Family Ties (2 page)

“Chill out.  I was just messing with you.  Patrick seems okay.”

Realizing that was about as nice as she was going to be, I gladly walked her to the door after we made plans to go shopping the next weekend.

***

The next day I made arrangements to take Brianna to the Children’s Museum.  I took my responsibilities as godmother seriously and felt bad that I hadn’t spent much time with her over the past summer, but between finding a roommate and work getting so hectic, I’d had very little free time. I planned to make up for it that Saturday.

I took the train to Harlem to meet Crystal and Brianna at my uncle’s restaurant.  As I entered
Home Sweet Home
, the aroma of glorious soul food embraced me.  Memories of Crystal and I running through the restaurant while Uncle Troy jokingly chased us with a wooden spoon came flooding back.

Folks would come from all over Manhattan to sample Uncle Troy’s sweet potatoes, fried catfish, smoked turkey, collard greens, and homemade corn bread.  Had The Colonel sampled Uncle Troy’s fried chicken, he wouldn’t have bothered to open that restaurant of his. As usual, the dining room was packed; all but two tables were taken. I spotted Brianna sitting at a table near the kitchen door, face buried in a book and a plate of hush puppies cooling in front of her.

“Hey, little Miss.  What are you reading?”

“Chloe!”

My heart warmed as Brianna dropped her book on the table and jumped up to hug me.  As I hugged her back, I found myself wondering how a man could be responsible for such a beautiful creature and disappear from her life without getting to know her.  It was a shame. I felt grateful to be a part of her life as I stroked her pony-tailed hair. Holding her at arm’s length I asked, “How tall do you plan on getting?” 

Brianna giggled, “As tall as you.”

I was fully aware of the fact that Brianna looked up to me and I welcomed the responsibility. “Where’s your Mom?”

“Here she comes now.”

Crystal pushed through the double-doors that separated the kitchen from the dining room.  Her long braids were tied back in a tight bun and a red apron protected her jeans and tee shirt.  We shared a long hug.

“Hey girl, looking good.”

“Look who’s talking!  You lose weight?”

Crystal gave a small twirl.  “I’m trying to do a little something now.”

“Well, it’s working.  You look great.”

“Chloe, you ready to go?”

“Bri, just hold on a minute, “ Crystal said. “I haven’t seen her in a long while, just like you. Let’s sit down a minute.”

When Crystal wasn’t looking, Brianna rolled her eyes in frustration.  She was anxious to get our day together started, and so was I, but I didn’t mind catching up with her mother for a few minutes.

“Brianna, why don’t you ask Ms. Beatrice to pour us two iced teas? Take your dishes in the kitchen while you’re back there.”

This time Crystal was looking her dead in the face so Brianna didn’t have the opportunity to roll her eyes or even make a face.  Wisely, she did as she was asked.  When she was out of earshot Crystal giggled.

“She is too through with me.  Hanging out with you is like a lifesaver for her.”

“What’s going on?” I asked.

“I’m not sure.  She seems very distant.  We’ve always been able to communicate, but lately she’s been shutting me out, almost hostile.”

“Hostile?” 

Crystal raised an eyebrow at me and replied, “Oh, girl nothing like
that.
  I’d have to break her little hands if she ever raised one to me.  She just acts like she can’t be bothered. I offered to take her to a matinee tomorrow after you drop her home and she turned me down, said she would have some studying to do.”

“I wouldn’t worry about it too much.  You know all young girls go through their little phases.  But if it will make you feel any better, I’ll try to talk to her tonight.  See if she’ll open up.”

“I’d appreciate it.  Oh, here she comes.”

We turned to watch Brianna carry a small tray with two tall glasses of tea.  The last drop was barely down my throat before Brianna was once again asking if I were ready to go.  I decided to give in and, after a quick goodbye, we were off. For someone who was so closed-lipped in the restaurant, Brianna was all mouth during the train ride downtown.  She couldn’t stop talking about school and the science fair she wanted to enter.  Her mood changed when I asked about Uncle Troy.

“I’m really worried about Grandpa.  He’s been sick more and more and Mommy has to cover for him at the restaurant a lot.”

I rubbed her back.  “Brianna, your Grandpa has always been a hard worker for a man his age. It’s probably just catching up with him a bit.  Has your Mom mentioned anything serious?”

Brianna turned to look out the window.  Orange lights flashed across her face as our express train whizzed through a station.

“My mother has been too busy to notice much of anything.”

“What do you mean?”

“Nothing.” 

Just like that, the case was closed.  I was curious to know more, but figured I had all day and night to dig further.

Watching Brianna’s face light up as we entered the Children’s Museum was well worth the wait.  There was a space exhibit that I knew would please Brianna, seeing as how Crystal told me she’d taken an interest in astronomy.  We went through the thirty-minute tour and then I treated her to a manicure at my favorite salon.  I managed to convince her that the Rococo Red was a little too adult and that it might be more appropriate if she went with the Cotton Candy Pink.  There was some resistance at first, but when the manicurist informed her that Selena Gomez was a regular at the salon and frequently chose that color, Brianna was all for it. 

After our pamper session, we walked the few blocks to my apartment.  The already brisk day was turning chillier, and we linked our arms for warmth.  While I prepared Brianna’s favorite dinner—spaghetti and meatballs with shredded cheese on top—she took a bath and changed into pajamas. Over dinner we talked about my mother’s upcoming Thanksgiving visit.

“I love when Auntie Adrian comes to visit.  She always brings really cool gifts,” Brianna said while and licked sauce from her finger.

“Yeah, that’s not all she brings,” I replied, handing her a napkin.

“Huh?”

“Nothing.”

“So, what’s it like?”

“What’s what like?” I asked, taking a sip of soda.

