Christmas party last year remember?” When Luke tugged on his ear and didn’t immediately respond, Tara waved. “It’s fine if you don’t. It was a long time ago. Why don’t you wait in Ashanti’s cubicle until she comes back?”
Luke checked his watch. He’d stormed out of the café without thought and needed to get back. “I don’t have a lot of time.”
“She’ll be here any minute,” Tara assured him. “Come on.”
Luke followed her into a small cubicle that housed a cramped desk and a pin board stuffed with pictures. He recognized a photo of him and Ashanti in their primary school talent show. He’d played the piano for her while she sang ‘Welcome To Belize’.
“So…”
Luke startled and turned around. He thought Tara had already left. “Can I… help you with something?”
“No.”
Despite her words, she remained at the door. Luke shuffled his feet. “Are you friends with Ash?”
Tara nodded.
He rubbed the back of his neck. “That’s nice.”
“I’m sorry if I’m being weird. It’s just… seeing you clears a lot of things up.”
“I don’t understand.”
“You’re more handsome than I remember.”
Luke rubbed his chin. “Thanks?”
“Can I… ask you a question?”
“Sure.”
“Did you and Ashanti fight recently?” She gestured with her hands as she added, “I don’t mean to pry, but she’s been floating around here, kind of out of it over the past week. She refused to tell me what was going on, but I had a feeling it was something involving you.”
“Why would you assume that?”
“Because last week she came to work hungover after setting you up with some other girl.”
“That’s,” Luke chuckled, “that’s not exactly what happened.”
“What happened then?”
He opened his mouth to tell her when a hand clamped over Tara’s shoulder. She levitated so far off the floor, Luke feared she’d crash her head into the ceiling.
When Tara finally returned to the ground and turned, her brown face went pale. Luke spotted Ashanti at the same time.
She licked her plump lips and seared Tara with a hard look. “Are you planning on writing a story about my personal life? What’s with the interrogation?”
“Ashanti.” Tara’s eyes darted back and forth. “When did you get here?”
“In time to catch you in the act.”
“Don’t be like that,” Tara mumbled. “I was just curious.”
Ashanti pointed to the door. “See yah.”
Tara plodded out.
Ashanti turned to him with a sigh. She wore a black T-shirt over a pleated skirt. Her hair was slung in a low ponytail and tight curls popped out along her ears. Her mocha skin glistened in the sunlight and he was, for the hundredth time, blown away by her transformation.
The Ashanti he knew and loved wore her hair frizzy and blown out. She liked baggy T-shirts and ratty shorts. Whenever he met her in a professional setting, he always felt like he was staring at her more sophisticated twin.
Ashanti stepped deeper into the cubicle and frowned. “I’m busy, Luke. What do you want?”
“Why didn’t you tell me my mom ambushed you?”
She brushed past him and, since it was a small cubicle, he was forced to back up and give her space. “It wasn’t important.”
“It’s the most important thing,” Luke hissed.
Ashanti glanced up and the anger in her eyes surprised him. “I handled it. Okay? Thanks for stopping by.”
It was a clear snub, one that Luke didn’t appreciate.
“Fine,” he spit. Without a backward glance, Luke turned and left the building.
Chapter Sixteen
Ashanti parked in front of her house but couldn’t drum up the energy to get out. The quiet neighborhood surrounded her like a dark cocoon. The wind howled in the coconut trees. The sound was loud enough to seep into her closed car.
She leaned her head back and squeezed her eyes shut. Immediately, an image of Luke’s hurt expression in her office earlier popped into mind.
Ashanti groaned and rolled on her side. Her eyes opened a smidge and her gaze landed on a ghostly figure peering into her window. A scream tore from her throat and she leaped back, almost landing on the stick shift.
Her adrenaline still pumping, Ashanti put a hand to her heart and studied the face that was pressed against the glass. Her second impression warned that this was no ghostly visitation.
Ashanti eased back into the driver’s seat and rolled the window down. Her neighbor, Mrs. Henderson, smiled. She wore an oversized floral shirt and turquoise cut-offs. The rollers in her hair had given her head the strange shape that Ashanti’s body had rejected as ‘normal’.
“Ashanti, goodnight.”
“Goodnight, Mrs. Henderson,” she said breathlessly.
“Can I speak to you?”
Ashanti swallowed and pushed the door open. Mrs. Henderson stepped back to give her room. Ashanti planted her feet on the tarmac. Her heart was finally slowing down, but she was sure Mrs. Henderson had stolen ten years of her lifetime.
“How’s your father?” Mrs. Henderson asked, her black eyes flashing with interest.
Ashanti pursed her lips. Mrs. Henderson attended her church and was one of the ladies who had the hots for her dad. “He’s fine. Enjoying his cruise.”
“I don’t know why Randal would indulge in such an ungodly trip. There are plenty of wholesome, God-fearing ladies right here in the city. In this very neighborhood!”
Ashanti almost snorted.
Way to be subtle with your interest, Mrs. H.
“If that’s all…” Ashanti tried to sidestep the old woman, but Mrs. Henderson slipped in front of her. Ashanti studied the wrinkles lining her dark face and the pull of her thick, purple lips. “Is something wrong?”
Mrs. Henderson set her hand on Ashanti’s arm. “You know I consider you like my own daughter.”
“Uh…” Ashanti glanced at where Mrs. Henderson’s wrinkled fingers clutched her arm. “You do?”
“That’s why I feel it is my business when I see you going down the wrong path.”
“I don’t understand.”
“This past month, I’ve seen that young man of yours, the Chinese one—”
“Luke?”
“Yes.” Mrs. Henderson nodded. “I’ve seen him sleepover at least twice.”
Ashanti laughed. “It’s not what you think. We’re just friends.”
“Honey, boys and girls can’t be ‘just friends’ without someone catching feelings.”
“Not that it’s any of your business, Mrs. Henderson—and I mean that respectfully—but Luke and I are different. We’ve known each other since we were kids and he’s never seen me as a woman. You have nothing to worry about.” Ashanti pasted a smile on her face and walked forward. “Thanks for your concern though. Goodnight.”
“But I saw you!”
“I said goodbye, Mrs. Henderson!”
“You were on the porch.” Mrs. Henderson’s short legs pumped as she hurried to follow Ashanti. “I saw you kiss him.”
Her entire body froze. Ashanti turned her head slightly and stared at the older woman. “What?”
“It was right there.” Mrs. Henderson pointed to the verandah where her grandmother’s chimes were singing brightly.
“No, that can’t be right.”
“I saw it with my own two eyes.” Mrs. Henderson shifted her glasses. “Now I must admit that I wasn’t wearing my glasses that night so I could be mistaken about the young man, but he was skinny and had thick hair. Who else could it be but the Asian boy?”
“Mrs. Henderson, say that again. Please.” Ashanti desperately grabbed the woman’s shoulders.
“The part about the kiss or my glasses?”
“The kiss. What day was it?”
“It was last week Wednesday. I remember because I was taking out the garbage. You know the garbage truck only comes around on Mondays and Thursdays. I’ve written ten letters to the city council so far asking them to—”
“Oh no.” Ashanti held her head and groaned. “It wasn’t a dream.”
“What dream?”
“Nothing. What else do you remember?”
“Well, I had my hands filled with garbage bags when I saw your car pull up and a man pop out. He jogged around to the backseat and then helped you out. You seemed sick. I was going to walk up and ask if you were alright when I saw you pull him in and kiss him right on the lips.”