Andrew Harvey smiled as he moved slowly down the line, examining the girls like slaves for sale at auction. He stopped in front of Lyric. His smile was so wide Lyric could see that beyond the shocking white veneers covering his front teeth, his back teeth were all yellow and nasty looking.
Andrew Harvey placed his pointer finger under Lyric’s chin and urged her face upward. Lyric wanted to cough, the strong scent of his Ralph Lauren Safari men’s cologne threatening to make her gag. She remembered that cologne scent because the one time she got to meet her father, she’d seen it in his overnight bag.
Lyric’s knees knocked together as she stared up into Andrew Harvey’s face for a few quick seconds. He was ugly. His eyes were dark, cupped by fleshy pouches. Lyric could tell Andrew Harvey was old by the wrinkles branching out from the corners of his eyes and the strip of baldness that ran straight down the center of his head. But it was the craters in his cheeks and his large, flat nose that made him look like a monster to her.
“She your youngest, huh?” Andrew Harvey asked, a sly grin on his lips. “She’s the prettiest. Yeah, nice and innocent,” he drawled.
Lyric kept her head tilted upward but averted her eyes away from his greasy, pockmarked face. Her cheeks quivered and suddenly she wanted to pee. Lyric could feel the heat of her mother and sisters’ gazes on her.
“Yes. Yes. She’s the baby,” Ava answered cheerfully, putting emphasis on the last word. She stepped over to where Andrew Harvey stood staring down into Lyric’s terrified face. “But look, um, look here. Melody here is the lead. She’s got the most talent, and to me, she’s my best looking child,” Ava said, pushing Melody toward Andrew Harvey.
As if he’d been snapped out of some sick trance, he finally moved his hand from Lyric’s chin and turned his attention to the other girls. He gave Melody and Harmony the once over.
“Eh. Typical black girls. Nothing very exotic about them. So far, doesn’t appear to be marketable,” he said, disinterested. “Girl groups are a dime a dozen these days, Ava. You know that. I just don’t see the it factor here.”
“Oh, no. You’re wrong. They’ve got what it takes,” Ava said anxiously. “Get into position.” Ava clapped.
Lyric and Harmony clumsily took their places behind Melody. All three girls lowered their heads and placed their hands on their hips just like they’d rehearsed.
“And five, six, seven, eight,” Ava counted down.
On cue, Harmony was the first to lift her head. Lyric counted down silently, and when she got to two-one-thousand, she lifted her head next. Lastly, Melody lifted hers, and when she started rocking her body, her sisters fell into perfect step with her.
“Ewww, ewww.Yeah, yeah,” Lyric and Harmony harmonized.
“Many say that I’m too young to let you know just where I’m coming from,” Melody crooned.
“Giving him something he can feel,” Harmony and Lyric harmonized perfectly behind her.
The girls gave a flawless performance. Ava clapped joyfully at the end. She immediately turned to Andrew Harvey. She could see that he was enthralled.
“See? What did I tell you? You can’t lose with us,” Ava beamed.
He shook his head up and down, never taking his eyes off of Lyric. It was becoming so noticeable that Lyric shifted uncomfortably under the heat of his gaze.
“I tell you what. Why don’t you have them step out so we can talk?” Andrew Harvey said to Ava.
“Oh my God,” Melody whispered excitedly. The girls giggled as they filed out of the office.
Ava and Andrew Harvey seemed to be in their private meeting for an eternity before his office door swung open. Ava’s face was serious and slightly paler than before. She walked over to her daughters and cleared her throat.
“We got the deal,” Ava said flatly, as if she hadn’t just announced the best news of their lives. Something flickered over her facial features. Fear? Regret? It definitely wasn’t the excitement or elation her daughters expected to see after such a big announcement.
“What? Huh?” Are you serious? A record deal? Us? Like, a real deal?” The girls shot questions at their mother rapid fire. Finally, the reality sank in.
“Ah!” Harmony was the first to scream.
Melody followed with a squeal of her own, while her legs moved as if she were running in place. Lyric jumped up and down in the middle of her sisters.
“We got a deal. We finally got a deal,” they screamed.
