Chapter Fourteen
Monica and Quinton went back to the hotel and locked themselves in the room. It was time for both to face the music, so to speak. Normally it would be ladies first, but Quinton decided to forgo manners and start.
He explained that he and Latrell were and had been slinging drugs since they were young kids. Spending some time in prison was also on his resume. His parents had both been killed in a car accident, and he was homeless for a year. Malik owed him close to thirty grand, and if he didn’t pay up, he would have him dealt with.
With Quinton breaking the ice with confessions of drugs and death, Monica felt at ease when her turn rolled around. Gradually Monica began to come clean. Hours passed as Quinton watched the love of his life fall apart. He always thought his life was rough, but Monica had cornered the market. Her shit was harsh from the get-go. He kissed her face as he consoled her.
Monica was exhausted from the combination of talking and crying, and she wanted nothing more than to take a nap. She reached out for Quinton’s hand, leading him over to the bed and pulling him on top of her. “Please hold me. I need you,” she begged. “I want you to make love to me.”
Quinton wasted no time fulfilling her request. All the years of her imagining what it would be like paled in comparison to reality. Monica felt pleasure and pain together. Quinton took his time and caressed every inch of her virgin body. With each touch of his strong hands, she got weaker. With every thrust, she became more in tune with his body, and they soon moved as one. Just when Monica thought it was over Quinton kept going. He had been patient, and now he wanted his reward: Monica.
* * *
The next morning at breakfast, Monica had a strange look on her face, and Kanina noticed. “Oh my God. Y’all did it,” she screamed.
Monica blushed as Quinton gave Latrell a stupid expression of getting caught being naughty. “Damn, dawg, get ya girl. She’s on the nut.”
They all burst out with laughter because Latrell’s nosy ass also wanted the answer to the million-dollar question.
Finishing up with their meals and all feeling good, they decided to go for a walk along the beach. As Quinton and Monica walked, she revealed that one day she hoped to open her very own clothing store and name it after her brother. Quinton promised that sometime in the near future he would help her achieve her dream so she would feel secure and could stop shoplifting.
Over the next few days they spent in Miami, they went clubbing every night and ate like kings and queens. By the time Sunday morning arrived the group was worn out and ready to go back home. Quinton and Latrell let the girls sleep in while they went to finish their business dealings with Malik. Latrell started cracking his knuckles as soon as he got in the car, but Quinton had something else in mind.
* * *
The plane ride home was bumpy as they flew through some turbulence. Monica was hysterical, causing everyone else aboard to panic. She was breathing hard, crying, waving her hand in front of her face, and behaving as if there were no air circulating. Monica had easily become a virus. She even had grown-ass men acting cowardly in their seats. Quinton and Kanina tried everything to calm her down, but they were unsuccessful. Latrell told all the jokes he knew and still no cigar. There was only one thing that Quinton hadn’t tried. He’d wanted to wait until they got home, but this was an emergency.
“If I give you a present, will you be quiet?” he reasoned with Monica. “It’s something you want.” Monica, like most females, loved gifts, so she wiped her tears and acted brave. Quinton went in his pocket and gave her a slip of paper with some numbers scribbled on it.
“What are these numbers for? What kind of present is this? I’m lost.”
“They’re the confirmation numbers of the first shipment of clothes and accessories that are due to arrive at your apartment tomorrow.” Quinton beamed. “The rest will be delivered when you pick out your location.”
“I love you,” she shouted loudly.
“You promised to be quiet!” everyone on the plane yelled in unison. “So shut up!”
Monica asked Quinton a thousand questions. She was baffled about where he had gotten all of the stuff from. That’s when he informed her that he had struck a deal with Malik. He explained that Malik traded him $30,000 worth of merchandise at cost and plugged him in with his overseas distributor in exchange for the cash that he owed him. Monica was elated. The only thing she had to do was search for the perfect spot.
When the plane landed, all the passengers thanked Quinton for revealing his surprise early and shutting his woman down from acting a fool. When Monica and Kanina returned to their apartment, Monica started going through the pile of mail and found a letter from Sandra waiting. It said that she was getting released in ninety days and needed a place to stay. Monica was happy to find out that her friend would soon be home. Sandra wrote that she had over $475 saved that Monica had sent, to help with first month’s rent and security. Sandra ended the letter with the good news that after all these years she had gotten her GED. Monica was overjoyed. Now all she had to do was find an apartment and a storefront.
Chapter Fifteen
After weeks of searching for what Monica thought would be located on the uppity side of town where Kanina had grown up, she found the building for her new store right on the edge of her old neighborhood. Sure, there was a lot of poverty and hopelessness. Monica knew that part all too well. But contrary to belief, there were hundreds of good, God-fearing, hardworking people who lived and spent their paychecks in the hood.
The building was in desperate need of repair. It had stood abandoned for several years, and the elements had taken over. A pipe had burst, causing major water damage, the roof had a bad leak, and the crackheads and scrapers had stolen most of the fixtures.
Quinton had four different contractors come in and bid on the work that needed to be done to get Monica’s store up and running. When they found one who had the same vision as Monica, they hired him, and the transformation began. Carpenters, electricians, and plumbers joined forces to put the project together as soon as possible. Monica explained in great detail what she wanted, how she wanted it, and when she wanted it done. She planned on her store being the shit.
