by Tiana Laveen
“What?”
“We wouldn’t be who we are without all those experiences. I wouldn’t have met Maize, Grandmama, E.T., T.J., and of course, the woman I’m going to marry, Cassidy.”
He reached into his pocket and pulled out the engagement ring box. He flipped it open and showed Dante, unable to wipe the big grin away.
“HO-LY SHIT!” Dante gave him another hug. “Ma has been talkin’ about this for weeks! She goes, ‘Gee friggin’ whiz! Are they playin’ house? He finally gets Cassidy back and I have heard nothing else. He’s wasting time! When is Tony gonna propose?! He’s thirty-two! A good lookin’ guy! So what if he killed someone; it was a long time ago. Shit happens! He’s a good boy!’”
Tony laughed at his brother’s imitation of their mother.
“That sounds just like her…” His smile slowly faded as he regarded the man. He took him into his arms, making that embrace meaningful. Deep.
“We made it, man. Through the hurt, the pain, the sunshine and the rain, we made it. Tony and Dante Romano, that’s who we are… brothers and friends for life, and don’t you forget it!”
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Never Would’ve Made It Without You…
…Several days later
The last night in Florida…
Juno Beach looked beautiful in the evening.
Tiki torches blazed with orange essence, lining the perimeter of the coastline as the ocean rippled and waved to and fro like a flirty lover. Small rainbow lights were draped along the pier, casting hues of purple, blue, and gold amongst the few people walking about, happiness in their eyes and on their faces. A peculiar medley of country and rap music blended together, the sounds drifting from various directions, colliding into something amusingly new.
“It’s beautiful out here tonight,” Cassidy said, holding Tony’s hand as they strolled, their feet sinking in the sand, their souls in sync, flowing like the tide. “Thank you for bringing me. This was a good idea.”
“You’re welcome… Fresh air is always a good idea. It was also great that you decided to barbecue today, Cass.” He smacked his lips. “We made Grandmama’s barbecue ribs, the honey chicken, and her potato salad—all of it straight from the cookbook. Damn, it was good!”
“It was!” She chuckled. “I overate. I’m stuffed!”
“It was kinda strange being out there with that old grill, using it, standing around it with our bottles of beer… an empty house behind us. It hit me, you know? The house already has drummed up interest, just that fast.”
“Yeah. The realtor said I’ll probably have an offer soon… said we’ve done a good job with it. I told her you did most of the handiwork. I handled a lot of the purging and cleaning. I thank God for you, Tony.” She watched the water rush towards them, then retreat. Shell pieces, partially embedded in the sand, gleamed like tiny jewels.
“We did it together, baby… the both of us.”
“We worked all of this time, Tony, and now that we’re finished, it seems the time went by entirely too fast. You’d think I’d be relieved, but I’m not.” She slipped away from him and held herself. “When I first came back home, I wanted nothing more than to get this over with as soon as possible. I hated coming back to Belle Glade… just too many memories I didn’t want to deal with. I knew better than to hire people to do it though. Nope, it had to be me. Grandmama was far too particular about strangers messing with her belongings, and I didn’t too much blame her. I just wanted to get in and get out… go back to my regularly scheduled life.” She turned to Tony, took his hand again and pulled him close. “And then came you…”
She kissed his soft lips. His trimmed beard brushed against her face as he wrapped his arms around her waist, bringing her flush against his hard body. Big, strong hands cupped her ass, drawing her sheer bikini coverall up several inches.
Suddenly drums could be heard, vibrating within her, dragging her into an exotic dream as the sun disappeared from the sky and the moon cast a shimmer along the waters. The music of Alegre All Stars, ‘Consuelate (Descarga)’, played loudly, the salsa tune moving through her like her very own blood, in rhythm with her pulse. Tony took her hands and began to shimmy his hips, salsa dancing like a pro. He spun her around, whipping her back and forth as she laughed and lived and loved…
“Come on, girl! Move those legs, señorita!” Bringing her close, he spun her around and around until she was tight in his embrace forevermore. They looked into each other’s eyes, mesmerized, falling deeper under their reciprocal spell. “I’m fallin’ in love with you again, Cass. I fall in love with you every night, like it’s the first time.”