Ava didn’t move or join in their excitement. Instead, she peered precariously over her shoulder at a smiling Andrew Harvey, his return glance as conspiratorial as a wink. Ava took a deep breath and exhaled it.
“Lyric, baby.” Ava interrupted their little party. All of the girls stopped celebrating and turned their attention to their mother. “Mr. Harvey wanted to show you something in his office. He said he sees something special in you,” Ava said, struggling to get the words out. Ava looked at her youngest daughter with a strangled expression on her face.
Lyric’s eyebrows shot up into arches. “Me?” She looked at her sisters in disbelief.
Almost at the same time, they all turned and looked at Andrew Harvey and then back at Ava. Harmony’s face was crumpled into a shocked frown. Melody’s eyebrows were furrowed.
“He wants to see Lyric?” Melody asked incredulously, disappointment replacing the shock. “Alone?”
“Yeah, me? Melody is the lead, the star,” Lyric said, still completely incredulous of the request.
“Listen. We just got a deal from him, so if he wants to see Lyric alone, don’t question him. And don’t question me,” Ava whispered harshly.
Lyric turned around to find Andrew Harvey still waiting for her in his office doorway. He licked his lips and played with the diamond pinky ring on his right pinky. This time he did wink.
“Go on,” Ava encouraged, her hands shaking.
“Can I go with her?” Harmony asked maternally. She was seventeen and the oldest. She had always taken care of Lyric and looked out for her.
“He asked to see Lyric. Alone,” Ava repeated firmly. “Now go,” Ava hissed at Lyric.
Lyric walked forward gingerly, feeling a sense of dread creeping over her like a dark cloud. When she made it to the doorway, Andrew Harvey put his hand on her shoulder and welcomed her.
“This won’t take that long,” he said. “You’re a very special girl. I could see that the minute I laid eyes on you. You’re a star.”
Right before he closed the door, Lyric looked back at Harmony with terror dancing in her eyes. Harmony turned her face away and looked over at Ava. There was a clarity in her eyes that had not been there before. Melody folded her arms across her chest and rolled her eyes. As young as they all were, something about Andrew Harvey’s request had made them so uneasy that they’d quickly forgotten that they had just landed their first major record deal.
* * *
“Lyric. Lyric, are you there? Lyric!” Harmony screamed on the other end of the phone. Lyric jarred back to reality. She took a shaky breath.
“I’m here.”
“Are you okay?”
Lyric’s jaw went stiff. “Why wouldn’t I be?” she retorted. “Did you expect me to cry and scream that my mother was dead? Nah. I’ll leave the phony tears and histrionics for you and the megastar,” Lyric spat cruelly.
Lyric heard Harmony breathe heavily into the phone and knew she was making her sister uncomfortable. Mission accomplished.
“Okay. I’ll be in Brooklyn tomorrow. I’ll be at Ava’s to gather some things,” Harmony supplied.
“Good for you.” With that she moved her cell phone from her ear, pressed the red button and disconnected the call. She needed to get high immediately.
Chapter 4
Harmony
“I left all of the new class descriptions in alphabet order. All you have to do is hand them out during your last drama class tomorrow. Oh, and please, please make sure you put up the dance and voice class cancellations for the next three days and
the replacement class schedule. You know these parents get crazy when they feel like they’ve paid and they’re not getting the full value of their little bit of money. I really don’t want to come back to an email inbox full of parent complaints,” Harmony rambled, moving around her house like an electrified ball of nervous energy.
“Aubrey’s clothes are laid out for seven days, but use your common sense. If the weather changes, of course you’ll need to switch things up. Please spend at least the first few hours with Aubrey at the day care. It’s her first time being away from me for that long during the day, and I just don’t—” Harmony shot off more instructions like a drill sergeant.
“Hey. Hey.” Ron grabbed her from behind, halting her jittery movement. “I know what needs to be done. I will take care of things at Dance and More. Remember, we opened the school together. If I didn’t know the business model, what kind of owner would I be? I’ll handle the parents, the classes, the substitutes, and even the costume lady for the recital,” Ron said reassuringly.
