Another Man Will (25 page)

C
HAPTER
47

Yvette

T
he New Year would be here in a few hours, and I could not wait. My children called me earlier to wish me a Happy New Year and tell me that they were going to the fireworks with their father. I was comfy on the sofa reflecting on how crazy the past year had been. Geneva had invited me over to bring in the New Year with her family, but I wasn't leaving the house. All I wanted was my glass of wine, a little television, and relaxation. That would be the perfect New Year. The phone buzzed on the floor and I answered to hear William say, “Good evening, beautiful. Do you have plans?”

“Hey, William. No. I will probably be asleep when the clock strikes twelve.”

“Oh no. I don't want you to be alone on New Year's Eve. My buddy and his wife are having a New Year's get-together. Why don't you join me?”

I thought about it and said, “Why not?”

I met William at the get-together, which was really an old head cabaret. Which meant everyone had to bring their own food and liquor for the guests at their table. It was held at a hall that hadn't been renovated since the eighties. I think the average age of the attendees was fifty-two. I couldn't believe that William had brought me out of my house to witness this “Step in the Name of Love,” “Cupid Shuffle,” old-head line-dancing fest. It was horrible. All the men were dressed in their Sunday best Easter suits with the hats to match. The ladies were snapping their fingers while line dancing in kitten heels. No one would be able to tell them they or their wigs weren't sharp. I felt like I was with my sugar daddy, the way William was prancing me around the party, introducing me as his lady to everyone he knew. A lot of the men gave him approving looks; a lot of the women weren't as kind with their stares.

We had a seat at his friend's table, and he asked me if I wanted anything to eat and drink. I said yes and asked him to get me a double shot of Hennessy and some macaroni and cheese. I was going to need something to keep me interested in this party. One of the ladies from Cupid Shuffle line came over and asked William about the restaurant and his granddaughter. As soon as she left, I inquired about him being a grandfather.

“Yeah, I have custody of my granddaughter.”

“Why do you have custody of her?”

“My son and her mother are in jail. What can I say? I sent him away to college. He wasn't doing what he was supposed to. I told him to come on home. He stayed down there and got himself in a bunch of trouble.”

“Wow.”

“Yeah, he didn't even tell me he had a baby. Of course, I went to get her when I found out Child Services were about to place her. I figured I'd keep her for a few months until their trial was over, but now it's been seven years,” he said, shaking his head.

“How long is your son going to be away?”

“Another three years, but I'm so used to her now. I don't know if I will let them take her when they are released. She is nine and in the fourth grade.”

“My daughter is the same age. Maybe they can meet up.”

“That would be good. She needs other girls her age to be around. She is so quiet and never goes out to play.”

“So who has your granddaughter now?”

“I have a lady that picks her up for me. She used to work for me and needed a job.”

“So she's like a nanny.”

“Yeah, Connie's way more expensive, but I need her. I'm constantly checking in on my businesses, and the restaurant keeps me very busy. She didn't have a car, so I had to buy her one, and I give her gas money to get Jalena around to all her activities.” I drank my second shot of Henny and began to enjoy William's company more. By the end of the night he got me on the dance floor, stepping and twirling the night away. We even had our picture taken by the picture man after he bought me a rose from the flower guy. I had a good time bringing in my new year with William.

C
HAPTER
48

Yvette

W
hew! That seventy-five hundred was so needed, but it also went as fast as it came. I think I had like four hundred dollars left. I paid everyone back, bought the kids gifts, treated myself to a few things, and that was it.

I was just getting off work and was on my way to Lena's to see William. We'd been spending a lot of time together the last month or so. He may have been forty-seven, but he didn't show his age, and he was really sweet and attentive. The other day we met at a day spa. I didn't know how he knew my body needed that attention. He was there getting his monthly deep-tissue massage and invited me for the works. After our massage he stopped in Neiman Marcus to pick up his suit, and we ended up shopping for me also. I didn't want anything. I mean, I did, but I didn't want him to spend a bunch of money on me, but he told me he liked to spoil whoever he was with. He had one of the salesladies come over to me and help me shop. I stopped fighting it and let him spend two thousand dollars on me and another fifteen hundred on himself.

When I stepped into Lena's, everyone catered to me like I was a queen, because I was William's friend. While I waited for the hostess to get William, the new bartender placed a napkin in front of me and began flirting. He was clean-shaven and smelled good. He had a bald head and almond-colored skin. He would be my type of guy if he wasn't working for William.

“What are you having, beautiful?”

“I don't know. What do you recommend?” I asked.

