After All (25 page)

“
Don't hate us because we're
beautiful.” Shantae waved her fingers in the air
regally.

“
Y'all slum for while. Sit
with us.” Laree got up to curtsy.

“
Well, I suppose the mayor
can wait a little longer.” Shantae let out a cackle as Cedric
pulled out a chair for her.

“
What took y'all so long to
get here?” Michelle munched on a hors d'oeuvre.

“
We got sidetracked,”
Shantae said casually.

“
Um-humph. I'll go get us
some drinks.” Blushing furiously, Cedric beat a hasty
retreat.

“
Shantae, you devil!” Laree
winked at her.

“
Why did you bother to come?
Wait, don't even go there!” Michelle held up a hand quickly seeing
the mischievous grin on Shantae's face.

They screamed with laughter, teasing
each other with bawdy puns and comments the way they had since high
school. When their men joined them, they exchanged conversations
loaded with double meanings. At Michelle's insistence, the two
couples abandoned plans to sit separately. They all crowded around
the tiny table having a jolly time. Michelle was leading them in a
chorus of a Mary J. Blige song when her smile faded. Keisha came
towards them with hips swinging seductively. She turned heads with
the form fitting jade dress she wore.

“
Hello, Anthony. My but you
look handsome as ever.” Keisha batted eyelashes thick with
mascara.

Anthony stood to greet her “H-Hi,” he
stuttered.

Keisha put both hands on his face and
kissed him full on the mouth. “Anthony, you promised to call me
about that subject we discussed.” She turned back to Anthony
clearly dismissing everyone else.

“
What? Oh, you mean the
building renovations for New Jerusalem Baptist Church. Yes, Rhonda
will call you to set up a meeting with the building
committee.”Anthony spoke in a loud voice putting emphasis on each
word. He turned to place a hand on Michelle's shoulder. “Keisha,
you remember Michelle. And these are our friends--”

“
Yes, hello. We should meet
before your plans are presented to the committee. Lunch on Friday?”
Keisha placed a hand on his arm.

“
Well--”

“
Good. See you then.”Keisha
strutted off with a wave.

“
Let's dance.” D'Andre
grabbed Laree tugging her up from her seat.

“
But wait.” Laree tried to
resist.

“
Now, Laree.” D'Andre pulled
her away.

“
Let's go.” Cedric jerked a
thumb in the direction of the dance floor.

“
My feet hurt.” Shantae
ignored his hint. “Girl, who does she think she is?”

“
That's your aunt over
there, Shantae. Let's go say hello. Now come on.” Cedric lifted her
up and with a hand firmly planted in the small of her back, guided
her across the room.

“
What was that about?”
Michelle folded her arms and glared at Anthony.

“
Like you heard, it's
strictly business,” Anthony said.

“
Does she always start off
her business conversations by sticking her tongue down a business
associate's throat?” Michelle snapped.

“
Keisha is the building
committee coordinator for her church. It's a project I got the bid
on months ago. Straight up business, baby.” Anthony held up his
hand as if taking the oath.

“
She's got taking care of
business on her mind all right. Swinging her butt in your face. And
you ate it up.” Michelle jabbed a finger in the air near his
nose.

“
Stop being silly,” Anthony
said with a laugh he cut short when she scowled at him.

“
Oh, I'm silly.” Michelle
spoke through clenched teeth.

“
No, I said you're acting
silly.” Anthony frowned at her in irritation. “I thought you were
more mature than this.”

“
Childish and silly. Unlike
Ms. Keisha, I supposed.” Michelle turned away from him
angrily.

“
Hold up. Let's not go
there. Take time to reason this through before you go off on
me.”

“
You let her kiss you, then
tell me I'm being silly for getting upset. She makes a date to have
lunch with you. Humm, have I left anything out?” Michelle fixed him
with a withering stare.

“
You're so lovely when
you're irate.”Anthony tried to joke her out of being angry. It
backfired.

“
Don't patronize me.”
Michelle stood up pushing her

chair back so hard it made a
screeching noise.

“
Chelle, come back here.”
Anthony tried calling out over the rising clamor of the band
starting a new song. He sighed in frustration at her retreating
back.

“
I'm going to the rest room
if you don't mind!” Michelle yelled over her shoulder.

Michelle weaved through the tables set
up around the dance floor. Her progress was slowed by friends and
acquaintances she met along the way. Finally she reached the exit
leading outside to a long dim hallway. The sounds of merriment
became muted with the closing of the doors behind her. Michelle sat
in a velveteen covered chair near the large glass windows that made
up the front of the building. The sounds of distant laughter and
the strains of the band's lead singer wailing a love song made her
feel lonely. Michelle winced as an instant replay of the scene
played out in her head. She did indeed feel silly.

“
I let that hussy play me.
She's probably planting her rump next to Anthony while I'm out
here,” Michelle muttered.

Footsteps approached and she turned
hoping it was Anthony. Instead Marcus loomed over her.

“
Hello, sweet thing. Got too
stuffy in there for you too?” He sat in the chair next to
her.

“
A little.”Michelle grew
uneasy with the way his eyes lingered on her legs. “How have you
been?”

“
Not bad. And you?” Marcus
draped an arm around the back of her chair.

“
Okay. Anthony is
here.”Michelle inched away from him.

“
Really? Damn, you look
tasty.” Marcus smacked his lips crudely.

“
Thanks.”Michelle recoiled
at the strong smell of alcohol on his breath. His eyes were glassy.
She glanced around. For the first time she noticed how isolated
they were from everyone.

“
I mean it.” Marcus began to
rub her shoulder. “Wanna hook up sometime?”

“
I don't think so. Excuse
me.” Michelle rose and walked away.

“
Nah, now. Don't be like
that.” Marcus pushed up on unsteady legs to follow her. “Where you
runnin' off to?”