“Living with a white man.”

I nearly spat out my Pepsi.  “What do you mean?” 

I was actually worried that Brianna might take my living with a man the wrong way.  It was important that she knew it was a roommate situation and not just shacking up with some random guy.  I figured that she was bright for her age and wouldn’t get the wrong idea.  What I didn’t expect was for her to take an interest in Patrick being white. Her question took me by surprise, not only because it was asked, but also because of how nonchalantly it rolled off her tongue.  What happened to my cute little niece, and where did this young lady come from asking such adult questions?

“Is it weird?”

“No, it’s not weird.  It takes a little getting used to… having a male roommate period, but not because he’s white.”

“Oh.”

Since Brianna had just put me on the spot, I figured turnabout was fair play. I was dying to know what was going on between her and Crystal.

“So, I was talking to your Mom…”

Brianna cut me off by blowing out her breath.

“See, that right there is what I wanted to talk to you about.  What’s going on, Brianna?  Why the sudden attitude towards your Mom?”

She just looked down at her empty plate.  I decided to back up and try being less confrontational. “Bri, you know that your mother loves you very much, and so do I.  If something is wrong, bothering you, I hope you know that you can talk to either one of us.”

“Well, maybe I can talk to
you
.”

“Why do you feel you can’t go to Crystal?”

Brianna looked at me like she was trying to explain simple arithmetic and I just wasn’t getting it.  “My mother doesn’t have time to talk to me anymore.  We used to talk all the time, do things together.  But lately, she’s been too busy with…”

“With what?”

“She doesn’t think I know, but I do.  I’m not stupid and I’m not blind.”

“Honey, no one thinks you’re stupid, but I can’t help with… with anything… until you tell me what it is that’s bothering you.”

Brianna sighed deeply, pushed her plate away from her like what she had to say required too much room, and crossed her thin arms across her chest. “My mother has a boyfriend.”

Was that all? 

I was relieved to hear that Brianna wasn’t in trouble at school or anything like that, but I didn’t want to downplay Brianna’s feelings over Crystal having a new man in her life either.  No one likes to have their feelings trivialized, and kids were no exception. I wanted to reassure Brianna that she was, and would always be, number one in her mother’s heart.  I wanted to tell her that if her mother found someone who could make her happy, she should be glad for her and try to give this new guy a chance, but all that came out was—

“Oh.”

With all the textbook replies I could have given, I didn’t feel comfortable discussing Crystal’s business or, as my mother would say, “grown folks business,” with her own child.

“Have you met him?”

“No”, she sulked.  “She hasn’t come right out and said anything, but I know that’s what it is.  She is always changing her voice when I enter the room and she’s on the phone.  Miss Beatrice has been coming over to take care of me more than usual cause now she’s always got
things to do
, and one night I woke up in the middle of the night thirsty and I heard her talking to a man in the living room.  I couldn’t hear what they were saying exactly, and I knew if I opened my door she’d hear me and make me go back to bed.”

“Sweetie, I don’t know what to say.  Your mother is a grown woman and I’m not sure we should be having this conversation.  Besides, you don’t know for sure that she’s dating someone.”

Brianna raised her voice and I noticed there were tears brimming on her eyelids.  “Then why is she acting like that and who was that she was talking to?  I know she has a boyfriend and she must be too ashamed of me to want me to meet him.”

“Hey!  You know better than that, girl.  Your mother cherishes the ground you walk on.  She couldn’t be more proud of you. Being a single mother is hard work. Every decision your mother makes in life, she has to consider you first, and she does it gladly because she wants nothing but the best for you. That includes decisions of when and who to date. She’s not gonna have just anybody around her child.  Instead of looking at this as her being ashamed of you, have you ever considered that if she’s dating someone she may be trying to decide if he’s good enough to meet you?”

She wiped at her eyes with the back of her hand and I handed her another napkin.  “I guess I hadn’t thought of that.” She sniffed.

“Why don’t you go wash your face while I clear the table? We can watch a movie if you’re not too tired.”

Brianna smiled. “Okay.”  She was halfway to the bathroom when she turned to look at me. “Do you think my Mom is mad at me?”

I was surprised. “Why would she be?”

“The way I’ve been acting.”

I walked over to where she stood and gave her a hug.  “Brianna, if there is one thing I’m sure of it’s your mother’s love for you.  She’s not mad at you.”

The rest of the night passed without incident.  Brianna and I curled up on the couch and watched
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
, one of her favorite movies.  I personally didn’t get the fascination and gave it minimal attention. I kept thinking about Patrick.

I hadn’t seen him since the night before when we’d had dinner with Myra.  I wondered if he was out with a girl.  He hadn’t mentioned having a girlfriend and I didn’t want to look foolish for asking.  As I tucked Brianna into my bed I wondered why I cared so much where Patrick spent his nights away from home.  I told myself that I shouldn’t care and, as sleep took me over on the couch, I caught myself listening for his key in the lock.

Chapter Two

Family Pressure

Patrick

The meeting with Charlotte didn’t go as well as I had hoped. In fact, the words
epic failure
might not be much of an overstatement. I had been flying high on the train ride to the East Village.  Dinner with Chloe and Myra went well, I thought.  I hadn’t planned on joining them, but I got a vibe from Myra and it wasn’t a good one. I wasn’t sure why, but it felt important that Chloe’s best friend like me.

Despite a tense moment or two I think I was able to convince Myra that my intentions were pure, even though that might not have been entirely true.  When Chloe shared her good news about work, my first instinct had been to give her a hug and then maybe suggest a night out to celebrate.  I quickly checked myself, not knowing how that would have been perceived.  Either way, I was happy for her and planned on doing something special to show it. I just hadn’t figured out what.