by Tracy Brown
“Back the fuck up!” Sunny meant business, and all of them backed down. Raquel wasn’t so drunk anymore with a gun in her face. Jada got on her feet, her fur jacket completely destroyed. Sunny brushed Jada off with one hand, and held the girls at bay with the gun in the other. P.J. came out of the club, and saw Sunny with her heat drawn.
“Yo, what the fuck is goin’ on out here?” he asked, shaking his head. There was always some shit between these two!
‘“Yo, P.J., let me get up outta here.” Sunny eyed Raquel meanly. She wanted to get to her car, and get home to her man. That was all.
P.J. nodded his head. “Go ahead, Sunny. I got you.”
Sunny put her gun away, and led Jada off, while P.J. stood there watching Raquel and her crew to make sure they didn’t do anything crazy. Sunny got Jada inside the truck, and let her have it. “What kinda shit was that, Jada?”
“You heard what she said about Born! I don’t let bitches talk to me like that, Sunny.”
Sunny shook her head. “But look at my outfit tonight, ma.” Sunny looked at Jada as if she was crazy, “Bitch, I got on fuckin’ three-inch heels! You don’t start fighting four Brooklyn bitches when I’m in a twenty-thousand-dollar coat and fuckin’ stilettos!”
Jada stared at Sunny, dumbfounded. And then she burst out laughing. Sunny laughed, too, at the absurdity of what they’d just done. Jada apologized. “I’m sorry, Sunny. I didn’t think, I just reacted. She the type of bitch that’ll make me go back to jail. I don’t play when it comes to my man. I don’t need bitches like that checking for him. Now she knows without a doubt that Born is off-limits.”
Sunny shook her head. “Please! Now all she knows is that Born’s bitch is crazy and she got one less mink jacket from getting a BK-style ass whooping.” Sunny looked at Jada sideways.
Jada shoved Sunny playfully in the arm, pretending to be offended. They laughed and headed home, with another night to reminisce over in the years to come.
24
ULTERIOR MOTIVES
Months passed, and then Jada got a surprise. She got a letter from Ava. It was spring break at U Penn, and she wanted to come back to New York for the vacation. She wanted to know if she could stay with Jada and Born, since they’d recently purchased the new house. Jada was, at first, excited. This would be the first time that she and Ava would have a chance to hang out and catch up since Jada’s release from rehab and Ava’s going away to college. But then paranoia set in, and Jada worried that Sunny might let slip around her unknowing sister that they got high on occasion. This was still Jada’s little secret, and she worried that she would be exposed. She planned to bring Ava along on her excursions with Sunny, to show her off in their inner circle. But suddenly she wasn’t so sure that Sunny wouldn’t let their secret cat out of the bag.
Ava also had another revelation enclosed within her letter. She had reunited with their mother via letters they had written to one another when Ava was away at college. Ava had been the one who had initiated the correspondence, by writing a letter to her mother on the advice of her group home counselor, Mrs. Lopez. Jada was shocked. She thought that Edna’s refusal to defend Ava against J.D. would be unforgivable. Jada was also still bitter with her mother for her own reasons—mainly for throwing her out, and for turning a blind eye while Jada was strung out on crack. Jada felt envious that Edna had responded to the letter Ava had written her while she’d ignored Jada’s letter to her mother while she was in rehab. Once again, Jada felt rejected.
Not only had Ava made amends with their mother, and forgiven her for the situation with J.D. that had led to Ava’s suicide attempt, but she was going to church with Edna on Easter Sunday. Ava invited Jada to come along, and Jada respectfully declined. She still didn’t want to reconcile with their mother, who Jada felt was heartless and selfish. Jada wasn’t ready to let bygones be bygones. Not yet. She wondered how Ava was able to forgive their mother. Jada hadn’t forgotten that she and her sister had been forced to endure the horror of J.D. while Edna had sat idly by and done nothing. How could that be forgiven? Jada chalked it up to yet another situation where poor, gullible Ava was falling prey to some monster. She could forgive Edna all she wanted. Jada refused to do the same.