Her heart swelled. As the music faded, so did his smile… The sudden seriousness in his eyes made her lose her breath. He slowed his dancing to a crawl, then stopped altogether. He reached into his shorts pocket, then he released her and dropped down to one knee.
“It’s time we finish what we started over twelve years ago, Cassidy.” In his hand was a black velvet box with a ring sitting inside it. The French-set Halo diamond shined bright, so clear… gorgeous and unique. Her eyes watered, and she found herself unable to speak. “You make sense, in an insane world. You’re my peace in times of upheaval.”
He took a deep breath and continued, “When we’re old and gray, I wanna look over at you in the bed beside me, and be reminded, because you’re there, that we not only survived—we thrived. We shouldn’t even be still alive… considering the obstacles we were up against. But we’re here… we made it. I didn’t come back down here just to say goodbye to Grandmama and to be your boyfriend, baby. Cass, I came back here to secure my rightful position as your husband.”
He looked into her eyes, his chest heaving up and down. “No gunfire, no prison bars, no nothing could keep me away from you. What is meant to be will be. Angel Eyes, will you marry me?”
“Yes, I will marry you, Tony!”
She trembled as he slid the ring onto her finger. Getting to his feet, he wrapped his arms around her, drawing her in a tight, loving embrace. She rested her head against his chest as he kissed her crown and gently rocked back and forth, the warmth from his body a balm to her heart, his love a protective covering to her soul…
…Three weeks later
Cassidy stood in the front of the boardroom, dressed in her black pantsuit and V-neck silk blouse beneath a fitted blazer. Her hair was slicked away from her face and tied back with a white satin sash. Around her neck hung a white and silver choker. It was a beautiful day, the kind she liked to sink her teeth into.
“And so, it would be practical to have the Jay Z article postponed, paired with the Beyoncé one that is due in two months, versus splitting them apart. More photos from Coachella have been provided and we can work those around the news stories. In addition, we have to cover more information coming out about Nipsey Hussle. Though it has been quite some time since his passing, the conspiracy theories are still running amuck.
“I want us to take this opportunity to focus on Black on Black crime and not scapegoats, nonsensical notions and conspiracy theories that detract from the core issue but look at all the real possibilities and credible concepts.” As Cassidy spoke, Peaches cleared her throat and rolled her eyes. “I would also like an exclusive interview with preferably one of his close friends. The article should not be titled, ‘The Marathon Continues.’ We don’t want to regurgitate what’s already out there. Let’s get something fresh. I don’t want this man’s death or his life to be forgotten.”
Everyone seemed to agree. As she continued on, she noticed Peaches looking at her ring finger several times, her gaze on Tony’s token of love. The woman kept grimacing, then sucking her teeth. On the third go round, Cassidy casually turned off her laptop and flipped on the ceiling light.
“Hold on, everyone. Excuse me… I hate to interrupt my own meeting but there seems to be someone in the room who has something to say. Patrice, is there a problem?” Cassidy crossed her arms and zoned in on the heffa who’d tried her one
too many times.
“Nope,” Peaches answered dryly. “Just business as usual.”
“I beg to differ.” Cassidy rested her hands on the table and glared at her. “Nothing about your behavior is businesslike. In fact, it reminds me of some mess that happens in a high school cafeteria. Young, immature girls pretending to be women, creating make-believe, fictitious drama.” A few people ogled Peaches and whispered amongst themselves. “Let’s address the white elephant in the room… white being the operative word.” There were several giggles and people shaking their head. “Patrice, ladies and gentlemen, takes great issue with me being engaged to a White man.”
“Really, Cassidy? This is what you’re doing? Right here, right now?”
