by Cydney Rax
“Coco, let’s be real with each other. You likes to get down in the bedroom. Nothing wrong with that. But it sounds like you ending up sleeping with more than one man in the same day. Is that what happened?”
Coco slowly nodded as large tears streamed from her eyes. Her sister was blurry, but the memories of her betrayal were not.
“I see. Damn, Coco.” Alita could only process the information she’d asked for. But Alita was in no position to judge. She tried to sound understanding yet realistic.
“Coco, listen to me and listen good. I’m sorry you’re in this situation. I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy. And you’re going to have to forgive yourself for what happened, because nothing you can do will change the past. It’s all about the future. And we’re talking about a child’s life here. Somehow, someway, baby girl, you’re going to go back in time and remember who you slept with. You’re going to have to contact Chance’s father and tell him what’s going on. You better hope he’s man enough to give that blood so our nephew, your son, his son, can live a long life.”
“But, Lita, you don’t understand. I-I-I just can’t contact the father.”
“Why not? He’s still living? Is he in Houston? Do y’all stay in contact?”
Coco could only nod. The words escaped her. If her family knew her dirty little secrets, they’d never have anything to do with her again. She’d be hated. Scorned. She could not afford to lose her family.
With a critical decision to make, Coco wondered how to choose. Would it be her fiancé whom she loved very much, her family that meant the world to her, or would she sacrifice her only beloved son?
At that moment, she had no idea what to do or who to turn to.
After Alita left the room where Coco had been hiding out, Coco received a call that she’d been expecting.
“So Ma, is everything cool?” That was Q. He told her he felt a little dizzy after giving blood but he had to know how everything turned out.
How could Coco admit to this this man that he wasn’t Chance’s father? He was so into the boy that the truth would destroy him. She lied again. “Everything is great, Q. The baby is okay. He’s gonna make it.”
“Word? That’s cool, Ma.”
“Yep, sure is. You saved the day, Q.”
“I’m glad. So glad. Thank God my son is gonna pull through. I wish I could be there in the hospital with him, but that’s not the most important thing. He’s gonna be all right, Coco!”
She heard pure joy surge through Q’s voice. She silently thanked the Lord regarding Chance. But Coco couldn’t totally rejoice. In fact, if she could go back in time, she would probably pick the very day that this nightmare began.
As she listened to Q continue jabbering on and on about how thankful he was that the little boy would live, her heart sank. She mumbled a few words to Q then told him that the doctor had entered the room and she needed to go.
“Ms. Reeves, time is of the essence.”
“How’s he doing?” she asked.
“It’s not looking good.”
“What are my options? Since I don’t know who the daddy is, that shouldn’t stop my son from getting well. What if the daddy is dead, then what would happen? Can’t we find a stranger that matches my son’s blood type?”
“That is a possibility. It could help, but you’d have to contact a rare donor program. In fact we have one in the Houston area. See my nurse and get the information. Good luck, Coco.”
Feeling hopeful for the first time in a long time, Coco paid the nurse a visit and decided to leave the emergency room. Calhoun agreed to stay behind with Chance. She bit her bottom lip as she watched him sitting next to Chance holding his limp hand. The child was unconscious but still breathing.
“I’ve got important business to take care of, baby. I’ll be back as soon as possible. Call me if anything and I mean anything happens.”
Coco got on the road but she needed to make a pit stop. First, she called Baller Cutz, the second business establishment that Nate and Burgundy owned.
A barber answered the phone.
“Hey, is Burgundy around?” she asked.
“Yep, she is here. You want to talk to her?”
“No! Nah, I was just checking. Um, did she just get there? This is her sister.”
Coco purposely left out which sister she was. The barber confirmed that Burgundy had just arrived.
“Cool. I may check back with her in a bit. No need to tell her I called. Thanks.” Coco hung up. She drove over to Morning Glory.
As usual, Nate’s car was parked in his reserved spot.
Heart beating wildly, Coco rushed inside the restaurant and went straight to the business office, which was where he could usually be found.
She saw him seated at the desk, and she quietly shut the door behind her. He looked up from his computer.
“Hey there. What’s going on?”
“Um, Nate. I need to ask you a huge favor.” Coco remained standing.
“What is it, Coco? Are you following up about getting put on payroll? If so, that’s already in the works—”
“It is? That’s good. But no, Nate, I want to talk to you about something really urgent. I-I need you to go to a blood donor center and anonymously donate your blood. See,” she continued, “I know that you are someone that has this rare blood type. As it so happens, my baby boy,”—she barely kept herself from bursting into tears—“he is in the emergency room, Nate. He’s anemic. I had no idea until now. Anyway, my baby boy needs a blood transfusion or else . . .”
His eyes wet, he nodded as if he understood.
“I’ll do it. Where do I go?”
“Thank God. Um, and as you already know this has to stay on the low. I don’t want anyone to get the wrong idea. See, this guy I know named Q, he donated and I told him that his blood actually has done some good. But it wasn’t true, Nate. You know how it is. And, well, that is what he needs to believe even if it ain’t legit. It’s complicated.”