Harmony slapped her forehead with the palm of her hand and closed her eyes. She groaned. “I forgot about the fittings for recital costumes,” she said through her teeth.
“But I didn’t. That’s my point. I can handle it. And I will take very good care of Aubrey. She’s mine too, you know. I will not leave her dirty, hungry, and naked. You just have to trust me,” Ron said smoothly.
Harmony closed her eyes and inhaled. “I know. I’m sorry. I’m just anxious. It’s not about you,” she apologized.
Ron turned her around and looked into her eyes. Harmony returned his gaze.
“Harm, this is all going to be okay. You’re not going to the guillotine; you’re going to bury your mother. Once you’ve done your duty as a daughter, you can move on.” Ron soothed her. “A lot of people wouldn’t even be doing all of this with everything you’ve been through at her hands.”
Harmony cringed. Suddenly she was shivering. Ron was right. Harmony couldn’t figure out why she felt so compelled to make sure Ava had a decent funeral after everything she’d done. Harmony had spent her entire life convincing herself that she hated her mother, but maybe deep down inside she loved her more than she could understand.
“I know, Ron, but things are just so—” Harmony’s voice hitched.
“They’re the way they are supposed to be. Period. You didn’t do anything wrong,” he replied. “Once the arrangements are made, Aubrey and I are going to come be right by your side through it all. I am not going to let you go through this alone. But this trip, this meeting with your sisters for the first time in so long, well, that is something you have to do on your own,” Ron said, grabbing her hands and using them to pull her closer to him.
“You’re right,” Harmony murmured, falling against his chest.
“I love you, Harmony Bridges,” Ron whispered into her ear. “I’ll never stop loving you. I’ll be here for every good time and bad time.”
Harmony’s insides warmed up. His words were like the sun on a patch of ice.
“I love you more, Ronald Bridges, and I thank God every day for you,” she replied, moving her face in front of his.
He placed his mouth over hers, and their tongues moved together sensuously. In that moment, there was peace wrapped around them like a warm down blanket in the winter. This was all Harmony needed. His love.
“Ma-ma,” Aubrey cooed from her playpen. Harmony quickly moved her lips from Ron’s like a teenager who’d just gotten caught stealing her first kiss.
“There goes our little CBer. She’s got perfect timing,” Ron joked, groaning playfully.
“Stop. Don’t call my baby a cock blocker, Ron.” Harmony laughed, playfully hitting him on the arm as she unhooked herself from his embrace. She rushed over to her baby girl, smiling brightly.
“Hey, sweet girl,” Harmony sang, lifting her chubby-faced baby out of what they called baby prison.
“Yup. A natural born CBer,” Ron continued, pointing below his belt to the rise in his pants that was now shrinking.
“Oh my goodness, Ron. Stop. Look how she’s looking at you like she understands,” Harmony replied, shaking her head.
They both shared a good hearty laugh. It was just what Harmony needed to take her mind off of Ava, Melody, and Lyric, even if only for a few minutes.
Harmony bent down and gave Aubrey one last kiss. She stood over her daughter’s crib and stared at her baby’s little chest rising and falling so peacefully, so innocently. Harmony shuddered at the explosion of love that lit up inside of her like a fireworks show every time she looked at her baby girl.
Harmony wrapped her arms around her torso and hugged herself, wondering if her mother had ever felt that crazy, dizzying, throw-you-off-kilter type of love for her when she was a baby. Probably not.
Harmony suddenly recalled being two years old, standing up in an old-fashioned wooden crib that was pushed into the corner of a small, cramped room filled with show costumes. Harmony was screaming and extending her little arms out desperately, while her mother moaned and groaned from the tiny bed like the man on top of her was killing her. Even as young as she was then, maybe only two years old, Harmony still remembered the twisted look of disgust and frustration on her mother’s face as she shoved a cold bottle of milk into her mouth and slammed her down onto the crib’s bare mattress.
“You ready?” Ron whispered, interrupting her thoughts.
Harmony was startled. Ron walked over and put his chin on Harmony’s shoulder so that they both were staring down into the crib at their little sleeping beauty. Harmony sighed loudly.