Even though she didn’t understand Ava’s willingness to reconnect with their mother, she was still thrilled about seeing Ava again. Jada fixed up one of the guest rooms for her sister’s arrival, and she anxiously awaited the day Ava would be back in her midst. When at last the day arrived, Born went with Jada to the train station to pick her sister up. Penn Station was packed, and they stood among hundreds of people looking for their soon-to-be houseguest. Born only knew that she was Jada’s little sister, whom he had never met. But when Ava stepped off the train, and Jada took off running toward her, Born’s jaw went slack with surprise. Ava was even more beautiful than her sister. Her hair was naturally long and hung down to the middle of her back, bone straight. Her eyebrows were arched to perfection, with eyes just as encompassing as her sister’s. She was clearly Jada’s sibling, but she had a more exotic beauty than her sister possessed. Born was secretly smitten.
Jada excitedly introduced Born to Ava, and they all greeted one another and proceeded to the parking lot. Ava was all smiles, as she took in her sister’s sexy outfit and pricey clothes. Born kept silent as the two women talked nonstop from the terminal to the parking lot. Once inside the car, Jada decided she was hungry, and Ava was also starved after her trip. They drove through midtown until they found a Popeye’s chicken spot. The ladies asked Born what he wanted, and then went inside to get their food. They had been in there for close to ten minutes when Ava came out alone. She climbed into the backseat, and began explaining before Born had a chance to question anything.
“Jada wanted the Cajun fries, and it’s gonna take them ten more minutes to make them,” she said. She opened up her bag of food and reached in for a drumstick before pausing. “Is it alright if I eat in your car? This is really nice, by the way.”
Born smiled. “Yeah. Thanks. Go ‘head and eat. I don’t mind.” He wouldn’t have denied her much, as pretty as she was. He felt guilty for his feelings, since he was in love with her older sister. But, damn, she was so pretty.
Ava bit into her chicken. “So, I guess you’re excited about your new house, huh?” she asked. “I can’t wait to see it.”
Born watched her through the rearview mirror as she daintily chewed her food with her mouth closed, just like Jada. He caught himself staring, and he diverted his gaze and looked out the window at New York City, as alive as ever. “Yeah. Jada fixed it up real nice, too. Sunny helped her do it. It’s real cozy, and all that. You can make yourself at home, you know? How long are you staying?”
Ava shrugged. “I have two weeks to do what I want. I might stay with you guys for the whole time, or I might go visit my mother for a while.”
Born was surprised by this, since Jada hadn’t told him that her sister and mother had reconciled. He was under the impression that Edna was estranged from both of her daughters. He frowned, and Ava noticed.
“I know. She did a lot to hurt me and my sister. But I think, in a way, we did a lot to hurt her, too.” Ava paused, wondering how much Born knew about her sister’s past; about the drugs. She didn’t want to reveal too much. “I know that when we were little, Mommy fucked up. She put us in danger, she compromised our safety for her own selfish reasons. That shit nearly cost me my life. But me and Jada kinda turned our backs on her, and left her by herself. There’s so much about our mother that I didn’t know, and Jada won’t listen. Anyway, my moms got saved, and she’s all into church now. So I found it in my heart to forgive her. I think Jada should try to do the same thing. But she’s stubborn, and she’s still mad. I understand. But I want her to try to forgive Mommy, too.”
Born nodded. “Yeah. I understand Jada feeling like she does, though. She thinks her moms left her out there when she needed her. It’s hard to forgive your parents sometimes.”
Ava wond
ered if he was speaking from experience. She looked at him, noticing for the first time how Born seldom smiled, but his eyes were still so soft. Jada came back to the car with her bag of goodies, and off they went to Staten Island.
The conversation along the way consisted mostly of the sisters catching up on what was going on in one another’s lives. Born kept his eyes on the road ahead, and contributed his two cents to the conversation when it was needed. He couldn’t believe that the gorgeous young lady in the backseat had once tried to end her life. What a waste that would have been, he thought. It was hard to keep his eyes off of her. To Ava, Born seemed like a nice enough guy, and he showed affection toward her sister. Even when Jada started nagging Born about getting the toilet in their master bathroom fixed, he took it like a champ, and said all the right things to get her to shut the fuck up. Ava was impressed. She was happy that Jada had found someone who was as low-key and mature as Born seemed to be.