“Certainly! No time like the present.” She threw up her hands. “Somehow, my Black card should be revoked, y’all. I’m lost, in need of prayer… oh wait, I take that back. That’s the White man’s religion. I’m in need of societal deprogramming. I’m asleep, everybody! The opposite of woke. I have suddenly forgotten the hood I grew up in, down in the projects in Palm Beach Florida, a little place called, Belle Glade, nicknamed Hell Glade by us locals! Yeah… my mind is wiped clean! My ghetto roots somehow disappeared. I have amnesia, friends… just not Black enough anymore. No more power to the people! Putting all of the cute little slang terms aside, let’s sidetrack to the meat and potatoes of this matter. Just so you all know, I had a lawyer go over the contracts I’ve put in place with each and every employee I hire. I’ve got ink on all of you. That lawyer is damn good, a Black man who has given me sound advice over the years and he helps ensure that my ass is covered should a situation such as this arise. It never has, until now.” They stared each other down. “Now, Patrice here, has been employed at Onyx since its inception. She was one of the first people I hired.”
“You don’t have to speak about me in third person.” Peaches smirked. “I’m right here.”
“Cool, that’s a good idea. Check this out… first, second, and third person—you choose. Let’s go! Patrice, I am talking to you directly and everyone else here is just watching, ’kay? So listen, and listen good! Your performance lately has been mediocre at best and that’s being kind! You spend more time on your fuckin’ phone than you do working and have yet to stop using company time to update your Grinder and Tinder account in search of random peen…” The room erupted in laughter. “The meat market never closes, baby. You can do that shit after hours, like the rest of the hookers in L.A.! Is that first person enough for ya?”
“Uh, Cassidy, I don’t know what you’re trying to pull right now, tryna look hard and tough I guess, but you don’t want to do this here… Let’s take this somewhere private,” the woman said with attitude.
“No, sorry, that option is off the table and I don’t have to be pretend to be jack shit… I am. You decided to gossip about me to my employees in private, so it’s only fitting that I discuss you in front of all of them, so that they receive the full fucking scoop with a cherry on top! Yeah, I’m spilling this mothafuckin’ tea, and it’s piping hot!”
Cassidy took a deep breath. This wasn’t at all like her, all this drama putting Peaches on the spot in front of everyone. But in this case, considering what the devious bitch had been up to, she had no choice.
“As I told you from the start, whoever I date, fuck, and love is none of your gotdamn business! If I want to jump on top of a purple alien with green polka dots and yellow stripes and hump him to death, I’ll do just that!” The room drew quiet as she yelled, all of her fury unleashed. “I don’t answer to you! Who tha hell do you think you are?”
“You know who I am, and you don’t like that I’ve told the truth! What you’ve done is an embarrassment! Look at you? All of this over some White guy! I want you to keep this same energy when he plays your ass!”
“Wow… you really are brain dead. Your inability to look at your own self is astounding! You’re a classic case of narcissism, sis. Get help! I was a fool to believe you were my friend. That’s the only mistake I made as far as dealing with you. For years, you have been disrespectful and overstepped boundaries, like you are running somethin’ up in here! I have turned a blind eye, but not anymore. People have complained that you’ve had the nerve to ask questions such as, ‘Why are you late?’, ‘Did you park in your designated spot?’ Things like that, as if you’re their supervisor, as if you are signing their damn checks!”
“I never said any of those things.”
“Lies. I believe every report I’ve received about you now.” She looked around at her staff members, making eye contact with a few. “I apologize to anyone in this room who felt I dismissed their concerns regarding Patrice. I don’t answer to anyone up in here but I try to give every single person the respect they deserve. Should any of you all have an issue, even if that issue is me,” she pointed to herself, “you know my door is always open. I’m not perfect. I know I can be demanding and I hate laziness in people; it drives me up the wall. I sometimes see people I care about through rose-colored glasses, but one thing I also am is real, okay?! What you see is what you get.”
She pointed her finger at Patrice as she rounded the table, drawing closer. “Too bad I can’t say the same thing about you!”
“What exactly do you think I’ve done, Cassidy? I have been nothing but a friend to you.”