Monica was still in school, and she was trying to oversee the work crew at the same time. She had homework every week, and exams from time to time, causing Quinton to have to step up to the plate to sign for deliveries and see to it that the project stayed on schedule. He was used to helping Monica ease her worries. He loved her and only wanted her to have a happy, stress-free life.
When Monica came to him and explained that her good friend Sandra would soon be released from prison and needed a place to live, once again he saved the day. He offered a solution. Quinton owned some houses that he rented out for legitimate income. One was a brick two-family duplex on the west side of town. It was vacant, and he suggested that it would be just right for Sandra. The block was quiet with very few kids.
Monica jumped at the idea and took it one step further. Sandra would be occupying only one side of the house. Monica went back to her old building, and after days and nights of begging, she finally convinced Miss Lila to move into the other side. She was getting up in years and was a constant easy target, being victimized by the neighborhood junkies.
Day by day Monica and Kanina’s apartment was getting overrun by boxes and boxes of clothes and accessories for the store. The extra room was packed to the ceiling, and there was only a tiny walk space in the already-small hallway. The delivery man was a constant visitor and knew both girls on a first-name basis. He was at the door more than Quinton or Latrell. For that matter, he might as well have had a key to the apartment and a toothbrush.
One day, the girls sat in the living room and remembered the night that they had first met the fellas. Kanina said, “Girl, that was the best night of my fucking life.”
“Your life? What about mine?” Monica replied.
“You right. That nigga Quinton done put your ass o
n the map.”
“That’s my baby for real. He has hooked a chick up. If I had known that Negro laid like that, I would have been gave up the pussy.”
“Stop playing, Monica. You know that your ass had a combination lock, a padlock, and a choke hold on that kitty cat, so stop frontin’, bitch.”
“I was just waiting for the right man to come along, that’s all,” Monica laughed loudly.
“Yeah, right.” Kanina smiled. “He just happens to be clocking them dollars, huh?”
“Well, who wants to be poor but happy? Fuck what ya heard. The poor ain’t hardly happy.”
* * *
It was early April, and Monica and Kanina were preparing to fly to Las Vegas to attend a huge fashion trade show. The Magic Show had every major distributor and well over 3,000 up-and-coming designers who would be showcasing their latest lines for the season. Latrell had given Kanina a healthy clothing allowance, and she planned on spending it all. Monica was going so that she could make contacts and possibly do business with some of them. Yet the one thing at the top of her list was trying to find a unique gown for Kayla.
Although she was only a sophomore, Kayla was one of the most popular girls in school. She’d received three different invitations to the senior prom. So Monica was on the double alert of business as well as pleasure. Lucky for Monica, she and Kayla both owned the latest smartphones. Monica could take pictures of the dresses that she thought Kayla would like and send them to her via the phone.
Monica sent over twenty-five different snapshots of gowns. She still didn’t get the green light to buy one. Monica gave up on her little sister for that trip. She went on to focus on the store and the little extras she could find that would set it off.
* * *
Kayla was front and center at the door, waiting for the girls to come over for Mrs. Cooper’s Thursday night dinner of pot roast and peas. She had poor Mrs. Cooper drive her all around town to every boutique and dress shop they could think of. At every store they visited, Kayla saw one of her fellow classmates trying on dresses. Being spoiled, she would storm out without even taking the time to look. She wanted to be special.
“Hey, Monica. Hey, Kanina.” Kayla waved while grinning. “Can one of you do your little sister a gigantic favor?”
“I hate to hear what this is about.” Monica nudged Kanina.
“Yeah, you’re right. Ain’t no telling with this one,” Kanina joined in with Monica. Both peered suspiciously at Kayla, waiting for her to drop the bombshell.
“Stop playing, y’all.” Kayla hugged them at the same time. “I just need a ride somewhere after school tomorrow.”
Kanina snapped her fingers and waved her hand in a circular motion. “Well cool. That lets me off the hook. I have classes all afternoon.”
“Dang, G.” Monica broke loose from Kayla’s grip. “Where your little behind need to go?”
“You’ll be sorry,” Mrs. Cooper yelled from the kitchen. “That child done made me age ten years driving around looking for a dress.” All three of the girls laughed at her comments as they walked into the kitchen. They started opening the oven and lifting tops off the pots that were simmering on the stove. “You girls know it’s the same thing every Thursday. Now go wash your hands and, Kanina, get your father. Dinner’s ready.”
* * *
At exactly two thirty on the nose, Monica pulled up in the high school parking lot. The bell was just ringing, and all the students were starting to pour out the doors. They all stood around and took notice of the car Monica was driving. Quinton had just put brand new rims on the Vette and installed a state-of-the-art sound system.
When it seemed no one else was left inside, Kayla casually walked out and headed toward the car. She wanted everyone in school to see the sweet car that she was about to ride in.
“Did you forget I was picking you up or what?” asked Monica.
“No, I didn’t forget.” Kayla reached in the back and set her books on the seat. “I had to double back to my locker. I left my social studies notes.”