“I think you might like my famous tropical rum. It's sweet, it goes down smooth, and it makes you want more.”

“Sounds good to me. I'll take it.”

Right as I said, “I'll take it,” William came out and kissed me on my cheek. He asked me how my day was going while giving my neck a quick massage. The bartender placed my drink in front of me, and William said, “By the way, Andre, I see you have met my lady.”

“Yes, Mr. Nelson, we just met.”

“Okay. Watch how you observe her when she comes in here.” I was embarrassed, and the bartender laughed nervously.

“No, Mr. Nelson, I was just making her a drink.”

I tapped William on his hand and told him to stop. “So how is business tonight?”

“Business is always good on Thursday nights. It starts picking up. Are you cooking tonight?”

“No, probably not.”

“Order something for yourself and kids. Here's the menu.”

Looking down at the menu, I said, “I don't know if I'm going to be able to be with you.”

“Why not?”

“Because you'll have me fat with all this food.”

He laughed and said, “No need to worry. I like a thicker woman. Plus, it is too late. I'm already into you. And all my friends said we made a beautiful couple. They couldn't believe I had a girlfriend who's thirty-three.”

“So that's what I am. A young, sweet thang to you,” I joked.

“No, you are much more. Order something and call me when you get in. I have to hurry up and get back in there. You know we are short staffed again.” He left, then turned back to me and reached in his pocket, pulled money out, and handed me four one-hundred-dollar bills.

“What's this for?”

“For you. Treat yourself to something.”

“Okay, but I don't want you to think every time I see you, you have to give me money.”

“You didn't ask. I gave it to you. Now take it,” he said as he gave me a deep, strong squeeze of a hug and returned to the back. Before he left, he joked with the bartender that he was still watching him. The sexy bartender didn't even look over at me anymore.

I went home, and the apartment was clean. Mimi was doing her homework, and there was a bowl of chicken noodle soup, garlic bread, and hot tea waiting for me. Although I had dinner for them already, I didn't want to disappoint them and not eat the lovely meal they had prepared for me.

“Mom, I know you had a hard day at work. We cleaned the house and made dinner for you. Dad told us to start helping you out more,” Brandon said.

“I really appreciate this. Thank you.” I gave them both hugs.

“Oh, Mom, I forgot to ask you. Is it okay if I go with Mr. Walker to the art museum? He is on his way over,” Brandon said.

“That will be fine,” I said. His vice principal, Mr. Walker, had been mentoring him and you could definitely notice the change in him. Brandon had a dad, but it was good to have someone close who could get through to him. Doug asked me what was up with Mr. Walker and why was he paying so much attention to Brandon. I told him I didn't get the pervert vibe from him at all and that he was just a good principal going the extra mile.

Mr. Walker knocked on the door. I greeted him and asked him to come in.

“I thank you so much, Mr. Walker. Does he need money for anything?”

“No, we are only going to be gone for an hour or so, and I'll bring him right back.”

“I really appreciate the way you're helping my son. He doesn't get to see his dad often, because he is in Florida. So it is really nice for him to be around a strong male figure. Since you've been mentoring him I've noticed a change. The other day he said he was thinking about going to college, then law school to become an attorney. That's amazing, because before he just wanted to run stuff, and now he wants to be a lawyer.”

Mr. Walker laughed and said he was glad he could help.

C
HAPTER
49

Dana

“A
unt Dana, me and Mr. Walker are at the art museum. Can you meet up with us?”

“Uh, how long are you going to be there? I'm still at work, trying to complete a few things, Brandon.”

“Mr. Walker said we should be here for about an hour.”

I agreed to meet them. After my long day at work I really didn't feel like going anywhere, but I wanted to support Brandon.

I met them on the steps of the art museum, the ones that were made famous by the movie
Rocky.
Immediately, I noticed my nephew was dressed like a miniature, casual version of Mr. Walker. He was wearing a navy blue peacoat, pants, and hard-bottom shoes.

We walked around the museum, admiring the artwork. Some of it looked like something I or one of my nieces or nephew could have drawn, but beauty was in the eye of the beholder.

We stopped in front of a collection by a painter named Bartolomeo Vivarini. He was a painter from the Renaissance era. While we were admiring the large paintings on the wall, Brandon went to the restroom, leaving me alone to talk with Mr. Walker.

“Ms. Turner, do you know anything about this painter?”

“ No.”

“Do you see the texture? His painting reflects anger. His mother abandoned him, and he was an orphan on the streets of Paris. That's where all his inspiration came from.”