“As ready as I’m going to get,” she replied.
They tiptoed out of Aubrey’s nursery. Ron handed Harmony her pocketbook. “I’ve already taken your suitcase downstairs,” he told her. “You sure you’re all right to drive?”
“It’s only New Jersey to Brooklyn, honey. I’ll be fine. Besides, some driving time will help me clear my head,” she assured.
Harmony pointed one last time to the to-do list she’d written on the white dry-erase board that hung on the wall outside of their kitchen.
“You just don’t quit, huh?” Ron shook his head. “Let’s go, woman,” he said, grabbing her car keys from one of the hooks under the board.
Harmony chuckled and followed her husband outside. Ron put Harmony’s suitcase into the trunk of her hybrid SUV and opened the driver’s side door for her.
“Remember, I am just a phone call away,” he said, using his thumb to lift her chin so that he could kiss her one last time.
Harmony held the sides of his face and kissed him deeply. She turned and prepared to get in her car. Just then, the sun glinted off of the gold Narcotics Anonymous emblem that Ron wore on a Cuban link necklace. It had been a gift from Harmony after he’d made it through his first full year of sobriety. Harmony looked at it, then into his eyes.
“Don’t forget your meetings, Ron. I won’t be here to go with you, but you know I am sending my support in spirit. Those are important. They’ve gotten us this far,” she reminded softly.
“Would I miss my meetings? Those meetings and you saved my life. I would never throw all of that away,” he assured, winking at her and kissing her on the nose. “You worry too much,” he followed up.
“Maybe I do,” Harmony agreed with a smile.
With that, she slid into the driver’s seat of her car. Ron closed the door and stepped back. Harmony started the car and took one last look at the love of her life. She waved and smiled.
“What would I do without that man?” she whispered just as she stepped on the gas.
Harmony always said it was fate that had brought her and Ron together. The rain had been coming down in torrents the day she’d rushed up to the steps of the Trinity Church, soaked and shivering. Her tears had mixed with the rain and ran in streams down her face. Until then, Harmony had never been one to pray or even know anything about religion or God, but that day, having just been tossed onto the Manhattan streets like a pie
ce of trash at the behest of her mother and sister, Harmony had wandered the streets of Manhattan until she’d ended up there. With nothing but the clothes on her back, about two hundred dollars in her purse, and nowhere else to go, Harmony stood trembling and squinting up at the gothic revival style building, with its tall pointed arch, rose windows, flying buttress, and ornate eighteenth century façade, compelled to go inside. The church, nestled at the corner of Broadway and Wall Street, seemed so out of place in the middle of Manhattan’s modern skyscrapers. Perfect, Harmony had thought, since she felt out of place herself.
Harmony climbed up the gray slate steps of the church and took shelter from the rain under its front overhang. As Harmony twisted the bottom of her shirt and let the water drip into a pool at her feet, she noticed the homeless guy crouched in the corner of the church’s doorway. He leaned down on a black garbage bag, with his head covered by a dirty gray hood. A cold chill had shot down her back. Just like the man, she had no place to go. No home. No real money. No family. Nothing.
Once Harmony was satisfied that she wouldn’t drip all over the inside of the church, she reached out to grab the carved brass handle of the church’s doors. Suddenly, the homeless guy jumped up onto his feet as if he’d been hit with a jolt of electricity.
“Hey!”
Harmony was startled. She clutched her purse against her body.
“Can you spare some change?” he yelled at her, swiping his hood off of his head so that she could see the hunger in his bugged-out eyes.
Harmony froze, unnerved by his sudden move toward her.
“Anything you got, I’ll take,” he said, backhanding the clear mucus rimming his nostrils.
Harmony’s eyes widened, stunned at how young he looked. Aren’t most homeless people old veterans or older mentally ill people?
“I . . . I don’t have anything.” Her bottom lip trembled. She didn’t know if it was from being cold and wet or the gravity of her situation becoming reality in that moment.
“I’m not asking for a free handout, miss. I got some stuff to sell,” the homeless guy said. He scrambled back over to his corner spot and started digging in his big, black garbage bag.
1 Night Stand Page 5