Once they arrived, Jada got Ava situated in her guest room. Ava was anxious to meet Sunny, whom she’d heard so much about. They changed clothes, and got ready to meet her in Manhattan for dinner and drinks. Dressed to impress, they headed for BeeBee’s Soul Food on Forty-ninth Street. When they got there, Sunny was already seated with a glass of chardonnay in front of her. She stood to greet Jada and her gorgeous sister as they came near.
“Oh my God, you’re even prettier than Jada!” Sunny hugged Ava before they were even formally introduced. She was high, though she was managing to maintain her composure, for the most part. Jada smiled, recognizing that her friend was high. But Ava was oblivious, thinking Sunny was just excited and outgoing.
Jada laughed, and pretended to be offended. “Thanks, bitch.”
Ava was laughing, as Sunny finally released her. Jada shook her head, smiling. “Anyway, Ava, this is Sunny as you can see.”
Sunny sat back down, and the sisters joined her. Jada and Ava ordered their drinks, and Ava took in the ambiance of the restaurant until their drinks arrived. Sunny looked at Ava, with her long hair and chiseled face, and smiled. “So, you’re Jada’s sister, home from college, and you want to have fun, right?”
Ava grinned, as if Sunny had read her mind. “Exactly!”
Jada shook her head, wondering if Ava was prepared for Sunny’s version of fun. “Tell Sunny what you do for fun at college, Ava.”
Ava shrugged. “Go to the movies, read, exercise, or watch TV. Either that or mess around with the few guys worth being bothered with.” She sipped her Bacardi and Coke.
Sunny waved her hand, dismissively. “We ain’t doin’ none of that shit!” Ava almost spit out her drink from laughter. “That don’t sound like fun at all!” Sunny frowned.
Ava shook her head. “I don’t have much fun out there. It’s all work, and very little play. That’s why I couldn’t wait to come back to New York.” She looked at Sunny. “Jada kept telling me how much fun you are, and I wanted to see for myself. You two go to clubs all the time, from what she tells me. I’m surprised the men in your life don’t complain.”
Jada waved her off. “Please. Born is so busy himself that he probably don’t even notice that I’m in the clubs that much.”
Ava looked doubtful. “What about you, Sunny? Do you have a man? Does he mind you going out all the time?”
Sunny grinned slyly at the pretty young girl. “My baby likes for me to go out and be seen. I make him look good.”
Ava laughed. She could tell that Sunny was a handful. She held her glass up in a toast. “To spring break!”
Jada and Sunny leaned forward and clinked glasses with Ava to celebrate her quest for fun in the city. They ordered, Sunny opting for only a salad, while the sisters went all out with soul food entrees.
Sunny looked at Jada and her sister, and saw two very different people.
One—Jada—was a street savvy sex kitten with an edge to her, courtesy of her status as a bailer’s bitch. Jada had style, and a way about her that made her seem tough and in control. Sunny suspected that there was one hell of a story behind her good friend. In Ava, she saw a young lady with unmistakable beauty who seemed to have an innocence about her that Jada didn’t possess. Sunny’s first impression of Ava was that she was a little naive, and was quite amazed by how well her older sister had done for herself.
Over dinner the ladies conversed about the things ladies love: clothes, shoes, and men. It was the last topic that caused the conversation to take an interesting shift.
Sunny had just finished a tirade, something about men not being shit. “So, speaking of men,” Ava began. “It has to be nice having men who are so powerful and so wealthy. But do they complain that you two don’t do anything all day?”
Silence.
Jada wondered where the hell that remark had come from. “I do something all day, Ava. It’s a job taking care of the house, and making sure Born’s happy when he comes home. Don’t you think so?” Jada looked at Sunny.
Sunny looked bored with Ava. “I don’t think Dorian cares whether or not I do something all day. He loves me. Have you ever been in love, Ava?”
Ava considered the question. “Yeah. Well, I thought I was at the time. But that’s irrelevant.”
Sunny rolled her eyes again.
Ava figured that Sunny wasn’t enjoying her use of big words like irrelevant. She tried to dumb down her lingo for her audience. “All I’m saying is, your lifestyle seems really nice. It looks and sounds real glamorous. But I think it’s so much better to get your own, to pursue academics or learn a trade until you make your own money. That’s all I’m saying.”