“Yeah, I bet.” Monica put the car in gear and backed out slowly. “Your li’l ass just wanna floss.”
“So damn what, Monica? Stop acting like you don’t like to show off too,” Kayla pouted.
Monica gave in and blasted the sounds loudly as they burned rubber peeling out of the parking lot and into the street. All the kids stood amazed and jealous, wishing that they were Kayla.
“Now are you happy? You got your big shot on. You big ol’ pimp. You mack. You playa.”
“Monica, quit doing that. You know you wrong.”
“Dang, Queen Kayla, can I be like you when I grow up?” Monica kept kidding her sister.
“Be quiet and drive me to my desired locale, and make it snappy.”
The two sisters joked with each other all the way to a small, out-of-the-way dress shop that Kayla had found in the yellow pages. She was dead serious about having a different dress. Monica tried her best to convince Kayla to get one of the gowns there, but she insisted that they were too tacky.
“Listen, Kayla, time is ticking. You gotta get a dress if you plan on going. Now what you gonna do? You gotta do something! You ain’t ’bout to run ya big sister all around.”
“Can we go to that mall out past the other side of the interstate? I know for a fact no one went that far to get their dress.”
Monica was instantly thrown off by Kayla’s question. She was talking about the very same mall where Saks was, the very same mall where she had been caught shoplifting, arrested, and dragged off to jail. Just thinking about that awful day gave Monica chills. She racked her brain to come up with any other shops to go check out, but her mind went blank.
“Well, Monica, can we go out there? Pleaseeee?” Kayla pleaded with her sister and gave her a sad look while acting like she was crying.
“Are you sure there’s nowhere else you can check? That’s a long drive, baby girl!”
“Come on, Monica. I promise I’ll find one.”
Monica once again gave in to Kayla’s spoiled act. She turned onto the street that would lead them to the interstate and face-to-face with a place Monica had chosen to forget.
Chapter Sixteen
The long drive on the interstate brought back the harsh memories of that day. Monica remembered Kanina begging her to go to the other mall. While Kayla was relaxed in her seat listening to the radio, all Monica could hear was the sound of the security guard’s voices yelling and screaming at her before she was handcuffed.
When they turned off at the mall exit, she saw the huge sign on the marquee that read SAKS. Monica could feel her heart pounding as she waited her turn in line for valet parking. She tried to keep her eyes focused straight ahead and not even glance at the spot where she had lost her freedom. It seemed like just yesterday she had those prom dresses in her hands and was home free.
When they stepped inside the doors, Monica felt a little dizzy and light-headed. She placed her hand on Kayla’s shoulder while they walked. The store’s interior was just about the same as Monica had remembered. From the pictures that hung on the pastel walls to the crystal chandeliers that lit the aisle, it was pretty much unchanged.
The girls got onto the escalator and made the trip up to the formal-wear department. Once again, Monica had flashbacks and started looking around, observing her surroundings for any signs of security. As hard as she tried to shake the feeling of always being watched, she couldn’t.
Kayla was in her own world as they approached the section that could be the answer to all of her problems. She looked over at her sister’s face and finally took notice that something was wrong. “Are you all right, Monica?” Kayla quizzed.
“Yeah. Let’s find you a dress.” She smiled. Monica was trying to play it off the best she possibly could, considering the circumstances.
The closer they got to the gowns, the more Kayla’s excitement grew in size with each step. She went from walking to skipping to an almost full-fledged sprint toward t
he high-priced, elegant department. “Wow, Monica. Look at this one.” Kayla was like a kid in a candy store with money to burn. “Ahhh, man! This one is sweet too!”
Monica watched her sister quickly fly through every display on the floor. There were red dresses with tiny white pearls attached. Some were mint green lace with big sashes, and there was an entire section devoted to black gowns in every style one could imagine. “Well take your time, Kayla, and find a few that you really, truly like, and then try them on.”
“It’s so hard. I have to make sure to have the perfect one,” Kayla responded as Monica looked across the aisle at the other side of the store: the half-off side, the discontinued side, the throwback side.
After ten short minutes of shopping, Kayla found the dress of her dreams. It was hanging up high on display with several others as if they were showcased in a fashion parade. Monica could tell that they weren’t the average gowns on the racks.
“Oh my God, Monica.” Kayla pointed. “That’s the dress I want right there. That’s the one.” It was a strapless off-white and pink dress with a long train that was detachable. It was directly in the center as if it were the main attraction.
“Are you sure that’s the one you want? Don’t have me have someone get it down and you change your mind.” Monica put her hands on her hips and stared Kayla in the eyes.
“Yes, it’s the one I want. I promise.”
“All right then, let me go and find a salesperson.” Of course, Monica was a little frightened of who she might run into, but she found instant relief when a young female approached them.
“Hello, how are you ladies doing today?” she inquired with a bright smile and pleasant disposition.
“We’re great, and thanks for asking,” Monica returned her greeting. “My little sister would like to try that dress on please.”
Kayla was hopping around from one foot to the other in eager anticipation of having the gown off display and on her body. Her praise for the dress was endless, as she couldn’t and wouldn’t be quiet.
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