Nate nodded again, his face growing ashen. “No need to explain. I’ll do my best. Give me the info and we’ll make it happen.”
Coco thanked her brother-in-law and went to get back in her vehicle. She sat there for a full ten minutes, hopeful that the blood was a perfect match, then something good could finally happen for her.
But how long the goodness would last was something she did not know.
* * *
Dru stood next to Elyse in front of her bathroom mirror.
“All right, Elyse, repeat after me. ‘Ay, eee, I, oh, oooh.’”
“Dru!” Elyse protested.
“Go on. I know you probably feel like you’re still in elementary school but do it anyway. These exercises are going to help you.”
Right then Gamba stepped into the bathroom. Elyse smelled him before she saw him. That fragrant cologne of his made her want to touch him.
“Listen to your sister,” he said. “Do every single thing she tells you.”
Elyse instantly obeyed Gamba. And when Dru insisted that she repeat sounds like “Bee, cee, dee, ee, ef, and gee,” the girl did that too.
Twenty minutes later, Dru felt satisfied. They left the bathroom and went and took a seat on some barstools in the kitchen. Dru presented a tiny plastic storage container and opened the lid.
She handed Elyse a tube of mascara.
“Go ahead, Sis. Fix your face. You have ten minutes to do everything I’ve taught you.”
Feeling energized, and not even minding that Gamba was a captive observer, Elyse went to work. She sat before a lighted mirror and applied mascara, curled her eyelashes, swiped her lips with glitter gloss, and dusted her cheeks with blush.
It was early Saturday morning in late March. Based on the coaching that Elyse received from Dru and Gamba, she felt ready. More confident.
It was almost time for Elyse to head for work. She excitedly grabbed her purse and cell phone.
“You look beautiful. And you did this all yourself.” Dru beamed at her.
“She’s doing excellent,” Gamba agreed as he walked with them to Dru’s car. He opened the door for her and watched her get in. “And don’t forget to walk around with your back up straight and your head held up high.”
“I won’t forget,” she promised. On an impulse she hopped out of the car and rushed into Gamba’s arms. He laughed and swayed with her back and forth, patting her on the back and giving her much needed encouragement.
She lifted her lips up to him and closed her eyes. But instead of feeling his mouth on hers, she felt two fingers. She opened her eyes and looked up at him. He shook his head no. She was disappointed but understood. She needed to remain focused. Her emotional recovery depended on that.
As Elyse thought back on the past few months, things had been going well. So very well that she could not remember a time when she felt more alive. Her lessons with Gamba were growing more intense, and she felt like a caged animal ready for battle. And Dru had been so generous lately, buying her things like hoop earrings and bangle bracelets. She’d also purchased new items for Elyse’s wardrobe, which badly needed updating: items that she would take with her during the trip to New York and casual pieces she could wear on the weekend; she even splurged and bought Elyse a lovely sleeveless black dress that she could put on for a more formal affair. Gamba had been with them when Elyse tried on the outfit, and she came out of the dressing room to see how he liked it.
He nodded and smiled with much approval.
“Every woman needs a nice black dress. They are always in style. Plus you need to show off your legs, girl,” Dru told her.
“I can’t believe I’m wearing more dresses,” Elyse muttered.
“I must warn you, you’re going to attract a lot of attention from men. But don’t let it freak you out. Stay calm and in control.”
Elyse shot a worried look at Gamba. Could he witness the changes in her? The fact that she was becoming sexier than she’d ever dreamed. Did he even notice? And furthermore, did Gamba mind? Was he afraid that some other guy would finally snatch her up right from under him? No, she concluded. He gave her little compliments, but overall it seemed like he was just as unbothered as he’d always been.
And Elyse, not ever having had a real boyfriend, did not know if his nonchalance was evidence of his good character or if it was something to worry about.
Once the two women were settled in the car with the engine running, Dru started driving Elyse to Morning Glory. She turned on the radio, found the NPR station, and said, “Elyse, I want you to listen to these newscasters. Repeat everything they say.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re going to learn how to pronounce your words properly and how to enunciate like I know you can.”
“That’s dumb.”
“No, Elyse, talking like you’re stupid is what makes people sound dumb. Go ahead and don’t resist me. I’m trying to help you. You’re about to go among all kinds of people at that job: business people, politicians, preachers, attorneys. They may not even say one word to you, but if they do, you must be able to talk to anyone and look them in the eye no matter what level they’re on.”
Elyse agreed to give it a try. She listened. She repeated the news. She laughed when she messed up but started the process all over again.
“Great job,” Dru said and beamed at her with pride.
Elyse got dropped off in front of the restaurant. She walked in with her head held high, feeling ready for whatever. And she continued doing the menial tasks that she’d been paid to do since she was first hired: replacing bottles of ketchup and hot sauce on the tables and making sure the salt and pepper shakers were filled and washing dirty dishes by hand.
She handily did her job, plus other minor tasks that the shift manager assigned to her. And an hour later, when Nate emerged from the business office and saw her, at first his face registered shock. Elyse felt just as surprised as he looked. She did not know he was there. She felt an urge to turn around and run, but something made her stay put.
“Who is this woman? Is she a new hire?” he asked.