“Really?” I asked, seeing new depth in the picture and seeing it with a different set of eyes.

“No, I just made all of that up. I don't know anything about him.”

“You're really funny, Mr. Walker. So are you making my nephew a clone of you?”

“No. I had some old things, and I gave them to him.”

“That was really nice of you. He really needed a male role model in his life. He pays my father no attention. I can see the change in his demeanor and behavior already.”

“Your sister mentioned the same thing earlier.”

“Well, I'm glad I met up with you guys. I haven't been here in years, and this was really nice,” I confessed.

“When I drop Brandon off, would you like to get coffee at Brownie Joe's and discuss you possibly mentoring some of the young ladies at the school? They are still talking about you. You made a really big impression on them.”

“They are? Okay. I'll meet you at the Brownie Joe's on Nineteenth Street.”

We met at the Brownie Joe's coffeehouse. It was a small café with delicious desserts and great coffee. Mr. Walker was still trying to convince me to become a mentor, but I told him I didn't have the time.

“So, Mr. Walker, do you pay this much attention to all your students? How do you do it?”

“Yeah, I do, especially the students I see with a lot of potential and who have pretty aunts.”

“So are you trying to use my nephew to get to me, Mr. Walker?”

“Maybe, and Brandon is gone, so you can just call me Marcus.”

“Like the porn star Mr. Marcus?” I said jokingly.

“Exactly, like him. Are you familiar with his work?”

I blushed and said no, and we both laughed as my phone began to ring. I answered without looking, still giggling, and said, “Hello.”

“Hey, babe. Where are you? I called you a few times,” Adam's voice said from the other end.

“Adam, I had to meet up with my nephew and his mentor. I'll call you when I get home.”

“It's pretty late for a school meeting.”

“Yeah, its running a little over; we're almost done. I'll call you when I get home.” I hung up the phone and Marcus began inquiring about my relationship.

“I'm assuming that was your man.”

“Yup, it was.”

“How long have you been together?”

“About four months.”

“Only four months. So you are still getting to know him. Adam—that's a different name. I don't know any black Adams.”

“I know a few, but my Adam is not black.”

“That's interesting, because you don't take me as the kind of sister that would date other. No offense, but don't you want a strong man that looks like you standing next to you? I have nothing against interracial relationships, but I just only date black women. I'm not attracted to any other kinds of women. My boys date the rainbow, that's them. I don't.”

“Well, for us it just happened, and I think you have to be open minded. And my last boyfriend was a black man and he was a jerk. I bought me and my ex tickets to see Wade Devon. I love Wade Devon. He knew that and, anyway, an hour before the show he called me while I was getting dressed to tell me couldn't make it.”

“So you did you get to see Wade Devon?”

“Yeah, I did, but it wasn't the same seeing him with my girlfriend. He offered me money for the tickets, but I was just, like, it's over. At that point I'd had enough of him. So when you get a good guy, his race doesn't matter.”

“Well, I'm glad you found someone who treats you well.”

“I am too! How about you, Mr. Walker? Where is your girlfriend? I know you had ladies beating down your door since you were a kid.”

“No, not exactly. I was a weird kid. Some might say a geek. I didn't really start coming into my own until college. You know what else I used to think when I was growing up?”

“What?”

“That the news people knew God, because they knew the forecast. I said, ‘Hey, they must call up God and say, “What's the weather tomorrow and the next day?”' And I think I believed in Santa Claus and the tooth fairy until I was in the eighth grade.”

“That's funny.”

“Don't laugh at me, Ms. Turner, Brandon's aunt. So I think I missed the whole game most men learn. You know pickup lines, how to act with and attract pretty women.” He smiled as he looked across the table at me. “To be honest, I'm ready to get married. I can't wait to start a family.”

“It will happen.”

“I know it will. I witnessed a good marriage. My parents'. My father loves my mom. They've been married almost forty years, and I just want the same.”

“Wow, my parents have been married thirty-five years, and my dad really loves my mother, too. I think relationships today are just a lot different. Men do not know how to be men. If my dad sees a woman on the side of the road, he stops and helps her out, doesn't ride by her. Or I've seen men let a door swing right in a lady's face, instead of holding it open. I've had that happen.”

“But you know what, Ms. Turner? It all boils down to examples and what you see. If people don't know, they can't do better.”

“And you're very right about that, Mr. Walker—I mean, Marcus.”

There was something so alluring about Mr. Marcus Walker. He was tall, dark, handsome, worked in the community, and wanted to start a family. He was the man I had wanted and had dreamed of before I met Adam.