Michelle tried to stay one step ahead
of him. Walking faster, she realized they were moving farther away
from the crowded banquet room. They were alone in the shadowy
hallway. Marcus clutched her upper arm and pulled her around a
corner. He held her against a wall with his face inches from
hers.

“
Wait a minute. Listen, we
oughta slip on outta here. You and me.” He fingered the sheer
material of her sleeve.

“
No, Anthony is looking for
me. I have to go.” Michelle attempted leave, but he crushed his
body to hers pinning her back.

“
You smell so good. Oh, baby
lemme--” Marcus began too nuzzle her neck.

“
Stop it, Marcus. Stop!”
Michelle shoved him with all her might trying to escape.

“
Come on, baby.” Marcus
breathed heavily in her ear as he made a grinding motion with his
hips against hers. His hands began pulling her skirt up.

“
No, get back!” Michelle
punched the side of his face causing his head to jerk
back.

“
I'm gonna give you a lesson
you won't forget. When I get through, you'll be begging for more.”
He shoved her into a small room with brooms and mops. “Get in
there. Think you too good for me? Let's see what Anthony been
getting.”

Michelle stumbled over a wash pail as
he pushed her into the dark. She kept herself from falling only by
grabbing a shelf. She spun around to face him.

“
Listen, you got messed up
and a little carried away. Let me out of here and we'll forget this
ever happened.” Michelle tried reasoning with him.

“
I ain't too messed up give
you something good.” Marcus fumbled with his pants
zipper.

“
I said no!” Michelle
slapped him. Frantic to find a way out, she clawed her way back
against a wall.

Suddenly a rush of air was followed by
loud clattering. Mops and brooms fell across her as Marcus seemed
to take flight before her eyes. Michelle swung out thinking he had
intensified her attack only to find nothing in front of
her.

“
You're dead, you bastard.”
Anthony shouted. He shook Marcus like a rag doll then slammed him
into the opposite wall.

“
Git your hands off me, man.
She was beggin' me to--”

The rest of his words ended sharply,
his voice muffled by Anthony's fist pounding his face in two rapid
blows. Marcus went down hard but immediately began to struggle back
upright. He launched himself at Anthony by pressing both palms
against the wall. Marcus swung wildly. Anthony's head snapped as
several glancing blows fell on his head and chest.

Michelle staggered out of the closet.
“Anthony, be careful!” Michelle screamed.”Help! Somebody,
please!”

The two men hammered away at each other
oblivious to the growing crowd around them. Marcus snarled as he
tore at Anthony's clothes. He kicked Anthony in the knee. Anthony
bent double but not before delivering a crushing jab to his left
jaw. Marcus responded with another jab to Anthony's
stomach.

“
Come on, man. Y'all gonna
wind up in jail.” Cedric broke through the crowd with D'Andre at
his heels.

“
Get back.” D'Andre blocked
Marcus from another attack on Anthony.

“
It's over, man!” Cedric
shouted. He grabbed both of Anthony's arms pinning them to his
sides. “Let's go. All right? Let's go.”

Marcus struggled to free himself from
several men holding him.”This ain't over! You hear me? This ain't
over! Get offa me. Man, I'll kill you!”

A security guard appeared and cleared
the area after making sure no one needed medical attention. The men
with Marcus assured him he would be leaving with them.

“
I'm not through with you or
her.” Marcus said, his eyes full of malevolence.

“
Maybe y'all should leave,
too.” The security guard turned to Anthony. He nodded in the
opposite direction Marcus and friends had taken. Checking to make
sure Michelle had her purse, they headed for the exit.

Cedric slammed a fist into his palm on
hearing what led up to the fight. “I wish I'd known, man. I woulda
helped you kick his butt.”

“
How you feeling, honey?”
Shantae and Laree hovered around Michelle protectively.

“
I'm fine.” Michelle tried
to sound brave. The slight tremor in her voice betrayed
her.

“
You should press charges,”
Laree said.

“
I just want to go home.”
Michelle sighed deeply.

They said their goodbyes and Michelle
insisted Anthony let her drive them back to his apartment. Once
there, she place a towel wrapped around ice cubes on his
head.

“
Are you hurt?”Michelle
stared at him with eyes large with fright.”You should see a doctor,
Anthony. He hit you really hard.” She put her arm around him but
drew back quickly when flinch with pain.

“
Just bruised up. Are you
okay? Did I get there in time?” Anthony stared into her
eyes.

“
Right on time.” Michelle
kissed him tenderly.

“
Messed up my plans for the
evening. But maybe-- ouch!” Anthony recoiled from an attempt to
move towards her.

“
I've got an idea.” Michelle
disappeared down the hall to his bathroom.

“
What are you doing in
there?” Anthony gingerly got up from the sofa.

“
Come on in. I have a reward
for my gallant rescuer.”

The large sunken tub was filling up
with steaming water. Michelle wore nothing but one of his pajama
tops with the sleeves rolled up. She beckoned him forward and
pointed to the tub. A wonderful scent came from the bubbling
water.

She held up a bronze bottle. “I found
this bath foam in the cabinet. Now let me handle
everything.”

Michelle helped him undress. Angry blue
bruises had already appeared on his shoulders. Yet the sight of his
muscled thighs, narrow waist, and broad shoulders stirred her. She
helped him into the tub carefully. Michelle massaged him gently
with long, slow strokes.

“
There's room in here for
two you know.” Anthony reached under the pajama top to brush his
fingers along the underside of her breast.

“
None of that now. Not after
the way you got knocked around tonight,” Michelle admonished
him.

“
Hmm, I'm feeling better by
the minute.” Anthony rose and pulled her to him.

“
You're getting me soaking
wet.” Michelle made no attempt to pull away.