Elyse hadn’t come across Nate in months. Alita insisted that she work when Nate wasn’t around, and Burgundy had agreed to that plan.
And right then, instead of letting the manager answer Nate, Elyse felt a surge of boldness. She stepped up to her brother-in-law.
“Hi, Nate. It’s me, Elyse.” She raised an eyebrow at him and did not welcome him with a smile.
“Oh, uh, um, hmm. I didn’t recognize you.” Embarrassed to see her, he started to scurry away. He knew that his wife had forbid him to even be near the girl. But Elyse noticed his nervous reaction and she stopped him.
“Dat’s fine. I mean, that’s all right, Nate. I’m good. No need for you to run scared.”
The manager eyed them warily.
“Uh, no,” Nate finally said. “I do have to go. I have, um, errands to run. That’s what I meant. I’ll be back in a few . . . a few hours.”
When she could no longer persuade him to remain in the restaurant, it gave Elyse great pleasure to watch him leave out that door. Running like he was trying to evade an arrest.
“It’s working,” she said to herself. “And it’s just the beginning.”
Chapter 6
Why Did I Want to Get Married
Alita paid a visit to her man’s house one morning in mid-April and brought Elyse with her. They were in the living room, Alita comfortably sitting on Shade’s sofa.
Elyse was perched on the floor between her legs as Alita braided the young woman’s hair.
“Hey, Alita, that’s looking pretty good.” Shade stood nearby watching.
“It’s all right. I couldn’t get hired to work in a salon, but this’ll do. It’s way better than how she used to wear it . . . all nappy and covered up.”
“You have a lot of skills. In fact, I’m proud of you and how you’ve stepped up to the plate to help care for your sister.”
“Yeah, well. I’m just doing what family does. See, remember, I’m the oldest, and ever since I could count to one hundred, I remembering having to help out with all the girls. Dru, Coco, this one here.” She laughed. “I was so much older than the younger sisters I felt like their mother a lot of times.”
“Did you feel robbed of your childhood?”
“Something like that. But it was all good.” Her funny-sounding voice fell to a faint whisper. “Too late to change things anyway. What’s done is done.”
“Alita,” Shade said. “Everything all right?”
“Everything is the way it’s gone be.”
“That sounds negative.”
She said nothing.
“C’mon, love. Talk to me. You’ve been acting a bit distant, not like yourself. What’s going on? Is it Leno?”
Alita’s face brightened. “There you go. My knucklehead son has been screwing up. I guess since basketball season is over he’s acting like he’s lost his damned mind.”
“Doing what?”
“Hanging out with his fellow knuckleheads. Whoever you hang around is who you’ll end up becoming.”
“Maybe,” Shade said with a smile, thinking about how crazy his woman acted a lot of times.
“The scouts are always watching,” Alita replied. “And that means that Leno has to practice in and out of season just like LeBron does. Stay ready. That’s the only way he’s getting drafted to the pros.”
“Alita, sweetie. I told you that there are no guarantees.”
She stopped braiding Elyse’s hair and stood to her feet. “I guess I’m wasting my time then, huh? I guess driving Leno to basketball camps and paying for extra coaching lessons and making him feel like he is something special is a total waste? Is that what you’re telling me, Shade? That my son is only guaranteed to be a failure?”
Shade tried to hug her, but she pushed him away.
“I’m sick and tired of dreams that turn into nightmares
. I just am!”
“Go on, sweetie, get it all out.”
“They tell you to prepare for the future. Have a plan. Write it down. And work on it to make it all happen. You can have whatever you like. That’s total BS. Life isn’t easy like that. Real life throws curveballs. And sometimes the balls hit you in the head and knock you out.”
“True, sweetie. Bad things can pop up. But even if they do, that’s no reason to give up on life or your dreams. No reason to be afraid that things can’t turn around for the good.”
“Save it, Shade. Those types of fairy tales happen to everyone else. People whose stories get told in People magazine. Not to average people like me.”
“You’re not average, and don’t you ever say anything like that again.”
At that moment Alita was afraid that her man did not know her as well as he thought.
“Come here,” he said. This time when Shade tried to hug Alita, he forced her to accept the warmth of his arms. She calmed down. His arms felt soothing and strong as he whispered words of encouragement.
“No matter what, you have to trust that things will be good. Everything’s going to work out fine.”
Alita drew strength from him right away. It was amazing that no matter how despondent she felt, Shade could ease her fears.
Alita stared at Shade Wilkins in fascination. If she looked at him too long, would he disappear? Why did good things last so long before they turned into something else?
“I want to believe, but I’m afraid.”
“Alita, baby. Stay strong no matter what happens to Leno. You have to set the example.” He released her and looked pointedly at Elyse.
“Technically, you are now her guardian. And you are coparenting Leno. You must stay strong and positive for the both of them. Forget about yourself. Think about the kids.”
She agreed. “Again, you’re right. I gotta be strong even when I don’t feel it.”
“That’s the thing, Alita, the strength is there. It’ll come out at the right time to prove to you that you’re stronger than you think you are. You’re an overcomer. Most of us find these things out eventually.”