Jada shook her head as if Ava had it all wrong. “So you think we’re lazy?”
Sunny’s eyes narrowed. She was five seconds from being turned off by Jada’s little sister.
Ava shook her head. “Nah. I’m not saying that at all. That’s what makes you happy. But for me, I think it would be weird. No disrespect, but it seems like y’all get dressed up and go to parties out of sheer boredom. And that would drive me crazy—”
Sunny held up her hand as if she wanted Ava to stop talking. “Enough,” Sunny said in a low voice. She sighed, heavily. “You have a lot to learn, Ava. Let me teach you. First of all it seems to be an enchanting lifestyle because it is. To me it’s like waking up in a fairy tale every day. I have the man that I want, the house that we earned together, and the fruits of his labor and mine to show for it. If I wanted to do for myself, I could. And I will. When I’m ready. But for now, it works for me just fine the way it is.” Sunny smiled, and her previously icy demeanor melted to reveal a soft, beautiful face. “I’m gonna show you what I mean. By the time you leave to go back to your Ivy League campus, you’re gonna see that it can be nice to live the way the other half lives every now and then.”
Ava looked skeptical, and Jada smiled in anticipation.
For the next four nights, the three of them partied at all of New York’s hot spots. Sunny took joy in letting Ava wear some of the outfits that Sunny herself felt were old, even though they weren’t. These were the clothes she felt she could only be seen in once a year, at most. Ava filled them all out beautifully, and everywhere the ladies went they turned heads and stopped traffic. Ava, being the youngest and the most unfamiliar face in Jada and Sunny’s circle of friends and associates, was the center of attention most often. She soaked it all up humbly, truly enjoying her sister’s company, and having fun getting to know Sunny. She drank very little at first. But by the second and third evenings, Ava was drinking more, and more. She was tipsy by the time they got home most nights, and Jada loved seeing her let loose for once. Ava was having fun, and she almost dreaded having to go back to school eventually. It had been so long since Ava had lived a life of excess. Her drinking and weed-smoking days were long behind her. Watching Jada battle crack addiction had been a huge wake-up call for Ava. But now, soaking up her sister’s extravagant lifestyle, Ava was beginning to see what she’d been missing.
Jada and Sunny managed to get high without A
va knowing what was going on. One of them would chill with Ava on the dance floor or at the bar, while the other went to the bathroom and got high. Ava was letting her hair down, meeting men, and enjoying the lifestyle of the rich and ghetto fabulous.
By day four, the ladies had been partying like crazy, nonstop. Ava was amazed that she found it hard to keep up with her sister, who was older than her by two years! She wondered where the hell Jada got all that energy. It seemed like she never slept. She never got tired. And Sunny, being the social butterfly that she was, knew all kinds of people from all walks of life. They hadn’t stood on line at one event the entire time. Night after night they walked through the velvet ropes with all eyes on them.
One night, as they came in exhausted, Jada staggered upstairs to crash in her king-size bed. Born wasn’t home yet, and without undressing, she climbed into bed and passed out in a comalike sleep. Ava went to her own room, and gathered her pajamas. Then she headed for the guest bathroom downstairs to take a shower. She washed her hair, cleansed her body, and shut the water off when she was done. The house was quiet as she stepped out of the shower into the cool air, letting her body dry naturally as she wrapped her hair up in a towel like a turban.
Meanwhile, Born had come home, tired from a long night spent chilling with Dorian, and making moves as usual. He had been hanging with Dorian and his crew more than ever, and soaking up the crazy lives they lived. Dorian had many women, aside from Sunny. Each one was more beautiful than the next. Most of the guys in their crew cheated on their women, since pussy was something so readily available to hustlers of their caliber. Born kept quiet about it, and didn’t knock them for what they chose to do. But the love he had for Jada prevented him from stepping out on her. He was faithful to her, loved her completely, and didn’t indulge in the infidelities that Dorian did. The allure of cheating, and sex with dozens of women, had long ago dissipated for Born, and he was happy with the love he shared with Jada alone.