“A friend? If your actions are those of a friend, then you’re the worst kind there is. You’ve told people I’m a sell-out, a mammy, a bed wench… You’ve said I’ve gone crazy… that the death of my grandmother made something break inside of me… You’ve said you could forgive me for dating a White boy as a kid, but as an adult, I should’ve known better. I let you talk all of this time, dragging my name in the mud, not because I wanted to give you another chance, but so you could hang yourself.” Cassidy sneered. “This way, when I fire your ass, you won’t have a legal leg to stand on. I’m not impulsive; I think things through. That’s why Onyx magazine is so successful. I work hard and so do most of the people I’ve hired. They’re too busy trying to do their job. They don’t have time to monitor other people’s comings and goings and report back that they were five minutes late coming into work or from break.” Her tone brimmed with disgust, her disdain for the woman growing by the second.
“Funny, you thanked me for letting you know that some of these people were taking advantage of you but now that you want to make a scene, all of that is out of the window. Please, don’t try to act innocent now, Cassidy. You were sick of it, too!”
“Show of hands! Was anyone in here confronted by me for being a few minutes late, ever?” No one raised their hands. Cassidy turned back towards Peaches. “I didn’t think so! I listened to you, said thank you, and tossed that shit out like five-day-old expired milk. You, on the other hand, talk shit about me now that I had to set you straight. Believe me, I’ve plenty of evidence of your dirty deeds. I have forwarded emails and text messages of you making jokes regarding Tony’s ethnicity and past, talking about he was probably someone’s girlfriend in prison and liked it. Communications saying I’m inept, that I’m not for the people. Something inside of you is dead and rotten, and baby, misery loves company. Speaking of company, I suggest you start your own. Call it ‘Flaming Hot Backstabbing Incorporated’ ’cause bitch, the knife is now out of my back and you’re fired. GET OUT!”
Applause broke out in the room as Peaches got to her feet and stormed out of the boardroom. Cassidy chased after her, clutching her cellphone. “Get all of your shit! Don’t leave one damn thing behind or it’s going in the trash! Security!”
In less than thirty seconds, two security guards approached Peaches as she placed items from her cubicle into a plastic sack.
“And make sure she doesn’t take anything company related. I already had her company emails retained and purged yesterday morning. Your password is de-activated and so is your building clearance.”
Peaches burst out laughing—an angry, hateful laugh. “You hate yourself, Cassidy
… you’re just sad. I will always stand up for Black love. You’re a disgrace to your race. Fuck what you’re sayin’. You’re a coon.”
“Honey, I have more love for myself in my baby toe than you have for your entire existence. Your behavior doesn’t have anything to do with Black love. Because if it did, you would begin by giving love to yourself first!”
…Several months later
They’d settled upon the Taglyan Complex for the wedding venue in the Grand Ballroom, also renting out the Garden Room area for photographs, reception and the special cake cutting. Additionally, this location provided the perfect backdrop for Tony’s art show that evening, only that was held in the foyer area, with refreshments provided on the patio. After several months of working for the L.A. Times under critical deadlines, it felt good to stretch his artistic, creative muscle again and showcase more of his fine art.
He’d settled in quite nicely at his new job, met a host of amazing people, and things were finally falling into place. Much to his surprise, his art event sold out and guests from all over Los Angeles, Nevada, and Oregon attended the occasion. His art was displayed on large easels, with a couple of pieces hanging from the walls. He’d had a few art shows before in Jersey, but this was the first one of this magnitude.
“Hi, how ya doin’?” He waved to someone walking past. “Enjoyin’ ya self? Good… good. Thanks for coming out.”
Just then, his lady caught his eye.
Cassidy stood across the room, but he could see her, hear her, feel her… She wore a long, white, shimmery gown that hugged her beautiful body like a glove. A long slit rose up the side, showcasing gorgeous dancer legs. The woman had worked the crowd all evening, walking about holding a glass of bubbly and ignoring his request to just sit back and relax.